The housing bust and the recession have slowed migration to fast-growing states in the Sun Belt and the West.

WSJ: Recession Slows Migration in U.S.

Yet Intel and Sun face a potential threat from the upstart Transmeta, whose chips run only 75% as fast but suck only 20% of the power.

FORBES: Sudden death for brands

"I was surprised at how fast my hand got cold, because it didn't seem that cold out there with the sun, " Garland said.

WSJ: Rockies ice Mets with temperatures in the 20s

Steroid Cities are those fast-growth metro areas, mainly located in America's South and West, where the sun shines, the air-conditioners hum and the two languages you'll need to master in addition to English are capitalism and Spanish.

FORBES: Steroid Cities