Little to Nothing Is Going the Trumpster's Way

 I tell you, I'm loving this. This hit the New York Times and CNN yesterday.

Tax records show Trump had over $270 million in debt forgiven after failing to repay lenders

A bit from the article:

President Donald Trump has had more than $270 million in debt forgiven since 2010 after he failed to repay his lenders for a Chicago skyscraper development, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

An analysis of his tax records by the Times shows that after the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago encountered financial problems, big banks and hedge funds cut Trump considerable slack, granting him years of additional time to repay his debts, much of which was ultimately forgiven.

And while the previously unreported forgiven debts would usually fuel a large tax bill, Trump appears to have managed to pay almost no federal income tax on them, the Times reported, partially because of the significant financial losses his other businesses were enduring.

Trump Organization chief legal officer Alan Garten told the Times that the organization and Trump had paid all necessary taxes on the forgiven debts.

Can you imagine someone, anyone, but especially the now President of the United States having a debt of more than a quarter of a million dollars dismissed? And he wouldn't be beholden to anyone, any bank or organization or person after having such debt dismissed?  Really?

Not done there, oh, no, there's this.

WAPO: Trump Directed More Than $8 Million to His Properties

The Washington Post has a new report analyzing expense money Donald Trump directed be paid to his properties since he got his desk in the oval office. Saying it is the tip of the iceberg, it has tracked at least $2.5 million in taxpayer funds, and $5.5 million from his campaign and fundraising committee to his properties.

This President couldn't be dirtier if he bathed in mud outdoors.  Can you imagine the Right Wing, Republican Party uproar if it were found then-President Obama did even ONE of the things this guy has been shown to do?

Going on from there, this happened yesterday, last night.

Hundreds of Trump supporters stuck in the cold for hours when buses can’t reach Omaha rally

Omaha Trump rally attendees stranded, several taken to hospital suffering hypothermia

Is that not the perfect metaphor for this President and his administration?  With all his great planning, just as with the pandemic response, this President Donald J "Jenius" Trump left his supporters at the airport in freezing temperatures while he flew off, all cozy and warm and comfortable in Air Force One.

Meanwhile, this President has made it clear he's bored with COVID and discussing the pandemic and repeatedly.

White House lists ending Covid-19 pandemic as an accomplishment despite cases spiking to record levels

We've got record numbers of cases of this pandemic, all across the nation, but this President and his White House lists it as a success. 

Right. Sure. Makes perfect sense.

Here's the reality presently.

More than half of US states broke records in daily Covid-19 cases this month.

Trump's Chief of Staff called out the pandemic's situation just the other day, as a matter of fact.

'We're not going to control the pandemic,' Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows says in heated interview

Then, this week, after shoving  a deeply Right Wing Supreme Court Justice nomination down the nation's collective throats, Senator McConnell dismissed the Senate--thanks, Senator McConnell--for a recess I'm sure he thought was deserved. Forget that the nation and people are hurting from this pandemic, what with being, a lot of us, out of work with no paychecks so forget about any COVID assistance or relief. The consequences of that?

Dow sinks 795 points as investors fear rise in coronavirus cases could halt the economic recovery

So thanks for that, Senator McConnell!

This came out yesterday.

‘After the election, we’ll get the greatest stimulus package you’ve ever seen’: Trump

Right, Mr. President. We'll get an aid package for this pandemic in your 2nd term, next year, right along with your "healthcare plan." Right. Sure. We got it. You love us, you'll respect us in the morning and the check is in the mail. We know.

He actually said this Monday.

Trump Wants COVID-19 Media Coverage To Be Illegal: ‘Should Be An Election Law Violation’

"Mr. President---You're familiar with our US Constitution, right, sir? And the First Amendment? And Freedom of the Press?  Right, sir?  Sir?"

Wow.

Currently, too, thankfully, here are the results of a current Monmouth poll on the election according to  KyleGriffin  @kylegriffin1:

• Georgia: Registered voters Joe Biden 50% Donald Trump 45% 
• Biden is up by 4 in a high likely turnout scenario 50-46; 
• Biden is up by 2 is a low likely turnout scenario 50-48.

And more outstanding good news here.

Texas is now a toss-up, Cook Political Report says

So yay, us.

Finally today, at one of this President's "superspreader" rallies in Michgan yesterday, he said this, trying to feed on fear---which, of course, is all he has.

Trump Sparks Outrage After Telling Crowd Biden Could Be ‘Shot’ Just ‘Three Weeks’ Into His Presidency

At his rally Tuesday, President Trump sparked outrage online after he told supporters Joe Biden could be “shot” just weeks into his presidency and replaced by Sen. Kamala Harris.

While sharply criticizing Harris, Trump told his supporters that she “makes Bernie Sanders look like a serious conservative” and reminded voters that Harris would be next in line for the presidency should a President Biden somehow become incapacitated.

“Three weeks in — Joe’s shot, let’s go, Kamala, you ready? Most liberal person in the Senate,” Trump said.

“This will not be – we can’t let it happen – this will not be the first woman president. You’re going to have a woman president – this will not be the first woman president,” he ranted.

The crowd then erupted into cheers of “Ivanka!”

Trump paused and laughed.

“They’re all screaming Ivanka,” he chuckled.

And this is the really dangerous part:

Mother Jones’ D.C. bureau chief David Corn blasted Trump’s remarks, tweeting: “Damn. Trump is talking about Biden being assassinated weeks into his presidency. What nut is going to interpret this as an encouragement?”

So once again, thanks, Mr. President!
Thanks, Republicans!

Let's do this, folks. Vote! And VOTE BLUE!!

86 45!

BYEDON!

The NYT article:

How Trump Maneuvered His Way Out of Trouble in Chicago

More:

Trump struggles to lift glass of water during ‘60 Minutes’ interview

And this is potentially frightening and no way good for Michigan or the nation.

Judge overturns ban on open carry of guns at Michigan polling places

Most Caring Cities in America?

The website Wallethub is out with its national ranking of-

Most Caring Cities in America

And wow. It's an eye-opener.

First, the winner, the top of the heap:

Virginia Beach, VA, at no. 1.

"Boston tied with Lincoln, Nebraska, for the most residents working in the community and for social services per capita, and it was in the top five for the most teachers caring for students' well-being."

Lincoln, NE at #4. Minneapolis at #5 and St. Paul, MN, #6, Omaha, NE, #20.

We here in Kansas City...wait for it.... are at a rather lowly #66.

We were beat--trounced--by NEW YORK CITY, for pity's sake, at their number 12 spot. NEW YORK CITY, more caring than Kansas Citians??

It goes on...  Chicago at 30. Geez, folks. I thought we were better than this.

A silver lining, of sorts?

St. Louis was behind us. At 67. Small compensation.

Wichita, KS, 86.  Tulsa, 90.

Worst?

Birmingham, AL at 100.

Ow.

What's It Going to Take to Get Us to Recognize Manmade Climate Change?

I wonder if very many of us in the nation and world are paying attention to all the weather-related events, disasters and catastrophes included, that have been taking place this year. Herewith are just a few of the latest.

This took place the week before the Memorial Day weekend.

Multiple highways across Missouri shut down due to flooding

Check out how many roads were closed across the entire state of Missouri.

This was just last weekend:

Memorial Day weather: Heat wave scorches southern US

Then this happened.

Vehicles stuck in foot-deep hail in Omaha, Council Bluffs area

This one was four days ago.

Snowplows push piles of hail out of southwest Omaha

Then we all know this took place this last week locally.

Large and Dangerous Tornado Touches Down in Kansas City Outskirts

This is going on now, to the South of us, of course, and is still going on.

Record flooding causes levee breach in western Arkansas

These next two are current also.

Rising Missouri River closes I-680, causes renewed problems with water in Council Bluffs basements

Only Four of 10 Missouri River Crossings Remain Open

This is the past month.

Floods, tornadoes, snow in May: Extreme weather driven by climate change across US

This is just how large an issue this is.

The U.S. Has Had 500 Tornadoes in 30 Days

This Is Not “Normal”: There Have Been More Than 500 Tornadoes In The U.S. During The Last 30 Days

You can go here and see just some of the damage.

Tornado Damage: 13 Days of Devastation in Photos

As if all that isn't enough, this story broke two days ago.

Record-Breaking Heat in Alaska Wreaks Havoc on Communities and Ecosystem

"Abnormally high temperatures have led to unsafe travel conditions, uncertain ecological futures and even multiple deaths"

So how long, America? How long until we first accept global warming is happening and it's taking place because we humans are pumping so much CO2, carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere? And then, second, how long until we do something about it?

Fascinating, Even Surprising, Fantastic Information From “Most Violent Cities” List

There is an article just out today with fascinating statistics from the FBI on crime in the US, in our cities and which of them have the most violent crime per 100,000 residents.

FBI data reveals some of the most violent cities in nearly every state

There are some surprises on it, at least to me.

Little old Topeka, Kansas is on the list at number 32 with 29.2 violent crimes per 10,000 residents

Omaha, too, is at number 30 on the list with 31.4 violent crimes per 10,000 residents

Minneapolis is on the list at number 12 w/ 23.7 violent crimes per 10,000 people.

Tulsa at number 14 with 50.9 violent crimes per 10,000 residents.

Little Rock, Arkansas on the list at a scary, depressing #4 w/ 87.4 violent crimes per 10,000.

Our own St. Louis, however, is on the list and at a depressing #3 w/ 91.5 violent crimes per 10,000.

Memphis hit #2 and poor Baltimore, Maryland is at number 1 with 98.6 violent crimes per 10,000.

But here’s the kicker, Kansas City.


We aren’t on the list.


We aren’t even on the list.


Not Kansas City, Missouri.

Not Kansas City, Kansas.

Neither one.

It gets better, too.

We're not in the top 20 worst.

Not in the top 10.

Not the top 5.

Nothing.

So kudos to you, Kansas City. Great on you, great on us.

Don’t let some blogger in his mother’s basement scare you, folks, with ALL CAPITOL LETTERS and yellow journalism tactics.

We’re not going to Hell in any handbasket.

Kansas City Makes A Great Cut

Yes sir! Kansas City makes part of a great top ten, nationally:

The Top Ten Cities for Creatives

From The Huffington Post . First, a bit of a description:

A thriving creative class is a key feature of nearly every successful modern city. A vibrant culture is not only valuable in its own right, it also often serves to attract and inspire talented workers in non-creative fields, creating a rising tide that benefits the entire city...

...the financial realities of creative fields such as dance, photography and music often mean that creatives cannot afford to live in many of the places where they have historically had the most success and influence. Cities like New York and Los Angeles have, simply put, become too expensive for many working artists.So which cities present the best opportunities for today's creative workers? To answer that question, SmartAsset compared the cost of living in major U.S. cities to the concentration of creative workers in those cities. We considered 28 different professions in our analysis, including jobs like graphic designer, choreographer and photographer.

And here it is. Kansas City makes the top 10, nationwide:

10. Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City has emerged in recent years as a creative hub to rival those in the northeast and on the West Coast. The city's Crossroads Art District has gained national recognition for both its growth and the quality of its offerings. Crossroads alone has more than 70 art galleries, to go along with larger institutions like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

Now, then, what's interesting, though, and what needs to be mentioned  and acknowledged, too, though, great as this is for KC, is that nearby neighbor Des Moines, Iowa "beat us out" at the number 8 spot and none other than Omaha, Nebraska came in at 7. 

 Gadzooks.

We gotta' get busy, Kansas City. We have to do better.

Missouri Makes A Good to Great List For Business Starts

Yes, sir, Missouri made a good list for people wanting to start a new business and here it is:

The Best (and Worst) Cities to Start 

a Business In

Trouble is, Kansas City is not in the top ten.

Not close.

Springfield is, however.

Best Cities to Start a Business
1. Shreveport, LA
2. Tulsa, OK
3. Springfield, MO
4. Chattanooga, TN
5. Jackson, MS
6. Sioux Falls, SD
7. Memphis, TN
8. Augusta, GA
9. Greensboro, NC
10. Columbus, GA

Surprised me.

Kansas City, meanwhile?

KCMO came in at number 36.

Wichita, Kansas, a not-too-shabby 16.

Omaha---30

If you check the list, the worst cities for it are in California and most of the best come from the heartland, the midwest. One thing that surely contributes, surely, is the lower costs associated with beginning a business, I should think.

One thing to note however, if "Best Cities to Start a Business In" means either next to no government oversight and/or that they pay little or no taxes, then the list becomes not just unimportant but a negative in my book. They need to be responsible members of the society, it should go without saying.

Side note: Someone needs to remind these people it's still not good grammar to end a sentence with a preposition. But especially the headline.

Link:   2015's Best Cities to Start a Business

Why blacks don't trust police

To white people and people of more money who don't understand why some, at least, black people don't or even can't trust police, this little beauty just happened recently, up the road, in Omaha:



More from the original, fuller article:

Caught On Tape: Minor Parking Violation Ends In Police Brutality

Watch it all the way to the end.  It's nearly unbelievable. you keep thinking the police won't escalate the situation--or the stupidity--any further. You almost can't count how many officers show up, just to arrest two men. And the second truly was just exerting his rights and was in no way breaking any law.  Even then, that's not enough, they call in a helicopter.  It must have been a slow day in Omaha. The police needed entertainment.

If you look at the end of the video when the person sweeps up and down, back and forth on the street, you'll see that 12 police cars and all those police responded to two law-abiding men, minding their own business.  Nice, huh?

Never let it be said it doesn't suck to be either black or poor in the United States of America, even now, as late as the year 2014.

If I'm either of the two men who were arrested, I'd immediately file civil and criminal lawsuits against each and every one of the officers who responded, with damages.  Lots and lots of damages. Then I'd sue the police department and city.

Thank goodness for cellphones and video.  It's becoming the minority's and poor's best defense.

Against the police.

On our weather forecast: uh-oh

From a Facebook post just now:

US National Weather Service Kansas City Missouri

 

2"-3" of snow has fallen near Omaha this evening, and thundersnow is being reported in Nebraska City, just across the river from the northwest tip of MO. Trends are suggesting accumulating snow may make it further south and east than previously thought, and may make it into Kansas City. We'll have an updated snow forecast in a few hours.

The Oracle of Omaha on the Republicans' tax plans

They think the world of his investing ability. They just don't want to discuss political or social policy with him.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The Oracle from Omaha on a minimum tax for the wealthy--an idea whose time has come

From Sunday's New York Times:

A Minimum Tax for the Wealthy

By Warren E. Buffett

Omaha

SUPPOSE that an investor you admire and trust comes to you with an investment idea. “This is a good one,” he says enthusiastically. “I’m in it, and I think you should be, too.”

Would your reply possibly be this? “Well, it all depends on what my tax rate will be on the gain you’re saying we’re going to make. If the taxes are too high, I would rather leave the money in my savings account, earning a quarter of 1 percent.” Only in Grover Norquist’s imagination does such a response exist.

Between 1951 and 1954, when the capital gains rate was 25 percent and marginal rates on dividends reached 91 percent in extreme cases, I sold securities and did pretty well. In the years from 1956 to 1969, the top marginal rate fell modestly, but was still a lofty 70 percent — and the tax rate on capital gains inched up to 27.5 percent. I was managing funds for investors then. Never did anyone mention taxes as a reason to forgo an investment opportunity that I offered.

Under those burdensome rates, moreover, both employment and the gross domestic product (a measure of the nation’s economic output) increased at a rapid clip. The middle class and the rich alike gained ground.

So let’s forget about the rich and ultrarich going on strike and stuffing their ample funds under their mattresses if — gasp — capital gains rates and ordinary income rates are increased. The ultrarich, including me, will forever pursue investment opportunities.

And, wow, do we have plenty to invest. The Forbes 400, the wealthiest individuals in America, hit a new group record for wealth this year: $1.7 trillion. That’s more than five times the $300 billion total in 1992. In recent years, my gang has been leaving the middle class in the dust.

A huge tail wind from tax cuts has pushed us along. In 1992, the tax paid by the 400 highest incomes in the United States (a different universe from the Forbes list) averaged 26.4 percent of adjusted gross income. In 2009, the most recent year reported, the rate was 19.9 percent. It’s nice to have friends in high places.

The group’s average income in 2009 was $202 million — which works out to a “wage” of $97,000 per hour, based on a 40-hour workweek. (I’m assuming they’re paid during lunch hours.) Yet more than a quarter of these ultrawealthy paid less than 15 percent of their take in combined federal income and payroll taxes. Half of this crew paid less than 20 percent. And — brace yourself — a few actually paid nothing.

This outrage points to the necessity for more than a simple revision in upper-end tax rates, though that’s the place to start. I support President Obama’s proposal to eliminate the Bush tax cuts for high-income taxpayers. However, I prefer a cutoff point somewhat above $250,000 — maybe $500,000 or so.

Additionally, we need Congress, right now, to enact a minimum tax on high incomes. I would suggest 30 percent of taxable income between $1 million and $10 million, and 35 percent on amounts above that. A plain and simple rule like that will block the efforts of lobbyists, lawyers and contribution-hungry legislators to keep the ultrarich paying rates well below those incurred by people with income just a tiny fraction of ours. Only a minimum tax on very high incomes will prevent the stated tax rate from being eviscerated by these warriors for the wealthy.

Above all, we should not postpone these changes in the name of “reforming” the tax code. True, changes are badly needed. We need to get rid of arrangements like “carried interest” that enable income from labor to be magically converted into capital gains. And it’s sickening that a Cayman Islands mail drop can be central to tax maneuvering by wealthy individuals and corporations.

But the reform of such complexities should not promote delay in our correcting simple and expensive inequities. We can’t let those who want to protect the privileged get away with insisting that we do nothing until we can do everything.

Our government’s goal should be to bring in revenues of 18.5 percent of G.D.P. and spend about 21 percent of G.D.P. — levels that have been attained over extended periods in the past and can clearly be reached again. As the math makes clear, this won’t stem our budget deficits; in fact, it will continue them. But assuming even conservative projections about inflation and economic growth, this ratio of revenue to spending will keep America’s debt stable in relation to the country’s economic output.

In the last fiscal year, we were far away from this fiscal balance — bringing in 15.5 percent of G.D.P. in revenue and spending 22.4 percent. Correcting our course will require major concessions by both Republicans and Democrats.

All of America is waiting for Congress to offer a realistic and concrete plan for getting back to this fiscally sound path. Nothing less is acceptable.

In the meantime, maybe you’ll run into someone with a terrific investment idea, who won’t go forward with it because of the tax he would owe when it succeeds. Send him my way. Let me unburden him.

--Warren E. Buffett, Chairman and Chief Executive of Berkshire Hathaway.

And then, while we're at it, let's institute a minimum tax of, say, 10%, at least, for corporations so no matter what they write off legally, they can help pay for the roads and schools and all the infrastructure that help them make profits and keep growing here in America. It's the least they can do for access to the best markets in the world.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/opinion/buffett-a-minimum-tax-for-the-wealthy.html?_r=0&pagewanted=print

KC: No. 15 out of 50

Yes, it's been covered by The Pitch Magazine and likely elsewhere online, too, across town but I still think it's good to cover this story and point out a few things differently.

Kansas City was ranked a bit of a surprising number 15 out of a total of 50 cities, nationwide, out of Businessweek Magazines'--with an assist from Bloomberg Rankings, it says-- "50 Best Cities to Live." (See links at bottom).

So good for us but first things, first--where does this come from and what may it mean for us?

First, from where this ranking comes:

The magazines say the cities are "... evaluated 100 of the country’s largest cities based on leisure attributes (the number of restaurants, bars, libraries, museums, professional sports teams, and park acres by population); educational attributes (public school performance, the number of colleges, and graduate degree holders), economic factors (2011 income and June and July 2012 unemployment), crime, and air quality. Major professional league and minor league teams, as well as U.S.-based teams belonging to international leagues in that city were included. The greatest weighting was placed on leisure amenities, followed by educational metrics and economic metrics, and then crime and air quality."

So, all told, that should mean especially good things for us, being based on these items. It's good company--all those cities--good competition and great overall reasons to grant these rankings.

(It has to be noted that it sucks, here, on this list, to be Dallas or Los Angeles or Phoenix, too. Wow).

Next, let's take a pause here and see what the article has to say about us:

Rank: 15
Population: 458,064

Were it not for its high crime rate, Missouri’s largest city might rank even higher. Residents working in the city’s downtown area are watched over by the iconic Kansas City Power & Light Building, while shoppers can get lost in local shopping centers such as Country Club Plaza and the Legends at Village West. For a unique blend of technology, arts, and history, residents can always stop by the city’s old transportation hub, Union Station.

Bars: 113
Restaurants: 921
Museums: 28
Libraries: 19
Pro sports teams: 3
Park acres per 1,000 residents: 36
Colleges: 15
Percent with graduate degree: 7.3
Median household income: $59,980
Percent unemployed: 6.9

I think it's interesting that the ranking is specifically for Kansas City, Missouri, yet they mention the Legends at Village West. That's a cute oversight on their part.

So, finally, then, what does this mean for us?

I think it means a couple things, really, at least.

First, it means we're getting good, national attention and coverage and that's always good.

Second, I think it's clear that, without the arts, Kansas City would be nowhere near this list. The arts and our three national sports teams--baseball, football and now soccer. What's ironic is that that last one, the new, "fereign" one, soccer, is the one that wins more than the other two.

Third, I think we need to, once again, stop a moment here and thank all kinds of people but maybe especially the Kauffman family since, without Ewing, Marion and Julia, we would have neither the Royals Major League Baseball team nor the incredible, in so many ways, new Performing Arts Center. Those are two big factors on this ranking, I think.

Where we have to sit up and take note--what we have to work on, this ranking shows--is that we clearly need, as we all surely know, that we have to get the crime rate down and the shootings and killings to stop.

Now if we just knew how, right?

Here's another note, too and it's in our favor: St. Louis is ranked 47th and really took a beating in all this. They have the big, major league teams but, in the magazine's own words, "St. Louis rated the worst on this list...in crime."

Ouch.

So, not only does this give us some bragging rights and some things for the Chamber of Commerce to crow about and promote and advertise, but it also gives us something to work on and for. Maybe if we get that crime rate down and the shootings and killings to decrease or, better yet, stop, we'll climb up this list even higher.

Here's hoping.

Congratulations, Kansas City. You got some good to great press here. Now let's get out there and get even better.


Links: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/10/05/kc-is-americas-15th-best-city-says-businessweek

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities.html

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-26/san-francisco-is-americas-best-city-in-2012

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities.html#slide37

KCMO and KS not on "Cities with Worst Tap Water"

No, neither Kansas City is on this list but Omaha, Nebraska is--and comes in at number 7 (see link below).

What they had to say about it:

Forty-two chemicals were found, with 20 exceeding health guidelines and 4 exceeding health standards. This included agricultural pollutants like nitrate and nitrite, industrial pollutants like arsenic, water treatment and distribution byproducts and more.

Apparently, Smithville (MO) is too small a town to include on their research because if it were big enough, it would surely be there.

Oh, yeah.

Link: http://www.losethebackpain.com/blog/2012/06/08/worst-tap-water/

Maybe the American public will wise up one day?

Omaha? One of the "richest cities where no one wants to move"?

Yes it is, ladies and gentlemen, unbelievably enough, at least to me, anyway. There is an article out now titled "The Richest Cities Where No One Wants to Move" and our own Nebraska neighbor to the North is number 10. Don't get me wrong, I totally get the "where no one wants to move", part but "one of the richest cities"? Who knew? It was done by Trulia’s Metro Movers Report and posted on the 24/7 Wall Street site. Here's what they have to say about the town: "The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan region is relatively stable and economically healthy. It is surprising then that relatively few people want to move to the area compared to the number of people looking to leave. For every person — from outside the region — inquiring about real estate within the region, there are two people within the region searching for homes elsewhere. With home prices in the area falling only 2.8% since their peak, home buyers have little incentive to search in the Omaha region. However, Fiserv-Case Shiller projects home prices to rise 1.5% between third quarter of 2011 and the third quarter of 2012, which is in the top third of increases among major metro regions. Wanting to move to Omaha, Nebraska is nearly as bad as, oh, I don't know, wanting to move to Topeka, Kansas. Link: http://247wallst.com/2012/02/03/the-american-cities-where-no-one-wants-to-move/2/

Omaha, Nebraska?? No. 4 on "America's Happiest Cities" List?

I'm stunned. Men's Health Magazine rated America's 100 "Happiest" and "Saddest" cities, as I said in the last post and check this out--unbelievably, Omaha, Nebraska came out number four on the list of "Happiest". You gotta' be kidding me. In what way is that? I mean, I like Omaha--to visit--and I love their "old town" area--from Spring to Fall--but one of the nation's "happiest cities"? Yikes. You're kidding me. Did they not either go there from November to March or hear about it? Then there's the fact that there's the "old town" area and--guess what--that's it. That's all there is to see in that city. Well, besides, maybe the Doorly Zoo but even that is, again, from the best, mildest, warmest part of Spring through the best part of Fall. I'm stunned. And once again, on these lists, nearby Lincoln, NE is close by at number 11. Excuse me, but with the exceptions of college football or business, why would anyone go to Lincoln? I don't get it. Link: http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/frown-towns?cm_mmc=Huffington_Post-_-Frown%20Towns-_-Article-_-Frown%20Towns

"America's Saddest Cities"?--St. Lou--not you

Men's Health Magazine just came out with a list of "America's Saddest Cities" and, yes, St. Louis is on there but you, Kansas City, you are not. I think the Sprint and the Kauffman Centers may have helped keep us off there. Either that or we're just not on their radar. Note: Detroit and Memphis are on there, too. In my next post, you won't believe who's number 4 on "Happiest American Cities." Anyway, enjoy, Kansas City--it's only been good press coverage lately. For now, anyway. Link to original post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/30/americas-saddest-cities_n_1120753.html?ncid=webmail18#s507155&title=St_Louis_MO

KC on "America's 50 Best Cities"

Bloomberg's "Businessweek" magazine this time, ranks "America's 50 Best Cities" today. The good news? We're on the list. The bad news? We very nearly weren't and aren't. We just barely hit the list--at 43. Oklahoma City? 36th. Omaha? 34th. That hurt. Lincoln, Nebraska, though at 22? Yow. Shoot me. For what it's worth, Raleigh, North Carolina comes in at the top spot. Link to original post: http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/20110920/america-s-50-best-cities/

"America's Most Dangerous Cities"---and we ain't on it

Yes, another new list out, this one also by Forbes Magazine and in spite of what some people--some locals, (Tony?)--might think, Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas--both, are no where on the list. (Link: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efel45mde/1-detroit-mich#content?partner=yahoore). By contrast, on their "Best Places for Careers and Business" list, Des Moines, IA is number two while Cedar Rapids from that same state is number 11. Also on the list are Lincoln, Nebraska at 12 and Omahama at 20. St. Loo, across the state, hits at 23. Oklahoma City gets in at 28. Even the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul gets in ahead of Kansas City at their number 34 ranking. (More: Little Rock, AR, 41, Indianapolis, IN at 43, Tulsa, OK, 46). Kansas City isn't on the list in the top 50. The good news? We're safer, maybe, than we thought. The bad? We don't coddle business enough, I guess. Link: http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/27/best-places-11-top-50_slide.html

Best City for Housing Values: Just up the road

Another new ranking--this one from Kiplinger's and Kansas City is not in the top 5, anyway, but Omaha, dependable Omaha ranks number one: Best Cities for Housing Values, 2011 1. Omaha, Neb. Population (metro): 829,702; Unemployment rate: 4.6%; Cost-of-living index: 90.3; Median household income: $53,457. Wichita, Ks is number 8 and Cedar Rapids, Iowa is 9, for what it's worth. We'll just have to try harder, I guess, right? Link: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/best-cities-for-housing-values-2011.html

I expected KC on this list

A report is out today on Yahoo! News, listing the "15 Dangerous Cities for Driving" and, to my surprise, anyway, the Kansas City metropolitan area isn't on it. Thank goodness. As it turns out, Florida is the worst state overall with the South "over-represented." I'll leave that alone here. What was most interesting and noteworthy to our area, I thought, too, is that Little Rock was number 4 worst, and Tulsa was 13 and Oklahoma neighbor Oklahoma City was 15. On the far more positive side, neighboring Lincoln, Nebraska was ranked 6th safest city in the nation while Omaha was number 9. Link: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/15-dangerous-cities-for-driving.html