Overland Park? Kansas? On This List??

I couldn't believe what I just saw online. It was this.

These Are the Happiest Cities 

in the United States

 - National Geographic

So I was curious and clicked on it. Thought I'd see if Kansas City were maybe on the list.

And it's not.

But I couldn't believe what was, what is on it.

Yes, our own Overland Park, Kansas.

Wow.

It's not in the top 10 but it is, in fact, number 15.

On a list with the likes of Huntington Beach, CA (9) and San Francisco (13).

Overland Park??

Are you kidding me?

And they're happy?

Why, because they have all the strip centers they could possibly ever want?

No, I think it's because they have Kansas City, Missouri's Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball team and Kansas City Chiefs National Football League team and the Country Club Plaza--and a lot more--not far away, minutes away, in our own Kansas City, Missouri.

Yeah.

That's it.

Quote of the Day -- From a Founding Father

With this, it seems clear he, Founding Father Thomas Paine, could no way be a member of the present day Republican Party.

Some Takeaways On the World's Happiest Nations Report

The world's happiest nations were announced today by the by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations.

World's happiest countries named

Takeaways?

--The US isn't the happiest

--The US isn't in the top 3

--The US isn't in the top 5

--The US isn't even in the top 10

--The US is in the 13th position

Here's what I love.

The top ten "happiest nations"?

Socialist.

All Socialist.

Every one.

Here's another kicker. Another takeaway. Frankly, it's one more slam on us, the US.

Israel ranks higher in happiness than the US.

Israel.

Surrounded by their enemies. Set upon and attacked, not infrequently, by Palestinians yet they have a higher happiness rating than we do here in the United States.


So, America.  Could we learn some things here?

Please?

Soon as possible?

Here's one:  The lady was right.

We are #Strongertogether.

Links:

World Happiness Report Update 2016

World Happiness Report - Wikipedia

America Has the Worst Vacation Policies 

Of Any Developed Country

Once again, U.S. has most expensive, least effective health care

Americans are much, much more likely to be killed by guns than  people in other countries

Americans are paying more for slower Internet 

Kansas City Makes Another Great List

Yeah, check this out from Forbes Magazine. Look who's number 19.

The 20 Happiest Cities 
To Work In Right Now

Quote of the day -- on the best governments and societies

When it shall be said in any country in the world, my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend, because I am the friend of its happiness: when these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and its government. 

--Thomas Paine, from The Rights of Man.

Life's too short--we'd better dance

I saw this on a Facebook "friend's" page last evening.  I loved it:

We went to a family wedding this weekend on the mighty Hudson River. Mary's family is Jewish and a good Jewish wedding is a real wang dang doodle. They drink right at the table. In my family, you had to go out to your truck to drink. Jews dance, too. Even the preacher! The whole thing would be a scandal among my people. I went along with it and raised a bunch of hell too, to be respectful.

I kept my hat on during the service so I wouldn't stand out. I enjoyed the preaching. It was in several different languages, like an international flight. I picked up that the word "shalom" means "peace," and the preacher said the root of "shalom" means "to be complete."

Then the bride and groom drank cheap wine in front of everybody. The preacher handed them another glass and they were already so drunk they threw it on the ground and stomped it flat. That got everybody riled up and we all jumped up, went inside and got our own drinks. We never did get back to the ceremony and the preacher left.

After a day with my rowdy Jewish family, eating, drinking, praying, eating, dancing, eating, telling jokes, eating, drinking, dancing some more, eating, and then dancing until the band got fed up and went home, I felt at peace. I felt complete. I sure wasn't hungry.

This little guy danced everybody into the ground. His mama is Jewish. They say that means that he's Jewish. I think they're right about that. If you'd seen him dance, you'd know he damn sure isn't Baptist.

Shalom, y'all. If I keep having this much fun, I might have to convert. I already had the required surgery, but maybe we could rig up something with velcro. Just to make it feel complete.

Link:  Jonathan Byrd | Facebook

Quote of the day

Quote of the day---on life

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt.

 Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts.

Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

 ~ Unknown

Quote of the day--for the new year

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."

--Helen Keller

Ow. This hurts, Missouri

From the wires today:

Survey ranks Missouri as 8th most miserable state

It seems Bloomberg News ranked the 50 states from most to least miserable and this is where we came in.

Yikes. Not good.

What they had to say and show about us:

8. Missouri
> Well-being index score: 64.8
- Life expectancy: 77.4 (12th lowest)
- Obesity: 30.5% (10th highest)
- Median household income: $44,301 (14th lowest)
- Adult population with high school diploma or higher: 86.9% (22nd lowest)

Between 2010 and 2011, Missouri’s well-being score went from 17th worst in the country to eighth worst. Conditions in the state declined in every category Gallup measured. Missouri residents polled rated their emotional health as 14th worst in the country, down from 25th worst last year. The state also declined from 18th worst in life evaluation to third worst in the country. The state has the 11th-highest rate of smokers in the country at 21.1%. Heart disease, cancer and diabetes rates are all among the top 20, and life expectancy in the state is 77.4 years, the 12th lowest in the U.S.

Adding insult--and pain--to this injury is that, in sharp contrast to our, Missouri's ranking, neighbor Nebraska comes in as one of the top 10 "happiest" states, at number 8 while--get ready for this--next-door-neighbor Kansas (of all states) comes in even worse--higher, better--on this happiness list at number 7.

Yow.

This hurts.

I mean, this really hurts.

Links: http://247wallst.com/2012/03/02/americas-most-miserable-states/2/

http://247wallst.com/2012/03/02/americas-happiest-states/2/

Quote of the day, Sunday edition

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” ~-Anne Frank

Quote of the day

"Happiness does wonders to one's face." --Stephanie Marsilia (a friend)

Wisdom

I found this at a friend's page on Facebook, frankly, and checkd it out. I enjoyed it and found it to ring true. I thought others might like and enjoy it. We should think more about what we can live without, it seems, doesn't it?

Quote of the day

“We can reject everything else: religion, ideology, all received wisdom. But we cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion.... This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith. In this sense, there is no need for temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. ... The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need. So long as we practice these in our daily lives, then no matter if we are learned or unlearned, whether we believe in Buddha or God, or follow some other religion or none at all, as long as we have compassion for others and conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense of responsibility, there is no doubt we will be happy.” ― Dalai Lama XIV

So, are you happy?

The Economics of Happiness - Official Trailer from The Economics of Happiness on Vimeo.

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

Quote of the day

"My self-appointed aim is to make the most of what I can personally be and take as many along that path as I can without significantly diverting my trajectory in life. To survive and excel." --Thomas Kanady

Let's not kid ourselves

"We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and -- in spite of True Romance magazines -- we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely -- at least, not all the time -- but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your self-respect so important, and I don't see how you can respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness."  

— Hunter S. Thompson (The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman 1955-67)

Neighboring Nebraska one of the "Happiest States"?

Yes, they are, this time according to LiveScience.com (not Forbes Magazine).

Oh, sure, you can figure Hawaii ranks number one in this ranking, what with the oceans and beaches and mountains and all the tourists coming to see what they've got but Nebraska, number 10?

From the article:

Hawaii's stellar placement was due to its scores on three well-being categories: life evaluation, emotional health and physical health.

That all seems fairly obvious, if not statistical.

But what about Missouri with our state park system and Lake of the Ozarks, etc?  We came in at a lowly, second-half of the group 34.  We must be grumpy people, I guess.

Meanwhile, Kansas was no. 15 while Iowa is 19.  Oh, well.

At least if Missouri isn't in the "top ten", we aren't in the "bottom 10", either, thank goodness.

Looking at that "bottom 10" , check that out--neighbor Arkansas is the 4th unhappiest, at no. 47, supposedly.

Oh, well.  It's like they say in the Broadway play "Avenue Q", Arkansas--"It Sucks to be You".

Link to original story:    http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110307/sc_livescience/happiestinhawaiialohastatetopswellbeinglist

5 best ways to be happy:  http://www.livescience.com/5065-5-keys-happiness.html

The insanity of Forbes Magazines lists

Forbes Magazine seems to be all over the place with their "Top" lists. 

You can't blame them for coming up with these things, really, because the gimmick works.  People watch for them, read them, some of us report on them.

But check this out.

The other day, the list I covered was their "America's Most Miserable Cities".

Today?  It's "Happiest US Cities to Work".

The problem?  Miami is number 2 on the "most miserable" and---wait for it---number 4 on the "happiest" list.

I guess the conclusion you have to come to is, if you're employed in Miami, you're about as happy as you can be in this country.

But if you're unemployed in that same city, you're nearly as miserable as you can be.

Have I got that right, Forbes?

Links:  http://moravings.blogspot.com/2011/02/california-and-florida-how-mighty-have.html
http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/02/stockton-miami-cleveland-business-washington-miserable-cities_slide.html?partner=yahooree
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/112015/happiest-us-cities-to-work?mod=career-worklife_balance