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The 10 Most Beautiful Places In America, according to USA Weekend’s Annual Travel Report (May 16-18, 2003) are: 1. Red Rock Country (Sedona, AZ); 2. Nighttime view from Mount Washington in Pittsburgh; 3. The upper Misssissippi River; 4. Hawaii’s Na Pali Coast; 5. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco; 6. Grafton, VT; 7. Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, WY; 8. From Key Largo to Key West in FL; 9. Clingman’s Dome along the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; 10. The squares of Savannah, GA.
But I’ll bet Joel would warn, “The most beautiful places are NOT necessarily the safest.” For example, who’d want to be stranded in Key Largo or Key West during an emergency? Trapped! Same goes for Hawaii—no way out during a crisis. Beauty doesn’t mean better; safer is smarter.
Twenty-nine routes are designated All American Roads by the National Scenic Byway Program…From the small towns of the San Juan Skyway in Colorado to the rugged rock formations of Utah’s Highway 12, here are several routes that showcase America’s landscape:
Natchez Trace
Creole Nature Trail
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
San Juan Skyway
Blue Ridge Parkway
Hell’s Canyon Scenic Byway
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
Beartooth Highway
A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway
For more details, pictures and the full story, see:
http://www.azstarnet.com/destinations/profiles/030518roads.shtml
America’s Best Hospitals 2003
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/honorroll.htm
America’s Best Colleges 2003
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php
Top 10 US Campsites
http://local.msn.com/special/archive/sports_camping.asp
Bear Mountain State Park
Bear Mountain, NY
http://www.hudsonriver.com/bearmtn.htm
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7287866
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Fredericksburg, TX
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/enchantd/enchantd.htm
http://sanantonio.citysearch.com/profile/11353205/?brand=msn
Fort Stevens State Park
Astoria, OR
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_179.php
http://portland.citysearch.com/profile/11339037/?brand=msn
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Golden, CO
http://www.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaname=Golden%20Gate%20State%20Park
http://denver.citysearch.com/profile/1875301/?brand=msn
Henry W. Coe State Park
Morgan Hill, CA
http://www.coepark.org/
http://siliconvalley.citysearch.com/profile/11344849/?brand=msn
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu, CA
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=614
http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/11283076/?brand=msn
McKinney Falls State Park
Austin, TX
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/mckinney/
http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/10224267/?brand=msn
Mohawk Trail State Forest
Charlemont, MA
http://www.state.ma.us/dem/parks/mhwk.htm
http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/4603879/?brand=msn
Mount Tamalpais
Mill Valley, CA
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=471
Pocahontas State Park
Chesterfield, VA
http://areas.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaID=POCAHONTASVASP&CU_ID=1
http://richmond.citysearch.com/profile/11354611/?brand=msn
What’ll it take to replace Home Sweet Home?
These Web sites will help you figure out the replacement value of your home, if you know all the details -- and will even help fill in the details you don't know.
http://www.BoeckhValue.com
http://www.LibertyMutual.com
Full story at:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhome/P35343.asp
Is there a shortage of space in the United States? Less than five percent of the land area is developed, according to the federal government, but less and less of it is owned by private individuals. Governments own nearly 42 percent of the land area and are buying more land every day. See Henry Lamb's commentary, "America's Future: A Nation of Renters" at
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36108
Charleston, SC Tops Best-Mannered Cities List
It’s the tenth time, and the ninth year in a row, this city of pastel buildings and ocean breezes has taken or shared top honors since etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart started compiling her annual list 27 years ago. Other cities come and go from the list, but the constant is Charleston, she said. A number of Midwestern cities tied for second place this year: Springfield, Ill., Peoria, Ill., and the Quad Cities, which include Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. Pensacola, Fla., was third, San Francisco was fourth, and the Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, area was fifth. Rounding out the list were Nashville, Tenn., New York, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles. Full story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3986407/
At http://www.realtor.org/research (under the National Center for Real Estate Research) is a study by two researchers who examined the characteristics of almost 29,000 properties sold in a four-state metropolitan market during an eight-year period. The four states were PA, MD, NJ and DE in 21 counties during two periods: 1996-1999 and 2000-2003. The sample covered a broad range of price brackets, architectural types, house ages and locations. Using regression analysis, they identified the “marginal-value” contributions of dozens of characteristics such as bathrooms, garages, fireplaces and bedrooms. The two professors, David A. Macpherson and G. Stacy Sirmans, of Florida State University, found:
· A house with a water view commands about 8 percent more than an identical house without a water view. A “waterfront” location adds 18% to the market value. A lot that faces part of a golf course raises the price by 8 percent.
· Cul-de-sac lots boost homes’ selling values by 1.5 percent. Corner lots cut sales prices by almost 2 percent.
· Garages increase selling values by 12.9 percent on average.
· Tennis courts raise selling prices by 3.1 percent on average.
· In-ground sprinkler systems add 8 percent-plus to the selling price of a home.
· An island kitchen adds 5.3 percent to sales value. A built-in refrigerator adds 8.4 percent.
· Family rooms boost sales value by 7.3 percent; separate dining rooms add 6.2 percent.
· A security system adds 5.6 percent to sales value.
· A utility/mudroom adds 1.1 percent.
· A house without a laundry room will sell for 15% less than homes with laundry rooms on the first or second floor. However, basement laundry rooms lower prices by 2 percent.
· An in-ground pool adds 7.9 percent to the house’s value. However, an above ground pool knocks 2 percent off the selling price.
· Never market your house as a “fixer-upper.” Houses advertised and sold as “fixer-uppers” in the sample sold for 23.6 percent less.
Sources: “Study Sheds Light On Which Attributes Boost Value Of A House” by Kenneth Harney, The Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 8, 2004; http://www.realtor.org/research
Find an apartment with RENTNET
Search over 6.5 million apartments in U.S. cities.
http://houseandhome.msn.com/rentals/rentalsoverview.aspx
Find Senior Housing
http://www.springstreet.com/seniors/?gate=msn&source=a2msat2t614
Temporary Housing
http://www.springstreet.com/seniors/?gate=msn&source=a2msat2t614
50 States College and Universities Directory
Find colleges and universities in your state
http://www.50states.com/college/
Community Colleges Directory
http://www.50states.com/cc/
A web site allows people to pry into their neighbor’s political contributions. Type your address and ZIP code into the “Neighbor Search” tool at http://www.fundrace.org
and you’ll get a list showing how much your neighbors gave last year and to which presidential hopefuls. Your nearest neighbors are listed first. The tool uses technology called geocoding, which matches street addresses with longitude and latitude data. The match works about 70 percent of the time. Visitors can search by name.
We live out some 40+miles, but the cloesest town is Charlottesville,VA. Just named the "Best place in the US to live." THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!
Property values have just gone totally nuts since the announcement even here and worse in and around Charlottesville. We are very rural -- for the moment. I'm betting, though, that the real estate bubble and rising interest with huge debt loads private and public are going to come together to end the euphoria.
As for a safe place: we have a couple of conscientious survival friends and they have built places in the Blue Ridges. We have no choice but to stay here. If push comes to shove I guess I will have to revert to self-preservation. I am somewhat nervous about the near future with the way things are looking.
On cities with high crime rates:
Justice Department dispatching 'Impact Teams'
The Justice Department is dispatching teams of federal agents to 15 cities struggling with violent crime problems despite a dropping U.S. crime rate, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Thursday. Ashcroft told reporters that the effort would be targeted at "the hottest zones of criminal activity" in cities where high murder and violence rates persist despite a violent crime rate that is at a 30-year low nationwide, based on federal victimization statistics. Tulsa, Oklahoma, which had a record 69 homicides committed in 2003, is one of the 15 cities receiving assistance. Other cities getting teams are Albuquerque, New Mexico; Baltimore; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Tampa, Florida; Miami; Richmond, Virginia; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh; Las Vegas; Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Tucson, Arizona; and the Washington, D.C.-Northern Virginia region. Full story at CNN News.
Norway still the world's best place to live
For the fourth year in a row, the United Nations has ranked Norway as having the highest standard of living in the world. Sweden, Australia and Canada are next in line, while the United States is further down the scale.
More at http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article828724.ece
100% Proof Americana
Drop in for a day, stay a week, or put down roots for a lifetime. In these soulful, just-under-the-radar hideouts, distilled small-town pleasures still go down smoothly.
Towns featured in this article:
Lanesboro, MN
Etna, CA
Cashiers, NC
Hood River, OR
Haines, AK
Lander, WY
Sandpoint, ID
Mountain View, AR
Silver City, NM
Cedar Key, FL
Lincolnville, ME
Salida, CO
Georgetown, SC
Brattleboro, VT
Border towns
http://fitness.msn.com/articles/feeds/?dept=outdoors&article=od_os_081604_100proof
Most Overpriced Places of 2004
Cities where cost of living outweighs growth potential
1. Seattle, WA
2. Bergen-Passaic, NJ
3. Miami, FL
4. Portland, OR
5. Middlesex, NJ
6. San Jose, CA
7. San Francisco, CA
8. Chicago, IL
9. New York, NY
10. Jersey City, NJ
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5696874/
Many retirees are moving to the cities, the article below says, but it fails to warn people, as Joel did in STRATEGIC RELOCATION: NORTH AMERICAN GUIDE TO SAFE PLACES, that when the big war comes, more than one US city will burst into flames following terrorism or a nuclear strike. Yet more and more Americans choose urban “hot spots” and build their own little retirement communities in the heart of downtown US cities.
Seniors & The City
Affluent, educated retirees are forfeiting a regular tee time in favor of loft living, opera tickets and bistros
. . . The trickle of older folks returning to the city, which began in the mid-' 90s, has grown into a steady stream. While some cities, especially those with few cultural offerings, have seen an exodus of seniors, urban planners say others have become retiree magnets. Between 1990 and 2000, the population of 64- to 75-year-olds in downtown Chicago rose 17 percent. Austin, Texas; New Orleans, and Los Angeles have seen double-digit increases as well. In the next six years, as the 76 million baby boomers begin to enter retirement, downtowns are expected to grow even grayer. "Cities aren't going to replace the sun belt," says Mark Muro, a senior policy analyst at the Brookings Institution who is studying this urban migration. But for affluent retirees, "city life is an increasingly popular option."
More at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6160422/site/newsweek/
Camden, N.J., Named Most-Dangerous City
Camden has been named the nation's most-dangerous city, snatching the top spot from Detroit, according to a company's annual ranking based on crime statistics. Officials in Camden, which was ranked third last year, downplayed the dubious designation Sunday, saying many steps have already been taken to reduce crime in the city. "We must give our people jobs, training and opportunity," said City Councilman Ali Sloan-El, who pointed out that Camden's poverty is an important contributing factor to its high crime rate. Atlanta, St. Louis and Gary, Ind. rounded out the top five in the most dangerous city rankings, which was to be released Monday by Morgan Quitno Corp. The company publishes "City Crime Rankings," an annual reference book that will be published next month. Detroit fell to second in this year's list.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041122/D86H09GG0.html
Aerial Maps Create New Way of Buying Homes
Web technology helps solve "consumer pain points" during house search
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-05/01-08-05/t34hh253.htm
ePodunk Indexes...Recent reports include:
College Towns - April 2002
http://www.epodunk.com/top10/colleges/index.html
County population growth - July 2004
http://www.epodunk.com/top10/countyPop/
Historic Small Towns - June 2001 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/historic/index.html
Home Towns - February 2001 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/home_towns/index.html
Homeowner Costs by County - September 2003 http://www.epodunk.com/county_data/
Liberal Towns - November 2004 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/liberal/index.html
Metros with the most high school graduates - January 2004 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/graduation/index.html
Most Misspelled Cities - July 2001 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/misspelled/index.html
Personal income - February 2005 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/income/index.html
Public School Spending - June 2004 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/per_pupil/index.html
Single Men and Single Women, by county - October 2003 http://www.epodunk.com/county_data2/
Trailers by State - February 2004 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/mobile_homes/index.html
Walkable Small Towns - July 2003 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/walkable_small_towns.html
Where 20-somethings Move - August 2003 http://www.epodunk.com/top10/20s_migration.html
Irish Towns
http://www.epodunk.com/top10/irish/index.html
Coastal Safety a Growing Concern for Feds
153 Million Americans Live Within Hurricane or Tsunami Range
More than half of all Americans now live on or near a coast, a major evacuation worry in case of hurricanes, tsunamis or other natural disasters. One possible answer: vertical evacuations that could send people fleeing upward in high-rise buildings rather than away from a stormy coast.
More statistics and full story at
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050301143409990003
Mountain Living Good For Heart, Study Finds
People at higher altitudes have better cardiovascular health
March 14, 2005
MSNBC
LONDON - If you want to live longer and lower the risk of heart disease, a move to the mountains may help.
Research by scientists in Greece shows that mountain dwelling is good for the heart and longevity. People living at higher altitude have lower odds of dying from heart disease than those closer to sea level, even if they have factors that could increase their risk.
“Residence in mountainous areas seems to have a 'protective effect' from total and coronary mortality,” said Dr. Nikos Baibas of the University of Athens.
He and his colleagues suspect that the increased exercise from walking up mountainous terrain gives the heart a good workout and enables it to cope with lower levels of oxygen.
The researchers studied the health records and death rates of 1,150 Greeks who lived in three villages nears Athens over 15 years. One village was 1,000 yards above sea level and the other two were in low-lying areas.
Although men and women living in the mountainous village had higher blood pressure rates and other risk factors than people in the other villages, they had a lower rate of death from heart disease and other causes after a 15 year follow-up.
“The contrast was more evident among men than among women,” Baibas added in a report in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7181902/
55 Housing Boom Towns
The number of areas across the United States with real estate booms grew nearly two-thirds last year to 55, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said, warning that these booms may be followed by busts.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/extra/P117171.asp
Americans Migrate to Cities in South, West
Skyrocketing housing prices are driving people from San Francisco, Boston and other big cities. Warm weather and more affordable living are behind the rapid growth in midsize cities in Florida, Arizona, Nevada and California.
Census Bureau figures being released Thursday (June 30, 2005) show no letup in the migration to the South and West, which are home to all 10 of the fastest-growing cities with at least 100,000 people.
The Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Ariz., topped the list. The city grew by more than 46,000 people, or 42 percent, to just over 156,000 residents in a little over four years.
Next on the list ranked by percentage gain was Miramar, Fla., followed by North Las Vegas, Nev.; Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and Roseville, Calif. Rounding out the top 10 were Henderson, Nev.; Chandler, Ariz.; Cape Coral, Fla.; and Rancho Cucamonga and Irvine, both in California.
San Francisco and Boston found themselves among the cities losing the most people between April 2000 and July 2004. Boston, for example, shed more than 19,000 people, or 3.4 percent of its population. San Francisco lost 32,000, or 4.2 percent.
Full article at http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050630/D8B1TATG0.html
We live in Mesa, the next city to Gilbert, AZ, and we have witnessed the tremendous growth in population in this area. I work for the school systems in both cities and I've seen the huge growth in enrollment. The housing and business construction is booming. The roads and freeways are clogged and torn up for broadening. It's getting unpleasant, and we've considered bailing out of here.
I used to live in Mesa myself, moving there from Cleveland Ohio, back in 1994. I lived there for about a year and a half. For a while I thought it was a good decision, until I learned that Mesa is the SCORPION CAPITOL of the USA!!!! Also, if there was to be any Serious EVACUATION of California---
all the Masses would pour into the Phoenix area of Arizona, since it is right off of I-10!!! As if there wasnt enough people there already!!! Also, the Phoenix area has one of the HIGHEST UNSOLVED Murder rates in the country...probably due to the HELLISH Temps and massive overflow of Illegal Immigrants from Mexico. I DONT RECOMMEND LIVING ANYWHERE NEAR PHOENIX!!! Imagine the WORST Trafic Jam in a Construction Zone you could Ever be in--that is the way Phoenix traffic is, Day-by-Day!!!...If U feel U ABSOLUTELY need to live in AZ--live in a discrete small town Village, like COTTONWOOD. Far away from Mexican Racizm and BIG CITY Crime. The WORLD Renound Juicing Expert Norman W. Walker lived there on a country farm with his Wife, till he was 106 years old, and died in 1978, with NO Aches and Pains from Old-Age, WHATSOEVER!!!...complements of Fresh Air, friendly Country Folks and a local Health Food Store where he could buy Organic Fruits and Veggies for JUICING...I have been to that
health food store,its still there and it is FANTASTIC!!!! Cottonwood is in-between Phoenix and Flagstaff...with alot of Altitude Differences, so U must be prepared for the BIG Temp Change between Desert Summers and Tundra Winters...However if U R into personal preparedness, this should be No-Problem!!!! If U R looking for a safe-haven, far-away from Big-Metropolitan areas, Cottonwood is one of the BEST in Arizona!!! Who wouldnt want to Emulate Dr. Norman W. Walker---living to be 106 Years Old, and Disease Free, with No Aches and Pains till U Die in your Sleep????
Do U think you could live to be that old, living in Chicago, LA, or NYC??? I THINK NOT!!!! Fresh Air and LOW Stress are Keys to LONGEVITY!!! Thank GOD for the Country bumpkin towns in Arizona!!!!
Best wishes...ERIC
Most Overpriced Places in the U.S. 2005
1. Seattle, WA
2. New York, NY
3. Portland, OR
4. Chicago, IL
5. San Jose, CA
6. Bergen-Passaic, NJ
7. San Francisco, CA
8. Middlesex, NJ
9. Denver, CO
10. Los Angeles, CA
Forbes looks at the top ten overpriced places in the U.S. at http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2005/07/14/overpriced-cities-lifestyle-cx_sc_0715home_ls.html
In Cities of Mountain West, a New Model for Growth
It is Reno, Nev.; Boise, Idaho and Casper, Wyo., that suddenly sit atop Inc. Magazine's list of best places to do business, fueled by their relatively low costs of living and high quality of life.
"In the next 20 or 30 years, the mountain range and the Gulf Coast will be the two big growth areas" for America, says Joel Kotkin, an expert on urban economies at the New America Foundation. "You'll see more growth in the second- and third-tier cities."
The allure of mountains extends beyond the Rockies. By one estimate, 20 counties bordering the Sierras could see their population triple by 2040.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0823/p01s04-ussc.html
Safest And Least Safe Places In The U.S.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, some Americans--particularly Gulf Coast residents--may be wondering whether there are places in the U.S. that are safe from such natural disasters. The short answer? No.
Full article and Forbes lists at http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2005/08/30/safestplaces-insurance-realestate-cx_sc_0830home_ls.html
Displacement Of Historic Proportions
The largest displacement of Americans since the Civil War reverberated across the country from its starting point in New Orleans yesterday, as more than half a million people uprooted by Hurricane Katrina sought shelter, sustenance and the semblance of new lives…"Instead of water flooding in, we've got people flooding in," said Mike Walker of the East Baton Rouge Parish Council. "The levee of people broke."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/01/AR2005090102406.html
The World's Best Destinations
This is Part III of longtime WorldNetDaily contributor Anthony C. LoBaido's series on the life of the global backpacker. Part I, "The Global Backpacker," provided an overview of what it's like to travel overseas. In Part II, "The Most Beautiful Place on Earth," LoBaido detailed the grandeur of the spectacular national parks of Utah. Part III looks at some of the world's top backpacker destinations.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46608
2005 Cost of Living Rankings 2005; 144 Cities
From Finfacts Ireland Business & Finance Portal - www.finfacts.ie
http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving3.htm
Census Looks at How Cities Grow in Daytime
No big city grows--and shrinks--at a higher rate each workday than the nation's capital, which sees its daytime population swell by 72 percent as commuters stream in.
The Census Bureau on Thursday [Oct. 20, 2005] released its first-ever estimates on daytime population changes. Officials say the data, based on the 2000 Census, can be used for city planning and disaster relief efforts.
Overall, New York City grows by the most people during the day, about 563,000. But that's only 7 percent of the city's population of 8 million. Other large cities that experience large daytime population growth include Boston, which expands by 41 percent, and Seattle and Denver, which each grow by 28 percent.
Atlanta grows by 62 percent while tiny Lake Buena Vista, Fla., near Walt Disney World, grows by a whopping 192,238 percent.
That city, about 20 miles southeast of Orlando, has just 16 residents, according to the 2000 census. But it grows to 30,768 during the day from workers commuting to Disney and surrounding businesses.
Which cities supply the commuters? Among those with more than 250,000 residents, Aurora, Colo., a suburb of Denver, shrinks by 51,000 people during the day. Virginia Beach, Va. drops 49,000 people, and Arlington, Texas, 41,500.
A result of the commuting patterns and population shifts: traffic.
…Washington, with a resident population of 572,000, swells by 411,000 people during the day.
Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon said the new data also can help illustrate the impact of natural disasters.
For example, New Orleans had a population of about 485,000 before Hurricane Katrina hit the city, but it grew by about 60,000 people during the workday.
Full article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001599.html
Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/daytime/daytimepop.html
Cheapest Homes in the Costliest Zip Codes
A look at entry-level houses in the priciest parts of America
Some people will tell you to buy the most expensive house you can afford. But a real estate adage offers a corollary: It's unwise to buy the most expensive home in the neighborhood.
Sure, the best spread on the block comes with bragging rights. But the cheaper homes in the surrounding area can limit your appreciation potential and could even pull down the value of your house. Any sort of decline in the neighborhood will make your palace more difficult to sell. And even if none of the above actually happens, potential buyers who follow the conventional wisdom will avoid your property.
But purchasing the least expensive home in one of the nicest places — now that's a smart move...
Full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10267698/
States Ranked: Smart to Dumb
The smartest state is Vermont. The dumbest is Arizona.
These are the 2005-2006 findings of the Education State Rankings, a survey by Morgan Quitno Press of hundreds of public school systems in all 50 states. States were graded on 21 factors, including student achievement and attendance, positive outcomes, strong student-teacher relationships and school district efficiency. Other factors are the number of high school graduates, reading, writing and math proficiency, percent of school-age kids in public schools, high school drop out rates, student-teacher ratios and class size.
See how your state ranks:
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/package.jsp?floc=ns-tos-toda-h-07&name=fte/smartstates/smartstates
http://millennium-ark.net/NEWS/05_USA/051205.Smart.2dumb.html
Dodging The Tax Man in Retirement
Tips on sorting out which states are best can be found at:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Retirementandwills/Retireinstyle/P135696.asp
20 Meanest Cities for the Homeless
Mean Streets in America
The top 20 U.S. cities antagonistic to homeless people, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, both in Washington:
1. Sarasota, Fla.; 2. Lawrence, Kans.; 3. Little Rock, Ark.; 4. Atlanta, Ga.; 5. Las Vegas, Nev.; 6. Dallas, Texas; 7. Houston, Texas; 8. San Juan, P.R.; 9. Santa Monica, Calif.; 10. Flagstaff, Ariz.; 11. San Francisco, Calif.; 12. Chicago, Ill.; 13. San Antonio, Texas; 14. New York City, N.Y.; 15. Austin, Texas; 16. Anchorage, Alaska; 17. Phoenix, Ariz.; 18. Los Angeles, Calif.; 19. St. Louis, Mo.; 20. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10823343/
See also:
A Dream Denied: The Criminalization of Homelessness in US Cities
The housing and homelessness crisis in the United States has worsened in 2005, with many cities reporting an increase in demands for emergency shelter. In 2005, 71 percent of the 24 cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors reported a 6 percent increase in requests for emergency shelter. Even while the requests for emergency shelter have increased, cities do not have adequate shelter space to meet the need. In the 24 cities surveyed in the U.S. Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Homelessness Survey for 2005, an average of 14 percent of overall emergency shelter requests went unmet, with 32 percent of shelter requests by homeless families unmet. The lack of available shelter space – a situation made worse by the Gulf Coast hurricanes - leaves many homeless persons with no choice but to struggle to survive on the streets of our cities.
Over the course of the year, 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness…
More at http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/crimreport/summary.html
The Best and Worst States for Taxes
Latest update/chart at
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/P111921.asp?Printer
Metro Area 'Fringes' Are Booming
Americans continue their march away from congested and costly areas halfway through the decade, settling in more remote counties even if it means longer commutes, according to Census population estimates released Thursday (3-16-06).
Some of the fastest-growing counties in 2005 lie on the farthest edges of large metropolitan areas, stretching the definition of "exurbs" to the limit.
…For a list of the USA's fastest-growing counties with populations greater than 10,000 in 2004-05, with their percentage of growth and the driving distance from the county seat to the nearest major city, and to read the rest of this article, see:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2006-03-15-census-growth_x.htm
http://millennium-ark.net/NEWS/06_USA/060316.out.of.cities.html
N.Y., Calif. Air Is Dirtiest, EPA Says
New Yorkers and Californians breathe the dirtiest air in the nation and face higher cancer risks than the rest of the nation, according to the latest data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060322/D8GGK2307.html
Best and Worst Neighborhoods to Buy a Home
Big city ZIP codes with the greatest, least price appreciation since 2003-Forbes/MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11809832/
Ten Most Polluted U.S. Cities (ozone rated only)
1. Los Angeles (including Long Beach and Riverside, California)
2. Bakersfield, California
3. Fresno-Madera, California
4. Visalia-Porterville, California
5. Merced, California
6. Houston (Baytown and Huntsville, Texas)
7. Sacramento (Arden and Arcade, California, and Truckee, Nevada)
8. Dallas/Forth Worth
9. New York (Newark, New Jersey, and Bridgeport, Connecticut)
10. Philadelphia (Camden and Vineland, New Jersey)
Source: American Lung Association (for 2005)
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,70507-0.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2