Warm sun, white beaches, and million-dollar mansions notwithstanding, Miami has captured the dubious distinction of being the most miserable city in the United States, according to a new poll. The playground of the rich and famous is home to a crippling housing crisis, one of the highest crime rates in the country, and lengthy daily commutes for workers, all of which have propelled it to the No. 1 position in the Forbes.com list.
"Miami has sun and beautiful weather but other things make people miserable. You have this two-tier society: glitzy South Beach attracts celebrities, but the income inequality has skyrocketed in recent years," explained Forbes Senior Editor Kurt Badenhausen.
The rankings are based on factors including jobless rates, violent crime, foreclosures, income and property taxes, as well as considerations like weather, commute time and political corruption.
Reeling for decades from the decline of the U.S. auto industry, Michigan's troubled duo of Detroit and Flint registered at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, among the most miserable cities.
"Detroit and Flint are struggling," said Badenhausen. "Violent crime is highest in the country in Detroit; housing prices are down 55 percent. Detroit is closing schools and laying off policemen. In recent years they have been demolishing houses to change their city landscapes"
West Palm Beach, Florida and Sacramento, California rounded out the top five cities.
"We're trying to judge cities where residents have a lot of complaints. It doesn't mean that there aren't terrific things there," he said.
And for the haves Miami's charms remain undiminished.
"The one percent in Miami is doing fantastic. But for the vast majority, who make less than $75,000 (a year), Miami can be a challenging place," he said. "Forty-seven percent of homeowners sit on underwater mortgages. That's tough."
The complete list can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/75clrr9
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
New record set at Wing Bowl eating extravaganza
More than 17,000 mostly beer-fueled spectators packed a Philadelphia indoor arena on Friday for the city's annual early morning eating extravaganza in which competitors vie to eat the most chicken wings. Japanese champion Takeru Kobayashi, weighing just 127 pound (xx kilos) defeated his much larger opponents in the 20th annual Wing Bowl and walked away with a $20,000 prize after devouring a record-breaking 337 chicken wings during the 30-minute contest.
He easily smashed the previous record of 255 wings set by Jonathan "Super Squibb" Squibb, who had won the celebration of gluttony the previous three years, and defeated local favorite Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, a five-times champion who weighs 330 pounds.
For Gary Gladwell, 53, of Bucks County in Pennsylvania, the important event for competitive eaters was part of his birthday celebration.
"This is my first time here. I can take it off my bucket list now," he said, adding "It's definitely an experience."
The Wing Bowl is held at the Wells Fargo Center each Super Bowl weekend by WIP, a sports-talk radio station, which came up with the idea almost two decades ago as a consolation prize for fans of the Philadelphia Eagles when they fail, as they have this year, to advance to the Super Bowl.
Gladwell and his brother John, 49, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey paid $10 per seat to the extravaganza which began with a parade of small floats and scantily clad women, known as "Wingettes," each touting the eating prowess of the 26 professional eaters.
"We can't get a championship here, so we might as well have fun and I have the day off," said Pennsylvania resident Bill Cheatham.
David Allan, a pop culture expert at St Joseph's University in Philadelphia, described the event as "an indoor tailgate party."
Because it begins so early many fans of the Wing Bowl, which is aired lived on WIP, arrive in the middle of the night
"What they've done," he said of the Wing Bowl promoters, "is to make it an event not to miss. Something might happen at the Wing Bowl and you're going to want to be there."
Competitors do stunts to impress he judges but the main event is the chicken wing eating contest, which is done in two 14-minute elimination rounds and a two-minute "Wing Off.".
Christian Collazo, 33, of Philadelphia, said he showed up just for the experience.
"Last year I went to Mardi Gras. This is another thing to take off my list," he said.
He easily smashed the previous record of 255 wings set by Jonathan "Super Squibb" Squibb, who had won the celebration of gluttony the previous three years, and defeated local favorite Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, a five-times champion who weighs 330 pounds.
For Gary Gladwell, 53, of Bucks County in Pennsylvania, the important event for competitive eaters was part of his birthday celebration.
"This is my first time here. I can take it off my bucket list now," he said, adding "It's definitely an experience."
The Wing Bowl is held at the Wells Fargo Center each Super Bowl weekend by WIP, a sports-talk radio station, which came up with the idea almost two decades ago as a consolation prize for fans of the Philadelphia Eagles when they fail, as they have this year, to advance to the Super Bowl.
Gladwell and his brother John, 49, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey paid $10 per seat to the extravaganza which began with a parade of small floats and scantily clad women, known as "Wingettes," each touting the eating prowess of the 26 professional eaters.
"We can't get a championship here, so we might as well have fun and I have the day off," said Pennsylvania resident Bill Cheatham.
David Allan, a pop culture expert at St Joseph's University in Philadelphia, described the event as "an indoor tailgate party."
Because it begins so early many fans of the Wing Bowl, which is aired lived on WIP, arrive in the middle of the night
"What they've done," he said of the Wing Bowl promoters, "is to make it an event not to miss. Something might happen at the Wing Bowl and you're going to want to be there."
Competitors do stunts to impress he judges but the main event is the chicken wing eating contest, which is done in two 14-minute elimination rounds and a two-minute "Wing Off.".
Christian Collazo, 33, of Philadelphia, said he showed up just for the experience.
"Last year I went to Mardi Gras. This is another thing to take off my list," he said.
Hole lotta fun as Japanese dig for Golden Shovel
Over a thousand people gathered on the outskirts of Tokyo, shovels and ladders in hand. Their goal: to dig their way to victory in the Japan All-National Hole Digging Competition, and claim the coveted Golden Shovel.
The annual contest, now in its 12th year, drew 259 teams from around the country at the weekend to test their hole-digging prowess and claim awards for the deepest hole, the most creative hole and the most original costume worn during the digging.
At the shriek of a whistle, contestants -- some dressed as skeletons or wearing Arabian-style headgear -- began digging frantically, tossing earth behind them as their shovels bit into the soil.
Some went for creativity, carving a heart out of the ground. Others aimed at depth, using buckets to haul up the earth.
When the contest ended, 30 minutes later, the winning team had dug 3.39 meters deep, winning the Golden Shovel and 100,000 yen ($1,300).
Even those who didn't win said the contest was worth it.
"The whole team did their best and I really feel that we became closer as a result of this," said Tomoyuki Tsumita, a construction worker.
The event, held at a campground, began as a way of attracting visitors during the off-season. Once the contest is over, staff refill the holes to turn it back into a campground and level the site for next year's contest.
($1 = 76.5850 Japanese yen)
The annual contest, now in its 12th year, drew 259 teams from around the country at the weekend to test their hole-digging prowess and claim awards for the deepest hole, the most creative hole and the most original costume worn during the digging.
At the shriek of a whistle, contestants -- some dressed as skeletons or wearing Arabian-style headgear -- began digging frantically, tossing earth behind them as their shovels bit into the soil.
Some went for creativity, carving a heart out of the ground. Others aimed at depth, using buckets to haul up the earth.
When the contest ended, 30 minutes later, the winning team had dug 3.39 meters deep, winning the Golden Shovel and 100,000 yen ($1,300).
Even those who didn't win said the contest was worth it.
"The whole team did their best and I really feel that we became closer as a result of this," said Tomoyuki Tsumita, a construction worker.
The event, held at a campground, began as a way of attracting visitors during the off-season. Once the contest is over, staff refill the holes to turn it back into a campground and level the site for next year's contest.
($1 = 76.5850 Japanese yen)
Germany hunts out deer calling champion
Hunting enthusiasts grunted, bawled and bellowed in the battle to be named Germany's champion deer caller. The 18 men and one woman used sea shells, ox horns and hollow plant stems to perfect their deer calls on Friday.
This year's winner, Tasso Wolzenburg, said he was impressed with the competition.
"Even if I were a real deer, I'd still have been amazed at today," he said.
Competitors were scored on their ability to imitate red deer calls during the breeding season in three different categories: a young deer, a dominant rutting buck, and an older deer.
The skill is part of a centuries-old tradition in Germany, and is used by hunters to lure the deer out of the forest and away from any rival hunters' guns.
The top three finalists in the German championship automatically secure their place to compete in the European championship.
This year's winner, Tasso Wolzenburg, said he was impressed with the competition.
"Even if I were a real deer, I'd still have been amazed at today," he said.
Competitors were scored on their ability to imitate red deer calls during the breeding season in three different categories: a young deer, a dominant rutting buck, and an older deer.
The skill is part of a centuries-old tradition in Germany, and is used by hunters to lure the deer out of the forest and away from any rival hunters' guns.
The top three finalists in the German championship automatically secure their place to compete in the European championship.
Toledo hot dog chain made famous on "M*A*S*H" sold
A troubled Ohio hot dog restaurant chain made famous in the TV series "M*A*S*H" has been sold after months of legal wrangling, allowing descendants of the eponymous Tony Packo's to keep running Cpl. Klinger's favorite frankfurter place. Ohio-based TP Foods LLC assumed control of Tony Packo's on Saturday when a bank restored previously agreed financing terms that it had rescinded, TP Foods President Bob Bennett said.
Tony Packo Jr. and Tony Packo III have joined TP Foods and will run the restaurants for Bennett.
Bennett met with employees of the five-restaurant chain Monday morning and said he was encouraged about the chain's future.
"I'm really pleased," Bennett said. "The employees are happy. We're going to go ahead and run the restaurants the way we have in the past."
Tony Packo's, in its 80th year, rose to fame on the hit TV show in the 1970s when Toledo native Jamie Farr played Korean War soldier Cpl. Klinger, a character also from Toledo who frequently talked about home and his favorite hot dog.
Packo's has been under duress since August 2010, when the company's co-owner, Robin Horvath, alleged misappropriation of corporate funds in a lawsuit against his cousin, Tony Packo III, Packo's executive vice president. Packo's then defaulted on a Fifth Third Bank loan and Horvath sued to gain control of the company from co-owner Tony Packo Jr., Tony III's father.
On December 19, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Gene Zmuda approved the sale of Packo's to TP Foods for $5.5 million. The deal fell apart in January when Fifth Third changed the terms of a loan, but was resurrected after Fifth Third agreed to return to the original terms, Bennett said.
Ohio's Sixth District Court of Appeals could still rule in Horvath's favor, but Bennett said he's not concerned.
Tom Matuzsak, Horvath's attorney, could not be reached for comment.
Tony Packo Jr. and Tony Packo III have joined TP Foods and will run the restaurants for Bennett.
Bennett met with employees of the five-restaurant chain Monday morning and said he was encouraged about the chain's future.
"I'm really pleased," Bennett said. "The employees are happy. We're going to go ahead and run the restaurants the way we have in the past."
Tony Packo's, in its 80th year, rose to fame on the hit TV show in the 1970s when Toledo native Jamie Farr played Korean War soldier Cpl. Klinger, a character also from Toledo who frequently talked about home and his favorite hot dog.
Packo's has been under duress since August 2010, when the company's co-owner, Robin Horvath, alleged misappropriation of corporate funds in a lawsuit against his cousin, Tony Packo III, Packo's executive vice president. Packo's then defaulted on a Fifth Third Bank loan and Horvath sued to gain control of the company from co-owner Tony Packo Jr., Tony III's father.
On December 19, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Gene Zmuda approved the sale of Packo's to TP Foods for $5.5 million. The deal fell apart in January when Fifth Third changed the terms of a loan, but was resurrected after Fifth Third agreed to return to the original terms, Bennett said.
Ohio's Sixth District Court of Appeals could still rule in Horvath's favor, but Bennett said he's not concerned.
Tom Matuzsak, Horvath's attorney, could not be reached for comment.
Aww, man! Bart Simpson joins Barbie in Iran ban
The Simpsons are corroding the morals of Iranian youth, an official said on Monday, as dolls based on Bart, Homer and the rest of the American cartoon family joined the shapely Barbie among Western toys targeted by a new crackdown in Tehran. "The Simpsons dolls are merchandise from an animated series, of which some episodes are even banned in Europe and America," Mohammad Hossein Farjoo, whose agency oversees what Iranian children can play with, told the Sharq newspaper. He did not elaborate on what episodes might have been censored elsewhere.
"We do not want to promote this cartoon by importing the toys," added Farjoo, whose full title is Secretary for Policy-making at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults in Tehran.
Though Iran's economy is laboring under Western sanctions against its nuclear programme, foreign goods, including genuine and counterfeit toys like Barbie and the Simpsons, are widely sold. Merchants say new efforts to implement bans that have been in place before mean the merchandise is getting harder to obtain from wholesalers and shops prefer not to display the wares.
The Islamic Republic's morality police, fighting "Western intoxication" as the dispute over nuclear technology has raised fears of war, last month went on a drive against Barbie.
The American doll's full figure and revealing wardrobe particularly offend Iran's leaders, who decree that women must be fully swathed in loose-fitting clothes in public. "Imports of all kinds of dolls that display full adult figures are banned because they promote Western culture," Farjoo said.
It was not clear in what regard the irreverent Simpsons family had offended Iranian regulations - most versions of the cartoon dolls are hardly anatomically accurate.
However, while Farjoo said that all-American super-heroes like Superman and Spiderman were still welcome in Iran - because they do battle for the oppressed - the values of the Simpsons, a famously self-centered and irreligious bunch, were not.
Their popularity in Iran is hard to gauge; those with access to foreign satellite channels are familiar with the Fox Television cartoon. But it is not shown in Iran, relieving local networks of finding a translation for Bart Simpson's singular response to tiresome instructions of all kinds: "Eat my shorts!"
"We do not want to promote this cartoon by importing the toys," added Farjoo, whose full title is Secretary for Policy-making at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults in Tehran.
Though Iran's economy is laboring under Western sanctions against its nuclear programme, foreign goods, including genuine and counterfeit toys like Barbie and the Simpsons, are widely sold. Merchants say new efforts to implement bans that have been in place before mean the merchandise is getting harder to obtain from wholesalers and shops prefer not to display the wares.
The Islamic Republic's morality police, fighting "Western intoxication" as the dispute over nuclear technology has raised fears of war, last month went on a drive against Barbie.
The American doll's full figure and revealing wardrobe particularly offend Iran's leaders, who decree that women must be fully swathed in loose-fitting clothes in public. "Imports of all kinds of dolls that display full adult figures are banned because they promote Western culture," Farjoo said.
It was not clear in what regard the irreverent Simpsons family had offended Iranian regulations - most versions of the cartoon dolls are hardly anatomically accurate.
However, while Farjoo said that all-American super-heroes like Superman and Spiderman were still welcome in Iran - because they do battle for the oppressed - the values of the Simpsons, a famously self-centered and irreligious bunch, were not.
Their popularity in Iran is hard to gauge; those with access to foreign satellite channels are familiar with the Fox Television cartoon. But it is not shown in Iran, relieving local networks of finding a translation for Bart Simpson's singular response to tiresome instructions of all kinds: "Eat my shorts!"
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