Strollerderby : forbes list

10 Worst Places to Live in the U.S.

Madeline Holler — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:02:00 GMT

There's nothing like raising your kids in one of the 10 most miserable cities in the U.S. There, you get the pleasure of paying really high sales tax, losing your job, probably losing your house and/or having a super long commute. Oh, and becoming the victim of a violent crime.

All that and more was what Forbes magazine used to come up with this year's 10 most squalid -- assuming it had a population of more than about 380,000.

Morning News already revealed the winner (actually, loser, right?): Stockton, Calif., which pushed Detroit off the misery pedastal, where that city sat at the top last year.

Here's the rest of the list.

2. Memphis (crime really did this city in)

3. Chicago (now that the Obamas are no longer there ...)

4. Cleveland, Ohio (the magazine cites snow, but come on. It's Cleveland! Wait, didn't Cleveland use to rock?)

5. Modesto, Calif. (unemployment and high car theft)

6. Flint, Michigan (unemployment, unemployment, unemployment)

7. Detroit (no longer the most miserable ... so this is actually good new for the Motor City.)

8. Buffalo, N.Y. (too much snow and a shrinking population)

9. Miami, Fla. (27 percent of the cities mortgages are delinquent. Uh oh.)

10. St. Louis, Mo. (ranked in the bottom half in all the categories. Still, the Arch! What about the Arch?)

Do you call these cities home? Really, are they so bad?

Photo: Forbes

Morning News: Are You Living in a Designated 'Miserable' City?

Madeline Holler — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Forbes magazine has come out with a list of the most miserable cities in America. Judges looked at factors like weather, economy, commutes, crime and tax rates to make their decisions.

So which city ranked first (or, dead last, depending on how you look at it)? Stockton, Calif. The housing bust really doomed this city, as did its income tax rate and commute times. Plus, it's Stockton! Still, No. 3 though came as a surprise ...

... Chicago. Here's the rest of the list.

A Louisiana man is being held at the U.S. Capitol for attempting a delivery to President Obama while also having a rifle in his truck. Did he really think that was going to work? When questioned by security, the man admitted he had a rifle in the back. Police also found several rounds of ammunition.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered the Pentagon to review a policy forbidding news organizations from running pictures of flag-draped coffins and the remains of American service members. The policy is supposed to protect the privacy of service members' families. But it also give Americans a chance to feel any of the impact of war. Think they should lift this ban?

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had been the headliner act at the Conservative Political Action Conference, but she's got too much business to attend to in her home state so she's has pulled out. Good news, though, Rush Limbaugh will still attend.

Dust off your tinfoil hats! A guy in Rose Hill, Kan., may have captured a UFO on camera. He said the dark object came out of a cloud really fast and sounded like a jet. Interesting, because we happen to know there's an Air Force base and a Boeing plant and a commercial airport not too far from Rose Hill. A spokesman for Boeing's Integrated Defense System said they were unable to identify the aircraft. Well, what's he gonna say?

Finally, Vitamin D, people, Vitamin D. Not only will it prevent rickets and soft bones, but it's gonna help your little girl grow up to Kick. Ass.

Photo: orlandorealty.com

Suri Cruise: Most Powerful Child On The Planet

Brett Singer — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:10:00 GMT

This is such an odd piece of news.

Suri Cruise, daughter of Tom "Who Needs Doctors When You Can Take Vitamins" Cruise and Katie "Is She Being Held Prisoner" Holmes has been declared "most influential celebrity kid". Now what is the source of this important ranking? Us Magazine perhaps? The National Enquirer?

No. Forbes magazine. Malcolm must be spinning in his grave.

What method did they use? According to MyHollywood.com, "financial investigators studied Internet presence and press clippings for more than 50 A-list offspring aged five years younger over the course of the last year…used a market research company to gauge the awareness of the kids and consumer-appeal of their celebrity parents." Suri won, with appearances in "more than 2,000 articles over the course of the year."

Here's the top ten if you're curious:

1. Suri Cruise
2. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
3. Zahara Jolie-Pitt
4. Pax Jolie-Pitt
5. Sam Alexis Woods
6. Cruz Beckham
7. Matilda Rose Ledger
8. David Banda
9. Sean Preston Federline
10. Sam Sheen

By the way, I had to look up Sam Sheen (that's the offspring of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen). So I feel slightly better about myself.

I have a thought. Why would a celebrity parent want their child to get this much exposure? Is it at all possible to keep kids out of the papers when you're this famous? In the case of a Suri Cruise or any of the Jolie-Pitts, wouldn't it be safer to lay low a little bit? Or does it matter in the age of social networking, photo sharing, and MyFaceSpaceBook?

Plus, this idea of "influential" seems questionable. Would you buy something because Suri Cruise endorsed it?

She is a cute little girl though. Maybe she could do Gap ads or something.

Last thought: How would you handle this sort of thing if you were mega-famous? I'm not sure what I would do, although it's not likely to be a problem in my life. My movie career began and ended when I auditioned for "Adventures in Babysitting" in the 80's.

Source/Images: MyHollywood, Famecrawler

Strollerderby : forbes list

10 Worst Places to Live in the U.S.

Morning News: Are You Living in a Designated 'Miserable' City?

Suri Cruise: Most Powerful Child On The Planet

Alex Rodriguez Writing Love Poems To Madonna

Matt Lauer Talks To Sarah Palin In The Kitchen

World Famous Atheist To Write Children's Book

How do we love Michelle Obama? Let us count the ways!

Rocco Ritchie wears Yankee shirt, Guy Ritchie weeps

Top Hollywood Tot: Miss Suri Cruise

Disney Pulls Hannah Montana Diabetes Episode

Comedians From The Past Weigh In On The First Black President