Tacoma, a city with a population of 195,000, located 30 miles south of Seattle, has ranked atop a BestPlaces survey of the most stressful places to live. While residents "can feel safe from bodily harm," the city's resumé features a "rare combination of suicide, unemployment, theft and gloomy weather." A four-tool player, obviously.
And I guess it doesn't help that Washington, D.C. area sniper John Muhammad lived there. That dude had more issues than Harper's Magazine.
Other stressful aspects of living in Tacoma:
• Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck predicting overtime victory
• When less than one-third of the Sunday newspaper is relevant to Microsoft
• Sunny days that throw residents into a state of unfamiliarity and panic
• When Starbucks runs out of its Bella Vista F.W. Tres Rios Costa Rica blend
The rest of the worst:
2. Miami — Especially when the economy suffers from crack prices plummeting
3. New Orleans — Seeing tourists puke on your streets is not a soothing experience
4. Las Vegas — The hookers are always biting their nails
5. New York — Yeah, but the airport-style bag-screening device in my office building doesn't phase me anymore.
Other News Links:
• Hefner: Britney Would Make Great Girlfriend — Like seven isn't enough for this dude. Hey, old man, leave some for us!
• Girls Expelled for Charging Boys to Watch Them Kiss — Haven't these boys ever heard of the Internet? Jesus, kids, welcome to fucking 1996. Oh, right, you were in kindergarten then.
• Germany Invents "Anti-Aging" Beer — Michelob is already planning a low-carb version that tastes like horse vomit. (Story comes complete with photo of German chick with big juggs.)
• Real Meal Steals — A Motley Fool article on how restaurants gouge you. (Story comes complete with photo of woman in stupid-looking hat.)
• Warrant Calls it a Day — We knew it had to happen someday, but that doesn't make it any easier. The Down Boys are no longer. Metal Sludge reports that Jani Lane has fired founding members Erik Turner and Jerry Dixon, as well as manager Obi Steinman. Good thing Britny Fox (correct spelling, I swear) is still together. (You gotta download the Girlschool .mp3 from that site. 'Cause my baby broke all the rules! Reminds me of my teenage years, which were hell for the Yankees. I like to call it The Dennis Rasmussen Era.)
• Bush's Plans for Space Could Have a Political Price — Is it worth sending astronauts to Mars? If anything, space exploration should approach the social intrigue of the 1960s. I know I won't be traveling 105 million miles away. Going downtown is enough of a hassle.
The main reason it's so stressful up here right now: The weather is colder than Jeff Fisher's frozen mustache snot.
Posted by RP at January 11, 2004 4:59 PM