KNIGHT WATCH

WHERE ARE AMERICANS ON THE GO GOING?

If you want to live in 1 of the 10 best cities for lifestyle and work, you could move to Houston. It’s the cheapest of the 10 cities for business and offers many leisure activities. Chicago is a transportation hub with excellent infrastructure and easy living. New York offers a diversified economy and many lifestyle assets like museums, sports teams and green space. Living in 1 of the 7 other cities requires moving out of the U.S. – Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, London, Sydney, Stockholm and Toronto. This ranking was done by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ “Cities of Opportunity” study – or where opportunity knocks loudest.

If you want to avoid stress, avoid Utah. According to a 2011 Gallop poll, Utah was the most stressed-out state with 45.1% of residents reporting stress. Kentucky’s low ranking for political, economic and general well-being might have caused it to be second – 44.9%. West Virginia’s high ranking for job dissatisfaction contributed to it being third – 43.6% and Idaho’s low economic ranking contributed to it being fourth – 43%. Finally, Massachusetts, which had been ranked the most intelligent state, was fifth – 42.6%. Overall, 39% of Americans said they’d experienced stress in the past day. The other 41% might live in the “state of denial”.

If you’re looking for the best beach in the U.S., look in Sarasota, Florida. The director for International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research named Siesta Key Beach on the Gulf Coast the best beach in 2011. Beaches are ranked on criteria including sand, water quality, weather, facilities and crowds. The top score is 250. Siesta Key’s 40 acres of quartz crystal sand and gentle currents earned it a score in the 230’s. Coronado Beach in San Diego and Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki were second and third respectively. Once a beach is ranked #1 it’s retired – as is much of Florida.

Surprisingly, the best beaches in the U.S. weren’t in the Most Well-Read cities. Amazon totaled all book, magazine and newspaper sales in both print and Kindle format on a per capita basis in cities with more than 100,000 residents. In seems in 2011 Cambridge, Massachusetts bought the most reading material, as well as the most non-fiction books. Boulder, Colorado purchased the most material in the Cooking, Food & Wine category and Florida had the most cities – but not Sarasota – in the general top 20. Of course, these are Amazon’s statistics. Feel free to read between the lines.

 

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?

Numbers tell a tire’s age. Tires older than 6 years have an increasing risk of accidents from sudden “tread separation”. On tires made after 2006 the number is on the outside sidewall. For tires made before 2006 it’s on the inside sidewall. The last 4 numbers tell the tire’s age. The first 2 numbers are the week the tire was made; the last 2 numbers are the year. A tire made in the 47^th week of 2008 – November 2008 – would have a number ending in -4708. A tire with a number ending in 3 digits was made before 2000. Its “number is up” already.

DNA bar coding looks at gene sequences in fish flesh to prevent substitution of cheap fish for more expensive or overfished fish. Studies done in 2011 by researchers in North America and Europe found 20%-25% of seafood products were fraudulently identified. The nonprofit group Oceana rated fraud in some species at 70%. Eighty-four percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported – often going through a multistep supply chain. The FDA plans regular use of DNA testing by the end of 2011, but you might want to take that with a grain of salt used on your mystery fish.

DeaconGel, used for radioactive cleanup, started as a mistake. Because researchers were being careless with an experiment, some of the gel they were working on dripped onto the floor. When it was peeled off the next morning, the floor was absolutely clean – cleaner than scrubbing could make surrounding areas. In 2009, 3 years later, the blue goo was ready to market. It’s been used to clean everything from shipyards to meth labs to radioactive waste from the tsunami-crippled, Japanese nuclear power plants. DeaconGel doesn’t neutralize radioactivity. It reduces disposal amounts by 90%. With a little effort goo is “goo-d”.

The Panera Bread Co.’s café in suburban St. Louis is, in 2011, the largest example of the concept called “community kitchens” – where businesses operate partly as charities. Although “suggested funding levels” are on the menu board, the nonprofit, pay-what-you-want café encourages charity. Statistics show 60% of customers leave the suggested amount, 20% leave more and 20% leave less. Overall, the café performs at about 80% of retail and brings in about $100,000 a month – enough to generate $3,000-$4,000 a month above costs for a job training program for local, at-risk youths. Obviously, Panera Bread Co. is a “breadwinner”.

 

IN NEED OF A "MOVING" EXPERIENCE?

Feeling stressed? Move to Hawaii. Only 30.2% of Hawaiians felt stressed “a lot of the day”. According to the 2011 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, 39.4% of 352,840 respondents felt stressed “a lot of the day”. Wyoming was second least stressed with 34.4%, followed by North Dakota with 34.6%, South Dakota with 35.5% and the District of Columbia with 36.7%. In general, the West and Northeast had the highest stress levels and the Midwest had the lowest. In the past year Alaska had the biggest stress increase – 2.6% and Wyoming had the biggest decrease – 4%. That may be because Wyoming is the “Equality State”.

If you want to be as happy as possible, you’ll have to move out of the U.S. The 2011 report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development surveyed citizens from 34 countries, asking their views on government, community, environment, income and life satisfaction. Denmark, with a life satisfaction score of 10.0, was the happiest country. Canada was second with 9.6 and Norway was third with 9.3. If you want to stay in the U.S., you’ll be as happy as New Zealanders because the two countries tied for seventh with life satisfaction scores of 8.0.

If you want to be safe when driving, Kansas is the place to be. According to a nationwide GMAC Insurance study of 15,130 drivers ages 16-66, Kansas drivers averaged the highest score on the written DMV test – 82.9%. The District of Columbia averaged the lowest – 71.8%. Overall, the Midwest averaged the highest score – 77.5% and the Northeast averaged the lowest – 74.9%. Over 27% of females failed compared to 13.6% of males. The survey also estimated that 20% of drivers can’t pass the test. Considering that 85% of the drivers didn’t know what to do when approaching a steady yellow light, you should drive with caution.

If you want to avoid violent crime, perhaps you should avoid the 10 cities rated most dangerous by the FBI in 2010. Flint, Michigan with 22 violent crimes per 1,000 people was the most dangerous; Detroit was second with 18.9. St. Louis, Missouri was third – 17.5; followed by New Haven, Connecticut – 15.8; Memphis, Tennessee – 15.4; Oakland, California – 15.3; Little Rock, Arkansas – 15.2; Baltimore, Maryland – 14.6; Rockford, Illinois – 14.5; and Stockton, California – 13.8. If you’re looking for a safer place, how about Loving, New Mexico – population approximately 1,300 and best known for its speed trap just outside of town.

 

IS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN STILL AVERAGE?

More American couples are unmarried. According to the 2010 census, 12% of couples were unmarried – a 25% increase in the past 10 years. Sixty-six percent of the cities with the largest share of unmarried couples were in the Northeast and Midwest – cities where employment opportunities were more precarious. Camden, New Jersey had the highest share – 35%. The census showed lower shares of unmarried couples in middle-class and upscale suburban areas. Baltimore had 27%; however, nearby Columbia, Maryland had 9%. It seems the bad economy was a major factor. Two can live as cheaply as one – if one doesn’t eat.

Two may not be able to live as cheaply as one; but according to a 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, married people can live more cheaply than single people. A typical married person 21 to 23 years old spent more on average than a single person the same age - $21,138 and $19,980 respectively a year. At those ages married people earned about 33% more. Among 27 to 29 year olds, income levels were about the same. However, married people spent on average $27,816 per person per year and single people spent $35,026. Of course, everything changes when people start participating in “child’s play”.

Thirty-four percent of Americans don’t use all their annual vacation days. According to the 2009 Vacation Deprivation Study by Expedia, American workers took an average of 14 vacation days out of 18. The study also found that 19% of the study participants postponed or canceled vacation for work-related reasons, 30% experienced work-related stress while on vacation and 30% continued checking e-mail or working on job-related projects while out of the office. This may explain why there are 5,000-6,000 members of Workaholics Anonymous nationwide. If members could bring office work with them, the number would be much higher.

Americans are getting older. According to the 2010 census, the median age in America was 37.2 – older than ever before. Geographically, the Northeast was much older than the Southwest. Utah was the youngest state  - median age 29.2 years. Maine was the oldest state – 42.7 years. This was the first time any state had a median age over 40. Older generations – particularly in the Northeast – included few Hispanics. However, among younger people the Hispanic population boomed. The median age for Hispanics was 27. For non-Hispanic, white Americans it was 41. Hmmm, as America’s median age increases will ageism decrease?

 

WHAT'S NEW IN SELF-HELP HEALTH?

We need to be less sedentary at work. According to a report published in PLoS One, much of the national weight gain is due to less physical activity during the workday. In 1960 50% of American jobs required moderate physical activity. In 2010 it was 20%. This change equals an average decline of about 120-140 calories a day in physical activity – which closely matches the nation’s steady weight gain since 1960. There are fewer agricultural and manufacturing jobs and more office jobs – jobs which technology has made even less physical. Just moving the office printer could leave a positive "imprint" on employees’ health.

We need better dental hygiene – and not just to prevent cavities. A British study determined people who brushed less than twice a day had a 70% increased risk of heart disease. A Columbia University study found people with higher levels of periodontal disease had twice the risk of type 2 diabetes. According to a study in the Journal of Periodontology, people with respiratory diseases had poorer periodontal health. A Swedish study suggested women might be 11 times likelier to get breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease. Obviously, we need to “brush up” – and down – on oral hygiene.

We also need to take our medications. According to the briefing paper “Medication Adherence: Making the Case for Increased Awareness”, 75% of Americans don’t take prescription medications as prescribed by healthcare professionals. This non-compliance is responsible for more than 33% of medicine-related hospitalizations, approximately 125,000 deaths and a cost to the healthcare system of about $300 billion annually. The main reason for non-compliance is not having enough time to talk to one’s doctor about concerns – medication costs, side effects and when one should start feeling better. Maybe the examining table should be thought of as a “timetable”.

Time is what’s needed to improve memory. In a study done at The Scripps Research Institute, memory formation lasted only 1 day when fruit flies were given only 1 episode of learning. However, when the fruit flies’ learning was spread over several episodes, they were able to remember for up to 7 days – the equivalent of 7 years in humans. Yes, “spaced conditioning” works in humans too. Memory is improved with rest periods during learning and restful sleep consolidates what is learned so it can be remembered years later. It seems for memories to develop, they need “time exposure”.

 

WHAT PUTS THE "CAN" IN AMERICANS?

Seventy percent of Americans are satisfied with their lives. That’s according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s 2011 index. The index also measured things like work-life balance, safety and community among OECD’s 34 member countries. Americans do well in income, housing and governance. We do less well in work-life balance – probably because we work more hours and don’t have a national, paid, parental-leave policy. We do even worse in health. Our 77.9-year life expectancy is one year lower than the index’s average. Nevertheless, we’re much likelier to report we’re in good health – which may be as good as it gets.

About 25% of American’s don’t get paid vacations because U.S. employers aren’t obligated by federal law to provide them. That makes the U.S. the only industrialized nation not guaranteeing annual leave. When vacation time is offered in the U.S., it’s to attract and keep workers. However, more than 24 industrialized countries require employers to offer 4 or more weeks of paid vacation. Brazil, Finland and France offer 6 weeks. A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found working made Americans happier than Europeans because Americans associate work with success – making their employers more successful.

However, it doesn’t seem Americans associate savings with success. A 2009 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research - based on a random sample of 2,100 adults – found 28% of American households said they couldn’t come up with $2,000 for an emergency. Twenty-two percent said they probably couldn’t. In households making $100,000-$150,000 annually nearly 25% said they couldn’t or probably couldn’t come up with the money. Although only 30% of Canadians, Italians and Netherlanders said they’d be unlikely to have $2,000, the Britons and Germans were in the same boat as Americans – without “life savings jackets”.

If Americans - with or without savings - want to be healthy and fit, Minneapolis-St. Paul is the place to be. The 2011 American Fitness Index of the 50 most populous metro areas was based on factors like percentages of both exercisers and smokers, obesity rates and the availability of recreation facilities and farmers’ markets. Among the reasons the Twin Cities ranked #1 were an above-average percentage of exercisers, a lower-than-average obesity rate, a relatively low percentage of smokers and many recreation areas. Washington, D.C.; Boston; Portland, Oregon; and Denver – respectively   – completed the top 5. Oklahoma City ranked #50 – making it fit – “to be tied”.

 

WHAT ARE AMERICANS UP TO NOW?

Home births are up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they’re up 20% from 2004 to 2008. However, that percentage is misleading. Less than 1% of births occur at home. In 2008 1 in 98 white women gave birth at home, 1 in 357 black women and 1 in 500 Hispanic women. For all races combined about 1 in 143 were home births - up from 1 in 179 in 2004. Twenty-seven states had significant increases - with Montana, Vermont and Oregon having about 1 in 50. However, home birth gives new meaning to “homework”.

And then there’s the 79 million baby boomers – people born between 1946 and 1964 – who make up more than 25% of the American population. Because they started turning 65 in 2011, the Preferred Hotel Group commissioned a study about boomers’ lifestyle and travel habits. According to the study, 33% have taken an international vacation in the past year and 80% want to visit new places. According to a survey done for AARP, 84% of baby boomers felt the next 5 years will be fulfilling and 70% thought they’ll be exciting. It seems boomers could put the “boom” in the travel industry.

Unfortunately, boomers are also putting more boom into substance abuse treatment. Between 1992 and 2008 treatment admissions for people 50 and over more than doubled in America, while those for other age groups shrunk slightly. The number went from 102,700 to 231,200. The overall 50+ population increased 21%, but their substance abuse admissions increased 70%. In fact, older adults accounted for about 1 in every 8 people seeking substance abuse help in 2008. Statistics show 59.9% sought treatment for alcohol abuse, 16% for heroin and 11.4% for cocaine. Interestingly, the acronym for “drug of choice” is “doc”.

Some Americans of all ages celebrate World Naked Gardening Day on May 14. Established in 2005, World Naked Gardening Day is meant to be lighthearted and non-political. There are no records of related arrests for indecent exposure on this day, but it seems naked gardening can be done inside or in the garage. In 2011 there were sanctioned naked-gardening events in Costa Rica, Mexico and throughout Western Europe. Then there’s World Naked Bike Riding Day on June 11 and Naked Hiking Day on June 21. However, if being naked isn’t your thing, these are good days to question participants and get the “naked truth”.

 

HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY "I DO" DO?

The number of long-lasting marriages has increased. According to the 2010 census, more than 50% of married couples have been married at least 15 years, about 33% for 25 years and 6% for more than 50 years. According to demographers and sociologists who study families, one reason for longer-lasting marriages is people are marrying later in life – after completing their education. They are more mature and financially secure. In fact, people who are college educated, more affluent or more religious are likelier to stay married. A proposal is more than an “educated guess”.

People who aren’t college-educated, more affluent or more religious are less likely to get married. If they do, they’re more likely to get divorced. People without a college degree are 3 times likelier to divorce within the first 10 years than those with a college degree. That’s according to the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. According to the 2010 census, divorce rates have leveled off since peaking in the early 1980’s. Approximately 40% of marriages end in divorce and most divorces occur within the first eight years. However, nearly 33% of adults never marry. That number has increased in every age group over the past 15 years. Obviously, those people are “single-minded”.

Whether a spouse cheats depends more on power than gender. A study published in the journal Psychological Science surveyed 1,561 professional workers to measure how powerful they perceived themselves, how confident, how likely to consider cheating and how often they had cheated. Out of 1,250 people answering the cheating questions, 26.3% had cheated - the more powerful the person – male or female – the more likely he/she was to cheat. The reason we hear more about men cheating is because more men are in power. As power in business shifts, more women will be unfaithfully “men-acing”.

Finally, household chores affect women and men differently. A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology was comprised of 30 dual-earner couples, each with at least 1 child ages 8-10. The average age was 41; the average marriage was 13 years. During 4 days of videotaping, cortisol levels in saliva – which increase with stress – were measured repeatedly. The wives’ cortisol levels dropped when their husbands helped with housework. However, the husbands’ cortisol levels dropped when their wives were doing housework and they were relaxing. Undoubtedly, before couples are married their “courtisol” levels are much more equal.

 

HAS OUR HEALTH "WEIGHTED" TOO LONG?

Statistics taken from both government and non-government sources have put America’s obesity in numbers. In 2010 there were 72 million obese adults – that’s 1 out of every 3. If this trend continues, 50% of the population will be obese by 2030. Mississippi had the highest obesity rate – 34.4% and Colorado had the lowest – 18.6%. In 2000 Americans spent $107 billion on fast food; in 2010 they spent $165 billion. Between the 1950’s and 2000 meat consumption went up 57 pounds per person, cheese consumption went up 287% and sugar consumption went up 39%. It seems that Americans are “in-fat-uated” with food.

To diagnose obesity doctors had used Body Mass Index – a ratio of height to weight. However, BMI doesn’t assess fat distribution or distinguish between fat and muscle. Waist size is a much more accurate predictor of heart disease – waist sizes of more than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men. Belly fat tends to be a sign of visceral fat – fat that gathers around organs in the abdomen. This fat seems to promote insulin resistance, unhealthy cholesterol numbers and inflammation. This is information to “take to heart”.

One reason so many Americans are obese is that only 9% of us can accurately estimate the calories we should eat and only 9% of us keep track of calories every day. This is according to a nationally representative survey of 1,000 people done in 2011. Calorie requirements are different for everyone – from 1,400 for a small, sedentary woman to 4,000 or more for an endurance athlete. The survey also found that when people buy food, they rank their priorities in this order: taste, price and then healthfulness. This survey should leave a “bad taste in our months”.

Finally, sitting too much does more than cause obesity. It increases the risk of heart disease. A University of South Carolina study calculated how much time men sit – in cars, at desks and in front of the TV. Men who spent more than 23 hours weekly had a 64% greater risk of dying from heart disease than men who spent less than 11 hours. Because major muscles aren’t moving, metabolism slows. Our bodies shut down, causing increased levels of cholesterol, blood sugar and triglycerides. Increased waist size increases risk of diabetes and heart disease. However, one-minute movement breaks throughout the day make a difference. This is information not to be “sat on”. 

 

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES AMERICA AMERICAN?

The Susquehanna River, which flows from New York into the Chesapeake Bay, was the most endangered American river in 2011. According to the environmental group “American Rivers”, natural gas development was the primary cause. Other reasons rivers are endangered – meaning their fate can be determined within one year - are mining, sewage pollution, development, overuse and poor planning. Filling out the top 5 most endangered rivers were Bristol Bay (Alaska), Roanoke River (Virginia and North Carolina), Chicago River (Illinois) and Yuba River (California). In many cases we’ve made our “riverbeds”, but we don’t have to lie in them.

In 2011 the most polluted American city – according to the American Lung Association – was Bakersfield, California. Five other California cities – primarily because of vehicle exhaust – were among the top 10. Los Angeles and Visalia tied for second, Hanford was fifth, Fresno was sixth and Modesto was tenth. Phoenix also tied for second, with cattle ranches south of the city being a major cause. Pittsburgh and Birmingham – both having coal-fired power plants – were seventh and eighth. Cincinnati was ninth and Louisville tied with Modesto for tenth. Regarding air pollution, Americans obviously can’t breathe a sigh of relief easily.

However, when it comes to the American city providing the most overall well-being in 2011 Boulder, Colorado was ranked first. That’s according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which interviewed more than one million Americans since 2008. Boulder had only 13% obese people and 13% smokers. Out of 188 metropolitan areas Huntington, West Virginia – a former coal-mining-boom-town with high unemployment, an aging population and poor health – ranked last. Hawaii was ranked first, followed by Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska and Colorado. In a 2011 CBS poll 91% of Americans said they were very happy or fairly happy. That leaves 9% that couldn’t find the “i” in happiness.

That 9% may be stressed. Seventy percent of American employees said their job was the main cause of daily stress. That was one of the findings of a 2011 survey done by the Website CareerCast. The survey also determined the 10 least stressful jobs in America. They were – in this order – audiologist, dietician, software engineer, computer programmer, dental hygienist, speech pathologist, philosopher, mathematician, occupational therapist and chiropractor. What most of these jobs have in common are a high degree of stability and relative work flexibility. The most stressful job was commercial airline pilot. According to CareerCast, that’s a “plane” fact.