NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/03/13/livable-cities030513.html

Whoops the best places to live in the states tied with my hometown of calgary for 25th best in the world.

And man calgary is much colder than frisco. ;)

Poll took into account security, weather, economics, scenery etc etc.

Vancouver was 3rd in the world behind some swiss cities? :confused:

That's odd... Houston's the least-liveable American city? I can think of much worse cities than Houston (two being in Oklahoma).

Silly Canadaian. Alaska is the greatest place of all. We have the best water, the most beautiful geography ever, and all our main cities are small!

Well Belgium has about the same size as the city of New York and it is the third best country to live in, so puh![/brag]

But, Belgium doesn't have one hell of a skyline, nor is it a 24-hour city.

Obviously whoever compiled the list hasn't heard of New Jersey. All of our cities are top notch.

Obviously whoever compiled the list hasn't heard of New Jersey. All of our cities are top notch.


I really hope you're kidding!

Anchorage is definitely a 24 hour city. You tourists can never get to sleep once you see this beautiful place.

Most major metropolitan areas in the US aren't worth visiting.

The smaller towns are safer, quieter, and closer to natural sights and national parks.

If I had to pick a European city that reminds me of a US city, it would be Frankfurt. Ugly, industrial, big, and dirty.

Silly Canadaian. Alaska is the greatest place of all. We have the best water, the most beautiful geography ever, and all our main cities are small!


I live in alberta dude, more mountains, more oil, more open spaces. and you dont get 22 hours of darkness 3 months of the year...

Most major metropolitan areas in the US aren't worth visiting.

The smaller towns are safer, quieter, and closer to natural sights and national parks.

If I had to pick a European city that reminds me of a US city, it would be Frankfurt. Ugly, industrial, big, and dirty.


oddly enough calgary is supposed to be the cleanest city in this list.

Keep in mind that only 800 or so cities are measured, so every little town is not going to be listed...

I really hope you're kidding!
I hate the stereotypes that New Jersey suffers from. All because the freeway goes past the only industrial areas in the state. I live in the suburbs fifteen miles from New York and I love it here. The only factory anywhere near me is a Nabisco factory. The ignorance surrounding my state of residence really pisses me off. Travel into the Northwest of New Jersey and you'll see some of the most beautiful natural scenery in America around the feet of the Appalachian mountains, the shore, the pine barrens, etc.

Of course, this is a thread about cities and I don't want to start a debate over the merits of New Jersey so I will end my post here.

Most major metropolitan areas in the US aren't worth visiting.

The smaller towns are safer, quieter, and closer to natural sights and national parks.

If I had to pick a European city that reminds me of a US city, it would be Frankfurt. Ugly, industrial, big, and dirty.


Whatever you do, don't listen to this. Big cities in America are great. And really, do you wanna live in a small town that has absolutely nothing to do with nightlife, or life, for that matter? Who gives a fuck if they're safer --- they're extremely boring.

And Frankfurt is beautiful. Who cares if it's got a giant Celanese Chemical plant?

I hate the stereotypes that New Jersey suffers from. All because the freeway goes past the only industrial areas in the state. I live in the suburbs fifteen miles from New York and I love it here. The only factory anywhere near me is a Nabisco factory. It just pisses me off.


Yeah, I know what you're talking about. The only truly gross part of New Jersey is the area around NYC. The rest is actually quite nice.

I live in alberta dude, more mountains, more oil, more open spaces. and you dont get 22 hours of darkness 3 months of the year...

Thats blashpemous. More mountains? I think not. More oil? No way. More open spaces? Maybe where every Albertans brain is supposed to be. 22 hours of darkness for 3 months? Nope.

OK seriously, I do think Canadians stole Alaska's sandy beaches. I traveled through Canada with my parents for .. 4 or 5 hours to get to Haines, the moment we entered Canada soil, we saw a beach. Sandy, not rocky or gravely. Another beach a ways down. Sandy. repeat this for a while..
Oh and I did my sixth grade report on Alberta, and I met a family of Albertans, they were sooooo cool!

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. The only truly gross part of New Jersey is the area around NYC. The rest is actually quite nice.


its important to take in account that USA cities are still consider better to live in than 90% of the world's major cities.

It just that the canuck cities are considered better than 97% of em ;)

And how does Ottawa rank ahead of calgary? WTF?? Gee its colder, and full of smog :rolleyes:

Whatever you do, don't listen to this. Big cities in America are great. And really, do you wanna live in a small town that has absolutely nothing to do with nightlife, or life, for that matter? Who gives a fuck if they're safer --- they're extremely boring.

And Frankfurt is beautiful. Who cares if it's got a giant Celanese Chemical plant?

It's hard to tell what's worse - Pittsburgh, or Frankfurt. Don't answer that.


Austin is about as large as I'll go - and it does have a great night life.

But forget places like NYC, or LA. Forget it.

its important to take in account that USA cities are still consider better to live in than 90% of the world's major cities.

It just that the canuck cities are considered better than 97% of em ;)

And how does Ottawa rank ahead of calgary? WTF?? Gee its colder, and full of smog :rolleyes:


Yeah, the list seems a bit strange.

Thats blashpemous. More mountains? I think not. More oil? No way. More open spaces? Maybe where every Albertans brain is supposed to be. 22 hours of darkness for 3 months? Nope.

OK seriously, I do think Canadians stole Alaska's sandy beaches. I traveled through Canada with my parents for .. 4 or 5 hours to get to Haines, the moment we entered Canada soil, we saw a beach. Sandy, not rocky or gravely. Another beach a ways down. Sandy. repeat this for a while..
Oh and I did my sixth grade report on Alberta, and I met a family of Albertans, they were sooooo cool!

Actually the only place that has more oil than alberta is saudi arabia ;)

You do have the ocean, which is a plus though. And yes we have more mountains, you may have a bigger mountain but we have more of em ;)

Plus we have prairies! errr ya

It's hard to tell what's worse - Pittsburgh, or Frankfurt. Don't answer that.


Austin is about as large as I'll go - and it does have a great night life.

But forget places like NYC, or LA. Forget it.


Tell me --- just how is Pitt a bad place? And it seems to me that you don't like the large cities because they're usually over 60% Democrat (though I'm not a Democrat, but just saying).

Pitt's got... ONE Steel Mill left, and Aluminum Plant outside of town, and... Not much else. It's got far less pollution than Chicago, which has far less than Houston, which has just a bit less than Los Angeles. I'm failing to see what the real problem is, except for the fact that the majority of Pittsburghers are Democrats.

Anchorage is definitely a 24 hour city. Especially in the summer. ;) Yeah, Anchorage is great.

Actually the only place that has more oil than alberta is saudi arabia ;)

You do have the ocean, which is a plus though. And yes we have more mountains, you may have a bigger mountain but we have more of em ;)

Plus we have prairies! errr ya

We have tundra, which is...you know...its not that bad. But I wouldn't mind checking out some prairie. And the ocean isn't that crazy or cool since we have no sandy beaches or hot weather. Set net fishing is fun tho...

That's odd... Houston's the least-liveable American city? I can think of much worse cities than Houston (two being in Oklahoma).
Maybe it's just the least liveable of those that made the list.

I doubt they're taking all cities into consideration.

Tell me --- just how is Pitt a bad place? And it seems to me that you don't like the large cities because they're usually over 60% Democrat (though I'm not a Democrat, but just saying).

Pitt's got... ONE Steel Mill left, and Aluminum Plant outside of town, and... Not much else. It's got far less pollution than Chicago, which has far less than Houston, which has just a bit less than Los Angeles. I'm failing to see what the real problem is, except for the fact that the majority of Pittsburghers are Democrats.

It smells. Huge areas of it look like rot. Ever ridden on the train through town? The worst parts of Pittsburgh are along the route. Yes, you got rid of the jobs, and the active companies, but they left their rotting buildings behind, along with the rotting neighborhoods.

It's not because it's a Democrat place.

I stay away from towns that won't reciprocate on my carry permit.

I was mugged in NYC last year - and it's the last time I'm going to be mugged.

Maybe it's just the least liveable of those that made the list.

I doubt they're taking all cities into consideration.


Yeah, that sounds about right. I mean, it's a bit too conservative, but it's still liveable.

Ok, Johnstown, PA is a smaller town, but it's worse that Pittsburgh.

You can see people's cars dissolving from the acid rain.

It smells. Huge areas of it look like rot. Ever ridden on the train through town? The worst parts of Pittsburgh are along the route. Yes, you got rid of the jobs, and the active companies, but they left their rotting buildings behind, along with the rotting neighborhoods.

It's not because it's a Democrat place.

I stay away from towns that won't reciprocate on my carry permit.

I was mugged in NYC last year - and it's the last time I'm going to be mugged.

Dude, if you lived in Alaska you get get a permit to carry a gun on your body in minutes (I think, I have never done it). You can have "pocket knives" that are 6+inches long, just as long as they don't shoot out, you have to be able to flip them out, and its legal.

We have no, or very few, rotting neighborhoods. And you will not get mugged in Anchorage.

It smells. Huge areas of it look like rot. Ever ridden on the train through town? The worst parts of Pittsburgh are along the route. Yes, you got rid of the jobs, and the active companies, but they left their rotting buildings behind, along with the rotting neighborhoods.

It may have urban decay, but it's far less than that of Houston and Los Angeles. The decline of the Steel Industry definately wasn't a good thing, and it shows.

It's not because it's a Democrat place.

Well, that's good to know.

I stay away from towns that won't reciprocate on my carry permit.

I understand completely. But still... That's taking it a bit too far, don't you think?

I was mugged in NYC last year - and it's the last time I'm going to be mugged.

Hey, it happens. I didn't get mugged when I was there, nor did my sister and my brother-in-law. But still, disliking a city just for getting mugged is a bit ridiculous.

Dude, if you lived in Alaska you get get a permit to carry a gun on your body in minutes (I think, I have never done it). You can have "pocket knives" that are 6+inches long, just as long as they don't shoot out, you have to be able to flip them out, and its legal.

We have no, or very few, rotting neighborhoods. And you will not get mugged in Anchorage.

I've wanted to go to Alaska, if only because I like extended camping and hiking.

Hey, it happens. I didn't get mugged when I was there, nor did my sister and my brother-in-law. But still, disliking a city just for getting mugged is a bit ridiculous.

Oh, and there's this little nuthouse...
http://www.chatham.edu/

Cute girls, but they're definitely not from this planet...

hell, i got pick pocketed when i was in rome.

i still loved the city and want to go back...

just next time i do, i'm carrying one of those dealies where you can hide your money under your clothes.

hell, i got pick pocketed when i was in rome.

i still loved the city and want to go back...

just next time i do, i'm carrying one of those dealies where you can hide your money under your clothes.


I'd wear a trenchcoat and hide a baseball bat in it.

Well, there's this place in Pittsburgh that has the most warped women on earth...

I'd wear a trenchcoat and hide a baseball bat in it.

I almost spat out my ice cream when I read that.

Whispering Legs, I am sure you would find plenty of places for extended camping/hiking up here. I have not completely been freed from my parents and do not have enough money to by the right equipment to do that stuff tho :(

Its too bad no here in this forum will buy the whole report...

It has supposedly 5 canuck cities, 70 american, 2 from aussieland, etc etc from all over the world in this list....

Its too bad no here in this forum will buy the whole report...

It has supposedly 5 canuck cities, 70 american, 2 from aussieland, etc etc from all over the world in this list....
Here's part of the list... top 50. http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html

Here's the story from MHRC's page for further info. I couldn't find the whole list though...
http://www.mercerhr.com/pressrelease/details.jhtml/dynamic/idContent/1173105

You say Zurich and Geneva are great cities, but they are ranked among the most expensive cities in the world.

I'm not saying anything (and i assume the thread started isn't either), I'm reading Mercer's report. It's just how the report is done;
Mercer's study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of life determinants, grouped in the following categories:

• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
• Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
• Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
• Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewerage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
• Schools and education (standard and availability of schools, etc)
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
• Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
• Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)

Leave some of those categories out and add some that you like, and you get a different list.

Obviously whoever compiled the list hasn't heard of New Jersey. All of our cities are top notch.

.... Newark and Trenton and Camden are all like ghettos, so I REALLY hope you're joking

Originally posted by Bunnyducks
I'm not saying anything (and i assume the thread started isn't either), I'm reading Mercer's report. It's just how the report is done;
Mercer's study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of life determinants, grouped in the following categories:

• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
• Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
• Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
• Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewerage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
• Schools and education (standard and availability of schools, etc)
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
• Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
• Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)

Leave some of those categories out and add some that you like, and you get a different list.

I know, it would be intelligent for them to add cost. Such as rent, food and entertainment prices, etc.

Actually the only place that has more oil than alberta is saudi arabia ;)

You do have the ocean, which is a plus though. And yes we have more mountains, you may have a bigger mountain but we have more of em ;)

Plus we have prairies! errr ya

You may want to check your facts. Alaska has more mountains that Alberta.

I know, it would be intelligent for them to add cost. Such as rent, food and entertainment prices, etc.


Well, I am willing to bet that they did include that, however calgary sure is hell of alot cheaper than the USA cities in that list...

You may want to check your facts. Alaska has more mountains that Alberta.


hmmm i dunno maybe

The Danes have beaten us! Copenhagen apparently has a higher quality of life than Stockholm. Not good!

Interesting to note that Europe is very dominant in the quality of life index.

.... Newark and Trenton and Camden are all like ghettos, so I REALLY hope you're joking
Dude, I live in Trenton. I love that city. Our museum is fucking amazing for such a small city. Our historic sites are excellent. The Delaware river has cleaned up nicely (it no longer smells like the corpse of someone who died in a chemical spill). We have great little restaurants, good clubs where you can catch live music, a cool minor league hockey team, real concerts come to our town now. Trenton is rapidly becomming a first rate small city.

And Camden's still number 1 in homicide nationwide.

Don't worry Borgoa, at least Oslo is where it belongs. :)

Well, I am willing to bet that they did include that, however calgary sure is hell of alot cheaper than the USA cities in that list...
I'm willing to bet that Hamilton's cheaper than Calgary.

How many cities can you find basement apartments going for $120/month? And upstairs ones for $200 with utilities included? Even the bus service is cheap.

Dude, I live in Trenton. I love that city. Our museum is fucking amazing for such a small city. Our historic sites are excellent. The Delaware river has cleaned up nicely (it no longer smells like the corpse of someone who died in a chemical spill). We have great little restaurants, good clubs where you can catch live music, a cool minor league hockey team, real concerts come to our town now. Trenton is rapidly becomming a first rate small city.

And Camden's still number 1 in homicide nationwide.


That's just wrong.

That's just wrong.
It used to be a pretty polluted river. Considering that NJ refines much of the oil used in the Northeast, and has been home to many industries back when there were few environmental regulations it was unavoidable. The river's come back alot. There have even been sightings of sturgeon in the Delaware. In the 1800's the delaware was actually a source for caviar, but pollution destroyed the sturgeon population. It's getting clean enough for them to come back.

I thought Chicago was #1 in murder's? I remember reading not too long ago in a Maxim that October 28, 2004 (the date's probably wrong) was the first day since 1999 that someone wasn't shot in chicago.

It used to be a pretty polluted river. Considering that NJ refines much of the oil used in the Northeast, and has been home to many industries back when there were few environmental regulations it was unavoidable. The river's come back alot. There have even been sightings of sturgeon in the Delaware. In the 1800's the delaware was actually a source for caviar, but pollution destroyed the sturgeon population. It's getting clean enough for them to come back.


Yeah, I can see that. Pittsburgh's three rivers (Monongahela, Allegheny, Ohio) were extremely polluted back before the days of the EPA. Steel Mills and foundries (among other nasty things) dumped any waste they could into the rivers, and often it was brown and green sludge. This turned the rivers a very dark brown... Just disgusting.

I thought Chicago was #1 in murder's? I remember reading not too long ago in a Maxim that October 28, 2004 (the date's probably wrong) was the first day since 1999 that someone wasn't shot in chicago.
My Bad, Camden is the "most dangerous city".
www.canadiancontent.net/forums/about2465.html

Being a native Houstonian, I am rather insulted that Houston came in 68th. I happen to think that Houston is a lovely city.

Yes I do know that it was once listed as a hardship post by the British Government, and it is just an over grown bayou, with skeeters rivaling fighter planes in size and attack abilities, cockroaches the size of semis, and nearly 100 % humitity constantly, and in the summer you can cook breakfast on the sidewalks.....

However, our downtown ( the only place that might resemble the legendary 'concrete canyons' of New York, Chicago, Philly ) is less than two miles square( Houston sprawls over 8,778 square miles) ( Houstonians eat out morethan the residents of any other city - we have over 11,000 restraunts ) we have a world class Grand Opera ( our theater district is second only to New Yorks ), multiple world class museums, the finest medical center in the world ( Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, with a local economic impact of $10 billion. More than 52,000 people work within its facilities, which encompass 21 million square feet and it is still growing! ), a port with the highest traffic volume in the US, a very respectable zoo, Rice University ( one among 40 fine Universities located in Houston ), the Astrodome, NASA ( and any one calling it LBJ Space Center is obviously not a real Texan )...

and Houston has the most affordable housing of 10 most populated metropolitan areas; Houston housing costs are 39 percent below the average of 26 U.S. urban populations of more than 1.5 million.
Houston has the second lowest cost of living among major American cities.

Silly Canadaian. Alaska is the greatest place of all. We have the best water, the most beautiful geography ever, and all our main cities are small!

I agree!! The Kenai Peninsula is especially beautiful! Of course my opinion is a little biased because I live there, but hey, it's a great place, anyway!

Montreal has a kickass night life.

Montreal has a kickass night life.
Pfff It's not "dangerous" like cities in New Jersey.

Being a native Houstonian, I am rather insulted that Houston came in 68th. I happen to think that Houston is a lovely city.

Yes I do know that it was once listed as a hardship post by the British Government, and it is just an over grown bayou, with skeeters rivaling fighter planes in size and attack abilities, cockroaches the size of semis, and nearly 100 % humitity constantly, and in the summer you can cook breakfast on the sidewalks.....

However, our downtown ( the only place that might resemble the legendary 'concrete canyons' of New York, Chicago, Philly ) is less than two miles square( Houston sprawls over 8,778 square miles) ( Houstonians eat out morethan the residents of any other city - we have over 11,000 restraunts ) we have a world class Grand Opera ( our theater district is second only to New Yorks ), multiple world class museums, the finest medical center in the world ( Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, with a local economic impact of $10 billion. More than 52,000 people work within its facilities, which encompass 21 million square feet and it is still growing! ), a port with the highest traffic volume in the US, a very respectable zoo, Rice University ( one among 40 fine Universities located in Houston ), the Astrodome, NASA ( and any one calling it LBJ Space Center is obviously not a real Texan )...

and Houston has the most affordable housing of 10 most populated metropolitan areas; Houston housing costs are 39 percent below the average of 26 U.S. urban populations of more than 1.5 million.
Houston has the second lowest cost of living among major American cities.


Houston's downtown resembling the Concrete Canyons of New York and Chicago? No way in hell. Only about six blocks square are like that, and the building's aren't very big compared to those of the other two cities I mentioned. Tall, yes, but not as big around.

It's a nice place overall, but it's got some real downsides... Some you've already mentioned. The biggest downside is the over-pollution from the Ship Channel area, where the largest industrial sector in the world is located (dozens of refineries, even more chemical plants, hundreds of factories, and thousands upon thousands of smokestacks).

It is nice, but I've got a lot of problems with it (not to mention the fuggly accents).

Dude, if you lived in Alaska you get get a permit to carry a gun on your body in minutes (I think, I have never done it). You can have "pocket knives" that are 6+inches long, just as long as they don't shoot out, you have to be able to flip them out, and its legal.

We have no, or very few, rotting neighborhoods. And you will not get mugged in Anchorage.

Once your 21 you can carry a concealed weapon (aka gun) without a permit, as long as you aren't a felon. Just put it in your pocket, or holster, and away you go! but not in government buildings, schools, businesses that prohibit it.

I don't think this survey is particularly accurate. The highest rated UK city appears to be London, and I don't think London is anywhere near being the nicest UK city to live in.

That's odd... Houston's the least-liveable American city? I can think of much worse cities than Houston (two being in Oklahoma).

And which two in Oklahoma are you refering to?

You trade off different things wherever you live. The biggest cities like NY have the most stuff and are the most diverse, while smaller towns and rural areas tend to lack in these areas but are generally considered 'safer' and 'quieter'. Smaller cities such as Trenton balance between the two but don't stand out in any of those areas. It all depends on what you like and 'quality of life' is too subjective to be placed as a number.

Personally I like my small town but if I were to live in a big city I think it'd have to be NY.

The Danes have beaten us! Copenhagen apparently has a higher quality of life than Stockholm. Not good!

Interesting to note that Europe is very dominant in the quality of life index.


Well ot her than New Zealand, canada and the Aussies lol

I'm willing to bet that Hamilton's cheaper than Calgary.

How many cities can you find basement apartments going for $120/month? And upstairs ones for $200 with utilities included? Even the bus service is cheap.


Just be glad the armpit of canada was not included in that list, but ya i bet it is cheaper. Der is a reason for that you know...

Just be glad the armpit of canada was not included in that list, but ya i bet it is cheaper. Der is a reason for that you know...

Ottawa is not smoggy, our smog comes from Toronto. I also can't understand why Toronto is second. I'd put Van city first, ottawa second, calgary third, montreal, Edmonton then Toronto.

NY trumps you all! :D :upyours:
(ignore the mean face, I smile as I flip people off! :D)

NY trumps you all! :D

Hey not arguing, just talking cdn cities :D

Hey not arguing, just talking cdn cities :D

No point in arguing about which Canadian city (or any other city for that matter) is better when NY is better than all of them anyway! :D :upyours:

Where's Los Angeles?! Go Lakers!!

That's odd... Houston's the least-liveable American city? I can think of much worse cities than Houston (two being in Oklahoma).
And a certain one in Ohio named "the mistake on the lake."

That's odd... Houston's the least-liveable American city? I can think of much worse cities than Houston (two being in Oklahoma).

Minneapolis is much worse.

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. The only truly gross part of New Jersey is the area around NYC. The rest is actually quite nice.
I'm not real keen on the bit of NJ by the Delaware Memorial Bridge, either, but in particular Trenton is a rathole. I like middle Jersey - I live in Princeton - but Trenton is just not a happy place.

The Danes have beaten us! Copenhagen apparently has a higher quality of life than Stockholm. Not good!

Interesting to note that Europe is very dominant in the quality of life index.

It's not interesting to note. It's actually trite for you to bring it up. It's common knowledge around here, nothing interesting about it.

I wouldn't want to live in a US city either. I have a hard enough time going to college in the suburbs of one.

Once your 21 you can carry a concealed weapon (aka gun) without a permit, as long as you aren't a felon. Just put it in your pocket, or holster, and away you go! but not in government buildings, schools, businesses that prohibit it.

Thanks for that, yeah I have visited Kusiloff now and then for set netting.

Ottawa is not smoggy, our smog comes from Toronto. I also can't understand why Toronto is second. I'd put Van city first, ottawa second, calgary third, montreal, Edmonton then Toronto.

Everyone in Ottawa goes to sleep at 6 PM.

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. I can't believe we have our own damn groundhog. If I find him, I am going to kidnap him. :mad:

Of all places, Vancouver got third out of all of those cities. Why? They don't have that image, as I always imagined it as a great place to get drugs, smoke pot on the streets, and not be arrested for it.

That's odd... Houston's the least-liveable American city? I can think of much worse cities than Houston (two being in Oklahoma).

Houston sucks, but I think Oklahoma City sucks harder. Maybe they only did larger cities.

Yeah, probably so.

Houston does suck, but I can think of at least ten other cities that are worse.

Oklahoma City
Tulsa
Baton Rouge
Reno
Little Rock
Hot Springs
Dallas
El Paso (not exactly a bad place, but it's so fucking BORING)
Baltimore
Washington, D.C. (hurray for high crime rates!)

[QUOTE=Tanara]Being a native Houstonian, I am rather insulted that Houston came in 68th. I happen to think that Houston is a lovely city.

Yes I do know that it was once listed as a hardship post by the British Government, and it is just an over grown bayou, with skeeters rivaling fighter planes in size and attack abilities, cockroaches the size of semis, and nearly 100 % humitity constantly, and in the summer you can cook breakfast on the sidewalks.....
[QUOTE]
As another native Houstonian, you couldn't pay me enough to live there again. I prefer Austin.
BTW, how do you pronounce Houston? I've found most natives pronounce it "Youston."

I'm not a native (was born on the border in McAllen), and I pronounce it "hou-sten".

The dorks with the annoying accents pronounce it "hiyew-stun", with the "I" being tied to the "Y". It's gross, really.

It's not interesting to note. It's actually trite for you to bring it up. It's common knowledge around here, nothing interesting about it.

I wouldn't want to live in a US city either. I have a hard enough time going to college in the suburbs of one.

LOL, I think you have revealed some hidden complex... I never mentioned anything about US cities specifically! There are towns in Europe that you wouldn't want to live in as well. Interesting really is a relative and personally subjective term anyway - maybe it was not interesting for you, but it was for me.

LOL, I think you have revealed some hidden complex... I never mentioned anything about US cities specifically! There are towns in Europe that you wouldn't want to live in as well. Interesting really is a relative and personally subjective term anyway - maybe it was not interesting for you, but it was for me.

It may be interesting if it were the first time it were brought up. That UN data gets dragged out every time the word 'live' is used in a thread. That's why I may be displaying some kind of complex. It's like "all your base" or "It's a trap" but it was never funny at any point in time.

I'm not real keen on the bit of NJ by the Delaware Memorial Bridge, either, but in particular Trenton is a rathole. I like middle Jersey - I live in Princeton - but Trenton is just not a happy place.
I'm quite happy there. There's more to do in Trenton than in Princeton, but you're probably too upscale to go slumming among the proles.