Yuba River,2

What 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.

About the Author

Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting card companies. Presently she writes a 400-word news blog that is published 3 times a week. KNIGHT WATCH is a second look at uniquely interesting news items that requires only seconds to read at http://knightwatch.typepad.com.

North Fork Yuba River # 2

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