cities

As much as we try to keep our homes healthy, sometimes our efforts are thwarted by the fact that living in a large urban area means our home environments aren't quite as pristine as we'd like them to be. These environmental risks include noise pollution, which can actually lead to hypertension and heart disease, light pollution, which can interfere with sleep patterns, and particulate pollution from vehicles, which can lead to a number of health issues. I'm not suggesting that we all flee our urban homes — I love living in the city, and feel that the benefits definitely outweigh any risks associated with the urban landscape. Luckily, there are ways that you can counteract the pollution that's often inherent with living in a densely populated place. Here are some easy ways to improve your home's health factor, as well as your own health.

• Fill your home with houseplants that clean the air, like these.
• Take off your shoes in the entry of your home so you don't track dirt and pollution into your home.
• Run an air purifier in your home — this one uses houseplants to clean the air!
• Exercise regularly. Exercising in the morning and in outdoor green spaces (such as parks) is best.
• Strive to get regular sleep. Use a sound machine and light-blocking curtains to ensure your Zs.

Keep reading for a list of the 10 dirtiest cities in the United States.

Middle America may have the most sex, but that doesn't help the young, single, and smart.

Portfolio ranked 200 American cities from the most educated (Boulder, CO) to the least (Merced, CA). To identify the best city to meet a smart single like yourself I cross-referenced this list with Travel + Leisure's best cities for singles in 2010.

Here are the top 10 cities for educated singles, starting at number 10.

10. New York
9. San Diego
8. Portland
7. Austin
6. Denver

See the top five below.

Men's Health set out to uncover where men have the best sex lives for its October issue and ended up with a list of cities where men likely have the most sex. Equating quality with quantity, the magazine compared condom sales, birth rates, and STD rates, along with sex toy sales.

Considering smaller cities made the top five, might a lack of other entertainment options lead to more sex? Maybe, but people in big cities are good at buying sex toys: New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, and DC have the highest grossing sales. Check out the top and bottom five.

Most sexually satisfied cities:

1. Indianapolis, IN
2. Columbus, OH
3. Fort Wayne, IN
4. Cincinnati, OH
5. Salt Lake City, UT

To see the least sexually satisfied cities, read more.

When it comes to living in New York, couples have it made. Two incomes can afford one bedroom. Everyone else has about three options: live in 350 square feet (pricey), live far out and off an unreliable train (not cheap), or live with roommates. The more may not be the merrier, but it will rent a better apartment in one of the best locations. Whether it's legal or right or even a good idea is the last concern, so why the New York Times reported yesterday on an old yet existing law that forbids more than three unrelated people to live together is itself something to talk about.

Maybe the purpose is to raise awareness and challenge the law, but even the article admits there's been no rise in citations. Fines and evictions are rarer than one-person households, so who really cares? All it proves is New York, like most American cities with Colonial roots, has nonsensical sex laws. Most people hear rumblings of these laws (three unrelated women make a brothel) while completing college applications.

The point, I suppose, is to point out an old, silly law. But when it's reported like news, complete with earnest quotes, like "To pack unrelated people in an apartment? I don’t think it’s wrong," I just can't take any of it, the article or the law, seriously.


Source: Flickr User smcgee

When making its list of the best cities for America's youth, the Wall Street Journal looked at factors like how easy it is find a job or a future mate.

Where today's young people decide to settle down once the "recovery" begins will have a big impact on American cities. Urban centers that become "youth magnets" should see a boom in cultural allure, along with an economic advantage.

Here are the top-five youth magnet cities, according to the WSJ:

1. Washington, DC (tie): The 2008 election of the "cool" Barack Obama set off a "youthful pilgrimage" that shouldn't end anytime soon.
1. Seattle (tie): Seattle's mix of culture, high-tech industry, natural beauty, and university presence makes it a youth magnet.
3. New York City: NYC is still a big city of dreams.
4. Portland: Despite a double digit unemployment rate, Portland's public transportation, access to outdoor activities, and artist culture attracts young people.
5. Austin: A university town with housing and job opportunities makes this city a great place for young people to settle down.

Out of all these cities, where would you rather live?