(MOBILE // Source: wikipedia.org)

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Back in March, Julie Zeveloff wrote that Mobile is the #3 most miserable city in America. In her defense, the writer for BusinessInsider.com based her info on the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index, which also ranked us third worst -- in well-being. We never got terribly upset about being told our "well-being" wasn't all that, um, well. But it's rankles to be called "miserable," and Julie heard from more than a few perturbed Mobilians. Not only did she call ours the third most miserable city in America, she didn't bother to rank Montgomery and Birmingham #1 and #2. We're kidding about that last part (sort of).

The rankings take emotional well-being, work environment, healthy behaviors, and access to basic necessities among other critieria into account. Okay, we have issues. Mobile needs to be more bike friendly, more pedestrian friendly, and we need to eat less and drink less. In a word, we could stand to be healthier. 

But we're not miserable. And Julie is about to find that out. At the urging of mayoral candidate Sandy Stimpson, she's coming to town to experience Mobile first hand. Hopefully, she'll notice some of the great things CNN's Erin Burnett noticed about our city while covering the Carnival Triumph story. Because you can't call a city with a canopy of beautiful live oaks miserable. You can't call a city with easy access to some of the world's best beaches miserable. You can't call a city with mild winters and perfect spring and fall weather miserable -- ok, it gets a bit hot in summer, which can be miserable at times. You can't call a city with great Gulf seafood miserable.

Mobile has its share of warts. It's got scars, including that recent scar in midtown where the tornado hit on Christmas Day. And maybe we're biased. No, Mobile isn't Chicago or New York or LA. Well, it is LA but we mean "Lower Alabama." But we like it that way. We like that a bad day on the Bayway is still probably better than a good day in that other LA's traffic. We like not freezing to death in the winter. 

We like where we live. 

We're glad Julie's coming to town later this week, because we think she'll like it too.

--Mason

The 50 contestants in the Distinguished Young Women scholarship program arrived in Mobile Sunday for 2 weeks of rehearsals and competition.  The National Finals are June 27-29.

Ciera Horton of Florida and Ling Zeng of California came by today to share their impressions of Mobile and DYW so far....

This Saturday is their chance to meet the public and sign autographs (which has to feel strange to a high school senior!) at Be Air Mall, from 6pm to 8pm.  

Monday, it's the Oyster Eating Contest at Wintzells in downtown Mobile.  And yes, we gave Ciera and Ling the advice we always give for this contest.....if you're in it to win it, go for it.  But if not, try to get your picture taken for making the worst face.  Either way, you get noticed!

WIN:

* Two admission passes to enjoy the summer fun at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores.

* Lunch at Atlanta Bread, on Dauphin just west of I-65. Flavor Your Day with their new Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich or Buffalo Chicken Salad.

MONDAY 6/17/2013

TUESDAY 6/18/2013

WEDNESDAY 6/19/2013

THURSDAY 6/20/2013

FRIDAY 6/21/2013

Every summer, blood supplies dwindle. So here's a good idea to get those supplies back up, with free movie tickets for donors. Stop by any of these Lifesouth blood drives this weekend to give, and get into the movies for free.

Scheduled drives for June 14 are:

• Mullinax Ford, 7311 Airport Blvd., Mobile, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Winn Dixie, 1550 Government Street, Mobile,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Walmart, 2200 S. McKenzie St., Foley, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On June 15 the drives will be at:

• Walmart Tillman’s Corner, 5245 Service Road S., Mobile, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Food World, 2962 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Best Buy, 3250 Airport Blvd., Mobile, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Citronelle Market Place, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Bass Pro Shops, 20000 Bass Pro Drive, Spanish Fort, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On the final day, June 16, there will be drives at:

• Sonny’s BBQ, 770 Schillinger Road, Mobile, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Buffalo Wild Wings, 6341 Airport Blvd., Mobile, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Big Lots, 3250 Airport Blvd., Mobile, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Starbucks, 1510 Government St., Mobile, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
• Bass Pro Shops, 20000 Bass Pro Drive, Spanish Fort, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required. For additional information call toll free 888-795-2707.

"Hey ya'll, it's Mardi Gras" wouldn't sound the same if you substituted "you guys"....but the same can also be said for the "Hey you guys!!!" in "Goonies".  How we say things and the words we use depend on what part of the country we come from.  

Click here to see the differences in everything from pecan to crayon....to the Coke/soda/pop debate.

THIS WEEK'S PRIZES:

* A pair of tickets to see an acoustic evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin, coming to Pensacola's Saenger Theater on Saturday, November 9th. Tickets for this show go on sale this weekend -- Saturday 10AM via Ticketmaster.

* Flavor Your Day with a free lunch from Atlanta Bread, Dauphin Street just west of I-65. Try the Spinach & Artichoke panini.

MONDAY 6/10/2013

TUESDAY 6/11/2013

WEDNESDAY 6/12/2013

THURSDAY 6/13/2013

FRIDAY 6/14/2013

(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Well, that worked out well. Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson was in court to finalize a nice (for him) plea deal on a probation violation. The judge praised his attorney, and as a congrats, Chad did what NFL players do -- or at least what they do on the field. He slapped his attorney on the butt. Everyone in the courtroom laughed, and the judge... well, she got angry. Chad Ochocinco was cuffed, the plea agreement taken off the table, and now he'll spend 30 days in jail. The judge, by the way, is legally blind. Watch the video and let us know if you think the judge overreacted or not.

(photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a weird story, but maybe a lot of people who've encountered Simon Cowell have felt the same way. A former contestant on Britain's Got Talent was playing in the orchestra during the show's season finale and decided to egg Simon. Did she get the job specifically so she could do that? We're wondering.

After the show, Natalie Holt released a statement to EW.com that she's never done such a thing before, and she apologized to the performers (who are really good, by the way) for overshadowing their act. Simon Cowell points out that they didn't miss a note during the interruption.

The egg tossing incident occurs around the 1:51 mark.

Tissue alert-- Former Journey frontman Steve Perry opens up in his blog about the love of his life and their short time together before her death due to cancer. And he talks about his own struggle with cancer.

CLICK HERE for Perry's blog.