April 16, 2008

"Madison is the smartest city in the United States."

So says a new study in Bizjournals. Somehow, Washington is second. I'm suspicious of the methodology.

Doug Moe is also suspicious, based on absurd accolades of the past:
I recall Men's Health magazine, in November 2003, putting Madison first in a survey of 101 cities that were ranked "by how well they keep the male citizenry safe, sane, and well stocked with six-pack abs."

The article began: "You can go an entire day without seeing fat people in Madison."

37 comments:

rhhardin said...

BMI is more than just an enforcer of music copyrights.

MadisonMan said...

Most educated, perhaps. Sometimes that's not the same as smartest.

Bob said...

The article began: "You can go an entire day without seeing fat people in Madison."

Do they hide them in attics, or what? Is there somewhere a secret mass gravesite of the Madison Fatties, a rather greasy pit somewhere?

The Drill SGT said...

Ann, Your caption is wrong

City was not in their methodology. They used SMA's, not city limits.

In this way for example, Washington ranks second, rather than 100th out of 100. It ranks high when you add in Montgomery county MD and Fairfax county VA.

On its own, it has a terrible eduction demographic.

George M. Spencer said...

These polls exist to get publicity and sell magazines or, in this case, local business newspapers.

And city Chambers and realtors love these studies.

Here is how one city ranks on about 50 different media surveys.

Vanity thy name is civic boosterism!

The Drill SGT said...

and it's my wireless keyboard that drops letters. I can spell education

Susan said...

That's OK Sgt my brain added it back in so I didn't even notice.

rhhardin said...

Eduction is the pied piper. Also to get rid of fat people.

Skyler said...

It's not education. It's the weather. They're always wearing parkas so no one can see that they're fat.

Laura Reynolds said...

This is not unlike all these ridiculous award shows, enough of them so everyone's a winner. Anyway Wash DC SMA has to be smart, lots of people making lots of money doing something that does not appear to be any more than getting money from taxpayers for taking eachother out to lunch.

Doug Moe.. didn't he used to coach the Denver Nuggets?

Lance Burri said...

"You can go an entire day without seeing fat people in Madison."

I can do that if I stay in my office all day with the blinds drawn. Oh, except for the walk to and from my car.

rhhardin said...

Here's my town. I really like this photo in concept, and there it came up yesterday afternoon right before my very eyes.

In execution it's less than I expected. Perhaps the melon reference in the background makes it too excessive, when only excessive was needed.

I saw a similar scene years ago that I have been hoping reappers someday, of an even larger becarted lady with only three sheet cakes in her cart basket.

reader_iam said...

SteveR: LOL. Definitely a different Doug Moe.

reader_iam said...

Which I'm sure you know, but I found your quip funny.

Ann Althouse said...

My title is in quotes. Doug Moe said it. But thanks for the explication of the odd Washington result.

I'm Full of Soup said...

"Madison is the smartest..." I find that hard to believe when Ann is in NYC :)

Steve R/ Reader:

Doug Moe the coach was smart enough to get fired by the Sixers with about 5 years left on his guaranteed multimillion contract. Sweet huh!

garage mahal said...

Madison smartest city. Garage Mahal lives in Madison. Hmmm.

reader_iam said...

AJ Lynch: Indeed!

Garage Mahal: You must be the smartest Garage Mahal! : )

chickelit said...

Anybody know of a Madison city street webcam site?
I'd like to see for myself. Things couldn't have changed that much in 25 years.

MadisonMan said...

google street view is available for Madison, but it was done very very early because few people are out and about.

J said...

"well stocked with six-pack abs."

Perhaps they meant the kind of abs you'll have if you drink lots and lots of six packs.

Has anybody seen any stats that break down graduate degrees awarded by major? It's been my impression that the vast majority of grad degrees are granted in fields that, um, aren't particularly difficult and are frankly more indicative of perseverance than raw intelligence - though the former in many cases can be as valuable as the latter.

garage mahal said...

reader
I must confess my pseudonym is a crude ripoff of these guys. So, I can't even lay legitimate claim to being the smartest GM.

Trooper York said...

Doug Moe was a great coach in his ABA days where he was one of the few coaches who didn't care about defense but believed in pushing the ball up in a motion offense and out scoring the opposition. Of course the NBA is all about defense and the sucess of the Pistons Bad Boys with the killer physical defense has resulted in the game we have today where they walk the ball up court and dump into the two man game. That is why so many people think pro baskeball is boring. The ABA days were a lot of fun with Dr J soaring in for dunks and the wide open offenses scoring crazy numbers over a 120 per game. The new crappy movie with Will Ferrell gives you taste of what the ABA was before the merger. Man I miss those days. I wish that the Nets change to a wide open running game when they move to Brooklyn. But I don't think that is gonna happen.

The only bad thing I can say about Doug Moe is that his best friend is Larry Brown. Who is a super douche.

Trooper York said...

Plus Madison is full of commie college people. And everyone knows that your commies are skinny cause there ain't enough food in commie land.

reader_iam said...

Trooper: The BB Moe is also a Brooklyn native, of course. You can still hear it.

DaLawGiver said...

I always hate how people equate smartness or intelligence with educational level. It's not about how much education you have, it's about what you do with what you have. Hell, we can't even agree on what intelligence means. I don't think Bill Gates or Oprah ever finished their bachelors, yet I would consider them smarter than anyone in Madison.

Trooper York said...

I know, I went drinking one night with him in the '80s in a joint across from the Garden during the NBA draft weekend. He is a big time North Carolina guy, but he is along way away from Brooklyn. But his run and gun style is schoolyard all the way and a lot of fun.

Hey Lawgiver, who are your 'Boys gonna take in the draft?

DaLawGiver said...

Trooper,

Hard to say. Maybe an Arkansas running back or a burner to compliment TO. But right now it's all about the Spurs baby! Nobody is giving any love to the defending camps, we will see, we wil see!

Trooper York said...

Hey I picked the Spurs to win it all. They have the experiance and I don't believe in the Lakers. As for the Celtics, well they are from Boston and as we all know:

Boston sucks.

Trooper York said...

The Giants are going defense this year, maybe a linebacker. But both teams should work on the lower rounds. The Giants had eight guys from last years draft that contributed to the run. That's what you need. I hate to see Jones blow the budget on Pac Man Jones. That would be a shame.

MadisonMan said...

My sole Pro BBall game was a Memphis game, and I thought Pau Gasol was great, so since he's now with the Lakers, I think the Lakers will win.

MadisonMan said...

...and I live in Madison, the smartest city in the world, so you know my opinion counts!

Tibore said...

"The article began: "You can go an entire day without seeing fat people in Madison."

Sheesh... I guess Bloomington, Indiana must be their polar opposite then. The only time I don't see fat people is when I don't leave the house.

No "well, just look in the mirror" jokes! >:-(

Unknown said...

Every year the list of "best cities in America," or whatever, changes.

The goal is to sell magazines. This is one of the oldest publishing tricks in the book: Write something about "the top 25 cities" and sales in those 25 cities (and the surrounding area) go through the roof.

ricpic said...

All the smartest people want to save all the benighted people from themselves and I say that's mighty white of 'em.

blake said...

It's the magazine equivalent of a hack band saying "Madison is the Most Rockin' City In The World!"

Anonymous said...

don't think Bill Gates or Oprah ever finished their bachelors, yet I would consider them smarter than anyone in Madison.

You sure about that? I am fairly certain that many people in Madison, WI are smarter than Oprah Winfrey. She is a talk show host, not a philosopher.