Arm yourself or something

Flu hysteria hits fever pitch in Dallas, relatively low level of threatnotwithstanding

Unless your New Year's resolution was a technology detox, you've probably heard that flu season is once again upon us. Some of my favorite descriptions label the annual virus as an "outbreak," a "pandemic" and just plain "intense."

There's even been a call to "arm yourself" with a flu shot. Nothing like combining the fear of illness with a love of guns to really drive the point home.

It's not that the flu isn't real or dangerous. It is. But the amount of attention it garners is widely disproportionate to the actual threat.

To put the flu death estimate in perspective, U.S. Census Bureau records indicated that more than 10 million Americans die every year in car accidents.

Despite a firestorm of coverage in Dallas and nationally, I am still much more likely to die in a car accident or from heart disease than I am to get killed by the flu. But until pharmaceutical companies break into the seat-belt business, I doubt we'll hear much about what has historically been the No.1 killer in America.

Nevermind that the Center for Disease Control openly admits the number of flu-related deaths is impossible to accurately quantify. Let's just go ahead and focus on their wild estimates anyway: 3,000 to 49,000 annually.

Yes, we should always do whatever we can to minimize loss of life. It's not that getting a flu shot is a bad idea; it's just that every day we face many more pressing dangers than seasonal influenza.

To put the flu death estimate in perspective, U.S. Census Bureau records indicated that more than 10 million Americans die every year in car accidents.

But why let all those pesky numbers get in the way of good ol' fashioned reportin'? It's flu season, punks. Arm yourself.

Amid a flood of flu cases, doctor @drjane65's orders: Get to your doctor, get your shot. ow.ly/gDep2

— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) January 8, 2013

Flu outbreak has patients scrambling for vaccine bit.ly/V04PrJ

— WFAA TV (@wfaachannel8) January 7, 2013

Flu outbreak in 2013 expected to be among the worst in decade, CDC warns. @nydailynews: tinyurl.com/b8nyryc

— Katie Nelson (@katienelson) January 8, 2013

Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! EVVVERYBUUUDDAY! No really guys, it's flu season,you should get one.

— Brooklyn Bridget (@onmybridge) January 8, 2013

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Fun times in the city

Dallas swings a spot on new list of most fun cities in U.S. for 2024

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Dallas just wants to have fun, according to WalletHub's new ranking of the most fun cities in America in 2024.

The annual report ranked Dallas No. 31 out of 182 U.S. cities.

WalletHub's experts compared each city using 65 metrics to determine their level of "fun." Metrics were split among three main categories: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and cost.

According to the study's findings, Dallas was 24th nationally in the category for nightlife and parties, and ranked No. 39 in the "entertainment and recreation" category. That may be especially alluring for anyone who wants to explore the city's vast entertainment opportunities (especially during the holiday season), family-friendly recreational activities, top dining destinations, and more. Plus, Dallas is home to entertainment juggernauts like the State Fair of Texas and TopGolf.

Dallas performed poorly in the overall cost category, earning No. 114 out of all 182 cities. However, this category mostly compares flat costs rather than affordability based on local cost of living.

Potential new Dallasites should do their research before deciding to move here, rather than basing their decision on short trips and vacations alone. But we won't blame them for wanting to live in one of the best cities in the world.

"The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo in the report.

Austin (No. 6) and Houston (No. 9) were the only Texas cities to earn a spot in the top 10 most fun U.S. cities list. Austin moved up one spot from last year, while Houston made a 10-place jump.

Other fun-filled Texas cities that made it in the top 100 are El Paso (No. 53), Fort Worth (No. 55), Plano (No. 78), Arlington (No. 79), and Corpus Christi (No. 99).

The top 10 most fun U.S. cities are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Miami, Florida
No. 4 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 5 – New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 9 – Houston, Texas
No. 10 – New York City, New York

Cities were evaluated based on the number of attractions per capita, nightlife activities per capita, the average prices for eating at a restaurant or buying a movie ticket, and more. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Trust for Public Land, and the Council for Community and Economic Research, among others.

dance clubs fun cities nightlife parties recreation wallethub

Arm yourself or something

Flu hysteria hits fever pitch in Dallas, relatively low level of threatnotwithstanding

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Dallas swings a spot on new list of most fun cities in U.S. for 2024

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