Without further ado...

America's Most Stressful Cities:

10. Philadelphia, PA

9. Providence, R.I.

8. Salt Lake City, Utah

7. Cleveland, Ohio

6. San Diego, Calif.

5. San Francisco, Calif.

4. Los Angeles, Calif.

3. Detroit, Mich.

2. New York, N.Y.

1. Chicago, Ill.

The magazine considered unemployment rate, expensive gas, high population density and relatively poor air quality as its criteria for what made one city more stressful than another.

Chicago has a 7.3% unemployment rate, the eighth most polluted air in our ranking and in city where everybody drives to get around, a gallon of gas costs a nickel under $4 dollars.

Omitted from the calculations:

America's Most Stressful Cities [Forbes]
(Photos: Meghann Marco & Meghann Marco)

The San Diego Union Tribune asked the company what they were thinking:

“We want to reduce our inventory,” Connal says. “We're prepared to bite the bullet. ... Right now, every builder I know is selling houses at less than it costs to build them.”

Connal insists the sales prices are legitimate. The first few row homes sold for about $540,000. The market subsequently went south, and the price dropped to $400,000. Several of the 2-acre estate homes closed escrow for between $1.6 million and $1.8 million.

Apparently, they've only gotten one offer — but instead of a BOGO, the buyer wants to trade his current house toward one of Michael Crews'. They're thinking it over.

Buy $1.6 million estate, get a row home for free [SDUT]
Buy One Get One Free [Austen Real Estate Blog]
Michael Crews

MetLife, Prudential and Unum Insurance have settled with the San Diego DA's office over their alleged payments in the hundreds of thousands to an insurance broker to send business their way. Universal Life Resources (ULR) was contracted to get the best insurance value for life, disability, and health insurance by large businesses for their employees. Instead, the suit claims, ULR got payments to funnel business to the insurers. The settlement calls for the insurers to pay a total of $1.1 million, which will fund more public enforcement of fair competition cases.

DA Announces $1.1 Million Settlement With Insurance Companies Accused of Secret Payments (PDF) [Press Release]

(Photo: Getty)

You never knew the ice cream bizness was so mad gangsta, did you? This is worse than the time Vanilla Bean took out Heath Bar Crunch. Bigger picture inside...

On July 19th, 2007 I drove my leased BMW in Escondido, Ca. (Brecht BMW). I was told by Chase (the lender) to take the car back to any dealership. That I should take a photo of the car in front of the dealership I am leaving it with and have the dealership verify the odometer reading, leave the keys with them and I would be done. If I did not turn the car into a dealership by the 19th, then I would be financially penalized.

I walked into Brecht BMW and the first sales person I met asked me if he could help me. I said yes I am here to turn in my lease. He asked if I had bought my car from them. I said no, I bought it from Irvine, but I was told by Chase that I could take it anywhere. He said no he couldn't help me b/c Chase was closed and he needed the buyout amount. I said no, they told me that he wouldn't need to do that b/c they aren't buying the car. He then told me that he wouldn't help me. I told him I would be penalized if I didnt' turn it in today and that it was a fast transaction. I also told him that I lived 45 miles away and have little ones (who were with me) and it was hard for me to get down that way. He said he would talk to the manager. After a couple of minutes he came back and said no again, they couldn't help me but could if I came back the next day. I again explained that I worked and lived 45 miles away. I asked why they couldn't do it now — telling them that I am sure they would be able to help me if I was buying a car.

Next the manager came out and said, you need to leave or I am going to call the police. I asked for his name. He took out his business card and threw it at me. I said, I don't understand why they are unwillinig to help me. I then started to explain all the problems I had had with the car over the 4 years. Based on my miles my car should have been in for maintenace 2 times — it was in about 10 times. Each time was 3 hours round trip of my time and gas for the extra diving. I was starting to tear up and he smiled. I told him that I was doing everything I was told to do and that they could provide me customer service, but were choosing not too. I said, I don't understand why they won't just sign the odomoter form. I said that I had better treatment from VW when I owned my BMW. He told me to go back to VW, because 'I don't deserve to own a BMW.' He again said to leave or he was going to call the police. By this time my children were in tears because he was yelling at me and threatening me. We left without them ever assisting us.

The next day My brother spoke to the GM and explained the story. He never apologized and still refused to help us with the lease return. We also called BMW of north america. The rep on the phone said that they are a franchise and that corporate has no control over them. He said he would note it down, but 'don't expect a call back.' Basically, corporate doesn't care about customers being mistreated.

My brother took my car across the street from Brecht to Mercedes dealership. Who took the car, filled out the odometer form and took the keys. My brother was out the door in 5 minutes. Why did BMW refuse to help me with their own product??? I still to this day have not received any explanation. The only thing I can think of is that they were not going to make any money off of me that night so they didn't want to help. Why is there no one in the entire corporation that cares about customer service. I have emailed my story to BMW North America, BMW WorldWide, and Brecht BMW — no attempt has been made to contact me or correct the abusive treatment I received.

Still to this day, the home page of Brecht BMW reads 'we are an authorized lease return facility'................

From Judy Walsh, division President, and Tad Yo, General Manager, to Marjean Boettcher in Finance, we've got your number, baby.

TIME WARNER CABLE - SAN DIEGO DIVISION
10450 Pacific Center Court · San Diego, CA 92121
Business Office (858) 695-3110 · Customer Service (858) 695-3220

JUDY WALSH - DIVISION PRESIDENT
Phone: (858) 635-8297
Fax: (858) 566-6248
judy.walsh@twcable.com

Assistant to President
Linda Oakley
Phone: (858) 635-8480
Fax: (858) 566-6248
linda.oakley@twcable.com
Executive Assistant

DESERT CITIES SYSTEM
41-725 Cook Street · Palm Desert, CA 92211
Business Office (760) 340-1312 · Customer Service (760) 340-2225

TAD YO - VP / GENERAL MANAGER
Phone: (760) 674-5300
Fax: (760) 674-2392
tad.yo@twcable.com

Executive Assistant
Jennifer Gannaway
Phone: (760) 674-5447
Fax: (760) 674-2392
jennifer.gannaway@twcable.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Vice President, Customer Care
Armando Rancano
Phone: (858) 635-8273
Phone: (760) 674-5641
armando.rancano@twcable.com

San Diego - Dir., Customer Care
Jim Shaw
Phone: (858) 635-8231
Fax: (858) 635-9048
james.shaw@twcable.com

San Diego - Mgr., Tech. Support
Efren Agustin
Phone: (858) 635-8748
efren.augustin@twcable.com

San Diego - Mgr., Tech. Support
Rudy Caluya
Phone: (858) 635-8407
rudy.caluya@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Manager,
Inbound Sales
Josh Bonner
Phone: (760) 674-5303
Fax: (760) 340-2384
josh.bonner@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Manager, Account
Management
Virginia Gibson
Phone: (760) 674-5381
Fax: (760) 340-2384
virginia.gibson@twcable.com

INSTALL / SERVICES

Vice President, Technical Services
Ron Johnson
Phone: (858) 635-8470
ron.johnson@twcable.com

San Diego - Manager, Plant
Maintenance
Wes Moore
Phone: (858) 635-8245
wesley.moore@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Dir., Field Services
Jerry Phillips
Phone: (760) 674-5493
jerry.phillips@twcable.com

BILLING OPERATIONS - SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

Vice President, Operations Support
& IT
Don Williams
Phone: (858) 635-8463
donald.williams@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Dir., Billing Systems
Suzette Harvey
Phone: (760) 674-5510
Fax: (760) 340-9764
suzette.harvey@twcable.com

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT (RESIDENTIAL BULK)

San Diego Division - Manager,
Commercial Acquisitions
Gerry Quarm
Phone: (858) 635-8362
gerry.quarm@twcable.com

COMMERCIAL SERVICES (BUSINESS CLASS)

Vice President, Commercial Services
Cyrus Driver
Phone: (858) 635-8385
cyrus.driver@twcable.com

San Diego - Manager, Sales
& Commercial Services
Paul Shortal
Phone: (858) 805-6777
paul.shortal@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Manager,
Commercial Services
Robert Hadaway
Phone: (760) 674-5542
robert.hadaway@twcable.com

CONSTRUCTION

Vice President, Engineering
Bob Jones
Phone: (858) 635-8858
Fax: (858) 635-8775
bob.jones@twcable.com

San Diego - Mgr., Construction
Thomas Scanlan
Phone: (858) 635-8735
Fax: (858) 635-8775
thomas.scanlan@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Mgr., Construction
Gary Ordway
Phone: (760) 674-5455
Fax: (760) 346-3714
gary.ordway@twcable.com

DIGITAL PHONE - PAC

Vice President, Commercial Services
Cyrus Driver
Phone: (858) 635-8385
cyrus.driver@twcable.com

San Diego Division - Mgr., Digital Phone Operations
Rob Martin
Phone: (858) 635-8237
rob.martin@twcable.com

ENGINEERING

Vice President, Engineering
Bob Jones
Phone: (858) 635-8858
bob.jones@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Director, Engineering
Michael Sagona
Phone: (760) 674-5403
Fax: (760) 340-9764
michael.sagona@twcable.com

FINANCE & ACCOUNTING

Vice President, Finance
Marjean Boettcher
Phone: (858) 635-8203
Fax: (858) 578-0076
marjean.boettcher@twcable.com

San Diego Division - Controller
Steven LaGotta
Phone: (858) 635-8275
Fax: (858) 578-0076
steven.lagotta@twcable.com

San Diego Division - Dir., Finance
JoAnne Haskett
Phone: (858) 635-8289
Fax: (858) 578-0076
joanne.haskett@twcable.com

GOVERNMENT / COMMUNITY RELATIONS (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

Vice President, Public Affairs
Marc Farrar
Phone: (858) 635-8486
Fax: (858) 635-8323
marc.farrar@twcable.com

San Diego Division - Comm.
Specialist
Melanie Stevens
Phone: (858) 635-8759
Fax: (858) 635-8323
melanie.stevens@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Dir., Gov't. Affairs
& Community Relations
Kathi Jacobs
Phone: (760) 674-5377
Fax: (760) 674-2392
kathi.jacobs@twcable.com

MARKETING

Vice President, Marketing
Ernie Villicana
Phone: (858) 635-8222
ernest.villicana@twcable.com

San Diego - Director, Marketing
Terri Rhodes
Phone: (858) 635-8205
Fax: (858) 536-8729
terri.rhodes@twcable.com

Desert Cities - Director, Marketing
Jennifer Loretta
Phone: (760) 674-5600
Fax: (760) 340-9764
jennifer.loretta@twcable.com

Director, Competitive Readiness
Mike Bauerfeind
Phone: (760) 674-5380
Fax: (760) 340-9764
mike.bauerfeind@twcable.com

UPDATE Some of these numbers may be out of date. Here's what is said to be a newer list, in alphabetical order by last name:

At this point the husband of the family, my hero - got love New Yorkers (living in Florida). Screams at the top of his lungs "He's with us, you let him up here right now!" directly into the face of the TSA bouncer that made the announcement earlier.

The TSA officer says to the husband, "Sir, lower your voice."

"Fine go through", Jackie says knowing she could no longer deny me and had lost.

At the same moment I walk through the First class line behind the TSA officer. I hear the husband ask, "Why are you guys doing this to this guy, he just wanted to get on his flight?"

As I walk by, I hear the TSA officer respond - "Sir, that gentleman made a death threat on my life". AN OBVIOUS LIE! I ignore it, as at this point I am shaking from the stress of the situation and I am nervous that I am not going to make my flight.

"Oh, I didn't know anything about that", the husband says.

The family and I are now parallel in the lines. I say thank you to both the husband and wife for their help and they try to calm me down, I was visibly shaking. I give the husband my business card and say please get in touch so that I can thank you. I hope he reads this and does.

My Wonderful Trip To South Africa That Didn't Happen Thanks To The TSA And Delta Airlines [NetStumbler]
(Photo:Maulleigh)

According to the Union-Tribune in San Diego, a man tried to return shotgun ammunition to his local Walmart. After he was refused he became enraged and told the employees he would be back to kill them all.

Then the man fired off some shots in the Walmart parking lot. No one was hurt, but witnesses were able to write down the man's license plate number and police located him at his home.

The San Diego SWAT team surrounded the man's mobile home and eventually had to use tear gas to get him to surrender after an 8 hour standoff.

Sorry, scary gun guy. Walmart's return policy on guns and ammo is clear: All sales are final. It pays to read the signs.

Santee SWAT standoff ends with arrest [Union-Tribune] (Thanks, jpac!)
(Photo:crawfishpie)

Thank you, Patrick and Stev. You are true Consumerists. —MEGHANN MARCO

"Can't we just check the video, can't we just check the camera I mean I can describe the suitcase it had a yellow ribbon on it, she says we don't have camera's back there," says Kim.

Kim could not believe her ears, there's no video surveillance watching TSA employees in San Diego as they search people's luggage?

"I think they should put cameras back so if it does happen to somebody they can check it, find it, and then return it," says Jeffery.

Call Kurtis: TSA Security [CBS]
(Photo:zappowbang)

Sven's letter reminds of that part in Atlas Shrugged where they come across a scientist Hugh Akston who was forced out of the workforce as part of the global wave of (communist) mediocrity. With no where else to apply his formidable talents, the former particle physicist or whatever he was philosopher simply makes the most finely crafted and delicious sandwiches.

We wonder what Roy was before becoming Sven's number one tax dude...

"Hey guys,

After seeing all the bad H&R block stories, I had to write in and defend our tax guy.

I get the impression that H&R Block is like any franchise; depending on how tightly the service procedure can be controlled, you can have good stores and bad stores.

Our tax guy Roy is brilliant in his own right; he runs an H&R Block storefront here in San Diego. He knows the ins and outs of the tax code, even the strange stuff like what to do for investment property or unmarried partners. We've been going to him for years, and he always knows what to look for, and what the IRS likes and doesn't like. We've consistently gotten good financial advice from him as well, and sing his praises to anyone we meet who doesn't yet have a tax guy.

Roy also makes sure the people who work for him are as knowledgeable as he is; I don't know if that means he makes sure they know more than the standard H&R Block training procedure says to, but they all seem to be as knowledgeable as he is, and we always hear him trying to make sure the other customers (and us) are happy.

I don't know what to tell people to look for when trying to find a good tax person; we were just lucky I guess. I don't know if I'd choose another H&R block if we moved somewhere else right off the bat, but Roy is definitely a lucky find for us.

(Also, I did notice a lot of the H&R block complaints seem to be for their online tax prep service; we always take our pile of papers in to have the taxes done in person. Not sure if that makes a difference, too, but we've always been happy.)

-Sven"