Posted by DaveinBoulder on November 26, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

5% have doctorates? That's 1 out of 20? I'm having trouble believing that....

Posted by almitch26 on November 26, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Smart hippies are like dumb normal people.

Posted by craig340 on November 26, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's funny

Posted by BuffMan6236 on November 27, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So is that 58% of Boulderites have a Bachelor's or above, or 30% have a Bachelor's and a nominal 17% (or about 57% of the Bachelor's) have a Master's?

Must be the 58%, since throughout US about 28% have college degree, except for Nebraskans who can only "cipher" at 1st grade level.

Posted by Robert_Paul_Smoke on November 27, 2008 at 1:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i get it...college makes people wealthy, not smart

that's the whole point, right?

Posted by rungreger on November 27, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There is a difference between an education and being smart. I'm surprised Forbes doesn't know that. Wait Forbes is ran by a guy who got the job because his father started the magazine.

Posted by Bigair on November 27, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Doesn't say much about the intelligence of the rest of the country, but I guess we saw that in the last election.

Posted by jafi on November 27, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have 2 immediate neighbors in Martin Acres with doctorates and know quite a few others around the neighborhood and across town. I only have 2 masters degrees;-)

I am surprised that Boulder now outranks D.C. in per capita degrees. Maybe D.C. still has more advanced degrees (Masters and Ph.D) since the Forbes number seemed to be an aggregrate of all post secondary degrees.

Posted by jbmorrow on November 27, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So is the headline on Lake Havasu's newspaper this morning "Lake Havasu is country's dumbest town"?

Or do they have a newspaper?

Posted by jafi on November 27, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

True, a college education doesn't make you smart. It does tend to reduce ignorance a bit though.

Posted by EvanFromHeaven on November 27, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Boulder is clever but not wise:

In '78 I offered the City the research I'd done on 120 solar homes in Taos, including the first Federally-funded ones. They weren't interested, though the High Country News put it on their front page, reproduced at: http://evanravitz.com/solar

From '82-84 my and other free entertainment was banned from the Mall, until business went down, and greed trumped contempt. One chased out was David Shiner, who became longtime ringmaster of Le Cirque du Soleil. We'd started to put our shows together every Labor Day. If Boulder had treated its entertainers like Montreal did, we'd have made something like Le Cirque. Now there's hardly anything good left.

Boulder is now pursuing "greenwashing" strategies like hi-rise luxury housing -none solar-heated, the cheapest way to reduce greenhouse gases. And a bus system running so empty it gets less passenger-MPG than cars, while pounding the pavement to pieces. (Road damage increases as the FOURTH power of weight.)

Instead of putting priority on the most efficient transport -cycling- taking advantage of our compact size, young and fit populace and good weather, the City spends $100s of 1000s on a Modal Shift Study which comes up with the preposterous claim that 21.2% of us commute to work by bike! (Bike to Work Day got 7000+ this year -in a city of 100,000 jobs, that's 7% in summer when bribed with free breakfasts and schwag.)

And on and on. The City just cannot destroy our human and financial resources fast enough.

Posted by MK_Love on November 27, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"There is a difference between an education and being smart. I'm surprised Forbes doesn't know that. Wait Forbes is ran by a guy who got the job because his father started the magazine."

Seriously, when you start calling other people stupid, you need to make sure you are able to speak your native language with some level of proficiency.

Posted by wiseone on November 27, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here we go again...

Posted by ChrisM on November 27, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is there an award for being the most pedantic city? Perhaps the city motto should be: "Aren't we terrific?"

Posted by bobcat77 on November 27, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think he's referring to you billy.

pe·dan·tic (pə-dān'tĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj. Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details.
pe·dan'ti·cal·ly adv.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean marked by a narrow, often tiresome focus on or display of learning and especially its trivial aspects: a pedantic writing style; an academic insistence on precision; a bookish vocabulary; donnish refinement of speech; scholastic and excessively subtle reasoning.

Posted by jsaturn on November 27, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)

...it forgets to take it's head out of the water (Koolaid). Robin - the contraction, "it's" is short for "it has" or "it is." If that is true, then how does your sentence read? Would it be "The turkey forgets to take it has head out of the water (Koolaid)."? Are you writing the copy for the Camera ads which tout "stereo's" for sale?
Smartest poster, huh? Fox News, huh? You must be watching MSNBC.

Posted by ralphyitswhatsfordinner on November 27, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Buffman,
Are you a tree hugging, white haired poney tailed Boulderite, or do you spend all your time chucking sugar beets at the cattle on main street in your beautiful home town of Lamar?

Posted by Elwood on November 27, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder which degrees the naked pumkin runners have attained?

Posted by NukesInBoulder on November 27, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately "Academic" often also means "myopic" and "out of touch".

Posted by walongloop on November 27, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So, Forbes was in town on April 20th?

What a joke.

Posted by BoulderzOwn on November 27, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If only we could be voted "country's best drivers." Now THAT would be something.

Posted by karenm on November 27, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Forbes obviously didn't tour 29th Street.

Posted by blacksho89 on November 27, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by darth on November 26, 2008 at 10:44 p.m.

"Clearly bobcat77, meatpieandtaters and vkberlin wouldn't dare post here. Should be a 'dunce' section for them to post exclussively."

darth, darth, darth:
spellcheck is obviously not your friend. Glass houses?

In all seriousness: Publications that produce "Top Ten" lists should be limited to sale at the supermarket check stand. There is no objective standard followed. The only reason to write such an "article" is laziness. Pick a list, print it, it will be picked up by other publications; maybe someone will be curious enough to actually buy your magazine or click through on your web site. And as a bonus, you can publish the same list NEXT year, with two or three changes, and have a new article in less time than it takes to drink your Starbucks. Then you can watch the whole cycle repeat.

Posted by MikeEllis on November 27, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Camera blog -- home to the county's smartest a$$e$.

Posted by Eloise on November 27, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just because you have a degree (or multiple degrees) doesn't mean that you are "smart". I am working on my second bachelor's degree right now but that makes me no better than someone with no college at all and no worse than someone with a PhD.
My mom says it best, "There are book smarts and street smarts."

Posted by Eloise on November 27, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

True, unless you have become so good at eating boxed chocolates that you have their individual fillings memorized by heart. (However, I do not recommend this practice if you care about your relationship with the bathroom scale in the least bit.)

Posted by radford on November 27, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gives me The Bourgeois Blues

Posted by Robert_Paul_Smoke on November 27, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i thought the 'best and the brightest' were the people managing the banking bailouts or the Iraq war or maybe both --

do they all live in boulder or something?

news to me

Posted by RoseFromTheDead on November 27, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where's ewilson to give us his opinion from the deep South?

Posted by MikeEllis on November 27, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

While higher education may not in and of itself make you wise, the lack of formal education certainly does not get you any closer to being truly smart.

Posted by another_annoying_commenter_who_feels_important on November 27, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hmmm, does anyone know which of these towns (where the majority of the population) voted for Obama and which ones voted for McCain? Just curious...

Posted by gravitee on November 27, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Too bad that the Boulder City Council didn't make the cut. Maybe another mall project might really showcase their talents... or perhaps another pedestrian crosswalk?

Posted by blacksho89 on November 27, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just noticed that #6 is "Southern Connecticut".
I've never heard of that city...

Posted by MadCOMama on November 27, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Boulder is the only place I've ever lived where I can be served food at a Chili's by someone with a PhD....

Posted by wgstrand on November 27, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

People in Boulder may be "smart", but they are no *wiser* than folks elsewhere. Any reading of the policies of this place over the last 20-30 years will easily convince anyone of that.

Posted by MikeEllis on November 27, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Any reading of the policies of this place over the last 20-30 years will easily convince anyone of that."

Yeah, it really sucks living in a place with so much open space, trails galore, bike-friendly infrastructure, great recreation opportunities, better job opportunities than other places, views that don't get obliterated as much as in other cities, as much wildlife as we can stand (and more), lots of really smart people, a university, ...

Posted by almitch26 on November 27, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is a Chili's in Boulder, unfortunately.

Posted by runcatalina on November 28, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sane is right. There used to be a Chili's in Boulder. It shut down earlier this year.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Now, now, "MikeEllis" - Boulder isn't Utopia.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 28, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DC should have run this article next April 1st.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I see, "sane". Only right-wingers don't see Boulder as perfect - for left-wingers, Boulder *is* Utopia. For wealthy whites, of course.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I won't provide a laundry list of Boulder's faults, since those of us who live here know what they are. On the other hand, there's definitely some number of folks who perceive these faults as positive attributes.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"sane", you're one of the problems with Boulder - assuming you even live here. Self-satisfied snobs who cannot perceive anything wrong are a royal pain.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 28, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lies, damn lies, and statistics. . .

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departm...

Boulder, CO doesn't appear here -- but Denver and Colorado Springs both do.

Looking at data on Census Bureau American Community Survey websites is more confusing; Boulder claims to have over 70% of residents with at least a bachelor's degree, so it doesn't agree with the Forbes info above (drawn from the same source).

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks for proving me 100% correct in labeling you as a self-satisfied snob, "sane".

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 28, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I understand that the American Community Survey is based on a small sample of citizens, which means that Joe the Waiter and others can lie about having doctoral degrees and skew the results for a small town like Boulder, CO.

In our hearts, we know this ain't the smartest city in America.

Posted by zar13 on November 28, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"In our hearts, we know this ain't the smartest city in America."

Wait a minute, aren't you the homeless doctor from some useless midwestern slum. What do you know? Go back if your heart tells you to. No one will miss you in the court house lawn, I promise.

Posted by partylarry on November 28, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just to unnecessarily raise the bar on pedantry:

1. Forbes makes no claims about these cities being the "smartest"--that's the DC's word.

2. The Encarta article linked to in Doc Brinkley's comment only lists cities proper over 250,000 with numbers from the Census Bureau for 2006. A little more detail on that survey can be found at http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/29/real_...

The Forbes article, on the other hand, refers to a different take on Census Bureau data from 2007, comparing "metropolitan or micropolitan statistical areas" with at least 100,000 adults over age 25. For Boulder, it looks like they take this to be Boulder county, with 188,987 adults. The Forbes numbers match the American Community Survey numbers for Boulder county, as far as I can tell.

3. I can't comment on the ACS methodology, but they list margins or error under 2% for all these categories

4. There are only two comments on this article on the Forbes site, and one is oddly related to Mumbai.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obviously "sane" believes only the Beautiful People belong in Boulder and can rightfully live here; everyone else who doesn't believe in Bouldertopia can get the heck out.

And "sane" wonders why some folks view Boulderians less than favourably.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm a local - born here in Colorado and lived in Boulder 20+ years. I'm fully qualified to see Boulder for what it truly is. Those who believe Boulder is trouble-free are in a severe state of denial. Also, tossing out "sad sacks", "tiresome pests" merely illustrates that the author is living in some fairy-tale land (perhaps the People's Republic of Boulder) rather than reality.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Merely noting that Boulder isn't perfect gets some folks all upset. Why is that? Is the mentioning of this truth just too uncomfortable? Funny how many of the same people who have no problem listing the faults of the United States get irritated when someone has the gall to mention that Boulder has its faults, too. Why is that?

And no, I never said the 2nd Amendment "conveys a right". None of the Bill of Rights creates rights; they are almost all a list of restrictions on the government. What I did say was that we the people are the final arbiter of the form of our government, and that the 2nd Amendment exists precisely to preserve that.

Pointing out the alleged strawmen of others when you build them yourself, "frozen_mackerel", bespeaks a certain double standard.

Posted by RoseFromTheDead on November 28, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"None of the Bill of Rights creates rights"

So the title "Bill of Rights" doesn't offer you a clue, huh?

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Try as you might to deflect from being roundly thrashed on having your dearest Boulder even slightly criticized, that game (i.e., throw it and see what sticks) doesn't work, and is rather transparent to boot.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Bill of Rights" is a shorthand term. Show me where in the 1st 10 amendments that the text creates a right, "Rose".

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There's nothing like setting up strawmen to knock down, is there, "frozen_mackerel". Makes you feel all superior-n-stuff. Pity for you that such tricks are easily seen. You still haven't figured that out.

Oh, and even noting that Boulder isn't perfect gets you and some of the others all in a tizzy. Why is that?

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You're playing with *something*... Good taste prevents me from elucidating.

Posted by wgstrand on November 28, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And thus "frozen_mackerel" helps to show how Boulderians may be "smart", but aren't wise...

Just like I said ~24 hours ago.

Posted by rungreger on November 28, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why not say Boulder is the town that people have the most dipolmas rather than smartest? A diploma doesn't make you smart. It means you're at least half way smart, good at following directions, good at getting things done when you want to and don't mind spending a lot of time sitting on your butt listening to people.

Bill Gates doesn't have any degrees and he's smarter than anybody in Boulder.

Posted by CUBuff2000 on November 29, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Being bestowed with a title from a degree does not take the title of fool away from one. For quick validation of this point, read the back of any of Boulder's thousands of Subarus when you get a moment....

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"robin", why don't you provide a list?

And "Conservatives" hardly have a monopoly on ignorance.

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As I've said, just commenting that Boulder isn't the Utopia-on-Earth that some of its inhabitants desperately believe it to be is enough to get them all riled.

Why is that?

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At least you've dropped the 2nd Amendment strawman, "frozen_mackerel". That's an improvement.

So, in your view, what's wrong with Boulder? Anything?

Posted by aweebunny on November 29, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At one point in recent history, Forbes listed Longmont as one of the 10 best places to live in the US. So much for Forbes and thier analysis of US demographics.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 29, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Old Doc is one Boulderite who proudly claims a Ph.D. and has had it since 1920 -- after opening up several thousands of boxes of Cracker Jack in search of this credential.

Anyone who truly believes that 5% of people over the age of 25 in Boulder, CO have doctorates, is in need of a different sort of help than my Brinkley Goat Gland Procedure can provide.

Igor, find brains for these posers.

Posted by RoseFromTheDead on November 29, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Waggy, wouldn't you be happier living in, say, Houston?

As a side effect, you'd raise the average intelligence of both Boulder and Houston.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 29, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

But there remain thousands of men here in Boulder needing my services, a self-awarded doctorate being no substitute for the billy goat's glands in restoring manly vigor and stamina.

And the women of Boulder agree with old Doc, on this point at least.

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Boulder, love it or leave it".

Funny, I thought it was only neo-fascist right-wingers who had that kind of "thinking". Clearly, some Boulderians aren't as smart or wise as they claim to be.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 29, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

See --

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneym...

And Boulder, CO doesn't make the list. . .

Posted by RoseFromTheDead on November 29, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Waggy, who, precisely, said that? The little voices in your head, perhaps?

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't be obtuse, "Rose".

Smug self-satisfaction is one of the faults of too many Boulderians. Perhaps the name should be changed to Stepford, to assure conformity and to silence disagreement, eh?

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Lamprey" captures more your metaphor, not "limpet", "frozen_mackerel".

As for amusement, I have been most amused watching you and the others get yourselves into rationalizing contortions for your beliefs about Boulder; those of us living in reality wonder just how you folks have brainwashed yourselves. Too many drugs? Too many falls off the Flatirons?

PS - Your choice of the word "envy" speaks volumes.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 29, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How embarrassing for Boulder, failing to be in the top 100 of most livable small cities in America (according to Money).

Perhaps there is truth in that saying, "Boulder, CO: 25 square miles surrounded by reality." And apparently surrounded by quality of life as well.

Well, old Doc isn't going to desert you. . . I feel more at home than ever!

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Too bad "sane" already used "barnacle", eh?

Posted by RoseFromTheDead on November 29, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obtuse? My friends tell me I'm acute!

Posted by zar13 on November 29, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Even our homeless have degrees.

Posted by wgstrand on November 29, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is interesting:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneym...

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 30, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks for the link, wgstrand -- it confirms that Boulder, CO is one of the least diverse small cities in America. . . "Racial diversity index" of 49.5, the national average being 100 and higher numbers meaning more diversity.

Easy to pay lip service to tolerance for others who are different, when you encounter so few on a daily basis.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on November 30, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If Boulderites were really smarter than everyone else in small cities across America, they would never have opened themselves up to the "livability" issue. Or the "diversity" issue. Or. . .

Res ipsa loquitur.

Posted by freds on November 30, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Boulder citizens should be proud. But evidently not.
Feel good that you don't live in Lake Havasu, Az. #1 least educated city. You can't be too bright to live in the God forsaken desert.

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on December 1, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Old Doc is no more about "anything substantive" than is the typical self-absorbed Boulderite.

OMG -- That makes me one of you!

Posted by BroncoDano on December 3, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You Bolderites no lots of big wurds!

Posted by walongloop on December 3, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

> Ever try to order a coffee at Vic's

LOL, just try expressing any sort of religious belief -- you'll be shown the "real" meaning of "tolerance".

Posted by Doc_Brinkley on December 4, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Old Doc hesitates to say it, but he's the smartest person in Boulder and the most good-looking, too:

http://www.kshs.org/people/graphics/b...

Posted by nofreebeer on December 4, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Smart CRY BABIES!

Posted by cclark on December 6, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Steve Forbes is coming to speak at Mackey on Tuesday (Dec 9th) at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 at the UMC Bowling Alley, Kings Soopers, or the door. Doors open at 6:45. His speech topic is "Economic Structure and Culture in a Globalized World."

Posted by RoseFromTheDead on December 7, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice soul patch, Doc B.