DAILY DIRT: Illinois — one wild and crazy state, at least according to the rankings

Only Florida, California, Nevada, New York and Colorado rank ahead of the Land of Lincoln … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,035 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Illinois No. 6 on the “fun” list? Who knew!?

WalletHub.com just released its 2024 ranking for all 50 states when it comes to where Americans find that fun is more than just an option, but a way of life. 

With pure enjoyment in mind, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 26 key indicators of a jolly good time that won’t break the bank. They range from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to night-life options per capita.

Illinois earned a solid No. 6 overall ranking, which is down one spot from its position in both 2023 and 2022.

“Living in one of the most fun states can boost your mental, physical and emotional health by giving you a wide range of activities to choose from, both indoor and outdoor,” writes Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst. “These states help residents stay active and socialize, and they’re also ideal for travelers who want to make the most out of the limited amount of time that they have to explore.”

Here are the WalletHub rankings:

• 1. Florida
• 2. California
• 3. Nevada
• 4. New York
• 5. Colorado
• 6. Illinois
• 7. Texas
• 8. Washington
• 9. Minnesota
• 10. Louisiana

Others of interest

• 17. Missouri
• 35. Iowa

Bottom Five

• 46. Arkansas
• 47. Rhode Island
• 48. Delaware
• 49. Mississippi
• 50. West Virginia (So much for “almost Heaven”.

For the record, Illinois scored the highest in most performing-arts theaters per capita (No. 3) and most restaurants per capita (No. 5).

2. Did you know (Part 98)

• That Jennifer Lopez has six rings since 1997, and the Dallas Cowboys zero.(PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Also more rings than the Cleveland Browns. JRG)
• That there is a lawyer in New York City named Sue Yoo.
• That the plumber who is credited with a number of key inventions tied to bathroom facilities was named Thomas Crapper.
• That in a few New England states those little “sprinkles” on doughnuts are called “Jimmies”.
• That in Wisconsin the traditional “drinking fountain (to the rest of the country)” is referred to as a “bubbler”.

3. This week’s tip o’ the birthday cap goes to the following celebrities:

• MLB Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, an 18-time all-star, turns 85 on Thursday.
• Former Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. will be 64 on Saturday. In case you were trying to remember when you saw Ripken’s name, his consecutive games played record was 2,632. 
• Singer Billy Ray Cyrus turns 63 on Sunday. Best mullet ever in the entertainment industry?
• Actor Macaulay Culkin, who starred in “Home Alone” as a kid, will be 44 on Monday.
• NBA star James Harden turns 35, also on Monday. Raise your hand if you wish he’d trim that beard.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Cardinals fans: At what point do the El Birdos officially hoist the white flag and start planning for 2025? I’m honestly not seeing any light at the end of this 2024 tunnel.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. While they made needed moves at the deadline, the organization’s handling of Jordan Walker is criminal.