January 21st - The Most Depressing Day of the Year?

So are you depressed today? I am depressed today because the outside temperature right now in the Detroit Metro area is (8 F and it feels like -3 F). It's not going to be fun looking at the heat bill this month.

The most Popular News Story at TIME.COM today is "The Most Depressing Day of the Year". This news story led me to create a Google Maps Mashup of "Ranking Mental Health in America". My source for this Mashup is "Mental Health America". Utah seems to be most depressed and South Dakota the happiest.

Back to the TIME Story:
Quote from the Time News Story:

There's a lot to feel down about this month: the subprime mortgage crisis, stormy, unpredictable weather, rising gas prices, presidential primary free-for-alls. So, it would be easy to believe the theory set forth by Dr. Cliff Arnall, a researcher from Cardiff University, that the third Monday of the month (Jan. 21, this year) — a day he calls Blue Monday — will be our most depressing day of the year. Arnall bases his yearly prediction on a formula he developed, which factors in the weather, consumer debt from holiday spending and failed New Year's resolutions and arrives at that conclusion that we'll hit rock bottom on Monday the 21st.

It should also be pointed out that many in the academic community don't agree with Arnall's theory.

Fond Farewell - People who left us in 2007 (TIME)

Time Magazine has a list out there titled "Fond Farewell" which lists people who left us in 2007. Check out the Google Maps View of Time's List which shows the birth places of people who left us.

The World's Most Polluted Cities

Time Magazine's list of 10 most polluted cities in the world, mapped out on Google Maps. Leading the list is Linfen, China followed by Tianying (China), Sukinda (India), Vapi (India), La Oroya (Peru), Dzerzhinsk (Russia), Norilsk (Russia), Chernobyl (Ukraine), Sumgayit (Azerbaijan), Kabwe (Zambia).

Global View of Childhood Mortality data from 1990 to 2005

Here's a Google Maps View of Childhood Mortality (per 1000 live births) from 1990 to 1995. Egypt had a -68% biggest drop whereas IRAQ 150% biggest rise in Childhood Mortality Rates (for Children under 5).

Initial Idea for this Google Maps Mashup was from TIME Magazine (May 21st 2007 Issue - page 20) under the title "How Hard Is It to Be a Mom?".
Source for the data is SAVE THE CHILDREN.