What’s popular in America?

What’s popular in America?, A few of our favorite things

Americans have no problem picking favorites. From rants on Facebook to “American Idol” voting, we know what we love and hate, and we’ll tell anyone who wants to listen. As a result, it’s pretty easy for researchers to get a good idea of the things America goes for….

Popularity is a funny thing. Fads pop in and out of style, but some of our biggest treasures are those that have survived the test of time. Consistency, quality and longevity are the keys to our hearts.

Most popular person in America

It’s hard to stay in the public’s good graces. Just ask Tiger Woods or Charlie Sheen.

But many models have truly stood the test of time to become the most popular people in America….

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are in the top five, showing that while recent presidents get mixed reviews, the ones who helped shape our country are adored. Jesus is also one of the most beloved figures in America, of course.

Only one sports figure made it into the top five, as measured by polling firm Public Policy Polling. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led his team to a spectacular season, and was rewarded by becoming a favorite of Americans.

Most popular smartphone

It’s hard to stay a favorite in the fast-changing world of smartphones. The BlackBerry line by Research In Motion (RIMM) has plunged in popularity over the last couple of years, while phones running on Google’s (GOOG) Android platform have surged….

Users of Apple (AAPL) iPhones swear their devices are better than chocolate, rainbows and puppies — combined. And the EVO 4G from HTC has won rave reviews for its two cameras, decent 4G connection speeds and crystal-clear screen.

Users also gush over the sleek Motorola Droid 3, with its slide-out keyboard, as well as the social networking powerhouse Samsung Intensity II.

But the most popular smartphone in America comes down to the iPhone or the HTC EVO 4G.

Most popular stock

You can use several standards for most popular stock, but let’s consult hedge funds, which often invest big bucks for large institutions, such as university endowments, pension funds and foundations. Hedge-fund managers are paid extremely well and must be absolutely on top of their game….

It’s a little surprising, then, that the most popular stock picks at these funds are the same ones the average investor might pick. They are well-known names with strong businesses built to survive recessions.

The fundies love three technology companies in particular: Microsoft (MSFT) (see financial performance), Google (GOOG) (see financial performance) and Apple (AAPL) (see financial performance). (Microsoft owns and publishes MSN Money.)

They’re also highly invested in one pharmaceutical company: Pfizer (PFE), which makes the popular Lipitor, Zithromax and Viagra drugs. And while many investors are staying far away from banks, hedge funds favor JPMorgan Chase (JPM).

Most popular pizza topping

We take our pizza seriously. Every man, woman and child in America eats an average of 46 slices a year, according to the Agriculture Council of America.

But not many of those slices have anchovies. That’s the least-favorite pizza topping of them all….

What we do like are the basics. Pepperoni. Cheese. Tomato. Onions and mushrooms are also in the top five, according to a survey of some 235 pizza joints by Technomic’s MenuMonitor.

Most popular summer vacation spot

Now that the holidays are over, doesn’t it seem like summer vacation should be here already? Baseball games, bike rides and fruity drinks can’t arrive fast enough.

Americans love to visit big cities during summer break. People flock to Chicago in the summer, lured by the city’s great shopping and stunning architecture….

And who can resist a good deep-dish pizza or a hot dog with all the trimmings?

Don’t forget the siren call of Orlando when temperatures rise. The city (and its surrounding area) is home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and a number of other theme parks. Rounding out the top five cities based on hotel occupancy are New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Most popular dog

Americans love their dogs. There are an estimated 78 million pooches in America, and 39% of U.S. households own at least one.

Different cities have their own preferred breeds, however. Boston and Los Angeles are fans of the bulldog. Detroit likes the Rottweiler, and Honolulu favors the shiba inu….

But nationwide, the most popular pups are the friendly, happy breeds that get along well with children and other animals. That means the retrievers — golden and Labrador — are particularly loved. And the loyal, intelligent German shepherd ranks in the top five as well, according to the American Kennel Club. The Yorkshire terrier and beagle are also favorites.

In the end, two breeds topped the list: The Labrador retriever and the German shepherd.

Most popular celebrity

It seems like we’re up on celebrities’ every move, thanks to the always-there paparazzi and the spread of gossip sites. We know more than we ever wanted to about Britney Spears’ parenting skills, Mel Gibson’s tirades and Ashton Kutcher’s private life….

As a result, it’s tough for many stars to maintain the public image that icons of the past so carefully crafted. But a few celebrities have won our affection over the years, mainly by being extraordinarily talented and rising above the Hollywood scene.

We love the handsome intelligence of Denzel Washington, the down-to-earth allure of Sandra Bullock and the timeless effervescence of Betty White. Rounding out the top five are Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks, two masters of their craft.

Most popular state

Excluding your current state, which state would you most like to live in? Polling company Harris Interactive asked Americans that question in October and, not surprisingly, the balmy regions with beautiful beaches topped the list….

California and Hawaii were favorites — too bad it costs a fortune to live in either place. Florida, a favorite of retirees, came in third, with its beautiful coastlines and low tax rates. Texas and Colorado rounded out the top five.

By the way, Harris also asked which city was least desirable to live in. The top answer was New York City, followed by Detroit and Los Angeles.

From left: Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant; Five Guys Burgers and Fries / © M. Spencer Green/AP; Richard Levine/Alamy
Most popular fast-food chain

Let’s just get one thing out of the way. McDonald’s (MCD), the largest fast-food chain in the country, doesn’t even make the top five here. You won’t see Burger King or Taco Bell on Zagat’s list, either….

But a company that McDonald’s was once a huge investor in — Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) — came in third. Chipotle is one of several chains on the list that focus on fresh ingredients and good quality, a combination that Americans can’t seem to get enough of.

Chick-fil-A (try one near you) and In-N-Out Burger were also in the top five. Both are rising in popularity as they expand to more parts of the country.

Two chains vied for the title of most popular. Five Guys (find a location near you) has been nothing short of a phenomenon, drawing packed crowds wherever it opens. And Panera Bread (PNRA) has become one of the fastest-growing chains in the country.

Most popular prescription drug

Prescription drug use is skyrocketing. In any given month from 2005 to 2008, about 47.2% of Americans used a prescription drug, according to government statistics. That’s up from 39.1% in the period from 1988 to 1994….

But times are changing for the pharmaceutical industry. Last year, for the first time, the 10 most popular prescription drugs were generics, according to IMS Health.

And they aren’t all painkillers, believe it or not. The only painkiller on the list of the top five drugs is hydrocodone (Vicodin).

Doctors also love to prescribe the cholesterol drug simvastatin (Zocor). Two others on the list are used to treat high blood pressure and related ailments: lisinopril (Prinivil) and amlodipine besylate (Norvasc). And then there’s levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) for hypothyroidism.
Most popular job

Ah, if only there were more openings for chocolate tasters, waterslide testers or Victoria’s Secret photographers. Unfortunately, those jobs are few and far between….

The most popular positions in America involve interacting with people, usually customers or patients.

Cashiers at supermarkets, gas stations and other stores are among the most common jobs, as is the related position of retail salesperson. And there’s always a need for office clerks and food preparation or food service workers.

One job that is in increasingly high demand is a registered nurse. The number of nurses 23 to 26 years old hit 165,000 in 2009, up from 102,000 seven years earlier, The Los Angeles Times reports.

Most popular dessert

Dessert choices in America keep getting more interesting and complex. Take the chai latte cupcakes at Sprinkles Cupcakes, for example, or the lemoncello cream torte at The Cheesecake Factory….

But even with all the options, dessert eaters tend to stick with the basics. Chocolate cake (check out these recipes) is a timeless winner, and chefs keep it popular with dozens of delicious variations. The same goes for apple pie (make your own). And Americans love to top desserts with ice cream or enjoy a scoop all by itself.

Also in the top five are Jell-O, made by Kraft Foods, and cheesecake. Are you drooling yet?

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers, After a great postseason run that finished with a Super Bowl Championship, the Green Bay Packers have returned in 2011 looking like a team that wants to defend it’s title, a team that has every opportunity to reach that goal, and a team that might be looking for even more.

Sitting at 8-0, the Pack have half of the regular season left, but with impressive wins on their resume already it’s time to start talking about the possibility of Green Bay going undefeated this season.

Aaron Rodgers is leading an unstoppable offense and even though the defense has been somewhat disappointing this year and has given up way too many points, there isn’t an offense in the league that can score with Packers right now. Because every team wants to repeat as champions, the Packers have set their goals even higher.

They are not shying away from the 16-0 talk. Then again why should they. As long as Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback, an undefeated run to a repeat championship looks to be well within their reach.

Green Bay Packers Colors

Green Bay Packers Colors, The Green Bay Packers are a football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the Northern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Green Bay is the second oldest NFL franchise
The Packers are the last vestige of “small town teams” that were once common in the NFL during the 1920 and 1930. Founded in 1919 by Earl “Curly” Lambeau (thus the name Lambeau Field on which the team plays) and George Whitney Calhoun, the Green Bay Packers can trace their lineage to other semi-professional teams in Green Bay dating 1896. In 1919 and 1920, the Packers have participated as a team semi-professional football clubs in the world against Wisconsin and the Midwest. They joined the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1921, the forerunner of what is known today as the National Football League (NFL). The Packers are the only non-profit, community owned major league professional sports team in the United States.

The Green Bay Packers have won twelve league championships (more than any other team in the NFL) including nine NFL championships before the Super Bowl era and three Super Bowl victories in 1967 (Super Bowl I), 1968 (Super Bowl II) and 1996 (Super Bowl XXXI). The team has historical rivalries with the Chicago Bears, they played over 180 games, and Detroit Lions, and they played since the 1930s. The Packers also share a fierce rivalry with the blood of the Minnesota Vikings, who also reside in the NFC North with the Packers, Bears and Lions in what is known as “Black and Blue Division” due to the intensity the rivalry between the four teams. The Dallas Cowboys have always been known as the Packers’ biggest rivals in the playoffs after the Packers for their defeat in the famous Ice Bowl.

From the 1992 season, the Packers had 13 non-losing seasons in a row (their worst record being 8-8 in 1999), two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl win (Super Bowl XXXI). They returned to form by winning playoff campaigns in 2007 (13-3), winning NFC Championship game to advance to Super Bowl XLV in 2010 (10-6) under current head coach Mike McCarthy.

(AP) – Mike McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh, rooting for the Steelers and help in the bar of his family. When he was hired as Packers coach in 2006, the General Manager Ted Thompson described McCarthy as “Pittsburgh”macho – whatever that means.

Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator for the Steelers, where he coached Kevin Greene and Darren Perry. John Kuhn got a Super Bowl ring from his short stint with the Steelers, even if only on the practice squad.

These loyalties and connections will not mean much come Sunday, when they will all wear colors Packers and do everything they can beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

“Growing up in Pittsburgh is a big part of who I am, but I’m a Green Bay Packer and we came here to win the Lombardi Trophy,”said McCarthy.

Perry has played seven seasons as a defensive back in Pittsburgh before becoming an assistant coach there, and still has strong feelings for the Steelers.

“This is a special opportunity to go against a team you have played and trained for,”said Perry, who leads the Packers safeties.” Lots of history, great organization, so there are many similarities. You still have links with some players and coaches so that makes it even more interesting.”

But Greene, who played three seasons with the Steelers, said he could not care less which team is the Packers’ way. ”

“I guess I’m somewhat indifferent to the fact that it was the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebackers coach”Greene said.” It’s just another team and we really needed this win. We really need to win this game.”

Perry said he would not be thinking of his time in Pittsburgh when the game starts.

“I’m sure there will be emotions moved around the course, just because of the connections,”said Perry.” Once the ball is launched, I think most of that money will go to the window and you will not really realize that part of it until the end of the match.”

Greene and Perry are in Green Bay because of Capers, who McCarthy was hired before the 2009 season to turn around an underachieving defense by installing the 3-4.

Capers were the Steelers’ defensive coordinator from 1992-94 before taking over as coach of the expansion Carolina Panthers.

Greene, who played for Capers in Pittsburgh and Carolina, Capers credited for giving him his first chance to coach.

“I respected Coach Dom when he was my coach and I think he respected me as an actor because of the level of my commitment and the fact that I took this serious and I wanted not only to improvise,” Greene said. “What I really wanted to be a student of the game, it was great that he remembered the way I approached the game when I played and gave me the opportunity here.”

Greene and Perry were both members of the Steelers team that lost the Super Bowl in January 1996, and Perry did not intend to lose this time.

“You get to this point, it’s a sickening feeling,”Perry said.” To experience this part of it, you really do not want to go through it again because it’s devastating. ” ‘

Kuhn, meanwhile, has a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers, but do not brag about it. Before coming to the Packers and become a folk hero as a fullback who can carry the ball, Kuhn was a member of the Steelers team that won the Super Bowl in February 2006.

Kuhn now wants to make a difference on the ground – even if it comes at the expense of his former team.

“It is quite funny and fitting, even, that I would get the chance to play against them in the Super Bowl and I’m very happy for this,”said Kuhn.” But it would not matter. It could be any team in the AFC and we would have the focus and the same determination as we do in this game”

Steelers Logo

Steelers Logo, The Steelers logo was introduced – to their helmets – in 1962. The “Steelmark” was originally created by U.S. Steel and later owned by the American Iron and Steel Institute, so that the logo represented the entire industry. Whereas the original logo Steelmark called “steel”, the AISI team petition to change the word “Steelers.” The Steelmark was originally conceived as part of a broad public relations campaign designed to educate and persuade U.S. consumers on the importance of steel in their daily lives. The logo depicts three hypocycloids Steelers who represent the voters of the process of making steel: yellow for coal, orange for ore and blue for scrap.

The Steelers are the only NFL team to paint their logo on one side of the helmet. This practice was initially thought to be a temporary measure – to check if the logo was well received. The helmet logo as seen today, has not been amended since its original application. The only change was the color of the helmet of the team – from gold to black – making the logo more pronounced. So offensive, fenders, and quarter blitz aside, the Super Bowl XLV is an intriguing match. Both the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are trademarks of industrial cities of the working class, and there is the enduring appeal of seeing the underdog win by the hard work of common sense.

Green Bay has a population of about 125,000. The Packers definitely play in the smallest TV market among professional sports teams, but they won a record 12 NFL titles. Pittsburgh is a city known for its blue-collar ethic. The Steelers are known for their hard – some have said dirty – style of play, and the franchise has requested a six Super Bowl titles impressive.
So today is a classic “battle of the brands,” a confrontation between the slaughterhouses and steel workers, between franchises floors with deep roots and legacies. The logo represents the Pittsburgh Steelers legacy as a steel town. Equipment manager Jack Hart originally applied logo on one side of the helmet of the team (right) as brass Steelers were uncertain how it would look on their gold helmets, then solid. When the color of the helmet switched to solid black, the team has decided to permanently retain the logo on the right side because of the interest in the uniqueness of the logo. The Steelers are the only team in the NFL with a logo on one side of the helmet. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay helped write the history of the National Football League.

Puppy Bowl 2011

Puppy Bowl 2011, Puppy Bowl has gone high tech, the introduction of a Puppy Cam, giving viewers a first hand look at all the action through the eyes of the players themselves. The water in the bowl Cam is, of course, returning this year, putting the fans in the middle of the action that our four-legged friends stay hydrated during the big game. Puppy Bowl VII will also be broadcast in 3-D for the first time 3Net, a new channel hosted by Discovery Channel, Sony and IMAX. The action comes directly into your living room live, and 3-D if you have one of these TVs fancy 3-D all the children are cold.

The queues can be found here and it would be a good idea to familiarize themselves with the competitors in advance. Take, for example, Pauly, the perfect Jersey Shore Fox Terrier. In his spare time he likes spinnin ‘the freshest cuts as a DJ. Or Sadie, an adorable Pit Bull 12-week-old who sleeps with a teddy bear. Puppy Bowl in 2011, 10 small dogs at a time competes on a plot 19 feet long. Instead of a football, they will try to make squeaky toys, soft, and football-shaped in the end zone. Dogs are not assigned to specific teams, like one of them can score a touchdown at some point.

The candidates were all brought in emergency shelters, which give the game a social dimension. Between all actions, Animal Planet reaches talk pet adoption and the importance of animal shelters. In fact, most players this year are now put to rest in a new home when the game is over.

Puppy Bowl for 2011, viewers will have more up close and personal than ever with tools like the “puppy cam” “Kiss Cam” and cheerleaders chicken. It certainly will not kiss well in other games football today – and the players in it will not be censored language.
Puppy Bowl 2011 is becoming a tradition Super Sunday. Although Puppy Bowl 2011 does not have rights, it is the second biggest game of the day. Animal Planet knows that not everyone will watch the football man today. Therefore, those who can still hold even watch football, only players with a lot cuter. At 3 pm EST, Puppy Bowl early 2011, 47 puppies show their skills football field today.

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