Why Are There Plastic Forks Sticking Out of South Tampa Lawns
Sunday morning while walking our Jack Russell terriers, I noticed dozens of plastic forks, tines up, in a neighbor’s yard. I immediately noticed there were patches of dead grass and…
Sunday morning while walking our Jack Russell terriers, I noticed dozens of plastic forks, tines up, in a neighbor's yard. I immediately noticed there were patches of dead grass and thought maybe the homeowner was trying to stop dogs from urinating on the lawn. That’s one possibility, given that not everyone keeps their dogs leashed like we do, but upon further investigation, Google returned results indicating that "forking" is long-running prank.
According to “The Gainesville Sun”, the practice of sticking forks in someone’s yard, commonly referred to as ‘forking’, is a prank dating as far back as the 1980’s. It enjoyed a bit of a resurgence about 15 years ago, and now, here it is in my own neighborhood in South Tampa. The prank involves sticking dozens or even hundreds of plastic forks in somebody else’s yard – tines up!
The payoff is pretty simple. Apparently there is humor to be found in just watching the victim remove all the plastic picnic forks from the yard, which can get tedious depending on the number of forks. Sometimes they are sticking up a few inches, but other times the handles are broken off, leaving only the pointy tines, forcing the victim to bend over even further. Sometimes black plastic forks are used because they are more difficult to see at night. It makes them a favorite of those who actually want to inflict harm on their victims.
Forking has remained popular through the years because it requires far more effort on the part of the victim than on the prankster.
Florida Has 2 of the Best Neighborhoods in America
Florida has some great spots to live. As it turns out, two of those areas are among the very best neighborhoods to live in America.
This is according to a new study reported by Niche. According to the publication, "The 'Best Places to Live' ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall livability of an area. This grade takes into account several key factors of a location, including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities in an attempt to measure the overall quality of an area." The two most important factors, according to the states on Niche.com's website, are the higher education rate and the cost of living grade."
Niche.com adds, "The same methodology is used to produce the Overall Niche Grade for each ranked place." They also got statistics mainly from the U.S. Census, and those stats "represent the most recent data available." What's nice about this study is that they used actual numbers and facts, instead of just going by reviews or a vibe. They add that, "All Niche reviews and data are scored and standardized so that each place is comparable. We then assign each place to a cohort based on population and urban clustering."
So, which Florida neighborhoods made the cut? Check out the top 10 list below of the best neighborhoods in America. You'll spot the Florida ones on the list. In addition, you'll see plenty of other good neighborhoods in America to check out on this list. Find the full report here.
10. Great Neck Gardens, Long Island, New York
Great Neck Gardens is No. 10 on this list. But, it's also the No. 1 best place to live in New York, according to Niche. It's a suburb of New York City.
9. Devon, Pennsylvania
Devon is the No. 9 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. It's a beloved suburb of Philadelphia.
8. North Quarter, Florida
North Quarter is the No. 8 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. But, it's the No. 1 best neighborhood to live in Orlando.
7. Cambridgeport, Massachusetts
Cambridgeport is the No. 7 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. But, it's the No. 1 best neighborhood to live in in the Cambridge area.
6. City Center, California
City Center is the No. 6 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. However, it's the No. 1 best neighborhood to live in the Santa Monica area.
5. Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania
Penn Wynne is the No. 5 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. But, it's the No. 1 best place to retire in all of Pennsylvania.
4. Hyde Park, Florida
Hyde Park is the No. 9 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. But, it's the No. 1 best neighborhood to live in all of Tampa.
3. Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Ardmore is the No. 3 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. It's also the No. 2 best suburb to live in America.
2. Colonial Village, Virginia
Colonial Village is the No. 2 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. It's also the No. 1 best neighborhoods to live in the Arlington area.
1. Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Chesterbrook is the No. 1 neighborhood in America to raise family, according to Niche. It's also the No. 1 best overall place to live in America! It's a suburb of Philadelphia.
