I'm running into the same problem as well. Game constantly crashes or does not run as smooth... Doesn't help that most people on my friends list don't play as well. Makes it more of a chore now visiting peoples places for its mostly for nothing...
I had this problem, remember on your friend screen, you can tap the Friend Button again and hide users. I do this all the time to people who don't play anymore to save time.
Anyone else got the light house? Really disappointed in it. It doesn't look very good, gives no cash and the light flashes if you tap it.
Just had a quick look at the Tapped out update history, it seems the updates are happening at roughly the same points of the year. So we should get a Second Whacking Day update sometime next week.
I'd personally rather have an Easter update. As a non-American, I had never even heard of Whacking Day except once on the Simpsons, Easter just seems like a much bigger holiday worldwide.