What is the Meaning of Cheaper Cities in the USA?

A corner of Gainesville, Georgia

People have many reasons to live or move in the cities. For some Americans, the considerations could be:

- total population

- population growth, include migration

- cost of living

- housing values

- household income.

The most decision factor is “living cost.” Then, What is the Meaning of Cheaper Cities in the USA?

Cheaper cities mean that the average cost of living in those cities is below national averages.

It is estimated that average cost of living in the USA is US$ 11,000 per person per year. Family of 4 could reach US$ 44,000 per year.

Sebring city, Florida

In term of cheaper place, these 10 cities are below average of national living cost:

- Gainesville, Georgia

- Spartanburg, South Carolina

- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, South Carolina

- Huntsville, Alabama,

- Bowling Green, Kentucky

- Burlington, North Carolina

- Salisbury, MD-DE

- Sebring, Florida

- Auburn-Opelika, Alabama

- Homosassa Springs, Florida

Above 10 cities are favorite places to live in America currently. Two of them in Florida quite surprise me, because I thought Florida was expensive state due to its famous for tourist destination.

However, they are not big cities like Los Angeles or New York.

I live in the current community due to its moderate in terms of population (250,000 people), cost of living (lower than national average), good public facilities and good education system.

What are the main reasons for you to live in your current town

You may like to read:

-  Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 2

Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan

We talked little bit about Isabella D'este, one of important figures in “renaissance period (15th-18th centuries).” Please read: What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Ludovico Sforza is another crucial figures in the period, patron of Leonardo da Vinci for 17 years.

Leonardo da vinci, a genius of many areas, including:

- paintings

- sculpture

- science

- music

- mathematics

- literature

- astronamy

- engineering

- architect

The Last supper, work of art by Leonardo da Vinci

Ludovico Sforza commissioned one of the monumental art woks, the Last Supper.

The work started in 1495 and completed in 1498. This is part of renovation series for mausoleum of Storza family.

As duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza sponsored extensive works such as:

- designed canals

- developed streets with gardens

- improved university

- built cathedral

- sponsored murals

In my opinion that the renaissance began in Italy, and then shared by great nations in Europe.

New patrons not only stimulate development of art, but also in scholarship and in science in Europe and even beyond.

These patrons had organized various elements of modern spirit, where other nations should learn to have better live in the future.

You may like to read:

-  Why Many Big Cities are Sinking? | Tanza Erlambang Update

References

Muscato, C. 2003. Patrons of Renaissance Art: Roles, Influence & Famous Works. Retrieved from study.com..

Wikiwand. 2016. Portrait of Isabella d'Este (Titian). Retrieved from wikiwand.

Extinction of Rhinoceros in Borneo Island Indonesia

Rhino in the jungle of Sumatra

It is called Sumatra rhino, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, had been lived in three places:

- Malaysia peninsula, Malaysia

- Borneo, belong to both Malaysia and Indonesian

- Sumatra, Indonesia bigger Island

Rhino was declared extinct in Malaysia Borneo in 2015, and the last Rhino founded died in Malaysia peninsula in 2016.

People had seen few rhinos in Indonesian Borneo, and estimated no more than 80 rhinos live in Sumatra rain forest.

Why rhinos population depleted and even extinction in some areas? The reasons:

- hunting for pleasure

- poaching for rhino horns

- habitat loss due to palm plantations and other purposes

- forest burning every year for industry purposes.

The rhino horn is believed to have specif values, hence trade illegally. Demand for horns are increasing dramatically since 2007.

A female rhino with her a newborn baby.

Super natural beliefs of rhino horns are:

- good for traditional medicine such as Chinese medicines

- tonic of rhino horns could de-toxify body, especially after drinking alcohol.

- symbol for wealth and success.

Forest burning not only affect on rhino population, but also caused endangered for many animals. They are included:

- Clouded leopard

- Sun bear

- Elephant

- Tiger

- Orangutan

Burning produces carbon dioxide in great number compared to industries producing. This is a man made catastrophe where the smokes spread to neighboring countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

This intentionally forest burning need to be stopped by international community soon.

Could Green Tea Improve Insulin Sensitivity? - Diabetes 11

A box of teabags green tea

We discussed about benefit of coffee to reduce risk of diabetes (Is there Relationship between Coffee and Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update). This post will talk about green tea.

Term of insulin sensitivity defines as cells responds to insulin improvement, then reduce insulin resistance.

It is important for diabetic patients, because less insulin resistance means more sugar burned, then blood sugar reduced.

The question then: how to improve insulin sensitivity naturally? Drink green tea. It is because green tea contains

- EGCG, a powerful antioxidant “Epi Gallo Catechin Gallate.”

- Polyphenols

Both EGCG and Polyphenols are able to decrease absorption and digestion of glucose, then less insulin resistant and improve insulin sensitivity.

Moreover, benefits of drinking green tea everyday for diabetic patients are:

- blood glucose level management

- hemoglobin A1C level management.

In addition to control diabetes, together with coffee, green tea with less caffeine is known for improvement of the healthy health. 

A tea plantation, beautiful and green

Flavonoids is responsible for healthy health. It is informed that good to consume 400 mg Flavonoids per day.

One cup of green tea contains 150 mg of Flavonoids, thus, it is suitable to drink two to three cups of green tea per day.

By drinking green tea in several cups and consume balance diets lead to lower blood pressure and weight loss that is good for diabetes patients.

It is fact that Japanese people drink several cups of green tea per day have lower risk to get type 2 diabetes.

Why not we start to drink green tea regularly?

Had USA Provided Bomb Sniffing Dogs to other Countries?

A malnourished USA bomb sniffing dog in a foreign country

(credit to Military.com)

USA State Department well known to provides “civilian foreign aid and development assistance” to countries around the globe.

One of aid and assistants is sending “bomb sniffing dogs” to combat terrorism to several countries.

Yes, there are 10 countries had accepted well training sniffing dogs:

- Bahrain

- Egypt

- Indonesia

- Lebanon

- Mexico

- Morocco

- Nepal

- Jordan

- Oman

- Thailand

A bomb sniffing dog in the USA airport (credit to MPR news)

The Transport Security Administration (TSA) said that cost for training a bomb sniffing dog is very expensive.

Cost per dog for training is US$ 218,000, and take care for dog welfare could be US$ 158,00 per year.

More than 180 dogs are sent to at least 10 countries as mentioned above. Unfortunately, these canines are not treated well in certain countries, lead to poor conditions and even death.

In Jordan, bomb sniffing dogs are found the worst. 10 unhealthy dogs are died from 2008 to 2016.

Sniffing dogs are facing skin diseases and overweight in Indonesia. The relate agency in Mexico has no welfare and health records for dogs.

The questions then:

- how the unhealthy and poor condition dogs be able to detect explosive devices and deterring terrorism?

- why US state department had no oversight committee or monitor during dogs deployment in partner countries?

Finally, what do you think? Do you have any suggestions?

How to Keep our Memory to Work until 90 Years old? - Part 2

Walking or jogging, simple exercises

At previous post (How to Keep our Memory to Work until Age 90? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update), we talked little bit about role of diets (fish and green vegetable) to maintain our memory until age 90s.

We discuss about other topics in this post, they are:

- exercises

- friendships

- blood pressure control

- sleeping enough and well

- stress management

- learning a lot

Exercises such as walking 10,000 steps everyday will spur brain cells to grow. In addition, body movement known to maintain healthy brain and improve our physical conditions.

Friendship, just for illustration (credit to tribunnews)

Good friendships enduce a “specific molecule” called as “Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor” (BDNF) which function to repair and create new connection of brain cells. Hence, it will increase memory to work efficient.

Blood pressure relate to increase the risk of many diseases including to get brain suffer or loss memory in older age. It is important to maintain our blood pressure at normal level.

Sleep well will produce hormone to keep brain healthy and processes well. Deep sleep also clean brain waste called as beta amyloid.

Aggregation of beta amyloid in the brain may block neural communications, then lead to Alzheimer diseases.

Managing stress is important to maintain cognitive and mental health. It is said that stress contributed to decline cognitive performance after age 70s.

Finally, learning new skills such as writing classes could improve the memory up to age 90s or even more. 

Is it Norm to Hire Underage Workers in Developing Countries? - part 2

kids workers in a developing country (credit to Google)

We discussed the first part of child labors at previous post (Is it Norm to Hire Underage Workers in Developing Countries? - part 1).

Then, we continue with “pros and cons,” where the school dropout teenagers lead to street prostitution, drug abuse and gang crime.

On the other hand, the working teenagers may also increase family income who live in severe poverty.

Thus, it is ethical decision to have underage employees in some points. The decision is supported by local authority, and norm for society.

Due to high rate of unemployment, poverty and teenager’s crime, it is ethical decision to accept underage employee.

However, in normal situation that Apple should follow the rule to reject underage employees. 

Kids should go to school (credit to Google)

Let’s give the opportunity for teenagers to complete their formal education, and to acquire specific skill to pursue their career in life. In many cases, underage employee receives unfair salary and child abuse treatments.

The company always face with dilemma in many cases, especially when opens the new production factories in developing countries.

If the company follow the rules (international law), it found the worse for society wellbeing. If company breaks the law, not mean will be better and improve the situation.

In respect to underage employees, yes, company could alleviate the income of poverty families who live surround or nearby.

However, the teenagers have no opportunity to improve their skill and knowledge if they work at full time.