Sustainability in building construction — Sustainability indicators — Part 1: Framework for the development of indicators and a core set of indicators for buildings
ISO 21929-1:2011 establishes a core set of indicators to take into account in the use and development of sustainability indicators for assessing the sustainability performance of new or existing buildings, related to their design, construction, operation, maintenance, refurbishment and end of life. Together, the core set of indicators provides measures to express the contribution of a building(s) to sustainability and sustainable development. These indicators represent aspects of buildings that impact on areas of protection related to sustainability and sustainable development.
The object of consideration in ISO 21929-1:2011 is a building or a group of buildings and the external works within the site (curtilage).
ISO 21929-1:2011 follows the principles set out in ISO 15392 and, where appropriate, is intended for use in conjunction with, and following the principles set out in, ISO 26000, ISO 14040 and the family of International Standards that includes ISO 14020, ISO 14021, ISO 14024 and ISO 14025. Where deviation occurs or where more specific requirements are stated, ISO 21929-1:2011 takes precedence.
ISO 21929-1:2011 adapts general sustainability principles for buildings; includes a framework for developing sustainability indicators for use in the assessment of economic, environmental and social impacts of buildings; determines the aspects for consideration when defining a core set of sustainability indicators for buildings; establishes a core set of indicators; describes how to use sustainability indicators; and gives rules for establishing a system of indicators.
ISO 21929-1:2011 does not give guidelines for the weighting of indicators or the aggregation of assessment results.
: ISO/TC 59/SC 17 Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works
91.040.01 Buildings in general
CD referred back to Working Group


Kate Middleton's Latest Pregnancy May Have Been Her Most Dramatic Yet
by Perry Carpenter
in Pop Culture
Kate Middleton just gave birth to her third child—a healthy baby boy—and the reports are that mom and baby are doing fine now that the little one has arrived, but this could have been Middleton's most dramatic pregnancy yet. Throughout the past nine months, the Duchess dealt with family scandals and major health scares, and it has made this third journey to motherhood much more difficult.
This morning, the palace released a brief statement announcing the new prince's arrival. "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth."
Prince George, four, was at school when his mom gave birth to his new little brother, and Princess Charlotte, who turns three next month, was at home at Kensington Palace.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive with The Duke of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital to meet their little brother.
A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Apr 23, 2018 at 8:56am PDT
RELATED: KATE MIDDLETON GIVES BIRTH TO BABY BOY
The news has made its way to both families, including the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, and they are all delighted with the news.
According to Radar Online, the birth announcement comes at the end of a difficult pregnancy that featured many ups and downs, not to mention the fact that the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle overshadowed the royal baby news and stole Middleton's thunder.
During her first trimester, the Duchess of Cambridge suffered from severe morning sickness—also known as hyperemesis gravidarum—and it caused her to miss out on many public appearances, including Prince George's first day of school.
However, once she got past the first few months, Middleton emerged looking radiant and rocking some of her best maternity fashion.
The 36-year-old had to deal with the same issues during her first two pregnancies, and it caused her to stay on bed rest in the weeks leading up to George and Charlotte's births. The Duchess made her last public appearance about a month ago before taking time off to prepare for her third baby's arrival.
The bulletin has been placed outside Buckingham Palace formally announcing the birth of the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new son. The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.
In addition to Middleton's health issues, the royal family has also had to deal with Prince Philip's emergency surgery for a hip replacement earlier this month. And, if that wasn't enough, police arrested Middleton's uncle last fall for punching his wife, and Pippa Middleton's father-in-law is facing charges of raping an underage girl, allegations that he has denied.
To add to the drama, rumors that Pippa is pregnant with her first child broke while Kate was on her way to the hospital to give birth.
The palace has not yet announced the name of the new Prince, but Albert and Arthur are tied as the most popular choices, with 5 to 1, and 9 to 1 odds respectively, according to British oddsmakers.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their son have traveled home to Kensington Palace today. Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank all staff at the hospital for the care and treatment they have received.
A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Apr 23, 2018 at 10:22am PDT
The new baby is now fifth in line for the throne—jumping ahead of Prince Harry—and is now behind Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte.
Kate Middleton and Prince William are resting at home with the newest member of the royal family.
NEXT: KATE MIDDLETON KICKS BACK WITH CHILDREN DURING HOSPITAL VISIT
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Charlotte bassist Reggie Dennis dies at 52
"All he wanted to do was play," Letron Brantley said of teammate Reggie Dennis. Dennis died Feb. 3 at age 52.
Courtesy of Letron Brantley
Reggie Dennis' mother knew he had a gift for music from an early age.
When Reggie was a toddler, Theresa Dennis had to stop her son from leafing through the vinyl records she kept at home: Earth, Wind & Fire, Rick James, Funkadelic.
And when she finally put them on, 5-year-old Reggie was able to pick out bits of songs Theresa had never noticed herself.
"He would hear all the instruments and recognize them," she said. "He heard things that I didn't hear, ordinary people didn't hear."
Reggie Dennis has been many things in his life in Charlotte: an artist, a mentor, a bandmate, a friend.
But above all, Dennis was a music lover. It was the common thread of his life, what he lived and breathed.
"It was his life's ambition," said Letron Brantley, frontman and saxophonist of Jazz Revolution, the band Dennis played bass guitar for. "All he wanted was to play."
Reginald "Reggie" Lee Dennis died on February 3, 2022 at his home in Charlotte. He was 52 years old. He is survived by his mother and many friends and family members.
Dennis joined Jazz Revolution, a Charlotte-based jazz band, in 2008. "He was very humble, but also very good," said bandmate Letron Brantley. crystal stokes Courtesy of Letron Brantley
"He could befriend anyone"
Theresa Dennis bought her son his first guitar from a JC Penney catalog when he was about 8 or 9 years old.
He quickly took to the instrument, but not so easily in lessons. Too impatient for scales or simple exercises, Dennis was above all self-taught and played by ear.
He eventually learned to read sheet music in classes at Central Piedmont Community College and bought his first bass guitar at a pawnshop. As a teenager, he worked as a roadie for local jazz legend Johnny Holloway, who became a mentor.
Dennis met Brantley in 2008, after Brantley started Jazz Revolution and was looking for a bassist. He was impressed by Dennis' talent and humility.
"Musicians, they can be pretty cocky," Brantley said. "He was very humble, but also very good."
Dennis joined the band, a Charlotte-based ensemble that performed jazz and soul music in the city and throughout the South. He had a unique way of playing — using just two fingers on the neck of his bass instead of four — that spoke to his level of talent, Brantley said.
But it's his laid-back spirit, coupled with his technical genius, that has helped him become a fixture in Charlotte's tight-knit musical community, Brantley said.
"He could befriend anyone," Brantley said. He's always been one to encourage young musicians and support other artists, he said.
His impact reached further than he knew. Both Brantley and Theresa Dennis said they were surprised by the outpouring of messages they received after Dennis died: from musicians they didn't even know Reggie had met.
"I knew he knew a lot of people. I didn't know how many," Brantley said.
A "walking encyclopedia"
Dennis was a dependable bandmate who always knew how to ease tension or provide laughs in rehearsal, Brantley said. But he was also a great friend: reliable, caring, and never one to hold grudges. Dennis was the type to text you out of the blue, hoping to make you smile.
Every Sunday he visited his mother after church to watch television and have dinner. His specialty was turkey meatloaf – though his cooking wasn't as good as his bass playing – and he always arrived with a bottle of Mountain Dew in hand.
He also worked for a local pharmacy chain for 25 years, his mother said.
But above all, he lived and breathed music. He fascinated people with his ability to remember the smallest details of a song, style or artist, Brantley said.
"He was just a walking encyclopedia of musical knowledge," he said. You could hum a tune and he could name the band, the name of the track and the year it was recorded," he said.
Dennis didn't drive, so Brantley sometimes drove him to concerts. In the car, they obsessed over mid-century jazz, uploading YouTube videos of particular artists as they talked.
Dennis didn't limit himself to one genre, Brantley said. He had a knack for embracing different musical styles, but if he had to describe Dennis' playing in a few words, it would be "just funky".
He was, to put it simply, a natural. "A lot of people called him a musical genius," his mother said.
But for Dennis, it was never about impressing others.
"Music was his love," Theresa Dennis said. "He built a life around what he loved."
A public celebration of Reggie Dennis' life will be held Saturday, February 19 at 11 a.m. at the Long & Son Mortuary Chapel on Beatties Ford Road.
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Hannah Lang covers banking and economics equity for The Charlotte Observer. She studied business journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and grew up in the same town as her alma mater.
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Cordish Lands Philly Casino License
PHILADELPHIA (CelebrityAccess) — Baltimore-based developer Cordish and their partners Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment were awarded with a license to open a casino in the city of Philadelphia.
According the Philadelphia Business Journal, Cordish plans to build a new $425 million, 200,000-square-foot casino, a 240-room hotel and a convention center near the Xfinity Live! entertainment venue in the city's stadium district. Other entertainment venues in the vicinity include Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelpia has grown to become one of the country's largest gaming markets, and the new Cordish venture with join existing Philadelphia casinos such as the Sugarhouse Casino, Harrah's Chester Casino and Parx Casinos. MGM is also in the process of building a casino, the MGM National Harbor, which is expected to be up and running by 2016. Cordish also owns Maryland Live!, a casino in Hannover, Md., which is a little over 100 miles away. – Staff Writers
Philadelphia's expanding casino market reflects a growing trend in the region. New York is weighing allowing the construction of up to four major casinos outside of New York, while Massachussets recently approved the contruction of two major casinos. At the same time, Atlantic City, the former center of casino gaming on the East Coast has suffered a dramatic contraction in the gaming industry, losing nearly half of its gaming revenue in recent years from a high of more than 5 billion annually. Four major casino properties in the city have closed in the past year, with more likely to shutter in 2015. As well, gaming revenue at the two major casinos in Connecticut has also been flat or declining.
"Another casino folding in Atlantic City doesn't necessarily make room for another casino in Pennsylvania," Keith Foley, a senior vice president at the debt rating agency Moody's Investor Service told the New York Times. "This region is already in an oversupply situation. There's a risk that the existing casinos will suffer or the new casinos will suffer." – Staff Writers
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By: Elba Flamenco May 21, 2017 December 31, 2019
Readingafrican american writers, octavia butler, science fiction, writing tips
The Best of Octavia Butler's "Positive Obsession" Essay
I just finished reading Octavia Butler's Bloodchild: And Other Stories, and I was struck by the simplicity of her characters and the complexity of their worlds. Especially in Bloodchild, where she depicts a very nuanced relationship in a new world order. If you have the opportunity to get the Audible version, I highly recommend it; The narration by Janina Edwards is excellent.
Among the fictional short stories is a reprint of an autobiographical article that originally appeared in Essence magazine. Butler's title for the piece was originally Positive Obsession, but the magazine changed it to Birth of a Writer, which she never liked. The short personal essays give us a glimpse into the life of a shy young lady who defied all odds to become the only black female science fiction writer of her time, and a mother to Afrofuturism. I've selected the quotes that resonated most with me, and that provide sage advice for anybody interested in a writing career. You can read the full essay here.
Bloodchild Fan Art
'I think,' my mother said to me one day when I was ten, 'that everyone has something that they can do better than they can do anything else. It's up to them to find out what that something is.'
As a young girl, Butler was a voracious reader, reading whatever books she could get her hands on, but once she ran out of stories to read, she started writing her own. Despite her shyness, she found the courage to write, and to imagine a future where she would make her living as a writer, even when most people around her were quick to remind her that black females couldn't be writers.
I like the idea that we're all here for a reason and that we all have some secret talent or skill buried deep inside of us that's just waiting to be coaxed out.
I hid out in a big pink notebook—one that would hold a whole ream of paper. I made myself a universe in it. There I could be a magic horse, a Martian, a telepath…There I could be anywhere but here, any time but now, with any people but these.
It's no secret that writing can be a form of escape, a way to imagine another life for ourselves and the suffering people of this world. Butler has also previously expressed that her writing has also been a way for her to cope with her fear or anxiety. In fact, Bloodchild was, in part, the result of her anxiety over insects in South America. On a trip to the Peruvian Amazon to do research for her Xenogenesis books, she was introduced to the botfly, which lays its eggs in the wounds of bites left behind by other insects. The thought of a maggot living and growing underneath her skin gave her the heebie-jeebies, so she wrote about it, and thus Bloodchild was born.
An obsession, according to my old Random House dictionary, is "the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc." Obsession can be a useful tool if it's positive obsession. Using it is like aiming carefully in archery.
…Positive obsession is about not being able to stop just because you're afraid and full of doubts. Positive obsession is dangerous. It's about not being able to stop at all.
What a fascinating concept! We all have the ability to obsess over things (some of us better than others), so why not re-focus that energy into an area of your life that you want to see improvement in? Instead of obsessing over [insert whatever bullshit thing you obsess over throughout the day] you can focus that on your health, your art, your community, or whatever you want. Such a simple concept.
When I was older, I decided that getting a rejection slip was like being told your child was ugly. You got mad and didn't believe a word of it. Besides, look at all the really ugly literary children out there in the world being published and doing fine!
HA! So true. Why does rejection or failure feel so damn painful? The answer is: it doesn't need to be. We're in control of our reactions to these moments, why agonize over it? Maintain confidence in what you're doing, and the recognition will come. Haters gonna hate, just keep it moving!
There seems to be an unwritten rule, hurtful and at odds with the realities of American culture. It says you aren't supposed to wonder whether as a Black person, a Black woman, you really might be inferior—not quite bright enough, not quite quick enough, not quite good enough to do the things you want to do. Though, of course, you do wonder.
YES. As a woman of color, I identify with this so much. Some people might call this "Impostor Syndrome," but I think it's much different. Marginalized communities are systematically subjugated, demeaned, trivialized, and yet, at the same time, we're told to "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps" and reach for the American dream. It's fucking bullshit. We're supposed to exude confidence and self-assuredness in our work, but all of these feelings and thoughts are always just underneath the surface. The solution is not to fake it 'til you make it, instead, fake it 'til you ARE it. The truth always manifests itself.
At its best, science fiction stimulates imagination and creativity. It gets reader and writer off the beaten track, off the narrow, narrow footpath of what "everyone" is saying, doing, thinking—whoever "everyone" happens to be this year.
This was Butler's response to the question, "What good is science fiction to Black people?" It was a question she often faced when she started doing public speaking. At first, Butler resented the question, feeling that she didn't need to justify her career to anyone. But after much reflection, she thought of an answer that satisfied her. Science fiction and other speculative fiction gives us an opportunity to explore different perspectives, different outcomes, different worlds, and by doing so, maybe change the course of what's happening now, even if it's only changing the mind of one person. That's powerful!
In closing, Octavia Butler was an incredible woman who fought the odds to become one of the most respected writers of her time. If you haven't read any of her work, give Bloodchild a try, and you'll see what makes her work so iconic. Also, if you're in the Los Angeles area, make sure to check out her exhibit at the Huntington. It runs through August 7th, 2017 and contains more than a hundred items, including manuscripts, photographs, and notebooks filled with writing and self-motivational notes, like the one below. I want to go!
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3 replies to The Best of Octavia Butler's "Positive Obsession" Essay
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Pingback: My 2017 Year in Books – THIS ANGELENA
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Home • Oped • Minimum Wage • Op-ed: Berkeley's minimum wage bungle
Op-ed: Berkeley's minimum wage bungle
Original Article: http://www.berkeleyside.com/2016/10/03/op-ed-berkeleys-minimum-wage-bungle/
Author: Michael Saltsman
Newspaper: Berkeleyside
Berkeley's minimum wage rose to $12.53 an hour on Oct. 1, a brief stopover on its way to $15. By the fall of 2018, the city's starter wage will have risen 67% in just five years.
While the city's council members quibbled over how quickly the wage should rise to $15, the city's small businesses had a more pressing concern: How to keep their doors open when the minimum wage is set at a level without any historical precedent.
The Bay Area has been ground zero for minimum wage experiments in California. In Alameda County alone, Berkeley, Emeryville and Oakland have each pursued dramatic increases in the minimum wage in recent years. Their actions were subsequently validated by Governor Jerry Brown, who earlier this year signed legislation establishing a statewide $15 minimum wage by 2022. The Governor should have paid closer attention to the consequences in the county he used to call home before embracing the policy.
In Emeryville, an unreasonable increase in the starter wage forced otherwise healthy businesses like Match Analysis to lay off six employees–the first such layoffs in the company's history. The Oakland increase contributed to the closure of ten restaurants in and around the city's Chinatown, while childcare providers like Muriel Sterling were also forced to reduce staffing levels. And in Berkeley, businesses like Black Oak Books, Café Clem, and Mokka coffee shop have closed this year, laying off all employees. Each cited the city's higher minimum wage as a factor in their closure.
It's too soon to put a definitive number on the damage, but the early data isn't promising. Census Bureau data show that Alameda County's restaurant industry was booming in 2013 and 2014, experiencing 6-7% employment growth annually. In 2015, this figure was cut in half, and the growth in the number of establishments also tapered off after rising significantly in 2014.
California legislators might have thought a statewide standard would prevent these county-specific impacts; instead, it appears to have sent large labor-intensive businesses across state borders. "The exodus has begun," warned one Los Angeles Times headline of the apparel industry consequences from a $15 minimum wage. American Apparel, which employs approximately 4,000 people in Southern California, is reportedly looking to move to either North Carolina or Tennessee. Ashley Furniture is also moving its production from southern California to lower-cost states where the federal minimum wage prevails–leaving over 800 employees without jobs.
The state university that shares a name with City of Berkeley bears some of the blame for this damage. A team of economists affiliated with the school, including Ken Jacobs and Michael Reich, confidently predicted to legislators at the city and state level that minimum wages set at unprecedented levels would have few if any economic consequences. Some of these predictions proved laughably wrong: In their Oakland minimum wage analysis, they estimated a $12.25 minimum wage would cause restaurants to increase prices by just 2.5%. But the East Bay Express reported that many Oakland restaurant owners were raising prices substantially—some by 20 percent or more.
One reason for these discrepancies between research and reality might be the team's labor alliances. Earlier this year, the Albany Times Union published a front page expose on the "ties between Berkeley and labor interests." For instance, the reporter cited one 2014 email where a Berkeley economist sought financial support to help "local groups engaged in work to raise the minimum wage," including "testimony/media work" in support of their cause.
It is unlikely that Berkeley or California will choose to slow their march towards $15. At a minimum, the state should consider innovative solutions like the one proposed last year by Anaheim Democrat Tom Daly. Highly tipped employees who earn far above the minimum wage in tips alone could be paid a base wage consistent with California's current minimum wage, rather than the higher $15 figure. They'd continue to earn substantial take-home pay, and small restaurants would face less pressure to hike prices or lay off staff.
It's a win-win situation. But it requires political courage that's been in short supply in the Golden State in recent years.
Supreme Court considers appeal of Seattle's $15 minimum wage (Op-Ed)
The Fiction of a Harmless Los Angeles Wage Hike (Op-Ed)


©iStock.com/Dark_Eni
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By International Living February 26, 2019
Best Places to Retire on $30,000 a Year
The world is full of affordable destinations where your dollar goes further. While filling a tank of gas, getting the week's groceries, paying rising health insurance premiums, and making all the other ends meet costs us more back home…thousands of folks have discovered that there are places overseas where even a little goes a long, long way.
Here are the best spots to retire for under $30,000 a year—in Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia—that make good sense for a lower-cost, high-quality life.
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
©iStock.com/Tiago_Fernandez
The Caribbean coast's heart is the little town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca—a great place for retirees looking for a slow-paced life in a beautiful setting.
The year-round warm weather on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast lends itself to outdoor activities like snorkeling, surfing, and more.
Puerto Viejo offers a low cost of living thanks to lower rent, property taxes, food costs (especially if expats stick with locally grown products), and the availability of a low-cost public healthcare system.
"That said, cost of living is very dependent on lifestyle," says Jason Holland, IL Roving Latin America Editor.
"Thanks to the influence of tourism, there are plenty of opportunities to dine at Italian and Argentinian restaurants, as well as French cafés that cost considerably more than local options. And local supermarkets stock plenty of imported items."
A couple can live the good life on $2,025 a month, or $24,300 a year.
Lagos, Portugal
©iStock.com/Nisangha
For expats looking to live near the ocean, Lagos, a town in southern Portugal's Algarve region, is an ideal choice. A pleasant climate, beautiful natural surroundings, an abundance of dining and party venues, and easily available transportation make Lagos perfectly suited for retirement.
It's easy to get around Lagos on foot—much of the city is fairly flat, especially around the marina. And it's easy to get to—Faro with its International Airport, is just one hour from Lagos.
The town is blessed with a year-round moderate climate, with average temperatures ranging from 52 F in winter to 75 F in the summertime, when the normal average population of 22,000 swells with visitors from Europe and elsewhere.
Despite the tourist-oriented nature of Lagos, particularly during the peak season of July and August, prices are not as high as you might think. A budget for two people runs to $2,080 a month or $24,960 a year.
Akumal, Mexico
©iStock.com/Iren_Key
"The varied shades of blues, aquamarine, and turquoise blend and swirl together as the clear tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea gently bathe the sugar-sand beach," says Don Murray, IL Riviera Maya Correspondent. "This is the small community of Akumal in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and for those who call it home, there is no better place to be."
Mexico's famed Riviera Maya stretches from Cancun in the north, 80 miles south to Tulúm. Akumal (Mayan for Land of the Turtles) rests between Playa del Carmen and Tulúm. Famously known for its spectacular clear bay filled with sea turtles, Akumal has matured from a secretive destination for divers to a growing tourist hotspot.
"Until the last few years, this tiny beachfront town was often a day trip for a small number of vacationers in Cancun and Playa del Carmen," Don says. "Notably, these day-trippers were often those who had heard of the amazing diving and snorkeling in the clear, shallow bay, permitting close encounters with the many sea turtles who call this special place home.
"Akumal is no longer just a day trip but is emerging as a primary destination. The town—and the entire Riviera Maya—attract those who love the water and water activities, as well as people who love wiggling their toes in the sand and sipping a tall, cold rum drink with skewered fruit hanging from the edge.
"In general, Mexico offers a significantly reduced cost of living when compared to the U.S., and Akumal falls in line with that expectation. However, Akumal is a growing tropical town on the Caribbean Sea and that profile is not available anywhere in the U.S. That said, life in Akumal is affordable and provides excellent value for money."
A couple can live a dreamy Caribbean lifestyle in Akumal on a budget of $2,240 a month, or $26,880 a year.
Volcán, Panama
©iStock.com/AlexanderXXI
Volcán is a town set in the highlands of the Chiriquí province, in western Panama, shadowed by Panama's only volcano, Volcán Baru. Most people visiting the Chiriquí province probably won't have heard of Volcán, but that is exactly what has kept this part of the province so special and unchanged.
The sprawling town of Volcán is the hub of the farming community in the valley, with a population of around 14,000 people. Volcán is a healthy and affordable place to live, ideal for those looking for a quiet, slow-paced country lifestyle, within easy reach of a city and a beach.
It's the perfect spot for nature lovers—Volcán Baru National Park and La Amistad Park are close by offering hiking trails into the protected forests and jungles. Due to its rich volcanic soil, Volcán is deemed the "breadbasket of Panama" producing most of the country's vegetables and most of the flowers and bouquets enjoyed by Panamanians all over the country.
The lifestyle is relaxed—a place where expats enjoy social interaction by visiting friends and going to local expat hangouts on weekends. However, living in Volcán will require you to know some Spanish to be able to communicate with the locals and do business.
A couple can live an enjoyable, peaceful escape on a monthly budget of $1,514—$18,168 a year.
Tucked into a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains lies Colombia's second largest city, Medellín. The City of Flowers enjoys a spring-like climate year-round, which attracts retirees looking for an active, outdoorsy lifestyle with all the benefits of a city.
Accentuated with green parks, flowers that are always in bloom, bubbling streams, and hundreds of birds in vivid colors—Medellín feels smaller than the metropolis that it is.
With over 30 universities, an array of art and history museums, theaters, restaurants, and several sports complexes, Medellín has a cosmopolitan vibe. The Metropolitan Theater presents a varied program of international classical music, jazz music, and dance performances. The Museo de Antioquia, located just off the Parque Berrio Metro stop, is home to a large collection of paintings and sculptures by Medellín native, Fernando Botero.
The cost of living depends on the type of lifestyle retirees choose, but Medellín is less expensive than many comparable U.S. cities.
A couple could live well on a budget from $1,400 to $2,000 per month—$16,800 to $24,000 a year.
Volterra, Italy
©iStock.com/baratroli
Volterra is one of Tuscany's best preserved and most historic towns, with a past dating back more than 2,500 years. The Twilight movies were filmed around the town's piazzas and streets, representing the seat of power of the vampire coven, the Vulturi.
Despite its location just 20 miles from the super-famous San Gimignano, Volterra gets just a trickle of tourists.
"Called the City of Alabaster, artisans have been mining and crafting the stone in Volterra since the Etruscans and have honed it to a fine art form," says Valerie Schneider, IL Italy Correspondent. "It is also consistently listed among the most beautiful towns in Tuscany.
"Volterra offers a wealth of historic and archeological sites, from an Etruscan acropolis and walls, to the Roman theater and medieval monuments. The Piazza dei Priori is one of Italy's prettiest squares containing the oldest town hall in Tuscany, dating to 1208. The piazza is hemmed in by frescoed palaces and is an enchanting public space.
"Most of Tuscany is expensive, but Volterra is still one of the exceptions. Despite having a high quality of life, pleasant atmosphere, and lots of local business activity, the real estate prices aren't through the roof."
A couple can live well on $1,715 a month, or $20,580 a year.
Placencia, Belize
With 16 miles of beach along a palm-lined peninsula, Placencia on the Caribbean coast of Belize offers a tropical paradise feel at an affordable price.
Placencia is a charming seaside town found at the tip of a long peninsula off the coast of mainland Belize. It's fast becoming Belize's most desirable location as it fronts the turquoise Caribbean Sea to the east and a resplendent freshwater lagoon, full of wildlife and with a view of the gorgeous Maya mountain chain, to the west.
The region was once an "off-the-radar" destination but Placencia has come a long way. Remnants of this former fishing village are still apparent—keeping the authenticity and natural beauty of the area is important to residents and newcomers alike—but today there's a selection of trendy, sophisticated restaurants, bars, and cafés as well.
The combination of relaxation with adventure makes Placencia a perfect beach paradise. A couple can live a laidback lifestyle here on a budget of just $2,500 a month—$30,000 a year.
Mafra, Portugal
©iStock.com/znm
Located 21 miles northwest of Lisbon and 15 minutes from world-class surfing beaches in Ericeira, Mafra is the proud possessor of one of the country's largest national palaces.
Mafra offers an attractive mix of indoor culture with outdoor opportunities in both a splendid park next to the palace called the Jardim, and the nearby Tapada de Mafra, the former royal hunting grounds established in 1747.
The town is a low-key place of white-washed houses trimmed in yellow and blue, lining narrow cobbled streets. The scent of grilling sardines is ever-present in the air, along with the sound of laughter and clinking glasses in the village's many cafés and bars.
Mafra's palace, cultural center, and music school all provide frequent concerts, plays, and other events. But if you want to spread your wings a bit, no problem. A reliable, comfortable bus service operated by Mafrense departs regularly from in front of the palace, to the Campo Grande bus station in Lisbon. Express buses make the trip in approximately 40 minutes. The cost is $5.30 one way, $8.80 roundtrip. In the opposite direction, at the end of the line you'll find yourself at the beach in the world-class surfing reserve of Ericeira.
In Mafra, a couple can live well on a monthly budget of $2,034 or $24,408 a year.
Cuenca, Ecuador
Cuenca, Ecuador's third-largest city and the economic center of the southern sierra, has leaped into the international spotlight in recent years.
Cuenca has long been known for a rich intellectual, artistic, and philosophical tradition that matches its colonial architecture. It is famous for colorful festivals, distinctive food, and breath-taking scenery.
And because of its history and state of preservation, Cuenca is one of Ecuador's five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Keith Paul and his wife Tina have no regrets about retiring to Ecuador. And they've felt that way ever since their move to Cuenca from California in January 2016.
What do they like best about living in the city? Keith says, "The people here are great, both in the gringo community and with the local Ecuadorians." Tina adds, "We're friends with many local people, who've made us feel like we're part of their family. We could be busy every day of the week with our new friends."
After researching several different Latin American countries to retire to, they realized that Ecuador offered exactly what they needed. Top on their checklist was to live in a city where there were many interesting and varied activities to ensure they could be kept busy; where the climate was temperate and not extreme; where walking around was easy and owning a car was not necessary; where the cost of living was low; and where they felt safe and secure.
Cuenca won, hands down.
Opting to rent, their three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom, 1,400 square foot condo costs just $700 a month.
Pat and Rick Jackson wanted to retire at 55, and they also met their goal thanks to moving to the colonial city.
"Living in Cuenca costs about 25% of what it cost us to live in Philly," says Pat. They pay just $500 a month for their two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in the Puertas del Sol neighborhood.
A couple can enjoy a wonderful retirement on $1,680 per month in Cuenca, excluding travel—that's $20,160 a year.
The Central Valley—home to about two-thirds of Costa Rica's population—is the place to find elegant residential communities, excellent medical facilities, first-class shopping, splendid restaurants, and spectacular natural wonders, including volcanoes, soaring waterfalls, roaring rivers, and wildlife-filled forests.
It's hard to beat the Central Valley when you're looking for a beautiful, friendly, and relatively inexpensive place to live. Nestled among forests, mountains, and farms are villages where expats have been living side by side with Costa Ricans for many decades.
Throughout the Valley there are charming, small towns that will remind you of another age.
Like many expats living la Pura Vida in Costa Rica, Ania and Tom Dudek—and their two sons—first visited the country on vacation. "For years, we would come for a month and rent a house in a different area each time," says Ania. "But one day, we fell so in love with Costa Rica and the people there that we decided to start a new chapter in our lives and move."
The family eventually moved full time to the small mountain town of Atenas. Settled high in Costa Rica's perfect-weather Central Valley, the town is midway between the beaches of the Pacific coast and the metropolitan capital of San José (only an hour's drive east or west). A coffee and ranching town, Atenas is known for pleasant, sunny weather and touts the slogan: "The Best Climate in the World."
"People like to go to the beach on vacation. But if they are looking to move to Costa Rica, they should come to Atenas and just stay three or four days to see how nice it is here. We love it here."
A single person can live on between $1,500 and $1,800 a month or $21,600 a year. Some single people scrape by on considerably less, and others spend hundreds of dollars more. In most cases a couple can live well on $2,000 per month and even better on $2,500. It depends on your lifestyle.
Pedasí, Panama
Pedasí, the small town on Panama's Pacific coast, is a four-hour trip from Panama City. The fishing town, sitting on the tip of the Azuero Peninsula, is best known for the expansive beaches just outside of town, regarded by many Panamanians to be among the nation's most beautiful.
With friendly locals and a tiny population, Pedasí is a place where the pace of life is slow and the people are laidback. Unspoiled, dark brown beaches are coupled with often stunning rock formations and warm Pacific waters. Large cattle ranches and corn fields surround the village.
"Our lives here are a far cry from the hectic existence we lived back in Florida," says Jim Gault of he and his wife, Abbe's move to Pedasí.
The Gaults own their own home and car and Jim says, "I'm collecting my Social Security and we live comfortably on $2,000 a month, including several trips within Panama and one trip abroad per year. That works out at $24,000 a year.
"A beer is $1 to $2 a bottle, our car insurance is just $600 for the year, and we have a housekeeper for just $15 for a half day. I have two different gardeners and several handymen who help me with our home for $5 an hour."
If you are worried you don't have $30,000 a year to retire, there are still spots where you can live well on a modest budget—like super-affordable, exotic Cambodia. For the third year in a row, Cambodia claims top spot in the cost of living category in IL's Annual Global Retirement Index.
While the cost of living in Cambodia may be one of the lowest in the world, the standard of living is high—leading to more retirees and expats choosing to make this country their home each year.
San Diego-native Tom Richter lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city. "This country has made me feel 15 years younger, compared with living in the States," Tom says. "I made the right decision coming here, and I know it.
"My check from Social Security comes to just over $1,000 per month. But in Phnom Penh that's a sizable amount."
His main expense is rent, which comes to $250 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a balcony in the center of the city. Utilities average around $80 to $100 a month, including water, electricity, garbage, cooking gas, and drinking water. About $200 a month is enough to keep his fridge filled with food, fresh fruit, and vegetables.
"What I like most is that there is a very local vibe that comes from people in Phnom Penh. Apart from being extremely friendly and happy to meet foreigners, it is just really cool to be able to go to the street corner in the morning to grab a fresh coconut and a newspaper, while shooting the breeze with some of the tuk-tuk drivers who speak good English."
A single retiree can live here for $1,150 a month or $13,800 a year.
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Portugal 101


Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem Trailers For Barry The Otaku And The Graceful Mamori
By Sato October 22, 2015
Nintendo and Atlus have updated with with the latest on Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (Genei Ibun Roku#FE) with a couple trailers for Mamori Minamoto and Barry Goodman, showing us a bit of their personalities.
Mamori Minamoto is a young girl who likes traditional Japanese songs and attire from the Showa period. Like her graceful looks, she's proper and polite, and occasionally shows her child-like part of her, even though she is more mature beyond her years for the most part. She fights alongside the Mirage Draug.
She's currently working for a children's program called "Microwave Idol Mamorin," where she teaches kids how to cook. She's shown being a little bit timid, but the protagonist Itsuki Aoi encourages her that she can do it, and she says that she will be the shield of the group.
Barry Goodman is a former popular musician who visits Japan for its otaku culture. Since retiring, he's been working as a trainer for the protagonist and friends. Barry is a huge anime fan, and has especially been into a show called "Dia Witch Iroha," which has a target audience of younger girls.
Personality-wise, he's a bright character, and always sounds enthusiastic about everything he does. Whether he's dressed as a giant puppy or admiring Mamori, who he considers an angel. However, when it comes to training, it looks like he's more on the serious side.
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem will release in Japan on December 26, 2015 for Wii U. The game will release in 2016 in the West.
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem


Janina Borkowski
Monday, June 28th, 1926 – Friday, March 20th, 2020
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Obituary for Janina Borkowski
Janina Borkowski (nee Wysocka) 1926 – 2020
Janina Borkowski passed into the arms of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, at the Georgetown Hospital on March 20th.. Predeceased by her parents, Wojciech and Franciszka, and her loving hus... Read More
Janina Borkowski passed into the arms of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, at the Georgetown Hospital on March 20th.. Predeceased by her parents, Wojciech and Franciszka, and her loving husband, Stanisław, she is survived by her son, Kazimierz, daughter-in-law, Zorika, and granddaughter, Emma.
Janina was born on June 28th in Czerwonogród, Poland. In 1942, she was taken into forced labour in a German munitions factory near Koblenz. Liberated by Allied forces in 1945, she entered a camp for displaced persons and learned the trade of a seamstress. Janina moved to work in northern England where, in 1949, she met and married Stanisław Borkowski, a former soldier of the Polish 2nd Corps. They settled in Bradford, Yorkshire, where they raised one son. A few years after her husband's death in 1987, Janina came to Canada to live with her son and daughter-in-law, first in London, Ontario, and, since 1993, in Acton. She will be missed by family and friends in Poland, England and Canada.
In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place and Janina's remains will be interred with those of her husband in England. Given the extraordinary circumstances pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, memorial masses will be said at a later date in St. Joseph Patron of Canada church in Acton and in Our Lady of Częstochowa church in Bradford.
In lieu of flowers, Janina requested that donations in her memory be made to a charity of your choice or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janina Borkowski, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
St. Joseph, Patron of Canada Roman Catholic Church
At a later date.
Location of St. Joseph, Patron of Canada Roman Catholic Church
64 Church Street ACTON, ON
Donations are being accepted for: HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF ONTARIO.
We encourage you to share any memorable photos or stories about Janina. All tributes placed on and purchased through this memorial website will remain on in perpetuity for generations.
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Margaret Graham
Kaz and family, Pat and I were saddened to hear of your mother's death. From reading her obituary , she was a real survivor. We offer our deepest sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. God bless. Pat and Peggy Graham
Comment | Share Posted Apr 19, 2020 at 01:09pm via Condolence


Truman State Hunger
College kids love to eat — but some Truman State students will skip some meals — for a good cause.
{KIRX-040114-STUDENT Famine Fundraiser-Garrison VO}
On April 4th and 5th — members of the Lutheran Student Fellowship at Truman State will go without food for 30 hours. They'll do it to learn what so many millions face around the world each day — but it's also a fundraiser. Money raised will go to World Vision — a Christian charity that helps feed children in nearly 100 countries. They're calling it a 30-hour famine — and you can contribute by clicking onto 30-hourfamine.org.
Mar. 31, 2014 at 11:50 am
Politics: Some republicans in the state house are trying to have Governor Nixon removed from office. they've introduced three articles of impeachment. One of them involves same sex marriage. Nixon ordered the state to recognize same sex marriages from other states. The impeachment bill says Nixon did not have the authority to do that. The articles of impeachment have been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
Green Castle Fireman's Breakfast
The tradition of the fireman's breakfast…just hearing it almost makes you hungry, doesn't it? Yesterday residents of Green Castle supported their fire department by enjoying the annual Fireman's Breakfast. The menu included biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and scrambled eggs. The event raises money in support of the Green Castle Community fire department. About 60 people attended.
Mar. 31, 2014 at 5:07 am
Rabies Vaccination Clinic Is Saturday
The Adair County Health Department and Adair County Veterinary Clinic are teaming up to run an Animal Vaccination Clinic for Rabies this Saturday. Dogs, cats and ferrets can be brought to the Novinger Fire Department Saturday afternoon from 1 until 2:30. It costs $8 per shot. Other vaccines and services will also be available on request, according to officials.
ATSU Announces Commencement Speaker
A.T. Still University's Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine has chosen Dr. Tarah L. Castleberry as keynote speaker for the 178th commencement. Dr. Castleberry served on the 2012-13 Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association Board of Directors. Dr. Castleberry currently serves in several capacities at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Aerospace Medicine Division, including assistant professor, family medicine/preventative medicine, & community health, aerospace medicine residency program director, and general preventative medicine residency program director. She is board certified in family medicine and aerospace medicine and was active in the U.S. Naval Service from 2000-07. In addition to her teaching career, Dr. Castleberry worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration serving as flight surgeon and aerospace medicine specialist, deputy crew surgeon and physician support of U.S. and international partner astronaut training activities in Russia. Commencement will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 18, 2014, at Baldwin Hall on the Truman State University campus.
Moberly Jail Drugs
Two women have been arrested for trying to bring pot into the Moberly prison.
{KIRX-033114-PRISON POT Arrest-Garrison VO}
The women were visiting a guy locked up at the Moberly Correctional facility. They were identified as 29 year old Christi Bass from Arkansas and 22 year old Jaimie Parramore of Springfield, Mo. Two kids with the women were taken into protective custody. Not sure what connection the two women had to the prisoner they were visiting. But as it turns out, he didn't a get visit — and he didn't get any weed.
Mar. 30, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Kirksville Candidate's Signs Vandalized
One of Kirksville's sitting city council members, Jerry Mills, found out yesterday morning someone had vandalized some of his re-election campaign signs. Mills says he received a few phone calls from people who found the damaged signs around town. Ten or so signs were defaced with swastikas and a derogatory phrase. Police are investigating the situation to see what information they can find about the vandalized signs.
Water Main Work To Start
City of Kirksville crews will start work today on the existing water main on S. Halliburton Street from Franklin Street to LaHarpe Street. Work on the main will take three to foru weeks, according to a city press release, and is dependent on the weather. Halliburton street will be closed to through traffic and no parking will be allowed in the construction zone.
Macon County Drug Arrest
A drug arrest yesterday in Macon County. Sheriff Kevin Shoemaker says deputies arrested 59 year old Rick Ratliff of Brookfield for possession of meth and drug paraphernalia. The arrest was a result of a suspicious vehicle reported to be parked at the school in New Cambria. Ratliff was alone in the car, and deputies report he tried to hide a small bag of suspected methamphetamine. As they arrested him, deputies say they found paraphernalia. Ratliff was booked into the Macon County Jail without incident.
April Showers Event
Girl Scouts are holding their annual April Showers Showering the Community personal care drive at Wal Mart next Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items collected will be donated to the Salvation Army, the Christian Community Food Depot, Victim's Support Services, Lifeline Pregnancy, Genesis House, and the I Think I can Foundation.


Starting December 1 (Wed.), 2010, "Invisible Garden" will be Released at the Laboratory for New Media as its 8th Exhibition.
The Permanent Exhibition, "Laboratory for New Media," is an exhibition space that introduces the possibilities of expression using cutting-edge technology as it upgrades the exhibits approximately 3 times a year. In the 8th exhibition, we will exhibit works by Ms. Sachiko Kodama who has the unique career path of having switched to the field of Media Art after learning physics.
The main focus is "light" and "ferrofluid" (fluid that reacts to magnetic fields) invented at NASA. A spectacular atmosphere blossoming like a garden will be presented with works created by controlling forces such as magnetic waves and infrared rays that cannot be seen with your eyes alone.
Laboratory for New Media 8th Exhibition "Invisible Garden"
Term: December 1 (Wed.), 2010 - March 21 (Mon./Holiday), 2011
Exhibited Work
The exhibition is composed of 4 items of work that pursue new art expression with ferrofluid and 3 items of dynamic installation works using light.
Morpho Tower/Two Standing Spirals 2010 (c) Sachiko Kodama
"Bounching Star" Ball Project (c) Sachiko Kodama
Morpho Tower/Two Standing Spirals (2010)
Table shaped ferrofluid sculpture is presented. The smooth water surface covered with ferrofluid will rise in harmony with music and light and change its appearance.
Morpho Tower (2006 - present)
This is a desktop type ferrofluid sculpture. When the spiral tower is exposed to a magnetic field, the surrounding ferrofluid will turn into small thorns and climb the spiral.
Planet Series (2010)
A small work using a ferrofluid is presented. It will create a world like a closed planet by enclosing ferrofluid in glass.
Dynamic Light Wall (2009 - 2010)
This is a work that projects colorful light on the surface of the wall with a scale-shaped pattern.
"Bounching Star" Ball Project
It is an installation work using a special ball that incorporates a sensor. It actualizes a digital ball game by detecting the position and the condition of the ball and synchronizing the detected information with the images projected on the floor.
Sachiko Kodama (Artist, Associate Professor of Department of Human Communication, The University of Electro-Communications)
Ms. Kodama graduated from the Physics course in the Faculty of Science at Hokkaido University and completed the master's and doctoral program in Art and Design at the University of Tsukuba. In 2000, she released her media artwork which integrated ferrofluid. In addition to winning the grand prize for the interactive division of the Japan Media Art Festival, Ms. Kodama won numerous prizes in international and domestic competition. She continues to pioneer new fields of art expression.
Laboratory for New Media: The 1st Exhibition - The Artistic Researchers
Laboratory for New Media: The 2nd Exhibition - It Could Be Magic
Laboratory for New Media: The 3rd Exhibition - Dr. Strange Device
Laboratory for New Media: The 4th Exhibition - The Smiley Transisters
Laboratory for New Media: The 5th Exhibition - Sensory Circuit Collection
Laboratory for New Media: The 6th Exhibition - Interface Techno logy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Laboratory for New Media: The 7th Exhibition- Knock! Music - 4 theories of evolution from percussion through computers -
Laboratory for New Media: The 8th Exhibition - Invisible Garden
Laboratory for New Media: 9th Exhibition - Living with Monmo
News (List)


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YouTube's picture-in-picture mode is now available on Android for free
Image source: Getty Images
By Chris Smith @chris_writes
You know that cool feature that lets you watch videos while you're using other apps? It's called picture-in-picture (PiP), and YouTube is making it available to all Android users free of charge. As in, they won't have to pay for YouTube Premium to get it, which used to be the case. Don't get too excited just yet, as only US-based Android users will get it for now. And of those, only folks with Android Oreo devices will be able to use (PiP) — and Oreo is only on 5.7% of Android devices currently in use.
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It's safe to say that Google will roll out the feature to more users soon, but you'll have to wait a while longer for it.
First spotted by xda-developers, the feature is now available inside the regular YouTube app, even if you don't have a Red or Premium subscription. PiP was a premium-exclusive feature for the YouTube, which didn't make much sense at the time.
Google now sees the light. In fact, Google's own help pages have been updated to reflect the change.
A PiP toggle is available in the Settings section of the YouTube app, complete with instructions on how to use the feature on your device. All you have to do after enabling the mode is to tap the home button while watching a YouTube video. A miniature player will appear on top of other apps so you can continue to enjoy your video while doing something else. If you want to resume the full YouTube experience, just double-tap the PiP window. Drag the video window to the bottom of the screen to kill video playback completely.
As xda further explains, it's also up to the video creator to allow or disallow PiP mode. So if the feature seems to work erratically, that's because some YouTube clips don't support picture-in-picture. If you need more instructions, check out Google's help page.
Tags: Android, youtube
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it he was sharing his views on tech stuff with readers around the world. Whenever he's not writing about gadgets he miserably fails to stay away from them, although he desperately tries. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
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Realme, OnePlus or Vivo – Which is the Best 5G Phone Under Rs 30k?
Realme X7 Pro vs OnePlus Nord vs Vivo V20 Pro: In this article we have drawn a comparison between these 5G phones.
Updated: 09 Feb 2021, 7:30 PM IST
Tech and Auto
In the fast-evolving world of technology, 5G is the latest thing. Tech and telecom giants are all in the race to launch 5G connectivity to 5G supporting devices. Many 5G devices have already been launched in the Indian smartphone market.
In this article, we have drawn a comparison between OnePlus Nord, Realme X7 pro, and Vivo V20 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Might Launch Soon in India, Check Details
OnePlus Nord is a 5G smartphone which comes with a 6.44-inch full-HD + fluid AMOLED display. It runs on Android 10 and Oxygen OS. The processor used in it is Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC processor and is available in 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB RAM. The storage options available are 64GB, 128 GB, and 256GB.
The smartphone sports a quad-rear camera setup and dual selfie camera. It is powered by 4,115 mAh battery which is supported by a 30W fast charging. With all of these specifications, OnePlus Nord in India starts at Rs 24,999.
OnePlus Nord vs the Competition: Which is Better Under Rs 25,000?
The new Realme 5G smartphone uses a display of 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz. It is supported by MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ processor and comes with 8GB RAM. The storage capacity available with this smartphone is 128GB.
Realme X7 Pro has a quad-camera setup at the back and a 32 MP selfie camera at the front. It is powered by 4,500 mAh battery supported by 65W Charging and runs on Android 10 and Realme UI. It is priced at Rs 29,999.
Realme 'Race', Oppo & Other Phones Based on New Qualcomm SoC
Vivo V20 Pro is also a 5G smartphones which uses a display of 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 60Hz, HDR10. It is supported by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and is available with 8GB RAM. This phone house a storage capacity of 128GB.
This Vivo smartphone comes with a quad-camera setup at the back and a dual selfie camera at the front. It is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery and 33W fast charging. It runs on Android 10 and FuntouchOS 11 and is priced at Rs 29,990.
Vivo Y12s Launched in India: Check Price & Other Specifications
Published: 09 Feb 2021, 7:29 PM IST


30/01/2019 9:45 PM AEDT | Updated 07/02/2019 3:19 AM AEDT
How Finland Solved Homelessness
With one ridiculously simple policy, it has almost completely eradicated street homelessness.
By Laura Paddison
Four years ago, Thomas Salmi was drinking to forget. He was homeless and living on the streets of Finland's capital city Helsinki.
He had a rough start in life. He wasn't able to live at home because his father had problems with aggression. He ended up going to nine different children's homes, before falling through the cracks of the system in his late teens. By 21 he was homeless. "I lost the sense of a normal life. I became depressed, aggressive, angry and I abused alcohol a lot." He would drink up to half a gallon a day and then get into trouble. "I thought why would I care if I go to jail? I don't have to be out there in snow and cold."
Salmi was sleeping in Helsinki train station when a social worker found him and told him he could help. He was put in touch with Helsinki Deaconess Institute (HDI), a Finnish nonprofit that provides social services. A year later he moved into Aurora-Tola, a 125-unit house run by HDI.
Now 25 years old, he lives in his own studio apartment, works as a janitor and life is getting back on track. "I know that if I am in my house nobody is coming to get me out or telling me what to do," he said, "If I want to dance in my home, I can."
Ella Kiviniemi for HuffPost
Thomas has decorated his apartment with things he has found in his work cleaning other apartments of the building, after someone has moved or passed away. Each item carries a story.
Salmi is a beneficiary of Finland's much-lauded "housing first" approach, which has been in place for more than a decade.
The idea is simple. To solve homelessness you start by giving someone a home, a permanent one with no strings attached. If they want to drink, they can; if they want to take drugs, that's fine too. Support services are made available to treat addiction, mental health and other problems, and to help people get back on their feet, from assisting with welfare paperwork to securing a job.
The housing in Finland is a mix of designated standard apartments sprinkled through the community, and supported housing: apartment blocks with on-site services, built or renovated specifically for chronically homeless people. A Salvation Army building in Helsinki, for example, was converted from a 250-bed emergency shelter to an 81 apartment supported housing unit.
Formerly homeless residents have a rental contract just like anyone else. They pay rent from their own pockets or through the benefits afforded by Finland's relatively generous welfare state.
The approach is working. As homelessness rises across Europe, Finland's numbers are falling. In 1987, there were around 18,000 homeless people. In 2017, there were 7,112 homeless people, of which only 415 were living on the streets or in emergency shelters. The vast majority (84 percent) were staying temporarily with friends or relatives. Between 2008 and 2015, the number of people experiencing long-term homelessness dropped by 35 percent.
The reason? Finland approaches homelessness "as a housing problem and a violation of fundamental rights, both solvable, and not as an inevitable social problem resulting from personal issues," said an analysis from Feantsa, a European network that focuses on homelessness.
Traditionally, homeless people are told to straighten up and quit drinking or doing drugs as a precondition to housing. But critics point to the grinding difficulty of shaking addiction from the streets or from temporary shelter beds.
"If something happens and you aren't successful, like it always happens, it's the nature of addiction, then you are back on the street," said Heli Alkila, service area director at HDI which housed Thomas Salmi.
A Salvation Army building in Helsinki was converted from a 250-bed emergency shelter to an 81-apartment supported housing unit.
Finland's approach ultimately comes down to values, said Juha Kaakinen, an architect of the housing first approach and CEO of the nonprofit Y-Foundation. "The Finnish attitude is that we have to help people who are in the most difficult position, whatever the reason they have become homeless," he said. "We understand very well that the main reasons behind homelessness are structural reasons."
In Espoo, a city 2 miles west of the Finnish capital, a housing unit sits overlooking a lake. This is Väinölä, a small development built in 2014, which is home to 35 formerly homeless people in 33 apartments.
Eight nurses work on shifts to ensure someone is available 24 hours a day, and a work activity coach and coordinator organize work for those who can and want to do it. This could be anything from cooking meals to packing reflectors and it earns residents €2 ($2.30) a day.
Teams of residents also collect trash locally. "The neighborhood loves it because they think this area is now cleaner than ever," said Jarkko Jyräsalo, who runs Väinölä. "Sometimes housing units like this have problems with their neighbors, but we don't."
Despite the different, sometimes severe, needs of residents, Väinölä is mostly peaceful. Jyräsalo credits weekly community meetings between residents and staff. "They are people who are used to solving their problems with fists or fighting. But now we have learnt to discuss things."
Vilja Pursiainen/Y-Foundation
Väinölä, a supported housing unit in Espoo, Finland.
Finland's success at cutting homelessness has attracted a huge amount of international attention, and the Y-Foundation's Kaakinen is often asked to explain how the country mobilized such strong political will. For him, it boils down to this: "There has to be some individual politician who has the social consciousness."
In Finland's case it was Jan Vapaavuori, now Helsinki's mayor but then the housing minister, who drove the housing first approach. Vapaavuori's politics – he's in the center-right National Coalition Party – were important, said Kaakinen. When a radical idea is championed by a conservative politician, "it's very difficult for others to oppose it," he said. Since then, politicians of all stripes in Finland have continued to support the approach.
It's not just central government, either. It has been a huge collaborative effort also including cities, businesses, NGOs and state-owned gambling company Veikkaus, formerly Finland's Slot Machine Association, whose profits go to social causes.
While it's expensive to build, buy and rent housing for homeless people, as well as provide the vital support services, the architects of the policy say it pays for itself. Studies have found housing one long-term homeless person saves society around €15,000 ($17,000) a year, said Kaakinen, due to a reduction in their use of services such as hospital emergency rooms, police and the criminal justice system.
Inside one of the apartments at Väinölä.
The housing first approach has its critics. There are those who balk at the idea of people getting free housing when they are seen as having made bad choices. There are accusations that allowing people to continue using alcohol and drugs normalizes the behavior. "But no we don't," said Alkila of HDI. "Drugs are here, all these things are here, and we are just trying. It's a human dignity question, you have to have a place to stay."
There are also criticisms from some of the formerly homeless people who benefit from the policy. Jyri-Pekka Pursiainen is one of them. A divorce and sudden unemployment knocked him off balance, and he found himself on the streets. For the last two years, he has lived in a studio apartment in a supported housing block in Helsinki, carved out of a former retirement home.
But he is unhappy. "The place I am living now, you can't call it home ... The whole building is moldy, it's in really bad shape. People get sick there," he said. He was told the apartment would be short term. But nearly two years down the line, he is still there with no clue when he might move on. He wants somewhere safe where his three children can visit him.
Still, Pursiainen admits his situation is better now than when he was homeless. He has his own place, and he lives in the center of Helsinki paying a monthly rent of €331 ($379), less than a third of what a standard studio apartment would ordinarily cost there.
peeterv via Getty Images
A street in the center of Helsinki, Finland. More than half of the country's homeless people live in the city.
None of the housing first advocates suggest that the approach is problem-free, but it's a base from which people can start to rebuild. "Maybe it's not perfect, maybe it's not the dream you had when you were young but this is your own place," said Alkila.
Finland is not alone in following a housing first approach. It's already being used in countries such as Denmark, Canada, Australia and also the U.S.
Breaking Ground, a homelessness NGO that operates 4,000 housing units across New York and Connecticut, was one of the pioneers of a housing first approach, said CEO Brenda Rosen.
They hear from critics all the time, she said, who argue people should need to address their issues before they get housing. "We fundamentally feel that that is backwards … rather than expending all your energy and trying to get through each and every day and figure out how you will eat your meals and survive another night through a cold winter, the most decent, humane and cost-effective way is to bring folks inside."
Housing first is effective in America, said Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, but the scale of the U.S. problem is just so much bigger and the political context is different. "The strategy works," said Roman. "That's not the issue. The issue is how much of it are you going to do, and all credit to Finland for having the social safety net and for having the commitment to say they're going to go to scale or for going to scale. We haven't done that."
Thomas says his apartment is his sanctuary.
Finland still has challenges. The demographics of the homeless population are shifting as new groups of people find themselves slipping through the cracks. Alkila points to women as a growing group, now making up around 23 percent of homeless people. Domestic violence and increased use of substances are among the reasons for women becoming homeless, according to a Y Foundation report. Some young people, too, are finding it hard to get a footing when affordable housing is so scarce.
"We didn't solve homelessness, we solved some part of it," said Sanna Tiivola of the nonprofit No Fixed Abode (VVA). But, she added, when she goes to other countries and sees they are still leaning heavily on emergency shelters as a solution, "I always think, ahhh you're still here. Why? Why are doing this shelter thing, no, no, no don't do it! So that's a visible change ... and that's why I think people say that Finland solved homelessness."
For Salmi, Finland's housing first approach has changed his life. He has ambitions, he wants to retrain as a pipefitter. He still drinks but only on the weekends. He still struggles with mental health problems, but far less severely and far less often than he used to, and he said he no longer has suicidal thoughts.
"My apartment is kind of a sanctuary … Before I lost my home I didn't understand how much it meant, and when I lost it, within those three years, I kind of understand the little things in life make you happy," he said. "I mean if I have dinner, little things, like if I have bread in my fridge later. Normal things."
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HuffPost's 'This New World' series is funded by Partners for a New Economy and the Kendeda Fund. All content is editorially independent, with no influence or input from the foundations. If you have an idea or tip for the editorial series, send an email to thisnewworld@huffpost.com
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the location of Espoo as east of Helsinki.
Laura Paddison Editor, This New World
MORE: finland homelessness Homelessness and Housing In Finland society this new world world


The first Shazam trailer has officially dropped
Shazam has been a long time coming and we finally have a look at the newest DC hero added to their expanding Universe. The story centers around Billy Batson, an orphan who acquires super powers that transform him into an adult with incredible gifts. Here's hoping DC can keep this film as comedic and campy as the premise to the character itself is. Check out the trailer below and get ready for Shazam when it debuts April 5th, 2019.
Why we keep ending up back where we started
In recent years, Hollywood has been surrounded with casting controversies and Johansson has been no stranger to them. After the poorly received Ghost in the Shell, it was a surprise when the in demand actor revealed that she would take on the role of trans massage parlor manager in Rub and Tug. It was no surprise that the news would be received negatively, especially following the mulitple films in recent years which found themselves in hot water including Matt Damons Great wall, Tilda Swinton's Role in Doctor Strange, Netflix's adaptation of acclaimed horror manga Death Note, and even Johansson herself, being cast in Ghost in the Shell, that even went so far as to test technology to make her appear "more asian." News spread of the controversial casting, with trans actresses Trace Lysette and Jamie Clayton, speaking out against the decision. It is important to note that the person attached to directing this film, Rupert Sanders, also worked with Johansson on Ghost in the Shell. When the controversy became a major talking point, Johansson's tone deaf response of, "Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman's reps for comment," did not go over well, and was meant to allude to several actors who had played trans roles and received acclaim. While they did at the time, the political climate as well as the conversation around the trans community is continuing to change rapidly, and taking roles from an already small community is keeping them from having the opportunities cisgender actors, like Johansson, have always had. This is also a historic year for trans actors, with the first trans actor Daniela Vega, winning an award for her role in A Fantastic Woman. After several weeks of controversy, Johansson announced today that she will be withdrawing from the film, a rare move for any actor. The last high profile withdraw was Ed Serkin, known for his role as the villain in the first Deadpool film, leaving the new Hellboy reboot after finding out he was playing a role originally meant to be cast by a Japanese-American actor. We also saw a casting controversy with Natalie Portman's sci-fi film, Annihilation, as well as Cocaine Godmother with Catherine Zeta-Jones as recent as earlier this year. Scarlett Johansson is part of a long Hollywood trend of picking valuable actors to boost ticket sales, and while that isn't surprising, the power of social media and the backlash from these marginalized communities, most certainly had an effect on the box office revenue of all the films listed above. Hopefully, not only Johansson, but other actors and actress will be careful choosing their roles in the future.
Joaquin Pheonix will join the D.C. film universe as The Joker
It's no secret that the D.C. film universe is not charting the most straight and narrow path, so this story shouldn't be all that surprising to those who have been playing close attention. After months of speculation, it looks like D.C. is moving ahead with a solo film for their iconic Joker villain, played none other than by Jaoquin Pheonix. Jared Leto is set to reprise his role in Suicide Squad 2. What makes this all the more confusing is it looks like (as of now), Leto is still set to star in his own solo Joker film. Todd Phillips, director of the Hangover series, is set to direct the Pheonix led solo film, which will stand apart from the current Joker. As previously reported at the end of 2017, D.C. started the year with quite the shake up, with the exit of Jon Berg after a lackluster Justice League performance. His replacement, Walter Hamada, along with D.C., is looking to move in a different direction. With 2018' Aquaman as well as Shazam in 2019, a lot of the future depends on how successful some of these upcoming films will be. While it safe to say that fans will more than likely turn out, critics have had a massive impact on D.C.'s struggling expansion and its safe to say that that's the reason why Phillip's Joker film will have a reportedly low budget of around 55 million. All in all, I would not be shocked if some of the upcoming films D.C. has been talking about for years never see the light, like the Cyborg standalone film, a second Man of Steel, or anything involving the Dark Universe.
The good and the bad of DC's streaming service
Ahead of this years San Diego Comic Con, DC has given us a look at its fall subscription service and there's some definite pros and cons. While the service is looking to launch a handful of new titles, including the live action Teen Titan series, it seems like it might be light in some other areas. Dc has promised to provide members with access to their extensive library, but it appears that certain fan favorite series including the animated Justice League as well as the DC series that live on the CW network might not appear on the service. It's also no secret that Netflix has acquired a deal with the CW to release these comic book series just 8 days after the airing of their final episodes. It also appears that the comic book feature included in the service will be limited to a "curated" selection, rotating out comics periodically and thus not allowing full access to the massive DC catalog. The other big concern is the price. With Disney looking to launch their own streaming service in the fall and DC having most, but not all, of their series and advertising a comic book feature (which would most likely make less sense to view on the television versus viewing on your phone), it wouldn't be surprising if the price was closer to HBOGo's tag of around $15 dollars or more. The other issue is that this is for dedicated fan boys of the comic giant. With new series like an animated cartoon for Harley Quinn, Swamp Thing, as well as the return of Young Justice, you're less likely to pick up a subscription for something with a hefty price tag if you aren't solely looking for movies and content based on DC franchises. With that being said, there is a lot here to see, including many of the popular DC animated films, the Batman film series, and even the original Superman TV series. The other big issue is that if you are going to pick up a subscription because of one these new series you might want to hold out because the only one launching this year is the live action Teen Titans, while the Swamp Thing, Harley Queen, Young Justice, and Doom Patrol series won't debut until sometime in 2019. We will have to see if DC's can stand up against Disney's streaming service, which is said to be home to not just their films, but the Marvel and Star Wars catalog as well. If you're interested, the website is now live and you can sign up for the possibility to be part of the early access beta later this year here. Read a bit more about what's missing here.
Fallout 76 looks great but has me worried
During my second consecutive year at E3, one of the biggest announcements came from gaming studio Bethesda with their lately Fallout title. And while it drew immediate fan excitement, as more details came out during the week, a cloud of worry set in over the hardcore fanbase. Fallout 76 looks to depart from a number of the classic elements from the series and instead, head towards an always online/multiplayer experience, combining the settlement aspects from with the series fourth game with online play. While that doesn't sounds like a completely unenjoyable experience, the loss of progression is what has many fans, myself included, the most worried. Bethesda was pretty open about the possibility of some hostile players in the servers, also making note of the nuke feature, which would allow you to destroy someones base all together. Even still, Bethesda has a plan in order to prevent harassment in game, which is good but how far will that lean into the PvP aspect of the title itself? If you have a handful of players who happen to have more time to dedicate on the title, will it be a never ending upwards crawl to even stay alive in the server with them? Can you go about it solo or will the only worthwhile experience come from playing with a group? It also did not help that the title had no physical demo at E3 and as of now, our knowledge is still pretty limited. While I was a huge fan of the highly criticized Fallout 4, 76 is definitely the biggest departure from the series, and it will be interesting to see how the community will interact when this title launches November 14th, 2018.
Disney outbids Comcast to acquire Fox
After an intense bidding war it looks like we finally know where the Fox assets are heading and it gives the fans a lot to be excited about. After Comcast tried to outbid Disney's original 52.4 billion offer with their own 65 billion dollar offer, Disney struck back with a 71.3 billion offer that proved too lucrative for Fox to pass up. Disney fighting for this deal makes a lot of sense considering all of the Marvel characters Fox had under its belt including the massively successful Deadpool franchise and X men. This also makes a lot of sense as Marvel has been very quite about where they are heading past Avengers 4 with their expanding universe and this has given them a lot more to play with. On top of that, Disney now owns the cable channels FX, and FXX, as well as everything excluding local Fox channels, Fox sports, and Fox news. This landmark franchise deal adds to the already impressive power under Disney's belt but we will have to wait and see how that will effect their release schedule, which is the under-performing Solo in theaters. All in all, this is great news for comic book fans so hopefully we will see some Xmen characters as well as a possibly well done version of Fantastic Four in the future.
Solo to cost Disney 50 million at the box office
Not even Lando and a series of fur coats could save this film. After months of behind the scene controversy, the latest Star Wars opened to a lack luster debut weekend and it is now being reported that the film will lose Disney as much as 50 million in revenue. The movie was polarizing for long time fans of the Star Wars series and the early reviews were fairly lukewarm. It also did not help the fact that Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2 were released both within a month of Solo: A Star Wars Story and are still in theaters. While Star Wars will be absent from our Christmas box office this year, it looks like Disney is betting on Emily Blunt's Mary Poppins Returns film, to make up their loses. This can not be a large shock to anyone given fan reception as well as the many, many blockbusters released in such a short span of time. While star Alden Ehrenreich allegedly slipped up and revealed that he was committed to a three picture deal in the past but that sounds up in the air given the current box office run. The movie, however, knods at a series of famous Star Wars events and villains and could certainly do so. Plus, Disney has more than enough money to continue to spin off their anthology series for the time being. There have been heavy rumors as of late that the next anthology film will might star the possible surprise cameo and return villain (SPOILER) Darth Maul and Obi Wan Kenobi. While this crew might have had its one kessel run, we will have to wait and see where Disney heads next.
Solo has a disappointing holiday opening
Bad news for Solo as it looks like the poor reviews and behind the scenes drama had quite the effect on the box office for this film. The latest Star Wars film was projected to gross between 130-150 million in it's opening weekend during the Memorial Day holiday, with the latter actually becoming a record breaking number. Instead, Solo opened number one at the box office with a weak 84 million, a massive amount lower than what was expected. The film famous featured the firing of Lego Movie Duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller in place of veteran Ron Howard, leaving the film quite the mixed bag. This is a shame because if Solo's run is less than stellar, the chances of us seeing the cast return for a sequel are less than likely. It also doesn't help that Deadpool 2 made half of Solo's debut this past weekend and Avengers: Infinity War is still showing in theaters. Solo's summer release leaves us without a holiday Star Wars film for 2018, the first time in three consecutive years, and probably also played into its lackluster opening weekend. We will have to see if Solo can make up the loss before the big summer films in June begin to roll out.
Let's talk about that huge Solo reveal
While Solo has been getting some lukewarm reviews from critics (sitting at a 71% on RT, twenty points lower than The Last Jedi's 91%) the movie is tracking for a huge Memorial Day weekend. While the films behind the scenes definitely lead to this mish-mash of differing directorial directions, the audience score sits at a current A-. For those that need a refresher, Solo: A Star Wars Story famously saw the former Lego Movie directing duoe, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, fired before Ron Howard stepped in. Recently, Donald Glover who stars as Lando in the Solo film, opened up about the firing and the "creative differences" between the former duo and Kathleen Kennedy. To no one's surprise, Lord and Miller's comedic approach clashed with the film and you can still see what scenes of their made it to the final cut as opposed to the much more serious take form Ron Howard. Regardless, the movie was a mixed bag but featured one amazingly surprising cameo that has managed to shock movie goers this holiday weekend. During a hologram conversation with Qi'ra, it is revealed that she is now working for none other than Darth Maul himself, the fan favorite character who was split in half at the waist in the Phantom Menace by Obi-Wan Kenobi. The reveal was a real shocker but not so much so if you look at some of the non-film cannon, especially the Clone Wars, in which the villain is featured quite prominently with a new pair of android legs. It also appears that his signature double sided red saber borrowed a feature from the Clone Wars as well (you can read more about that here). This could be a great move for the films, which have already rumored a three picture deal for the Solo story or the possibility to see a Obi-Wan stand alone film. Hopefully we will get a serious light-saber wielding villain back on screen. Make sure to check out Solo: A Star Wars Story, in theaters everywhere.
Cliff Bleszinski's Boss Key studio is no more
After some rock weeks and the surprise announcement of a new online arena game, it looks like former Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski's Boss Key studios is no more. After numerous reports of trouble for last years online shooter Lawbreakers, Boss Key was looking to cash in on the Fortnite and PUBG formula with Radical Height but it looks like that title will not be coming to fruition. Cliff (Known popularly as Cliffy B.) released a statement on twitter earlier today stating that he is "going to take some time off and reflect" on the unfortunate news. This is was just shy of a month from accusations that Cliff's former studio was attempting to poach his employees from his new found studio. All in all, the creator behind the massively successful Gears of War franchise remained optimistic and has reassured gamers that the servers for Radical Height's beta will remain playable for the time being. The statement below can also be found on Cliffy B's personal twitter page.