Don't Breathe! Parts of the world to avoid? That's Easy! Unless you live there!!

This post was first published in June 2017.  It is now July 2020 and the content is due for an UPDATE.  Information presented below the 3 highlighted asterisks (* * * ) was presented in 2017 and it was based on a map dated 2014.  I have been able to determine that the map has changed since 2014.  I also determined that something else of interest to all of mankind has happened since 2014/2017.

Here is UPDATE for this post.
In 2020, the World Health Organization officially announced that "we" are all in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic.  "We"?  That means EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD!!  As horrific as that sounds, believe it or not, there's a bright side.

Because of the pandemic, people have been required to shelter in place, at home, to prevent the spread of the disease.  As a result?  The air is more breathable!  Who would have thunk it!

Check out these headlines.

• Air pollution falls by unprecedented levels in major global cities during coronavirus lockdowns by Helen Regan, CNN, Updated 12:05 AM ET, Thu April 23, 2020

• Before-and-after photos show the dramatic effect lockdowns are having on pollution around the world by Sophie-Claire Hoeller May 15, 2020, 11:55 AM

Some scientists are saying these effects are short-term and won't last.  No, of course, they won't!  Because humans are not going to be locked down FOREVER!  (At least "We" hope not!)

• The short-term impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on urban air pollution in China | Nature Sustainability July 7, 2020

RECOMMENDED READING:
Informative Data Showing the Impact of Pollution: Hannah Ritchie (2017) - "Air Pollution". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution' [Online Resource]

A map has been updated for 2020.  Sadly, there are some countries who bumped the other countries and have moved into the Top Ten List for "Worst Air Quality".

World Live Air Quality Map | AirVisual - IQAir

This chart compares the 2014 data with the 2019 ranking.

2014	2019
Ukraine	Bangladesh
India	Pakistan
China	Mongolia
Indonesia	Afghanistan
Russia	India
Ghana	Indonesia
Nigeria	Bahrain
Bangladesh	Nepal
Azerbaijan	Uzbekistan
Zambia	Iraq

* * *
Cities listed by mapsoftheworld.com in 2014 as “the most polluted places around the world having either the worst air or water quality due to industrial, chemical, and waste processing”:

1. Chernobyl, Ukraine
2. Delhi, India
3. Baoding, China
4. Citarum River, Indonesia
5. Dzerzhinsk, Russia
6. Agbogbloshie in Ghana
7. Norilsk, Russia
8. Niger Delta, Nigeria
9. Hazaribagh, Bangladesh
10. Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
11. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
12. Kabwe, Zambia
13. La Oroya, Peru
14. Matanza-Riachuelo, Argentina
15. Ahvaz, Iran

“The World Health Organization had named the city of Ahvaz in western Iran as one of the most polluted cities in the world.”

"Around the World : Pollution Around the World." Maps of the World. Compare Infobase Ltd., 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 05 June 2017.

♦ ♦ ♦
Being the typical selfish arrogant ignorant American, I checked the list of places with the worst and the best air quality. USA was not on either list. However, Bloomberg did say that the air quality in New York is the best it's ever been in 50 years. I don't know how to interpret that statement. I'm just glad I don't live in New York!

I ♥ New York.  I just don't want to live there. 😊

Do you sometimes wonder if earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are God's way of cleaning the environment?  It's not as if we can load planet earth into a washing machine.


NOTE:  I am not a scientist and I don't track air quality.  If you see anything in this post that warrants correction and/or updating, feel free to call me out. PLEASE!! 

Retirement Planning : Texas Cities : Athens is a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years

Dallas, Texas is a great place to work and live, but for retirement, some may prefer Athens, Texas; a small town nearby that offers good fortune and adventure!

By Danny S. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

English: Category:Images of Dallas, Texas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Looking for a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years? Planning Retirement? Athens, Texas is a Certified Retirement Community. Learn More

* * *
July 2011, Forbes magazine published a TOP 10 List of Cities considered to be "economic superstars". Dallas, Texas was chosen as one of those cities because of its relatively low housing prices and its attractive job market. While Dallas may be a terrific place to work and live, some may prefer to retire to one of the surrounding Texan communities or towns such as Athens (population 10,000+ as of 2010).



Good Luck Peas and Texas Caviar
In 1971, Athens held the first-ever Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree. The history behind this event is as follows.


The late J. B. Henry, an Athens businessman, decided to grow the black-eyed pea and market the legumes on a commercial scale as "Good Luck Peas for New Year's Day"; and for the wealthy and well-to-do (or those who like to dream they are), pickled black-eyed peas were sold as "Texas Caviar".


Mr. Henry passed away in 1940 but to this day he is still referred to as the "Black-Eyed Pea King of East Texas". Such loyalty to his kingship is deserved. Giving black-eyed peas the aura of "good fortune" and calling them "caviar" for the rich folks. Who would've thunk it? That was genius!!!


Today, all the credit being given to the savvy marketing talents of Mr. Henry, Athens, Texas is referred to as the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World".


First GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community
In addition to the honor of being designated the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World", Athens holds the honor of being chosen as one of the first "GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities" in the state.


If you visit the site Retire in Texas, and go to the respective page, you will find a list of all the communities that have been approved for this program. The Texas Department of Agriculture, Trade and Business Development state their intentions plainly as follows:


"The GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community Program is a certification and promotion program provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture.  The GO TEXAN stamp of approval ensures each certified community has demonstrated through its application that it can meet the living, employment/volunteer, health, entertainment, education and safety needs of its citizens and visitors - all the things that make Texas a great place to retire."


Other Texas cities or towns are welcome to apply for this program.


Final Accolade
Per USA Today, ziplining is a zany form of adventure for thrill-seekers that first became popular in Costa Rica but has now become popular in the USA.


Athens, Texas is the first city that I have ever known that puts New York and Texas together and makes it work. Not New York, New York (which is what I thought of when I first saw one of the advertisements for the New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures; but New York, Texas (about 20 miles east of Athens). It's easy to get confused, especially when you discover that there is also an Athens, New York!


But an article by freelance writer, Veronica Terres, entitled "Get Up and Get Out" in the May-June 2011 issue of the East Texas Outdoors Magazine made everything plain when she pointed out the location of the NY TX Zip Line Adventures and aptly described this attraction in two words: "Adrenaline Rush".


But why would this attraction about a ziplining adventure be significant if you're planning to retire to Athens, Texas, instead of say ... assurances about golfing? I don't know! Why did former President George Bush Sr. decide to go parachuting on his 80th and 85th birthdays and plan to do it again when he turns 90? Ziplining may be a key factor in deciding whether or not you want to retire to Athens, Texas.


Recommended Reading:

• Purposefully Planning Your Retirement - What Is Time To You?

Practical advice and information from Jeff Brown (aka "The Bawld Guy"), who has extensive knowledge and experience in long term retirement planning.


General Information Links:

• Athens Daily Review
• City of Athens, Texas | Official Website
• Welcome to The City of Athens Texas
• Athens, TX Housing and Residents

References:

• Kotkin, Joel. "The Next Big Boom Towns In The U.S." Forbes.com, 6 July 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• Bly, Laura. "The Zany Joy of Ziplining Catches Hold in the USA - USATODAY.com." Travel. USATODAY, 13 June 2008. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• Terres, Veronica. "Get Up and Get Out." East Texas Outdoors Magazine. Youblisher, May-June 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• "Bush Parachutes for 80th Birthday - CNN." Featured Articles from CNN. 13 June 2004. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

• "George Bush Snr Celebrates 85th Birthday with Skydive over Maine - Telegraph." Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. Telegraph.co.uk, 12 June 2009. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

Tsu Social Network Has a Revenue Share Plan

Tsu is an online social networking service, based in New York, New York. It is a free social network very similar to Facebook or Twitter only they promise to pay* you to like, share and post. Interested? You do have to JOIN by filling out a quick form in order to view and find out more. I joined and I'm pleased. A friend invited me. I just invited a friend. Then thought to myself: 'Why keep this a secret?' So FYI.

click here

(Or on image below)

Sep 9, 2015 UPDATE: Accessed the feature to modify my privacy settings on Tsū and made my profile/pages and posts stream available for viewing by the public. Now a visitor can see my feed or activity and then decide if they would like to JOIN Tsunation. To sign up, just click on any post.

* Have not yet reached the cash out point for redemption, but getting there!!

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