Positive, Productive, Profitable Retirement News

I apologize - I've been using the word "seniors" when referring to those of us who are moving up the age ladder - wrong - big time.

It's because of the invasion of baby boomers into our retirement community,
Jean M. Grow, an advertising and public relations professor at Marquette University cautions advertisers to be careful how they choose their words when talking to our group. -

"The only word that resonates with the mature segment is grandparents. That is the one word that boomers find acceptable and resonates very positive with them. Of course, they love their grandchildren. But don't try to call them anything that resonates old."

Ms Grow is right on - for many of us, even those who, like myself are well past baby boomer status, just don't feel like the word "senior."
We are a younger-than-we-look, don't-want-to-be-called-seniors group of individuals - so no more "senior" mentions - any replacement word ideas?

My thanks to Dan Dombroski for sending this - Grandparents will understand

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"
"Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit!!!!!"

"No Way!" - "Yes way!"
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.
"Why"
"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why he hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants.

A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was angry!
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?" said the Father.
I don't know," said Eve.
"She started it!" Adam said
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"DID NOT!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

In that regard, here are some things to think about -

• You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
• Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
• Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
• Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
• The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
• We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

Advise of the day for all retirees.

Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.

Now lets move on to some retirement job ideas and a whole bunch of other stuff - (Go to URL)

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June 2, 2006 - Retirement gambling

Yesterday, the wife and I paid a visit to our regional casino to take advantage of a couple of perk coupons they issue to those of us they consider easy marks.
It's a huge complex worthy of Vegas. I parked around the back - an area that looks like an airport runway because of the wide driving lanes and parking spaces for the buses that transport the eager (going in) and the sad and dejected (going home)

As we approached the casino entrance, two buses pulled in and it looked like a retirement home evacuation. This crowd of grey haired retirees, some with walkers, charged that entrance with more enthusiasm than the Indians at Little Big Horn when they first spotted Custer.

Later, when I left the Caribbean poker table wondering what the gambling Gods have against me, I took a walk around the crap, roulette and baccarat areas, then toured the blackjack, Pai Gow poker, let-it-ride, Spanish 21 tables and it hit me - not a grey hair in sight - I spotted two in the poker room but what about the others?

The slots - over two thousand they tell me on this casino floor, and you would be hard pressed to find one available - and the majority of the machines were manned by mature gamblers.

Personally, I consider slots a bad bet - but hey, if you're having fun and in control - go for it. A number of year ago, a professional gambler told me slots are simply a case of - "being the right person, at the right machine at the right time - nothing more, nothing less."

However, I notice that many mature slot players have, over the years, developed theories they have come to believe as gambling gospel so, for the benefit of those retirees who insist on playing the slots, I found the following when I searched the web for - "slot odds."

• You can spot a winning slot machine. The only way you'll spot a winning slot machine is when the bells are ringing and the money is dropping. Slot machines use random number generators and that's exactly that. Random.
• Casinos place loose slots near the cashier, aisle ways, etc. If this were true, it would be the only machines anyone would play. A casino mixes slots all over the casino floor. No one with any experience at playing slots would make a statement like this.
• Count the number of symbols on the reels to determine your odds. This is mathematically impossible, remember the RNG (random number generator) determines the stops. There is literally millions of combinations on a 3 reel slot machine, so there is no way of determining odds by the symbols on the reels alone.
• Casinos can tighten or loosen slot machines from the back office. In order to change how a slot will payout is by changing the computer chip. No casino can just flip a switch.
• A slot machine that has not been paying is due to hit. Absolutely false. The RNG assures this. You have an equal chance of winning on a losing machine as you do on a machine that just paid out the jackpot.
• Pulling the slot machine handle produces more wins than pressing the spin button and visa versa. Again false. It make no difference, as the computer only uses these as mechanisms to start the game. Only the computer determines a win or a loss and it has already determined if you are a winner or loser even before the first reel stops spinning.
• Playing with hot coins improves your chances. It makes no difference. Once again, the computer determines a win or loss and the temperature of the machine or money is irrelevant. Although it's funny that people still burn their fingers with lighters believing this works.
• Casinos set slot machines to payback more on the weekends. Wrong again. Your odds of winning are the same no matter if it's 4:00pm Monday, 8:00pm Saturday or 3:00am Wednesday. Casinos can not and do not do this.

There's no gamble in making your life more interesting the longer you live if you have a creative challenge that doesn't require a big bankroll, so - (Go to URL)

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June 5, 2006 - From the Retirement notebook - toilets - ginger and other topics

The following are some unusual tid-bits I discovered while wondering the World Wide Web this past weekend.

First a couple of short videos from a site I visit several times a week. The first report sets the stage for today's lead topic - toilets.
It reports on a new urinal setup at an Argentine soccer Stadium

Now, while on the subject of toilets - all of us, at one time or another, have been forced to use public washrooms. Some are equipped with seat covers which are helpful to protect the backside IF the seat is not wet.
If the seat is damp, the cover ferries bacteria and viruses from the toilet seat up to your bare skin.

But, I discovered while visiting Live Science you're unlikely to contract a disease merely by sitting on a pathogen-covered toilet.

Melissa Calderone of Health SciTech reports the following -

"Neither viruses like influenza nor the bacteria responsible for illnesses such as strep throat are dangerous unless they come in contact with the mucus membranes -something easily prevented by washing dirty hands with soap before touching your mouth or eyes.

Most sexually transmitted diseases cannot survive once exposed to air (exceptions are the herpes virus, which can live for a few hours, and hepatitis B, which can linger for seven days).
To catch a disease, the seated party would have to have some sort of break in the skin to allow the virus to enter.

So if your bum is flawless and you don't mind the yuck factor, go ahead and take a seat.

Besides, the germs hiding on the throne aren't the ones you should be most worried about. The top sides of toilet seats are low in bacterial numbers compared with surfaces that you actually touch in a public restroom, like the faucet and countertop."

Now back to another video - ginger is good for you

From HealthDay I learned that boys who are depressed at 8 years of age are 20% more likely to be smokers by 18.

As a follow up to my note about not using the word "senior" when describing retirees - I was reminded that a couple of weeks ago I also wrote a retirement news entry about how, in England, seniors preferred to be called "Goty's" - "getting older, thinking younger" - It does have a ring to it - so Goty's it will be.

Now, lets get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 6, 2006 - Just how old are you and George's view on aging

So you think your old - I found out yesterday that if I was a dog ( as in -you old hound dog you) my age would be 11.1573385518591 years old - also I am 2,463,048,199 seconds old.

My retirement buddy Jim Hill directed me to this site that will tell you how many hours and how many seconds you have been alive on this earth and when you were probably conceived. How cool is that?

After you've finished reading the info, click again, and see what the moon looked like the night you were born - give it a try

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My February 24th entry on this Retirement News Blog had a terrific piece written by comedian George Carlin that he wrote just after the death of his wife.

Now George has come up with another great script - George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60.! You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH! bedtime . And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

• Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "
• Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
• Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
• Enjoy the simple things.
• Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
• The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
• Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
• Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
• Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
• Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

ALWAYS REMEMBER - Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Jim suggests you copy this and share it with someone.

Now, lets get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 7, 2006 - Grans and their daughters - the wheel and the mouse - Bubba's security system

I came across this headline the other day - 4 MILLION AMERICAN GRANDCHILDREN LIVE WITH GRANDPARENTS

That was the introduction to a study that indicated a substantial increase in the number and proportion of children under 18 living in their grandparents' homes. Far from being a financial burden to their families, older persons are more likely to be shouldering the "burden" of their own children and grandchildren.

This study dates back to 1997, but I would suggest that it's likely nothing much has changed over the years because this study noted -

• "more than half of the 4 million had only one parent, usually the mother, present."
• "Many more grandparents assist in childcare while maintaining a separate residence."

In other words there is a growing number of Grans staying home to look after the grandchildren just as there is a growing number of Moms staying home to bring up their children.

And that brings me to promoting creative challenges to both groups as a way of (A)taking a break, and involving yourself in something that is soul-satisfying - and (B)allows you to earn an extra income.

That is why, on the host websiteI have a chapter dedicated to WHAM's (Work at Home Moms) and WAHG's (Work at Home Grans)

I have just uploaded to that chapter, a new Ebook authored by several successful WAHM's on how stay-at-home Moms and Grans can build a successful online business selling what you know and love. It's a freebee and there are three chapters to this valuable Ebook and I urge you to take the time to download each chapter - read and reread.

First - "WAHM-IT!, The Masters Course" provides all the how-to information you need to successfully build a real business on the Net - your WAHM guide - read this chapter first

"Case Studies" shares the inspiring stories of real-life WAHMs and their Web sites.

"Get Organized to Work at Home"offers tips on managing your household and family successfully while you work.

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After all these years of struggling just to learn the computer basics, I have just found out about the wheel thingee on my computer mouse thanks to retired buddy Dan Dombroski - great news for anyone over fifty - It's very useful when trying to read small e-mail print (especially in the early hours). If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel. Pass this on to other retired friends who may find it very useful....I'm glad I was told.

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My still-a-way-off-from-retiring friend, Bob Butler forwarded this suggestion for seniors who are looking for a state of the art security system at a reasonable cost.

How to install a wireless security system:

Go to a second-hand store, buy a pair of men's used work boots ... a really big pair.
Put them outside your front door on top of a copy of Guns and Ammo magazine.
Put a dog dish beside it ... a really big dish.
Leave a note on your front door that says something like this: "Bubba, Big Mike and me have went to get more ammo -back in 30 minutes. Don't hassle the pit bulls, we just de-wormed them."

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Remember, no matter what your age, but especially if you are of retirement age - keep your mind and body active. Indeed, it may even stave off the onset of certain diseases that come with a decrease in mental activity - so let's get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 8, 2006 - Rain and wipers plus worth repeating

For me, one of the most important chapters on the Retirement Jobs host website deals with creative visualization which is also covered in my Self Help Journal.
Creative visualization is an important tool in the development of positive thinking - these pages also inspired the building of our sister site Quotation Movies.

Here's another example of how creative visualization can work in other areas - my thanks to my retired buddy Dan Dombroski for sending me this animated picture by Thomas Kinkaid.

Take time to study the picture carefully - watch the rain - file the picture in the theatre of your mind.

Then read the brief story that accompanies the picture - the next time you turn on your car's window wipers it's guaranteed you'll remember the picture and its message - creative visualization.

One rainy afternoon a grandfather was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.
Suddenly, his granddaughter, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat.
"Poppa, I'm thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. The grandfather was eager to hear.
"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."
After the chill bumps raced up his arms the grandfather was able to respond - "That's really good, Darlin'"

Then his curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So he asked... "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"

The little girl didn't hesitate one moment with her answer :
"We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

Always remember this whenever you turn your wipers on.

In order to see the Rainbow, you must first endure some Rain.

I thought that the following was worth repeating -

This is an edited version of an editorial from Tuesday's Buffalo News

. Canada's unmasking of what authorities describe as an independent, homegrown terrorist cell is yet another reminder of the dangers faced by the West from a particularly virulent brand of radical Islamist militancy, and it already has proven a wake-up call to many Canadians. But it also casts yet another shadow on the U.S.-Canadian border here.

The basic take-home message from this operation is that good intelligence gathering and surveillance is a better security tool than a bureaucratic paperwork hurdle at the border, as the Bush administration keeps insisting is needed.

The 17 suspects arrested so far in the Canadian "sting" operation were Canadian citizens, and some had travelled internationally. Border documentation was not a problem for them. The unravelling of the plot included the arrests of two men stopped at the Peace Bridge last summer because Canadian intelligence had marked their car for possible "narcotics involvement." That stop led to gun-smuggling charges when firearms were found taped to their bodies.

That kind of police and intelligence agency work is far more valuable than a passport requirement in cases where the terrorism is homegrown and documentation poses little problem.

The police work can also be aided immeasurably as more Muslim moderates in Canada and the United States take active roles in condemning and exposing the kind of extremism that puts both their countries and their own Muslim communities at risk

The gun smuggling highlights a security need for better staffing on the northern border, not just along a southern border prone to poverty-motivated illegal immigration.

It remains to be seen how serious the threat really was to several Canadian targets. Details of the case, in which Canadian undercover agents "sold" these suspects more fertilizer than Timothy McVeigh used to make the Oklahoma City bomb, remain sketchy and authorities say more arrests are likely.

There seems to be no evidence of links to Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups. This cell is described as isolated - like the groups linked to the London and Madrid train bombings, but unlike the "Lackawanna Six" group described by authorities as an Al Qaeda-' trained sleeper cell.

Canada and its Fort Erie-based customs agents deserve credit for uncovering a potential enemy within. The Canadian justice system must now provide a fair and unemotional review of the case against these suspects, but the initial response to a perceived threat was decisive - and welcome on this side of the border, as well.

Now, back to retirement jobs and creative planning - (Go to URL)

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June 9, 2006 - The internet -Constant reflection - New Golf Rules for Retirees.

Here's a conversation starter for you -

Here I am, an old(er) retired guy urging others to use the internet to build a creative challenge to make your life more interesting the longer you live - while at the same time, groups of misguided young people, influenced by people who distort the values of a peaceful religion, use the internet to learn how to build deadly weapons and promote murder.

This morning, columnist Richard Gwyn asked the question - "what do we do about the internet? Do we have to develop a censorship system like that in China, but with references that include "jihad" rather than "democracy" blocked out? - I vote no, but do your own survey - you will get some interesting responses.

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OK, you are now a Goty - (getting older-thinking younger) - you can still adopt an attitude of constant reflection.
A while back I told you about a new book - "The Laws of Lifetime Growth" by Catherine Nomura and Dan Sullivan. ( I like the book's subtitle - "Make your future bigger than you past"

The authors suggest its important to develop a way of thinking that's centered on self-awareness - "a decision to live in a more conscious way - to look at what has happened to you objectively and ask questions - what happened here? Did I perform well? What worked? What didn't work?"

Other sources believe that developing such an attitude of constant reflection is vital during the "retirement years" - too often, as we grow older, we fall into a routine acceptance of what we are an not what we can be.

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My thanks for my retired buddy Jim Hill for advising me of this -

Golf Rule Book Changes 2006 (only applies to retiree golfers)

• Rule 1.a.5
  A ball sliced or hooked into the rough by a retiree golfer shall be lifted and placed on the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough with no penalty. The retiree golfer should not be penalized for uncontrollable mechanical phenomena.
• Rule 2.d.6 (b)
  A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game. The player must estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had not hit the tree and play the ball from there.
• Rule 3.b.3(g)
  For a retiree golfer there shall be no such thing as a lost ball. The missing ball is on or near the course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone else, making it a stolen ball. The senior player is not to compound the felony by charging him or herself with a penalty.
• Rule 4.c.7(h)
  If a putt passes over a hole without dropping, it is deemed to have dropped. As any retiree golfer knows the law of gravity supersedes the law of golf.
• Rule 5.>br>Putts that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may be blown in - if the retiree golfer is capable of mustering up enough breath.. This does not apply to balls more than three inches from the hole. No one wants to make a travesty of the game.
• Rule 6.a.9(k)
  There is no penalty for so-called "out of bounds." If penny-pinching golf club owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur. The retiree golfer deserves an apology, not a penalty.
• Rule 7.g.15(z)
  There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should float. That they do not is a technical problem that manufacturers have to correct - retiree golfers should not be punished for manufacturer's shortcomings.
• Rule 8.k.9(s)
  Advertisements claim that golf scores can be improved by purchasing new clubs, balls, shoes etc. Since this is financially impractical for the average retiree, 1/2 a stroke per hole may be subtracted for using old equipment.

  Please advise all your retired friends of these important rule changes

  Now, lets get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 12, 2006 - This is your life videos and retirement fun stuff

Over the weekend, I spent some time exploring the new video searches on Google and Yahoo - even posted a couple my Quotation movies.

Google: Quotation Movie volume one Quotation movie #2

At Yahoo - only have number one up - number two is still in the approval stage.

Like most of the internet, young folk make up the major portion of the population of these video communities, but there's still plenty of interesting material for Goty's (Getting Older - Thinking Younger".)

Retired buddy Jim Hill passed on this production by a Newfie, who fondly looks back on his days on the Rock - It's a tad long but well worth a look.

Now there's a creative retirement challenge for you - produce a video telling a story from your past - imagine the interesting but untold material that's available out there - maybe Google and Yahoo could establish a "This is Your Life" category - only those 65 + can submit videos.

Now on to other Email Inbox material - First - this guy has to be retired -

My thanks to retired bowling buddy Bernice Dini for sending me the following retirement fun stuff.

Getting older has its drawbacks, but I guess there aren't too many good alternatives to advancing age. Whenever you see a gathering of seniors, it is an even bet they are talking about everything that is wrong with them.

You know, the usual, memory, urinary problems, knees, eyesight, etc., etc. Well, I am a senior and I absolutely refuse to discuss these issues with everyone else.

With this in mind, I bought myself a new scooter. I wanted something that was easy on gas and could zip me to the store and about town. This seems to meet my EVERY need.

I love it!

Remember: senior citizens are more valuable that any of the younger generation

• We have silver in our hair.
• We have gold in our teeth.
• We have stones in our kidneys.
• We have lead in our feet and ....
• We are loaded with natural gas

A minister decided to do something a little different one Sunday morning.
He said, "Today, in church, I am going to say a single word and you are going to help preach. Whatever single word I say, I want you to sing whatever hymn that comes to your mind."

The pastor shouted out "CROSS."

Immediately the congregation started singing in unison: "THE OLD RUGGED CROSS."

The pastor hollered out "GRACE" The congregation began to sing: "AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound."

The pastor said "POWER." The congregation sang: "THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD."

The Pastor said "SEX." The congregation fell into total silence. Everyone was in shock. They all nervously began to look around at each other afraid to say anything.

Then all of a sudden, from the back of the church, a little old 87 year old grandmother stood up and began to sing: "PRECIOUS MEMORIES."

Keep smiling - now let's get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 13, 2006 - Fawlty retires - interesting stats and through the eyes of a child

The man from the Ministry of Silly Walks is retiring.

One of my all time favourite actor/comedians, John Gleese is joining our club. Cleese, 66 years young, says he's too old to write new comedy - I don't believe that. However he feels that he could never do better than Fawlty Towers. I can never get enough of that all too short series - the episode about Fawlty serving breakfast to the dead guy has to be one of the funniest and cleverest comic bits ever put on film.

Gleese says he plans to write a history of stage, film and TV comedy for the benefit of up-and-comers - "I very much want to teach young talent some rules of the game." - Be great if he would teach via the internet so we could sneak into his class.

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According to stats release at an Morningstar Canada investment conference held last week, the average Canadian baby boy may expect to live until 79, and girls nearly four years longer.
But those who reach 65 should keep in mind that half of men will live past 80, and nearly half of women past 85
For couples who reach normal retirement age, chances are 36 in a hundred that one partner will reach age 90 and 12 per cent that one will live to age 95.

Here's another stat from this conference that caught my wife's attention - married men live longer on average than bachelors, and single women longer than wives.

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And while on the subject of statistics, new American research shows that home-based businesses generate more than $100 billion in revenue a year, and possibly as much as $500 billion.

The study expects home-based businesses will grow in popularity as baby boomers age. More than half of unincorporated sole proprietors are 45 or older - and get this - many already have had a career and are turning hobbies into businesses - Maybe you should take another look at the home website

----------------------------------- And finally, one to make you smile and help start your day - from retired friend Elma Hickman -

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

"You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella. Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head.

His grandmother knelt down next to him "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles, she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!"

The boy looked up, "Really?" "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and softly whispered, "Wrinkles."

Now let's get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 14, 2006 - O'Brien's advice - A true Canadian - Math Trick

Money can't buy you happiness - but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.-- Spike Milligan

If you have scanned the home website, you know I have discovered, that with study, work and persistence, the internet can provide an extra source of income for retirees.
By taking advantage of our life experiences and interests, additional income can be generated - how much depends of a number of factors - but extra revenue is just the "icing on the cake" - a barometer that gauges your success.

For retirees, it's the creative challenge - the mental workout - being involved.

Tim O'Brien, writing for the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, began a recent article with the following - A word about retirement: Don't! That is my word about retirement....... Do what you have always wanted to do. Except, never fully quit working and making a contribution unless or until you must.

O'Brien goes on to promote the importance of having some sort of creative challenge to keep you mentally active - "Do you have a retirement plan that will keep both your mind and body active?" - "Purposeful activity and having reasons to live, not just exist, are powerful elixirs for longevity."

This is O'Brien's closing paragraph - There was once a series of public service announcements about education for minorities. Its tag line was, "a mind is a horrible thing to waste." I agree. It applies even more to retirement years. Stay active. Stay involved. Stay interested in yourself and others.

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My thanks to daughter-in-law Julie for the following two items - A 'True' Canadian!

It's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, and a man makes his way to his seat right at centre ice. He sits down, noticing that the seat next to him is empty. He leans over and asks his neighbour if someone will be sitting there.
No," says the neighbour. "The seat is empty."
This is incredible", said the man. "Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs and not use it?"
The neighbour says, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Stanley Cup we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967."

Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or relative, or even a neighbour to take the seat?"

The man shakes his head, "No. They're all at the funeral."

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MATH TRICK

Personally I would like to know who came up with this and why that person is not running the country.

• Grab a calculator. (you won't be able to do this one in your head)
• Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area code)
• Multiply by 80
• Add 1
• Multiply by 250
• Add the last 4 digits of your phone number
• Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
• Subtract 250
• Divide number by 2
• Check the answer!!!!!! Weird!

Now, let's take Tim O'Brien's advise and get creative - (Go to URL)

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June 15, 2006 - Dot com's - snipers and retirement humor

A couple of items I jotted down in my retirement notebook this morning -

I understand that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) are thinking about possibly establishing a dot XXX domain for porn sites.

In a fun piece, Jeff Johnson of the New York Times suggested some suffixes of his own - examples -

• .pi - if you're into math please register your website as .pi - that way we'll know to avoid you.
• .mom - for moms, as well as for site containing more than three recipes involving tuna and/or French fried onions. Will also double as a landing spot for collectors of Hummel figurines or little ceramic snow-roofed Christmas villages.
• .sod - For English inebriates who also dabble in landscaping, or, just, you know, mow lawns for booze money. Expect these websites to lay fallow during the world cup.
• .cat - Domain of choice for the involuntary celibate.

I would like to offer one more - .rp - to be use only by retired people - would save us from plowing through a maze of sites direct at teens - yes, they should have their own as well - what about .kid?

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Something I didn't know until I visited my Doctor's office this morning, giving me the opportunity to review back issues of Maclean's Magazine

From the May 15, 2006 issue - March, 2002, Canadian Sharpshooter, Corporal Rob Furlong, with Master Corporal Tim McMeekin as his spotter, recorded the longest kill in combat history.

The, pair, part of a group of five Canadian snipers, working with American forces in Afghanistan, and with a McMillan Tac-50 as his weapon, took out an al Qaeda machine gunner at a distance of 2,430 m surpassing the mark of 2,250 m set by U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock during the Vietnam war.

All five Canadians were awarded Bronze Stars by the American Military.

-------------------------------------------------------- Some more videos to pass the time - the first is from cameras covering a tunnel road in Russia, that constantly has black (invisible) ice form at various times, and although signs warning of this danger are posted at each entrance, drivers still keep a heavy foot on the pedal and then things just happen.

The next one - a quickie - is obviously a retired guy.

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Retirement humor -
A retired guy recently picked a new primary care doctor. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, the Doc told him he was doing "fairly well" for his age.
A little concerned about that comment, the retired guy couldn't resist asking him, "Do you think I'll live to be 80?"

He asked, "Do you smoke tobacco, or drink beer or wine?"
"Oh no,- I'm not doing drugs, either.
"Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"
"No, my former doctor said that all red meat is very unhealthy!"
"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?"
"No, I don't,"
"Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?"
"No, I don't do any of those things."

The Doc looked at the retired guy and said "Then, why do you give a diddely damn?"

For more retirement chuckles - (Go to URL)

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June 16, 2006 - The Walk - Queries - Be Positive

I have one more retirement notebook notation to share with you - again, it was taken from my Doctor's office waiting room library of old magazines.

According to research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, being able to walk 0.4 km is a sign that you will live at least another six years.

Professor Anne Newman says although not a panacea for illness, the distance is more of an indicator of overall health in seniors. The faster old-timers can make the walk, the longer they may live.

This study of 2,700 Americans in their 70'2 showed the measurement to be a - "Powerful predictor of health outcomes. In fact, we found that the people who could not complete the walk were at an extremely high risk of later disability and death."

I did the walk - good time too, however as I was completing the last lap, I couldn't help visualizing that movie scene were the burly prison guard bellowed out - "dead man walking."

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My thanks to retired friend Elma Hickman who sent in the following "Thoughts from a retired person":

• Experience is the thing you have left when every thing else is gone
• All I ask ... is a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
• My weight is perfect for my height -- which varies.
• I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
• I had amnesia once -- or was it twice.
• If the world were a logical place, men would ride horses sidesaddle.

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Good news - According to data provided by the Mental Health Association of Colorado, panic and bipolar disorders show a treatment success rate of 80 percent.

As noted in the host website's chapter dealing with the power of positive thinking, if you are suffering from depression don't waste time - seek professional medical help. The suggestions in this chapter on how to maintain a positive life come from personal experience of recovery AFTER the prescriptions and professional medical advice.

Now, let's keep positive by being creative - (Go to URL)

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June 19, 2006 - The ball game- Bill Gates - retirement golf

When you're of retirement age you can observe what goes on today and reflect back to how it used to be - some good, some bad, depending on ones attitude and beliefs.

Over the weekend, one such observation made this old(er) man feel all fussy and warm inside.

There was a baseball game in progress at the city park adjacent to the cemetery in which my daughter is buried. While I was visiting with Cindy, the enthusiastic cheers and yells of the players drew our attention.
The teams were made of kids about 11 or 12 years old - the majority of players were boys but we noticed several girls also in uniform.

A runner on third and up to plate came this tiny girl with her long pigtail pushing through the back of her ball cap - I couldn't catch the name they were calling, but everyone on the bench was yelling encouragement.

On the third pitch she hammered one past the shortstop - in came the runner - must have been the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the entire team rushed out to encircle the little girl standing proudly on first base.

It was really something to see - no boy girl hang-ups - just teammates.

Hell, in my day, there was no way a girl could play organized sports let alone with boys - and even in our own pick-up games we boys wouldn't allow it - we just didn't know any better - guys did their thing, girls did theirs - just think of the relationship learning opportunities we missed.
I know Cindy enjoyed the game - she loved children and the promotion of - be all you can be - gender doesn't enter into it.

Bill Gates is going to retire from Microsoft at the age of 52 - but he won't be in full retirement mode. Gates will work full time with this charity foundation.
As David Olive points out in his business section column in the Toronto Star this morning, "Gates already has saved more lives than any businessperson in history, His reduced role at the company he loves may turn out to be the best thing to happen to humanity this decade."

Olive then quotes Aristotle -

"To give away money is an easy matter, and in any man's power.
But to decide to whom to give it, and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in everyman's power - nor an easy matter.
Hence it is that such excellence is rare, praiseworthy and noble."

And, while we're on the subject of money - pass this on to your children - in the same column, Olive reports on a new survey that indicates 49% of those born between 1965 and 1971 won't have enough money to retire in a style to which they're accustomed - so tell them to work on their Retirement creative challenge now.

As Phil Mickelson found out yesterday -

"Golf's a hard game to figure. One day you'll go out and slice it and shank it, hit into all the traps and miss every green.
The next day you go out and for no reason at all you really stink."

Now lets work on our retirement "creative" plan - (Go to URL)

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June 20, 2006 - Hockey - retirement flashback - revenge on the birds - understanding wife

I think that all retirees, especially those of us who can remember the original six, can agree that thanks to the new rules, that was one of the most exciting and entertaining Stanley Cup finals since Wayne Gretzky wore bob-skates.

You also had to like Ken Campbell's opening paragraph in his Toronto Star cover story of last nights Carolina victory - Lord Stanley, it appears, has become something of a snowbird, without the blue hair and those really big sunglasses."

I tend to mumble a great deal while watching a hockey game - it's retirement flashback - 1974, I was the play by play announcer for the Toronto Toros of the now defunct World Hockey Association - Jim Coleman, God bless him, the legendary journalist, syndicated sports writer and all around nice guy, handled background and colour - Jim, who never retired, passed away at the age of 89. That was my last play by play gig - the following year I went legit and moved into news reporting - 32 years - seems like yesterday.

While on the subject of sports, did you notice that Rafael Nadal the French Open tennis champ, although not playing his best tennis, credits positive thinking for his victory - something for everyone, especially those of us in our retirement years to keep in mind.

"I had a winner's attitude. Maybe I was not playing at my best level but I still maintained an excellent attitude. If you play with a good mental attitude, even if you are not 100 per cent, you can win because you win more with your heart, with your will power than with anything else. It inspires me that everything went well. If you fight all the time, if you have a good mental attitude, it works."

I love to hear the birds when I wake up in the morning - I just wish they would halt their morning ritual of pooping on my car.
Even though I'm retired and supposed to have plenty of time, washing the car is, to me, a total waste of my time - I prefer to let the brushless car robot at my neighbourhood gas station do the job - better yet if my car could be programmed like this.

Here's an amazing picture taken by NASA through the Hubble telescope - I'm told this is an event that occurs one in 3,000 years - NASA dubbed it - "the Eye of God"

My thanks to my retired friend Dan Dombroski for sending this -

A retired guy, married 40 years, took a look at his wife one day and said, "Honey, 40 years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 25 year old blond.
Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 60 year old woman.
It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things."

The wife is a very reasonable woman.

She told her husband to go out and find a hot 25 year old blond, and she would make sure that he would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, and sleeping on a sofa bed.

And while we're on the subject of retirement humor - more chuckles here - (Go to URL)

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June 21, 2006 - Passports - a mother's love - make money-quit smoking

Many retired snowbirds who, every fall, burn rubber heading south in order not to see the first snowflake fall, are confused about this new passport requirement policy proposed by the American Government.

As I understand it, that's what you'll need to cross the border as of January 1st 2008 - same for Americans coming our way. However, there's still hope that some compromise can be reached - studies show that a passport requirement would severely hamper trade and tourism.

Border security is of course the main issue and many American politicians are concerned about their northern border being a walkthrough for terrorists - but much of that fear is based on misinformation.

Recently, Montana Democrat Max Baucus in a speech in the senate said - "We are all aware that some of the 9/11 hijackers made their way into this country through Canada." Then in a TV interview, Texas Republican Kay Bailey said - "I have said from the beginning that we have to remember were the 9/11 terrorists came in, and it was the northern border."

Not so - according to the 9/11 commission, the hijackers were provided with visas to travel to the U.S. - none entered from Canada.

Fighting this urban legend about terrorists entering from the north has become one of the biggest challenges for Canada's ambassador to the United States, Michael Wilson.

I have joined the Canadian Embassy in Washington Connect2Canada initiative, by donating a chapter on the host website that forwards information and personal observations on Canada - United States relations.

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This is the kind of story that can't help but brighten your day and I thank my retired buddy Jim Hill for passing on these pictures.

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine.
The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression.

The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.
After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother.
The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment.
Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species.

The only "orphans" that could be found quickly, were a litter of wiener pigs.
The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. - take a look at this loving Mom and her new family -

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Too late for those of us in our retirement years maybe, but tell your grandkids - Calculate how much money you can save if you give up smoking.

For more additional income, also tell them to start working the internet - (Go to URL)

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June 22, 2006 - Retirement ICE - cell phone and cars - investment game

I know that, like myself, many retirees carry cell phones just for emergencies.
My "still some time away from retirement" friend Bob Butler suggested I pass this idea along in this retirement news Blog- makes a lot of sense - just programmed my cell phone.

A recent article from the Toronto Star, reports "the ICE idea", is catching on.
It's a very simple, yet important method of contact for you or a loved one in case of an emergency.

As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is program the number of a contact person or persons and store the name as "ICE".

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which numbers to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there as a nationally recognized name to file "next of kin" under.

Following a disaster in London, The East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national"In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign.

The idea is that you store the word "ICE " in your mobile phone address book, and with it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency ". In an emergency situation, Emergency Services personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number programmed under "ICE".

Please forward this - especially to folks you know who are in their "retirement years". It won't take too many "forwards" before everybody will get on the bandwagon.

It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

A great idea that will make a difference!

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An while on the subject of cell phones - a personal note - after nearly being T-boned by a car driven by a guy who was on his cell phone at the time - here are a couple of bumper stickers that should be mass produced. -

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Although I'm not into it myself - the occasional poker game satisfies all my gambling urges - many retired folks are into online investing - but this I could be interested in - playing the markets and never lose any money.

A software outfit in Edmonton has developed Investopedia, that lets you practice and learn all about trading before you start using your own dough. Each "investor" is given a fictitious $100,000 to buy and sell stock and you can set up accounts to deal in either Canadian or American dollars.

There's also a free educational tools section and a forum were you can ask questions. Like the man said - Learn before you leap.

It's a small ante to get in the game of "Retirement creative challenges" via the internet - see how others have become winners. - (Go to URL)

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June 23, 2006 - The ladies lead the way - hear this - Golf as observed by a retired person.

Hello Ladies - home based businesses working the internet is growing in popularity at a truly remarkable rate and women entrepreneurs are leading the parade.

A new study shows that women are the fastest-growing segment in the home based business world. Its not surprising that the majority of these online entrepreneurs stated that - "it's all about family" - the desire to be with their children and the flexibility a home based business offers to accommodate what one woman termed as "the best of both worlds."

According to the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, home-based businesses generated sales of more than $102 billion in 2002 in the U.S. alone, also, the study found that home-based proprietors generally have a higher profit margin -- 36 percent, compared to 21 percent for sole proprietors who set up shop somewhere else.

Many of these new online entrepreneurs are decades away from retiring but what they are building now is a revenue producing, creative challenge that will carry them into and through retirement - a new factor to be considered in their retirement financial portfolio.

I strongly recommend that women, retired or otherwise, who are thinking of starting a home based business via the internet take time to read this free manual written by four WAHM's - Work at Home Mom's - and also WAHG's - Work at Home Gram's - everything you want to know about building a solid home base business with the kids looking on - and guys - retired or otherwise, print it off for your lady. I'm sure it would be appreciated.

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Did you read the reports issued by health experts that nearly half of U.S. boomers -- potentially as many as 38 million people who were born between 1945 and 1964 and who are now joining our retirement club, are experiencing some degree of hearing loss and at a more rapid pace than previous generations?

Health experts blame the situation on continual exposure to noise pollution, either on the job or in recreational pursuits such as rock concerts - if that be true can you imagine what will happen to the current crop of teens?

I can't help but notice the number of young people who regularly use iPod earbuds to listen to music cranked way up to drown out surrounding noise the tiny earphones fail to block.

A recent survey from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association found that more than half of the high school students polled reported at least one symptom of diminished hearing.

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My thanks to retired friend Elma Hickman for the following observations about the game of golf - obviously from the journal of a guy with several years of retirement behind him.

• "The greatest sound in golf is the Woosh, Woosh, Woosh, of your opponent's club as he hurls it across the fairway"
• Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer
• Golf! You hit down to make the ball go up. You swing left and the ball goes right. The lowest score wins. And on top of that, the winner buys the drinks.
• "Golf is harder than baseball. In golf, you have to play your foul balls."
• If you find you do not mind playing golf in the rain, the snow, even during a hurricane, here's a valuable tip: your life is in trouble.
• Golfers who try to make everything perfect before taking the shot rarely make a perfect shot.
• Retired golfers have learned that the term "mulligan" is really a contraction of the phrase "maul it again."
• A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers .. neither of whom can putt very well.
• An interesting thing about golf is that no matter how badly you play; it is always possible to get worse.
• Now that I'm retired, I play in the low 80s. If it's any hotter than that, I won't play.
• If your best shots are the practice swing and the "gimme putt", you might wish to reconsider this game.
• Golf is the only sport where the most feared opponent is you.
• Golf is like marriage: If you take yourself too seriously it won't work .. and both are expensive.
• The best wood in most amateurs' bags is the pencil.
• To some golfers, the greatest handicap is the ability to add correctly.
• In golf, some people tend to get confused with all the numbers... they shoot a six, yell fore and write five.
• If you find yourself pleased that you locate more balls in the rough than you actually have lost, your focus is totally wrong and your personality might not be right for golf ... it is also just a matter of time before the IRS investigates your business.
• Why do retired people find it twice as difficult to hit a ball over water than sand?

Now to working the internet to make your life more interesting the longer you live - (Go to URL)

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June 26, 2006 - T.O. my T.O. and you know your nearing retirement when

First, from the retirement notebook - a personal note;

I'm a big promoter of my birth city, Toronto - a great place to live during my formative years even if it was during the "Toronto the Good" period - so called because the city was considered a bastion of 19th century Victorian morality.
During the 30's, when asked what was the most memorable part of his tour of Canada one famous tourist commented - "I spent a week one day in Toronto."

But, over the decades, the city has changed big time and there are few better places in the world to live and visit than the big T.O. and its appeal is based largely on its multiculturalism program.
Multiculturalism seems to be failing everywhere else, especially in Europe, but its working in Toronto
One Dutch government leader said recently that if Canada can make multiculturalism work, then there's hope for the rest of the world.

Witness the various world cup of soccer celebrations. It seems that every other car is sporting a foreign flag and following each game a section of the city erupts into a joyous street party.

However, for this old(er) retired guy, who now lives in a quiet cottage country city 45 miles to the north but drives into T.O. on a regular basis, there is one troublesome question - where the hell are the guns coming from?

Sharing the headlines with the peaceful, party loving soccer fans, is the disturbing trend of increased gun play - 2 deaths 8 shootings in just the past 3 days and nights - what's going on here?
For those of us in our retirement years - the first reaction is - "come on - gun play in Toronto? - no-way." - it just doesn't compute.

However the fact is that some sections of the great city are turning into mini OK corrals - worst still, instead of face to face encounters, many are drive by's forcing innocents to hit the pavement. As one teenage bystander told reporters - "make this city good. We can't have this kind of s - - t here, okay? Toronto is so great."

Anyway, by North American and European standards, T.O. is still one of the safest cities - and one of the most courteous and polite city's in the world.
Canada's biggest city places behind New York and Zurich in the Reader's Digest survey of 36 cities - Montreal ranked 21st while Mumbai, India, was the least polite

I have to admit I'm truly surprised about New York beating us out - Zurich maybe, but the big Apple? Could I ask for a recount?

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You know your approaching retirement when -

My son Gord recorded his 50th birthday on Saturday and during the family and friends celebration, he was given the compulsory "you're now officially old" tee shirt>

On the front was a picture of his eight year old daughter with the caption - "I'm her father not her grandfather" and on the back - The top ten signs that you're nearing retirement -

• You turn left from the right lane.
• Your teeth and toothbrush share the same cup.
• You think foreplay is a golf term
• You think a Winnebago is a hot machine.
• Ben Gay becomes a cologne.
• Your clothes match the kitchen wallpaper.
• A hole in your rubber means wet socks.
• You've seen it, but you can't remember where.
• Happy hour means taking a power nap.
• Partied all night means you were in bed by 8PM.

Another "retirement" list has just been posted here - (Go to URL)

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June 27, 2006 - Retirement mind generator

Man, how I appreciate having my computer and the internet so I can research stuff.
This old(er) retired guy nearly chocked on his All Bran this morning thanks to the Associated Press.

The AP was reporting on a new study that suggests - "In a disturbing number of cases, embarrassing "senior moments" such as forgetting a recent conversation or drawing a blank on someone's name may be a sign of Alzheimer's after all."

I don't know about forgetting entire conversations but all of us in our retirement years know that forgetting a name once in a while is just - well, normal - it better be, I had a name blackout just last night.

This study, published in today's edition of Neurology Journal, was led by Dr. David Bennett, director of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago.
Bennett's team studied 134 so-called normal older adults who underwent annual clinical evaluation to assess five cognitive domains: Episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, perceptual speed and visuospatial ability.

After the subjects died, their brains were autopsied and assessed for evidence of Alzheimer's disease. Apparently the scientists found that one third of the participants had excess amounts of waxy protein clumps and other signs of degeneration that indicate Alzheimer's,

Now, I'm not a scientist but one third - doesn't that mean that the majority of participants were OK, even if they didn't remember a name last night?

And more good news, not mentioned in the AP story but led the report in Forbes was this quote by Dr. Sam Gandy, chairman of the Alzheimer's Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board - "Barring an actual diagnosis for the illness, I wouldn't necessarily look at it as something to be extremely concerned about,"

Again, not mentioned in the AP report - Dr. Bennett himself cautioned that the findings should not prompt older adults to seek immediate medical attention for occasional memory lapses - "I suggest that nobody worry, because worry is bad for you," he said.

And more, not-mentioned-in-the-AP report good news for seniors - Bennett points out: None of the individuals in the study was demented, meaning that many older adults apparently function normally despite the presence of Alzheimer's brain pathology. "We think it's because these people have something else that's protecting them," he said.

Among the possible explanations: A high educational level, (active minds) which encourages the formation of new brain synapses; an extensive social network; and a neural reserve that may allow older adults to tolerate a large amount of Alzheimer's pathology without developing dementia.

"One of the classic examples is that people tend to use a certain part of the frontal cortex," Bennett said. "Younger people use just one side, but older people tend to use both sides."

Moving over the U,S. National Institute on Aging, you find that their very first recommendation on ways to help your memory is Learn a new Skill - in other words keep your mind active - and yes, I'm guilty of being repetitive, but a computer, the internet and all the knowledge and interests you have accumulated over the years can produce a powerful energy source for the mind.

See how other retired folk have built their on-line mind generators - (Go to URL)

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June 28, 2006 - Granddad and cigarettes - you like us, you really like us - retirement and the internet

I wonder if that retired guy's granddaughter quit smoking.

That new study by the United States Surgeon General, released yesterday, about how the health effects of secondhand-smoke exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought, reminded me of a conversation a couple of years back between a group of old(er) retired guys and a teenager while walking through a city park.

The teen, who often joined her granddaddy for his walks in the park, lit up a cigarette which immediately opened up a debate on the dangers of smoking. The retirees boasted about how they quit smoking while detailing the agony of withdrawal but all proclaiming the effort well worth the struggle - they unanimously pleaded with the young girl to quit.

A few minutes later, the teen pointed to an elderly man sitting on a park bench who was lighting up a cigarette.
"Look Poppy, that old man is still smoking - didn't hurt him."
Before her granddad could answer one of the group responded - "Ya, but he's only 35 years old."
"Look darlin' you know what the odds are for the Lottery?"
"No."
"14 million to one - he may have won the smokers lottery but think of all the folks who didn't - bad odds baby - not worth the gamble."

When I think back on it, no one mentioned second hand smoke - still wasn't all that big a deal back then but sure is now - as the Surgeon General said - "The scientific evidence is now indisputable: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that can lead to disease and premature death in children and nonsmoking adults."

Just one other note on this quit smoking problem - the BBC reports that health chiefs in Tayside are planning to give pregnant women rewards of up to £50 pounds per month if they stop smoking - but only if they pass breath tests.

I was a two pack a day guy who tried to quit on several occasions and was finally successful, going cold turkey after developing a personal plan based on suggestions of experts I interviewed for a quit smoking documentary - that was back some 22 years ago. I wrote an article about quit smoking experiences - perhaps it could be a starter point for you or someone you wish would stop smoking.

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I'm hope to add another report on the host website's Connect2Canada chapter about a new poll that suggests only a tiny minority of Americans -- four per cent -- know that Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil to the United States.

And this is interesting - the survey also suggests that 88 per cent of Americans have a favourable view of Canada and that 41 per cent would be willing to pay even higher gasoline prices to replace oil from unstable regions.
The survey has a margin of error of 3.1 per cent.

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Even though this retirement journal aims at the creative side of retirement and not the financial aspects of retirement, note that in Fortune's "Retire Rich: Take Control of Your Future" issue, Writer Geoffrey Colvin says that retirement's image is undergoing a major and much needed change. "The reality, which the financial-planning brochures and TV commercials rarely suggest, is that a great many working Americans don't really long for a leisure-filled retirement. Which is a good thing, because many of them won't be able to afford one."
The fact that people are living longer is a blessing and a curse because it makes leaving the workforce at the traditional retirement age even harder.

You, your computer and the internet may be the answer, creatively and financially - (Go to URL)

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June 29, 2006 - Retirement fighter - another retirement top ten list - travel site

No matter where you live, let's raise our morning cup of java in salute to sixty-five year old Glen Lee who has been a steelworker for the past 42 years - I've never met the man but I sure do like his style - says he's waving the flag for seniors everywhere - his story is featured in my morning newspaper

Glen is a feisty Scotsman who, for the past eight months on nearly every work day, puts on a bright yellow sign that protests age discrimination, hoists a huge union flag in one hand and a "honk" sign in the other, then marches back and forth in front of the company that let him go when he turned 65.
Another kick in the rump for Glen is the province's ban on mandatory retirement at 65 comes into effect later this year.

Glen's been offered plenty of jobs - the manager of the local Home Depot offered him a job noting they hire plenty of seniors, but Glen sticks to his protest saying he's always been a fighter for union rights and the rights of "the little man" - but that's were the story gets a little confusing because the company claims that retirement at 65 should not have been a surprise because his union, Local 2784 of the United Steelworkers of America had negotiated a mandatory retirement clause in a recent contract.

Anyway, Glen feels he's been shafted and he's willing to stage a public David and Goliath battle on a matter of principle and that's why this story caught my attention - I asked myself would I have the courage and determination to stage this kind of protest and the answer was - no - but then, I've never been faced with a situation that would warrant such action - but that's a copout - most of us bitch a lot but seldom do we take public action - my most intense reaction has been three letters-to-the-editor over the last 60 years. (during the later part of the previous 18 years, the only thing I was protesting was the lack of party facilities.)

So here's to all the Glen Lee's of the world who stand up for those of us who fear to follow.

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Another top ten list that proves you are of retirement age -

• You're asleep, but others worry that you're dead.
• Your back goes out more than you do.
• You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
• People call at 9:00 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
• You send money to PBS.
• You take a metal detector to the beach.
• Your ears are hairier than your head.
• You talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn.
• You got cable for The Weather Channel.
• You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.

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Here's an idea for those of you who are looking for a creative retirement idea via your computer and the internet - how about building a website that promotes the area you live in.

According to a new Scotia Bank survey, about half of Canadians will be on the move for their summer vacation and most of them will be staying in Canada - I haven't seen any US stats but I've read reports that Americans, because of the high cost of gas and the weaker dollar, Americans plan to stay closer to home.

To see how others work this travel idea - (Go to URL)

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June 30, 2006 - Retirement and Trans Fat

It's important for everyone, especially retirees, to watch what they eat and when a Canadian government task force recommended regulations to govern the content of trans fats in processed foods, I thought it might make an interesting article for this Retirement News Blog - so I started searching the internet for more information.

You know how it goes when you journey around the wide world of the web, one site leads to another and you end up venturing into uncharted waters and surprise findings.

The headline opened a floodgate of memories -

"Physicians, colleagues and friends gathered at The New York Academy of Medicine to honor Harvard Professor and renowned cardiologist Roman W. DeSanctis as the 15th recipient of the prestigious Glorney-Raisbeck Award in Cardiology."

Doc DeSanctis saved my life.

It was back in 87 when I was working at WNEV-TV which was then the CBS affiliate in Boston but is now WHDH-TV and an affiliate of NBC.

Audrey and I were preparing to have lunch at a downtown restaurant when I felt a sudden urge to burp - the next thing I remember was trying to focus on and identify a tall, slim, smiling guy wearing a white coat while I mumbled "where the hell am I and what happened?"

I was in a hospital room at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the third oldest hospital in the United States and one that consistently ranks as one of the country's best hospitals by U.S. News and World Report.
The fellow in the white coat was Roman William DeSanctis, MD Director, Clinical Cardiology (Emeritus) at Mass General.

How lucky can one guy get - I took the hit - not in the middle of nowhere, but a couple of blocks from one of the most prestigious hospitals in the good old U.S of A and the generous folks who owned the station booked me in with one of the best heart guys in the entire world - I figure THEexecutive producer for all of us decided to give my another shot at getting it right.

Doc DeSanctis, is a kind, gentle man who calms patient fears with truth and understandable explanations.
After a great of cajoling he finally went along with my proposal to have the station video tape my experiences before, during and after the quadruple by-pass operation
Later, when I returned to work, we produced a five part series - "From the Heart" - I was able to watch the entire procedure and take a look at my own heart which was kind of neat - but we left out all the cut and slush shots - the series was to be shown on a dinnertime newscast and we didn't want to upset any viewers who might have been gulping down spaghetti at the time - but you know, had we been working by today's standards we might not have cut all that open chest material.

One more flashback - just before I left the hospital, the Mass General cardiac unit hosted an information round table discussion - what to eat and how to handle yourself when you returned to the outside world.
There were maybe eight or nine patients and their spouses in attendance - the medics asked if there were any questions - one of the patients asked - "what about sex?" - with a straight face the Doctor answered - "It's OK - but only with your wife."

All of us in our retirement years need to control certain things in order to stay healthy, particularly when it comes to looking after the old ticker.
I don't know how it is in your part of the world, but we Canadians are among the highest consumers of trans fats in the world, studies suggest 22 per cent of the average adult's trans fat intake comes via foods consumed away from home - guilty - the chip wagon parked in the corner of a neighbourhood strip mall has the best French Fries this side of Quebec and when he pours on his special gravy that's as thick as engine oil, you can hear your arteries begging for mercy. - at least that's what I'm told.

The task force wants trans fats in vegetable oils and soft, spreadable margarines to be limited to two per cent of total fat content, and to five per cent for all other foods containing industrially produced trans fats.

The trans fat limits would apply to foods sold in grocery stories and to restaurant and fast-food meals. The task force's recommendations should cut the average trans fat intake of Canadians by at least 55 per cent and "virtually eliminate" man-made trans fats from Canadian diets - meaning fewer heart attacks.

I understand that Denmark is the only country in the world to regulate trans fat amounts - I just hope I live long enough to see these new rules apply here in the Dominion - in the meantime retirees should take the time to read the labels.

I think that Doc DeSanctis would be surprised I made it this far into retirement - I'm going to send him an Email.

Now, let's get creative - (Go to URL)

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