Positive, Productive, Profitable Retirement News

Here's a fascinating and informative site - the Elon University/Pew Internet Project - stacked with all kinds of information concerning the internet - now and in the future.

The fastest growing group of internet users is my crowd - 65 plus - now up to 32% - the 50 to 64 group is now a whopping 71%.

But what about the future? Who knows - but they asked 742 internet experts from around the world to assess eight provocative scenarios for the year 2020 - the final stats "show the agree/disagree split fell within 3 to 15 percentage points on five of the questions - an indication that the complexity of issues tied to the internet make it difficult to predict what we can expect to see in the next 15 years."

Even so, some of the results are interesting -

• 57% said English will not crowd out other languages on the internet
• 58% said people who don't participate in digital communications networks will form their own cultural group that self-segregates from "modern" society
• 56% said while online virtual reality will foster workplace productivity, it will lead to serious addiction problems for many
• 54% said autonomous networked technology will not move beyond human control by 2020.
• 78% - identified building network capacity and the knowledge base to help people of all nations use it as the first or second priority for the world's policymakers and technology industry to pursue.

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"If you really do put a small value upon yourself,
rest assured that the world will not raise your price." - Anonymous

Retirement News web wanderings - A series of intriguing videos on The History Channel website - you have to watch a short commercial first, but small price to pay - check out the video on Jupiter's Big Red Spot - the largest hurricane in the solar system.

While you're there - today in history - on this date 1947 - The Spruce Goose Flies - watch the video.

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I was clearing out my severely damaged and dented briefcase yesterday for the first time in nearly a year - I came across a scrap of paper I obviously ripped from some magazine - I guess I was going to use it as an idea starter because there's no name attached - the authour laments how times have changed and not always for the better - put your own "year" in the piece -

"Most moms didn't work in 1953. Daycare was going to my grandparent's home two blocks away.
No one was homeless. Everyone who wanted a job had one.
Employees were valued, not merely line-item expenses to be cut.
And, remember? In 1953, we still believed that our government told the truth and kept its nose out of our business.
In 1953, we trusted strangers. We believed in ourselves. We weren't so greedy, so materialistic, so very arrogant. We cared more about others a lot more.
We were strong then, and full of promise.
And 50 years ago this month, I thought I would live forever."

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A senior couple went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "seniors' special" was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.
"Sounds good," the wife said. "But I don't want the eggs."
Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.
"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" the wife asked incredulously.
"YES!!"
"I'll take the special."
"How do you want your eggs?"
"Raw and in the shell," the wife replied.
She took the two eggs home.

DON'T MESS WITH SENIORS.....We've been around the block more than once.

Now let's get to work on our creative retirement Job - (Go to URL)

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November 2, 2006 - Retirement wine - never too old - two senior widows

It's called resveratrol - a substance found in red wine that apparently activates a bunch of genes that protects against the effects of aging - and that's just for openers.

Researchers are still in the "mice" stage but what they have found resveratrol protected mice from the ill effects of obesity, raising the tantalizing prospect that the compound could do the same for humans.

David Sinclair, a Harvard University molecular biologist who led the study said - "We've been looking for something like this for the last 100,000 years, and maybe it's right around the corner--a molecule that could be taken in a single pill to delay the diseases of aging and keep you healthier as you grow old,".

I didn't know this, but in this kind of research, a year old mouse is the equivalent of a middle-age human and the researchers gave one-third of these "middle aged human" mice a standard diet - another third ate the equivalent of a junk-food diet--one very high in calories with 60 percent of the calories coming from fat and - the last third lived on the unhealthy diet combined with resveratrol.

Be forewarned - this research is just for openers - don't go chomping down on whoppers and buckets of KFC thinking you can now just pop resveratrol pill to make things right.
These researchers say a person would have to drink at least 100 bottles of red wine a day or take megadoses of the commercially available supplements to get the levels given to the mice, which may not be safe in humans.

one other note - According to Anne Collins, a weight reduction expert - it takes 11 minutes of jogging to burn off the calories in one glass of red wine.

OK, just one more - According to The National Women's health Information Center of the U.S. Department of health, mixed alcoholic drinks made with artificial sweeteners are more intoxicating that those made with sugar.

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The headline - The Online World is Getting Greyer

The story was about a new study conducted by Sonja Baumer, of the University of California that focused on YouTube and other video and networking sites.

The fact is we oldies are starting to crowd in with the kids in new media.

Erin Hunter, executive vice-president of ComScore's Media and Entertainment Group points out that today, a 42-year-old woman feels comfortable on YouTube; then again, she's experienced at shopping online - a 64-year-old passes around the comic video he found on YouTube, finding the application easy to use.
Hunter Says - ""It's not about age or gender, It's about how fast your broadband connection is."

According to Nielsen NetRatings, in their September survey of YouTube users, one-third of the video-sharing site's audience is more than 45 years old.
At the other networking center, MySapce.com - more than 30 per cent of the folks scanning this social-networking powerhouse are between 35 and 49 - 27 per cent are more than 45.

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You are never too old to learn something new - why not build your own website as a creative retirement job.

The following quote is from a group discussion on an internet forum - the topic - retirement and the internet.

Gerald from florida-space-coast-vacations had this to say - "Now at age 71 I enjoy being retired. I am healthy but I would not want to go back to work.
I am always looking for a project, and this year decided to create a website. I choose SBI - (Editor's note - So did I) - after a great deal of investigation, and now have a 4 month old site promoting tourism in my local area of Florida.
The web site is a lot of fun, keeps me out of trouble, and gives me a reason to go out and experience the great area in which I live".

Take a look at the possibilities.

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Dorothy and Edna, two senior widows, are talking.

Dorothy: "That nice George Johnson asked me out for a date. I know you went out with him last week, and I wanted to talk with you about him before I give him my answer."

Edna: "Well, I'll tell you. He shows up at my apartment punctually at 7 P.M. , dressed like such a gentleman in a fine suit, and he brings me such beautiful flowers! Then he takes me downstairs, and what's there but a luxury car...a limousine, uniformed chauffeur and all.

Then he takes me out for dinner...a marvelous dinner...lobster, champagne, dessert, and after-dinner drinks.
Then we go see a show. Let me tell you, Dorothy, I enjoyed it so much I could have just died from pleasure!

So then we are coming back to my apartment and he turns into an ANIMAL.
Completely crazy, he tears off my expensive new dress and has his way with me two times!"

Dorothy: "Goodness gracious!...so you are telling me I shouldn't go out with him?"

Edna: "No, no, no...I'm just saying, wear an old dress."

Now, lets get back to researching our creative retirement job ideas - back to the retirement Job library - (Go to URL)

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November 3, 2006 - Boring retirement - brainstorming and web wanderings.

I should first explain to non-Canadians that Tim Horton's is a coffee and doughnut franchise - they're everywhere across the Dominion - like the Brits local pubs but without the booze.

Anyway, overheard at the neighbourhood Tim Horton's yesterday, - "I'm so bloody bored - it's going to snow tomorrow - I hate snow - think I'll hibernate like a bear for the winter."

The guy looked to be in his early 60's and was sitting with four other gray-hairs who just nodded and accepted his claim of boredom, offering no suggestions or encouragement.

Unfortunately, like many in their retirement years, Mr. Bored has allowed creative excitement to fade with age - he has stopped learning.

The late Glenn Frank, when he was president of the University of Wisconsin said -

"Education suffers from Calendaritis - diplomas and degrees carry the subtle suggestion that a person's education is finished at a certain age, and they can ten stop learning and begin to live.
But when all is said and done, learning is a life job. Education is endless. A true education registers men and women at the cradle and graduates them at the grave."

He who seeks rest finds boredom....He who seeks work finds rest. - Anonymous

Mr. Bored also missed another opportunity - rather than sitting around with his buddies, munching Boston Creams and bitching about what is wrong in his life, he could have chaired a creative brainstorming session to generate new ideas on what he could do to escape from his lackluster existence.

I'm keen on brainstorming meetings whether with family, friends or colleagues - exchanging ideas on a specific area of interest - shouting out suggestions - building and expanding on ideas proposed by others - it's mentally invigorating and can be very productive.

If you have cruised the home website and you're thinking about creating a retirement job via the internet, based on a topic you're truly passionate about, don't be afraid to chair a brainstorming session with folks who know you and/or the topic and let the ideas flow.

"To learn what is new is to be ever young - Aescchylus

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Retirement News web wanderings -

Here's an interesting motivational slide show - it's a website promotional piece - what a woman should be valued by.

Time to pucker up - kissing for 30 minutes may suppress the body's allergic reaction to pollen - this from the net doctor

From the Wedding Gazette - Queen Victoria started the tradition of a bride wearing a white dress at her wedding.

From Casa Columbia - One drink has the same effect on the average women that two drinks have on the average man.

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A very elderly gentleman, (mid nineties) very well dressed, hair well groomed, great looking suit, flower in his lapel smelling slightly of a good after-shave, presenting a well looked-after image, walks into an upscale cocktail lounge. Seated at the bar is an elderly lady, about mid-eighties.

The gentleman walks over, sits alongside of her, orders a drink, takes a sip, turns to her and says, "So tell me, do I come here often?"

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Have a great weekend and keep researching your creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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November 6, 2006 - Art says nay to death and keeps on writing

"We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today.
I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great.
If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time." -
Art Buchwald

In this prime, the come-back-kid of journalism, humorist Art Buchwald, was in more newspapers than any other columnist - he won the Pulitzer Prize for outstanding commentary in 1982 - now 81, Buchwald is back yet again.

Doctors had amputated Buchwald's right leg to prevent gangrene, which is often a complication of long-standing diabetes or high blood pressure and when he refused dialysis for this ailing kidneys, his doctor told him he had only a few weeks left - they checked him into the Washington Home hospice last February - many of his "A" list celebrity friends visited to say their goodbyes.

Five months later he checked out, still very much alive.

Even after a stroke back in 2000, Buchwald bounced back - again following two bouts of depression - the first in the 60's when he moved his office to Washington and again in the 80's with the breakup of his long marriage - He still jokes that if he has a third bout of depression, "I will be inducted in the Bipolar Hall of Fame."

Buchwald has returned to his home where he is finishing the book, titled "Too Soon to Say Goodbye."

As you spend you day on the computer, read this Art Buchwald column - Ah, the Life of Riley (Till Riley Finds Out) - By Art Buchwald Tuesday, April 19, 2005

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Doctors forecasting your departure is a subject that unfortunately, I'm familiar with - they gave my daughter 3 months - Cindy courageously battled the cancer for over a year and half - precious extra time.

Nicholas Christakis, an internist and sociologist at Harvard Medical School who has written extensively about the impact on patients of doctors' end-of-life prognoses said - "Doctors suck at foreseeing and foretelling the future,"- he adds that the subject is not taught in medical school or discussed in textbooks and is rarely studied by researchers - "Right now they predict by the seat of their pants because some physicians fear causing patients greater pain or because they are personally uncomfortable with the sense of failure a dying patient can inspire."

Christakis, has published several studies about prognosis, among them a report in the British Medical Journal in 2000 of 468 terminally ill patients and their physicians. That found _

• only 20 percent of prognostic estimates were even approximately accurate.
• 63 percent were overly optimistic.
• Patients were told they had weeks or months to live, but the median length of survival was 24 days.
• 7 percent of patients died just hours after arriving at a hospice.

Art Buchwald alluded to his own psychological adjustment in a column published Sept. 23. - "There was a tiny part of me that thought I wouldn't die. I ignored that voice and thought I would soon be gone, I'm practicing now not being dead."

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Retirement News Web Wanderings -

Napoleon wasn't all that short a guy - according to Napoleon-Series.orgUsing the French foot - about 13 inches long, he was 5 foot 2 but if you go with the British measure - he was roughly 5 foot 6, or about 1.68 metres.

Some sword swallowers have been known to drink several glasses of water before performing to make their stomach sink lower and thereby allow them to swallow longer blades - from Sword Swallow.com

According to the National Retail Federation - 40% of shoppers started their holiday shopping last year before Halloween - I'm one of them - here's where I started my gift search - without without the crowds. - (Go to URL)

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November 7, 2006 - The Queen and Kinky - in their retirement years but still essential

Retirement News Movie recommendation

As a confirmed flick fan, I suggest this one is a must - The Queen - and if Helen Mirren, who recently earned an Emmy for playing Elizabeth the first doesn't win an Oscar for this remarkable performance then the movie industry is ruled by ignoramuses and idiots.

Mirren is the Queen - it's as if we're watching a Royal family home movie.
As Rolling Stone's Peter Travis notes in his review -

"If you're expecting a soggy biopic about a monarch known for her rigid formality, snap out of it.
The Queen is one of the best and liveliest movies of the year - funny and touching in ways you can't predict. Set mostly during the week after the August 1997 death of Princess Diana, whose rebellious behavior before and after her divorce from Prince Charles (Alex Jennings) gave the royal family palpitations, the film goes behind closed doors at Buckingham Palace.

The script, by Peter Morgan, who used "inside sources," is a model of elegance and bracing wit.
The gifted Stephen Frears directs with an eye for telling detail and an ear for the emotions roiling under polite royal speech."

My matinee viewing at the local Cineplex was like sitting in a senior's retirement center meeting hall - the kids wouldn't get it - it's a story of a woman who was trained from birth to dedicate herself to a life Diana rejected - ("service first, self second and keep one's emotions private") - being dragged into the modern world of tabloid media and the celebration of celebrity.

As Travers notes - "Palace politics keep the film zipping along, but the crowning achievement is Mirren's.
With subtle humor and innate class, she shows us a side of the queen long hidden from the world: her humanity."

What I also found interesting was the two principles were burdened by partners travelling on opposite tracks - the Queen with the aristocratic hard-line snob, out-of-touch Prince Philip and Blair with his red flag, leftist, monarch-hating wife - neither mattered in the end - Elizabeth and Tony found common ground and the rest as they say, is history.

Helen Mirren is cinema royalty - don't miss this performance.

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As an aside - some interesting info on the official website for the British Monarchy including job opportunities - at this writing, the Royal household is searching for an assistant records manager - a two year contract - you're office would be at Buckingham Palace - pays up to 24 thousand pounds a year - (roughly 52,000 Canadian - 46,000 US) - note however, - "for the majority of vacancies, we are unable to accept applications from individuals who do not have the right to work in the UK."

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Some people find the internet as boring as my grade ten English teacher - however, most of them admit they couldn't do without it.

A few years ago a MSN survey conducted in England found 21% of those responding were getting bored by publicity for anything to do with the internet however, Over 77% of those questioned said they could not live without it.

An MSN spokeswoman said "For many people the internet has become indispensable, it's as much a part of everyday life as the telephone, television and video. It's no wonder people are bored with hype around the internet - you wouldn't want to talk about your vacuum cleaner in the pub."

Recent surveys are showing how seniors are embracing the internet - boomers and those already in their retirement years are the fastest growing segment of the internet population.

By the way, that Brit survey also found that 64% are also bored with politicians - and why not - they're such a colourless lot, no matter what country you live in - certainly so in the upcoming municipal elections in my home city and in the big smoke to the south - no colourful characters to liven up the debate - to get people interested in the process.

However, Texans are lucky - they go to the polls today with a true character on the ballot - not a republican - not a democrat - just a 62 year old, cigar chomping Jewish guy named Kinky Friedman - tours with a country band called the Texas Jewboys - who, back the 70's recorded such hits as - "They Ain't Making Jews like Jesus Anymore and Get your Biscuits in the Over and Your Buns in the Bed.

But Kinky ain't no political joke - In some polls he ranks number two in a field of four - A couple of days ago polls showed him with 14.4% support - meaning if his supporters voted instead for the democrat Chris Bell - Bell would win - Bell has asked Kinky to quit the race several times - Kinky has refused.

Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas notes - 'Canadians tend to take their government seriously and look for it to do serious things in efficient ways, whereas Texans tend to deride government and think of it as more trouble than it's worth.
Texans don't expect much from government, and don't get much from government.

So when someone comes along and says, Why the hell not? Try a comedian,' Texans say, 'Let me think about that."

Some of Kinky's Best lines -

• On same-sex marriage - "I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us."
• On ethnicity "I don't eat tamales in the barrio and then go to a black church and eat fried chicken and then go have a bagel with a Jew. I treat all people the same. If you ain't Texan, I ain't got time for you."
• "I just want Texas to be No. 1 in something other than executions, toll roads and property taxes."
• "Musicians can run this state better than politicians. We won't get a lot done in the mornings, but we'll work late and be honest."

Don't you wish you had a Kinky on your ballot?

Now let's return to researching our creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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November 8, 2006 - Taking the time to be positive and grandparents in toyland

First a follow-up to yesterday's entry about Kinky Friedman's bid to become Governor of Texas - he ended fourth in a field of four with about 12% of the vote - Governor Perry was reelected.

Kinky told hundreds of supporters gathered at his election headquarters - ""We were up against three very professional machines, that made it difficult from the beginning. When these machines crank up, they're very hard to stop. We had no money, and we had nothing but musicians, beauticians and amateurs in our campaign. We were gypsies on a pirate ship."the 62 year old author and entertainer has no plans to retire.

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A couple of nights ago, CNN's Larry King had a panel of experts discussing the topic - "Beyond Positive Thinking" - have to admit that some of their reasoning blew right over my head - when they started talking about utilizing the laws of physics to "attract" those things that we want to change and connecting with the vibrations of the universe, I took off to the kitchen to make a sandwich.

However, as I understand the basic idea here - Larry's guests believe that our lives are controlled, about 98% of the time, by our subconscious mind - however, the conscious mind can overcome that pattern, if it's programmed correctly.

One thing I found interesting was the fact that the panelists agreed we only have ourselves to blame for living a life of negativity - just plain ignorance - we're ignorant about what and how we can change to lead a more positive, less stressful life - we just refuse to take the time to learn and do.

As noted in the Positive Thinking Chapter on the home website the learning part is easy, if you take the time to do a little research - it's the doing that takes time, patience and a heavy repetition schedule.

Many people, especially those in their retirement years - give up far too soon - believe me, there is no simple snap-your-finger- method to change a lifetime of mental negativity.

Part II of Larry Kings "Beyond Positive Thinking discussion is schedule for November 16th, 9:00pm EST. CNN - Mark the calendar.

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In the United States - over the next four years - there will be ten million new - Grandparents

Ken Dychtwald, a corporate consultant at Age Wave, says that baby boomer grandparents are a mighty powerful spending group - check out these stats from Age Wave -

• Amount that grandparents spend per grandchild per year - $500
• Collective amount grandparents spend on grandchildren annually - $30 billion
• Percentage of toy sales purchased by grandparents - 25 percent

Carol Rehtmeyer, president of Rehtmeyer, a toy design, development and manufacturing company puts it this way - "they refuse to adopt the traditional grandparent stereotype, they still cling to the peace and love ethos of their 1960s past - they're from the rock 'n' roll generation, and embrace spontaneousness and fun............. Boomers think their grandkids are too programmed, and they're looking to stir things up."

As a result, toy companies like Fisher-Price are taking aim at grandparents in their advertising and why not - grandparents already account for 25 percent of total toy sales and the boomer grandparent population just keep on growing.

The boomer grandparents gift buying credo seems to be - Fun is first, education is second.

You could start your toy shopping research at the Retirement Shopping Mall - (Go to URL)

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November 9, 2006 - Retirement memory challenge - video and rules for retirees

We're on the move - last minute arrangements and a fast pack-it-up operation has allowed us to take off on our annual snowbird trip south - if all goes according to plan, I'll be back at the retirement news keyboard in about a week's time.

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If my wife was looking over my shoulder as I write this, she would be collapsing with uncontrollable laughter because this item concerns physical activity.

However, getting up out of our retirement chairs, even for a 30 minute walk can help improve our memory and for those of us in our retirement years that's something we're all concerned about.

Dr. Antonio Convit of the New York University School of Medicine says - ""We thought that we were born with a brain and that brain degenerated as we aged until we died, now we know that there are many triggers that make parts of the brain regenerate themselves." - and one of those triggers may be linked to your fitness level.

A researcher at the University of Illinois-Urbana, Stan Colcombe, adds - "Cardiovascular exercise that's done over a longer period of time will tend to reduce the amount of tissue you lose as you age." - and that includes brain tissue.

This research also shows that dropping a few pounds can also improve memory function.

We're not talking about forgetting names or dates - that's annoying but no big whoops compared to the more important kind of memory - the one that does our thinking for us - what researchers call Intelligent memory - it works in different parts of the brain than the memory that recalls, dates, names, appointments and such.

Dr. Barry Gordon of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who has written books on the subject explains it this way - "A much larger and more important kind of memory is the one that does our thinking for us. As you age, intelligent memory increases because it has added a lot of data to a person's memory storage." - So, getting older could mean getting wiser.

"It won't guarantee it, but it's the only way to make it happen," says Gordon. "Socrates said there are no boy philosophers. You cannot become wiser without experience."

Your experience - use it to build a creative retirement job and let's pledge to help our memory by taking that daily 30 minute walk ........... yes, that Chucky type chuckle you hear is my wife - she sneaked up on me.

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A couple of items that just arrived - retired Florida friend Dan Dombroski sent this - don't know who to credit, but someone put in a lot of hours producing this - 100 years of pictures - sing-along

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Retirement thoughts

• It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
• If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
• If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
• Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day
• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
• Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
• If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
• Never miss a good chance to shut up

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A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: "So I hear you're getting married?"
"Yep!"
"Do I know her?"
"Nope!"
"This woman, is she good looking?"
"Not really."
"Is she a good cook?"
"Naw, she can't cook too well."
"Does she have lots of money?"
"Nope! Poor as a church mouse."
"Well, then, is she good in bed?"
"I have no idea."
"Then why in the world do you want to marry her?"

"Because she can still drive!"

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Once again, we're off on our annual snowbird trip south - should be logging in again on or before the 16th - ya'll have a great week and keep researching your creative retirement job - just like these folks - (Go to URL)

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November 15, 2006 - Georgia Tie-up - retirement reading test and retirees rule

I was put to the test - but I remembered the Rainbow Road.

Driving through the beautiful state of Georgia - coming up on Atlanta - a construction hold-up obviously managed by someone with a weird sense of humour - 3 hours and 56 minutes to go 32 miles.

They placed a merge to left lane sign 30 miles out but forgot to place barriers in the two right lanes - so while some of us obeyed and merged left and crawled along - hundreds didn't and continued to race-on in the two right lanes.

Ten miles later another merge sign but again, no right lane barriers- another bottleneck - then a mile before the actual construction work the real merge sign - big time tie-up number three.

As you can appreciate, there weren't many happy campers and some of them showed their displeasure by honking their horns and giving the finger to the construction crew as they drove by.

Much to the surprise of my wife, yours truly stayed comparatively calm because - we had the book - just as I suggested in the Self Help Journal on the home website

I wish some Canadian food franchise would pick up this idea that I feel is a truly smart traffic building promotion.

In the states, when you visit a Cracker Barrel store and restaurant - and thousands of snowbirds do just that - you can pick up an audio book for approximately $42 then, after you finish listening, you bring it back to another Cracker barrel outlet and they refund you $39.00 - total cost 3 bucks and change.

For us, the audio book that help us stay cool during the Georgia highway fiasco was The 5th Horseman - another in the "Women's Murder Club" series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro - sure made the miles slip by even at 8 miles per hour.

It was also an audio book that gave me this worthwhile quotation -

"The greatest power we have is the power of choice.
It is an actual fact, that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous, instead.
And, by effort, lift yourself into joy.
If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage.
The whole trend and the quality of anyone's life
is determined by the choices that are made".
Norman Vincent Peale

We have a choice but the fact is, few of us make the effort.
Even in our retirement years we should be working on choosing how we want to live our lives - letting our subconscious mind know our desires - what we want to accomplish.

One way is to develop your own personal 'Mission Statement' - list what makes you happy - things you want to accomplish - identify the central things you love to do.

"The greatest power we have is the power of choice."

As you think about developing a creative retirement job, remember this quotation -

"Do what you love, and money will follow". - Authour unknown

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My thanks to retired Florida friend Tom Adams for sending this this very interesting video - it's a PowerPoint slide show and if you haven't a PowerPoint reader, you can download a free copy here.

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Thanks to retired buddy Jim Hill for sending this -

Trivia: Reading Test

I cdnuolt bliveiee taht I cluod aulacity uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg.

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THE PAOMNNEHAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID

Aoccdrnih to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the Ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat itteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh ?

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They are something these new game consoles - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.- but guess what - Sony, Microsoft and the others are gearing up advertising plans aimed at us grey hairs - again we hold the balance of power in the sales battle - technology analysts say seniors, ageing baby boomers and women gamers may hold the key to who wins the war.

The big three are setting their sights on non-traditional game players to dominate - and expand - the $32 billion global market with more user-friendly controllers and diverse games.

Nintendo has sold nearly nine million copies of "Brain Training" - mainly to the older crowd. The console makers earn much of their money from software and licensing sales so the more games bought by family members, the more profits they make so game producers are working hard on developing games that do not require speed and complicated controlling.

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In my location, it's an outstanding day - warm, plenty of sun with a few floating clouds, and after a number of days travelling, I decided to take the advise of Robert Half -

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." - right on - but don't forget to slap on several layers of sunscreen if you can't find a tree.

Now, lets go to the library to research a new creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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November 16, 2006 - How long in Retirement - Phil talks and words of advise from Socrates.

What are my chances to make it to 85?
I have no idea, because I can't complete the check list - I can't remember what kind of shape I was in nearly thirty years ago although I'm sure it wasn't all that great - right off the get-go I know I flunk at least three items.

That's the trouble we retirees have when these new medical studies are published - we try to figure out the longevity odds and we have to remember decades old information.

This new study, issued today in the Journal of the American Medical Association involved 5,820 Japanese-American men in their fifties from the Hawaiian island of Oahu, who were followed for up to 40 years - but the researchers say the results likely apply to women and men of other ethnic heritage, too.

It all boils down to nine midlife risk factors:

• being overweight, meaning a body-mass index of 25 or more;
• having high blood glucose levels, which can , lead to diabetes;
• having high triglyceride levels, which contribute to heart disease;
• having high blood pressure;
• Having low grip strength - unable to squeeze at least 86 pounds of pressure with a handheld device;
• smoking;
• consuming three or more alcoholic drinks daily;
• not graduating from high school;
• Being unmarried.

This new study revealed that men who had none of the nine disease risk factors at midlife had a nearly 70 percent chance of living to age 85 - those with six or more risk factors at midlife had a 22 percent chance of living to age 85.

I realize this bit of info is too late for many of us in our retirement years - but I thought it was worth passing on to those who follow - not that they will listen..

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While Googling -the other day, I came across this interview with Phil Donahue - it's from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation - 26 minutes long but interesting.
Now retired, Donahue talks about his 29 years and 6,000 hours on "The Donahue Show"

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Keep this philosophy in mind the next time someone at the retirement center is about to tell you a rumor.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC) Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.

Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."
Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was fooling around with his wife.

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Always remember the following quotes - the first is a vital reminder to all retirees -

"You will never get tired of life as long as you let
mental activity keep it interesting."

Now let's visit the Retirement Jobs Library and view a couple of the free videos or manuals and as you consider the possibility of building your own website, remember this quote -

"I'm going to do this; I'm going to be fine.
The power to do it is all in my mind."

Click to open the Retirement Jobs library - (Go to URL)

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November 17, 2006 - The tree, pets and the politician

A Retirement News Assignment -

I saw the tree only once - she looked at it every day - now they have to cut it down.

Of all the news stories I read, watched or heard yesterday, this one reached out to me - a short mention inside USA Today - but it opened a floodgate of memories.

Anne Frank wrote in her diary three times about a huge chestnut tree in a garden backing on to the secret annex where the 13-year-old Jewish girl was hiding from the Nazis - for her this tree was a constant source of hope and comfort.

"From my favorite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver."

My wife Audrey and I visited the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam in the late 80's - it's located in the house that Anne and her parents hid from the Nazis from 1942 to 1944.
The family was discovered in August 1944 and sent to concentration camps. Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen camp in 1945.

It's an emotional experience, one that brought tears to my wife's eyes while standing in Anne's room and reading the quotes from her diary.

Anyway, Anne's chestnut tree is, according to Amsterdam officials, so diseased it must be cut down - to see the tree as Anne saw it - here's a short video from the museum..

Anne and her tree of hope are gone but her diary keeps her alive -

• "It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

• "Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"

Here's your retirement news assignment - Call the grandkids and invite them over to browse the Anne Frank Museum website - Anne's story must be kept alive.

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Guess what I'm working on - a pet page for the home website would you believe.

Got the idea when I took our cat "toughie" to the vets for shots - the waiting room was like a senior citizen's meeting hall.

Our vet tells me more than half of her patients are pets of retired folk - so you can bet the farm they're looking for all kinds of pet information - another Retirement Job idea for those of you who have experience in this field.

back in 99, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published a study that revealed independently living seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental wellbeing than those that don't.
They're more active, cope better with stress, and have better overall health.

Another study shows that retirement age pet owners had significantly lower blood pressure overall than their contemporaries without pets.

So for those of you who have a passion for pets - I'll have some idea starters for you later next week and great pet pics.

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Keep these thoughts in mind over the weekend -

• "Old men like to give good advice in order to console themselves for not being any longer able to set bad examples" - unknown

• "None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm." - Henry David Thoreau

• "Youth is a circumstance you can't do anything about. The trick is to grow up without getting old." - Frank Lloyd Wright:

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My thanks to retired Florida buddy Dan Dombroski for sending this -

While walking down the street one day, a politician is tragically hit by a truck and killed. and his soul arrives in Heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem.
We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the politician.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up.
What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"There's no need! I want to be in Heaven," says the politician.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator, the doors open, and he rides the elevator down, down, down.
When the doors open again, the politician finds himself in the middle of a beautiful green golf course. In the distance is a club house, and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in formal dress.
They run to greet him, and they reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

Also present is the Devil, who is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are having such a good time that, before the politician realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up, and the door reopens in Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

So 24 hours pass with the politician joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.
They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by, and St. Peter returns.

"Well, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now, you must choose where you want to spend eternity."

He reflects for a minute and then answers, "Well, I would never have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better satisfied in Hell."

So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator, and down, down, down he goes into Hell.

Now, the doors of the elevator open, and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags.
And it's hot, hot, hot, and the odor is just horrible.
Sweltering hot. Hot and miserable.
The Devil comes over to him and smoothly lays his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the politician. "The day before I was here, and there was a golf course and club, and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage, and my friends look miserable."

The Devil looks at the politician, smiles, and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us."

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In the United States alone, 12 million people older than 65 were online as of October 2005 - this is the fastest growing segment of the internet population - The majority are looking for information - information you maybe able to give them - research the possibility of developing your own retirement job - it cost nothing but time - time well spent - sit back and watch a few videos - (Go to URL)

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November 20, 2006 - It seems like yesterday - online shopping stats - earth from space

How time flies.

I'm just a couple of months shy of the second anniversary of my web adventure - the day I decided to take the plunge and try to build a website using Site Build It as my web host and teacher.

You have to remember I was the true newbie - what I knew about the web you could dab on the trailing edge of a gnat's wing - plus I was still struggling trying to figure out my computer - my 8 year old granddaughter knew more about using the computer than I did.

I mention this because I want to urge those of you who would like to build a creative retirement job via the internet not to back away because of age or lack of knowledge about all the techie stuff - as I have promoted elsewhere on this site, it's a challenging, mental activating adventure. Also, thanks to all the advantages Site Build It, offers, it's building-block easy.

For you junior seniors, who have computer and internet smarts, Site Build It, makes it a walk in the park on a warm, sunny day.

Here's a video tour of what Site Build it is all about - grab a coffee, sit back and see for yourself - it could provide an idea for the retirement job your looking for.

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While on the subject of retirement jobs if you have a product to sell - better get online - look at the latest stats -

• Nearly half of all shoppers plan to buy gifts from online retailers this year.
• 89 percent plan to use the Web for help about product information and prices.
• About 51-million shoppers expect to shop online from desktops at work - one reason why "Cyber Monday," the Monday after Thanksgiving, has become one of the busiest days of the year for online retailers.
• Excluding travel, online shopping sales are forecast to grow 18 percent to $32-billion - 7 percent of the $457-billion in all holiday sales.

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Retirement news web wanderings-

Here's retirement time well spent - even better if you visit this site with the grandkids.

It's a new online exhibition of what our planet looks like from space and some of the pics were taken with special instruments that show things than even the astronauts can't see.

It also busts another myth that the great wall of China is the only man made object that can seen from space - not true as you will see.

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My thanks to retired buddy Jim Hill for sending this -

Why, Why, Why

• do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?
• Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?
• Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
• Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
• Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
• Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
• Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
• Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?
• Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
• Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
• Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance.
• Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?
• How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
• How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
• And my FAVORITE...... The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Now grab yourself a coffee, sit back and watch this video then start thinking about creating a retirement job via the internet - (Go to URL)

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November 21, 2006 - Retirement Heart care - OJ and I don't mean orange juice

Attention baby boomers - the 60's are coming - not the "swinging 60"s - the 60's as in age 60 and a higher risk of heart attack.

According to Dr. Fred Leya, professor of medicine/cardiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine - for the next 20 years, the U.S. healthcare system could experience a tidal wave of heart care demand as millions of boomers turn 60 - It's safe to say the stats would be the same in other countries.

On a personal note - I know this to be a fact - a stress test is no guarantee that everything is OK with the ticker.

As Dr. Leya notes - "A person can have a 50 percent blockage in a vessel leading to their heart, and a stress test will not pick it up. That's why baby boomers need to focus carefully on the state of their health, including lifetime cardiovascular risk control.
It's also important to understand that a routine physical examination by a physician cannot detect a calcification and thickening of a vessel in the heart or a thickening of the vessel to the brain.""

The Doctor's advise to the boomers is something all of us in our retirement years should keep in mind - mainly - "Know your numbers, the good and bad cholesterol, HDL and LDL; blood pressure, heart rate, glucose and check them annually. Be sure to aggressively lower your bad cholesterol using a combination of diet, exercise and statins."

Dr. Leya also suggests that retirement age folks have a stress test at this age, but when in doubt, have a high resolution CT scan or a Doppler ultrasound to detect vascular abnormalities - and the test results should be read and interpreted by an experienced cardiologist.

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Where were you when the OJ verdict came down?

I was at a car dealership for my car's tire rotation and oil change, when an elderly lady ran through every department screaming - "they're coming - the jury's coming."

Soon the service department waiting room was crammed with mechanics, customers and sales people plus a few off the street who came busting through the door after the old dear puffed her way across the used car lot like an exhausted Paul Revere.

When the not guilty verdict was announced, the groan of disbelief was deafening - I remember one mechanic - looked like an overage hippy, threw a wrench to the floor and yelled - "Are they (fringing) nuts? The man is guilty as Jack the Ripper" - there was unanimous agreement.

Remember this was in Canada - the trial was in California - no matter, it was and still is an international story and it seems it's been with us a lifetime.

Now the "If I did It" outrage - cancelled? - I think not - in this day and age I'll bet the farm the book and the interview video will show up somewhere - most likely on the internet and within the next six months - ignore it - OJ may benefit.

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Retirement News web wanderings -

Came across this story - a reminder that grandparents should be respected at all times-

Seems Jeremy Hayes asked his grandmother when she was going to get a day off from the bank. It wasn't because he wanted to take her to lunch or anything, though.

The Spencer, England, man just thought it would be a bad idea to rob the bank on a day grandma was behind the counter.

He made off with $462 US, but his family cooperated with cops and he was caught

Police asked Hayes, 23 and a former honor student, why he decided to rob banks.
He told him they always seem to get away with it on TV.

Hearing loss affects about 14% of folks in the 45 to64 age range - higher percentage in the retirement years - you can learn more plus some caregiver tips at Healthy Hearing.

I enjoy a dish of pears and awhile back I Googled for some pear recipes and found some interesting pear info here

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Now let's get to work on our creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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November 22, 2006 - Retirement jobs on the Atoll - less stressful thanksgiving and a senior's love story

A geography lesson thanks to my creative retirement job.

When you build a creative retirement job via the internet there's yet another bonus that comes with the assignment - the opportunity to correspond with folks all over the world.

First thing every morning, after I check my affiliate income, I go to my Site Build It statistics page to find out how many people visited my site during the past 24 hours - how many pages they viewed and a bunch of other important information.
But the stat that I find the most interesting is where the visitors hail from.

This morning as an example, I found that the Czech Republic had moved up to number five with Switzerland up to the sixth spot - but a new country has been added - at number 30 - Tuvalu for me that was a stumper - so it was time to Google -

Tuvalu, pronounced "too-VAH-loo", is an independent constitutional monarchy in the Southwest Pacific Ocean between latitudes 5 degrees and 11 degrees south and longitudes 176 degrees and 180 degrees east.

Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, they separated from the Gilbert Islands after a referendum in 1975, and achieved independence from Great Britain on October 1, 1978.

The population of 11,636 (est 2005) live on Tuvalu's nine atolls, which have a total land area of 10 square miles, or 27 square kilometres - this ranks Tuvalu as the fourth smallest country in the world, in terms of land area.

I guess to the youngsters who have grown up during the age of modern technology this is ho-hum but for this old geezer, the idea of someone on a south pacific atoll clicking on to my site is awesome - wish he/she or they would Email.

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Retirement News web wanderings -

You are richer than you think - lets say you make 50,000 US a year - you would be the the 59,029,289 richest person in the world!

This from a site that has a very interesting way of promoting the need to share with those less fortunate - you click in the currency, the amount, and it will calculate where you stand on the world money list.

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We snowbirds get to chow down on two Thanksgiving dinners - at home in Canada in October and tomorrow here in the states and in the good old U.S. of A, Thanksgiving is a biggie and with Christmas just around the corner, the holiday season can be stressful - especially for the grandparents.

New stats show that if modern technology stress detectors could monitor grandparents stress levels the majority would record levels off the chart.

Tough to do sometimes but the only one who can lower the stress levels is you and the experts say the number one rule - Don't try to be all things to all people" - take charge of your life - you set the rules.

Christine Clarke-Swift, a life strategist coach offers up these stress deduction rules for Grandparents during the holiday season -

• Breathe. Be aware of your breathing patterns as you start. When we are tense, our breathing is very shallow, which does not allow for good, clean oxygen to fill our lungs. Shallow breathing sends a message to our physiological system that we are ready to do battle.
  It helps to close your eyes while you're doing this very simple exercise to allow your thoughts to focus on breathing.
  Imagine your lungs filling up with air, and hold your breath for a count of three.
  Then, exhale completely for a count of four. Take a few minutes each day to take a deep breath. It doesn't cost you a thing.

• Make a plan ahead of time. Decide how much time, money and energy you're willing to spend for the holidays.

• Listen to what you're telling yourself. Catch the negative self-talk.

• Practice powerful positive thinking. Picture positive words moving across the screen in your mind.

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My thanks to retired buddy Jim Hill for sending this -

A Senior's Love Story

I will seek and find you.
I shall take you to bed and have my way with you.
I will make you ache, shake & sweat until you moan & > groan.
I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop.
I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I'm finished with you.
And, when I am finished, you will be weak for days.

All my love,
The Flu

Now, quit thinking about sex and go get your flu shot!

And, after that, get to work on your creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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November 23, 2006 - Hey Yank - Happy Thanksgiving

As this day is a very special holiday here in the land of plenty, just a short entry - first to all our American visitors - a very Happy Thanksgiving

In his Thanksgiving day column - "A solemn day of gratitude" George Will has several interesting observations from British historian, Godfrey Hodgson, authour of - A Great and Godly Adventure: The Pilgrims and the Myth of the First Thanksgiving.

Will writes - " it's timely for Hodgson to remind us of the admiration that is due "as a tiny band of men and women, determined to follow what they believe to be the ordinances of their God, entrust themselves to the wild freezing ocean; confront disease, starvation, ferocious enemies and justified fear."

Will also notes that Hodgson observes - "that Thanksgiving is an echo of the breaking of bread at the heart of Christian worship, and of a Jewish Seder.

It is also is a continuation, in today's abundance, of harvest festivals around the world, which began millennia ago, when abundance was so rare as to seem miraculous.

Hodgson thinks Thanksgiving expresses "the deepest of all American national feelings" - gratitude. It is the inclusive gratitude "of a nation of immigrants who have lived for the most part in peace and plenty under the rule of law as established with the consent of the governed." Celebrated by turning inward with family, Thanksgiving is, Hodgson thinks, a counterpoint to Americans' other great civic festival, the Fourth of July:

"It is good to celebrate the public glories and the promise of American life with fireworks and speeches, better still to celebrate the mysterious cycle of life, the parade of the generations, and the fragile miracle of plenty, in the small warm circle of family, the building brick of which all prouder towers have always been constructed."

Again, to all our American visitors - Happy Thanksgiving - you do indeed have much to be proud of and to be thankful for.

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November 24, 2006 - Nose Spray - retirement humour - more videos

Man! the pain was, I'm guessing, just a few notches less than childbirth - let me put it this way - it was enough to force cancellation of all online Texas Hold 'Em activity for several days - so now you know this was real pain regardless of my wife's accusations of being a "little baby".

Being a retired Canadian snowbird in Florida means no more free ride when it comes to Doctors and prescriptions - cash on the barrel-head if treatment is less than the deductible of your out-of-province health insurance.

So, off to the clinic I go and the Doc gives me two prescriptions - one for some penicillin pills and another for a bottle of nose spray.

It just so happened that my daughter Brenda and I were living in parallel worlds this past week -she too was decked by Sinus congestion with its accompanying pain that kept her home from work for two days - same prescriptions - but different prices - especially for the nose spray.

Brenda paid 37.86 Cdn. or 34.04 US for her bottle of Nasonex - I paid 96.99 US.

I realize that my home government, along with several European nations, negotiate prices with the pharmaceutical companies, but I don't know how the system works, however, for this one example - a 65% difference? That's what I call negotiating.

But all that aside - while I was waiting for the Doctor, I read an issue of readers digest - dated September 2006 - that had an article on how researchers are investigating how humour can act as an energizer for the brain.

So let's set this up - The Story of the Senior Stud Rooster

A farmer went out one day and bought a brand new stud rooster for his chicken coop. The new rooster struts over to the old rooster and says, "OK old man, time for you to retire."

The old rooster replies, "Come on, surely you cannot handle ALL of these chickens. Look what it has done to me. can't you just let me have the two old hens over in the corner?"

The young rooster says, "Beat it: You are washed up and I am taking over."

The old rooster says, "I tell you what, young stud. I will race you around the farmhouse. Whoever wins gets the exclusive domain over the entire chicken coop." The young rooster laughs.

You know! you don 't stand a chance, old man. So, just to be fair, I will give you a head start."

The old rooster takes off running. About 15 seconds later the young rooster takes off running after him. They round the front porch of the farmhouse and the young rooster has closed the gap. He is only about 5 feet behind the old rooster and gaining fast.

The farmer, meanwhile, is sitting in his usual spot on the front porch when he sees the roosters running by. The Old Rooster is squawking and running as hard as he can. The Farmer grabs his shotgun and - BOOM - he blows the young rooster to bits.
The farmer sadly shakes his head and says, "Darn.....the third gay rooster I bought this month."

Moral of this story? ...Don't mess with us OLD guys - age, skill, wisdom, and a little treachery will always overcome youth and arrogance!

If you laughed at that - even a slight chuckle - it meant that your brain scanned all you mental files on language, syntax and social know how and then quickly shifted gears to see the story in a new light.
The researchers say that we delight in the surprising logic, especially if it reveals a rarely spoken truth about human nature - to us that's funny - and all this happens within microseconds.

Years of studies of the brain's humour mechanism has revealed -

• How it works - When you hear a joke, a language center on the left side of your brain makes sense of the words, then, sends the message across to the right side of the brain.
  There, the right frontal cortex delves into regions including those that store emotions and social memories, then shuffles the information until it clicks and you get the joke.
  Next, a structure deep in the brain pumps out dopamine, a "reward system" chemical that makes you feel good, and a primitive region near the base of your skull makes you laugh.

• Neuroscientists suggest that by reading and laughing at jokes like the one above, we are exercising separate humour muscles in the brain - William Fry, MD, a professor emeritus of psychiatry at Stanford University school of medicine says - "Each humour event you experience make you grow a little bit - as the brain has expanded and taken on new connections."

• Psychologists say that laughter can improve memory.

• Humour can also loosen up our minds allowing us to create and be more creative.

• Robert Provine, a University of Maryland professor and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, admits that "more work needs to be done." But the research so far suggests laughter is indeed good for you.

So chuckle yourself to health - especially as you grow older - trust, me you'll need all the humour you can get - besides It's better for you and it's cheaper than nose spray.

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A couple of videos - first, I assume that by clicking on a retirement News website you're old enough to view this video - my thanks to retired buddy Bill Ozard, also a retired newsman who likes to keep abreast of the news - a TV news report on how the Danes control speed limits

Here's another - an album of interesting pictures

This one is a PowerPoint Presentation, if you don't have a PowerPoint reader you can download a free copy here.

Retirement Jokes are an important part of the home website - (Go to URL)

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November 27, 2006 - Don't retire - a special gift - and the 60's

"Here's the latest thinking on retirement - don't."

That's the lead in a recent column by Jonathan Clements of the Wall Street journal.

It turns out I'm not the only one who is urging anyone planning retirement to have a "creative" plan for when they quit the work force - because if they don't, as Clements notes and as I found out the hard way, - "the result can be depression, mental deterioration, declining health and possibly a shorter life."

Clements writes that many people have the wrong idea about retirement and he quotes Eric Sundstrom, psychology professor at the University of Tennessee -

" There's what I call vacation confusion - They think of retirement as rest well-deserved. Once you've rested up, now what?
People who are engaged live longer and happier than those who sit on the porch and rock or who play endless games of golf."

In his column, Clements suggests folks spend some time chewing over these four questions -

• What are your passions? Write down the achievements you're most proud of - what would you do if you inherited 5 million dollars? What are the happiest moments in your childhood or high school and college years? Try to remember the times you were the happiest.

• What is your purpose? - Clements uses the example of one that enjoys playing tennis - but playing tennis over and over and you will soon become bored - but, if you coached a group of kids - you have a sense of purpose.

  How will you replace the stimulation of work - When you were working you had a schedule that with all its various parts provided regular physical, social and intellectual activity - you need a "creative" retirement schedule to keep you mentally sharp.

  What's your new roll at home? - Clements suggests that you have a serious sit-down with your partner to hash out a slew of items ranging to who is responsible for what and how much to spend - know all the rules before you play the game.

For me - I found the "creative" answer following up on an Email from a total stranger that led me to working the internet through my own websites even though at the time I knew zip about either - the learning experience itself gave me purpose.

All I can say is, it may be the same for you - it's worth a little time to research the possibility of building an online business based upon what you know from work experience, hobbies, passions, or past-times - a real business with growing, diversified revenues.

Remember, retirements are growing longer - but retirees aren't always happy. - the following stats are from various government sources -

• Today's 65-year-olds can expect to live four years longer than those turning 65 in 1945.
• Suicide rates increase with age, and are especially high among those 65 and older.
• Retirees who devoted more than two decades to retirement planning are typically the most satisfied, regardless of their level of wealth.

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By the Numbers - Cyber Monday - 61 million consumers with internet access at work, are expected to some on-line shopping today.

Allow me a personal suggestion from my Retirement Shopping Mall - This 20-ounce beauty, with its double-wall vacuum insulation, will keep a cold drink cold for 24 hours.

Or like me, prefer hot tea? A cup brewed Monday morning will be hot 24 hours later.
The interior and exterior are made of ultra-durable stainless steel.

No use to the likes of me - but if you are into this kind of action - the loop and clip make it easy to snap this Thermos to a backpack and go - offering 17% discount at the moment - only $39.99 - great gift for youself or others - check it out here - Thermos Element 5 Beverage Bottle, 20 Oz

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My thanks to retired buddy Jim Hill for sending this - Memory time everyone. Turn up the volume and enjoy - Takes about 20 mins - Take me Back to the 60's

Now let's take a video tour of Site Build It - and start researching your creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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November 28, 2006 - Names added to the "War on Terror" honour roll

Once again I've had to change the "war on terror" honour roll numbers on the Connect2Canada page of the home website.

Two Canadian soldiers were killed Monday when a suicide bomber pulled alongside a Canadian convoy in a vehicle and detonated his explosives.

The soldiers had been helping with reconstruction projects outside Kandahar - Killed in the attack -

• Chief Warrant Officer
  Robert Girouard,
  the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion - from Bathurst, New Brunswick.

• Cpl. Albert Storm
  from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group - from Fort Erie, Ontario.

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast,
And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Chief Warrant Officer Girouard and Cpl. Storm are the 43rd and 44th Canadian soldiers to die in Afghanistan.

Brig.-Gen. Grant said the most common type of attack by insurgents is either small arms, or rocket-propelled grenades.
So the fact they're resorting to suicide bombings "shows they are desperate right now and they are trying to send a message."

"The professionalism, though, of NATO forces and the Canadians in particular will make sure they carry on with their mission here. We are not deterred by this attack," he added.

More than 18,500 troops make up ISAF, with contributions from 36 nations

To learn more about the NATO force make-up and mission - click here for their official web site.

Honor to the soldier, and Sailor everywhere , who bravely bears his country's cause,
Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause.
(Abraham Lincoln)

To learn more about this attack plus additional special reports, visit my old network - CTV News - Assignment Afghanistan - (Go to URL)

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November 29, 2006 - Women talk, men listen even when they're retired

Two retired guys are quietly sitting in boat fishing and sucking down beer when suddenly Mel says,
"Even after all these years, I think I'm going to divorce my wife - she hasn't spoken to me in over 2 months."

Earl sips his beer and says, "You better think it over Hoss - women like that are hard to find."

Please ladies - no Emails, I'm just fun'n here - as a lead-in to the study that finds women talk more than men - well, hello?

Dr Louann Brizendine, who runs the woman's mood and hormone clinic at UCSF, makes what we always thought - official - women are wired to talk - on average, a woman will utter 20,000 words in a single day - and the big news - according to this research - women actually get a buzz out of hearing their own voices.

According to Dr.Brizendine, for men, it's a womb thing - high levels of testosterone while the male child is developing in the womb eventually suppresses those areas of his brain that control communication, emotion and memory.

Dr.Brizendine says men and women brains are 99 percent the same, but it's the one percent difference that's the tie-breaker - she says women have more brain cells devoted to communication and emotion.

Doc Brizendine puts it this way - "women have an eight lane highway for processing emotion - men, a country road." - OK, but doesn't this research also suggest that we men must be good listeners?

Also, this research is far from complete - do women talk more as they age? It's not for me to say - or would I dare.

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One more bit of research - Researchers at Duke University analyzed data on 2,105 men who were tracked for 20 years and found that the combination of depression, anxiety, hostility and anger may be "the most powerful predictor of coronary heart disease."

The study shows that each negative personality trait, by itself, was significantly associated with increased risk for heart disease, but in combination, the evidence was the best predictor of heart disease.

Depression - anxiety - hostility and anger - even more destructible during retirement years.

While in this area, regular visitors to the Positive Thinking Chapter on the home website know that I'm a huge fan of positive visualization as noted in my Self Help journal. - the images of "The Fly" and/or "The Rainbow Road" ease me back to reality when I wander off course.

Here's another - this time, a video with an important message, even if you are retired.
I want to make clear I have no connection with the folks who produced and sponsor this presentation - I have no idea who they are - but the message is a good one regardless of age.

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Did you see the stats? On-line sales up a whopping 42% the day after the American thanksgiving compared to a year ago - 434 million - I was in for $16.99 of the action -bought my young granddaughter the Harry Potter computer game from the Retirement Shopping mall on the home website.

Now let's go Christmas shopping - (Go to URL)

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November 30, 2006 - A video message for retirees - positive tips from Scotland

First off, my thanks to daughter-in-law Julie for sending this to Retirement News - a pick-me-up video for retirement age folks.
Again, I have no affiliation with whoever produced this piece - it's the message I like - besides, I've been an Allan Jackson fan for years.

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We GOTY's (getting older, thinking younger) types know that life's not always easy - bad stuff happens - some folks work through it others don't - but here's an interesting idea from Napier University in Edinburgh Scotland to help us build confidence and coping skills.

Because of a high student drop-out rate, Napier has imposed compulsory confidence classes to help build resilience and confidence and coping skills.

Using various techniques, the programme is about helping the kids not to give too much credence to that little critical voice in their heads that is saying to them, "you'll never do this." - sound familiar?

Here's an assignment we oldies can copy - the students must write down each night, three good things that have happened that day.
The school principal says - "It's such a simple technique, but there is good evidence that it can increase positive thinking. It can even break up mild to moderate depression."

Just another simple assignment to add to the other ideas expressed in the Positive Thinking chapter on the home website.

Those of us in the "retirement years" know that getting old ain't for sissies - it take work to age slowly and research proves - "You're only as old as you think you are."

Rigorous studies are now showing that seeing or hearing gloomy descriptions about what it is like to be old can make people walk slower, hear and remember less well, and even affect their cardiovascular systems.

Positive images of aging have the opposite effects.

This from a recent article in the New York Times -

Thomas Hess, a psychology professor at North Carolina State University, has studied the effects of age stereotypes.

In his studies, older people performed significantly worse on memory tests if they were first told something that would bring to mind age stereotypes.
It could be as simple as saying that the study was examining how aging affects learning and memory.

Older participants performed better on memory tests if Hess first told them something positive, perhaps simply noting that there was a negligible decline in memory with age.

If it is true that perceptions of aging affect memory, behavior and health - and many researchers are betting that they do - that may bode well for today's middle-aged people, researchers say.

They may not be quite so willing to declare themselves old when they reach their 60s and beyond, and they may be less likely to believe the stereotypes of old age.

But it's never too late - no matter how old you may be always remember age is not determined by a number but by one's heart and mind and a positive, active mind controls the fountain of youth.

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A Canadian Christmas Idea for Retired Folks

A retiree in Newfoundland calls his son in Calgary two days before Christmas and says," I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing. Forty-five years of misery is enough."
"Pop, what are you talking about?"
" We can't stand the sight of each other any longer - " the father says - "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Vancouver and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "No way they're getting divorced!" she shouts, "I'll take care of this."

She calls Newfoundland immediately and screams at her father, "You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there by tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife ."Okay," he says, "they're coming for Christmas and paying their own way."

Now let's start on our creative retirement job - (Go to URL)

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