Still Clickin

The silence is deafening on this morning after Election Day. Over the past few months, the media has been filled with negative, mean-spirited advertisements telling us that some political candidate or other was closely related to Evil Incarnate. Thank God for the Mute Button. It became so disgusting that I would often leave the Mute on because I just didn’t want to hear the garbage. I never ever thought I would be so delighted to hear that familiar phrase of the drug ads, “Ask you doctor”, once again.

Why have we gotten to this point? Have people forgotten that civilization starts with the word civil. It doesn’t seem so long ago that people of opposing views could not only have a discussion about the issues, but they could even enjoy the experience. What has happened to our culture that we have arrived at the point of intolerance?

I suspect that there are three culprits.

1. Electronic Communications - We now dialog via bullets of information. We email, tweet, or facebook others who may be across town, across the hall, or across the room. We send packets of information without the nuance and subtlety that face-to-face dialog conveys. Without that subtlety, boundaries can be unknowingly crossed, sensitivities ignored. The seeds of discord can be planted.
2. Lack of Adequate Time - Our society seems to have reached a point where the rapidity of a response is valued more highly than the quality of the insights offered. Quality responses often require a bit of reflection, which takes time. Take too much time, however, and the decision has already been made. The topic has changed. People have moved on. As a consequence, events are controlled by knee-jerk reactions which are typically not our best answers.
3. Inflexibility - Locked into a box demanding quick responses based upon limited information, it is no wonder that the resulting decisions may not be the optimum choice. Once published, however, they have to be defended. This quickly leads to entrenched positions “based upon principle.” In other words, use some vague, dimly understood fundamental to justify a decision that had to be made too quickly. Stonewall the opponents out of the fear that flexibility can be interpreted as weakness rather than wisdom.

These constraints are especially evident within the political process. When talking to people from all around the world, you invariably hear that everyone seems dissatisfied with their own politicians. Yet these people are just like us. They just happen to be caught up in today’s strange environment where politicians want to be media stars, and media stars want to be entertainers. Its like we are all returning to sophomore year when the only goal in life was to be “popular”.

The traditional lines of responsibility are becoming blurred. In some ways, this microcosm, called politics, is bound to be dramatically influenced by constraints of communication, time, and flexibility. In a way, it acts as the canary in the mine, sending out an alert that our entire culture is being infected by the same fumes.

Despite these negatives, I am still happy to pay my taxes and live in this country. Politically, it is my job to search for information sources that attempt to limit their bias, read about and evaluate opposing viewpoints, reflect upon the implications of the various choices, make the choices that will be best for my grandchildren, completely ignore the incessant ads and robo-calls, and depress the mute button with abandon.

Hopefully, we will all learn to adjust to these constraints that technology has brought to our culture. It would be delightful to think that thoughtful reflection, polite conduct, serious communications, and the fun of negotiations could make a comeback not only in politics but in our society in general.

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Apparently the best thing you can do to enhance your personal safety is to stay alert. That doesn’t mean being paranoid. But it does mean being observant and using common sense.

The experts warn us to be particularly aware of violent places, violent people, alcohol, and guns. Especially for women, the avoidance of these factors can improve your safety.

Violent People

Do you know any violent people? All of us ‘fly off the handle’ at times, but does that result in violence? The strongest indicators that someone may react violently are 1) a personal history of past violence, 2) a controlling, inflexible personality, and 3) heavy alcohol usage.

The warning signs of pending violence can be both verbal and non-verbal. Verbal signs include -

· Making threats

· Bragging about violence

· Bragging about anger

· Raising the voice

· Displaying paranoid attitude

· Using increased profanity

Non-verbal warning signs of violence include -

· Clenched hands

· Enters your personal space

· Heavy breathing

· Perspiring

· Intoxication

· Hits your chest with finger

Violent Places

The most dangerous place inside the home is the kitchen. Outside the home it is the parking lot. It is definitely not possible to avoid either place, but you should be aware that these are the places to be especially aware of your situation.

While you are walking through the Parking Lot, some good practices to adhere to are -

· Get your keys out while still inside the store and keep them in your hand while you walk to the car.

· As you are walking, notice if there are any people loitering about. If necessary, take a deliberate path to avoid them.

· If you notice people sitting in parked cars that are running, change your path so that you don’t get too close.

· Keep one arm free, i.e. the one holding your car keys.

· Carry a can of Pepper spray as an insurance policy.

Parking lot practices that you want to avoid include -

· Don’t be on the phone or using an iPod while going to the car. Be alert.

· As you look around, check license of any suspicious car. The fact that you are noticing adds a certain layer of protection all by itself.

· Keep pen and pencil in car, and write down suspicious license numbers after your doors are locked.

· If you feel that your car is being followed as you leave the parking lot, do not drive home. Instead, drive to a busy, public place such as the emergency ward of hospital, a nearby 7-Eleven, etc.

Alcohol

This substance is the most abused drug in the US. It not only impairs hand-eye coordination, but normal judgment as well. For a person prone to violence, it is the substance of choice that often justifies, in their own mind, their use of violence. There are four types of drunks – lovers, criers, sleepers, and fighters. If you sense a fighter, be on your guard.

Guns

Current estimates are that about 1 in 4 people within the USA own firearms, and on average, each of these owners possess four guns. That totals to about 350 million guns on the streets of our fair country. In addition, there are about 1,050 unregulated gun shows in the US each year.

It seems tragic that so many people within this country are living with the burden of that much fear. In certain states, it is now possible for these people to not only carry guns, but to carry them to places where alcohol is served. Since statistics would assert that a certain percentage of these people would be prone to violence, wisdom dictates that it may not be wise to stay out too late or mingle with such people.

What are the signs to notice that someone is carrying a weapon?

· They frequently check a certain part of their body.

· They can exhibit an awkward stride.

· The movement of their upper body can appear to be restricted.

· Their jacket sags to one side.

· There is a pronounced bulge underneath their clothing.

Increasing your awareness while in violent places, of violent people with alcohol and guns is obviously not a personal safety cure-all. But it should increase your odds.

Some other sources of information are –

Self Defense with Attitude

JWeekly

eHow

NCPC

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What Will You Do?

The smartest question I ever heard about planning for retirement was not, “How do you plan your finances?” Instead it was “What are you going to do?” Most of us don’t appreciate how much structure and purpose the daily grind of a job adds to our lives. It is easy to focus more upon the frustrations rather than the rewards. But work adds challenges, rewards, and interest to our everyday experience.

What happens when that is gone?

There are some people who truly delight at chasing a little white spheroid around a golf course, and plan to do it everyday of their retirement. Others can be just as passionate about the game of Bridge. Still others plan to exhaust the cruise circuit.

But some people are still fixated upon the idea of making a difference. This group of people are unsatisfied, or feel just plain guilty, unless they are spending a good portion of their time engaged in some activity that ‘Makes a Difference’ on this planet. Some examples available in most locales include –

• tutoring at local schools,
• providing support services at hospitals,
• fund-raising for charities,
• driving the local ‘Senior Van’, or
• volunteering at a community organization.

Unfortunately, none of these pursuits produce a shred of revenue, which has become a more urgent requirement for those with 401k’s and savings devastated by our current economy. Is it possible to ‘Make a Difference’ and ‘Make a Buck’ at one and the same time?

The answer is ‘Yes’. It is called the non-profit sector of the economy. Jobs are available, but all at lower pay scales than they would be in the for-profit business sector. As noted in this article, Volunteer Your Way to a Job, the best way to approach the sector is to first volunteer. Once you are inside the organization and make yourself known, you will be in a much better position to land a paying job doing work that ‘Makes a Difference’.

Some helpful sites for volunteering are -

• Learning and Volunteering
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteering Approaches
• Volunteer Match

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When you reach age 65, you find that traditional Medicare offers very extensive medical coverage . . . up to a point.  Medigap plans provide coverage for those times when you go beyond those points.

Medigap plans are supplements to the traditional Medicare Parts A & B.  These plans offer coverage of the medical charges that are not covered by Parts A & B.  Although the companies involved vary state by state, the coverage provided by plans themselves, listed A through N, are fixed by the federal government.  (Note: Plans E, H, I and J are no longer being sold, but they can be retained by those that already have them.)  Although different companies may charge different amounts for different plans, the coverage provided by the plans themselves is uniform throughout.  With the new changes coming in 2011, the specifics of these plans will undoubtedly by modified, but their overall thrust will likely remain unchanged.

During the past decade, Congress introduced Medicare Part C, aka Medicare Advantage, in an attempt to reduce costs.  These plans offered broader coverage but limited the choice of doctors and hospitals.  Ironically, Congress legislated higher payments for these plans in an effort to entice people to change to them.  On the flip side, the amounts paid to doctors with traditional Medicare patients were reduced.  When physicians stopped accepted new Medicare patients as a consequence, Congress relented and reversed the cuts to traditional Medicare.  Your doctor should welcome your new Medicare status.

Now, with the new health care legislation, Congress is eliminating the price advantage of Part C while adding coverage for many preventative care measures to the traditional plans.  As a consequence, you will be able to keep your own doctors, and Medigap will likely live on.

Of all the Medigap plans, Plan F has been the most popular.  But that does not mean that is the one

you

should choose.  The different plans are for different situations, and you have to spend the time to determine what is best for your lifestyle, health, and wallet.  For example, some plans offer coverage for medical expenses while traveling abroad.  If you are not a traveler, it makes no sense to pay for that feature.

Some sites to visit for further information are -

Guide by Medicare

AARP Medigap description of plans

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Everyone who has entered the realms of retirement has to answer a question, “What do I do about money?” An annuity is often a simple answer, but not necessarily the best.

If you happened to buy a fixed annuity in 2006, you are feeling pretty good right now. With 2010 interest rates almost non-existent, a 6% fixed annuity can make you feel both relieved and smug at the moment. You should feel good, because you have a great deal . . . at least for the moment.

In principle, annuities should be a simple investment. Their basic purpose is to give you a monthly flow of income after you hand over to the company (typically an insurance company) a large chunk of your money. Insurance companies are professional investors. They are sufficiently confident in their management of money to offer either -

• fixed annuities, which pay a set amount per month, or
• variable annuities, whose payments can vary within a set of parameters.

The downside for annuities is twofold.

1. Your money is committed and no longer accessible to you, and
2. The rates of return for annuities are invariably lower, over time, than other investments available at the time of purchase.

As a result, you should be very careful when investing in annuities.

• They are usually a good deal for the salespeople who befriend the senior to whom that are selling, but often may not be a good deal for the senior.
• Annuities can be sold with some very complicated features. If it is too complicated, back off. Especially be wary of any fees that can be added.
• Do not put all your savings into annuities. At most, they should only be one component of your savings.
• If you are considering any annuity from any company, have at least one objective, knowledgeable person look it over carefully.
• Consider other alternatives. Typically, you can set this up yourself by investing the money in a safe fund and pulling a set amount out every month. Usually, this approach will allow you to control your own money and typically cost you less.

For further information, try -

• New Retirement.com
• CSMonitor.com
• Money Magazine

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Most of the things we buy repeatedly are bought locally. Groceries, clothes, fuel, and flowers are purchased from stores in our neighborhood. The store could be an outlet of a national retailer or a small independent, but it is local. However, many people now make their special purchases, i.e. items that are purchased infrequently or only once, from an online store.

Not too long ago, making a purchase at an online store almost qualified as an adventure. Today, anyone who is reading these words has, in all likelihood, made a number of online purchases. The intent of these comments is to provide an update, for myself as well as you, of the best shopping practices you should use.

• Check on spyware - It is tragic, but necessary to start with that comment. Spyware exists, and if you, or one of your visitors, opened an email that said, “Congratulations, you’ve just (fill in the blanks)”, spyware that can capture your credit card information may be lurking on your system. Do a scan, e.g. PCTools, and check to make sure you are safe.
• Read the reviews - It used to be that you could go to the library, find the category in Consumer Reports, and feel confident that you could discover the basic things you needed to know before making a reasonably informed buying decision. Although you can still use that approach, you can also find a fair amount of information on the Internet. Just enter ‘review (name of specific product)’ into your search engine, and any number of information sites will vie for your attention. Typically, one or two of them are quite through. For example,

1. Consumers Search can be helpful, and
2. cNet provides detailed advise on technology products.

• Find the Best Deal - Once you have identified the specific product you are after, i.e. manufacturer and model number, you can start looking for the online merchant that will best serve your purchasing requirements. Since the price comparison sites all vary slightly in their approach, it is in your best interest to try a few. Even these reviewers are reviewed, and one good comparison can be found at Smart Money. Since some online merchants will offer special deals through one pricing site and not another, it is best to search a few before you make your final decision. For example, try -

1. Price Grabber,
2. Yahoo Shopping,
3. Dealtime,
4. NexTag,
5. Shopzilla, or
6. Street Prices.

For travel deals, try -

1. Kayak, or
2. Travel Zoo

For special deals, try -

1. Fat Wallet, or
2. Finders Cheapers

• Carefully Select Your Merchant - Product price is definitely NOT the only factor. The cost of shipping can change the monetary profile of a deal. Obviously, the best shipping charge is ‘free’. Beyond that, your have to shop online just the way you shop locally, i.e. find a merchant you can trust. The price comparison sites recognize this need and most of them rate their vendors. Choosing a vendor with a high performance rating can seem like wisdom if something happens to the shipment or later to the product.

Once you click, enjoy the anticipation. Your purchase will appear at your door in just a few days.

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What kind of pet person are you? There are bird-lovers, dog-lovers, cat-lovers, and goldfish-lovers. Everyone has their own particular favorite that was usually established during their youth. People that have had pets can even be classified as such. For example, we have dog-people, cat-people, and bird-people. Are you a certain pet-person?

If you are, maybe you are currently pet-less and rethinking that decision. Obviously, there are a number of pros and cons to such a decision, but the choice of the type of pet has a lot to do with most of them. There are a wide variety of pets that seniors may choose.

Dogs -
Dogs need and give love. Many studies indicate that having a dog really can help a senior’s health and attitude. Not only do they offer companionship, but their needs serve as an ongoing encouragement for some good exercise as well. Also, they are probably the best security system available on the market today.

If you are particular about breeds, you can contact the American Kennel Club and get a list of local breeders. Be prepared to open your wallet, however, since many breeds now go for $1,500 or more.

Another approach is to take a visit to the local animal shelter. These pets often have that wonderful price of ‘free’, although small donations are very welcome. These pets can vary widely, so you must look carefully to find the right dog for you. The people in the shelters understand animals and can provide you with a wealth of information. Don’t be afraid to ask. Before you “take the plunge”, consider -

• Age - If a dog is older than 18 months, it will not only be housebroken, its teeth will have grown in and it will also be less inclined to eat your slippers. If a dog is older than six, you may find not only health problems but an inability to adapt to new surroundings.
• Size - Golden Retriever mixes and Labrador mixes are great, but if you are going to walk the dog, you may need a smaller dog (who won’t pull you over when it chases after a squirrel). However, if you aren’t used to having a small dog around, you probably shouldn’t get a dog weighing less than 25 pounds. You don’t want to trip over the little thing because you didn’t see it.
• Allergies - If you have avoided dogs because you are allergic, look for dogs that don’t shed. Many terriers and poodles have this trait.
• Temperament - Undoubtedly, the vast majority of dogs have better temperaments than many people. A few, however, may have experienced poor treatment and developed a nasty streak as a consequence. Pay attention to how the dog reacts to you, since initially you are a stranger.

Cats -
“For a balanced ego, a person that has a dog to adore him should have a cat to ignore him.” That old quote is harsh, but contains an element of truth. Cats are much more independent than dogs. As long as they are properly fed and stroked occasionally, cats require far less attention than dogs. They quickly learn how to use a litter box and can amuse themselves for hours with a favorite toy. This independence allows a cat to tolerate much longer absences from their owners than dogs.

If you are looking for a cat at a shelter, many of the same cautions for dogs apply to cats. Their sizes, however, are much smaller. They compensate for their small size by their pronounced ability to quickly leap out of the way.

Other Critters -
For the most part, other small animals kept as pets live in defined enclosures. This reality makes them far less intrusive than dogs or cats. They each offer their own special qualities that can both divert and delight. They still require care, however, and someone else must mind them if you take a trip.

If you do live alone, having another living creature around the mansion has distinct benefits for all involved. Yes, they do require you to expend extra effort and care, but that is a gift. Answering needs is what life is all about.

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Ever since the passage of the Health Care Reform Act on April 23rd, I’ve been looking for a good summary of its components. Of course, any legislation with that many pages will be difficult to summarize, but someone had to take a swing at it. I guess no one will be surprised that it was the AARP that took up the challenge.

At the link, AARP User’s Guide to Health Care Reform, you will find a summary that doesn’t take that long to read. It does, however, have a sufficient sweep and level of detail, that you can develop a sense of the legislation.

Three things to note -

1. Medicare will finally start to cover its most foolish lack, i.e. some preventative services. Catching conditions sooner rather than later should always reduce the cost of their care.
2. The Part-D Donut Hole will be phased out over the next decade.
3. The overpayments for Medicare Advantage Plans will be phased out.

Every senior should read this summary. Thanks AARP, you did a good job!

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A couple of weeks ago, I heard some news commentators talking about Page Plus Cellular. The story-line centered upon a subscriber to their “unlimited” service whose contract was canceled because of overuse. Obviously, there was a disconnect at many levels.

Without question, the marketing crew at Page Plus should change the plan name to “universal” or “vast”, but that is all they should change. I’ve been a customer of Page Plus Cellular for nearly a year, and I could not be more pleased. Their plans are flexible and aggressively priced, and their service is rock solid. I have recommended them on this site, and I continue to recommend them to family and friends.

You have to understand the realities of their business.

Page Plus Cellular is a re-seller. They buy large blocks of time from a network operator, i.e. Verizon, create usage packages for different market niches, and then service their customer base in an efficient and effective manner. This approach allows Verizon to supply users they would otherwise never capture, and users access to services they could otherwise never afford. It is a true win-win.

This service model breaks down whenever certain users lock onto a connection for an extended period of time, because the switch is prevented from reallocating its resources. An occasional incident is never a problem, but continued patterns do upset the apple cart. At the end of the day, any re-seller can only offer as much as it has acquired.

But I continue to find the Page Plus Cellular service compelling. It is so easy to buy one of their phones at the Circle K. Using their standard plan, a senior citizen can have 300 minutes of access to a reliable network for $30 a year. That is a service that offers both peace of mind and value. Who knows how many worries it has eased and lives it has saved.

Thank you Page Plus Cellular for your outstanding service!

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Don’t you just love all of the “Best Places” listings. It’s like a reality show about geography. The “Best Here” and the “Best There” always seem to be someplace else other than where you are at. (Since our own little burg was recently listed within the Top Ten by one national magazine, I’ve really started to wonder. It can be nice, but . . . Top Ten?)

There doesn’t seem to be any listing that incorporates and prioritizes all the criteria that you would like to see. However, what they do show can be interesting. Take a sampling of the many listings, and you will invariably learn something new. For example, look at -

• Money Magazine Best to Retire
• Money Magazine Best to Live
• US News & World Report
• AARP Best Destination Choices
• Forbes Magazine
• Wikipedia Best in World
• Sperling’s Best Places
• Business Week Best for Kids
• Kiplinger Best for Taxes
• Weather Statistics

The criteria used by any of these listings seem to be those that appeal to their editors. For example, weather and climate patterns, population size and growth, recreation opportunities, arts and culture organizations, cost of living comparisons, housing costs, job opportunities, colleges and universities, health care facilities, crime statistics, and libraries. But every senior considering a change of location must evaluate these criteria in the light of “How will you spend your time?” From that perspective, the various criteria can be organized into an order that best fits each person’s needs and aspirations. Your “best place” make not make anyone’s else Top Ten List except your own, but that is the only one that matters.

To find your own Best Place -

1. Really decide how you want to spend your time.
2. Reorder the various ranking criteria into a priority list that makes sense to you.
3. Using that list, reevaluate locations based upon your personal aims.
4. If your can, visit your top one or two location choices to get a reality check on how your criteria selection actually feels to you.
5. Once you have decided upon an area, rent there for a year to validate your choice and learn more about the nuances of the location.

The conclusion of all this research may well be that your Best Nest is located right were you are sitting. But “just looking”, never hurts, and you might be surprised at what you find.

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