Are you addicted to exercise? Are you an exerciseaholic? Many boomers would probably answer yes to both these questions. Why is that? Oh sure, some boomers say that they exercise because it helps them keep those excess pounds off. Others say they exercise because they are convinced that if they do and eat a carton of Greek yogurt every day, they will live forever. The real answer may be that like cigarettes and sex, exercise is a source of pleasure that some boomers (and others, of course) keep coming back to for that so called "runner's high". And like any addiction, those addicted to exercise must up the ante by increasing the amount of exercise they perform.
In an interesting discussion in today's New York Times, several writers address the topic of exercise as an addiction. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/06/24/addicted-to-endorphins?hp One of the writers points out that exercise can be a source of dopamine, a chemical in the brain, which provides that natural high. He acknowledges that it may well qualify as some form of addiction but that it is "well worth the risk." He urges everyone to get off the couch and exercise. I couldn't agree with him more. As the Matthew Wilder sang in his Eighties hit, "Break My Stride," "I've got to keep on moving".
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Twinkies Are Back!
I don't know if you heard the good news yet---Twinkies are back!! Well, almost. We still have to wait three weeks for the return to store shelves everywhere of that iconic cream-filled, orange, sponge-cake dessert treat. It's manufacturer, Hostess Brands, which filed for bankruptcy protection several months ago, has announced it will resume sale of Twinkies on July 15.
What boomer hasn't enjoyed this treat? During four years of high school, my mother packed my lunch every day. Alongside the chipped ham sandwich from Isaly's and over ripe pear, was a Twinkie. I must confess that even though I had not had a Twinkie to eat in over twenty years, I was thrilled at the prospect of its return to its proper place in Seven Elevens throughout the country. With all the clamor these days about things "Made In America," nothing is more American than the Twinkie.
So America, "Cheer up," better days are ahead!
What boomer hasn't enjoyed this treat? During four years of high school, my mother packed my lunch every day. Alongside the chipped ham sandwich from Isaly's and over ripe pear, was a Twinkie. I must confess that even though I had not had a Twinkie to eat in over twenty years, I was thrilled at the prospect of its return to its proper place in Seven Elevens throughout the country. With all the clamor these days about things "Made In America," nothing is more American than the Twinkie.
So America, "Cheer up," better days are ahead!
Monday, June 24, 2013
What is the Least Amount of Exercise You Should Do?
What is the least amount of exercise you can do in order to obtain the maximum benefits. I have recently written several times about the apparent benefits of High Intensity Interval Training. http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2013/04/high-intensity-interval-training.html. According to research cited in those posts, as little as three minutes or so a day for three days a week can have significant benefits for some individuals. Why then would anyone do any other type of exercise?
The answer to that question appears to be that because most of the studies on HIIT were relatively small and of brief duration, it is unknown how long those benefits will continue to accrue. Also, some of the studies supporting HIIT have found that it has little effect on the building of muscle and weight control.
In an article in today's New York Times, "The Rise of the Minimalist Workout, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/the-rise-of-the-minimalist-workout/?hp&pagewanted=print, the author points out some of these caveats. In my mind, the ability to conclude a workout in a matter of minutes rather than hours, far out ways any questions about HIIT. I intend to keep to my program of three twenty second intervals on an exercise bike at full speed just three times a week. I feel better and it saves an enormous amount of time. What do you think?
The answer to that question appears to be that because most of the studies on HIIT were relatively small and of brief duration, it is unknown how long those benefits will continue to accrue. Also, some of the studies supporting HIIT have found that it has little effect on the building of muscle and weight control.
In an article in today's New York Times, "The Rise of the Minimalist Workout, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/the-rise-of-the-minimalist-workout/?hp&pagewanted=print, the author points out some of these caveats. In my mind, the ability to conclude a workout in a matter of minutes rather than hours, far out ways any questions about HIIT. I intend to keep to my program of three twenty second intervals on an exercise bike at full speed just three times a week. I feel better and it saves an enormous amount of time. What do you think?
Friday, June 21, 2013
The 4 Minute Workout: High Intensity Training Really Works
I have written several times in this blog about the potential health benefits of High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT. That approach to fitness involves cycling or some other aerobic activity for a short period of time (as little as 30 seconds) followed by a rest period. This procedure is repeated three or four times, three times a week. It works as evidence has shown.
http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2013/04/high-intensity-interval-training.html
There is a new twist on high intensity training that deserves a further look. We all complain that we never have enough time to exercise. We are too busy at work, at home and everywhere else to make it to the gym for an hour workout. Well, you may only need four minutes, three times a week to achieve similar results. And you can do it anywhere and no special equipment is required
As reported in the New York Times, "The 4 Minute Workout", researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology conducted a study to determine whether 4 minutes of aerobic exercise at 90% of maximum heart rate performed three times a week would have the same effects on maximal oxygen uptake, blood sugar and blood pressure as longer training sessions. After ten weeks, the researchers determined that the answer was a definite "yes."
For the full article, see http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/the-4-minute-workout/
http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2013/04/high-intensity-interval-training.html
There is a new twist on high intensity training that deserves a further look. We all complain that we never have enough time to exercise. We are too busy at work, at home and everywhere else to make it to the gym for an hour workout. Well, you may only need four minutes, three times a week to achieve similar results. And you can do it anywhere and no special equipment is required
As reported in the New York Times, "The 4 Minute Workout", researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology conducted a study to determine whether 4 minutes of aerobic exercise at 90% of maximum heart rate performed three times a week would have the same effects on maximal oxygen uptake, blood sugar and blood pressure as longer training sessions. After ten weeks, the researchers determined that the answer was a definite "yes."
For the full article, see http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/the-4-minute-workout/
Believe It or Not: Boomers Are Retiring and Liking It
Contrary to many misconceptions, believe it or not, boomers are retiring----and once more, they are enjoying it.
There seems to be a belief that boomers are not going to retire, that they prefer working until they die. While that may be true for some boomers, there apparently are quite a few who are retiring as soon as they feel they can do so and still maintain a lifestyle similar to their pre-retirement lifestyle.
In an article on the Huffington Post50 website, entitled "Boomers---Will They Shun Retirement", the author, Sara Rix, discusses several studies that show that boomers are in fact retiring at or near the retirement age of 65 and are enjoying their retirement. One study shows that 7 of 10 retirees really like retirement and have adapted to it quite nicely.
If you are interested, the full article can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-rix/retirement-work-longer_b_3442301.html
There seems to be a belief that boomers are not going to retire, that they prefer working until they die. While that may be true for some boomers, there apparently are quite a few who are retiring as soon as they feel they can do so and still maintain a lifestyle similar to their pre-retirement lifestyle.
In an article on the Huffington Post50 website, entitled "Boomers---Will They Shun Retirement", the author, Sara Rix, discusses several studies that show that boomers are in fact retiring at or near the retirement age of 65 and are enjoying their retirement. One study shows that 7 of 10 retirees really like retirement and have adapted to it quite nicely.
If you are interested, the full article can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-rix/retirement-work-longer_b_3442301.html
Monday, June 10, 2013
Are Oversize Servings Killing Us?
When we go into a restaurant, we expect to get a lot for our money. Sometimes, though, we may be getting too much of a good thing, especially when those servings include red meat. Those oversize servings may just be the cause of heart attacks and other health-related issues. In other words, size does matter---and it could kill you.
We are all familiar with the rule of thumb that when we have red meat as part of a meal, the meat should be about the size of a deck of playing cards. That is about 3 ounces. You may be surprised to learn that the Outback 14 ounce rib eye steak you had the other night is the equivalent of 3 1/2 servings of red meat according to the Nutrition Action Healthletter for June 2013. And that Panera Smoked Ham and Swiss cheese sandwich you had for lunch today? It is the equivalent to 4 servings. Id.
Relying on information from Adam Bernstein, research director of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute, the Nutrition Action Newsletter lists six reasons you should be eating less red meat rather than those oversize portions:
1. You are likely to live longer.
2. You will protect your heart.
3 You will cut your risk of cancer.
4. You may be able to avoid the risk of a stroke.
5 You may cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
6.You will protect the environment from methane and nitrous oxide.
I don't know about you, but to me these are pretty compelling reasons to cut back but not totally eliminate the amount of red meat we consume.
We are all familiar with the rule of thumb that when we have red meat as part of a meal, the meat should be about the size of a deck of playing cards. That is about 3 ounces. You may be surprised to learn that the Outback 14 ounce rib eye steak you had the other night is the equivalent of 3 1/2 servings of red meat according to the Nutrition Action Healthletter for June 2013. And that Panera Smoked Ham and Swiss cheese sandwich you had for lunch today? It is the equivalent to 4 servings. Id.
Relying on information from Adam Bernstein, research director of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute, the Nutrition Action Newsletter lists six reasons you should be eating less red meat rather than those oversize portions:
1. You are likely to live longer.
2. You will protect your heart.
3 You will cut your risk of cancer.
4. You may be able to avoid the risk of a stroke.
5 You may cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
6.You will protect the environment from methane and nitrous oxide.
I don't know about you, but to me these are pretty compelling reasons to cut back but not totally eliminate the amount of red meat we consume.
Cooperstown Dreams Park
For 13 weeks every summer, Cooperstown, New York is the host to a national invitational youth baseball tournament for youth 12 and under for all sanctioned, independent, travel, and select baseball teams. :Located just a few miles from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, it is based in a sprawling facility.
For kids it is a dream come true. The coaches, players and umpires all stay in the baseball village for six nights and days. Other family members can stay in the variety of hotels and morels that are nearby.
Unlike some tournaments where teams are usually only guaranteed two games, each team is guaranteed to play at least seven games. As an added bonus, each team is seeded into the Championship Playoffs.
All players and coaches are inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame and given the opportunity to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame itself.
For more information about Dreams Park, see www.cooperstowndreamspark.com.
For kids it is a dream come true. The coaches, players and umpires all stay in the baseball village for six nights and days. Other family members can stay in the variety of hotels and morels that are nearby.
Unlike some tournaments where teams are usually only guaranteed two games, each team is guaranteed to play at least seven games. As an added bonus, each team is seeded into the Championship Playoffs.
All players and coaches are inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame and given the opportunity to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame itself.
For more information about Dreams Park, see www.cooperstowndreamspark.com.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
The Baseball Hall of Fame
The Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) is located in the sleepy little town of Cooperstown, New York. Located right on Main street, the red brick building looks a little bit like a library. But inside it is the mecca for all those fans who love baseball and baseball history. But even those people who don't know the difference between the Red Sox and the White Sox will find something of interest in the HOF.
My wife and I visited the HOF a few weeks ago. The admission charge for seniors is a very reasonable $12. Because I am a veteran, there was no charge. The first stop inside is actually a movie, basically going through the history of the game in about 15 minutes. The theater is like a baseball field with stands and a make believe field. You can almost smell the hot dogs and taste the cold beer.
The exhibits begin with the birth of baseball. Although generally the invention of the game is credited to Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, the exhibits themselves debunk that myth. There are artifacts showing the idea of striking a ball of some sort with a stick went back in history for many centuries.
As might be expected, there are whole rooms devoted to the heroes of the game. Babe Ruth is prominently featured, beginning with his days in an orphanage in Baltimore to his death from cancer. Jackie Robinson is also given the star treatment. In addition, there are separate rooms demonstrating the accomplishments of both African-American and Latino players.
There are lockers filled with memorabilia for each of the major league teams. Our favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates was well-represented, including a particularly touching exhibit on the great Robert Clemente, who was voted into the HOF shortly after his untimely death while on a mission of mercy to Nicaraugra in 1972. Ironically, he had joined the 3000 hit club on his last at bat during the prior season.
Surprisingly, although banned from baseball and presumably ineligible for the HOF, there is actually a display for Pete Rose, trumpeting his position as the all time hits leader. Similarly, there is a display for the dishonored Barry Bonds, who does hold the major league record for home runs. Hank Aaron, the acknowledged unassisted home run champ is given a large display detailing his long career.
Most impressive at the end of your tour is the actual hall of bronze plaques honoring all of the HOF members. It is a little like being in church.
For more information, see www.baseballhalloffame.org.
After leaving the HOF, we stopped for lunch at the Doubleday Café, just a few steps away from the HOF at 93 Main Street. We sat at the bar and had tremendous hamburgers and a local draft beer. I highly recommend it
My wife and I visited the HOF a few weeks ago. The admission charge for seniors is a very reasonable $12. Because I am a veteran, there was no charge. The first stop inside is actually a movie, basically going through the history of the game in about 15 minutes. The theater is like a baseball field with stands and a make believe field. You can almost smell the hot dogs and taste the cold beer.
The exhibits begin with the birth of baseball. Although generally the invention of the game is credited to Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, the exhibits themselves debunk that myth. There are artifacts showing the idea of striking a ball of some sort with a stick went back in history for many centuries.
As might be expected, there are whole rooms devoted to the heroes of the game. Babe Ruth is prominently featured, beginning with his days in an orphanage in Baltimore to his death from cancer. Jackie Robinson is also given the star treatment. In addition, there are separate rooms demonstrating the accomplishments of both African-American and Latino players.
There are lockers filled with memorabilia for each of the major league teams. Our favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates was well-represented, including a particularly touching exhibit on the great Robert Clemente, who was voted into the HOF shortly after his untimely death while on a mission of mercy to Nicaraugra in 1972. Ironically, he had joined the 3000 hit club on his last at bat during the prior season.
Surprisingly, although banned from baseball and presumably ineligible for the HOF, there is actually a display for Pete Rose, trumpeting his position as the all time hits leader. Similarly, there is a display for the dishonored Barry Bonds, who does hold the major league record for home runs. Hank Aaron, the acknowledged unassisted home run champ is given a large display detailing his long career.
Most impressive at the end of your tour is the actual hall of bronze plaques honoring all of the HOF members. It is a little like being in church.
For more information, see www.baseballhalloffame.org.
After leaving the HOF, we stopped for lunch at the Doubleday Café, just a few steps away from the HOF at 93 Main Street. We sat at the bar and had tremendous hamburgers and a local draft beer. I highly recommend it
Friday, June 7, 2013
Good News for Starbucks: Coffee Can Save Your Life
I am not a coffee drinker; I prefer a nice soothing cup of tea. But maybe, I'm missing out on a magic bullet to good health. At the very least, it appears that coffee (and presumably the caffeine in coffee) may just save your life if you are a regular drinker of three or four 5 ounce cups of coffee, or the equivalent of one venti from Starbucks.
Recent studies by the National Cancer Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Miami and the University of South Florida all suggest that coffee drinking can reduce the risk of diabetes, skin cancer, prostate cancer, oral cancer and breast cancer recurrence.
Some of those studies also show that coffee may reduce the likelihood that you will develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
For more information, see the June 9, 2013 issue of the New York Times Magazine for the article, This is Your Brain on Coffee, by Gretchen Reynolds.
Given these potential benefits, I may just head down to Starbucks rather than the local pharmacy.
Recent studies by the National Cancer Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Miami and the University of South Florida all suggest that coffee drinking can reduce the risk of diabetes, skin cancer, prostate cancer, oral cancer and breast cancer recurrence.
Some of those studies also show that coffee may reduce the likelihood that you will develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
For more information, see the June 9, 2013 issue of the New York Times Magazine for the article, This is Your Brain on Coffee, by Gretchen Reynolds.
Given these potential benefits, I may just head down to Starbucks rather than the local pharmacy.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Baby Boomers: Social Security and Medicare Are Going to be Okay
The Sunday New York Times contains an interesting opinion piece by columnist, Paul Krugman, entitled, "The Geezers are All Right." http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/opinion/krugman-the-geezers-are-all-right.html?hp. Mr. Krugman is a professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2008. I highly recommend that you read the article if you are concerned about the future of your Social Security and Medicare benefits (and, quite frankly, who isn't?)
The article points out that there is no real need to cut benefits now for anyone since for the time being there is no shortfall. As Mr. Krugman argues quite persuasively, "[t]he risk is that we might, at some point in the future, have to cut benefits; to avoid this risk of future benefit cuts, we are supposed to act pre-emptively by...cutting future benefits. What problem, exactly, are we solving here?"
Mr. Krugman also points out that the cost of health care has actually appeared to flatten out recently and proposed cuts in Medicare may not be necessary if other measures already in place and soon to be in place, including Obamacare, are fully implemented.
It appears that a lot of the hand-wringing and doom and gloom about these vital social programs is just plain unwarranted. This is not to say that nothing should be done to improve these programs, but cutting benefits now for anyone is not the answer.
I am pleased to let you know that my e-book on how to negotiate better deals when buying a car or a house is now available on Amazon for Kindle. The Baby Boomer's Practical Guide to Every Day Negotiations http://www.amazon.com/Boomers-Practical-Guide-Negotiations-ebook/dp/B00BRPVH4U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370283473&sr=1-1&keywords=tony+basinski
The article points out that there is no real need to cut benefits now for anyone since for the time being there is no shortfall. As Mr. Krugman argues quite persuasively, "[t]he risk is that we might, at some point in the future, have to cut benefits; to avoid this risk of future benefit cuts, we are supposed to act pre-emptively by...cutting future benefits. What problem, exactly, are we solving here?"
Mr. Krugman also points out that the cost of health care has actually appeared to flatten out recently and proposed cuts in Medicare may not be necessary if other measures already in place and soon to be in place, including Obamacare, are fully implemented.
It appears that a lot of the hand-wringing and doom and gloom about these vital social programs is just plain unwarranted. This is not to say that nothing should be done to improve these programs, but cutting benefits now for anyone is not the answer.
I am pleased to let you know that my e-book on how to negotiate better deals when buying a car or a house is now available on Amazon for Kindle. The Baby Boomer's Practical Guide to Every Day Negotiations http://www.amazon.com/Boomers-Practical-Guide-Negotiations-ebook/dp/B00BRPVH4U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370283473&sr=1-1&keywords=tony+basinski
Sunday, June 2, 2013
On the The Road to Cooperstown and The Baseball Hall of Fame
Located in Upstate New York 220 miles from New York City is a small village called Cooperstown. Well known as the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is really much more and well worth a visit even if you are not a baseball fan. If you are a fan, of course, a visit is all but mandatory. There is something for just about everyone.
We spent two days in Cooperstown recently as a stopover on our way to Ithaca, New York for a graduation at Ithaca College (more on that trip on another post). The first day, after checking into our hotel, a Country Inns and Suites in nearby Milford, we asked the desk clerk for a recommendation for dinner that evening. Without hesitation, she suggested the Hawkeye Bar and Grill. Located in the historic Otesaga Resort Hotel, www.Otesaga.com, (60 Lake Drive, Cooperstown, NY, 800-348-6222) the Hawkeye Bar serves lunch and dinner alongside Lake Otesaga. You can eat either indoors in the very well-appointed dining room or outside on the terrace under umbrellas with views of the lake and the Leatherstocking golf course. Because it was a chilly evening, we opted to eat indoors.
The menu is for the most part traditional American fare. I had a delicious Caesar salad to start. My wife had the salmon for her entree and I had the beef tenderloin. Both were perfectly prepared to our requested doneness. Accompanying the meal was delicious homemade cranberry bread. When we asked our server for more, the waitress not only refilled our basket, she also gave us a doggy bag filled with the bread for a snack at our hotel later that evening.
After dinner we took a brief stroll around the Otesaga hotel and the grounds. It has a true resort atmosphere and next time we are in Cooperstown, we will definitely return either to stay or again have dinner.
In upcoming posts we will discuss our visits to the Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum and most intriguing of all, the Fly Creek Cider Mill. In addition, we will discuss the Dreamspark baseball tournament held in Cooperstown every summer.
We spent two days in Cooperstown recently as a stopover on our way to Ithaca, New York for a graduation at Ithaca College (more on that trip on another post). The first day, after checking into our hotel, a Country Inns and Suites in nearby Milford, we asked the desk clerk for a recommendation for dinner that evening. Without hesitation, she suggested the Hawkeye Bar and Grill. Located in the historic Otesaga Resort Hotel, www.Otesaga.com, (60 Lake Drive, Cooperstown, NY, 800-348-6222) the Hawkeye Bar serves lunch and dinner alongside Lake Otesaga. You can eat either indoors in the very well-appointed dining room or outside on the terrace under umbrellas with views of the lake and the Leatherstocking golf course. Because it was a chilly evening, we opted to eat indoors.
The menu is for the most part traditional American fare. I had a delicious Caesar salad to start. My wife had the salmon for her entree and I had the beef tenderloin. Both were perfectly prepared to our requested doneness. Accompanying the meal was delicious homemade cranberry bread. When we asked our server for more, the waitress not only refilled our basket, she also gave us a doggy bag filled with the bread for a snack at our hotel later that evening.
After dinner we took a brief stroll around the Otesaga hotel and the grounds. It has a true resort atmosphere and next time we are in Cooperstown, we will definitely return either to stay or again have dinner.
In upcoming posts we will discuss our visits to the Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum and most intriguing of all, the Fly Creek Cider Mill. In addition, we will discuss the Dreamspark baseball tournament held in Cooperstown every summer.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Boomers Retire? No, Just Repurpose
F. Scott Fitzgerald said that "there are no second acts in American lives." Boy, was he wrong. Baby boomers across the country are proving that there are not only second acts, but third, even fourth acts after they ostensibly retire.
The AARP has recognized this and provided a website that can help repurpose your life if you are retired or near retirement and seeking another career. The cite is entitled www.lifereimagined.org. Many people pay thousands of dollars to so-called life coaches who are supposed to provide guidance in seeking new careers or starting new business ventures. While the AARP site won't take the place of a good coach, it is free and does offer a number of articles and resources that you can explore on your own.
The website is accessed through Linkedin As its mission statement says, it "helps experienced professionals find jobs, manage their careers, start businesses and explore options through engaging articles and interactive tools.
Let me know if you find it to be helpful.
The AARP has recognized this and provided a website that can help repurpose your life if you are retired or near retirement and seeking another career. The cite is entitled www.lifereimagined.org. Many people pay thousands of dollars to so-called life coaches who are supposed to provide guidance in seeking new careers or starting new business ventures. While the AARP site won't take the place of a good coach, it is free and does offer a number of articles and resources that you can explore on your own.
The website is accessed through Linkedin As its mission statement says, it "helps experienced professionals find jobs, manage their careers, start businesses and explore options through engaging articles and interactive tools.
Let me know if you find it to be helpful.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Trouble Sleeping? Here Are Two Cures That Really Work
Many boomers and near boomers have trouble sleeping. There are many prescription and non prescription drugs available as sleep aids. Many people are reluctant to use those due to potential side effects and the danger of possible addiction. What are the alternatives?
One method I have used successfully is a form of breath work. I take 4 deep breaths and usually I am out before I know it. I inhale through the nose for a count if 4. The key is to breathe from the diaphragm rather than the chest. Next exhale as long and as loud as you can but at least for a count of 8, twice the amount of inhalation. This form of breathe work seems to relax the mind and body and bring on sleep.
I recently came across another method recommended by the well known alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil. He says that jasmine can be as effective as any drug. Jasmine is found in soaps as well as room diffusers. I have not tried it yet but I do intend to do so. If you do decide to do it, let me know if it works for you.
Sleep tight!
One method I have used successfully is a form of breath work. I take 4 deep breaths and usually I am out before I know it. I inhale through the nose for a count if 4. The key is to breathe from the diaphragm rather than the chest. Next exhale as long and as loud as you can but at least for a count of 8, twice the amount of inhalation. This form of breathe work seems to relax the mind and body and bring on sleep.
I recently came across another method recommended by the well known alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil. He says that jasmine can be as effective as any drug. Jasmine is found in soaps as well as room diffusers. I have not tried it yet but I do intend to do so. If you do decide to do it, let me know if it works for you.
Sleep tight!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
What Are Boomers Doing?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/retirement-age-oldest-boomers_n_3326226.htmlhttp://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130521/OPINION07/305210037/Don-t-count-out-baby-boomers-just-yet
Here are a couple of very interesting articles on boomer retirement plans and their contributions. I know I was surprised when I read them and I think you wiki be too.
Here are a couple of very interesting articles on boomer retirement plans and their contributions. I know I was surprised when I read them and I think you wiki be too.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sightings Over Sixty: Best of the Boomer Blogs
Sightings Over Sixty: Best of the Boomer Blogs
This is a nice baby boomer blog. I thought I would share it with you. Please let me know what you think.
This is a nice baby boomer blog. I thought I would share it with you. Please let me know what you think.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Is Barefoot Running Bad for You and Your Feet?
About a year and a half ago, I bought a pair of Nike Free barefoot-style running shoes. Although I am not a runner, I do try to walk two to three miles a day. As with a lot of runners and walkers, I was fascinated by the articles and books that touted the benefits of running barefoot or with shoes that mimicked that style. Supposedly, according to anecdotal evidence, it prevented a whole host of foot and leg injuries. After wearing the Nikes for about a year, I developed a pain in my right ankle and foot. After several months of pain and visits to several doctors, I finally learned that I had three fractures to my heel. Since I could not relate the injury to any specific time when I struck the heel or suffered an accident, I began to wonder if the shoes were the cause. A recent study suggests that may be the case.
In an article published in the journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the author, Sarah Ridge, a professor of exercise science at Brigham Young University, presented the results of an experiment she conducted to determine whether barefoot running reduced injuries or caused them. Dr. Ridge gave a group of 18 men and women Vibram Five Fingers shoes which are designed to mimic barefoot running. Another group of 18 wore their normal shoes. All of the participants were experienced runners who usually ran between 10 and 15 miles per week. Before beginning the study, all of the runners were given MRIs and tested for foot injuries. Both groups tested similarly.
After ten weeks, both groups were re-tested. Those tests showed that nearly half of the runners wearing the barefoot style shoes showed signs of bone injuries to the foot. These included increased edema, or the accumulation of fluid around the bone, and actual stress fractures to the heel and metatarsal. Those in the control group, who wore their usual shoes, showed no such signs of injury.
What does this mean for the average runner or walker? I think it shows that before choosing to wear the barefoot style shoe, make sure they are right for you and your style of running or walking. And, above all, be very cautious as you use the shoes, making sure that they are not causing injury.
In an article published in the journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the author, Sarah Ridge, a professor of exercise science at Brigham Young University, presented the results of an experiment she conducted to determine whether barefoot running reduced injuries or caused them. Dr. Ridge gave a group of 18 men and women Vibram Five Fingers shoes which are designed to mimic barefoot running. Another group of 18 wore their normal shoes. All of the participants were experienced runners who usually ran between 10 and 15 miles per week. Before beginning the study, all of the runners were given MRIs and tested for foot injuries. Both groups tested similarly.
After ten weeks, both groups were re-tested. Those tests showed that nearly half of the runners wearing the barefoot style shoes showed signs of bone injuries to the foot. These included increased edema, or the accumulation of fluid around the bone, and actual stress fractures to the heel and metatarsal. Those in the control group, who wore their usual shoes, showed no such signs of injury.
What does this mean for the average runner or walker? I think it shows that before choosing to wear the barefoot style shoe, make sure they are right for you and your style of running or walking. And, above all, be very cautious as you use the shoes, making sure that they are not causing injury.
Monday, May 6, 2013
How to Perform Yoga Exercise Routines While Flying
I don't know about you, but when I fly in today's airplanes I feel like Colonel Nicholson (played by that wonderful actor, Alec Guinness) in the movie "Bridge Over the River Kwai." If you have seen that movie, you will remember the scene where Colonel Nicholson is captured by the Japanese during World War II and placed in a small metal box in the boiling hot sun as a punishment. When he gets out, he can barely walk because he is so cramped. Flying in those small seats on airplanes (17 inches across) for any length of time gives me the same feeling. I get up at the end of my flight and my back and feet ache as I try to retrieve my bag from the overhead compartment. Fortunately, there may be a way to avoid those feelings: Yoga!. Yes, yoga.
As discussed in a recent article in The New York Times, "Striking a Pose Above the Clouds," May 5, 2013, there are several yoga poses you can do while flying and even sitting in your suit. These are basically simple stretches that will improve your circulation and maybe prevent that aching back. One of the easiest is to stretch and twist your body to the right and then the left. I suggest that you exhale as you twist to each side and inhale as you sit upright. Of course this move may be difficult if you are sitting next to the window or in the middle seat. Another simple move is to place your ankle on top of the opposite knee and hold it there. Again, given the narrow space between your seat and that in front of you, this move may be difficult to do unless you at least partially recline your seat. While these exercises can help with the lower back, a simple hug to yourself can provide relief for the upper back. Just hug yourself, trying to hold your hands against your shoulder blades.
I find two other stretches to be particularly helpful on long flights; One is simply to bend forward as far as you can in your seat. The other is equally easy: raise your hands in the air as high as you can. Do this several times while doing deep, diaphragmatic breathing and you will feel better overall. One helpful hint is to stand up as often as you can to avoid swollen ankles or worse yet, phlebitis an inflammation of the veins in the leg and which can cause death if blood clots are formed). Another way to avoid those is to simply lift both feet up on your toes several times/ You can do this exercise sitting or standing.
These are just a few poses and exercises that seem to help. It is also important to drink lots of water to keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. Try this approach and see if you feel better after a long flight.
As discussed in a recent article in The New York Times, "Striking a Pose Above the Clouds," May 5, 2013, there are several yoga poses you can do while flying and even sitting in your suit. These are basically simple stretches that will improve your circulation and maybe prevent that aching back. One of the easiest is to stretch and twist your body to the right and then the left. I suggest that you exhale as you twist to each side and inhale as you sit upright. Of course this move may be difficult if you are sitting next to the window or in the middle seat. Another simple move is to place your ankle on top of the opposite knee and hold it there. Again, given the narrow space between your seat and that in front of you, this move may be difficult to do unless you at least partially recline your seat. While these exercises can help with the lower back, a simple hug to yourself can provide relief for the upper back. Just hug yourself, trying to hold your hands against your shoulder blades.
I find two other stretches to be particularly helpful on long flights; One is simply to bend forward as far as you can in your seat. The other is equally easy: raise your hands in the air as high as you can. Do this several times while doing deep, diaphragmatic breathing and you will feel better overall. One helpful hint is to stand up as often as you can to avoid swollen ankles or worse yet, phlebitis an inflammation of the veins in the leg and which can cause death if blood clots are formed). Another way to avoid those is to simply lift both feet up on your toes several times/ You can do this exercise sitting or standing.
These are just a few poses and exercises that seem to help. It is also important to drink lots of water to keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. Try this approach and see if you feel better after a long flight.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
How Much Do I Have to Exercise?
Would you eat less if you knew how long you would have to exercise to burn off the calories from that burger with cheese and mayo at the local fast-food restaurant? A study conducted by a professor at Texas Christian University suggests that the answer is "yes."
Dr. Meena Shah conducted the study with 300 men and women between the ages of 18 and 30. The participants were given one of three menus and asked to decide which items they would choose to eat. One menu only contained the food items, the second, the number of calories in the food and the third, the amount of moderate exercise needed to burn off the calories consumed. All three menus contained the same food items.
Those participants who were given the exercise information were the only ones to significantly reduce the number of calories ordered and consumed. Those participants who were given menus with only the calories listed ordered and consumed about the same amount of food as those who did not know either the caloric count or the amount of exercise required to burn off those calories.
The full study was presented by Dr. Shah at the 2013 meeting of Experimental Biology.
Dr. Meena Shah conducted the study with 300 men and women between the ages of 18 and 30. The participants were given one of three menus and asked to decide which items they would choose to eat. One menu only contained the food items, the second, the number of calories in the food and the third, the amount of moderate exercise needed to burn off the calories consumed. All three menus contained the same food items.
Those participants who were given the exercise information were the only ones to significantly reduce the number of calories ordered and consumed. Those participants who were given menus with only the calories listed ordered and consumed about the same amount of food as those who did not know either the caloric count or the amount of exercise required to burn off those calories.
The full study was presented by Dr. Shah at the 2013 meeting of Experimental Biology.
Monday, April 29, 2013
How to Improve Your SAT and GRE Scores
Students (and their parents) are always looking for ways to improve SAT, GRE and other similar test scores. They often pay thousands of dollars for classes, books and other devices to increase those important scores. While those methods do work for some people, they are expensive and can be very time-consuming. There may be an easier and less expensive way to achieve the same results: mindfulness.
Now, I have written several times about the beneficial health benefits of mindfulness. However, recent studies have shown that mindfulness may help students increase their test scores on standardized tests such as the SAT or GRE. Mindfulness is a means of focusing the mind and clearing it of random thoughts which can interfere in the thinking process. It is very simple to learn yet a very powerful tool. Typically, it involves sitting quietly with your eyes closed while you focus on your breath, a number or some sound. As thoughts intrude, you simply acknowledge them as merely thoughts and allow them to disappear.
In a study published in the journal, Psychological Science, a group of researchers from the University of California at Santa Barbara put a group of undergraduate students through a two week mindfulness study program. Prior to the program, the average verbal score of the group was 460. After completion of the program, the average score was 520. That is approximately a 13% increase which could make the difference between admission and rejection to a graduate program. A test group that was not given the mindfulness training but rather nutrition training,did not show any improvement
Several scholars of the brain functioning believe mindfulness can help keep the mind from wandering and reduce stress and susceptibility to worry.
So, if you are preparing for a standardized test, include mindfulness training in your preparations. There are various books available that can get you started. The best in my mind is "Mindfulness" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. Shop Amazon - Cinco De Mayo Event - Books, Music, Party Supplies
Now, I have written several times about the beneficial health benefits of mindfulness. However, recent studies have shown that mindfulness may help students increase their test scores on standardized tests such as the SAT or GRE. Mindfulness is a means of focusing the mind and clearing it of random thoughts which can interfere in the thinking process. It is very simple to learn yet a very powerful tool. Typically, it involves sitting quietly with your eyes closed while you focus on your breath, a number or some sound. As thoughts intrude, you simply acknowledge them as merely thoughts and allow them to disappear.
In a study published in the journal, Psychological Science, a group of researchers from the University of California at Santa Barbara put a group of undergraduate students through a two week mindfulness study program. Prior to the program, the average verbal score of the group was 460. After completion of the program, the average score was 520. That is approximately a 13% increase which could make the difference between admission and rejection to a graduate program. A test group that was not given the mindfulness training but rather nutrition training,did not show any improvement
Several scholars of the brain functioning believe mindfulness can help keep the mind from wandering and reduce stress and susceptibility to worry.
So, if you are preparing for a standardized test, include mindfulness training in your preparations. There are various books available that can get you started. The best in my mind is "Mindfulness" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. Shop Amazon - Cinco De Mayo Event - Books, Music, Party Supplies
Saturday, April 27, 2013
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
We all have heard about the Mediterranean diet and there are a number of best-selling diet books that explain it. Yet, a lot of us are really not sure what it is and what it is supposed to do for you. So, what is the Mediterranean diet?
In the May 2013 edition of the Nutrition Action Newsletter, there is a very helpful explanation of the Mediterranean diet and what it is and what it isn't, "Mediterranean Mix-Up." The article suggests that the original diet studied in the 1940s of the residents of Crete who had very low rates of heart disease consisted largely of bread, pasta and other grains (40%) and oils (30%). However, the Mediterranean diet being touted today is heavy on beans, fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts as well as olive oil. The article concludes that the Mediterranean diet as referred today is really quite similar to the DASH and Omniheart diets.
The Omniheart diet in particular favors large servings of the same foods that make up the Mediterranean diet and limits the amount of red meat, dairy and desserts and sweets.
In any event, by whatever name it is called, the foods at the heart of the Mediterranean diet (no pun intended) have been shown by numerous studies to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes and high blood pressure. Bottom line is that it is certainly worth trying.
In the May 2013 edition of the Nutrition Action Newsletter, there is a very helpful explanation of the Mediterranean diet and what it is and what it isn't, "Mediterranean Mix-Up." The article suggests that the original diet studied in the 1940s of the residents of Crete who had very low rates of heart disease consisted largely of bread, pasta and other grains (40%) and oils (30%). However, the Mediterranean diet being touted today is heavy on beans, fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts as well as olive oil. The article concludes that the Mediterranean diet as referred today is really quite similar to the DASH and Omniheart diets.
The Omniheart diet in particular favors large servings of the same foods that make up the Mediterranean diet and limits the amount of red meat, dairy and desserts and sweets.
In any event, by whatever name it is called, the foods at the heart of the Mediterranean diet (no pun intended) have been shown by numerous studies to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes and high blood pressure. Bottom line is that it is certainly worth trying.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Easy Ways to Save on Everyday Expenses in Retirement
In our last post, we reviewed an online course entitled "Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning" offered by the University of California at Irvine. The course was an in depth study of almost all aspects of financial planning. However, it is probably too advanced for most people. On the other hand a course offered by the Khan Academy is much more down to earth. www.smartmoneyhabits.com. Through a video, Easy Ways to Save on Everyday Expenses, it offers a number of ways you can save money on your grocery bills, cable and telephone bills. Most of the tips we all have heard before, but it is always good to remind ourselves how little things like shopping with a list, using coupons, signing up for rewards or loyalty cards can all add up to big savings.
In addition to the Easy Ways to Save on Everyday Expenses video, several other videos are offered. One fascinating one to me was the one entitled The Time Value of Money. The video offers a cogent explanation of this sometimes elusive concept. Let me know what you think.
Overall, for most people, this is the course I would recommend if you are trying to get your personal finances in order.. It is quick and easy to understand and does not require a lot of prior knowledge. Shop Amazon - Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day
http://astore.amazon.com/notjustforboomers-20
In addition to the Easy Ways to Save on Everyday Expenses video, several other videos are offered. One fascinating one to me was the one entitled The Time Value of Money. The video offers a cogent explanation of this sometimes elusive concept. Let me know what you think.
Overall, for most people, this is the course I would recommend if you are trying to get your personal finances in order.. It is quick and easy to understand and does not require a lot of prior knowledge. Shop Amazon - Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day
http://astore.amazon.com/notjustforboomers-20
Saturday, April 20, 2013
How Boomers Can Save Money in Retirement by Studying the Fundamentals of Personal Finance
We boomers all think we know more about money issues than we really do. So maybe, we need a little help with our finances.. But who wants to go to a financial planner? Even those who charge by the hour and do not take commissions can still cost you a pretty penny. Money Magazine recently recommended two online courses to give you the fundamentals of financial planning. I thought I would test drive those for you and give you my impressions of the two courses.
First up is the course entitled "Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning" offered by the University of California at Irvine. This no credit, no-fee course is available online at http://ocw.uci.edu/courses/course.aspx?id=12. This course is not intended to replace a professional financial planner, but to help to give you a better understanding of financial planning. According to the course description, "The course was created to help those who cannot afford extensive planning assistance better understand how to define and reach their financial goals. It provides basic understanding so informed decisions can be made. The course can also be seen as a reference for individual topics that are part of personal financial planning."
The course is quite comprehensive, covering some 22 different topics from preparing cash flow and net worth statements to determining how much you will need for retirement. If you are truly interested in planning your financial future, this is certainly a good place to assist you with your planning. However, it does make certain assumptions that beginners may not be familiar with. I think it is geared more towards the person with some general knowledge of the principles of personal investing who wants a refresher course.
In a future blog I will discuss another financial planning course from the Khan Academy. www.bettermoneyhabits.com.
First up is the course entitled "Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning" offered by the University of California at Irvine. This no credit, no-fee course is available online at http://ocw.uci.edu/courses/course.aspx?id=12. This course is not intended to replace a professional financial planner, but to help to give you a better understanding of financial planning. According to the course description, "The course was created to help those who cannot afford extensive planning assistance better understand how to define and reach their financial goals. It provides basic understanding so informed decisions can be made. The course can also be seen as a reference for individual topics that are part of personal financial planning."
The course is quite comprehensive, covering some 22 different topics from preparing cash flow and net worth statements to determining how much you will need for retirement. If you are truly interested in planning your financial future, this is certainly a good place to assist you with your planning. However, it does make certain assumptions that beginners may not be familiar with. I think it is geared more towards the person with some general knowledge of the principles of personal investing who wants a refresher course.
In a future blog I will discuss another financial planning course from the Khan Academy. www.bettermoneyhabits.com.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Where to Stay in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: The Fallsview Marriott
When we visit Niagara Falls, Ontario (and we do, six or seven times a year), we usually stay at the Marriott Fallsview and Spa (1-888-501-8916). It is the closest hotel to the falls and the rooms facing the falls offer a spectacular view. It has many package deals, so call or check their website. www.niagarafallsmarriott.com. The ones during the week are particularly enticing so be flexible if you can. The photograph below was taken from the hotel at sunrise. Be sure not to confuse the Spa with another Marriott just down the street. That hotel was until recently a Sheraton and is quite nice also. We just happen to favor the original Marriott.
It has a large and appealing lobby as you enter the hotel. In addition to the reception desk, there is a small bar tucked away in one corner, a Starbucks (of course) and a help desk where you can sign up for a variety of expeditions such as a tour of the wineries along the Niagara Parkway (see post on Niagara -on -the -Lake) and heliocopter rides over the falls.
The rooms are spacious with the nice Marriott touches. There is a safe in every room and the bathrooms are quite large. The mezzanine restaurant, the Terrapin Grille, is not to be missed. The brunch is excellent (the omelets are particularly appealing). If it is on the menu when you dine, try the trout. You will love it.
If you are a gambler, the Fallsview Casino is just a short walk away over a small bridge. On the way to the casino (see photograph below of the casino at night) you will pass the entrance to a small incline that will take you down to the level of the falls. It is well worth the small fee. The casino itself is located in a spectacular building called the Galleria. In addition to the casino there are a number of fine shops and restaurants.We like the Canyon Creek steakhouse and the sushi restaurnt (located behind the high roller section) since both overlook the falls. The shops run from the Svarovski crystal to the everything is $10 variety. On Friday and Saturday nights it gets quite crowded. On the lower level is a food court with the ever popular Tim Horton's and a Mama Mia restaurant. There are over a dozen altogether. For a late night snack or breakfast, we recommend "The Famous", an upscale diner with pancakes and sausages to die for. Don't forget the maple syrup!
In addition to the shops, restaurants and casino, there is a live theatre called the Avalon. It showcases talent from Canada and the United States. It is a fairly intimate setting where almost every seat has a good view of the stage. Among many others, we have seen Jay Leno and Larry King. Both were amazing. Leno joked non-stop (I kid you not) for 90 minutes! I underestand he was recently back there and wowed the audience I am sure. This summer Ringo Starr will be appearing. Tickets for the top shows can be hard to get, so start looking early.
My wife says the casino is the nicest she has been to---and I agree. It is large, filled with the usual slot machines (we favor the Wheel of Fortune machines) and table games. Keep in mind you can only use Canadian money in the casino so you will have to change your dollars before starting to play.
If you like a variety of things to do, whether sightseeing, dining on good food, gambling or just having fun, Niagara Falls is still the place to visit. Enjoy!
It has a large and appealing lobby as you enter the hotel. In addition to the reception desk, there is a small bar tucked away in one corner, a Starbucks (of course) and a help desk where you can sign up for a variety of expeditions such as a tour of the wineries along the Niagara Parkway (see post on Niagara -on -the -Lake) and heliocopter rides over the falls.
The rooms are spacious with the nice Marriott touches. There is a safe in every room and the bathrooms are quite large. The mezzanine restaurant, the Terrapin Grille, is not to be missed. The brunch is excellent (the omelets are particularly appealing). If it is on the menu when you dine, try the trout. You will love it.
If you are a gambler, the Fallsview Casino is just a short walk away over a small bridge. On the way to the casino (see photograph below of the casino at night) you will pass the entrance to a small incline that will take you down to the level of the falls. It is well worth the small fee. The casino itself is located in a spectacular building called the Galleria. In addition to the casino there are a number of fine shops and restaurants.We like the Canyon Creek steakhouse and the sushi restaurnt (located behind the high roller section) since both overlook the falls. The shops run from the Svarovski crystal to the everything is $10 variety. On Friday and Saturday nights it gets quite crowded. On the lower level is a food court with the ever popular Tim Horton's and a Mama Mia restaurant. There are over a dozen altogether. For a late night snack or breakfast, we recommend "The Famous", an upscale diner with pancakes and sausages to die for. Don't forget the maple syrup!
In addition to the shops, restaurants and casino, there is a live theatre called the Avalon. It showcases talent from Canada and the United States. It is a fairly intimate setting where almost every seat has a good view of the stage. Among many others, we have seen Jay Leno and Larry King. Both were amazing. Leno joked non-stop (I kid you not) for 90 minutes! I underestand he was recently back there and wowed the audience I am sure. This summer Ringo Starr will be appearing. Tickets for the top shows can be hard to get, so start looking early.
My wife says the casino is the nicest she has been to---and I agree. It is large, filled with the usual slot machines (we favor the Wheel of Fortune machines) and table games. Keep in mind you can only use Canadian money in the casino so you will have to change your dollars before starting to play.
If you like a variety of things to do, whether sightseeing, dining on good food, gambling or just having fun, Niagara Falls is still the place to visit. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
How Exercise Can Improve Memory in Boomers
In a recent study published in the Journal of Aging Research, scientists at the University of British Columbia reported that exercise can boost memory and cognitive skills in older adults. The study involved several dozen women between the ages of 70 and 80. Some of the women were given weight training while others were given aerobic training, walking. The researchers found that both groups improved spatial memory at about an equal amount after a six month period. However, those who walked regularly had greater improvement in verbal memory. The researchers concluded that different types of exercise had effects upon different parts of the brain.
What exercise is best to improve brain functioning? The answer is obvious: do both aerobic and resistance training to achieve maximum results.
What exercise is best to improve brain functioning? The answer is obvious: do both aerobic and resistance training to achieve maximum results.
Friday, April 12, 2013
High Intensity Interval Training For Fitness and Lowering Blood Sugar
Michael Mosley, the author of the best-selling diet book, The Fasting Diet (more on that diet, which is all the rage in England, in a subsequent post) recently appeared on public television in a special entitled "The Truth About Exercise." In that episode, which is part of a three part series on health issues, Mosley, a British physician and journalist, explored the research surrounding High Intensity Interval Training. Moreover, he submitted himself as a guinea pig to determine its effectiveness. Now, I have previously written about HIIT as it is usually called, http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2012/04/high-intensity-interval-training-for.html, this program provides dramatic evidence of its effectiveness.
At a research facility in Scotland, Mosley learned the technique which involves cycling on a stationary bicycle for 20 second intervals at maximum speed three times a day for three days a week. That's it. Dr. Mosley followed this non-demanding regimen for one month or for a total of 12 minutes. At the end of the month, his blood sugar was measured and compared to a reading prior to beginning the program. His blood sugar, which had been in the borderline or pre-diabetic range, was down by over a remarkable 23%! However, his aerobic intake measured by the so-called VO2 max showed no improvement. Other tests have shown that in some people up to 20% improvement can be shown following an extended use of the regimen. Apparently, Mosley's genetic makeup was responsible for his lack of improvement in that area as measured by particularized gene testing and not some failure of the program itself.
What does all this mean for you and me? I think it means that you don't have to run 25 miles a week to improve your chances of reducing blood sugar and increasing your aerobic capacity. Al for 12 minutes a month. What a great return on investment. http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2012/04/high-intensity-interval-training-for.html Shop Amazon - Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day
At a research facility in Scotland, Mosley learned the technique which involves cycling on a stationary bicycle for 20 second intervals at maximum speed three times a day for three days a week. That's it. Dr. Mosley followed this non-demanding regimen for one month or for a total of 12 minutes. At the end of the month, his blood sugar was measured and compared to a reading prior to beginning the program. His blood sugar, which had been in the borderline or pre-diabetic range, was down by over a remarkable 23%! However, his aerobic intake measured by the so-called VO2 max showed no improvement. Other tests have shown that in some people up to 20% improvement can be shown following an extended use of the regimen. Apparently, Mosley's genetic makeup was responsible for his lack of improvement in that area as measured by particularized gene testing and not some failure of the program itself.
What does all this mean for you and me? I think it means that you don't have to run 25 miles a week to improve your chances of reducing blood sugar and increasing your aerobic capacity. Al for 12 minutes a month. What a great return on investment. http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2012/04/high-intensity-interval-training-for.html Shop Amazon - Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day
Thursday, April 11, 2013
What to See in The Old District of Savannah Georgia
If you are interested in good Southern cooking or historic houses or just history, Savannah, Georgia is the place to visit. Founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, the city has preserved many of its charming houses and foods. Scattered throughout its historic district are 21 squares, most with a monument in the middle, surrounded by magnolias, grassy areas and brick walkways. Among those honored are Oglethorpe himself and General Casimir Pulaski, a young Polish officer in the Revolutionary War who was killed at the battle of Savannah. During the Civil War, reportedly, General William Tecumseh Sherman sparred Savannah during his march to the sea and presented it as a Christmas gift to President Abraham Lincoln. in 1864.
Savannah is the setting for the best selling book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the non fiction account of a mysterious murder in one of the historic houses and the subsequent trials of the accused murderer. Savannah also was the home of the songwriter, Johnny Mercer ("Moon River"), whose life-size statute (all five feet two) is located at the edge of Ellis Square.
Recently, we had occasion to visit Savannah for two days. We stayed at a small boutique hotel on Ellis Square, the Andaz (14 Barnard Street). The staff was very courteous and even offered us a glass of wine during check-in. Our room was small, but quite comfortable, with a king bed and a large bathroom with a shower.
That evening, we had dinner at a restaurant called Fiddler's Crab House, located on River Street.
River Street is a lively street, full of shops and restaurants overlooking Hutchinson Island. The food was outstanding. I had the low country boil, with shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob and red rice. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. My wife had the king crab legs. This was a full plate of luscious crab legs served with red rice.
The next day we took one of the many trolley tours that wind through the historic district. We also bought tickets for tours of four of the historic houses. The two houses that stand out in our minds are the Davenport House and the Owens-Thomas house. Built in 1820, the Davenport House (324 E. State Street) is reportedly the best preserved urban house built in the Federal style. It was the first of the historic houses preserved beginning in the 1950s when it was scheduled for demolition for a parking lot. The Owens-Thomas house tour includes a visit to the slave quarters in the carriage house where there is an interesting exhibit on slavery. We also visited two houses associated with Savannah resident, Julliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, including her birthplace.
For lunch, we stopped at the 1790 Restaurant, right around the corner from the Owens-Thomas house. Reminiscent of the taverns in Williamsburg, we had a wonderful lunch, the highlight of which was the freshly made biscuits and honey. The fried green tomato BLT with sweet potato fries was excellent. The 1790 is reputedly the most haunted place in Savannah and, if prompted, the waiter will detail the many instances of unnatural activities such as flying sugar bowls and names called in the night.
Another must see is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Located at 222 East Harris Street, it is the oldest Catholic church in Georgia. Although the outside is being renovated, it is open to the public. Inside it is simply spectacular.
Savannah is a lively city with plenty to do. Paula Deen's restaurant is located there as is the famous Elizabeth's, located several miles away. Although we did not make it to either restaurant, we did stop by Paul Deen's cooking store, adjacent to the restaurant, where we bought several signed cook books.
Savannah is the setting for the best selling book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the non fiction account of a mysterious murder in one of the historic houses and the subsequent trials of the accused murderer. Savannah also was the home of the songwriter, Johnny Mercer ("Moon River"), whose life-size statute (all five feet two) is located at the edge of Ellis Square.
Recently, we had occasion to visit Savannah for two days. We stayed at a small boutique hotel on Ellis Square, the Andaz (14 Barnard Street). The staff was very courteous and even offered us a glass of wine during check-in. Our room was small, but quite comfortable, with a king bed and a large bathroom with a shower.
That evening, we had dinner at a restaurant called Fiddler's Crab House, located on River Street.
River Street is a lively street, full of shops and restaurants overlooking Hutchinson Island. The food was outstanding. I had the low country boil, with shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob and red rice. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. My wife had the king crab legs. This was a full plate of luscious crab legs served with red rice.
The next day we took one of the many trolley tours that wind through the historic district. We also bought tickets for tours of four of the historic houses. The two houses that stand out in our minds are the Davenport House and the Owens-Thomas house. Built in 1820, the Davenport House (324 E. State Street) is reportedly the best preserved urban house built in the Federal style. It was the first of the historic houses preserved beginning in the 1950s when it was scheduled for demolition for a parking lot. The Owens-Thomas house tour includes a visit to the slave quarters in the carriage house where there is an interesting exhibit on slavery. We also visited two houses associated with Savannah resident, Julliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, including her birthplace.
For lunch, we stopped at the 1790 Restaurant, right around the corner from the Owens-Thomas house. Reminiscent of the taverns in Williamsburg, we had a wonderful lunch, the highlight of which was the freshly made biscuits and honey. The fried green tomato BLT with sweet potato fries was excellent. The 1790 is reputedly the most haunted place in Savannah and, if prompted, the waiter will detail the many instances of unnatural activities such as flying sugar bowls and names called in the night.
Another must see is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Located at 222 East Harris Street, it is the oldest Catholic church in Georgia. Although the outside is being renovated, it is open to the public. Inside it is simply spectacular.
Savannah is a lively city with plenty to do. Paula Deen's restaurant is located there as is the famous Elizabeth's, located several miles away. Although we did not make it to either restaurant, we did stop by Paul Deen's cooking store, adjacent to the restaurant, where we bought several signed cook books.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Best Travel Site: Jetsetter.com
If you are looking for a new travel site that can help you find hotels and vacation deals at the best prices, let me suggest you take a look at www.jetsetter.com. We recently booked a short stay at a resort through this site. I had tried to get a deal through the usual suspects, Kayak, Expedia etc. All of them said no rooms were even available. My wife happened upon jetsetter.com and saw they did have rooms available and at a discount from the rooms on the resort's website. As a result, we booked a two day stay at the lowest price.
Jetsetter is not available for every location and hotel, but it does have choices in most vacation destinations, such as New York City (51 hotel options), Chicago, Las Vegas, etc. In addition to domestic hotels, it also has overseas locations available. Right now on its mobile app (which you can download for free) it is featuring deals in the Far East, including Thailand and Vietnam.
Check it out if you are planning a trip and cannot find what you are looking for on the other travel sites.
Jetsetter is not available for every location and hotel, but it does have choices in most vacation destinations, such as New York City (51 hotel options), Chicago, Las Vegas, etc. In addition to domestic hotels, it also has overseas locations available. Right now on its mobile app (which you can download for free) it is featuring deals in the Far East, including Thailand and Vietnam.
Check it out if you are planning a trip and cannot find what you are looking for on the other travel sites.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Summly or Not Just for Boomers: You Decide
Many of you have probably read or heard about the 17 year old English boy who sold the iOS app he created to Yahoo for $30 million. The app, entitled Summly, is designed to summarize news from all over the web for people on the go who don't have time to read for themselves. If you have read our Mission Statement for this blog, you will note that one of our goals is to provide you with information concerning travel, health and financial issues that you might not otherwise have the time to find or read. We hope we have been doing that job. And the best thing about our blog is that it is free. Since acquiring Summly, Yahoo is expected to charge for the app. Decide for your self, but we hope you will keep on reading www.notjustforboomers.blogspot.com.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Understanding Mindfulness
I have written several times about the beneficial effects of the practice of mindfulness. http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2012/12/sherlock-holmes-and-mindfulness.html A recent article in the New York Times contains a useful discussion of mindfulness and how it works. "In Mindfulness, a Method to Sharpen Focus and Open Minds," March 23, 2013. What is particularly interesting about the article is that it appears in the business section of the newspaper under the heading "Personal Business." You might be asking yourself, as I did, what does mindfulness have to do with business?
Interestingly, one of the people quoted in the article is Janice Marturano, who, the article explains was the former deputy general counsel and vice president for public responsibility for General Mills. She was responsible for developing General Mills' Mindful Leadership Forum in 2004.Obviously, if large corporations such as General Mills have such programs, mindfulness is not just some new age, namby pamby way of thinking. It is a way of thinking clearly about the present. And that is useful for everyone.
Interestingly, one of the people quoted in the article is Janice Marturano, who, the article explains was the former deputy general counsel and vice president for public responsibility for General Mills. She was responsible for developing General Mills' Mindful Leadership Forum in 2004.Obviously, if large corporations such as General Mills have such programs, mindfulness is not just some new age, namby pamby way of thinking. It is a way of thinking clearly about the present. And that is useful for everyone.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Easy Way to Visit the National Parks
An article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, entitled "Hikes in the Nation's Parks---Without the Sweat", offers suggestions for Boomers and others with somewhat limited mobility to enjoy the national parks without hiking long distances or climbing hills. March 20, 2013. http://online.wsj.com
The article points out several must-sees such as the Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoia trees in California's Yosemite National Park. While there are several walking options available to see the thousand year old trees (some are believed to be as much as 3000 years old!), a good option is the narrated open-air tram ride that follows the same path that hikers follow.
Similarly, at the Grand Canyon, you could hike the seven miles or more to the bottom of the canyon or, again, there are free shuttle buses that allow you to hop on and off over some eight miles of the canyon's trails. You know what choice I'm going to make when I get there.
The article also discusses various options at Acadia National Park in Maine, Wyoming's Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and western North Carolina, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Mount Rainier in Washington State. All of these parks have their own wonderful attractions from Yellowstone's Old Faithful and other geysers to Shenandoah's not to be missed Skyline Drive.
If you are 62 or older, you can purchase a National Parks Senior pass for $10. It is good forever and allows you and three guests free access to all of the national parks run by the National Park Service. It is well worth the price. See "The National Park Service Senior Pass" in this blog.
The article points out several must-sees such as the Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoia trees in California's Yosemite National Park. While there are several walking options available to see the thousand year old trees (some are believed to be as much as 3000 years old!), a good option is the narrated open-air tram ride that follows the same path that hikers follow.
Similarly, at the Grand Canyon, you could hike the seven miles or more to the bottom of the canyon or, again, there are free shuttle buses that allow you to hop on and off over some eight miles of the canyon's trails. You know what choice I'm going to make when I get there.
The article also discusses various options at Acadia National Park in Maine, Wyoming's Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and western North Carolina, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Mount Rainier in Washington State. All of these parks have their own wonderful attractions from Yellowstone's Old Faithful and other geysers to Shenandoah's not to be missed Skyline Drive.
If you are 62 or older, you can purchase a National Parks Senior pass for $10. It is good forever and allows you and three guests free access to all of the national parks run by the National Park Service. It is well worth the price. See "The National Park Service Senior Pass" in this blog.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Home Free Adventures
In today's Wall Street Journal is an interesting story about the Martins. They are a retired couple who sold their home in California and are now living around the world in various countries. They have visited a number of places I have written about in this blog, including Florence and Ephesus.I think that you will enjoy reading their blog that details their world travels. I know I enjoyed it very much. www.homefreeadventures.com.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Coffee or Green Tea: Why Not Both!
If you like to drink coffee or green tea, you are probably aware of the many health benefits of each of these drinks. I have written about some of those.http://notjustforboomers.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-benefits-of-tea-and-why-starbucks.html What you may not know is the benefit of drinking both beverages in cutting the risk of stroke when the two drinks are taken individually each day.A Japanese study suggests that drinking green tea or coffee daily might lower stroke risk by about 20 percent. Green tea contains catechins, which have an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effect, that can help regulate blood pressure and improve blood flow. And coffee contains more than just caffeine. It also contains quinides, These are compounds that can help control blood sugar, which cuts your risk of stroke by reducing your risk of Type 2 diabetes. The researchers wrote that the "combination of higher green tea and coffee consumptions contributed to the reduced risk of stroke as an interaction effect for each other," The study was published in the American Heart Association Journal, Stroke.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Movie Day: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
If you like to laugh or if you, like me, like magic, by all means see the movie, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone." In theaters today, this movie is a laugh a minute. Starring Steve Carell as the character in the title, he plays a magician, who teams up with his best friend forever, Anton (played by Steve Buscemi) as a well-worn Las Vegas magic act. Carell is perfect as Wonderstone, an egomaniacal diva, sort of a cross of Liberace, Wayne Newton and Siegfried (or is it Roy?) who suffers an ignominious decline overnight and loses his best friend and job.
Jim Carrey plays Steve Gray, a so-called "street magician", who basically tortures himself and presents it as magic. Think David Blaine. Much of the film is presented as a contrast between the two styles of magic, with Wonderstone representing the traditional (think David Copperfield, who makes a cameo appearance).
Alan Arkin plays the grumpy, elder statesman magician who brings a spark back to Wonderstone as only Arkin can. Speaking of spark, the lovely actress, Olivia Wilde, plays Wonderstone's assistant, who also helps to bring him back from his downhill slide.
I give it three and a half stars.
Jim Carrey plays Steve Gray, a so-called "street magician", who basically tortures himself and presents it as magic. Think David Blaine. Much of the film is presented as a contrast between the two styles of magic, with Wonderstone representing the traditional (think David Copperfield, who makes a cameo appearance).
Alan Arkin plays the grumpy, elder statesman magician who brings a spark back to Wonderstone as only Arkin can. Speaking of spark, the lovely actress, Olivia Wilde, plays Wonderstone's assistant, who also helps to bring him back from his downhill slide.
I give it three and a half stars.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
This Pill Could Save Your Life
If you are driving along Interstate 376 from downtown Pittsburgh to Pittsburgh International Airport, you will pass a building on the left side of the highway with a large round, white object atop one of the buildings alongside the higway. It looks like some sort of enormous pill. In fact, that is exactly what it is: an aspirin tablet The pill is the symbol of the Bayer company which manufactures the world-famous Bayer aspirin. It is a fitting symbol of a drug that for many years has been known to be effective in helping to prevent various medical conditions such as colon cancer. Its effectiveness in staving off a heart attack is well-documented and many physicians advise their patients at risk of a heart attack to take a small aspirin a day for that very purpose.
What was not known until recently is that aspirin may also be effective in preventing the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma. The very name, melanoma, strikes fear in the hearts of anyone who knows even a little bit about the potentially damaging effects of over exposure to the sun's rays.In a recent study, researchers at Stanford University found that post-menopausal women who took aspirin at least twice a week were 30% less likely to develop melanoma.
While not yet definitive, according to the study's author, Dr. Jean Tang, "aspirin may have a chemo-preventive effect against the development of melanoma."
Although aspirin appears to have many beneficial effects, it also is known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding in some people. So, before starting any aspirin regimen, consult your own physician.
What was not known until recently is that aspirin may also be effective in preventing the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma. The very name, melanoma, strikes fear in the hearts of anyone who knows even a little bit about the potentially damaging effects of over exposure to the sun's rays.In a recent study, researchers at Stanford University found that post-menopausal women who took aspirin at least twice a week were 30% less likely to develop melanoma.
While not yet definitive, according to the study's author, Dr. Jean Tang, "aspirin may have a chemo-preventive effect against the development of melanoma."
Although aspirin appears to have many beneficial effects, it also is known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding in some people. So, before starting any aspirin regimen, consult your own physician.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Movie Day: Emperor
The movie "Emperor", which opened this weekend, is misleading. From the title and the previews, it appears to be a movie about General Douglas MacArthur and his role as Supreme Commander in Japan after World War II. And yes, MacArthur, played by Tommy Lee Jones, does appear in the movie as Supreme Commander and, yes, he does have to decide whether to prosecute Japanese Emperor Hirohito for war crimes. But that whole aspect of the movie is really a subplot to the real story: the hunt by a General Bonner Fellers, one of MacArthur's adjutants, to find his Japanese girl friend. Most of the movie is shown in flashbacks of their pre-war romance.
As General Fellers, Matthew Fox, does an okay job as the obsessed general, but until the very end of the movie, he shows little passion. Jones, when on screen, chews up the scenery as only he can do. But, even there, we don't get a real sense of MacArthur and his own bombastic, ego-centric personality.
Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad picture. Shot in New Zealand and Japan, it has some remarkable scenes. I just think the movie should be promoted as a romance, love story and not a World War II movie. In addition, the whole romance angle was done so much better in the 1957 movie, "Sayonara," starring Marlon Brando. See it on Netflix and let me know if you agree.
As General Fellers, Matthew Fox, does an okay job as the obsessed general, but until the very end of the movie, he shows little passion. Jones, when on screen, chews up the scenery as only he can do. But, even there, we don't get a real sense of MacArthur and his own bombastic, ego-centric personality.
Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad picture. Shot in New Zealand and Japan, it has some remarkable scenes. I just think the movie should be promoted as a romance, love story and not a World War II movie. In addition, the whole romance angle was done so much better in the 1957 movie, "Sayonara," starring Marlon Brando. See it on Netflix and let me know if you agree.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Why You Should Consider High Intensity Interval Training Exercise
Several months ago, I referred to a study that showed the substantial physical and mental benefits of high intensity training. High Intensity Interval Training for Better Health. That type of training involves periods of 30-40 seconds of all-out cardio followed by an equal amount of rest. Recently, a study by the Montreal Heart Institute reaffirmed those benefits. In a four month study of obese men and women, those who performed 30 minutes daily of interval cardio training such as cycling, not only lost weight, but also scored as much as 25% higher on cognitive tests. According to Dr. Anil Nigam, MD, the participants in the study were getting more oxygen to their brains and using that oxygen more efficiently.
So, keep it pumping, but remember to also take it easy.
So, keep it pumping, but remember to also take it easy.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Sunken Treasure in Key West
If you are like me, the lure of hidden treasure is compelling. Who hasn't read Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" and not dreamed of someday finding a treasure chest themselves? Some people today seek that treasure through the lottery. Mel Fisher did it another way: he spent sixteen years searching for the treasure of a Spanish ship that sunk to the bottom of the sea in 1622 In 1985, he found it and today, you can see some of that treasure and other artifacts from that ship in a museum in Key West, Florida, Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum.
While many people visit Key West to see the Ernest Hemingway house or have a drink at Hemingway's favorite watering hole, Sloppy Joe's, or better yet, have a cheeseburger in paradise at the original Jimmy Buffett Margarativille, the real deal is the Mel Fisher museum. Located just a short distance from these better known Key West attractions in an old building on Greene street, it is well worth a visit.
The Spanish ship Nuestra Senora de Atocha (Our Lady of Atocha) sank some 35 miles off the coast of the Florida Keys in a severe hurricane on September 6, 1622. Of the 265 people on board, including several Augustinian priests, only three sailors and 2 slaves managed to survive. The Atocha (named for a parish in Madrid) was also carrying an unbelievable cargo of copper, jewels, silver, gold and tobacco. Included were some 24 tons of silver and 125 gold bars and discs.Although the Spanish attempted various salvage operations for several years, the depth of the sunken ship and other storms hampered those operations.
It was not until Mel Fisher, a chicken farmer turned deep sea diver found it in 1985, that most of that cargo was located and retrieved.Gold and silver and other artifacts worth over $500 million have already been recovered. Recovery operations continue and additional treasure continues to be found. Recently, an emerald ring valued at $500,000 was found and is on display in the museum.
In addition to the displays of gold and silver ingots and other valuables,the museum offers a glimpse of life aboard the Atocha Several cannon, muskets and swords from the heavily armed vessel give an insight into the ship's defenses. Also, spoons and plates of Majolica show the day to day functioning of the ship. Most of these articles are in remarkable condition given that they are 450 years old!
The gift shop adjacent to the museum has a silver ingot available for purchase for over $100,000 and reproduction silver coin jewelry for as little as $65
The museum is located at 200 Greene Street in Key West. It is open daily. The admission fee is $12.50 for adults with a small discount for veterans. For more information, contact the museum at 305-294-2633 or view their website at www.melfisher.org.
While many people visit Key West to see the Ernest Hemingway house or have a drink at Hemingway's favorite watering hole, Sloppy Joe's, or better yet, have a cheeseburger in paradise at the original Jimmy Buffett Margarativille, the real deal is the Mel Fisher museum. Located just a short distance from these better known Key West attractions in an old building on Greene street, it is well worth a visit.
The Spanish ship Nuestra Senora de Atocha (Our Lady of Atocha) sank some 35 miles off the coast of the Florida Keys in a severe hurricane on September 6, 1622. Of the 265 people on board, including several Augustinian priests, only three sailors and 2 slaves managed to survive. The Atocha (named for a parish in Madrid) was also carrying an unbelievable cargo of copper, jewels, silver, gold and tobacco. Included were some 24 tons of silver and 125 gold bars and discs.Although the Spanish attempted various salvage operations for several years, the depth of the sunken ship and other storms hampered those operations.
It was not until Mel Fisher, a chicken farmer turned deep sea diver found it in 1985, that most of that cargo was located and retrieved.Gold and silver and other artifacts worth over $500 million have already been recovered. Recovery operations continue and additional treasure continues to be found. Recently, an emerald ring valued at $500,000 was found and is on display in the museum.
In addition to the displays of gold and silver ingots and other valuables,the museum offers a glimpse of life aboard the Atocha Several cannon, muskets and swords from the heavily armed vessel give an insight into the ship's defenses. Also, spoons and plates of Majolica show the day to day functioning of the ship. Most of these articles are in remarkable condition given that they are 450 years old!
The gift shop adjacent to the museum has a silver ingot available for purchase for over $100,000 and reproduction silver coin jewelry for as little as $65
The museum is located at 200 Greene Street in Key West. It is open daily. The admission fee is $12.50 for adults with a small discount for veterans. For more information, contact the museum at 305-294-2633 or view their website at www.melfisher.org.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The Edison House in Ft. Myers
Thomas Alva Edison is probably the world's most prolific and famous inventor. Without his development of the electric light bulb, we would still be watching television by candle light. (That's a joke folks!) He is credited with over 1000 United States patents. These include the phonograph, the movie camera and many other items we take for granted everyday in our lives.
This "wizard of Menlo Park," New Jersey also was an important part of the development of Southwestern Florida, specifically, the area around Ft. Myers. For many years, he had a winter home in Ft. Myers. Today, that winter home and that of his neighbor and good friend, Henry Ford, are available for touring. Located on McGregor Blvd. along the Caloosatchee River, the area once had been cattle country. The two adjacent houses sit on lovely estates filled with botanical wonders..
Some of these plants were grown as part of Edison's efforts to find a proper filament element for the light bulb. Others, were grown to support research in providing a source of natural rubber as part of a corporation formed by Edison, Ford and Harvey Firestone, who also was a neighbor in Ft, Myers. Finally, others are grown for their beauty.One of these is a banyan tree given to Edison in 1925 by Harvey Firestone. At the time it was only 4 feet tall. Today, it fills a complete acre!
Both the Edison and Ford houses are plain, simple buildings in the bungalow style. When we first toured the estates in 1983, one of Edison's original light bulbs still glowed brightly.Recent, we toured the estate again and it was no longer there. In addition to the houses, there is a lab where Edison and his associates conducted the experiments to find a domestic source of rubber.
One of the highlights of the Ford estate is a shed where two vintage Ford vehicles are displayed, a Model T and a pick-up truck.The tour guide explained that the term "pick-up" referred to the fact that if you purchased the truck, you had to "pick it up" at the railroad station and take it home where you had to complete its building by using the wood packaging in which the truck came as part of the running board and frame. The "woody" was born!
After the death of Edison's second wife, Mina, the Edison estate was donated to the city of Ft, Myers for the express purpose of opening it to the public.It is available for touring daily. For more information, contact the estate at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.
This "wizard of Menlo Park," New Jersey also was an important part of the development of Southwestern Florida, specifically, the area around Ft. Myers. For many years, he had a winter home in Ft. Myers. Today, that winter home and that of his neighbor and good friend, Henry Ford, are available for touring. Located on McGregor Blvd. along the Caloosatchee River, the area once had been cattle country. The two adjacent houses sit on lovely estates filled with botanical wonders..
Some of these plants were grown as part of Edison's efforts to find a proper filament element for the light bulb. Others, were grown to support research in providing a source of natural rubber as part of a corporation formed by Edison, Ford and Harvey Firestone, who also was a neighbor in Ft, Myers. Finally, others are grown for their beauty.One of these is a banyan tree given to Edison in 1925 by Harvey Firestone. At the time it was only 4 feet tall. Today, it fills a complete acre!
Both the Edison and Ford houses are plain, simple buildings in the bungalow style. When we first toured the estates in 1983, one of Edison's original light bulbs still glowed brightly.Recent, we toured the estate again and it was no longer there. In addition to the houses, there is a lab where Edison and his associates conducted the experiments to find a domestic source of rubber.
One of the highlights of the Ford estate is a shed where two vintage Ford vehicles are displayed, a Model T and a pick-up truck.The tour guide explained that the term "pick-up" referred to the fact that if you purchased the truck, you had to "pick it up" at the railroad station and take it home where you had to complete its building by using the wood packaging in which the truck came as part of the running board and frame. The "woody" was born!
After the death of Edison's second wife, Mina, the Edison estate was donated to the city of Ft, Myers for the express purpose of opening it to the public.It is available for touring daily. For more information, contact the estate at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org.
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Truman Little White House in Key West
If you find yourself, as we did, in the vicinity of Key West, Florida, this winter or really any time of year, consider a visit to the Harry S Truman Little White House. You will be glad you did.
Key West is the southernmost city in the United States. Located on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico, it is only about 30 miles from Cuba. If traveling along Highway US 1 through the Florida keys, it is were mile marker 0 marks the end of the road.
Known primarily as a party town and the home of Ernest Hemingway, the Little White House is a diversion from the usual tourist stops and shops. Situated at 111 Front Street, it is just a short distance from Sloppy Joes,where Hemingway is reputed to have spent much of his time in Key West.
Harry Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, succeeding Franklin Delano Roosevelt upon his death in April, 1945.Truman had been vice president for less than three months at the time and was unaware of many projects within the government, particularly the building of an atomic bomb, known as the Manhattan Project. It was Truman, however, only months later,who approved the use of the bomb over Japan, bringing an end to World War II, Truman served out the remainder of Roosevelt's term and was reelected on his own in1948 in an upset over Thomas Dewey.According to a recent CNN poll, Truman is ranked as the fifth most admired president.
Looking for a place to find relief from the burdens of the presidency, it was suggested that he vacation in Key West at the then empty home of the commander of the Key West naval base.
He went there and liked it so much he would spend 175 days there during his presidency.
If you take the tour ($15 per person, slightly less for boomers over 62) you will see why. Among other things, it has the original man cave. Located on the first floor, it has a bar, where it is said Truman would have a glass of whiskey each morning, and a poker table, where he would play every evening. Also located on the first floor is the desk where Truman signed the order which fired General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean war for insubordination. On the second floor are the bedrooms of Truman and his wife Bess, with many pieces of original furniture.
In addition to Truman, Presidents Kennedy, Clinton and Carter have all used the Little White House. Kennedy is said to have met with the then British prime minister, Harold MacMillan, in 1961 around the time of the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.
Key West is the southernmost city in the United States. Located on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico, it is only about 30 miles from Cuba. If traveling along Highway US 1 through the Florida keys, it is were mile marker 0 marks the end of the road.
Known primarily as a party town and the home of Ernest Hemingway, the Little White House is a diversion from the usual tourist stops and shops. Situated at 111 Front Street, it is just a short distance from Sloppy Joes,where Hemingway is reputed to have spent much of his time in Key West.
Harry Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, succeeding Franklin Delano Roosevelt upon his death in April, 1945.Truman had been vice president for less than three months at the time and was unaware of many projects within the government, particularly the building of an atomic bomb, known as the Manhattan Project. It was Truman, however, only months later,who approved the use of the bomb over Japan, bringing an end to World War II, Truman served out the remainder of Roosevelt's term and was reelected on his own in1948 in an upset over Thomas Dewey.According to a recent CNN poll, Truman is ranked as the fifth most admired president.
Looking for a place to find relief from the burdens of the presidency, it was suggested that he vacation in Key West at the then empty home of the commander of the Key West naval base.
He went there and liked it so much he would spend 175 days there during his presidency.
If you take the tour ($15 per person, slightly less for boomers over 62) you will see why. Among other things, it has the original man cave. Located on the first floor, it has a bar, where it is said Truman would have a glass of whiskey each morning, and a poker table, where he would play every evening. Also located on the first floor is the desk where Truman signed the order which fired General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean war for insubordination. On the second floor are the bedrooms of Truman and his wife Bess, with many pieces of original furniture.
In addition to Truman, Presidents Kennedy, Clinton and Carter have all used the Little White House. Kennedy is said to have met with the then British prime minister, Harold MacMillan, in 1961 around the time of the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
How to Improve Productivity
We all want to improve our productivity. Believe it or not, it appears one of the simplest ways to do so is to work less. "What," you are probably thinking, "How can I improve my productivity by working less?" Recent studies suggest just that: working less hours a day and taking more vacations can increase your productivity.
In an article in The New York Times today, "Relax! You'll Be More Productive," author Tony Schwartz discusses a number of those studies that show that you can increase your output by taking a nap and taking more vacations.
The theory behind those studies is that you are less productive if you use up too much energy. In other words, if you are tired, you are likely to take longer to perform a given task. In addition, you are likely to be less mentally alert as you are working. Napping or vacationing gives you the opportunity to recharge your battery.
Most intriguing is the study cited by Professor K. Anders Ericsson of Florida State University. In that study, Professor Ericsson concluded that those persons who were most productive worked in 90 minute cycles. They would work for 90 minutes, followed by a break. In all, they would work no more than four and one half hours a day. The rest of the work day was spent napping, exercising or meditating.
If this sounds interesting, you can review the entire article by Mr. Schwartz at www.nytimes.com.
In an article in The New York Times today, "Relax! You'll Be More Productive," author Tony Schwartz discusses a number of those studies that show that you can increase your output by taking a nap and taking more vacations.
The theory behind those studies is that you are less productive if you use up too much energy. In other words, if you are tired, you are likely to take longer to perform a given task. In addition, you are likely to be less mentally alert as you are working. Napping or vacationing gives you the opportunity to recharge your battery.
Most intriguing is the study cited by Professor K. Anders Ericsson of Florida State University. In that study, Professor Ericsson concluded that those persons who were most productive worked in 90 minute cycles. They would work for 90 minutes, followed by a break. In all, they would work no more than four and one half hours a day. The rest of the work day was spent napping, exercising or meditating.
If this sounds interesting, you can review the entire article by Mr. Schwartz at www.nytimes.com.
Seen Any Good Movies Lately?
Seen any good movies lately? Yes, in fact, two recent movies, "Hyde Park on the Hudson" and "Quartet". Both of these are small movies with large performances by several of the actors.
"Hyde Park" is the story of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's meeting with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth shortly before the beginning of World War II. The King came to FDR's home in Hyde Park, New York, seeking his support for England. Bill Murray gives an excellent performance as the President. More known for his performances in movies such as "Groundhog Day" and other comedies, Murray captures the president's accent and appearance to a "t". Although Murray pushed hard for an Oscar nomination, he was not nominated for his role. See the movie and judge for yourself whether his performance was Oscar-worthy.
In addition to Murray, the movie stars Laura Linney as FDR's fifth cousin, Daisy, with whom FDR reputedly had an affair. In fact, the movie is based in part on diaries, letters and other documents found after Daisy's death which apparently detailed the affair with her as well as several other women.
One of the highlights of the movie is a scene at FDR's retreat, Top Cottage, where the king and queen are treated to a picnic of hot dogs. Watching the king eating a hot dog is hilarious.
"Quartet" is set in a home for retired musicians and classical singers in England. While that doesn't sound like a very promising venue for a movie, it is well worth a look. Directed by Dustin Hoffman, it recounts the relationship between two opera singers who had been married and divorced and who meet again after many years at the retirement home. Maggie Smith, recently of Downton Abbey, stars as the diva and Tom Courtenay (he of the early sixties movie, "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner") as her ex.
Sort of an operatic "Glee", the movie follows the characters as they prepare for a gala to try to keep the retirement home open following financial problems, it is well worth a look.
"Hyde Park" is the story of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's meeting with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth shortly before the beginning of World War II. The King came to FDR's home in Hyde Park, New York, seeking his support for England. Bill Murray gives an excellent performance as the President. More known for his performances in movies such as "Groundhog Day" and other comedies, Murray captures the president's accent and appearance to a "t". Although Murray pushed hard for an Oscar nomination, he was not nominated for his role. See the movie and judge for yourself whether his performance was Oscar-worthy.
In addition to Murray, the movie stars Laura Linney as FDR's fifth cousin, Daisy, with whom FDR reputedly had an affair. In fact, the movie is based in part on diaries, letters and other documents found after Daisy's death which apparently detailed the affair with her as well as several other women.
One of the highlights of the movie is a scene at FDR's retreat, Top Cottage, where the king and queen are treated to a picnic of hot dogs. Watching the king eating a hot dog is hilarious.
"Quartet" is set in a home for retired musicians and classical singers in England. While that doesn't sound like a very promising venue for a movie, it is well worth a look. Directed by Dustin Hoffman, it recounts the relationship between two opera singers who had been married and divorced and who meet again after many years at the retirement home. Maggie Smith, recently of Downton Abbey, stars as the diva and Tom Courtenay (he of the early sixties movie, "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner") as her ex.
Sort of an operatic "Glee", the movie follows the characters as they prepare for a gala to try to keep the retirement home open following financial problems, it is well worth a look.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
How Boomers Can Stay Healthy
Are you a healthy boomer or are you less healthy than you can or should be? That is the question addressed in a recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine yesterday. http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/journal.aspx. The study suggests that baby boomers, while expected to live longer, may also have a higher percentage of health problems such as high blood pressure and other chronic conditions, which may affect the quality of life of those boomers.
Certainly, experience shows many boomers have had knee replacements in their fifties and early sixties as a result of running injuries and have various stress related medical issues such as high blood pressure and high levels of bad cholesterol. In this blog I have written various times about ways to avoid problems associated with stress such as tai chi and meditation. What is Mindfulness? 11/18/12 Meditation and Tai Chi. 6/15/12 Also, I have suggested alternatives to running for cardio fitness that avoid the pressures on the knees such as walking and cycling. High Intensity Training for Better Health, 4/25/12.
While the alternatives I have suggested may not work for everyone, they certainly are worth trying.
Certainly, experience shows many boomers have had knee replacements in their fifties and early sixties as a result of running injuries and have various stress related medical issues such as high blood pressure and high levels of bad cholesterol. In this blog I have written various times about ways to avoid problems associated with stress such as tai chi and meditation. What is Mindfulness? 11/18/12 Meditation and Tai Chi. 6/15/12 Also, I have suggested alternatives to running for cardio fitness that avoid the pressures on the knees such as walking and cycling. High Intensity Training for Better Health, 4/25/12.
While the alternatives I have suggested may not work for everyone, they certainly are worth trying.
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Old Florida: Pine Island's Tarpon Lodge
If you are looking for the old Florida, there is probably no place better to find it than Pine Island. Located off the Southwest Gulf coast, not far from Ft. Myers, Pine Island is not as well known as Sanibel Island or Captiva Island (where the famous South Seas Plantation is located). However, if you are in the mood for a return to the old Florida, Pine Island is the place and the Tarpon Lodge is a good place to observe it first hand.
Pine Island is 17 miles long and 2 miles wide. Because of limitations on development, there are no high rises on the island. As a result, Pine Island retains a rural quality that is quite beautiful. Palm trees are everywhere on the island, particularly in the various nurseries that dot the landscape. Recently we visited the island and had lunch at the Tarpon Lodge.
The Tarpon Lodge is located at 13771 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922. Built in 1926, the Lodge provides over 20 rooms in the Lodge and several other buildings. In addition, the Lodge has a fine restaurant overlooking Florida's Southwest Gulf coast. Although we have not stayed at the Lodge, we recently had lunch in the restaurant. The lunch menu provides a full complement of seafood, salads (the Caesar is not to be missed, particularly if, like me, you love anchovies), steaks and pizzas. My wife had the grilled shrimp, which were perfectly seasoned and marinated. I opted for the chicken wrap which was prepared cordon blu, with ham, cheese and dijon mustard. Served with the above mentioned small Caesar salad it was more than enough for two meals.
Nearby is a large marina, where ferries can take you to Cabbage Key and North Captiva Island. Across the road from the Tarpon Lodge are pre-Columbian, Calusa shell mounds, They are well worth a visit.
If interested in more information about the Tarpon Lodge, check out the lodge's website at www.tarponlodge.com or call 239-283-3999,
Pine Island is 17 miles long and 2 miles wide. Because of limitations on development, there are no high rises on the island. As a result, Pine Island retains a rural quality that is quite beautiful. Palm trees are everywhere on the island, particularly in the various nurseries that dot the landscape. Recently we visited the island and had lunch at the Tarpon Lodge.
The Tarpon Lodge is located at 13771 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922. Built in 1926, the Lodge provides over 20 rooms in the Lodge and several other buildings. In addition, the Lodge has a fine restaurant overlooking Florida's Southwest Gulf coast. Although we have not stayed at the Lodge, we recently had lunch in the restaurant. The lunch menu provides a full complement of seafood, salads (the Caesar is not to be missed, particularly if, like me, you love anchovies), steaks and pizzas. My wife had the grilled shrimp, which were perfectly seasoned and marinated. I opted for the chicken wrap which was prepared cordon blu, with ham, cheese and dijon mustard. Served with the above mentioned small Caesar salad it was more than enough for two meals.
Nearby is a large marina, where ferries can take you to Cabbage Key and North Captiva Island. Across the road from the Tarpon Lodge are pre-Columbian, Calusa shell mounds, They are well worth a visit.
If interested in more information about the Tarpon Lodge, check out the lodge's website at www.tarponlodge.com or call 239-283-3999,
Monday, January 21, 2013
Can You Lose Weight Just by Exercise?
Can you lose weight just by exercise? Well, the answer appears to be, it depends.
In an article in the Sunday New York Times Magazine, "The Appetite Workout," Gretchen Reynolds reports on a study conducted by researchers at the University of Wyoming. The study was based upon a group of women who were asked to run or walk on one day and then rest on the next day.
The researchers found that those who ran did not consume as many calories as those who walked. According to the article, the women who ran at a brisk pace consumed fewer calories because of certain hormones in the body that told them when they had eaten enough food. On the other hand, those who walked, were more hungry because of an increase in the body of a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin was also increased in those who ran but apparently that increase was offset by the other hormones.
So what does this mean for you and me? If you are seeking to lose weight, more strenuous and longer exercise will probably be probably be your best bet. This may seem rather obvious, but many people think that walking alone may bring about weight loss and this study suggests that this may not be so. Now walking undoubtedly has many other health benefits, but weight loss may not be one of them.
For the complete article, see www.nytimes.com.
In an article in the Sunday New York Times Magazine, "The Appetite Workout," Gretchen Reynolds reports on a study conducted by researchers at the University of Wyoming. The study was based upon a group of women who were asked to run or walk on one day and then rest on the next day.
The researchers found that those who ran did not consume as many calories as those who walked. According to the article, the women who ran at a brisk pace consumed fewer calories because of certain hormones in the body that told them when they had eaten enough food. On the other hand, those who walked, were more hungry because of an increase in the body of a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin was also increased in those who ran but apparently that increase was offset by the other hormones.
So what does this mean for you and me? If you are seeking to lose weight, more strenuous and longer exercise will probably be probably be your best bet. This may seem rather obvious, but many people think that walking alone may bring about weight loss and this study suggests that this may not be so. Now walking undoubtedly has many other health benefits, but weight loss may not be one of them.
For the complete article, see www.nytimes.com.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Best Fish and Chips!
Downton Abbey has created quite a renewed passion for everything English. You now hear people saying things like, "Cheerio, old man" and "TTFN (Ta Ta for now)". What is more English, however, than fish and chips?
Well, if you are fish and chips lovers as we are and are visiting Southwest Florida, we can recommend what we think are the best fish and chips on this side of the pond (that's the Atlantic Ocean, of course).
Located in a small strip shopping center on Del Prado Blvd. S, in Cape Coral, Florida is a fish and chips shop called "Pete's Fish & Chips." It serves fish and chips and other typical English dishes such as sausage rolls and savory pies either for take out or dining in. But it is the fish and chips we came for and we were not disappointed.
As the Moody Blues played in the background, we munched on the crunchy Icelandic cod and equally crisp french fries. We doused the fish with the Heinz malt vinegar handy on the table. They serve the fish in two sizes, small ($7.95 for a 5-6 ounce fish) or regular ($10.95 for a 8-9 ounce fish). Both are served with a small tub of cole slaw. Imported and domestic beers as well as soft drinks are available
In addition to the cooked food, there is also a small corner of the restaurant where various English foodstuffs such as Walker's, Cadbury, and HP steak sauce are available for purchase.
The restaurant has been open since April 2012 and is owned and operated by Pete and Diane Rushton. It promises that it is "Bringing a Taste of Great Britain to Southwest Florida" and the restaurant certainly delivers on that promise.
Pete's Fish & Chips is located at 311 Del Prado Blvd. S, Suite 5, Cape Coral, FL 33990.
Well, if you are fish and chips lovers as we are and are visiting Southwest Florida, we can recommend what we think are the best fish and chips on this side of the pond (that's the Atlantic Ocean, of course).
Located in a small strip shopping center on Del Prado Blvd. S, in Cape Coral, Florida is a fish and chips shop called "Pete's Fish & Chips." It serves fish and chips and other typical English dishes such as sausage rolls and savory pies either for take out or dining in. But it is the fish and chips we came for and we were not disappointed.
As the Moody Blues played in the background, we munched on the crunchy Icelandic cod and equally crisp french fries. We doused the fish with the Heinz malt vinegar handy on the table. They serve the fish in two sizes, small ($7.95 for a 5-6 ounce fish) or regular ($10.95 for a 8-9 ounce fish). Both are served with a small tub of cole slaw. Imported and domestic beers as well as soft drinks are available
In addition to the cooked food, there is also a small corner of the restaurant where various English foodstuffs such as Walker's, Cadbury, and HP steak sauce are available for purchase.
The restaurant has been open since April 2012 and is owned and operated by Pete and Diane Rushton. It promises that it is "Bringing a Taste of Great Britain to Southwest Florida" and the restaurant certainly delivers on that promise.
Pete's Fish & Chips is located at 311 Del Prado Blvd. S, Suite 5, Cape Coral, FL 33990.
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Best Technique to Defuse Anger
Recently, I wrote an ebook suggesting that one way of dealing with customer service personnel, such as the cable TV guy or the phone company was to simply be pleasant using the so-called mirror neurons. A simple "How are you doing?" or "How is your day?" at the beginning of the discussion can do wonders in enabling you to get what you want and sometimes even more than you asked for. How to Get the Best Deal: A Free E-book, November 24, 2012.
Well, this post is about how those service personnel can defuse an angry customer with the same logic. Many customers call the customer service personnel irate at some failure of their car, computer, cable system, you name it. What is the service person to do? How can she benefit from the mirror image rule I discussed in that post?
The simple answer is for her to say something like, "I know you are angry and I'm sure your anger is justified. But how can I help you now so that together we can resolve your problem?" It is really as simple as that. Generally, that person on the other line or across the complaint counter will be taken aback and his anger will disappear (or at least be reduced in volume)..
If every business taught its customer service personnel this simple approach, I believe they would have fewer complaints and happier customers.
Well, this post is about how those service personnel can defuse an angry customer with the same logic. Many customers call the customer service personnel irate at some failure of their car, computer, cable system, you name it. What is the service person to do? How can she benefit from the mirror image rule I discussed in that post?
The simple answer is for her to say something like, "I know you are angry and I'm sure your anger is justified. But how can I help you now so that together we can resolve your problem?" It is really as simple as that. Generally, that person on the other line or across the complaint counter will be taken aback and his anger will disappear (or at least be reduced in volume)..
If every business taught its customer service personnel this simple approach, I believe they would have fewer complaints and happier customers.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Will You Have Enough Money for Retirement?
Do you have enough money for retirement? That is a question that most of us ask ourselves all the time. With the median age of retirement still at 62, the average lifespan increasing, and health care costs increasing, there is a very real possibility that many people will run out of money well before the 30 years or so that you may live after retirement. Do you know if you have enough?
While the answer to that question will differ for each of us, there is a handy tool that may be useful to determine just how much you need and how much you can comfortably spend each month in retirement. This is the T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator. Available at the T. Rowe Price website at www.troweprice.com, it is easy to use and gives a comprehensive look at your particular financial situation.
You can use the calculator even if you are not a T. Rowe Price shareholder. You simply register as a guest and then provide the required information. This includes the amounts in your and your partner's IRA, 401K as well as the amounts you anticipate (or are receiving, if already retired) receiving from Social Security, pensions, annuities and any other sources of income. You also are required to provide your monthly budget, i.e., how much you spend each month.
Once you have provided the requested information, the calculator goes to work, performing what are said to be thousands of calculations to determine if you will run out of money before you are 95 years old. You are then provided with a readout showing the percentage likelihood as to whether you have enough. Anything over 90% is considered excellent. Below that, you might want to consider saving more. In addition to the percentage likelihood of reaching 95 with enough money, it also shows you how much you can safely expect to spend each month.
This calculator is the best and easiest to use that I have seen. One note of disclaimer, I do own shares in various T. Rowe Price funds but I have no other financial interest in the firm, nor have I been compensated in any way for these views, which are strictly my own. - 5619EB62C1D3715573A5D14C19EFB9AA
While the answer to that question will differ for each of us, there is a handy tool that may be useful to determine just how much you need and how much you can comfortably spend each month in retirement. This is the T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator. Available at the T. Rowe Price website at www.troweprice.com, it is easy to use and gives a comprehensive look at your particular financial situation.
You can use the calculator even if you are not a T. Rowe Price shareholder. You simply register as a guest and then provide the required information. This includes the amounts in your and your partner's IRA, 401K as well as the amounts you anticipate (or are receiving, if already retired) receiving from Social Security, pensions, annuities and any other sources of income. You also are required to provide your monthly budget, i.e., how much you spend each month.
Once you have provided the requested information, the calculator goes to work, performing what are said to be thousands of calculations to determine if you will run out of money before you are 95 years old. You are then provided with a readout showing the percentage likelihood as to whether you have enough. Anything over 90% is considered excellent. Below that, you might want to consider saving more. In addition to the percentage likelihood of reaching 95 with enough money, it also shows you how much you can safely expect to spend each month.
This calculator is the best and easiest to use that I have seen. One note of disclaimer, I do own shares in various T. Rowe Price funds but I have no other financial interest in the firm, nor have I been compensated in any way for these views, which are strictly my own. -
Farmers' Markets
I don't know about you, but I love farmers' markets. You know, the old-fashioned kind, where the farmers come into town and set up tents in a parking lot and lay out fresh vegetables, fruits and homemade pies, jams and jellies. Well, while staying recently in South Florida, we visited a farmers' market set up in a small parking lot of a suburban strip mall. It was a little different from those we are used to up North.
The farmers' markets we are familiar with are usually filled with tables full of apples and the smell of funnel cakes. The Florida market offered a selection of fresh seafood, including lobster tails and grouper! And instead of funnel cakes (which I love to eat) there were beignets! If you are not familiar with beignets, they are a sort of French donut, really just pieces of fried dough covered with powdered sugar. I had heard of them and knew they were popular in New Orleans, but I had never actually eaten one before. I decided now was the time.
So, for one dollar, I watched as the man behind the wooden table, took a small rectangle of dough, placed it in what looked like a wok with oil boiling in it and then took it out after about two minutes, rolled it in powdered sugar and handed it to me in a small paper container. I eagerly took it and bit into it. It was delicious. It was still warm and sort of crunchy. Now, I know why it has such a great reputation as a delicacy not to be missed.
Although it was the middle of winter, fresh corn, tomatoes and avocados were also available. So we loaded up on those and headed home where we ate them for dinner that night. My only regret was not buying a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade at the stand at the farmer's market. Oh well, that just gives me a good reason to go back again next time.
The farmers' markets we are familiar with are usually filled with tables full of apples and the smell of funnel cakes. The Florida market offered a selection of fresh seafood, including lobster tails and grouper! And instead of funnel cakes (which I love to eat) there were beignets! If you are not familiar with beignets, they are a sort of French donut, really just pieces of fried dough covered with powdered sugar. I had heard of them and knew they were popular in New Orleans, but I had never actually eaten one before. I decided now was the time.
So, for one dollar, I watched as the man behind the wooden table, took a small rectangle of dough, placed it in what looked like a wok with oil boiling in it and then took it out after about two minutes, rolled it in powdered sugar and handed it to me in a small paper container. I eagerly took it and bit into it. It was delicious. It was still warm and sort of crunchy. Now, I know why it has such a great reputation as a delicacy not to be missed.
Although it was the middle of winter, fresh corn, tomatoes and avocados were also available. So we loaded up on those and headed home where we ate them for dinner that night. My only regret was not buying a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade at the stand at the farmer's market. Oh well, that just gives me a good reason to go back again next time.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Fallingwater: The Most Famous House in America
Fallingwater is often called the most famous private house in America. Designed by the famed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, it exemplifies a style which makes maximum use of its setting. Built over a waterfall in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, it is simply spectacular.
Fallingwater was built between 1936 and 1939 as a mountain home for the Kaufmann family, the owners of a Pittsburgh department store. From the very beginning it was recognized as an architectural gem. It appeared on a Time Magazine cover in1938. In addition to designing the house itself, Wright also designed much of the furniture as well.
The Kaufmann family used Fallingwater until 1963, when it was donated to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which conducts tours of the home and surrounding grounds. We recently toured the house and even in winter, with snow everywhere, it was truly a marvel not to be missed. Reservations are required. A small gift shop is also on the grounds.
For more information about hours, ticket prices and directions, visit the Fallingwater website at www.fallingwater.org.
Fallingwater was built between 1936 and 1939 as a mountain home for the Kaufmann family, the owners of a Pittsburgh department store. From the very beginning it was recognized as an architectural gem. It appeared on a Time Magazine cover in1938. In addition to designing the house itself, Wright also designed much of the furniture as well.
The Kaufmann family used Fallingwater until 1963, when it was donated to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which conducts tours of the home and surrounding grounds. We recently toured the house and even in winter, with snow everywhere, it was truly a marvel not to be missed. Reservations are required. A small gift shop is also on the grounds.
For more information about hours, ticket prices and directions, visit the Fallingwater website at www.fallingwater.org.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Ohiopyle: White Water Rafting at its Best
Have you ever wanted to go white water rafting? When most people think of white water rafting, they probably envision rafting down the Colorado River somewhere out West. There are, of course, places back East that offer the same opportunity and thrills. One of these is Ohiopyle State Park, located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
The Park is approximately 20,000 acres and offers a number of other activities in addition to white water rafting. These include 79 miles of hiking trails. In addition, Ohiopyle offers 27 miles of biking trails, connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the state of Maryland along the former rail bed of the Western Maryland Railroad.
But it is whitewater rafting that Ohiopyle is most noted for. And with good reason. The Youghiogheny River (the "Yough") is said to be one of the most popular white water rafting locations on the East Coast. The lower Yough rapids are rated as Class 3 and 4 rapids. The middle Yough has class 1 and 2 rapids. For those not familiar with the rapids classification system, the Class 3 and Class 4 rapids are particularly difficult and challenging. They should only be attempted by the most skilled rafters or under the supervision of a skilled rafter.
The Park is approximately 20,000 acres and offers a number of other activities in addition to white water rafting. These include 79 miles of hiking trails. In addition, Ohiopyle offers 27 miles of biking trails, connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the state of Maryland along the former rail bed of the Western Maryland Railroad.
But it is whitewater rafting that Ohiopyle is most noted for. And with good reason. The Youghiogheny River (the "Yough") is said to be one of the most popular white water rafting locations on the East Coast. The lower Yough rapids are rated as Class 3 and 4 rapids. The middle Yough has class 1 and 2 rapids. For those not familiar with the rapids classification system, the Class 3 and Class 4 rapids are particularly difficult and challenging. They should only be attempted by the most skilled rafters or under the supervision of a skilled rafter.
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