Boomer Advisor Magazine -- Boomer.Advisor.com

Design Your Kitchen For the Future

Christa Ayer — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:21:17 +0100

A well-designed kitchen can make cooking and entertaining more enjoyable. So if you're considering remodeling the kitchen, your focus is probably cosmetic. However, as your parents get older, there are safety issues to consider, too.

The Financial Toll of Alzheimer’s

Christa Ayer — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:01:56 +0100

An estimated 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease; this number is expected to double by the year 2050 as the elderly segment of our population grows. Not only does the disease have a significant emotional impact on individuals and their families, it also causes severe family financial burden and places considerable demands on the greater public health system.

Does the bizarre end of Microsoft Windows XP mean the end of useful PCs?

John L. Hawkins — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Windows XP is gone, but Windows Vista is not an acceptable replacement. What now? Is Microsoft's forced death of XP also ending the era of useful Windows PCs?

My Close Encounters with Bill Gates

John L. Hawkins — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Bill Gates got involved with microcomputer software in 1975, and he built Microsoft by seeing, seizing and maximizing key opportunities.

My first use of Microsoft software was in 1978, and my first personal brush with Bill was in 1981.

During Microsoft's most influential period, the '80s and '90s, I had a variety of face-to-face Bill Gates experiences. Here are some of my Boomer Years stories.

Bill Gates, pioneer

Choosing an RV

John L. Hawkins — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

"How can there possibly so many different makes and models and designs and options in the RV marketplace?" In search of a vehicle that could be both a capable mobile office and a nice place to live on the road, the choices seemed overwhelming. But over time, I learned why there's so much variety, and what makes the most difference. While your needs and considerations might be different, here's some of what I learned in picking out the ideal RV for me.

Want a good investment? Like to eat? Eat up your profits!

Richard Rider — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Rider's Financial Advice of the Week: Buy food.

Three reasons:

1. Inflation -– our dollar is losing value because we put so many in circulation via the mechanics of the Federal Reserve.

2. Growing demand for food worldwide -– especially in the rapidly developing nations such as China and India.

3. Floods in the U.S., and droughts elsewhere -– especially Australia. More than usual this year, apparently.

Gray Matters

Christa Ayer — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:44:20 +0100

I remember how it started. I was at the beauty salon waiting to have my hair highlighted when my hairdresser sighed, "This just isn't going to work anymore."

To my library-loving critics

Richard Rider — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0100

My column in North County Times questioning the ancillary functions of public libraries brought a storm of protest from library lovers. Well, a squall at least.
http://nctimes.com/articles/2008/05/29/opinion/rider/doc483ee3f9b66bd295...

What struck me about the criticism is that many of these supposedly well-educated folks apparently read no further than the headline before firing away in the online comments section. Either that, or their vaunted reading comprehension remains at third-grade level.

Californians: Want Great Jobs? Leave the State.

Richard Rider — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The California unemployment figures for May 2008 constitute some misleading good news. We moved from the third worst state in April to the fifth worst state in May.

The bad news is that California's improvement is due to the fact that a handful of other states' unemployment rates are rising even faster. Michigan -– which used to build cars -– is in the toilet with an 8.5% unemployment rate.

Feel any better?

Windfall Taxes on Big Oil Exposed as Economic Lunacy

Richard Rider — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:07:12 +0100

Here's an excellent article from an odd source: Karl Rove. Printed in the Wall Street Journal, this piece exposes the economic nonsense of both Obama and McCain when it comes to raising taxes on oil companies. Good stuff.

Political Promoter For A Week, Rocker For A Night

John L. Hawkins — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:00:00 +0100

How did a young, non-political San Francisco radio station DJ end up in Washington, sitting in the President's chair in the White House Oval Office? And playing rock 'n' roll piano with a dozen legendary performers?

It all happened one week in 1972, and especially one amazing night. Here's my Boomer Years experience.

Putting an Actual Dollar Value on Gas Saved from Driving Slower

Richard Rider — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I've been suspicious about all the exhortations to save gas by driving slower. Of course, it is true -– to some degree. But just how much? And what's that savings worth per hour?

Long & Lean

Christa Ayer — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:36:22 +0100

Exercise. You just can't under-estimate the importance exercise plays in a healthy lifestyle. Yet many people do underestimate the foundation of a good exercise program: flexibility.

Lifting weights and running marathons aren't the only things that can help you live longer and healthier. Stretching improves your flexibility, preventing joints stiffness, promoting circulation, and lengthening muscles and tendons to reduce risk of injury. Taking the time to stretch after you workout helps remove waste products, such as lactic acid, from your muscles and improves your recovery time.

What computer operating system do you PREFER?

advisordrupal — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:16:19 +0100

* Windows Vista * Windows XP * Windows older version * Mac OS X * Linux

For Richer, for Poorer

Christa Ayer — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:55:45 +0100

Getting married in later life can have you wondering, "Is this a marriage or a merger?" The truth is, it's probably a little of both.

How Competition Can Benefit You – Starting NOW

Richard Rider — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A small financial tip for these hard times: If you have cable TV service, AT&T is starting to compete in some areas. Not to say they are necessarily better, but the competition itself is indeed beneficial.

I just called my cable company, Time Warner, and told them that I was considering switching to AT&T cable and high speed Internet services. That prompted the sales clerk to suddenly note that I was under an "old" plan (established less than a year earlier), and that now there are better deals.

Mapping Software: DeLorme vs. Microsoft

John L. Hawkins — Thu, 22 May 2008 01:23:07 +0100

I like to take road trips, and especially roads I haven't traveled, to places I haven't been. So, I consider mapping software an essential feature of my laptop computer.

I know, many newer cars (including one of mine) have GPS-based satellite navigation systems. And the pocket-sized sat-nav systems are affordable and wonderful. Web sites with maps are helpful. And good old paper maps are still as useful as ever. But none of these provide all the capabilities I get from mapping software on my laptop.

There are two major mapping software products, Microsoft Streets and Trips, and DeLorme Street Atlas USA, and I think one strongly out-classes the other.

Funeral Pre-Planning

Christa Ayer — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:14:19 +0100

Q: A few months ago, my aunt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She doesn't have any kids and she's like a second mom to my brothers and me, so we're very involved with her care. Although it's likely she'll be with us for quite a while, we've begun to realize that we might not have very long to find out what her wishes are for her care and funeral.

Will Reduce My Carbon Footprint for Cash

Richard Rider — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Much is being made of "reducing our carbon footprint." I'm in favor of that -– to a point. I look for carbon-reducing steps that also save me money and/or make my life more pleasant! As I see it, if a carbon reducing strategy costs more, then often the wisdom of selecting that option is highly suspect.

For instance, I like using energy-saving florescent bulbs. I've used the big florescent lights in my fully equipped, professional office in the home for about 30 years. I also use the newer compact florescent bulbs whenever they fit with the demand, which fortunately is most of the time.

California Leads by Example -- Highest Gas Taxes in the Nation

Richard Rider — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:54:14 +0100

Did you see the excellent map of gasoline taxes, state by state, across America, May 6 on the front page of the San Diego Union-Tribune? If you didn't look too closely, or read the entire story you might have missed a salient fact -– we're number one!

Yup, California has the highest total taxes on gas of any of the 50 states (not just "among the highest" as the newspaper writes). As of January, we wealthy West Coast folks paid 63.9 cents of federal and state taxes a gallon, vs. the national average of about 47.0 cents.