by Charles on February 4, 2010
I realize that right now everybody is focused on the Super Bowl happening this Sunday. However for your own sake, don’t forget the following Sunday, February 14, is Valentine’s Day.
You are probably concentrating on the big game while she is probably expecting a special Valentine’s Day since it will be on the weekend. I want to give you fair warning and offer you a friendly reminder to do your planning to give her a nice Valentine’s Day while you still have time.
If you need help with gift ideas, Amazon (affiliate link) has a Valentine Gifts section that should have many gifts that will make her day. From flowers and candy to jewelry, you’ll find lots to make her feel appreciated. Plus you’ll be able to enjoy the game more knowing you’ve got her taken care of.
I hope this helps and you both enjoy the game this Sunday and Valentines next week.
by Charles on January 27, 2010
The government has just reported that 4 million jobs were lost in 2009 and there were 480,000 new unemployment claims in December. I don’t know anybody who can really make good sense from government data, but it is clear that we can expect a bad economy to last for some time yet.
Although this is a bad time for all of us, I know that many are in desperate situations through no fault of your own. Too many politicians today seem to promote policies that eliminate jobs instead of create them.
The best solution for you these days is to be as self reliant as possible even if it means changing your career. I know this can be a very hard decision but an experienced career expert, Alexandra Levit, has recently released a new book, New Job New You (Amazon affiliate link). She is an experienced career coach and a career columnist for the Wall Street Journal.
She shows you how to research a career that best suits you and how to market yourself for that career. This guide has a 5 star rating on Amazon and may be the help you need to decide how to improve your situation.
Things will get better but it will take longer than we would prefer. I hope you will find this information helpful and I will continue to pass on resources I find that may help you.
by Charles on January 21, 2010
The election of Scott Brown as the new Senator from Massachusetts finally gives us some reason to hope for a reasonable approach to health care. At least the Rebublicans can now force open debate instead of helplessly accepting the Obama dictates.
I’m not telling you that the problems are over. The Republicans have shown us they can mess things up even when they control Congress. At least the process should now be more public. Maybe that will reduce some of the vote buying and special interest provisions.
Medicare is still a prime target for cuts and you need to stay alert and voice your objections. The politicians hoped they could ignore the town hall criticism and intimidate us into silence. The Brown election has made them realize they still need to answer to the voters.
I know you have heard these points from many others, but if you are a senior you need to stay informed for your own defense. The Progressives surrounding Obama now realize what this November’s elections will mean for them and they are going to be desperate to push through their agenda before then.
Stay aware and remind the government it serves you not the other way around.
by Charles on January 6, 2010
I’ve been trying to persuade friends over fifty to do their best to stay fit for some time. It used to be good advice but with the impending government takeover of our health care system, attention to fitness will be even more important for seniors.
The House version of the bill includes $500 Billion in cuts to Medicare in the first 10 years. The only way to provide coverage to the numbers they project is to cut costs and ration care. If you haven’t already heard, a main target for that rationing of medical treatment will be the elderly.
Remember the uproar over the “death panels” which will decide what treatment you will be allowed if any? The democrat leaders are breaking their pledges to conduct their discussions on C-Span tv so the public could be assured of their good intentions. Instead they are plotting behind closed doors, even refusing republican leaders access. So much for “transparency”.
If this kind of behavior doesn’t persuade you to take some precautions, I wish you luck. For the rest of us, I think we will be best off if we keep ourselves as fit and healthy as we can.
I realize that unfortunately some of us aren’t able to improve their health and all of us will need medical attention sooner or later. However, if we try to stay as active and health conscious as common sense will allow, we can hopefully enjoy life more and require less medical attention.
With some luck next November’s elections will improve the direction of health care but helping ourselves is still a good way to start the new year.
by Charles on December 23, 2009
I was ready to post a different message today but with Christmas being so close, I’ll wait until later. I’m sure many of us are upset with politicians right now, regardless of party. Many are angry, many are unemployed and many are afraid.
We will deal with our problems and those who have deceived us, but for these next few days let us all be grateful for the good things we have. This may be a difficult Christmas for many of us but things will get better. For now enjoy your family, those you care for and celebrate the spirit of Christmas.
Take some time to rest and be happy, we are going to have plenty to fuss about after the New Year.
I wish you and your family a peaceful and very Merry Christmas.
by Charles on December 15, 2009
If you can’t change the economy, change your philosophy. That is paraphrasing a quote from a le3endary motivational speaker who 
passed away recently. The advice may be old but it is appropriate for many of us who now find ourselves suffering because of the present economy.
While unemployment keeps rising, democrats continue to spend and tax like they are deliberately destroying our economy. Just this weekend they voted to increase debt spending by an additional $1.1 Trillion, which included another raise for federal employees. How long has it been since you or any of your friends gotten a raise?
This is the time of year we look forward to being happy and grateful with our family and friends as we celebrate the holidays. I’m afraid that many of us may have to make some changes in our philosophy for life to find that joy this year.
The government reports that 10% of our population has registered for unemployment benefits but economists state that the real number of the jobless is around 17%. There are many who don’t or can’t register for benefits for various reasons but are still unable to find work.
With politicians constantly digging the hole we are in deeper, it seems it will be some time before the economy improves. This will leave it up to each of us to make what changes are needed to get by until things do get better.
I know many of you are thinking “that’s a lot easier to say than do”. For those who are still employed this may mean going without an expected raise or promotion, and for those who are unemployed, it may mean creating some type of service you can perform for income until things do improve.
If you already have your own business, you may want to collect customer email addresses to send them special discount offers. If you offer a special skill, consider a local ad on the internet. What this amounts to is to just be creative and try to take control of your own situation.
I hope this post will be helpful but regardless of your situation, I also hope you are able to enjoy a Merry Christmas for yourself and your family.
Best wishes for a happy holiday,
Charles Moore
by Charles on November 23, 2009
As Thanksgiving approaches there is bad and good news for all of us. Most of you are probably already aware of both but I want to be sure.
The bad news is that democrats are using every trick ($300 million for Sen. Mary Landrieu) they can to shove government health care through Congress before most people can finally realize how bad it will affect all of us.
The news about new rules for mammograms and pap smears were just the tip of the iceberg for health care rationing. Do you realize that the current bill will also cut medicare benefits by $500 Billion? You will not only get rationed care but you will pay higher taxes and fees to get it. I hope the country wakes up before its too late.
On the other hand, the good news is that retailers are expanding “black Friday” bargains throughout the week, so you don’t have to go through hand to hand combat to save money on your Christmas shopping.
All the malls, outlet centers and internet stores are doing the same, so you don’t have to battle the crowds and flu this year on black Friday. Amazon.com even offers free shipping on most orders over $25. You can not only save money but have items gift wrapped and shipped where you want without leaving home. I’m sure many of the other internet stores will offer similar services so take it easy this year.
I also know some of you actually enjoy the adventure on black Friday. I hope you are able to find what you want and enjoy your quest.
Since this is the start of the holidays and the happiest time of the year for most of us, I regret the bad news but hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and painless shopping.
Best wishes,
Charles
P.S. The FTC requires that I inform you that if you make a purchase through my Amazon.com link, I will make a small commission.
by Charles on November 13, 2009
If you travel often and enjoy reading but hate trying to keep up with a suitcase full of books and magazines, I’m sure you’ve probably considered a Kindle Reader from Amazon. A major advantage for seniors other than portability is that you have the choice of 6 font sizes so you can adjust the text size immediately to meet your needs. You no longer need to try to find large print editions or fumble around with a magnifying glass.
For those who have trouble reading or vision which tires easily, the Read-to-Me feature on both Kindle models can read books, newspapers and magazine out loud to you. This is another major benefit for seniors.
Over 360,000 books, newspapers and magazines are now available for instant wireless delivery to your Kindle Reader. Bestsellers and new releases are only $9.99 unless marked otherwise. Newspapers and magazines can be auto-delivered to your reader if you want.
There are currently 2 versions of the Kindle, the 6 inch Kindle and the 9.7 inch Kindle DX. Other than the difference in screen size, the 6 inch model can store up to 1,500 books while the 9.7 inch DX stores up to 3,500 books. The 6 inch Kindle costs $259 and the DX is $489.
Now if the price is currently a barrier for not having a Kindle yet, I have a pleasant surprise for you. Amazon has just announced that you can download the Kindle for PC application to your PC computer for free. This will allow you to download and read the Kindle format products on your Windows PC. Your PC must be running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 to run the application. A version for MACs is supposed to be “coming soon”.
This free application gives you the means to purchase and read any of the 360,000 books but magazine and newspapers are not available now. You can learn more about this new application at Kindle for PC.
Click on this link for more details on the Kindle Reader.
Whether you are interested in one of the Kindle Readers or the free Kindle application, I hope this information has been helpful for you. To comply with new FTC rules, I also need to inform you that this site generates income from affiliate links for products that interest my readers. In case you didn’t notice.
Thank you for visiting and best wishes for a Merry Christmas.
by Charles on November 11, 2009
Today has been Veterans Day and I want to add my gratitude and appreciation to all who have served and sacrificed in our military. In light of the recent shooting at Fort Hood, it is very timely to honor the people serving in uniform who never know when or where they may encounter terrorist acts. We all need to appreciate their courage and dedication.
This Major Hasan was already a Muslim extremist and if killing 13 unarmed people and wounding 38 others while chanting “Allah is great” isn’t terrorism, I don’t know what would be. What really outrages me is all the different excuses the media is trying to invent that won’t make Obama look bad.
Those who have been attacked and others at risk deserve the truth and support, not some political smoke screen. We have already learned that Hasan was attempting to contact Al Qaeda. I’m sure more will be discovered soon.
Whatever we learn, this attack only emphasizes the debt we owe to those who have served in the past and those who are still at risk to protect our freedom. Thank you.
by Charles on October 31, 2009
With Halloween here, we can take some of our attention off all the lies coming out of Washington and start planning for the holidays. The state of the economy, and the flu epidemic are going to make preparing for the holidays even more of a challenge this year.
However, if you want to avoid all the traffic, malls, crowds, flu and also save money, consider the internet. I know this information won’t be anything new to many of you but maybe it will help you get started sooner.
Now you can find nearly everything you can imagine on Amazon.com and have your gifts delivered right to your front door or to the person receiving the gift. You will probably pay less and you can feel at ease dealing with amazon since they are already so well established for internet shopping.
You can also choose from many other well known businesses also set up to cater to the internet shopper. LLBean, Walmart, Zappos and Egghead are just a few that quickly come to mind. You can just do a quick search and find a good merchant offering about anything you can imagine on the internet.
Many of the most popular items are easier to locate by searching the internet than the mall these days. Of course its most important to be cautious and only deal with businesses you know are trustworthy.
I hope this post will make your holiday planning a little easier and maybe keep you away from the flu. This year is going to be a struggle for many and I wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.
Best regards,
Charles Moore
P.S. If you want to explore Amazon, you can simply click the affiliate link below. I hope this reminder will help you plan ahead and find everything you need. Happy shopping where ever you do it.
