Baby Boomer Issues News Blog

CHICAGO MAYOR USING COERCION AGAINST GUN MAKERS

2013-01-30T14:07:00.002-08:00

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, Using Coercion Against Banks And Gun Makers, Says CCRKBA

PR Newswire – Tue, Jan 29, 2013

BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Anti-gun Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is taking his demagoguery to a new level by attempting to coerce banks into refusing service to firearms manufacturers, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

CBS News in Chicago reported that Emanuel was pressuring two major banks, identified as Bank of America and TD Bank, to stop lines of credit to Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger, two of the largest gun makers in the industry. In letters to bank executives, Emanuel reportedly said he wanted to send a message to gun makers that they must buckle under to gun control measures being pushed by the Obama administration.

"This is outrageous," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "Mayor Emanuel is acting like a Chicago gangster instead of a public servant, and we are very concerned that there might be legal ramifications. How dare the mayor engage in this kind of anti-gun lobbying effort, trying to cut off operating capital to a pair of perfectly legal companies that happen to be engaged in perhaps the most heavily-regulated business in the country.

"Gun owners and people who believe in the Bill of Rights should stop giving Chicago a line of credit by purchasing municipal bonds," he added. "Rahm wants to send a message, and the nation should send him a reply.

"Mayor Emanuel is allegedly contending that lines of credit should dry up unless Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger submit to operating their businesses the way anti-gunners demand," Gottlieb continued. "That conduct seems more in the realm of a street thug than a political leader, but then, again, we're talking about a mayor who presides over a city with Draconian gun laws and a murder rate rivaling a Third World country.

Emanuel is a career anti-gunner who served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, typically as point man on some kind of gun control effort.

"Mayor Emanuel seems to be under the illusion that he can force banks to act as his surrogates in an unrelenting campaign to crush the firearms industry and erase the Second Amendment," Gottlieb said. "This is insidious and we hope the banks recognize it for the kind of below-the-belt political chicanery for which Chicago politicians have become famous. No wonder they sometimes refer to him as 'The Godfather.'"

With more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (www.ccrkba.org) is one of the nation's premier gun rights organizations. As a non-profit organization, the Citizens Committee is dedicated to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of elected officials and facilitating grass-roots organization of gun rights activists in local communities throughout the United States.

SOURCE Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

FBI Director "Unsure If Obama Can Kill Americans"?

2013-01-24T19:18:00.002-08:00

EXCUSE ME? Did I hear this right?

For those who thought I was "a little off my rocker", take a listen to this........

No Budget, No Pay? What a Joke!!!

2013-01-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

I need to respond to the facade being perpetrated on this country by the No Budget, No Pay Act.

No Budget, No Pay should mean “no budget, no pay”, however, as usual, it is nothing more than the typical misleading jargon that spews daily from the mouths of the Government that is robbing us, rather than representing us.

I had a fleeting moment of hope that was quickly dashed by the realization that ‘no pay’ meant ‘holding pay until a later date’. So what? As a Realtor, my pay is ALWAYS held until I do my job, and I certainly won’t continue to get paid for the rest of my life because I did (or didn’t) do my job for a few years.

My disgust with the handling of this country grows daily, and I am not alone. As long as Democrats and Republicans put the party above the people, we have no hope. It is time for change, and the thought of the cost of that change terrifies me.

Home Of The Free And The Brave?

2013-01-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

This video needs to be seen by every citizen and public official in this country.

He is a hero in my eyes.

The County Sheriff: The Ultimate Check & Balance

2013-01-16T15:15:00.004-08:00

This seemed like the right time to repost this one.....
(originally posted May, 2012)

I found this to be a VERY interesting little piece of information I was totally unaware of........

When the United States of America was founded the framers spent arduous hours devising a Constitution that would protect future generations from tyranny and government criminality. A system of checks and balances was established to keep all government, especially at the federal level, from becoming too powerful and abusive.

The Bill of Rights was promulgated to augment the limitations previously placed against the government, to further insure that government would stay in its proper domain.

So, what happens when government does not obey its own constitution? What punishment is meted out to politicians who vote for and pass unconstitutional laws? What happens if they appoint unlawful bureaucracies or allow their agents to violate the rights of the American citizen? The answer to these questions is both astounding and lamentable; NOTHING!

Now the question becomes even greater; who will stop criminal and out-of-control government from killing, abusing, violating, robbing, and destroying its own people? Yes, believe it or not, there is an answer to this one. The duty to stop such criminality lies with the county sheriff. The question needs to be posed to each and every sheriff of these United States; will you stand against tyranny?

The office of sheriff has a long and noble history. It dates back over a thousand years and originated in England. The sheriff is the only elected law enforcement official in America. He is the last line of defense for his citizens. He is the people's protector. He is the keeper of the peace, he is the guardian of liberty and the protector of rights. A vast majority of sheriffs will agree with all of this until they are asked to apply these principles of protection to federal criminals. Their backpeddling and excuses will be more plentiful than radar tickets and louder than sirens at doughnut time. Most of the unbelievers, who themselves have taken a solemn oath to "uphold and defend" the U S Constitution, will passionately and even apologetically exclaim that they have no authority or jurisdiction to tell federal agents to do anything, let alone stop them from victimizing local citizens. The truth and stark reality is that it's just the opposite; the sheriff has ultimate authority and law enforcement power within his jurisdiction. He is to protect and defend his citizens from all enemies, both "foreign and domestic."

Of course, there are those who will maintain that the feds have not and will not commit crimes against law-abiding citizens in this country, the IRS notwithstanding. For the sake of argument, let's just pretend that the government did nothing wrong at the Branch Davidian church in Waco or at Ruby Ridge, Idaho when citizens were killed. Those incidents have been debated and will be forever. However, the immutable truth about both tragedies remains that if the local sheriff had remained in charge of both incidents, not one person would have died, including federal agents, and the law would still have been enforced.

Despite the frequency or the severity of government abuses, if they were to happen in your county, would your sheriff intervene? Well, don't look now, but they are already occurring and some sheriffs have indeed taken very courageous stands against the feds coming in to their counties to "enforce" their laws. Cattle, lands, homes, bank accounts, cash, and even children have been seized and prisons filled all in the name of federal enforcement of EPA rules, The Endangered Species Act, IRS rules, (of which there are over 10 million pages) Forest Service and Dept. of the Interior technicalities and the list goes on and on. The sheriff of NYE County, Nevada stopped federal agents from seizing a rancher's cattle and even threatened to arrest the feds if they proceeded against his orders. Sheriffs in Wyoming have told the agents of all federal bureaus to check with them before serving any papers, making any arrests, or confiscating any property. Why? because they are doing their jobs that's why! It's just another way to provide checks and balances that ultimately protect and help citizens.

Criminality within the IRS has been well documented. Hearings about such crimes were held before congress in 1998. IRS employees testified of hundreds of crimes being committed against law-abiding citizens. Congress did nothing about it. They were too busy checking Monica Lewinsky's dress. The point remains, if any abuse occurs in your county by federal officials; does your sheriff have the guts and the authority to protect and defend you? Does that question not sound redundant? Is he not bound by oath to do just that?

Yes, he has the right and the duty to do so. In Mack/Printz v USA, the U S Supreme Court declared that the states or their political subdivisions, "are not subject to federal direction." The issue of federal authority is defined even further in this most powerful Tenth Amendment decision. The two sheriffs who brought the suit objected to being forced into federal service without compensation pursuant to some misguided provisions of the Brady Bill. The sheriffs sued the USA (Clinton adm.) and won a major landmark case in favor of States' Rights and local autonomy. In this ruling by the Supreme Court, some amazing principles were exposed regarding the lack of power and authority the federal government actually has. In fact, this is exactly the issue addressed by the court when Justice Scalia opined for the majority stating, "...the Constitution's conferral upon Congress of not all governmental powers, but only discreet, enumerated ones."

Scalia then quotes the basis of the sheriffs' suit in quoting the Tenth Amendment which affirms the limited powers doctrine, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution...are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." To clarify this point, we need to understand that the powers and jurisdiction granted to the federal government are few, precise, and expressly defined. The feds have their assignments within constitutional boundaries and the states have theirs, as well. Scalia also mentions this, "It is incontestable that the Constitution established a system of dual sovereignty" and that the states retained "a residuary and inviolable sovereignty." Scalia even goes so far as to detail who is responsible to keep the federal government in their proper place, if or when they

decide to go beyond their allotted authority. In doing so he quotes James Madison, considered to be the father of our Constitution, "The local or municipal authorities form distinct and independent portions of the supremacy, no more subject, within their respective spheres, to the general authority [federal government] than the general authority is subject to them, within its own sphere." (The Federalist # 39) Thus, the federal government has no more authority to compel the states or the counties to do anything, no more so than the Prime Minister of Canada has.

But what happens when the inevitable occurs; when the feds get too abusive and attempt to control every facet of our lives? The Mack/Printz decision answers this also. "This separation of the two spheres is one of the constitution's structural protections of liberty. Just as the separation and independence of the coordinate branches of the federal government serve to prevent the accumulation of excessive power in any one branch, a healthy balance of power between the States and the Federal Government will reduce the risk of tyranny and abuse from either front." To quote Madison again Scalia writes, "Hence, a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself." (The Federalist # 51) So the state governments are actually and literally charged with controlling the federal government. To do so is "one of the Constitution's structural protections of liberty." (Emphasis added)

Yes, it is regrettable that a sheriff would be put in this position. The governor and the state legislature should be preventing federal invasions into the states and counties way before the sheriff, but if it comes to the sheriff, then he must take a firm stand. James Madison also said, "We can safely rely on the disposition of state legislatures to erect barriers against the encroachments of the national authority." So when the state legislatures go along to get along and are bought off by political cronyism or the disbursement of federal funds, then the sheriff becomes the ultimate check and balance.

It is time for the sworn protectors of liberty, the sheriffs of these United States of America, to walk tall and defend us from all enemies; foreign and domestic. When sheriffs are put in the quandary of choosing between enforcing statutes from vapid politicians or keeping their oaths of office, the path and choice is clear, "I solemnly swear or affirm, that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

I dare you to send this to your local County Sheriff and ask where they stand.

I DOUBLE DOG dare ya......

The Funny Side of Aging

2012-05-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

What's so funny about growing old? Not a whole lot, according to the wisest man who ever lived. Here's what Solomon said about our "Golden Years:"

Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young,

Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,

Before your vision dims and the world blurs

And the winter years keep you close to the fire.

In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.

Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen.

The shades are pulled down on the world.

You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt.

The hum of the household fades away.

You are wakened now by bird-song.

Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.

Even a stroll down the road has its terrors.

Your hair turns apple-blossom white,

Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body.

Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest,

While your friends make plans for your funeral.

Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over.

Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.

The body is put back in the same ground it came from.

The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 (The Message)

Old King Solomon said it all, didn't he? Sure, aches and pains aren't much fun. Getting wrinkles along with a bigger belly (or butt) isn't much of a laugh either. And say, those mirrors are getting downright vicious!

Tell me, do you make a shopping list because you know you can't trust your memory, and then go off and forget the list? Yep, been there and done that. So my fellow maturing baby boomers, other than joining the vampires in avoiding mirrors and taping our grocery list to our wrist, how can we best cope with the aging dilemma?

I say quotable quotes! That's right; let's turn to the most humorous quotes we can find on aging and see if that doesn't help ease the burden of seeing way too many candles glaring at us on the birthday cake.

Here's the cream of the crop -- or at least the best I have been able to dig up:

"You can only be young once. But you can always be immature." Dave Barry (1947-) American humorist

"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." Lucille Ball (1911-1989) American actress

"If you want to recapture your youth, just cut off his allowance." Al Bernstein American writer and actor

"There's no fool like an old fool --- you can't beat experience." Jacob Morton Braude (1896-1970) American writer, author

"By the time you're eighty years old you've learned everything. You only have to remember it." George Burns (1896-1996) American comedian and actor

"I can't understand why I flunked American history. When I was a kid there was so little of it." George Burns

"If you live to the age of a hundred you have it made because very few people die past the age of a hundred." George Burns

"Nice to be here? At my age it's nice to be anywhere." George Burns

"Old age is when you resent the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated because there are fewer articles to read." George Burns

"No man knows he is young while he is young." G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) English writer

"Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternatives." Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972) French actor and singer

"He is so old that his blood type was discontinued." Bill Dana (1924- ) American comedian, actor and screenwriter

"I'm at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, I've just had a mirror put over my kitchen table." Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) American comedian and actor

"The really frightening thing about middle age is that you know you'll grow out of it." Doris Day (1924- ) American actress, singer

"One of the many things nobody ever tells you about middle age is that it's such a nice change from being young." Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958) American author

"I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up." Harry Hershfield (1885-1974) American comic artist

"Middle age is when you still believe you'll feel better in the morning." Bob Hope (1903-2003) American comedian, actor

"Middle age is when your age starts to show around the middle." Bob Hope

"If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old." Edgar Watson Howe (1853-1937) American journalist

"Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old." Washington Irving (1783-1859) American author

"Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough." Groucho Marx (1890-1977) American comedian

"Old age is like flying through a storm. Once you're aboard, there's nothing you can do." Golda Meir (1898-1978) Prime Minister of Israel

"A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, ''At my age, I don't even buy green bananas.' " Claude D. Pepper (1900-1989) Florida Senator and a Representative

"Some grow bitter with age; the more their teeth drop out, the more biting they get." George D. Prentice (1802-1870)

"The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the hygiene of older people, and greatly assists in the circulation of their blood." Logan Pearsall Smith (1865-1946)

"I'm so lonesome; they are all dying; I have hardly a warm personal enemy left." James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) American painter, etcher, and wit

"I am not young enough to know everything." Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish author and wit

"As long as a woman can look ten years younger than her own daughter, she is perfectly satisfied." Oscar Wilde

There, did that help? Yeah, I know. Some of the quotes aren't that funny. I just threw them in to see if you were still awake. Why don't you memorize a few of these quotations and try them out on a old friend or two. You might brighten up their day. Or they may just hold up their ear trumpet and cry, "Eh?"

If I haven't listed your favorite aging quote, put it in the comment below.
I believe you eventually become whatever you allow your mind to think about. So if you want to be happy during the "senior years," my advice is: start a collection of humorous quotes. It sure beats mulling over your aches and pains! Who knows, after a few inspiring words from George Burns or Oscar Wilde, even that old buzzard you see in the mirror might start to look more chirpy.

____________________________________________________________

Resource:
Jerry Boone, Gatlinburg, Tennessee,

Social Security And The Mystery Of The Missing Boomer FICA Payments

2012-05-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hardly a day goes by that we don't hear some voice of the government bemoaning the sad and unsustainable expense of Social Security. You know the drill: How can it go on with all the baby boomers reaching retirement age?

Here's Bernake at his most daring to date, addressing the Economics Club of Washington, which, we all know, wields much more influence than AARP: ''Reform of our unsustainable entitlement programs'' should be a priority. "The imperative to undertake reform earlier rather than later is great.''

But hold it a moment. Haven't all those baby boomers watched the Federal Government neatly extract FICA payments from their paychecks for the forty or so years they've worked?
So where's the money?

If you really take into consideration that the number of retirees will always pretty much equal the number of people who were recently working and kicking in their share of taxes toward Social Security, you arrive at the conclusion that all this talk about the unsustainable expenditure on "entitlements" as fiscally irresponsible is, in fact, an unsustainable bit of chicanery.

You may ask, What about inflation? Isn't it a factor? Of course, but, hey, what's new about that?

So we arrive at this very puzzling question? Why is it that with more people retiring, there is not more money available?
Don't tell me the FEDS raided the till for other priorities?

Anyway, bottom line is, if we burned up the retirement funds of the boomers on bombs and idiotic wars, it's time to moderate those expenditures, so the money that was slipped out of Social Security to fund those various insanities can be slipped back into it.

We promise not to notice its temporary absence.

______________________________________________________________

Resource:
Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing "delightfully funny," "witty," with "good, genuine laughs" and "great humor and ebullience."

Have We Become The People We Said Never To Trust?

2012-05-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has spent all or part of their teen or growing-up years in the sixties will surely remember the famous slogan delivered from under protest banners flying high or tacked up in seedy apartments and dorm rooms decorated with day-glow posters of Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.

Remember what it was? Come-on, sure you do. Here's a hint - it was one of the catch phrases of the hippies - the 'Love' generation. It went right along with, "Make Love Not War". And it was usually drawn with magic markers on rumpled 'used-to- be white', dorm room sheets.

Still nothing? Hey man you're not trying.

OK, last clue. What could the most ironic thing that millions of settled, responsible movers and shakers of today's society (us) could have said all those years ago to make us squirm now in our CEO chairs or heated leather Lexus seats?

No guesses? Really?

OK, well everyone who thinks they know the answer, jot it down on an old 'zigzag' joint paper and stuff it into the back pocket of those jeans, (despite the fact that they're three sizes larger than they were in 1968, and now fit a whole lot tighter) And even worse, you're not wearing them tight in the butt any more to be sexy! Then send it off to me in your old college laundry bag. Winners will be chosen completely at random by the judge (me) whose thoughts are likewise completely random (me again) and.... Oh forget it. You give up?
All right - well if everyone has guessed or is so stumped that they're about to give up and turn on the 24/7 'Bad-60's-sitcoms-all-night' cable channel's Beverly Hillbilly's re-run marathon, here is the answer. It was;
"Never trust anyone over Thirty."
Let me explain.

The whole irony thing slid insidiously into my consciousness the other day when I happen to hear a song that was pretty silly and pretentious forty years ago (and it hadn't improved with age) spilling out from the speakers of my Cadillac.

It was a little ditty called 'Signs' or some such title. To be honest I don't really re-call who did the thing back then nor would I recognize the singer nasally droning it out today, even if you picked him up by the scruff of the neck and bodily wumped me over the head with him.

But it was the words to the song - silly and naive as they were back then, that really started me thinking. The song, as I began to remember, was about how the middle class, up-tight, grown-ups (definitely not us back then!), had made up way too many rules in order to force their stodgy, middle class values on the free and uninhibited sprits (us - the 'cool' Baby Boomer kids). And even more insidious, the song reminded us Boomer kids back in the 60's, that the adults had put up all kinds of 'Signs' to infringe on the rights of all of us mellow, young Boomers, who asked for nothing more than to, 'let-it -all-hang-out.
As the still unknown pop vocalist of today sang about how the sign and the rules were encroaching on our freedoms and individualism, I started to get this unpleasant little nagging feeling at the back of my mind.

And then it hit me.

We were the ones who were now putting up the signs and making everyone conform. The signs that tell everyone what they can and can't do and what they better do if they know what's good for them.

For instance, the environmental movement which had started out as a quasi-religion of 'love mother earth' by free-spirited hippies in communes, has now been taken over by grim humorless bureaucrats who watch over things like 'Big Brother' and use a bewildering array of sometimes contradictory government laws to enforce their will.

For heaven sakes I heard only last week about someplace across our fruited plains where not only were you ordered to recycle, but you had to put your garbage in clear plastic bags so that the enviro police could make sure you were!

Whoa... Hey 'Bro' was this what the free spirits in the commune had in mind? Weren't we protesting the heavy hand of government telling us what to do?

It sort of reminds me of that great old movie from the 60's by Woody Allen. It was called Bananas and was about how a Latin/American freedom fighter (who looked suspiciously like Castro) changed when the 'outsiders' became the 'insiders' and could make all the rules.

As the farce, broadened into the ridiculous, I recall one scene where the dictator makes a law that everyone will have to wear clean underwear every day and they have to wear them on the outside of their clothes so that the 'Underwear Police' can check them daily.

Want another one we would have protested as infringement of free expression? How about a planned community that recently told a resident that they would have to take down their colored Christmas lights or risk a fine. Why? Because someone had passed a 'rule' that all Christmas lights had to be white! (I wonder if they not only require underwear to be worn on the outside, but mandate that it must be white as well !!) Hummm. Are we seeing a pattern here?

Or take the government itself. Now I know that I wasn't so stoned that I don't remember those protests. The ones where all we wanted was to get the government out of our lives and off of our back - right?

Now it seem like we've not just invited them to tell us what to do, but are demanding it ! You know the drill. "Why doesn't the government do something about this or "we need a law that says...." Ah uh.

There are underwear laws and white light rules in our futures folks.

Now don't get me wrong - I know that a lot of these laws and regulations have been put in place "for our own good". But wasn't that what an older generation told us forty years ago?
Ah well, maybe we should just shrug our collective shoulders, light some sandalwood incense, pass around the old bong pipe and just chalk it up to just another 'sign' of the times.

Peace dude.

"Shadow of Inocence" - Rick Wasley

http://www.kunati.com

http://www.kunati.com/shadow-of-innocence-hip-myster/
Ric Wasley has spent almost forty years wandering through corporate board rooms and honky-tonk bars. He now divides his time between writing mystery novels - Shadow or Innocence - A McCarthy Family Mystery - Published by Kunati, http://www.kunati.com , and observing the really 'juicy parts' of the human condition.

Considering Florida For Retirement: Part 3

2012-05-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Note: This is Part 3 of a 3 part article on Florida and its many different regions for retirement.

In Part 1 we laid out the basic facts about the Sunshine State and Part 2 we had descriptions of 8 different regions of Florida (my definitions):

- Panhandle
- Northeast Atlantic
- Mid-Atlantic – The Space Coast
- Central Florida
- South Atlantic
- Middle Gulf – The Nature Coast
- South Gulf Coast
- The Keys

In this article which I'll will call Retirement 303, I will provide my opinion about the pluses and minuses of these regions, and why certain ones might appeal more to different people.

Please note this is not a scientific study, merely a collection of opinions. These areas are quite large, so generalizing is definitely a hazard – there will be exceptions to everything.

The state is so big that people who can warm up to the idea of living in Florida could be happy in many, if not all, parts of the state.

1. Panhandle:
This area goes from Pensacola in the west to Tallahassee (Florida’s Capital) and the Big Bend Area. Much of the population is situated along the coast in the west, while the coast is almost totally unpopulated for a huge distance between Carrabelle and Homasassa Springs to the south. The non-coastal region is similar in terrain and feel to southern Georgia.

Pros
Long Coastline
Many Bays
Moderate Home Prices

Cons
Hurricane History
Spring Breakers
Coldest winter weather in Florida (but not that cold)
Not so great airline travel options

Who Might like living in the Panhandle
The area around Pensacola and Panama City has many military bases, so it is obviously very attractive to military retirees.
People who like beaches and boating will have plenty to do in the Panhandle.

2. Northeast Atlantic
Butting up against southeastern Georgia, this part of the state has the huge Jacksonville Metro and then goes down the coast with quite a variety of different towns – from posh Ponte Vedra to rough and tumble Daytona Beach. Jacksonville is like many other fast-growing American cities, although it is in Florida it could fit in anywhere.

Pros
Big city with major sports and culture
Beaches and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean
History around St. Augustine
Many developments to choose from
Reasonable home prices in many communities

Cons
Crime and traffic in Jacksonville
Snowbirds might be disappointed with cooler winter temps

Who Might like living in the North Atlantic part of Florida:
Jacksonville area multi-generational communities offers a way to live near children/grandchildren
Golfers will find plenty of courses including some very high end ones in Ponte Vedra.
St. Augustine offers history

3. Mid-Atlantic – The Space Coast
The central coast of Florida might offer the least traffic and congestion of Florida’s Atlantic coastline. It has beautiful barrier islands, plenty of birds to watch, and a lower key way of life.

Pros
Less traffic and congestion
Access to nature
Affordable real estate prices

Cons
No big towns nearby
Winter ocean is cold
Medical care

Who Might enjoy living on the Space Coast:
People who are looking for a less congested, slower way of life away from big towns and cities but close to beaches might enjoy a Space Coast retirement.

4. Central Florida
The region we define as Central Florida goes from Gainesville in the north all the way through Orlando and down to Sebring. It is a relatively flat interior region with many lakes, along with the giant Ocala National Forest.

Pros
Some of the most inexpensive real estate in the U.S.
A choice of hundreds of 55+ communities, some of them very big
Opportunity to live on a lake
Places designed to retirement towns, like Winter Haven
Quieter than along the coast
Orlando Airport

Cons
It’s a drive to the beach
The Orlando area has some high crime and traffic
Quieter than along the coast

Who might like living in Central Florida
People who want a very big active community like On Top of the World or The Villages.
Bargain hunters will find the best deals in Florida.
Folks who prefer the country to the coast, including horse lovers who might gravitate to the Ocala area.

5. South Atlantic Florida
The region I'm talking about is the Atlantic coast of Florida beginning in about Stuart and going south to Miami. This part of the coast certainly has the warmest winters. It is also the most congested, and offers the greatest variety of towns to live in. From the poor cousin Pompano Beach to Rolls Royce-afflicted Palm Beach, there are many towns to choose from. Miami is one of the most unusual and complex cities in the world. It has an Art Deco tourist section on the beach, super-affluent islands, ethnic neighborhoods and culture, a thriving international business community, and quiet neighborhoods for retirees.

Pros
Warmest winters
Great variety of towns and communities
Culture
Mass transit, big airports, cruise ship departures

Cons
Higher real estate costs
Traffic
Congested
Hurricane threats

Who Might like living in the South Atlantic part of Florida
Originally, and this is still somewhat true, the east coast of Florida attracted snowbirds from the Northeast – New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey. If you are used to a fast-paced lifestyle, attention to status, and a strong interest in things cultural, this might be the place for you.

6. Middle Gulf – The Nature Coast
Starting below Tallahassee the west coast of Florida is sparsely populated and eventually ends in the bustling Metro of St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa. The beaches aren’t generally as well developed or populated as elsewhere in the state.

Pros
Less populated and developed
Lower prices
Nature is less disturbed

Cons
It is not generally that exciting
Fewer choices in towns and communities

Who Might like living on the Nature Coast
People who like less development and more access to nature (like the Suwanee River or an an undeveloped coast) will enjoy this area. So it appeals to those who are looking for a quiet, as well as inexpensive, place to live.

7. South Gulf Coast
For our purposes this region starts with St. Petersburg and eventually ends in Marco Island, just above the Everglades. It includes the huge St.Pete/Tampa/Clearwater Metro, sophisticated Sarasota, sprawling Ft. Myers, and chi-chi Naples. The beaches are fantastic, such as those on Sanibel or the Keys off Sarasota. There are also dozens of little towns with a low profile.

Pros
Fabulous beaches
Warm winters
Tremendous choice of towns and active communities
Wide range of where to live – from big to small
Like most of Florida, great boating, fishing, golf
Culture

Cons
A history of hurricanes
Traffic and congestion
Suburban sprawl

Who Might like living on the South Gulf Coast
As the East Coast of FL was traditionally populated with northeasterners, so is the West Coast home more often to midwesterners. Lots of retirees here followed their friends down here from western Pennsylvania, the Midwest, Canada, and West Virginia. As a result many communities have a more laid back, less frenetic pace. As just about everywhere in Florida, if you like golf, fishing, going to the beach, and shopping, you will have found your retirement heaven.

8.The Keys
Our final district starts in the Everglades below Miami and ends in Key West, the Bohemian center 90 miles from Cuba that locals refer to as Paradise. Along the way are many narrow keys, some of which host small towns and bigger ones that are home to Islamorada and Marathon. This area is about as different from Florida (and the rest of the U.S.) as it could be.
Pros
Warmest winters of all
Arguably the best fishing in U.S.
A boating paradise
Ultra-relaxed
The Keys and Key West are unique in many ways

Cons
Some of highest real estate prices in FL
A hassle to drive to the mainland
Mandatory hurricane evacuations
Sophisticated medical care is a long ways away

Who might like living in the Keys
A lot of people who live here are escaping from somewhere else. Or they are obsessed with fishing, boating, or an artistic lifestyle. Or they want a very relaxed lifestyle where shoes and shirts are optional, or where you spend more time on your bike than you do your car.

Summary
Florida has just about something for everybody, except for cold winters and mountains. Its different regions are diverse and worth exploring to find which one offers you the best fit. There is no substitute for getting out and exploring different areas and towns to see what you like and don’t like firsthand.

Resouces
Part 1
Part 2
Directory of Florida Towns and Active Communities

Comments: I hope you have enjoyed this rundown of Florida by region. I would love to hear your reactions, agreements, and disagreements with these assessments. Please let me know in the Comments section below.

View the original article here

Consider Florida For Retirement: Part 2

2012-05-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

Note: This is Part 2 of a 3 Part series. In Part 1 we laid out the basic facts about the Sunshine State and divided it into 8 different regions. Now we'll get a little more discriptive about each of those regions.

Panhandle

First, in Florida’s Panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico you will find towns like Panama City and Pensacola. Both are relatively low key, lower cost, and very popular with retirees. Panama City has a reputation for attracting spring breakers in the springtime. Since there is several large military bases in the area, many military retirees have decided to retire here. There are great beaches here and numerous bays – fishing and boating are topnotch.

At the start of the Panhandle in the “Big Bend Area” is Tallahassee, a completely different kind of place. A college town, it is home to both Florida State Univ. and Florida A & M. Also the state’s capital, it is considered one of the more liberal enclaves in the state (although people who view themselves as conservatives will find like-minded people too). Though not on the water, it is only an hour’s drive to very peaceful areas of the Gulf, such as Apalachicola.

The real estate market is relatively stable and slightly below the state median price. Traffic can be bad. Winters are mild. Although there is an occasional frost, the prime vegetable growing season is winter.

Northeast Florida – Jacksonville to Daytona Beach

Jacksonville is one of Florida’s 3 big urban areas, along with Tampa/St. Pete and Miami. This one tends to attract the youngest residents. There are huge suburbs and new developments. Some of these include neighborhoods for families with children, along with others designed for the 55+ crowd, an approach that is attractive to many who want to retire near their grandchildren.

Going east from the city, Jacksonville Beach offers many little neighborhoods on the beach. Jacksonville has a great airport and some of the country’s top medical facilities.

As one goes south along the beach you run into very wealthy enclaves like Ponte Vedra, home to many famous and/or wealthy people. Historic St. Augustine is an interesting, if touristy town.

Palm Coast is a massive development originally started by ITT in 1969. Now a city, it is one of the largest developments in the country. It has multiple neighborhoods and developers, and attracts families and retirees for the recreation, newer homes, and attractive prices. At $120,000, 2011 home prices were lower than the Florida median.

Finally there is Daytona Beach, site of the famed speedway. The city on the beach has somewhat of a checkered reputation as first a destination for spring breakers and now for motorcycle rallies.

Mid Atlantic – the Space Coast

From Titusville to Port St. Lucie, Florida’s Atlantic Coast tends to be overlooked. The traffic isn’t as bad, and the climate is a bit warmer in winter. Real estate is quite inexpensive, with the median home in Melbourne going for $120,000 in late 2011.

The area generally has inhabitable barrier islands that many of the nicest neighborhoods are on. It is quite easy to live very near the water. The bigger towns are on the inland side.

A drawback is that in otherwise great retirement towns like Vero Beach it is a long drive to the nearest big airport. Parts of this area were severely walloped by hurricanes in the mid 2000's. A significant percentage of the people who live in this area are retired.

Central Florida

Moving away from the coast there is the gigantic center portion of Florida, which runs from the college town of Gainesville (University of Florida) in the north to Ocala’s horse country, the major metro of Orlando, and on down to Lakeland, Winter Park, and smaller towns below that. The climate is different in central Florida – humidity is a bit lower and it gets hotter in the summer.
The area is filled with countless lakes – in many areas like Lakeland and Cypress Gardens it often seems like there is more lake than land. The housing crisis has hurt this part of Florida as hard or harder than anywhere in the country. It is filled with inexpensive active adult communities, RV communities, and inexpensive communities of manufactured homes. As an example, the median price of a home in late 2011 was $80,000 in Ocala.

Nearer the huge city of Orlando the selection of communities is more varied, going from very low budget to gated golfing communities where all the homes sell for more than a million dollars. For budget-minded retirees, we like this area. Real estate prices are cheap and there are tons of communities to choose from.

Check out places like Mount Dora and Kissimmee. Famous active communities like On Top of the World and The Villages are in this part of the state. Many people believe that central Florida is the most conservative portion of the state.

South Atlantic Coast

Stuart is not only a very cute town on the coast, it is reputed to be the northernmost part of Florida benefiting from proximity to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream.

From here south the coast gets more and more crowded, going through retirement towns like Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, and finally, the huge and most unusual city of Miami.

Here in this region the ocean and the beaches are beautiful. One can find any type of community for any budget here. The Century Villages (there are 4 of them) are old-line, very large active communities dotted throughout the region. Those are fairly inexpensive, but it is easy to spend plenty to live in very exclusive communities like Sailfish Point on Hutchinson Island near Stuart.

Middle Gulf – The Nature Coast

The Gulf Coast is surprisingly unpopulated in its northern regions below Tallahassee. The first town of any consequence coming from the north is Spring Hill. It has a lot of communities to live in, most of which are nothing special. It is a short drive to the beach.

Tampa/St.Petersburg/Clearwater is one of Florida’s biggest Metros. Tampa tends to be the commercial center, while St.Petersburg’s island location and many nice neighborhoods and beaches make it more relaxed. Although has a lot of interesting neighborhoods rather than 55+ developments, the city is filled with retirees. Home prices are low (about $70,000 according to City-Data.com).

Going south from there is Sarasota, a wonderful place to retire for people who are looking for culture, restaurants and a vibrant community. It has active adult developments and nice general neighborhoods. The beachfront barrier islands of Siesta Key and Longboat Key offer a chance to live on the beach but be right next to a city. Sarasota proper has a more liberal outlook than many other places in Florida.

South Gulf Coast

Fort Myers is the biggest community in this part of the state. It is a diverse community in its own right – from a very pretty and restored downtown area to sprawling developments to a very long coastline. Real estate prices are low and traffic in season is high. It has a terrific new airport and active cultural life. Towns around it and south of here offer different attractions.

In Cape Coral anybody can buy a house on a canal for well less than $100,000, whereas Punta Gorda is strikingly more upscale.

To the south Bonita Springs offers great beaches and plentiful golf. Naples and Marco Island, the last 2 towns before the Everglades start, are the decidedly upscale parts of the state. Naples has a wonderful downtown and beautiful neighborhoods on the beach, plus very expensive active adult communities on the bay.

The Keys

Starting below the Everglades on the East Coast of the State the Keys begin on a series of mangroves. Narrow Route 1 connects them to Miami over a series of bridges and narrow coral islets, ending in Key West just 90 miles from Cuba. In most places the Keys are less than 200 yards wide, although the principal towns of Marathon and Islamorada are bigger.

While great for vacationers who love the beach and fishing, the Keys are better for younger retirees than older ones. That’s because it can be a long way to Miami for healthcare, not to mention the problem of mandatory evacuations that can come in hurricane season. Property values in Key West, the tropical and bohemian paradise, are among the highest in the count

In the next post, Consider Florida For Retirement: Part 3, we'll get deeper into what would attract different types of people to the different regions.

Resources:
Directory of Florida retirement towns and active communities

Comments?
What are your favorite parts of Florida? Do you think I have characterized it accurately?
Let me know if you have any thought about it.

Consider Florida For Retirement: Part 1

2012-05-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

There are people that “hate” Florida, and there are those that “love” it. Surprisingly, the people who don’t have a strong opinion seem to be a smaller group.

In Part 2 of this article I'll get into more about the regions and which ones might appeal to different folks better than others, but here in Part 1 I would like to provide a “Florida Retirement 101" crash course.

My objective is to help you understand this very large and popular state, which is diverse in more ways than you might think. You still might not like the idea of Florida, but at least you will know more about it.

First, a few facts

The 2010 household population was 18,800,000, the 4th most populous in the U.S. Median age is 40.7, higher than national average. Some 21% of the population is 62 and over.

Part of Florida’s geographic diversity comes from its unusual shape – it is both tall and wide. So tall and wide that it takes over a day to drive from Pensacola to Key West. Its different regions tend to attract different kinds of people, offering another kind of diversity.

Florida is the 22nd largest state, has the longest coastline in the contiguous states, and the only state to have a coastline on the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. It is a very flat state, which is one of the things that people tend not to like about it (Mount Dora, at 185' is one of its “loftiest” towns).

Florida’s median home value in early 2012 was $120,600 (Zillow), about 20% lower than the U.S. median ($145,000 – Zillow, or $163,500 – NAR). According to Zillow.com the priciest metro in the state for homes is Naples ($199,000) and the most inexpensive is Ocala ($84,200).

From a tax viewpoint Florida is very friendly to retirees. There is no state income tax. There used to be a tax on intangible assets (stocks, etc.), but that has been eliminated. Sales tax is 6%. Florida has a homestead law, Save Our Homes, that protects full-time residents from property taxes above the rate of inflation.

One of the few economic negatives about Florida is that in many areas near the coast, property insurance is very expensive. Many private insurers have pulled out of the market after several bad hurricane seasons, leaving the non-profit Citizens Insurance Co. as the insurer of last resort.

Weatherwise, it is a well-known fact that Florida is pretty warm in winter and hot in summer. Along the coasts you can count on very high humidity. In the interior it will be less so. Hurricanes are a problem everywhere in the state, but worse along the coasts. Winters in the north around Tallahassee and Jacksonville will have an occasional frost, but generally warm up enough in the day for any outdoor activity. As you move south winter temps get higher and higher. Key West is the only true frost-free city in the continental U.S. – yes, even Miami has seen a few snow flakes on the rarest of occasions.

The Diverse Regions

Florida is quite representative of the U.S. from an ethnic and political basis. It has every ethnicity and political stripe – in fact many of its residents, young and old, have moved here from somewhere else. As Florida votes in our Presidential elections, so usually does the rest of the country as a whole.

We'll break the state into 8 regions:

The Panhandle

Northeast Florida – Jacksonville to Daytona Beach

Mid Atlantic – the Space Coast

Central Florida

South Atlantic Coast

Middle Gulf – The Nature Coast

South Gulf Coast

The Keys

In the next post, Consider Florida For Retirement: Part 2, we'll get into some of the differences in the 8 different regions

Resources:
Directory of Florida retirement towns and active communities

The County Sheriff: The Ultimate Check & Balance

2012-05-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Top Military Recording Artists

2012-05-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

OMG! This is seriously bad.
I'm gonna go ahead a apologize ahead of time...

USMC Hammer

The Captain & Ten SEALs

My Morning Flak Jacket

The Dandy Warheads

Tank Williams, Jr.

Donny & Marine

Jeep Trick

Booker T. and the MiG's

MAS*H Mouth

Fatigue

Boy Slim

SEALs and Crafts

The Grateful Collateral Damage

Black Hawk Sabbath, featuring Osprey Osbourne

The Omaha Beach Boys

$500 Billion for Fighting

George's Thoroughly Good Destroyers

I warned you!!

Okay, smartypants ... Can you think of any?

View the original article here

The Happy Terrorists

2012-05-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few days ago a friend was pondering over why Muslim terrorists are so quick to commit suicide.

Lets have a look at the evidence:

- No Christmas
- No television
- No football
- No pork chops
- No hot dogs
- No burgers
- No beer
- No bacon
- Rags for clothes
- Towels for hats
- Constant wailing from some idiot in a tower
- You cook over burning camel crap
- Your wife is picked by someone else for you
- More than one wife
- More than one mother in law
- You can't shave
- Your wife can't shave
- You can't wash off the smell of your donkey
- Your wife smells worse than your donkey

then they tell them they get WHAT when they die???

Well......

Living to 100

2012-05-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

Do you want to live to be 100?

Someone sent me an article (see link below) that identifies health and lifestyle habits that it says will increase your odds of getting there.

But let’s start at the starting line. If you continue living in your current fashion, how long would you expect to live?

I tried this Longevity Calculator, and it’s great! Give it a try (it’s free) – and answer the questions honestly. Once you know how long you can expect to live, if your life continues on its current path, then answer the “live to 100” question.

Those who say that they do want to live to blow 100 candles on their birthday cake usually have a few qualifiers that they add. Here are the qualifiers that I personally would add:

1) I don’t want to be physically frail. I want as much vitality and vim as possible.

2) I pray that the dementia that afflicted my father will not pass to me. I want to be able to partake fully in the world – regardless of my age – and that requires an active, curious mental capacity.

3) I would want to still have a social community around me and in which I participate.

4) I would want to have a sense of purpose.

5) I would not want to be a “burden” to my loved ones – physically, financially, or otherwise.

I ask you to undertake the same exercise that I just did. Ask yourself under what circumstances would you want to be able to live to 100 and more. Then turn to this article - for the health and lifestyle habits it identifies – to help you get there.

As you review each of the 11 items, ask yourself: am I willing to do this (flossing daily, moving around and exercising daily, maintaining old friendships and developing new ones, for example). Be as honest with yourself as you were with the Longevity Calculator above.
If you’re going to make it 100 – and be happy that you made it there – then you’ve got to “walk the walk.” People who simply pay lip-service to this kind of advice, well, they’ll fall significantly short of the mark.

Hopefully, most of us have many years ahead of us. Let’s make the most of them!

Life Expectancy Calculator - http://calculator.livingto100.com/calculator

How to live to be 100 - http://www.ehow.com/how_136642_live-be-100.html

View the original article here

Things We Have Learned About Sex by Watching the Olympics

2012-05-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Things We Have Learned
About Sex by Watching the Olympics

Post-sex cuddling is like soccer: It's hugely popular in other parts of the world, but guys in the U.S. simply don't give a sh*t.

It is critical that one verifies the sex of the participants before the start of the event.

The pole vaulter sprints to the pit, sticks the pole, reaches climax, collapses onto the matt -- all in under 10 seconds. And he hopes to be awarded a medal!

Nobody remembers who came second.

Just like in wrestling: Slam 'em to the floor, pin 'em for a few seconds, and *boom* it's pretty much over.

The person finishing in the fastest time wins.

A sandy, sweaty, girl-on-girl ass smack can be more effective than Viagra.

Be careful! If your ladyfriend bends too far backward while she's on top, she could get flung up and over a 19-foot-high bar by the spring-back of your junk. (Yeah, right!)

Whatever you do, don't want to lose fluids too early.

Like sex, there's a lot more to water polo than simply thrashing around and slamming your balls between the uprights.

Getting laid is like the biathlon -- your scoring chances are greater if you carry a weapon. (May be your ONLY chance)

No matter how hard you try, synchronizing is a bitch.

"Doing it doggie style" means something entirely different at Beijing restaurants.

You prepare for it your whole life, but the moment is over in mere seconds.

Shaving reduces friction.

and the Number 1 Thing We Have Learned About Sex by Watching the Olympics...

Watching the experts and following along by yourself at home is often more gratifying than actually participating.

View the original article here

“You’re Never Too Old…”

2012-05-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

“You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – CS Lewis

What a great saying! So upbeat, so positive, so reaffirming.

But you’ve gotta ask, “Is it really true?” I’ve concluded that there may be a time when setting another goal or dreaming a new dream is indeed impossible – but (and this is a big BUT) – not being able to do so isn’t really related to your age. So I’ll tell you my bias right up front. When I’m around, don’t use “age” as an excuse for not achieving, or changing, or improving, or yes, even dreaming new dreams or setting new goals.

But if you live long enough, you’re bound to experience some of life’s difficult challenges. You may learn that sometimes a door that was open will be shut in front of you and regardless of how fervently you hope or pray or dream, that door will not ever open again.

Recently a 48-year old NH police chief was killed in the line of duty only 8 days before he was to officially retire. He and his wife had a month long vacation planned. His wife has seen the doorway to a wonderful retirement slammed fiercely in her face and she’ll no longer be able to set new goals or dream new dreams that involve her now deceased husband, but that’s not because she’s too old. It’s because life has intervened.

Some of us may have lost jobs – and may be having a tough time finding new work. It’s hard to be positive with that cloud overhead. But do keep setting new goals. Explore new avenues, hone your skills, network and connect. You may feel at times that you’re facing discrimination because of your age – and you may very well be right. But don’t let that keep you down. If a doorway has been slammed shut in front of you, move sideways instead.

Every time a door has been slammed shut in my face, (and there have been many slammings over the years), I’ve fought hard to rise out of the ashes and dream a new dream. Some may think it’s harder to dream new dreams if you’re After Fifty. Actually, After Fifty dreams are probably “better quality” dreams, as they’ve been honed by years of experience and the wisdom that comes with maturity. As a group, we’re probably more insightful about what will and won’t work.

So will we ever be too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream? I say age alone won’t prevent new goal setting. What about you – do you have a new goal, a new dream?

View the original article here

The Top Signs You Hired the Wrong Attorney

2012-05-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Top Signs You Hired the Wrong Attorney

Most of his "legal" experience is as a convicted felon.

He sends all your documents to opposing counsel.

Citations he's obtained this week for relevant cases: none.
Citations he's obtained this week for Drunk and Disorderly: three.

He makes a casual remark that he never knew so many people had "V" as a middle initial.

You overhear a phone call that ends, "You don't have to actually WIN? I can't find my ass with both hands and a flashlight and they still let ME be a lawyer."

The only Latin terms he understands are pig latin.

When he hears anything concerning Guantanamo, he says he doesn't like avocados.

When told that "the jury was hung," he starts laughing.

His idea of multitasking includes filling out legal documents while watching Jerry Springer.

Confuses "steno" with "sterno," causing an unexpected office fire.

No matter what his clients are accused of, tries to get his secretary to confess to the crime.

Every time he drafts a request for a continuance, he cites as the reason, "scared of losing."

and the Number 1 Sign You Hired the Wrong Attorney...

"Bill of Rights? I paid it with the firms credit card."

View the original article here

Taking Away the Car Keys

2012-05-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Recently NBC Nightly News ran a segment on a difficult conversation many "After Fiftiers" either have had or will be having with their aging parents.

Topic of the conversation: Taking Away the Car Keys (from elderly parents).

I looked for pointers in the NBC segment - things like, how to begin the conversation; how to counter-act defensive arguments; what to do if the parent just won’t listen or becomes belligerent – or worse. I looked because most of us will face these issues when the time comes.

Instead, NBC presented a very atypical family. Aging parent (age 90) had initiated the conversation (yes, you read that one right) and his son and daughter-in-law were helping him transition to a more limited driving schedule (no more night-time driving, 10-mile driving radius around the house, etc.).

I bet 9-out- of-10 of us will not encounter that kind of scenario when it is our turn. Driving represents independence – for all of us – and most will do everything in their power to maintain that independence.

However eHow.com provides an interesting article, “How to Take Away the Car Keys from an Aging Parent.” Here are the article’s 5 main points, in summary.

1) Take a ride with your parent as driver. How skillful is her driving. Does she become confused, agitated, lost? Has reaction time slowed?

2) If parent is getting lost or forgetful while driving, this may be a sign of dementia. Check this out with her doctor.

3) Suggest that your parent re-take the driver’s test. If you talk honestly with your parent about your concern for her safety (and the safety of others) she may agree to be re-tested.

4) If you’re not making progress, and if you’ve enlisted family and friends to talk with her and there’s still no progress, contact your Dept. of Motor Vehicles to report your concerns. They may revoke the license.

5) If all else fails, remove access to the car. This is not easy – but it could save lives.

In my case, my parent would not budge. The conversations were disappointing. Fortunately, though, the state required mother to take a vision test to renew her license. She marched belligerently into the Registry office, and took the eye exam. A Registry employee then asked her for her license – and tore it up. “Why?” my mother stammered. “Because you’re blind,” came the answer. “You have no business behind the wheel of a car. We’ll call you a cab.” And thus marked the end of my mother’s “driving days.”

This is a very unpleasant situation to be in. Especially for someone like me who knows that, not if, but WHEN my time comes they will have to take me down to get my license from ME.

View the original article here

The Path to Osama Was Through Bobby Brown

2012-05-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Clearly, I'm not as up-to-date on the intersection between world politics, entertainment and the bizarre because otherwise I would have heard much earlier than last night about the fact that Osama bin Laden was obsessed with Whitney Houston and wanted to kill Bobby Brown.

It's true. Honest.

Someone told me this last night. It's in the newspaper so it must be true, right?

Let's assume it was true. It seems obvious to me at that point capturing Osama bin Laden should have been easy. Why the US government didn't think of this is beyond me.
Or maybe they did.

The US government could have used Bobby Brown as bait. Getting Bobby Brown to Afghanistan would be easy..."they grow LOTS of poppies there, Bobby...it's the #1 source of materials needed for heroin, Bobby. H-e-r-o-i-n."

Ok, so maybe Bobby's more into the ganja than shooting up with heroin, but still all they needed to do was give him immunity for anything retarded he did in the future.

They could have drawn Osama bin Laden out with Bobby Brown and found a way to kill him (Osama, of course, not Bobby). It would have been a foolproof plan. If we had lost Bobby Brown to the cause...well...exactly.
_________________

Unfortunately, after this was written, we lost Whitney Houston. Such a sad day and a waste of a beautiful young life.

View the original article here

Social Security Part 2: Claiming Strategies for Couples and Divorced Spouses

2012-05-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

Category: Financial and taxes in retirement

Note: This is the 2nd in a 2 part series called “Social Security: What You Think You Know Might Hurt You”. Part 1 provided an overview of the program, how your benefit is calculated, and strategies for optimizing your benefits. This segment will concentrate on strategies for couples to maximize their benefits, rights and benefits for divorced spouses, and some of the more common misconceptions/FAQs about Social Security.

May 8, 2012 — As we discussed in Part 1, the decision to file for Social Security benefits is a personal one that means balancing several inputs. But for married couples, these factors get even more complicated. One spouse might be younger than the other. One person in the couple often has a higher earning record for social security, so he or she stands to collect more. They each might have different ideas about when to stop working and start collecting. And finally, and most importantly – when the first spouse dies the surviving spouse is entitled to their own benefit or that of the spouse, whichever is larger. Although people don’t tend to think about it, most of these same factors apply to the disability benefits that Social Security pays.

We attended a recent seminar organized by the Oakley Wing Group, where guest speaker Kurt Czarnowski offered 3 very smart claiming strategies for couples. We will share them here, using Ward and June Cleaver, a couple familiar to just about every baby boomer, as examples.

1. File and Suspend
Ward reaches Full Retirement Age (66) and files for Social Security benefits, then suspends (thus declining to take benefits at this time). If June is at least 62 she can now file and be eligible to start collecting the spousal benefit, 50% of Ward’s FRA benefit. Her benefit will not increase from this point, other than from COLAs.

Strategy: Ward’s benefit will continue to increase at 8% per year while he does not collect, and if he is working, he might further increase his benefit. Yet June can start collecting now, bringing money into the family without much downside to the higher earner’s potential benefit.

2. Claim Some Now, Claim More Later
Ward files at any age he is eligible and starts collecting. June waits until she reaches Full Retirement Age and begins collecting the spousal benefit (50% of Ward’s). By delaying her own benefit, and if she continues to work, she can increase her monthly benefit.

Strategy. The lower earner can start collecting early, preserving and maximizing the higher earner’s higher benefit.

3. Combination to Maximize Benefits for Both
Assumes both spouses have reached Full Retirement Age. Then one spouse files for benefits and immediately suspends (does not start collecting). The second spouse can now collect the spousal benefit on the first spouse. Later on the suspended spouse can start collecting his/her higher benefit (which will have increased by waiting), and the spouse taking the spousal benefit can file for their own benefit if higher.

Strategy: Allows both spouses to maximize the benefit from their earning record by delaying benefits past FRA, up to age 70. Also allows the couple to start getting 1 spousal benefit at FRA, but without jeopardizing the benefit they can get from their own earning record.

These 3 strategies are fairly complex and of course, the rules could always change. We recommend consulting a professional before implementing to make sure our assumptions are correct. But if one of these fits your particular situation, it could represent a very effective tool for you. This page at the Social Security site, “Benefits for Your Spouse“, helps to explain spousal rights quite clearly.

Rights of Divorced Spouses
If you are divorced you are probably entitled to the spousal benefit from your former spouse (or your own benefit entitlement if you prefer). These conditions apply:
- You were married for at least 10 years to that person
- You are at least 62 and unmarried
You don’t have to wait for your former spouse to file – you can collect 50% of their current entitlement (or take your own). The fact that you are taking benefits based on your former spouse’s record has no impact on his/her benefit.

More frequent questions and misconceptions about Social Security

Q: Didn’t Social Security stop sending out those helpful benefit statements? Is there any way to get your statement?

A: Yes. They did this as a money saving idea. However, people over 60 years of age will start getting them again this year (2013). Furthermore, Social Security has 2 wonderful online tools to help:

Online Estimator:
Use this tool to estimate how much your benefit will be, based on your actual payments into the system and when you intend to start collecting. You will need to enter some personal information into the system to prove that it is you using the tool.

Online Statement
(Note: We have had trouble reaching this page using Firefox, so you might want to try it in another browser). If you create an account and provide the tool with your personal information, it will give you the same online statement you are used to getting in the mail.

Q: Will Social Security run out of money?

A: There are a lot of people looking for the answer to this question. According to a 2012 report from the public trustees of the Social Security program, the system will not be able to pay 100% of promised retirement benefits beginning in 2033 (and the disability component will have that problem beginning in 2016) – unless Congress does something to fix the program.

However, this does not mean that Social Security is flat broke in 2033 if Congress fails to act. That’s because Social Security is a pay as you go program. FICA payments from people who are currently working will be coming into the system, and that will permit the Agency to pay at least 75% of promised benefits.

Q: Is the money that I paid into Social Security there in some specific account with my name on it?

A: No. As mentioned before, this is a pay as you go system. As designed, the taxes paid by current workers finance the payments to current retirees.

Q: What is behind the shortage looming in 2033?
A: There are 2 main factors:

1. Most importantly, it is demographic. There are so many baby boomers about to retire, they will outnumber the baby bust generation who are working to pay for them.

2. Life expectancy keeps going up. When Social Security began the average life expectancy was much less than it is now. And most workers had physically demanding jobs. The result is that the program is paying benefits for more years per worker than when it started.

The program clearly needs some minor adjustments to planned benefits and the ages at which people become eligible to overcome factors 1 and 2. Let us see if Congress will rise to the task!

More Questions
The Social Security website, ssa.gov, has a tremendous reservoir of Frequently Asked Questions. It is definitely worthwhile spending some time going through the various categories.

About Czarnowski Consulting
Kurt Czarnowski is currently the principal in “Czarnowski Consulting,” a retirement planning company which provides “Expert Answers to Your Social Security Questions.” Czarnowski is the former Regional Communications Director for the Social Security Administration (SSA) in New England, a position he held from December 1991 until his retirement at the end of 2010.

About this conference
This conference was organized by the folks at the Oakley Wing Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Essex, CT, an asset management team who specializes in helping baby boomers coordinate and oversee their financial affairs leading up to and throughout retirement. The team is available to help clients learn more about the preparations necessary to make a financially sound transition into retirement. You can call or email 860-447-4847 or William.james.mills@mssb.com. The event sponsor was Transparent Value, an asset management company within Guggenheim Partners, a private global financial services firm. in Essex, CT.

References:
Part 1: What You Think You Know About Social Security Might Hurt You

Comments: Please let us know what you think about these strategies in the Comments section below. What tactics are you using to maximize your legal benefits. Please also see the Comments made in Part 1 of this series.

View the original article here

What You Think You Know about Social Security Could Hurt You – Part 1

2012-05-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Note: As we wrote this the public trustees of the Social Security programs reported that its fiscal health has significantly worsened. See our companion story in our Blog, “Social Security Crisis Worsens“.

We were vain enough to consider ourselves experts on when and how to start collecting social security. That is, until we heard a talk last week by Kurt Czarnowski. Boy, the things we didn’t know, and the others so misunderstood! This article will give a brief background on Social Security and then dive into successful strategies for optimizing your return from this important safety net.

Part 2 of this series will focus on issues related to claiming strategies for couples, the rights of divorced spouses, and frequent misunderstandings/questions about Social Security.

About Czarnowski ConsultingKurt Czarnowski is currently the principal in “Czarnowski Consulting,” a retirement planning company which provides “Expert Answers to Your Social Security Questions.” Czarnowski is the former Regional Communications Director for the Social Security Administration (SSA) in New England, a position he held from December 1991 until his retirement at the end of 2010.

First, let’s start with a quote from Kurt Czarnowski: “The myths and misunderstandings about Social Security are staggering”. This from a man who spent 34 years within the Social Security Administration, the last of those as a Communications Director. Given all the misinformation, it is important that we all address this topic with an open mind. Note that this article was prepared from notes as well as our observations. If there are any errors they undoubtedly stem from our misunderstanding and not as any reflection on Mr. Czarnowski.

Social Security – A Safety Net
This 76 year old program was designed as a safety net for seniors, widows, and the disabled. It was never meant to be the sole source of retirement income; rather it was meant to be the base to help supplement income from pensions, savings and investments, and other income.

To be eligible for a retirement benefit you first need to become “vested”, which means you have to have earned 40 credits from Social Security. In 2012 you get 1 credit for each $1130 you earn, with a maximum of 4 credits per year. Employees currently pay 4.2% on their earnings (up to a maximum of $110,100 in 2012). In addressing a question from the audience, Mr. Czarnowski commented that for an individual who has not earned their 40 credits, it might be worth while taking a job to do so, given the potential value of the payout over time (including some considerations about your Part B premiums).

How Social Security determines your benefit
It is worth knowing how the Social Security Administration calculates your retirement benefits, once you become eligible and decide to start collecting. These are the 3 steps in determining your benefit:

1. Adjust prior year earnings to current dollars. This neutralizes your early year earnings, which are unreasonably low in today’s dollars.

2. Take the average of your 35 highest earning years. Non-working years are counted as 0's.

3. Adjust the benefit according to income. This progressive approach means is that lower earners get a higher percentage benefit (56%) relative to their earnings than do middle earners (41%). The highest earners get the smallest percentage (34%).

The average monthly Social Security retirement benefit paid in 2012 is $1,229, or $14,748 per year – hardly enough for a comfortable retirement by itself.

How much you collect depends on when you start collecting
The age you have attained when you start collecting has a major impact on the size of your monthly check. The program is designed to be neutral no matter when you start – assuming an average life expectancy.

For workers born between 1943 and 1954 (the baby boomers and a few years older):
Age 62       Benefit is 75% of the Full Retirement Benefit
Age 66       Benefit is 100% of the Full Retirement Benefit
Age 70       Benefit is 132% of the Full Retirement Benefit

Your benefit increases the longer you wait to start collecting – up to age 70. Note that you can start collecting at anytime after age 62 (for example, 63 years and 2 months). Your benefit will be adjusted according to a formula. Between age 62 and your Full Retirement Age (FRA) – 66 for baby boomers – the benefit goes up .5% per month. Between FRA and age 70 the benefit increases .666% per month, or 8% per year.

Myth busters – working in retirement
How your benefit is affected by working is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Social Security. In general Mr.Czarnowski and other experts all agree that there is no reason not to work, even though your social security benefits might be reduced if you claim your benefits and work before you reach your FRA.

The theory is that it is better to have more money, rather than less.

Between the ages of 62 to 65 there will be a reduction of your benefits of $1 for every $2 you earn above $14,640.

In the year you reach FRA your benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $3 you earn above $38,880.

Once you attain your Full Retirement Age there is no reduction in your benefits, no matter how much you earn.

Taxation of Social Security
About one third of social security recipients pay income tax. If you earn more than $25,000 (individuals) or $32,000 (filing jointly) you are required to pay tax on up to 85% of benefits received. Additionally, there are several states that tax social security (although most do not).

Collection Strategies
Mr. Czarnowski gave us the clearest explanation of various collection strategies we have ever heard. Which is not surprising since he is in demand as a consultant with leading financial planners, assisting individuals in their social security planning. Here are some of the key strategies he discussed.

Delay taking your benefits?
Mr. Czarnowski stresses that the decision on when to take Social Security is yours, but you do need to know the facts before you decide.

Social Security retirement benefits are structured to be neutral, regardless of when you start claiming, assuming that the average person lives to be 78.

If you die before then, you were better off claiming early. If you claim later to get a higher monthly benefit and then live to be 100, you will have hit the Social Security jackpot, because your monthly benefit would have been so much higher for all of those extra years beyond 78.

Factors affecting your decision
There are 4 major factors you need to consider when deciding when to start claiming your social security:

- Your health. If you have a serious health condition that might affect how long you will live, earlier collection is probably better.

- Family life expectancy. Assuming you are healthy, how long did your parents live? How about siblings? If your genes point to living into your 80's or beyond, delaying your claiming date might be wise.

- Do you need the money. If you got laid off and your job prospects aren’t that good, you might need to claim early just to stay afloat. But if you can live using other savings, you still might consider delaying.

- Are you still working. Since your benefit will be reduced if you earn more than a modest amount before your full retirement age, there is not much point in claiming before your FRA. Plus, if you are in your high earning years, there is even more reason to delay claiming your benefit. That’s because you might be able to drive up your 35 year earning average, which will increase your future monthly payments.

The effect on your surviving spouse also needs to be considered
When the first spouse dies the survivor has two options: he or she can keep their own benefit, or take over their spouse’s. For the couple with a higher earning spouse, the benefit of taking the delayed benefit is magnified. Not only does the higher earner get the higher benefit during his or her lifetime, but the surviving spouse will also benefit as long as he/she lives.

Next time – Issues related to couples and when to take Social Security
Married couples need to carefully consider their options before claiming Social Security in order to maximize their lifetime benefits. We will explore those options and different claiming strategies in more detail in Part 2, along with other issues such as the rights of divorced spouses.

For further reference:
Part 2: Marital Claiming Strategies, the Rights of Divorced Spouses, and Frequent Misconceptions
Exploding 5 Myths about Social Security (Jane Bryant Quinn for AARP)
It Pays to Work in Retirement
When Should You Start Taking Your Social Security Benefits
10 Things You Need to Know Before You Start Taking Social Security
Too Many Boomers Leave Money on the Social Security Table
Social Security Administration: Social Security Benefits Estimator
Comments? What are you thinking about your Social Security claiming strategies? Please share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

View the original article here

The Top 12 Things Overheard in 'Math'lete Locker Rooms

2012-05-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

(Okay, okay......I admit it! I was a math nerd)

The Top 12 Things Overheard in 'Math'lete Locker Rooms

12. "You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you calculate a square, you're unsafe. I don't like you because you're dangerous."

11. "Did you ever notice if you put dots in each loop of the infinity symbol it looks like breasts?"

10. "I'm so keyed up, I could sh*t an icosahedron."

9. "Doing 100 pushups is *WAY* easier when you count in binary!"

8. "Guys, did you see who's in the stands? It's my dear Aunt Sally!"

7. "Do your stretching exercises before we start. I don't want to see another mathlete blow out a frontal lobe on a 90 degree tangent calculation."

6. "Coach says anyone who doesn't complete round 3 gets busted back down to Chess Club."

5. "Sorry I didn't steal on that last play, Coach. I got my sines messed up."

4. "Did you see the size of the other team's heads? They're HUGE!"

3. "You looked like a bunch of little Algebra 1 kids out there!"

2. "Our minds are more beautiful than their minds!"

and the Number 1 Thing Overheard in Mathlete Locker Rooms...

"There's no 'I' in Pythagorean theorem."

View the original article here

Whiny Baby Boomers

2012-05-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

I know that the baby boomers (and I am a proud member of said group) complain and whine endlessly about their spouses, their sex lives or lack thereof, their diminishing stamina, politics, taxes, inflation, traffic, air quality and global warming, but - hold on a sec - you mean some boomers don't complain about these things! Nah, they all do. Don't they? You mean it's just me? Right.......

In any case, I was talking to a fellow boomer the other day...man, was she complaining. She said that after all these years of marriage (and she claimed her's was an arranged marriage - arranged by Satan) that it couldn't get any worse. She said she had mentioned to her husband that she wanted to go to a warm vacation spot this winter...he told her to go to hell.

She told me that they both found each other's body somewhat gross and ugly and that before sex he takes a Viagra and she takes a Gravol...
he wants to make sure he can perform, she wants to make sure she doesn't vomit.

Ah, these are the years!

View the original article here

The Top 17 Signs You're Working Too Hard

2012-05-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

A Japanese labor bureau ruled recently that one of Toyota's top car engineers died from working too many hours. This is one in a string of such findings in a nation where extraordinarily long hours has long been the norm for some employees.

The Top 17 Signs You're Working Too Hard

17. Your job in 2011: opening Starbucks stores.

16. Your job in 2012: closing Starbucks stores.

15. Last week alone, you put two robots out of work.

14. Everyone comments on the artistic nature of your Leaning Tower of Empty Cup Noodles.

13. You keep dozing off at your job at the meth lab.

12. You desperately want to spend more time with your kids, so you hire them as interns.

11. Your "vacation" this summer? Telecommuting from home -- but you wore shorts!

10. You get a bad case of tennis elbow -- because of your job as a fluffer.

9. Your boss even refuses to give you time off to attend your own funeral.

8. Prescriptions filled today: 300

7. Prescriptions filled incorrectly out of spite: 78

6. You drop the kids off at daycare on the way in, and pick them up from junior high on the way home.

5. Satan suggests you take a water break.

4. Three people buried to death since your hair started falling out.

3. You've somehow managed to convince yourself the evening traffic *finally* eases up around 1:00 a.m.

2. Your unborn child is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

and the Number 1 Sign You're Working Too Hard...

Your husband's partner in couples therapy is inflatable.

View the original article here

Baby Boomer Issues News Blog

CHICAGO MAYOR USING COERCION AGAINST GUN MAKERS

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, Using Coercion Against Banks And Gun Makers, Says CCRKBA

FBI Director "Unsure If Obama Can Kill Americans"?

No Budget, No Pay? What a Joke!!!

Home Of The Free And The Brave?

The County Sheriff: The Ultimate Check & Balance

This seemed like the right time to repost this one.....(originally posted May, 2012)

The Funny Side of Aging

Social Security And The Mystery Of The Missing Boomer FICA Payments

Have We Become The People We Said Never To Trust?

Considering Florida For Retirement: Part 3

Consider Florida For Retirement: Part 2

Consider Florida For Retirement: Part 1

The County Sheriff: The Ultimate Check & Balance

The Top Military Recording Artists

USMC Hammer

The Captain & Ten SEALs

My Morning Flak Jacket

The Dandy Warheads

Tank Williams, Jr.

Donny & Marine

Jeep Trick

Booker T. and the MiG's

M*A*S*H Mouth

Fatigue

Boy Slim

SEALs and Crafts

The Grateful Collateral Damage

Black Hawk Sabbath, featuring Osprey Osbourne

The Omaha Beach Boys

$500 Billion for Fighting

George's Thoroughly Good Destroyers

The Happy Terrorists

Living to 100

Things We Have Learned About Sex by Watching the Olympics

“You’re Never Too Old…”

The Top Signs You Hired the Wrong Attorney

Taking Away the Car Keys

The Path to Osama Was Through Bobby Brown

Social Security Part 2: Claiming Strategies for Couples and Divorced Spouses

What You Think You Know about Social Security Could Hurt You – Part 1

The Top 12 Things Overheard in 'Math'lete Locker Rooms

The Top 12 Things Overheard in 'Math'lete Locker Rooms

Whiny Baby Boomers

The Top 17 Signs You're Working Too Hard

This seemed like the right time to repost this one.....
(originally posted May, 2012)

MAS*H Mouth