In 1955, Marvin Zukor, A San Francisco police officer, drove his 1934 Packard V12 Convertible Victoria down the California coast to the third Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.  Fifty-three years later, Marvin Zukor and his prized Packard will again compete in this year’s Concours.

Zukor’s Packard was originally purchased in 1933 by actor Cesar Romero, who starred in dozens of films, and is best known as the Joker on TV’s Batman. After Romero the next owner was sportscaster-actor Bill Stern, who broadcast the first major league baseball game on TV.  After World War II, the Packard became a Stanford University "rally car" driven around the stadium track during football games.

"The car was used and abused when I bought it," says Zukor. "The V12 engine had holes and was shot, there was a busted water pump and the entire car was a mess.  But I loved it."

Zukor purchased the Packard in 1952 from a young man who, according to Zukor, had rescued the car from oblivion at Stanford, but was leaving to serve in the Korean War. 

"I originally gave it a 1950s-type restoration, including a $100 paint job, new engine and upholstery," says Zukor, a founding member of the Northern California Region of the Classic Car Club of America.  "I then showed it at the 1955 Pebble Beach Concours and got a second place prize for in-class - a little thing to put on my dashboard."

First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has become the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and rare cars are invited to appear on the fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Zukor, was invited to return to the event by Chris Bock, a member of the Pebble Beach Selection Committee.  Bock says that his committee loves the fact that the car has been used its entire life and "for most of the past 53 years, Marvin has been pouring oil into the car and driving it around northern California.

To ready his Packard for Pebble Beach after a 53-year absence and thousands of driving miles around San Francisco and environs, Zukor has hired classic car restorers Craig and Sue Lynch to return the vehicle to pristine condition. 

"I was a San Francisco cop for 30 years, a U.S. Marshall for 15 years.  Now, within the past few years, I’ve been focused on restoring my Packard once again.  Let’s just say I’ve spent a little more on its second restoration."

Smokers and snackers report a decreased activity in their  respective vices making casual games a healthier break!According to the American Cancer Society , smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 430,700 American lives each year and  many of us are working on on some weight-loss or tackling obesity.   The survey say that some people people are turning to computer games for relaxation, and stress-relief. instead of smoking and snacking

In a recent survey,  commissioned by RealGames(TM),the Games Division of RealNetworks®, playing casual games has a positive affect on  bad habits and lifestyle choices.  Here are some  of their findings:

• Of the respondents watching their weight, 59 percent agreed playing casual games was a distraction from snacking.
•  Of those who are smokers, 42 percent said playing casual games was a  distraction from smoking and tobacco use.
• Smokers typically play casual games on weekdays after work, before
  they go to sleep or on the weekends. This is often the time when they take a smoke break.
• Hidden picture games are the most popular among smokers. "Little Shop of Treasures" and "Mysteryville" are big favorites in this genre.
• Participants most commonly report feeling "relaxed and relieved of
  stress" after a typical game break during their day.

Game playing is an inexpensive way to keep busy and take your mind off  snack foods that are calorie laden or tobacco cravings.

Survey Methodology -- The research was conducted by Information SolutionsGroup, ttp://www.infosolutionsgroup.com for RealNetworks. The results arebased on online surveys completed by 4,537 respondents randomly selected between December 28, 2007 and January 11, 2008.

Can't Remember What I Forgot: The Good News From the Front Lines of Memory Search.
By Sue Halpern. 256 pages. $24.00. Harmony Books.

We have all walked into a room and forgot why; we lose our car keys in the house. So we make a joke about having one of those "senior moments", but we wonder silently, is this signs of Alzheimer’s.

Halpern’s father had dementia so she wanted to know what scientists really know, and how close they are to a therapy or drugs that might work - either for memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s or "normal" forgetfulness in short term recall that comes as we age. You will read in the book how Halpern spent five years in research on the topic and volunteered for a numerous tests that can help diagnose dementia, including a variety of brain scans.

In the book, Halpern gives us encouragement that it is possible to do something that wards off normal, age-related memory loss.  The answer she found is actually quite simple – we need to exercise.  Halpern reports in her book that a brisk walk around the block or a half hour on the tread mill a few times per week can make a real difference.  Halpern talks about how exercise promotes the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus (a section in the brain that forms new memories).  She also explains that exercise counters age-related shrinking of the prefrontal cortex, an area involved in concentration and working memory.

The issue in memory research, as the author explains, is that science has not fully proved that anything really works yet:  like fish oil, vitamin E, or herbal supplements, crossword puzzles and computer games.  So as much as we might be too busy to exercise – exercise is an easy inexpensive method to stave off short term memory lapses and build up what we might have lost in aging.

"Can't Remember What I Forgot" is easy and enjoyable reading even though the author spends most of her time in scientific settings with clinical researchers she keep us engaged.  The book sheds light on promising new theories being tested, what is the nature of ongoing research and current high tech solutions in computer exercises and games.   I enjoyed the book; it is a quick read with interesting stories of her adventure in science.  I recommend it as a good book for your summer reading.

I  have been lusting after a Wii since trying one out at the Life @50 convention in Boston.     Knowing that Wii’s are typically sold-out in the stores, I found a seller on Amazon that did not take a huge markup and ordered a Wii Sport , plus I pre-ordered the new Wii Fit announced earlier this week.   The Wii Fit is an add-on fitness/exercise game so you must have a Wii consol installed first.

The Wii itself was easy to set up.  I installed it in the bedroom where we have a 42” flat panel digital TV hanging on the wall.  The Wii connects to your TV like a DVD player.  Nice surprise is that Nintendo provides connecting cables long enough to handle most TV installations.  Once you turn on the Wii there is an added benefit if you have a wireless network in your home – the Wii automatically connects to the internet and delivers news, weather and shopping channels.  

 
What attracted me to the Wii were the games of golf and tennis,   but what I really wanted was the Wii Fit for exercise.  There are four categories of exercises: yoga, strength training, aerobic exercise, and balance games.  The Wii Fit comes with a CD, instructions and a balance board.  To perform most exercises you stand or rest parts of your body on the wireless balance board.  The board supports up to 330 pounds and powered by four AA batteries.  The board has pressure sensors that know where your feet are and monitors your center of gravity.

Before you exercise for the first time you build a profile.   For the Wii Fit profile it wants to know gender, birthday and height.  When I stepped onto the balance board it recorded my weight and measured my balance with some simple tests.  Then it presents me with my Body Mass Index (BMI), my weight, and calculated my "Wii Fit Age”.  Fortunately, there is an option to password-protect my profile if I did not want anyone peeking at my numbers.    The accuracy in these numbers look pretty good   --   I have heard from other testers that BMI/weight may vary if you are using the Balance Board on a rug instead of a hardwood floor.   I had my BMI and weight taken recently at the doctors -- the Wii numbers were close enough, so I was happy with the result.    I forgot to mention as part of the start-up on the Wii – you also build a mini “Mii” avatar.  This is a character that will be “your” representation on screen for games you play like tennis or golf or balance games, where you see yourself at play. 

                     
With profile complete I started with the Yoga poses.   You have a virtual trainer that demonstrates the poses first, and then you will mimic the trainer and do the pose or exercise with him or her.  Many activities include on-screen feedback regarding   your center of balance and virtual trainers, like real trainers, talk you through the movements and explain how you can improve your performance or pose.

The aerobics and yoga are fun but I just love the balance games especially Ski Slalom, Ski Jumping, and Table Tilt; for cardio I like the virtual Hula Hoop and jogging.  As you spend time exercising, you earn Fit Credits that unlock more poses, exercises or games; nice incentive to do more.   You get the credit for the minutes you exercise in your piggy bank and congratulations when you hit a 30 minute mark.

  
I am pleased  with my purchase of the Wii – The console and accessories are sturdy, easy to install and use.  I find myself making time to exercise because it is not a boring  30 minutes– I can mix up the exercises, poses and games  to suite my mood  and when I am done I can always add in a few holes of  Wii golf,  or a round of  tennis  before  going on to other activities.   ( photos are pre-approved screeshots courtesy of Nintendo)
 

The cell phone has become an essential communications tool; a bit of insurance when we need it. Yet there are many who do not carry a cell phone.  Perhaps because cell phones are complex ,  small, easy to lose, a nuisance, too expensive or  too few people to call.

However, the cell phone is a personal safety device, especially if you live alone or a distance from family members. A cell phone may be the most valuable item in your pocket if a sudden need arises.  Public pay phones are not an option, they have all but disappeared from the landscape .

If you or someone you know is reluctant, here are ten good reasons to carry a cell phone. 

1  Weather and Acts of Nature – Many of us live in parts of the country where a sudden earthquake or tornado could happen without warning.  Then there are the other acts of nature that result in evacuation such as hurricanes, fires, blizzards, ice storms, flooding, landslides, or a prolonged power outage.  A cell phone is important to get help or to let someone know your location and your level of safety.

2. Travel Safety – We love to travel; by car, RV, ship, train, plane or bus.  It is a good idea to let a family member or friend know where you are and where you are going next or  when you plan to arrive.  While you are away, a friend or family member can contact you if there is a problem with your home, a pet or with another family member.

3. Traffic Problems – No matter how well we plan we can run into traffic jams that cause us to be late for that doctor’s appointment, dinner reservation, or a party.  A cell phone is handy to alert your destination of a new arrival time. 

4. Accidents Happen – When we least expect it.  Most are minor, but as we age, we are more prone to falling.  A simple fall on a slippery surface may not be just an embarrassment, but a call for help from a cell phone, especially if no one sees you fall.   If you drive, an auto accident ,  empty gas tank or that flat tire always seems to happen in the middle of a rainstorm – a cell phone is invaluable to summon police or a tow truck.

5. Good Samaritan --  We have all been in a situation when we wished the police were nearby  to report a drunk driver, help for a lost child, see smoke or witness an accident.  We can be of aid to another person, as a Good Samaritan, to summon assistance for others.

6.  911 -- This is the most important reason to have a cell phone in an emergency.   Soon all phones will have location-based technology , GPS that will dispatch help to you quickly without you having to know your exact address. 
 
7. Staying in touch with Family – A  cell phone makes you accessible when you are needed. Perhaps  it is a grandchild or a close friend who really needs your help or someone who needs to hear your reassuring voice or a bit of wisdom in a pinch.

 8. Finding your way if you are lost – We are at an intersection without a map; is our destination a left or a right turn?   There is no one around to ask. A quick call will get us on our way.

9  Check a schedule – You have dropped off car for repair and are told to come back in one hour.  We all know that hour can stretch on longer.  A phone is handy to be able to check on the schedule so we can adjust our activities to fill the time productively.

10. ICE  – Don’t forget to program your cell phone with one or two “ICE” numbers ,  these are your “In Case of Emergency” numbers. ICE numbers are a powerful aid to police or emergency personal assisting you in an emergency. In the event that you are carrying your cell phone and you are non-responsive, the emergency personal can locate and dial your ICE contacts.   On your cell phone, just program in ICE-1, and ICE-2  and the phone number,  These ICE contacts may be critical in helping emergency personal access enough medical information about you to save your life. 
 

 It seems everyone under the age of thirty five is doing it; they love to communicate by text messaging.  You might consider trying it because it is a great way to stay in-touch with your children and grandchildren, but before you try, TM (text messaging) lets get the 411 (information) about what is text-messaging, ways to use it and importantly how to read it. 

Most digital cell phones have the ability to send and receive text messages. This service is referred to as SMS or “short message service”.  When you create a text message you are generally limited to very short message lengths – about 160 characters and spaces.   Once you have created your message, you send it to a friend’s cell phone by entering their phone number. The message goes in a few seconds -- your friend’s phone will beep and the message will appear on their screen.

So why would anyone laboriously type out short messages on those tiny cell phone key pads?  You need nimble fingers and it is challenging enough just to read the tiny letters on the keypad without a magnifying glass.   After all, isn’t a  cell phone used to make voice calls and talk? 

Just ask the people you know who text message, they will give you many reasons why they like it, such as text messages are less intrusive than a phone call.  For instance, you can send a quick note without distracting your friend or family member from what they are doing at that moment. In addition, text messages are a quiet way to communicate with someone at work, or eating out at a restaurant. If a person’s phone is on "vibrate" then they will be able to receive and respond in complete silence. This is especially handy if some one is “on-call” like a doctor or an expectant father. Like email, one can send a quick text message to several friends at a time. For example, this is a convenient way to gather up your family members at the mall to meet at the car when shopping time is over. Many young people like SMS because mom and dad cannot eavesdrop on the conversation.

If you only have 160 characters to communicate with, that means every letter and space counts, so a completely new shorthand language evolved.    There are websites to help you learn the abbreviation lingo and decipher messages such as Lingo2Word a translation site at http://www.lingo2word.com or Webopedia, they have a good SMS dictionary at http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp   Webopedia also has  a nice online dictionary and search engine for most computer and Internet technology definitions.  Another handy resource is the SMS dictionary at TechDictionary.com™ http://techdictionary.com/chat.html

Now you have the 411 on TM, U2 can pick up UR cell phone and try TM.  It is actually easier than it looks; a bit like passing secret notes in class when you were a kid.   Imagine how surprised your children or grandchildren will be when they receive a cheerful “Happy Birthday” message from you or just a AWTTW (a word to the wise) like TNSTAAFL or “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.
 

“It is clear that the media’s obsession with youth often comes at the expense of older Americans. In the quest to target youth, media and marketing have ignored the purchasing power and preferences of millions of baby boomers and seniors across the country.”-- Senator John Breaux, chairman, 2002 Special Senate Committee Hearing on Aging

The above was a quote from 2002 – not much has changed in 2008 the same quote is true.    I am not the only one that has observed ageism in both print advertizing as well as TV programming, and on the web. There are a couple of reasons why the advertising industry has been slow to respond to the older market.    First, the product marketing, writers and art directors, the people who create the majority of advertizing are relatively young; mostly between 25-35. So what do these “youngsters” know about an older marketplace?  Not much, not enough…they create for the demographic they know the best, their own age group. So we can expect a disconnect between what the youth in ad agencies think older people want and what we really want to see. 

Secondly, there is a long-held belief that brand loyalty begins at an early age and that consumers over 40 are “set in their ways” stuck to brands and not willing to switch by the time they are in their 40’s. Again, not true.  The older demographic, over 45, is very willing to switch for quality, best price and good message.  According to an AARP survey, the relationship between brand loyalty and age is largely overstated. The survey found that an individual’s consumer experience, not age, dictates brand choice.  Besides products and technology is changing too rapidly to assume brand loyalty -- many of the products and brands we bought years ago do not exist today. 

Let’s look at the viewership of TV -- it is declining in the 17-40 segments mainly because this group is gravitating to entertainment available on the internet and other media, the younger adult has a preference of downloading entertainment to portable devices and wireless media.  They see TV programming as not interactive and clogged with endless /disruptive advertizing.  The TV broadcast industry is working hard to recapture the 17-40 audience so they ignore programming for the 45 and up.   However, it is mainly the 45 and older who watch TV. The young folks who develop TV programming feel they do not have to keep our attention, they assume we will watch anything they throw at us.

However <sigh> In reality it is not about age it is all about ad dollars, the more eyeballs watching the shows, the more dollars they can charge for advertizing.    So if they make it fast paced, extreme to the sensibility type shows.  Notice that they favor text messaging your vote by cell phone so advertisers can get an instant count on a shows popularity.  People our age call by phone if we vote people under 40 text message.   How can we change this … I have not a clue.
 

My favorite cruise so far has been a seven day journey from Alaska to Vancouver.   We decided to do the “reverse route”.   My husband and I wanted to have the full Alaska experience in the beginning of the cruise when we were fresh and wide-eyed about seeing Alaska for the first time rather than at the end.

We flew to Anchorage and stayed the night in the city enjoying the local flavor of the town.   Anchorage was devastated by an extraordinary 9.2 earthquake in 1964 that destroyed downtown.  You will note that that the architecture of the town reflects a rebuild of the late 60s.  Although the city is on the water  it is not a suitable deep water port for ships, that is why we must meet up with our ship in Seward, about a 4 hour bus or train ride away.

Before our cruise started we signed up for a 3 day “Glimpse of Denali” land tour.  The tour started in Anchorage with a four hour domed train excursion to Talkeetna.    The trip was scenically beautiful, weather sunny and bright.   Upon arrival in Talkeetna we got to walk around the town and stretch our legs.   If you get to tour this little rural town go over to the airport – you will see some unusual planes the locals fly and mountain climbers catch a flight to base camp on Denali from here. 

At the hotel we wanted to hike a bit in the woods but were told that the grizzly bears had new cubs and this was not wise to do in May, so we stayed close to the hotel campus and out of the woods.  The hotel is 40 miles from Denali but we had a spectacular view of the mountain from the main room and deck off the hotel lobby.   The next day after a great breakfast we were bussed back to Anchorage via some wonderful museums en-route.   Nice side trip.

The next day it was on to Seward by bus we arrived at the port and boarded the Seven Sea Navigator, at that time it was under the Radisson brand.  Today it sails under the Regent Seven Seas brand. The Seven Seas Navigator is considered luxury cruising, she offers her 490 guests some of the highest space and service ratios at sea.  This is an all-suite ship, ocean balcony accommodations along with great cuisine.   The cruise has open seating for dining, you can sit alone or with a group or just with another couple at whatever times you decide – there are no early/late seating times and there is complementary wine with meals.   Tipping at the end is not expected because it is added into your cruise payment up front.  The ship is adult friendly with its activities and programs – meaning there is not much for young kids to do.  Nor are there many kids on board.  I think I saw 3-4 teens.   So if you are considering taking the grandkids you might look for another cruise line that caters to all ages and their social needs.

The towns we cruised were Sitka, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan plus spend a day at the Hubbard Glacier.   Each of the towns are unique, Sitka and Juneau are isolated so that all visitor to these town come by cruise ship, ferry or plane.    Sitka can get quite crowded if there are 3-4 cruise ships in at the same time.   For Sitka you have to come in by tender.    In all the other towns the ship will dock.  The towns cater to cruise tourists with similar shops and prices.   Skagway had the most personality, very reflective of the gold rush era and the train tour is not to miss, and we were there on a special day to enjoy an all town BBQ.     In Juneau we flew over Mendenhall glacier to Hole-in the-Wall glacier for a salmon lunch.  By the time we got to Ketchikan it was getting warmer, less snow on the mountains and we were ready to enjoy a few days in the big city of Vancouver before flying home.

If you are considering Alaska – go now before the glaciers melt.   The state is wild and beautiful with abundant nature to see and a spectacular coast line to enjoy.   I loved the trip and would do it again in a heat-beat.
 

Financial Aid to Make Homes Accessible

Excerpts from WSJ article by THEO FRANCIS April 6, 2008

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120742884133292721.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The article states that many existing homes are not easy to modify for age related disabilities.  The article says there are ways to keep costs down, including potential federal tax deductions and assistance from nonprofit and government groups.

Cost of Accessibility

Many existing homes were built with narrow doorways and stepped front stoops, no first-floor bathroom.  Cost of retrofits could be expensive.

External elevators might cost $26,000 or more, while a simple chairlift on a straight stairway could cost $2,500 to $5,000, the Center for Universal Design estimates. Outdoor ramps might cost a few hundred dollars to $2,400 per foot of rise; a wider exterior door could cost $1,600, the group says.

Simpler changes like replacing door knobs with lever-style faucet or door handles and adding grab bars in shower/bath and near the toilet.

Aid from Uncle Sam

Federal tax law can help defray the costs by letting you deduct them from your taxable income as medical expenses. However, only medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of adjusted gross income generally are deductible. A physician should also approve the changes as medically necessary in writing, says Rosanne Grande, a financial adviser in Bohemia, N.Y., who has had several clients make their homes more accessible. The tax break can shrink if improvements increase the value of the home. See guidelines and eligible expenses in Internal Revenue Service Publication 502.

If you receive Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income, you may be eligible for additional benefits for "impairment-related work expenses," or certain costs that make it possible to work. These can include some home-modification expenses as well as wheelchairs, vehicle modifications and even some medications.

Sources of Help

Some long-term-care insurance policies pay for some home modifications, as do some state Medicaid programs. Private health insurance and Medicare typically don’t. For those unable to cover the costs themselves, various organizations, many local, might help, or even do the renovations directly. Some 400 Centers for Independent living around the country can direct residents to local assistance programs, and may offer lists of contractors specializing in making homes more accessible.

 To find local center at http://www.ilru.org/ the Web site of Independent Living Research Utilization.

Another website is http://www.ataporg.org/helpingpeople.asp)

AARP says it hopes to compile a list of tax and other assistance for home modifications by year end.

How to Access Microsoft’s Accessibility Features