Jeff Bentoff is just one person among two million Americans who started birding during the pandemic. It began with Facebook. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, resident began to notice photographs popping up of colorful birds taken by friends and neighbors.
Bonaventure Island is home to one of the world's largest colonies of northern gannets. Tens of thousands of the dark gray juveniles and mature white adults migrate to the island every year."I realized that there were all of these amazing, colorful birds all around me ... I didn't know they were here, so it really piqued my interest. It made me wonder what am I missing," Bentoff said.
"I want to know what's happening around me in the natural environment. To me, that's really exciting."
Bentoff bought himself a pair of binoculars and decided to join a neighbor on a jaunt to their neighborhood park. A black-throated gray warbler, unusual in the area, had been spotted, and news had spread through the local birders' network. Bentoff knew they were hot on the warbler's trail when they came upon a gathering of people, including several photographers poised with their signature long lenses.
Since then, Bentoff has invested in a camera specifically for birding, downloaded several helpful apps (like the Merlin app that will identify a bird based on a bird call), and connected with several walking groups for birders. 
He compares birding to learning a language or a musical instrument. His goal is to gain more knowledge through practice.
"I want to know what's happening around me in the natural environment. To me, that's really exciting," Bentoff said.
With travel back in full swing, birders like Bentoff have taken to the skies. If considering a birding trip of your own — or visiting a special spot where you can enjoy a variety of activities including birding — the following four destinations are certain to spark your interest.
The Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec 
Those who love the energy of a crowd — of birds, that is — will love the Gaspé Peninsula's Bonaventure Island. One of the largest colonies of northern gannets in the world resides on this uninhabited isle during the summer months. 
Begin your adventure at Percé wharf where you can pick up a ferry to the island. First, however, the captain will encircle another of the area's draws, Percé Rock. Measuring nearly five football fields in length, the rock is an iconic monolith. It rises out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, just offshore from the charming village of Percé. The ferry ride will give you a chance to see this natural work of art up close and personal.
Next, it is on to nearby Bonaventure Island and a zoomed-out look at the northern gannets. Appearing cigar-shaped in flight, the birds have a long pointy beak on one end and jagged tail on the other. Their pearly white plumage starkly contrasts with the crisp blue of the Northern Atlantic sky and sea as well as the clay-colored cliffs where they nest. 
Their cream-colored heads and blue eyes come into focus, while at the same time, their multitude blends into an alabaster blur.
The ferry ride is a great opportunity to see the birds in action. Starting as high as 100 feet, they circle the waters looking for prey and then divebomb the water at a high rate of speed.  
After arriving at the dock, take the 3.5-mile colony trail for a look at the northern gannet outpost. You will know that you are close when you hear a cacophony of cawing birds. The wooded trail empties out into a wide-open area on the edge of the island, and it is here that tens of thousands of northern gannets nest. 
They are as captivating to watch on land as they are in the air. Their cream-colored heads and blue eyes come into focus, while at the same time, their multitude blends into an alabaster blur. And as entertaining as their fishing technique, the birds engage in what looks like a sort of sword dance, mated pairs facing each other and scraping the edges of their long bills back and forth.
Percé is located just south of the Gaspé Peninsula's tip, an eight-hour drive from Quebec City. If that seems like a long trek, know that the scenery on the way up the peninsula is as lovely as the birds.
Gulf Shores, Alabama 
Alabama's Gulf Coast is the place to set your eyes on a myriad of species rather than a single colony. (Although you do stand a good chance of seeing northern gannets in Gulf Shores during the northern hemisphere's winter months.) To help pinpoint areas ripe for birders, The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail offers six loops of over 200 miles.
In fact, over 170 species of birds winter along the 53 miles of Alabama coastline, according to the Alabama Ornithological Society. Many others pass through the region as they travel the Mississippi Flyway. 
In the spring, the beaches are a good spot to view permanent residents who nest on its sandy shores. This includes snowy plovers, least terns, black skimmers, American oystercatchers and Wilson's plovers.
You may also want to try your luck watching an aviary phenomenon in action on Dauphin Island, aptly named "America's Birdiest City" for three consecutive years by the National Audubon Society. The barrier island is a short ferry ride from the western tip of the Gulf Shores peninsula. 
A brown pelican comes in for a landing at Gulf ShoresCalled a "fallout," birds, like indigo bunting, fall from the sky following a particularly arduous journey from Mexico across the gulf. Adverse weather conditions require great effort from the birds to the point that they fall out of the sky from pure exhaustion.
However, it is the shorebirds that most enthrall Alabama's visitors. To really get a good vantage point of Alabama's finest in their natural habitats, get off the well-trodden birders' path and kayak the waterways instead. 
Wild Native Tours offers half-day kayak trips through Oyster Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway and Bon Secour Bay and River. Not only will you see brown pelicans, blue herons, great egrets, cormorants, ospreys and belted kingfishers, you will learn about their habits and other fun facts from owner and guide Kristian Aboud. In addition to the birds, you also stand a good chance of kayaking alongside a pod of dolphins.
Pinnacles National Park in Central California 
Pinnacles National Park sits quietly in the shadows of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (145 miles west) and Yosemite National Park (130 miles northwest). All the better for the California Condor that frequents its canyons and the tourists who don't need to fight the crowds when coming to see them.
California condors are the largest land birds in North America with a wingspan of more than nine feet and a weight typically reaching 20 pounds. Their longevity is hefty, too; California condors, an endangered species, live over 60 years. Seeing them in their natural environment is a treat, and Pinnacles offers one of your best bets for doing so.
California condors are the largest land birds in North America with a wingspan of more than nine feet and a weight typically reaching 20 pounds.
If you don't mind a bit of an adventure, getting to Pinnacles is fun, too. The park has two entrances, neither road connected to the other. To reach the western entrance requires a seven-mile drive down a remote, winding road that narrows to one lane. To reach the Visitors' Center or campground, enter from the east. 
Each side of the park offers a hiking trail that will take you past the spires that Pinnacles is named for and to a group of talus caves, one of its finest features (aside from the California condor). Hiking through the caves is a bit like hiking through slot canyons: dark, extremely narrow with some mild climbing required. The caves have formed over time as boulders have fallen from cliffs forming a giant pile of rubble.
If you take the western route out of the park following a day of hiking and searching for California condors, consider a stop at Chalone Wineries for a rest and a glass of their signature Chardonnay while sitting amidst the stark beauty of the Gabilan Mountains. The drive is mere minutes from the park's boundary.
Costa Rica's Oca Peninsula 
A toucan perches on a branch at Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica's Osa PeninsulaIn the southwestern corner of Costa Rica lies the remote Osa Peninsula, once an island in the Pacific. A mere 700 square miles, it houses 2.5% of the world's biodiversity including over 460 species of birds. An array of 16 species of hummingbirds are among them.
However, the scarlet macaw is, by far, the peninsula's biggest showstopper. In fact, the Osa Peninsula is the site of Central America's largest population of this colorful bird. Their loud, distinctive crooning often alerts visitors to their presence long before their bright ruby red feathers come into view. In addition to their namesake color, they also boast canary yellow and bright blue on their wings. 
The bird's size gives them away as well. The largest parrots in the world, the scarlet macaw can measure up to 33 inches from beak to tail. In addition to scarlet macaws, guests stand a good chance of catching sight of cotingas, pelicans, cormorants, boobies, antbirds, Amazon parrots and toucans. 
A great place for a guided hike is Corcovado National Park. Keeping an ear tipped to the treetops, the guides quickly throw down their tripods equipped with high-resolution magnifying lenses when they spot a bird of interest. 
In addition to the birds, you will likely see two and three-toed sloths and spider, capuchin, titi and howler monkeys. Be sure to adjust your gaze to ground level from time to time. You stand a good chance of seeing tapirs, wild peccaries, coati and more.


Flock to These 4 Feather-Friendly Destinations

Jenny Wisniewski

Americans gave nursing homes a D+ for quality of care in a recent Gallup/West Health poll and most said they'd be uncomfortable being admitted into one or admitting a loved one. One reason could be the severe understaffing problems facing the 1.2 million residents in the nation's 15,000 nursing homes.
The proposed rules would provide nursing home residents with a minimum number of hours of care per day and ensure that an RN would be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The lack of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in many nursing homes recently led the Biden administration to propose national minimum staffing requirements.
Improving Safety and Care
The goal, said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, is to "improve resident safety and promote high-quality care so residents and their families can have peace of mind." About one-fifth of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States during the pandemic were at nursing homes.
Currently, 38 states have minimum staffing standards at nursing homes, but many of those standards are low or over 20 years old. Studies have shown that higher nursing-home staffing has been associated with better patient care and health outcomes.
"This is a step in the right direction. I wish it had been a bigger step, but the administration deserves a ton of credit for going down this path."
The new rules would provide nursing home residents with a minimum number of hours of care per day. They would also ensure that an RN would be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The administration says 22% of nursing homes would need to hire RNs to meet that requirement. Today, nursing homes must have at least one RN for a minimum of eight straight hours a day and an RN, LPN or LVN (a Licensed Vocational Nurse) on duty 24 hours per day.
The Long-Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) , a nonprofit organization seeking to improve the quality of care in nursing homes and assisted living centers, has favored a 24/7 RN requirement for years.
Jasmine Travers, an NYU nursing college assistant professor and co-chair of the staffing committee at Moving Forward, a coalition working to improve nursing-home care, said: "I'm excited the president will be requiring 24 hours-a-day staffing for RNs."
Will the Standards Happen?
Exactly how much the proposals would improve resident safety and promote high-quality care — or even ever take effect — is an open question.
The trade group representing primarily for-profit nursing homes, The American Health Care Association, calls the minimum standards "unfathomable."
"Staffing ratios are a key lever to help nursing homes offer high-quality, age-friendly care to residents."
Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge (an association of nonprofit aging services providers, including nursing homes), said her group is "disappointed" the president moved forward with the proposals "despite clear evidence against them." She says the cost of implementing the staffing mandate "will cripple nursing homes."
Others, however, applaud the administration's efforts.
"This is a step in the right direction," said Harvard health care policy professor David Grabowski, a noted nursing home analyst. "I wish it had been a bigger step, but the administration deserves a ton of credit for going down this path."
Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, a philanthropy that seeks to improve care for older adults, said: "staffing ratios are a key lever to help nursing homes offer high-quality, age-friendly care to residents."
What Consumer Advocates Say
Some long-term care consumer advocates think the proposals don't go nearly far enough.
Leaders of both the LTCCC and the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care said they're generally disappointed by what the administration has proposed.
LTCCC Executive Director Richard Mollot said: "The basic staffing standard, outside of the 24/7 RN [proposal], is abysmal. It's well below what every study has shown to be necessary."
He chastises nursing home leaders who say they can't afford the proposed minimum standards. "Nursing homes aren't warehouses," Mollot said. "There's absolutely no excuse to ever allow nursing homes to take in residents when they clearly don't have the staff and the ability to care for them."
Sam Brooks, director of public policy at National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, said: "This rule was designed to bring up poor performers to average, and we disagree that average is the mark of quality in the nursing home sector."
A History of Staffing Proposals
Proposals for minimum staffing standards at nursing home aren't new, though the U.S. government has never adopted any.
"There's absolutely no excuse to ever allow nursing homes to take in residents when they clearly don't have the staff and the ability to care for them."
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) called for minimum staffing standards in 1986, and the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act gave the U.S. government authority to create staffing standards. In 2001, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) study said each nursing home resident needed at least 4.1 hours of direct care a day to avoid being at risk of harm.
By contrast, the Biden administration proposals would require 3 hours of care per day — 33 minutes from an RN and 2 hours and 27 minutes from a CNA, who helps residents with tasks of daily living, like eating, bathing and going to the bathroom. Moving Forward calls CNAs the "often underappreciated and undercompensated core of the nursing home workforce."
Grabowski said he thinks there could be real benefits increasing the proposed minimum staffing standard to at least 3½ hours of care per day.
According to the Biden administration, to meet its proposed hours-per-day standards, 36% of nursing homes would need to hire RNs; 68% would have to hire nurse aides.
What the Biden Proposals Miss
There's no specific requirement, however, for LPNs, who provide hands-on patient care and handle administrative tasks like monitoring vital signs, changing bandages and inserting catheters.
That LPN omission concerns some nursing home analysts.
"I worry a little bit with putting in a requirement for RNs and one for CNAs, but ignoring LPNs," said Grabowski. "Are you going to see LPNs shift to almost zero in a lot of nursing homes and see the facilities staff up to the minimum for RNs and fill up the remaining staff slots with CNAs?"
That's what happened in Ohio and California after those states adopted Biden administration nursing home standards. A 2015 study Grabowski helped to write found that the overall quality of care rose, but since those states didn't specify minimum number of hours for RNs, LPNs and CNAs, "we saw a shift away from higher-cost professional staff and toward certified nurse aides."
Slow Rollout and Exemptions
The Biden administration's staffing proposals have a long rollout period before they would take effect — three years for most nursing homes; five years for those in rural areas. "It will really be about seven years, since you have to figure on [time needed for] enforcement," said Brooks.
Rural nursing homes would be allowed three years to make sure they have RNs onsite 24/7, a year longer than others.
Lisa Harootunian, associate director of the health program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, thinks that timetable will give nursing homes the time they need to meet the staffing requirements.
"You don't waive regulations on an airplane or on a bus. We're talking about safety here. If you can't provide high-quality care, why are you in business?"
The proposals would also let nursing homes apply for hardship exemptions. "There will be nursing homes that despite their best efforts will not be able to meet the minimum staffing requirements and will have to apply for the waivers," said Travers.
Critics worry the waivers will amount to a giant loophole, allowing many nursing homes to escape the new rules.
"We oppose all waivers," said Brooks, of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: "This is a matter of human dignity. You don't waive regulations on an airplane or on a bus. We're talking about safety here. If you can't provide high-quality care, why are you in business?"
To avoid an avalanche of waiver exemption applications, Grabowski said, the U.S. government could give some nursing homes extra money to put toward staff.
Staffing Shortages at Nursing Homes
Nursing home trade groups say meeting the staffing proposals isn't possible given the shortage of nurses and nurse aides and high turnover rates. The median among nursing home assistants in nursing homes is nearly 100%, according to the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, or PHI.
"There simply aren't enough people to hire. Nursing homes are being forced to reduce admissions or even close when they can't fill their employee rosters."
"The shortage of workers, not only in nursing homes, but also home- and community-based settings, is a major issue that needs to be tackled right now," said Harootunian. "This shortage was exacerbated in the past few years through the COVID-19 pandemic."
Said Smith Sloan: "There simply aren't enough people to hire. Nursing homes are being forced to reduce admissions or even close when they can't fill their employee rosters."
Over half of nursing homes in 2022 limited new patient admissions, citing staffing shortages, and the U.S. has at least 600 fewer nursing homes now than six years ago, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.
Low Pay Hampers Hiring
But consumer advocates say hiring problems are due to low wages and working conditions and a lack of training. According to CMS, registered nurses make $37 an hour, on average, LPNs earn $28 an hour and aides frequently start at $17 an hour, which is close to the $15 minimum wage.
"Over time, we haven't paid nursing homes, and financed nursing home care, in a way to encourage strong staffing models."
Travers acknowledged "challenges" attracting RNs to nursing homes, noting the need to pay them "a more appropriate wage to be competitive." Grabowski noted that during the pandemic, many nursing home RNs, LPNs and CNAs left for jobs at places like WalMart, Amazon and McDonald's.
To improve recruitment and training, the Biden proposals would invest over $75 million in scholarships and tuition reimbursement.
Harootunian wants Congress and the administration to improve recruitment and retention of nursing home workers – including immigration reform — so the facilities can meet the proposed requirements.
Is Medicaid Reimbursement Too Low?
Nursing home representatives also say Medicaid, the federal/state program that's the primary payer for 62% of nursing home residents, doesn't reimburse facilities enough to pay higher wages.
Critics say that nursing homes' lack of financial transparency means no one knows whether the facilities can afford to pay higher wages.
The Biden proposal would require state Medicaid agencies to report the percent of payments for Medicaid-covered services spent on compensation. "We see that as a nice first step into transparency," said Brooks.
What Happens Next
CMS is accepting comments about its proposals until Nov. 6 and will decide on a final rule after.
"We're going to fight as much as we can to get the proposals to a place that's safe for residents. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for nursing home residents," said Brooks, whose group will offer comments to make the proposed standards tougher. "We're not going to give up."
With critics fighting the staffing mandates and consumer advocates pushing to strengthen them, independent analysts expect the proposals will likely take effect, and pretty much as is.
"I don't think they're going to get tougher," said Harootunian.
The Root Problem for Nursing Homes
Grabowski maintains that although staffing is "a huge problem" at nursing homes, it's not the root problem.
"Over time, we haven't paid nursing homes, and financed nursing home care, in a way to encourage strong staffing models," he said. "And we haven't always held nursing homes' feet to the fire. We haven't held them accountable to taxpayers."
Grabowski hopes the Biden administration's staffing proposals are "a starting point, but not a finishing line."


New Nursing Home Staffing Rules: Will They Help?

Richard Eisenberg

Like children on Christmas morning, eager to unwrap gifts, hoping that each leads to the ultimate holiday gift, people roam the house made famous in the movie "A Christmas Story."Released 40 years ago, "A Christmas Story" was low-budget holiday fare that followed the antics of Ralphie, a young boy holding out hope he'd get the ultimate Christmas gift — a Red Ryder BB gun.
The house featured in “A Christmas Story” was listed for sale on e-Bay when Brian Jones purchased it for more than $100,000Touring the house takes you back to your own childhood, whether you were like Ralphie, Flick or even Farkus.
Despite early success at the box office, "A Christmas Story" grew in popularity thanks to cable television. Produced for $3 million, the movie opened strong, bringing in about $2 million the weekend before Thanksgiving 1983. Shelved after a few weeks in the theater, giving way to expected blockbusters, "A Christmas Story" went on to earn approximately $19 million.But it was a marathon broadcast on TNT in 1988 that led to the birth of a cult classic that ranks among the most popular of all holiday movies. Now on TBS, the movie airs on a loop for 24 hours beginning Christmas Eve through Christmas night.That popularity easily explains why 80,000 people annually visit the Cleveland house used in the movie. The late 19th century three-story wood-frame house was perfect for the movie, set in a blue-collar Midwest neighborhood. 
Touring the house takes you back to your own childhood, whether you were like Ralphie, Flick or even Farkus. A 10-minute presentation by a guide covers interesting tidbits about the movie, such as producer/director Bob Clark and producer Rene DuPont hanging out at the Rowley Inn across the street waiting for homeowner to arrive home, so they could discuss renting the house.Then, the real fun begins as the guide lets the group of about 20 people loose to explore the house, starting with the living room. With replica furniture closely matching the movie set, you'll swear you're in the Parkers' house. From the leg lamp in the window to Mrs. Schwartz's screaming over the telephone as Mrs. Parker explains that her son taught Ralphie curse words (we all know it's his Old Man), clips of the movie run through your internal movie screen.
The Parker Family's living room with some of the iconic gifts.On the second floor, a red bar of Lifebuoy sits on a bathroom sink, sight of Ralphie's atonement for cursing. It's also the spot where his dreams are crushed by Little Orphan Annie's secret code that's really an ad for a flavored drink.
Stepping into the bedroom Ralphie shared with little brother Randy, check out the term paper that netted a C-minus, along with the infamous words, "You'll shoot your eye out."
Visitors on the tour easily lose their inhibitions, as some crawl into the space under the kitchen sink to reenact their favorite scene with Randy.For Sarabeth Sydney, 22, it was a dream come true to visit the house. She and her parents traveled from Naples, Florida, just to take the tour. The rest of their vacation in Cleveland was gravy. Sydney donned a pink bunny pajama suit and posed for photos with fellow tourists, even reenacting Ralphie's frown at the landing of the staircase.
Visit the bathroom with its Lifebuoy soap bar, as well as Little Orphan Annie decoderThe "Christmas Story" house and its owner, Brain Jones, seemed a natural fit. Growing up a fan of the movie, Jones jumped at the chance to buy the house.
"It's hilarious," he said. "It's offbeat. It's not your typical Christmas movie. It's not 'It's a Wonderful Life' or 'Miracle on 34th Street.'" There's a leg lamp; there's these hound dogs. The kids are getting beat up. It's basically a series of smaller stories all tied to Christmas, because Christmas is a big deal when you're a kid."
Growing up in a Navy family, Jones wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become an aviator. Attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, he studied engineering with the intent to fly fighter jets. But, his vision veered from 20/20 (required to fly), so he became an intelligence officer during his six-year career after graduation.
A Career in Leg Lamps 
Being an intelligence officer didn't interest him, so Jones sought a career as a civilian. His parents gave him a full-size leg lamp as a gag gift. After learning his parents made the lamp because they couldn't buy it anywhere, Jones decided selling "Christmas Story" leg lamps would be his career.
Business boomed, with 500 leg lamps sold in the first year. It was in his second year — with 2,100 lamps in his inventory – the house became available.
Sarabeth Sydney of Naples, Fla., dresses as Ralphie during her family’s tour of the “Christmas Story” house in ClevelandSince starting tours in 2006, more than 1 million people have seen the house. With its popularity growing, Jones bought a second house to use as a museum and gift shop. Then he bought the house next door — the Bumpuses' house in the movie. 
Today, the gift shop, complete with a checkout counter resembling the leg lamp container, takes up an entire one-level house. Along with leg lamps of all sizes, fans can purchase memorabilia and gifts related to "A Christmas Story" as well as other holiday movies, such as "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
Between the museum and gift shop, you'll find one of the vintage automobiles used as the family vehicle and a firetruck in a garage. You can also reenact your own impression of one of the most iconic scenes in the movie — when Flick was triple-dog dared into sticking his tongue on a frozen flagpole. While much of the movie was filmed inside a soundstage in Canada, the flagpole scene was filmed in temperatures below zero.
With his tongue inside a small slit in PVC piping, a small hand vacuum provided suction to keep actor Scott Schwartz's tongue in the slot. A known prankster, who regularly ordered steak dinners from room service for the director, Schwartz, himself, ended up the victim of a prank. One day, knowing it was Schwartz ordering the food (he later requested he order chicken or fish once in while), Bob Clark wrapped the set for lunch. Everyone left, leaving Schwartz and his tongue at the flagpole.
Prankster Scott Schwartz, aka 'Flick' 
Left alone for only a few minutes, Schwartz still chuckles at the memory.
"Of course, it didn't stop me from pulling more pranks," Schwartz said. The actor, then 14, had his big break in "The Toy," opposite Jackie Gleason and Richard Pryor, but said "A Christmas Story" was his favorite movie.
If you want to partake in the ultimate "Christmas Story" experience, consider spending the night at the Christmas Story Loft ... The Bumpus' house can also be rented for overnight visits. 
"It was fun meeting new people, creating new friends," Schwartz said. "We're still friends to this day."
If you want to partake in the ultimate "Christmas Story" experience, consider spending the night at the Christmas Story Loft. A private third-floor apartment is home to a living room, kitchen, bathroom, queen bed, sleeper sofa and the boys' twin beds. The loft can accommodate up to six people. The house is available an hour after closing, but you need to be out for the day by 9 a.m. before tours start. Stays include tickets for a tour of the house. You may want to purchase bunny PJs for your stay.
The Bumpus' house can also be rented for overnight visits. The entire house can be rented or a suite on the first floor accommodates up to four people, while the second and third floors can host six guests.
A visit to the "A Christmas Story" house may rekindle childhood memories or bring laughter as you stroll through the house reminiscing about the holiday classic.


Through Ralphie's Eyes: 'A Christmas Story' House Tour

Tim Trudell

I find the Mafia fascinating and have therefore seen all the classics: "Goodfellas," "The Godfather" and "The Godfather II" (the less said about version "tre," the better). "Donnie Brasco," while not a classic, is probably the most realistic, with "A Bronx Tale" being the most underrated.
"While I'm not an I.T. genius, it can't be that difficult for the IRS to build a website that allows taxpayers to file their taxes directly, efficiently and without charge."My fascination may very well have to do with being a nearby native New Yorker, with a personal "connection" to La Cosa Nostra.
My run in with the Mafia occurred back in the '70s. I was about 10 years old and remember watching our garbage cans being quickly and ably emptied into the back of a garbage truck by numerous members of Long Island's "waste management" industry. My father causally mentioned to me that it was all run by the Mafia.
Why Doing My Taxes Reminds Me of Garbage
He wasn't at all bothered by it, possibly because that was just the way it was back then, though more likely due to the efficiency of the operation, as he specifically mentioned that the company that removed our garbage three times a week did a very good job.
Tax forms like W-2s, 1099s and K-1s are standardized, so why can't TurboTax allow me to enter them on an identically looking screen? 
Last spring I ran into a very similar situation, except that instead of having my garbage removed, I was doing my taxes, and instead of dealing with the Gambinos, I was dealing with TurboTax.
Much like Long Island municipal governments contracting out waste removal instead of using civil servants, the U.S. government contracts out tax preparation to the tax preparation Mafia. It's all the same, with the likes of Block, TurboTax, Liberty Tax, TaxAct, and Hewitt replacing the Five Families.
And much like my father's indifference, it wouldn't be an issue if TurboTax just did a better job. How could they improve?
1. Have Online Forms Match Paper Versions
Data entry is so incredibly laborious — you'd think it was a union shop, with a heavy dose of no-show jobs. Tax forms like W-2s, 1099s and K-1s are standardized, so why can't TurboTax allow me to enter them on an identically looking screen? Instead, I need to enter them on multiple screens, scrolling down on every single one of them.
Each Form K-1, for my master limited partnerships, requires over 50 mouse clicks and more than 20 screens, with many of them asking unanswerable questions like "Enter the dollar amount of the adjusted gain or loss reported on box 17, Code B of your K-1. . . ."
It's as if TurboTax studied how to make data entry as cumbersome and lengthy as possible, possibly in cahoots with the leadership of the orthopedic surgeons' union.
2. Make Calculations Transparent
The amount owed changes and you have no idea why. I've always been bothered that TurboTax doesn't provide at least a modicum of tax analysis, and instead just changes the refund amount like the reels on a Mafia controlled Las Vegas slot machine whenever you enter another number.
Prior to the personal computer, you had only two options when filing your taxes. You either took your shoebox full of receipts, W-2s and 1099s to your accountant or you got out your pencil, calculator and IRS instructions and got to it.
Note that I said pencil. You knew mistakes would be made, but that when it was all said and done you would be thoroughly familiar with each and every number. Now you have to accept TurboTax's verdict with only the most cursory accounting of how it was rendered.
3. Fix Oversights and Errors Immediately
Just prior to filing my return, TurboTax runs an "Error Check" which always finds errors like missing state names, addresses, numbers, etc. Why don't they just ask me to enter the information in the first place and not let me hit the "Continue" button until all the required information is entered?
4. Show Forms Before They're Filed
Except for a bastardized 1040, it won't let me see any form before I file, which makes it impossible to understand how, say, my foreign tax credit is computed or if all of my deductions are allowed.
After you click the "File" button you can then print out your return and then review your forms. If you find an issue you can then trick the system into letting you make corrections before you click the "File" Button again. Risciacqua e ripeti.
5. Make It Easy to Check Entries as You Go
Want to review all the numbers you entered for accuracy and completeness? Well, you either need to print out your forms after you "File" or go back and review every single data entry screen, one . . . by . . . one. Like youz was enterin' dem from scratch.
6. Speed Up the Electronic Filing Process
To makes filing easier and a little less stressful this year, for the first time I decided to e-file my federal and state taxes. Both were submitted (I'm ashamed to admit) on April 18, with the Fed going smoothly enough with an email from the IRS arriving 37 minutes later confirming acceptance.
Unfortunately, my state return took a further 26 hours to be "Accepted." Let's just say those hours were not as stress-free as I would have liked.
I'm certainly not blaming TurboTax for this 26-hour delay, but when I subsequently determined that this is not unusual, I thought, why couldn't they have provided a modicum of warning and explanation.
Why Do We Tolerate This?
You would think that TurboTax would realize that after their customers finish their taxes, and make an ever increasing annual payment, they want it all to just be finito. A feeling that customers must have after making a final payment to their loan shark.
While I'm not an I.T. genius, it can't be that difficult for the IRS to build a website that allows taxpayers to file their taxes directly, efficiently and without charge. Then why do I still need to use a middleman? While some may blame the deep state, I'm pretty sure TurboTax wise guys, I mean lobbyists, are to blame.
I'm hopeful that in the very near future Amazon will get into the tax preparation business. While I'd rather not risk having my taxes done in a Chinese factory with no emergency exits, at least I know they will provide me with a first-class website that is efficient, businesslike and organized, as I'd expect nothing less from Don Bezos.


TurboTax?? Fuhgeddaboudit!!

Michael J. Flack

Most of us have likely experienced some version of an 'a-ha' moment about our age, but Carl Honoré has a rather unique story to tell about his: it occurred on a train, following a ball hockey game in London where he – the oldest member of his team – had scored the game-winning goal to advance them to the semifinals. More on that below.
Carl HonoréA broadcaster, international speaker and writer, Honoré, 56, is the author of "In Praise of Slow" and "The Slow Fix" where he takes on what he calls "the cult of speed" society.
His most recent book, "Bolder: Making the Most of Our Longer Lives" focuses on a different kind of cult – what Honoré refers to as the "cult of youth." In a 2019 TED talk, Honoré breaks down the stereotypes on what it means to grow older in the world today: the myths that later life is depressing; creativity belongs to the young; older people are less productive and can't learn new things.
"Most aging stereotypes are flat-out wrong," he says to the audience. "Ageism is not invincible. The cult of youth is not a permanent or inevitable part of being human."
Next Avenue talked to Carl Honoré from his home in London about how the numbers in our age should never become a "straitjacket" and how he believes aging is a lot like a video game.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
An Unexpected Revelation About His Age 
I played ball hockey (a game similar to ice hockey played on land) for the Great Britain National Masters team, the London Jets. We were at a national tournament, up in the north of England, and locked in a zero-zero tie in the quarterfinals with the team we had annihilated the year before. We just couldn't get the goal we needed and I could feel the nerves and the indignation coursing with my teammates. Then out of nowhere, I scored the goal that got us in the semifinals.
"Suddenly this thing that I had loved doing and was playing well, suddenly my age took on this terrible power to define and limit me."
It wasn't just any goal; it was one of those highlight reel/goal of the month type. I will be dining out on this goal for a very long time (laughs). I was floating on air, I felt like a superstar. One of the organizers sidled up to me and he said, 'Great goal. Congratulations. Semifinals.' But then he said, 'Guess what? I've been flicking through player profiles here, and it turns out that you're the oldest player at the tournament.' I knew I was one of the oldest but suddenly, to be the oldest, I don't know. It rocked me to my core. In the blink of an eye, I went from goal scorer to granddad.
All of these questions began crowding in. I was thinking, do I look out of place here? Are people laughing at me behind my back? Suddenly this thing that I had loved doing and was playing well, suddenly my age took on this terrible power to define and limit me. I came away from that tournament thinking, how can that be? This makes no sense. I scored this incredible goal. I'm having fun. Why should the numbers on my birth certificate become a straitjacket in this way?
Making Sense of a New Perspective 
We were all on a train and we were in high spirits. But I remember at one moment just sitting, looking out the window by myself and thinking, wow. It was a real lightning bolt moment, and I knew I would come back to this topic. That was where "Bolder" came from.
"It's not like everything gets better as you get older, just as it's not as though everything gets worse as you get older."
For my own writing, I need to unwind some kind of philosophical dilemma or make sense of it … like doctor, heal thyself. I'm always trying to fix something in my own way of being in the world as well.
A Lens on the Cult of Youth 
What I realized when I began picking this [issue] apart was that not only was I not alone in feeling hampered and hamstrung by my age, but that I myself was a card-carrying member of the cult of youth. I realized that I just either pushed away the idea of aging or found it vaguely abhorrent. It was something that I had put on a shelf.
This moment at the hockey tournament forced me to confront my own ageism, but also to anchor it in a bigger rethink about, how do I fit in? You realize you are not alone. So, the first thing I did was I began putting together a laundry list of all the things that I thought, or that we commonly think, are bad about aging.
The cult of youth view is that aging is a chamber of horrors. That after a certain age, it's all downhill, everything gets worse once you get past whatever, 30, 35, wherever we're drawing the line these days. Which of course is just patently untrue. 
Taking a Nuanced Look at Aging 
One of the most common stereotypes, of course, is that later life is depressing. You think of the words that we trot out, crotchety, grumpy, cranky, old. When in fact the U-shaped happiness curve tells a very different story.
Rather than this binary idea of you start here, you go down, or that somehow you go up, it is much more complex and nuanced than that. It's not like everything gets better as you get older, just as it's not as though everything gets worse as you get older. It's much more tangled and messier and interesting than that.
Aging as a Video Game 
I think of aging now as a bit like a video game. I'm not a gamer myself, but I know that the way gamers think about the game is that you're at a level. So, I'm currently at level 56 (my age). The way you approach the game of life, the game in this metaphor, is I'm level 56, I'm going to make the most of level 56. I'm going to have all the adventures one can have at this level. I'm going to gather all the treasure, all the weapons, woo all the maidens, whatever it is. I'm going to get all that, and then I'm going to move up to level 57. What's waiting for me at level 57? It's something to look forward to. Now, occasionally I'll look back and think, man, I had a great time at level 29, but I don't want to go back to level 29. I'm at 56, I'm looking forward to 57. So, that's one of the ways I think about reframing aging.
"Now, occasionally I'll look back and think, man, I had a great time at level 29, but I don't want to go back to level 29. I'm at 56, I'm looking forward to 57."
Moving the Dial on Aging 
I've been on the front lines of traveling around, talking, thinking, listening about aging for more than four years. ("Bolder" was released in 2019). I would say that the dial has made a quantitative leap in the last 10 months, the last year. With social media, the posts people are doing, the coverage in the press, the calling out of ageism in the workplace, companies taking steps forward to make their workforce friendly and welcoming to all ages. Recently several top CEOs in France signed a declaration with 10-step pledges to take down ageism. That would've been unthinkable two years ago, let alone 10. I think that we've made a great leap forward. There's a long, long way to go.
I was just in central London, standing on the platform at one of the tube stations. Right behind me, there was a massive poster saying, "Are you Ageist?" It's a big national campaign run by the Center for Ageing Better.
You certainly wouldn't have seen that when I brought "Bolder" out. I was having to explain to people what ageism was. Now it's a given. People know what it is. They're being asked to contemplate whether they're guilty of it. That's a big leap forward by any yardstick.
Ageism in the Working World 
There's a feeling that the tectonic plates are shifting and the conversation is moving in a direction that's going to be better for everyone at every age. But there are still some dinosaurs in the way and there's a lot of inertia in the system. There are pinch points, and people feel that. I still meet a lot of people at events, or people write to me saying, 'Yeah. Totally get all this, it's important. I see changes coming, but I just had to pull the cord and get out and become an entrepreneur so I could create my own age-friendly space to build my own company without having to grapple with all these other hang-ups from people in the corporate world.'
What's Lost When Older Adults Leave the Workplace 
I think institutional memory [is one loss]. There are two things here. One is general, whether you call it crystallized intelligence or wisdom. But also a certain kind of nuance and understanding how the world slots together, how the organization you work for fits into the bigger picture ... you lose that. That walks out the door when you freeze out a 54-year-old and make him or her feel unwelcome because they're the wrong side of 50.
There's also just the kind of institutional knowledge of the company that I think goes even deeper. I think that's why you're starting to see more and more companies devising schemes and programs to bring people back, and even to bring them back on looser terms. Maybe not on a full-time contract because that person who left probably doesn't want to come back full-time anyway. But once they come back in the door, they can just lay out a smorgasbord of all this experience and understanding that they've built up over the years that's just so potent and powerful for a company. You need that sweep, you need that scope, you need that diversity of lens.


Carl Honoré: We Can All Age Boldly

Julie Pfitzinger

If we are what we eat, then as a boy, I was probably a Twinkie, and as a young man, most likely a pastrami sandwich, and into my 30s, no doubt an all-you-can-eat buffet at a wedding of any nationality.
"Over the years, diet trends have come and gone. Atkins. Pritikin. Scarsdale. Beverly Hills. Oprah Winfrey in any given decade. In my case, I hopped on a few bandwagons – one year, I cut back on eggs; the next, I loaded up on pasta,"Growing up, I ate what most kids ate in the 1950s and 1960s – processed food, more chemistry than cookery. Hey, it was the style at the time. I ate to fill my belly and enjoy the taste; no other purpose was needed. In other words, I followed the strictest of diets. I ate whatever I felt like eating, meaning anything and everything.
How we eat changes as we get older, especially after age 50, occasionally for worse but often for better. Our food preferences, capacity to consume, timing of meals, and attitude toward eating all shift to meet our ever-evolving nutritional requirements.
I followed the strictest of diets. I ate whatever I felt like eating, meaning anything and everything.
"We exercise less, our metabolism slows and our taste acuity declines," says Susan B. Roberts, senior associate dean of foundational research at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. "It's the kind of challenge individuals have to figure out for themselves, and it's okay to be creative about it. Even incremental improvements can make a big difference."
The Right Diet Can Slow Aging
A 2021 meta-analysis titled "Healthy Aging — Nutrition Matters: Start Early and Screen Often," of which Roberts was the lead author, concluded, "A cohesive body of research finds that a healthy diet and weight management are able to not only reliably delay the onset of most typical diseases and functional losses in aging, but also arrest progression and severity, and even support remission for some conditions."
"I eat about half as much as I ate 20 years ago. But now I enjoy food more than ever."
The study recommended routine screenings for "age-related conditions" that can be treated with "a nutrition prescription." Healthy diets and weight, it noted, can prevent such diseases of aging as dementia, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea and constipation.
"I ate more fast food – burgers, fries – when I was younger," says Peter Tung, 60, a retired architect in Seattle, Washington. "But I cut all that out." He has been eating meals hours earlier since he stopped working because he no longer feels rushed: breakfast by about 5 a.m., lunch by 10:30 a.m. and dinner by 6 p.m. 
"I eat about half as much as I ate 20 years ago. But now I enjoy food more than ever," he says. 
Finding a Diet That Fits You
Over the years, diet trends have come and gone. Atkins. Pritikin. Scarsdale. Beverly Hills. Oprah Winfrey in any given decade. In my case, I hopped on a few bandwagons – one year, I cut back on eggs; the next, I loaded up on pasta – but let most roll past without me onboard.
Eat this, but avoid that. No, no, on second thought, eat that, but avoid this. I struggled to keep up.
Meantime, scientific research into how food affects us expanded exponentially. Conflicting evidence ensued, all too often creating more confusion than clarity. Eat this, but avoid that. No, no, on second thought, eat that, but avoid this. I struggled to keep up.
Even through my 40s, my eating habits proved less than exemplary. I ate giant bagels and drank soda with impunity. My wife and I could still demolish most of an eight-slice New York pizza at a sitting without a hitch. I also put away a fifth of vodka in less than a week. After all, I was invincible and maybe even immortal.
In the 1980s, as I became a father twice, I realized that maybe I should try to eat healthier. I was older now, and if I were to remain in decent working order and postpone my demise indefinitely, I would have to eat a lot smarter.
Graduating to the Straight and Narrow
So, I reformed. My wife, who stays well-informed about dietary practices, has helped guide me. From her, I've learned, just for starters, about the value of kale, tofu, green tea, beta-carotene, antioxidants and Omega-3.  
So, life has gone for many of us. We've adapted our eating habits anywhere from marginally to radically. According to the Healthy Eating Index, American adults over 60 have the highest quality diet across all ages, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Because they eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains but less sugar, saturated fat and sodium, older adults scored 63 out of 100.
"I now try to observe intermittent fasting," says Leslie Wall, 70, a travel/lifestyle writer and photographer in Larchmont, New York. "I eat on most days only between 11 a.m. and 7 or 8 p.m. I also avoid sugar now, drink more water and eat more protein than before, too, based on advice from my nutritionist. With this approach I've managed to maintain more or less the same weight throughout my adult life."
What Some of Us Still Get Wrong
But older people still eat too little protein and should drink more fluids to stay hydrated. Indeed, according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey, diet quality among Americans 65 or more elders dropped between 2001 and 2018. In an alarming trend, the percentage of older adults with poor diet quality rose from 51% to 61%. 
"As you get older, particularly after the age of 65 or so, eating healthy can become more challenging," the Cleveland Clinic warned this year, with weight gain a potential result. 
"If you're still in your 50s, you still have time to change your habits and lower your risks of chronic disease."
"It's especially important for older people to eat a healthy diet," says Susan B. Roberts of Dartmouth College. "But as you get older, something has to give. It's best to take on a different mindset. Fortunately, if you're still in your 50s, you still have time to change your habits and lower your risks of chronic disease."
My No-Longer-Secret Recipe
After age 50, I started eating fresh vegetables, fruit and fish more selectively. I stick with whole wheat bread, skip most sweets and treat myself to red meat maybe once or twice a month. I've also disciplined myself to stop eating before I risk spontaneous combustion. I eat more slowly, too, giving dinner an intermission of 15 to 30 minutes to let my stomach signal satiety. 
I've come to recognize that eating is as much in the brain as in the belly.
I now eat progressively less throughout the day, calibrating my consumption to match my energy needs at a given hour. I've come to recognize that eating is as much in the brain as in the belly. So, I follow specific basic protocols. Judge how much to eat by your stomach rather than your eyes. 
Never skip a meal, but accept moderate hunger for an hour or two once in a while. Eat sparingly but without being unduly spartan. See no food as lousy food per se. Forgo most fats, such as monosaturated fats (but make an exception for Fats Domino).
But lest you suspect I'm a killjoy, hey, no worries. I indulge my gustatory whims now and then. I'm a pushover for cured meats such as prosciutto and soppressata. I drink a glass or two of red wine with most dinners. I may occasionally sample some dark chocolate for dessert.
Morty Matz, 99, public relations specialist in New York City.A Sobering Reminder for Us All
"My eating habits have changed dramatically," confides Morty Matz, a public relations pioneer in New York City often credited with creating the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. "I lost the ability to swallow at the age of 99. Now I'm fed a liquid nutrition drink through a tube. It's a horror."
As it happens, I know Morty. He's a former boss who remains my friend more than 30 years later. I've gone to restaurants with him and seen how much he once savored the best in food. This hardship Morty now confronts in performing these most basic functions in daily life serves as a sober reminder. If we're still free to eat through our mouths, we should make a particular point of enjoying our food while we can.
Meanwhile, Morty refuses to say goodbye to food as we know it. He trains with a speech therapist twice a week to regain his swallowing ability. He's even kept his charge account around the corner at a smoked fish specialty store. He still yearns again for the tip of his tongue to taste the mildly salty tang and velvety texture of his favorite meal, Nova Scotia salmon with cream cheese on a toasted bagel.


I Eat Smarter Now That I'm Older

Bob Brody

The medium of TV is ideal for adults.
Characters in movies only have to remain interesting for a couple of hours, but people on television shows come into our homes, week after week. They can't be the same in every episode without becoming boring — even on The Simpsons, where nobody ever ages, the characters have deepened to the point where the marriage of Homer and Marge reportedly will go through a separation this season.
Shows succeed or fail based on their creators' ability to craft characters who change and grow in compelling ways. And though TV programming has morphed into a year-round affair,  fall is when we get to meet the most new people on the most new shows. Here in alphabetical order are 2015's best bets for audiences who love to watch characters shift their priorities, face new challenges and adapt to the curves life throws:
Maggie Lawson and Jane Lynch in Angel from Hell 
Angel from Hell — Doing the right thing, finding one's calling and dealing with the challenges of middle age are all themes of a comedy that features Jane Lynch as an angel who — much like Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life — finds herself with one last chance to prove she can help people and earn her wings. CBS, premiering Nov. 5
Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris 
Best Time Ever — Early reviews have not backed up that title's claim, but there still may be time for Neil Patrick Harris to get this show in gear. Harris is hoping there are enough TV viewers who remember watching The Carol Burnett Show every Saturday night to join him (on Tuesdays) as he tries to revive the variety show genre. A skilled magician, Harris is goosing the music-and-sketches format by adding dashes of magic and reality TV. NBC, it began Sept. 15. (You can catch up on-demand, or just hope the good episodes are finally starting now.)
Cast of Blood & OilBlood & Oil — Just about every TV season features at least one boomer star of yore taking another shot at Nielsen, and this season's comeback kid is Miami Vice-r Don Johnson. He plays a tycoon who finds purpose in the oil fields of North Dakota, where he dreams of eliminating America's dependence on foreign oil. And, since this is a soap opera, he also has some screw-up kids and, probably, an evil twin. ABC, Sept. 27
Marcia Gay Harden and Luis Guzman in Code Black 
Code Black — Marcia Gay Harden plays an emergency room doctor charged with saving lives and teaching the next generation of docs how to administer 100 milliliters of epinephrine, stat. Code Black is a procedural but, as the series progresses, it will also examine the ways the Harden character has used work to escape from her messy personal life (and, yes, the young 'uns will have a thing or two to teach her about re-balancing her life). CBS, Sept. 30
John Stamos in GrandfatheredGrandfathered — It might more accurately be called Mom, But with Dudes, since, like the Anna Faris/Allison Janney show, this sitcom also focuses on a reluctant parent, the parent's offspring and the offspring's offspring. John Stamos takes the title role, a man who discovers he has not just a son he never knew about (Josh Peck) but also a grandson. The whole point, of course, is for the granddad to realize what important things have been missing from his life all along. Fox, Sept. 29
Rob Lowe and Fred Savage in The GrinderThe Grinder — The subtext of Rob Lowe's career, in which he has left one TV series after another, could be read as the actor's search for a project to believe in. If that is the case, he's in luck because his new sitcom finds him playing a guy in midlife who is looking for meaning. An actor bored with his job, he decides to join the family law firm and do some good, even though he has no legal training other than the kind you would get from play-acting courtroom scenes. Fox, Sept. 29
Ron Perlman in Hand of GodHand of God — Ron Perlman is asking the big questions with his latest character, a judge who comes to believe that a higher power is speaking through him. Is he crazy? Desperate to find a purpose? Gunning for a reality TV series? We'll find out as he tries to convince the people in his life to go on his spiritual journey with him. It began streaming on Amazon.com on Sept. 4. (You can catch up on the episodes you missed at that streaming service.)
Julie Walters in Indian SummersIndian Summers — The great Julie Walters and Roshan Seth head an ensemble cast in a drama about three generations of Brits in pre-independence India. It may be in the Downton Abbey time slot in most cities and class struggle will remain a theme, but Indian Summers promises more melodrama, murder and racial tension. PBS, Sept. 27
The Man in the High CastleThe Man in the High Castle — Writer Philip K. Dick has been dead for three decades but his work continues to inspire readers and filmmakers with his ability to place our eternal search for why we exist in an exciting, sci-fi context. High Castle's  dystopian setting will ring a bell with fans of the Dick-based Blade Runner, but it hits even closer to home in High Castle: Set shortly after WWII, it asks what lives would be like in an America that lost the war and is now ruled by the Nazis. Streaming at amazon.com, Nov. 20
The MuppetsThe Muppets — Tired of her life, a mid-career star shifts modes, agreeing to be a talk show host with reality TV-style documentary cameras following her every move. True, she's a pig (and a puppet) but the comedy series still features Miss Piggy and the other Muppets attempting to re-boot themselves after a couple of less-than-stellar films. ABC, it began airing Sept. 22, but you can catch up on-demand.
RosewoodRosewood — One of many new shows intended to reflect that America has been changing in a way it took television a while to catch up with, Rosewood stars a diverse cast (led by Morris Chestnut and Jaina Lee Ortiz) in a concept that's not so new: a light-hearted look at a coroner. Think Quincy more than CSI.  Fox, it began Sept. 23
Abigail Breslin, Billie Lourd and Ariana Grande in Scream QueensScream Queens — If the term "scream queen" was in the Oxford English Dictionary, it would probably have a picture of the original scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, next to it. The '80s superscreamer comes to TV in a horror spoof that finds her in a role much like the one she played in her last horror movie, Halloween H20: the dean of a deluxe college whose students are being targeted by a maniac. Curtis has said she said "yes" to the show after being assured it would empower women and, specifically, older women. Fox, it began Sept. 22 (catch up on-demand)
Melissa Benoist in SupergirlSupergirl — Remember Ally McBeal's demanding and obnoxious boss, Richard Fish? Now, McBeal — or, rather, actress Calista Flockhart — is the demanding and obnoxious boss. Flockhart plays a media mogul who doesn't know her personal assistant, Kara (Melissa Benoist), is moonlighting as an international do-gooder. No worries, though, Flockhart fans: She may be working at a higher pay grade, but she's still wearing insanely high heels. CBS, Oct. 26


The Best Fall 2015 TV Shows for Adults

Chris Hewitt

This article is part of Navigating Change, a Next Avenue initiative made possible by the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and EIX, the Entrepreneur Innovation Exchange.My wife and I bought our first fully electric vehicle, a used, first-generation Nissan Leaf, just before the pandemic. We were replacing our 20-year-old second car, which was rapidly morphing into iron oxide, and the Leaf cost only $9,000. It was in great shape with only 15,000 miles on it, so it was a slam dunk for us.
Jon Polonsky is CEO of Plaid Pantry, a chain of gas station/convenience stores in the Pacific Northwest. His company is testing a quick charger for EVs at one of its stores to see if sales improve or reduce.Our Leaf was a great car for getting to the grocery store, dry cleaner or pharmacy, and later for our youngest daughter to navigate her college town. Most non-commuters travel no more than 50 miles a day, so this sub-compact fit the bill. The biggest drawback, though, is that it had limited range and at the time there were only three public places around us to charge it.
That there's a large gap between growing demand for fast EV chargers and more than 3 million EV owners, has not been lost on fuel retailers, who are navigating the transition cautiously.
We couldn't drive it out of state or more than 90 miles in-state.
Fuel Retailers Tread Cautiously
Although the charging situation has improved significantly in recent years, the paucity of charging stations — especially rapid chargers — is a major national issue slowing the mass adoption of fully electric vehicles, or EVs, in the U.S.
That there's a large gap between growing demand for fast EV chargers and more than 3 million EV owners, has not been lost on fuel retailers, who are navigating the transition cautiously. They need to figure out where to put the charging units on their property without displacing other customers who come in to buy gas, coffee or lottery tickets. Like most retailers, they want to add value to their transaction in a highly competitive environment.
"The U.S. Department of Energy counts approximately 60,000 public charging stations, which may be at a convenience store, large parking lot, shopping mall, apartment complex or seemingly in the middle of nowhere," says Jeff Lenard, vice president of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), a trade association that also represents gas stations. "They cumulatively have 160,000 charging nozzles, but only 37,000 are fast chargers."
A Big Investment Required
While you may not be able to obtain a quick charge in most places, the economics of adding the fastest "Level 3" chargers are compelling since they offer a full charge for high-capacity batteries in 30 minutes or less. A host of federal tax incentives is propelling the conversions, which could cost up to $1 million per station to add.
"We're in uncharted territory and there's no playbook," adds Lenard. "Generally, EV drivers are more interested in why you matter (as a retailer in your community)."
The dollars from Washington to install EV charging stations — and to buy EVs — adds up to some real money: More than $7 billion in three major infrastructure laws passed by Congress over the past three years. The Biden Administration's goal is to seed a network of 500,000 charging outlets.
Still, fuel retailers and gas station/convenience store owners are moving cautiously to attract the burgeoning EV ownership market. Jonathan Polonsky, CEO of Plaid Pantry in Portland, Oregon, said his company is "beta testing" a fast-charging unit at one of its 107 convenience stores.
One of Polonsky's Plaid Pantry stationsWill EV Owners Shop While Charging?
If the first charging spot — located near Portland International Airport — does well, he would consider more units. He's also hoping that customers who used to come into his stores for quick purchases such as tobacco, sales of which have been declining in recent years, will consider buying other items such as energy drinks or coffee. "If they buy non-tobacco products, we'll consider it a win," says Polonsky.
In general, EV owners skew toward older, higher-income and college-educated drivers. What will make them want to patronize a convenience store while charging up? They may want to use other amenities such as window-washing squeegees, vacuums, or relish spaces under a canopy to avoid the weather. Or, as Polonsky observes, "they may want more creature comforts" while they are waiting.
Teaming Up with Tesla
Nationwide, the vehicle industry is making some strides toward a national fast-charging network. Both Ford and General Motors announced agreements in June of last year to use Tesla's supercharger network. GM EV owners, for example, will be able to access Tesla's network of more than 12,000 chargers beginning this year.
Still, even if you can locate a fast-charging station, what do you do while you're waiting for up to 30 minutes? Most new fueling stations have ever-larger convenience stores. Grab a bite to eat or buy a lottery ticket? Or would you go inside for fresher healthy items? Of course, you can always sit in your car to catch up on emails, texts and phone calls. The industry is gingerly dipping its toes into these uncertain waters.
The waits for an EV charge-up are also "opportunities to link up the entertainment experience at the pump/charger," Lenard adds, although screens on pumps and chargers are also competing with high-definition screens in vehicles.
How Many EVs Will There Be?
There's yet another reason fuel retailers are cautious: Will relatively high prices for EVs slow overall sales growth? Although price points remain high, consumers bought more than 1 million EVs in the U.S. last year. Car buyers in 2024 pay a 10% premium for new EVs in the U.S., where average new electric vehicle prices are more than $50,000, according to CarEdge. The promising news is that these prices are dropping. Two years ago, EVs sold at a 15% premium over gasoline models.
It was the only time I made money selling a used car — and would probably be the last.
This year, with a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 available as an instant rebate at new and used car dealers for U.S.-made vehicles, sales could climb further. Yet anxiety over finding a fast-charging station will prevail unless the infrastructure expands.
Fortunately, our first EV journey ended well. We were able to sell our Leaf almost two years ago for $13,500. We got lucky: It was during the tail-end of the pandemic when few cars were available due to supply-chain shutdowns, gasoline prices were nearly $5 a gallon and EV demand was high.
I gleefully slapped myself when I got a check for the car. It was the only time I made money selling a used car — and would probably be the last.
Although we will likely buy another EV in the future to replace our oldest Toyota Prius (we have two), like many, we are patiently waiting for the national infrastructure to offer fast charging stations nearly everywhere. Ideally, there will be a rapid charger at most gas stations before we hit the road emission-free when we're fully retired and have more time on our hands.


Should Gas Stations Become Charging Stations?

John F. Wasik

It is difficult these days to read the news without encountering articles about artificial intelligence (AI). While technology's previous superstar, self-driving cars, has fallen out of favor, it appears that AI is here to stay.
Hero's smart pill dispenser aims to make managing your medications easier and more convenientA recent study shows only 9% of adults aged 50 and over have not heard of or read about AI. While the technology holds great promise to make life easier for older adults, this risk-averse group is not exactly embracing the concept with open arms.
Among consumers aged 65 and older, 84% say they are concerned about online privacy.
We have seen this pattern before: skepticism of new advances in technology gradually giving way to acceptance and then near-ubiquity. Not that long ago, many of us were reluctant to provide a credit card number to make an online purchase. With e-commerce sales topping $6.3 billion in 2023, it is safe to say that ship has sailed.
Impediments to Adoption
Two main hurdles are hampering widespread adoption of AI by older Americans. The first involves the same concern that slowed the growth of online shopping — privacy worries surrounding the collection and release of personal information.
Among consumers aged 65 and older, 84% say they are concerned about online privacy. Nearly three-quarters of this age group report that they have been targeted by cyber criminals, and 43% know someone who has been an actual victim.
The other hurdle relates to the sheer speed with which AI is evolving. Almost 75% of adults over 65 say they need help using new technology. That worked out well with laptops, tablets and smartphones, when tech-savvy children (or grandchildren!) can provide guidance. Beyond assistance setting up Alexa or Siri, not much expertise is available with AI since we are all trying to figure it out together.
There is a lot to be excited about now and in the near future. Here is a look at several key areas where AI is already delivering significant benefits.
Medication Management
For better or worse, we have become a nation of pill-poppers. Forty percent of older Americans take five or more medications per day, and 20%, almost 11 million, take 10 or more.
Keeping up with that many different drugs can be overwhelming. Combined with aging factors like cognitive decline, failure to maintain medication schedules is a common problem.
Medisafe Digital Drug Companion is a highly regarded med reminder app that doesn't limit the number of medications you can enter and has a customizable dosing schedule. It tracks adherence and provides family notifications when schedules are not followed.
Hero is a smart pill dispenser that can hold a 90-day supply of as many as 10 medications in any shape or size. One button sorting and dispensing plus both sound and blinking light alerts take away any guesswork. An app keeps users and family or caregivers connected.
Developers are working on AI-equipped pill bottles that provide real-time monitoring and intervention by detecting when a dose is missed and sending reminders. In the near future, chatbots will be able to engage in conversations, answer questions and provide personalized tips. Down the road, AI-powered robots will dispense medications and eliminate human error entirely.
Nutritional Support and Meal Planning
Researchers estimate that a "substantial" percentage of older Americans are malnourished. Poor nutrition often results from inadequate food intake, poor food choices or a combination of the two. Psychological factors such as anxiety and depression cause lack of appetite, as does loss of taste and general disinterest in planning and preparing balanced meals.
AI platforms of the future may act as virtual dieticians.
Numerous AI-powered apps are already available that do the heavy lifting of meal planning for you. ChefGPT provides recipe recommendations based on your dietary and lifestyle requirements. Don't want to go shopping for ingredients? Tell the app what is in your fridge and pantry and it will create a custom recipe with what you have on hand.
TummyAI is a comprehensive app that designs meal plans based on factors that include your favorite foods, dietary restrictions, allergies, location and grocery budget.
Nutritional support is on track to become more personalized with AI tools. Already DayTwo is able to analyze an individual's microbiome — the bacteria, fungi and other microorganism in the digestive tract — to control blood sugar levels with custom-tailored meal plans. AI platforms of the future may act as virtual dieticians that improve patients' health by understanding their unique health conditions and goals.
Cognitive Enhancement
Occasional confusion and memory loss are not unusual occurrences as adults age. However, frequently forgetting how to perform routine tasks of daily life like preparing meals and managing personal finances are indications of severe cognitive decline.
The $6 billion brain-training industry is trying to address concerns about such decline — and other conditions that often accompany aging — with products and services that vendors suggest may improve one's memory or keep at bay medical conditions like Alzheimer's, stroke and depression.
Do they work? The jury is still out, as a mixed bag of research has provided no definitive answers. For those hoping that a few minutes of game playing and problem solving are worth a try, these are a couple of popular options:
Lumosity is the world's most popular brain-training app. They have been at it for 14 years and boast 100 million members. After a free trial period, monthly subscriptions are $14.95 and annual subscriptions are $79.95.
Mobility and lack of independence issues may decrease if self-driving cars eventually find their way into the marketplace.
If promises to "push you hard with intense workouts" are what you are looking for, Peak Brain Training is ready to unlock your full mental potential. An AI personal trainer will be by your side to challenge you, keep you motivated and track your progress.
Safety Monitoring
More than 12 million Americans over the age of 65 live alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of four in this group falls every year.
When you add all the other potentially adverse health events that increase as people age, AI home monitoring systems and wearable devices are a wise investment for both older adults living independently and their families or caregivers.
While many Apple Watch owners take advantage of the fitness functions built into the device, they may not be aware of various health monitoring features available. 
Fall Detection automatically calls emergency services and contacts when you have been immobile for more than a minute after a hard fall, alerting them to your location. Installing an EKG app notifies the wearer of low and high heart rates as well as irregular rhythms.
The watch can be taken to the next level by pairing it with a platform like Safeguard. Using AI and cutting-edge algorithms, Safeguard continually analyzes all the data it receives for warning signs that may indicate potential health issues, sending alerts to both the wearer and designated contacts.
What's Next
EnvoyatHome offers a passive technology requiring no cameras or wearable devices. Algorithms fed data from strategically placed sensors throughout the home learn the person's behavior patterns and constantly compare them to an established baseline. Customized system triggers alert caregivers of unusual activity. A dashboard collects data through charts and graphs that can be shared with primary care providers.
AI has immense potential to enhance the lives of older adults. Mobility and lack of independence issues may decrease if self-driving cars eventually find their way into the marketplace. Chatbots, virtual avatars and assistive robots may help combat loneliness by engaging in conversations and providing empathetic emotional support.
Developers can accelerate more widespread acceptance of this technology by first addressing privacy concerns. Soliciting input to create true age-friendly solutions along with easy-to-understand training, whether personal or online, are keys to older adults embracing the use of AI. Bridging this digital divide will empower them to lead healthier, more connected lives.


AI for Older Adults — Friend or Foe?

Edd and Cynthia Staton

I am on a long-awaited beach vacation, a welcome reprieve from endless chores and the cacophony of screeching fire engines that invade our bedroom at all hours of the day and night.
It is hot and humid and delightful, especially compared to the weather we've been getting at home. As we approach the lounge chairs waiting for us, I turn to my husband and say, "I'll be right back. I'm going to get coffee."
Numerous research studies in the past two decades have found that moderate intake of coffee has been correlated with positive effects on cardiovascular health"Honey," he says, "It's almost ninety degrees already. You really want coffee?"
He knows I won't get a cold beverage, unlike most "normal" people who think beach days go best with a frosty piña colada or perhaps an iced latte. No, whatever the temperature might be, I am a "give me a cup of hot coffee, with a little milk and no sugar, please" kind of gal.
If we could choose our middle names, I think mine would be "caffeine."
What Is Caffeine? 
Caffeine is a flavorless substance found naturally in the leaves, seeds and fruits of more than sixty plants, including tea leaves, kola nuts, coffee beans, cacao beans, guarana berries and yerba mate leaves. It is also found in many processed foods like chocolate, colas, candies and gum, and is often added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers and cold medicines.
Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant often used to promote wakefulness or to enhance cognitive performance.
Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant often used to promote wakefulness or to enhance cognitive performance. Along with caffeine, coffee contains polyphenols, which are chemicals with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Caffeine is also a diuretic which helps to rid your body of fluids. It's rapidly absorbed, with its effects generally felt within 45 or 50 minutes and peaking at about two hours.
In a January 2024 American Medical Association podcast, "What doctors wish patients knew about the impact of caffeine," Shannon Kilgore, MD, a neurologist at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Palo Alto, California and Stanford University School of Medicine, explains that "the half-life of the drug can range from as quickly as an hour and a half to as long as nine hours, depending on an individual's genetic factors, to coadministration with other medications, such as oral contraceptives, and to smoking status."
The type of CYP1A2 gene that you possess (fast or slow version) affects whether you're a fast or slow metabolizer. Fast caffeine metabolizers, who clear caffeine from their system about four times more quickly than those who metabolize it more slowly, can have a cup of strong coffee at bedtime and still be snoring within minutes.
The Many Benefits of Caffeine
According to the Food and Drug Administration, a healthy intake of caffeine can be up to 400 mg. per day, with an average 8-ounce cup of coffee containing 80-100 mg. Anyone who is pregnant, has underlying heart disease or hypertension, digestive issues such as GERD (gastric reflux) or other medical conditions should consult their health care provider for recommendations.
Caffeine stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation and learning, as well as norepinephrine, which increases alertness, arousal and attention. It increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in the body and promotes wakefulness by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. 
Caffeine intake is also linked with a decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes because of its effect on regulating glucose and insulin levels.
Adenosine, a sleep-inducing substance, normally accumulates during the day, with your afternoon yawns signifying the need for a cup of java to counteract its effects.
For many years, there have been heated discussions as to whether caffeine is good for you, and if so, in what amount. While there are still some mixed results concerning certain findings, the latest results may send you running to your kitchen cabinet to joyfully retrieve your extra-large coffee mug.
A longitudinal study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association that followed 12,585 coffee drinkers over 20 years as they went from a median age of 53 years to 73, found that those who drank four or more cups of coffee daily were twice as likely to avoid becoming physically frail or to have seriously diminished strength or endurance as they aged into their seventies. This is pretty amazing.
Numerous research studies in the past two decades have found that moderate intake of coffee has been correlated with positive effects on cardiovascular health including a reduced risk of stroke, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, metabolic syndrome and heart failure. Significantly, caffeine consumption has been correlated with a substantial decrease in all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality.
Caffeine intake is also linked with a decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes because of its effect on regulating glucose and insulin levels.
Coffee drinkers have been found to be less likely to be depressed, which may be related to its antioxidant effects or its anti-inflammatory properties.
With compounds known to protect against cellular damage, caffeine has been shown to reduce the risks of certain types of cancer, particularly liver and endometrial cancer, but also including colon, breast cancer, bladder and some types of skin cancers. Caffeine intake has been associated with reduced liver stiffness, decreased scar tissue and reducing the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among overweight people with type 2 diabetes.
It also increases your basal metabolic rate, jumpstarting the process of converting fat stores into energy. Kilgore says that coffee improves endurance and speed as well as decreasing your perception of fatigue, helping people to exercise more vigorously and for longer periods of time. A new study shows that people who drink coffee take, on average, 1,000 extra steps per day compared to non-users.
Coffee drinkers have been found to be less likely to be depressed, which may be related to its antioxidant effects or its anti-inflammatory properties (and taking a break in my day to have a cup of java in a local café certainly acts as an antidepressant for me!)
Caffeine has been found to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, possibly by preventing the build-up of beta-amyloid plaque. Studies have suggested that caffeine can protect against the loss of dopamine neurons in the brain and can measurably lower the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Many people aren't aware that decaffeinated coffee still contains caffeine, about 2 to 15 milligrams per cup. Decaf coffee has only slightly lower levels of health-inducing substances, which is why its intake seems to also be associated with improved longevity. An eight-ounce cup of black tea contains 47 mg. of caffeine and has many, although not all, of the health enhancement effects of coffee.
One study showed that coffee drinkers between the ages of 65 to 70 took 33% longer to metabolize caffeine than did younger participants, meaning that we may experience amplified effects as we get older.
A recent study in BMC's Cell and Bioscience journal found that, due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid (CGA), one to two cups of coffee per day may help to reduce the risk of severe COVID. Just one more reason to enjoy that afternoon pick-me-up!
When Caffeine Isn't Good for You
Too much coffee can lead to a variety of unpleasant, and sometimes even dangerous, side effects. These include anxiety, insomnia, palpitations, racing pulse, jitteriness, elevated blood pressure and nausea or diarrhea.
Age may contribute to a growing caffeine sensitivity. One study showed that coffee drinkers between the ages of 65 to 70 took 33% longer to metabolize caffeine than did younger participants, meaning that we may experience amplified effects as we get older.
Some people get headaches if they consume too much caffeine, although the vasoconstriction it causes actually helps some headaches, such as migraines.
Unfiltered coffee made with a French press or Turkish style and, to a lesser extent, espresso, are associated with a small but significant increase in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides. This is because filtering coffee removes much of the cafestol, a compound in coffee that raises blood cholesterol levels.
Energy drinks, especially those containing mega-amounts of caffeine and consumed multiple times throughout the day or evening, have landed some users in emergency rooms with palpitations, panic attacks, tremors or even delirium.
I must admit that beach vacations and coffee are two of my favorite things in the entire world. I'm so glad they're both good for me.


Caffeine Pros and Cons

Barbra Williams Cosentino

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