The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Tips for Father’s Day 2020

My dad was really good at guessing what was in his presents. One time, to fool him, I bought him a magazine subscription and I put it in a toy jack-in-the-box. When he turned the handle, boom. The clown delivered a note about the present. He was really surprised.

This year, in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, a lot of the activities we’d usually do with our dads, wouldn’t be a good choice for this year. For example, getting on an airplane to visit your dad is risky. Also, going to a restaurant with a large group of people isn’t advisable. Nor or hugs, unless you’ve been staying at home together.

But, you can order a present and make plans for a get together later.

Some gift ideas include:

• Tech gadgets. Apple iPad, Kindle or Nook, digital camera.
• Tools. Drills, rakes, hoes.
• Clothing. Shirts, ties, t-shirts, jackets. (For some dads, but not others.)
• Sporting goods. Book on sports, sports paraphernalia, new gear.
• Books. Check AARP’s list of summer reads.
• Music. Smart speaker, Apple AirPods.
• Photos. Favorite family photos, digital photo frame, photo book.
• Gift basket. Golf, fishing, grilling, baseball, brewing, coffee, beer, wine.
• Gift card. O.K. if you’re out of ideas.
• Limited funds. Small pocket knife, coffee mug with your photo, framed photo of you and your dad.

Baby boomer bloggers keep chugging on even in tough times

It’s been a tough week. I had to organize the hundreds of photos I took at the National Women’s History Alliance conference in early January, which meant I lost time writing my book, “Follow the Money: My Life as a Financial Journalist.”

On Sunday, the Super Bowl was so violent, the game itself and the ads, and sexist, the half time show, that I’m trying to get over it before it before I write about the Super Bowl ads. Then, the delay in results for the Democratic winner of the Iowa caucuses disappointed. Next came the state of the union address, which I didn’t watch, but I’ve had to endure dozens of clips on the radio and television. Then, Wednesday, the Senate voted to acquit President Trump.

Can I go to bed and cover up my head?

Meanwhile, my baby boomer blogging friends are writing about:

• A sailboat trip in the West Indies.
• The challenges of shopping at IKEA.
• The pros and cons of cruises.
• What to do when mobility starts to decline.
• The one thing you need to do to follow your dreams.
• How North Carolina isn’t turning out to be warm for a winter vacation.
• How to view your life with kindsight.

Carol Cassara of Heart•Mind•Soul writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #635. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers enjoy hearing from readers.

Copyright 2020, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

How do you want to be disposed of after you die?

At any stage of life, it’s important to have a plan for what will happen when you pass away, including how you want to be buried. What burial methods are available, how much do they cost, and how do people choose one?

To get an idea of what people’s burial plans are and why they’re chosen, researchers at Choice Mutual, a final expense life insurance agency, surveyed 1,500 Americans, analyzed their responses, and published a report; 30 percent of those surveyed were seniors.

Results of the survey are:

How do you plan to have your body disposed of after you die?

• Traditional burial – 35 percent
• Cremation – 44 percent
• Natural burial – 4 percent
• Donate to science – 6 percent
• Don’t have a plan/don’t care – 10 percent
• Other – 1 percent

Baby boomers focus on change

The leaves are already beginning to change here in the Seattle area, so change and fall are in the air. Fall is definitely just around the corner.

Laurie Stone from Musings, Rants & Scribbles is happy. Yes, spring is lovely and summer’s fun. Even old man winter has his icy grandeur. But nothing compares to fall’s beauty and poignancy. And though this season comes at a price, Stone still loves it for leaves, crisper air, school supplies, the good shows that come back on TV, and candy apples.

Other boomer bloggers are writing about:

The best and worst super bowl ads of 2019

For years, I’ve written about the Super Bowl ads because they get so much attention. Since so many of them have been violent, ageist, and sexist, I think it’s something that consumers need to know about.

However, this year, before I evaluate the ads, I need to comment on the NFL’s attempts to smooth over its botch response to black athletes kneeling when the national anthem is played to protest police brutality and racism.

Dr. Bernice A. King, the youngest child of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, came out on the field before Super Bowl LIII for the coin toss. Two civil rights leaders, Ambassador Andrew Young and U.S. Representative John Lewis, joined by her.

Top 10 stores for Cyber Monday shopping

Cyber Monday isn't just for Black Friday leftovers. Some of the year's best sales will take place on Monday, Nov. 26. So, you may want to save part of your holiday shopping budget for Cyber Monday deals.

Which stores will be offering the best savings? DealNews.com offers 10 suggestions, based on the best sales last year from Cyber Monday and the Sunday before.

1. Amazon

Best for: Gaming, toys, home, and almost anything else you can buy online

While plenty of other retailers offer Cyber Monday sales, none of them match Amazon's. Last year, DealNews.com saw three times as many Cyber Monday deals at Amazon as the next highest retailer.

What did you think of the ads during the Winter Olympics?

During the Winter Olympics this year, it was refreshing that the ads didn't continually feature violence. Every year, I write about the Super Bowl ads, which this year, as usual, had dozens of violent ads, mostly movie trailers. Now, I'm watching the 2017 Academy Award nominated movies, most of which are violent or have some violence.

Winter Olympic ads cost between $700,000 and $750,000 for 30 seconds. Although NBC said it set a record for national advertising sales in this year's Winter Olympics of $900 million, some of the top spenders in the past have withdrawn, such as McDonalds, from advertising, and others, such as General Motors, Procter and Gamble, and Coca-Cola, have cut their spending.

See "Here's What the Winter Olympics' Top Sponsors Have Planned for the Pyeongchang Games" to watch some of the ads from this year's Winter Olympics.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Super Bowl 2018: Ads still mostly violent and ageism makes a comeback

A 30-second TV ad for the 2018 Super Bowl cost more than $5 million, down from $5.5 million last year. About 100 million people watched the big game, which is why advertisers are willing to pay so much for the ads.

Unfortunately, the ads again this year were violent, violent, and more violent. That was due, in large part, to the awful violent movie trailers and ads for TV shows. I just don’t know why children are allowed to watch so much of this kind of violence on television. I don’t go see horror movies and I don’t want to watch ads for them – ever.

Fortunately, Betty White or another person wasn’t tackled and thrown to the ground as happened in the 2010 Snicker’s ad or a man wasn’t slapped in the face because his sandwich was good.

However, the ad makers, and the companies that hire them, can’t resist using violence to sell.

Best ads

Ads for the Olympics featuring stories about how some of America’s top athletes became successful in their sports.

Arrow nocks recalled by Ravin Crossbows due to injury hazard

About 220,000 Ravin arrow nocks are being recalled in the United States with about an addition 3,600 recalled in Canada. Arrow nocks are small, plastic parts that take the full force of each arrow shot and transmit that force to the arrow shaft. 

If the nock isn’t fully engaged with the bowstring, the crossbow can fail to discharge when the trigger is pulled and can result in the bow discharging while re-nocking of the arrow, posing an injury hazard to users.

The firm has received 44 reports of the arrow nocks malfunctioning. There were 23 reports of finger injuries, including six serious injuries.

Let’s have gun control now

If not now, when?

After 26 people were shot dead and 20 injured at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, President Donald Trump said the shooting was caused by a mental health problem not an issue with gun laws in the United States.

What?

Every day, 93 people are killed with a gun in America. In 2016, the number of gun deaths climbed to 38,000. Since the massacre in Las Vegas that killed 58 people and injured hundreds, 33 mass shootings have occurred in the United States in places such as Maryland, Ohio, and California. With the shooting in Texas on Sunday, the number is now 34.

“The alarming frequency with which we watch terrifying scenes unfold in our communities is devastating – and it’s not normal,” said Gabby Giffords, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who was shot in 2011 while meeting with constituents in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.