Huge Debt, No savings - USATODAY.com

Generation Y's Steep Financial Hurdles: 

"They're called 'Generation Y' — teens and twentysomethings known stereotypically for their coddled upbringing, confidence, opinionated dialogue, free-spending habits and openness to change.

Now, stagnant wages, job insecurity, the decline in employer-sponsored health insurance and retirement benefits, the rapid increase in basic expenses, soaring debt and minimal savings have jeopardized the economic security of the entire generation, according to a recent report by Demos, a public policy research and advocacy think tank."

USA Today has an article about the economic toll that the events of the last few years have taken on an entire generation. A generation that, by and large, still probably doesn’t know what hit them.They will learn soon.
Would you be smiling if you were twenty-something years old and you owed almost a hundred thousand dollars?
My guess is that, in another 10 or 20 years, they’re going to be pretty mad when they fully understand what the Big Government Progressive Movement has left them.

Skip DVD Trailers and Warnings

An interesting video from CNET about watching DVD's.
The solution works for me. 

If you've watched one DVD in your life, you know how annoying the endless title screens, trailers, and warnings are. It's infuriating because you're often prevented from skipping them -
Unless you know the right remote control shortcut, that is.

There are several methods for skipping the trailers, warnings, and other "stuff" on a DVD so you can get straight to the movie you're trying to watch.
The first tip, from CNET author Tom Merritt, is the easiest. Just press Stop, Stop, then Play on many DVDs to skip right to the movie.
This method won't always work, so if it doesn't, don't give up hope! If twice doesn't work, Salon.com's Richard Rider says pressing Stop three times, followed by Play, will do the trick.

Elgin Park Pa. - The Perfect Town

Michael Paul Smith lives in a place most of us know only from the pages of old photo albums.
In his hometown, the good old days are still just as shiny and bright as a new set of white wall tires.
But you won't find this place on any map.

Believe it or not I found this video on a financial blog.
The pictures are amazing, and most of all it brings back some fond memories of a simpler time.

So girls, slip into a pair of Pedal Pushers and put a little more hair spray on the old Bee Hive.
You guys roll up that pack of Lucky Strikes in the sleeve of your t-shirt and put some more Brylcream on that DA.
Everybody head over to Broderic's Diner for some burgers and fries, and most importantly a night of Drag Racing.
My money is on the '53 Studebaker Starlight Coupe with the bored and stroked Packard engine, and the cool Ah Ooo Gah Horn. 

To see the "stills" click on "photo albums" in the intro above.

Be warned that you have to sit through a 30 second commercial before the "movie feature" starts.

Senior Monent? Nah...........

Improve Your Memory - AOL Health:
"Have you ever found yourself in mid-sentence when suddenly you've forgotten the point you were trying to make? Do birth dates or simple tasks (like DVRing one of your must-see TV shows) sometimes slip your mind? You're not alone -- these random acts of absentmindedness are normal and can be due to tiredness, anxiety and stress (along with age, of course).
But here's the good news: Research shows there are simple strategies that can boost your brainpower -- no matter how many candles will be on your birthday cake this year."

Here is a Super Interesting article on memory enhancement.
While it's not geared to seniors and their infamous 'Moments', it may open your eyes to the fact that it's not only seniors who have memory lapses.

Be sure to check out the More On Memory links at the bottom of the article.

Boomer's Trikes

Boomers Welcome This Third Wheel:
"The irony is not lost on those who ride them. As toddlers they started out on three wheels.
As aging boomers, they have gone back to their trikes.At the dealership on Merle Haggard Drive, salesman Mark T. Welch said the $30,000-plus three-wheel Harley-Davidson motorcycles are flying out the door. They can't order them quick enough to keep up with the demand."

It had to happen.
We're all getting older and looking for more stability (pun intended) in our lives. I guess when you're

PSA Test Value Questionable

Cancer Society Casts Doubt on Value of Prostate Cancer Test: 
"New advice from the American Cancer Society puts a sharper focus on the risks of prostate cancer screening, emphasizing that annual testing can lead to unnecessary biopsies and treatments that do more harm than good.

The cancer society has not recommended routine screening for most men since the mid-1990s, and that is not changing. But its new advice goes farther to warn of the limitations of the PSA blood test that millions of American men get now. It also says digital rectal exams should be an option rather than part of a standard screening."

I've heard rumors about this for years.
Being "well over fifty" PSA tests have been a routine part of my doctor visits, just like blood pressure tests, temperature, and the venerable weigh-in. No matter what the reason was for my doctors visit, be it flu, back pain, bee stings, or an ingrown toe nail, there it was the old PSA test.

I've always felt that it had more to do with revenue generating than it did my health. The fact that doctors still routinely perform the tests, even though the they were not recommended since the mid-1990's, bears out my suspicions.

Revenue generation through the use of blood tests, and more recently CAT Scans, by doctors and hospitals is a pet peeve of mine and will be the topic of a future post.

So read the article and make your own decisions about PSA screening.

Tips On Giving Out Your Social Security Number - Yahoo! Finance

When They Ask, Just Say NO:
"Some Legitimately Need It -- to Others, Learn to Say 'No'
Your Social Security number is one of the keys to your financial health. It's a unique indentifier lenders use to assess your creditworthiness. It's also exactly what a would-be thief needs to apply for a credit card, mortgage, car loan or job in your name.
If you're like most Americans, it's also something you give out all too frequently."

This is an informative little article, and the side bar explaining how to decode your Social Security is an interesting bonus.
I posted this article because giving out personal information about my self to any store clerk who asks for it is a pet peeve of mine. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people giving out their full name, home address, and telephone number at the checkout counter. Some times, as an added bonus, they'll throw in their email address all for the honor of being on the store's Mailing List.
Not only is this an opportunity for identity theft, it can lead to a parking lot mugging or home invasion. You can easily be taken off guard by someone who calls your name while loading your purchases into your car. They have your home address and can easily explain their presence to your inquiring neighbors because they know your name and where you shop.

Ship Your Luggage Separately

Save Money, Ship Your Luggage:
"You may spend less by using a shipping company -- rather than the airlines -- to get your bags to your destination.You may be able to save money by shipping your luggage rather than checking it in the next time you fly. The idea might sound absurd. But if you do the math – as Airfarewatchdog.com has done for you in this chart -- you’ll see that it would cost you less in some cases to send your bags to your destination by FedEx, UPS or U.S. Postal Service ground shipping."

My interest was piqued by this article because I found it soon after watching a CNBC special about the outrageous fees that airlines are tacking on to the cost of your flight.
An added benefit to separate shipping, besides cost savings, is that you'll have the peace of mind knowing that your luggage wont get lost when you use major carriers like FedEx and UPS.

It's a short article, but well worth the read.

Publish Your Future Best Seller For FREE

FREEdom of Expression | Lulu Blog: 
"I don’t know about you, but my favorite price is always free. Love and ideas are some of the greatest things in life, and both are completely free. They are also the main components in creating a book. When you love what you’re writing and you come up with interesting and intriguing new ideas, you write great books. At Lulu, our goal is to empower you to do what you love and help you publish a great book.

To help you finish your next book we’re making it easier than ever by providing you with a free copy! If you publish something new between 2/16 and 3/16, we’ll send you a FREE proof copy."

Did I ever tell you how much I love the word FREE.
If you've ever dreamed of being a published author, here's your ticket to a freebie.
A Raleigh company and self-publishing Web site Lulu.com is offering customers the chance to publish one book for free through March 16. All you need is a manuscript (and a catchy title, of course).
The book can be paperback or hardcover, up to $25 in value. You upload your manuscript and design your book online. Just go to Lulu.com and click on the giant "Get a free book" banner at the top of the page.

The deal is real and even if you aren't a serious Novelist In The Making, this would be awesome for creating a customized gift for someone (or even a gag gift).
Think about the possibilities..........
Did I mention it's FREE

Clean Out Your Computer Day

Feb. 8 is Clean Out Your Computer Day – WebWorkerDaily: 
"It can be hard to remember to routinely clean out your computer — whether that means running virus scans or organizing your files. That’s why having a day devoted to making sure that your computer is working well and that you can find anything you need on it is a good idea. The Institute for Business Technology originally sponsored a National Clean Out Your Computer Day several years ago, assigning it to the second Monday in February. It’s a holiday well worth adding to your calendar."

This is an interesting subject.

- Unfortunately the article is too short.

- Fortunately the comment section more than makes up for the lack of detail.

As for me, I keep my software up to date, and my files organized as part of my daily routine. I don't have to bother to schedule anything in that area, it's just part of the way that I work.

Cleaning the inside of my desktop is another story, it is a little time consuming but a must do task. It is just as important as changing the oil and topping off the fluids in your car.

Removing dust from the computer vents increases the internal air circulation, dust that is left on the circuit boards can slow down and interfere with the connections running through the circuit boards. Cleaning the inside of your computer prevents it from overheating which is the most common cause of  computer's Sudden Death Syndrome.

In my case I schedule about two hours every six months to take the side panel off and attack the dust bunnies that have found a warm comfortable home in my computer. Most articles recommend using compressed air to blow the dust out, but I've found that a Shop Vac works much better. It doesn't spread the dust from one part of the machine to another like the compressed air does. Most importantly it keeps your work area clean and dust free.

When it comes to laptops, there's not much to do other than cleaning the vents of dust and debris. This is where the Shop Vac method really surpasses the use of compressed air, because the dust and debris is sucked out of the case instead of being blown into it. 

Read the article, pour over the links provided in the comments section, and extend the life of your PC by quite a few years.