- James Bond fan? How does your “best of” list compare with this internet selection
There have been seven actors to play 007 so far, and they’ve all got their unique takes on the role. Sean Connery is bemused and hairy, David Niven is a daffy blowhard, George Lazenby is self-effacing and casual, Roger Moore is a blithe playboy, Timothy Dalton is one hair-trigger from going postal, Pierce Brosnan is a Shakespearean tragedian trapped a lesser series, and Daniel Craig is a stony, angry, semi-sociopathic loose cannon. The movies circle back on themselves and re-tell the stories of Bond’s archenemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld, his relationship with his boss M, his friendships with gadget-man Q and American CIA Agent Felix Leiter, and his weird dynamic with his right-hand woman Miss Moneypenny. Time and time again, he defeats agents from the organization SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion), rides off with an attractive woman named after a body part, and drinks his way across the globe. [See the list]
- Alert: avoid cantaloupe in the fruit salad
The FDA has advised against eating cantaloupe products included in an ongoing recall linked to a salmonella outbreak. Since late November, there have been 230 cases of illness in 38 states, including three deaths. Canada also has confirmed 129 salmonella cases, including five deaths, from six provinces. The outbreak has been tied to whole and pre-cut cantaloupes grown in Mexico and sold under the Rudy and Malichita brands. The cut fruit products have been sold at Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, KwikTrip, RaceTrac, Aldi, Walmart and Vinyard. The CDC is urging businesses not to sell the contaminated fruit and to sanitize items that have come into contact with it.
- How to Get Free Flu and COVID-19 Tests and Treatments. You read it right: free!
As we head into winter, health experts expect that cases of flu and COVID-19 will start to creep up. One piece of good news: if you do get sick, there’s a way to get tests and treatments for both—without paying a cent.The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have teamed up with digital health company eMed to create an at-home test-to-treat program that offers free tests for both flu and COVID-19, and, if you are positive, free telehealth visits and antiviral treatments that are sent to your home. [More]
- Norman Lear, the boundary-pushing television writer whose sitcoms changed the face of popular culture in the 20th century, died Tuesday. He was 101.
An Air Force veteran who served in World War II before creating “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” “Maude,” “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons,” “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and “One Day at a Time,” Lear played an essential role in transitioning TV comedies from idealistic escapism to honest portraits of American life. Sitcoms were forever changed when Lear’s shows found success in the 1970s. Gone, more or less, were the pat premises of “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Father Knows Best,” “I Love Lucy” and “Leave It to Beaver.” The blue-collar families in Lear’s programs sparred about the country’s political and social divides; they fretted about money, happiness, class, race, homosexuality, abortion, women’s rights, health concerns and bigotry. At the time, Lear’s work forged a sly opposition to Richard Nixon, the Republican president who railed against progressivism. Today, such topics are embedded in the DNA of many sitcoms. [More]
- Biggest Social Security Changes for 2024. COLA will boost benefits by 3.2%, but Medicare premiums are also going up
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) gets the headlines, but multiple aspects of Social Security change annually to reflect national trends in prices and wages, affecting the benefits paid to tens of millions of Americans and the taxes paid by nearly all U.S. workers. With a thankful nod to AARP for providing the up to date information, here are five important ways Social Security will be different in 2024. [More]
- What the heck is VPN and should seniors learn how to use it? Computer technology can be baffling but for on line privacy and protection, Virtual Private Network is a consideration
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is like a tunnel on the internet that keeps you safe while you travel online. When you use the internet without a VPN, it’s like walking on an open road where others can see what you’re doing and where you’re going. But with a VPN, you become invisible to those curious eyes, and your information becomes a secret only you and the people you trust can see. It’s especially useful when you’re using public Wi-Fi at coffee shops or airports, as it protects your personal information from sneaky hackers. So, think of a VPN as your trusty guardian that ensures your online activities stay private and secure. [More]
- The former first lady will soon be sixty. “I am still physically active,” she said, “and my goal now, instead of having ‘Michelle Obama arms,’ I just want to keep moving.”
As she’s grown older, said Obama, her fitness workouts have changed. “Some of it is menopause, some of it is aging,” she explained. “I find that I cannot push myself as hard as I used to. That doesn’t work out for me. That when I tear a muscle or pull something and then I’m out. The recovery time is not the same.” Obama now focuses on stretching to stay flexible rather than pushing herself with strenuous cardio workouts. “You wind up balancing between staying fit enough and being kind enough on your body to stay in the game,” she said. [More]
- Surrounded by friends and family? You’re lucky. Many seniors, sadly, suffer from social isolation
Around the globe, about 1 in 4 adults says they’re lonely. And the consequences of long-term social disconnection can be dire — everything from an increased risk of heart attacks to dementia and premature death. But social isolation isn’t new or uncommon. And pangs of loneliness aren’t catastrophic. In fact, they’re nearly universal. What’s critical is how people respond to these feelings when they arise. “Just like thirst is a signal you need hydration, loneliness is a signal that you need human connection, says Dr. Jeremy Nobel, a primary care physician and author of the new book Project UnLonely, which offers a road map to make connections, using creative expression as a means to communicate. [More]
A newspaper by and for seniors, Senior News Daily scours the internet each morning for news of interest to active men and women of retirement age. Coverage includes financial and health news, politics, retirement strategies and assisted living news and helpful blogs about aging.
Senior News Daily is written by and for active seniors. We believe seniors have a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves. We know our readers are intelligent, influential, have active lives and get their news from a variety of national sources, both left and right of the political center. We don’t simply duplicate what they report. Each day we scour the internet for articles that interest and benefit seniors. We publish health and financial news for seniors, breaking political news, and retirement and community news of value to seniors. Humorous or serious, they advocate for our generation of AARP members. In addition to news by and for seniors, Senior News Daily publishes a Blog featuring posts from our editors and the opinions of our contemporaries. Occasionally there are reviews of products and services we test and endorse.