ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

I'm at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, where thousands of companies are showing off their inventions aimed at making your lives easier. My favorites so far: little gizmos that let you charge your phone, your iPod, or even power motion-detected lights on your garage, without ever needing to find a plug.

The nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) feels like a really light barbell. Stick it in your backpack or a really, really big pocket, and you can charge that cellphone or your little digital camera while you hike in the Rockies.

Or there's these little gizmos from the UK- little cases made for iPhones and Blackberries. All you need is a light source, and your phone's got power to go.

Colin Powell Announces USAService.org

AARP cover guy and Inspire Award-winner, Gen. Colin Powell who is an honorary co-chair of the Presidential Inauguration, announced "Renew America Together" volunteering initiative launching around MLK Day.

The AP reported:

"I think it will capture the imagination of the American people," Powell said, adding that there was a "fervor" for the new administration that should be tapped.
The goal is to make public service a greater priority throughout American life.
"It's not enough, I think, just to do it one day a year," Powell said.

Pictures from the Event

Something to warm your heart before the weekend. Have a great one, folks!

So yesterday Tom Daschle began the process of going through confirmation hearings.

President-Elect Obama gave a speech on the dire need for quick passage of a massive stimulus bill.

We're also being told that many of us can expect to get pay cuts if we're lucky enough to keep our jobs.

On the plus side, I found this little gem of a blog which can be a great distraction from all of the horrible headlines we've been seeing of late. Check out my personal favorite below:

This MLK Day, January 19, AARP Create The Good is joining President-elect Obama's call to service. Our hope is that along with the rest of America, you will be able to reignite our nation's spirit of volunteerism and community service. This nation-wide call to service is not simply a one-time involvement but a continued commitment to community service.

Visit the Create The Good site for ideas like helping neighbors save on energy costs and hundreds of others for you to choose from. We know you're busy - that's why some only take five minutes and can be done right from your computer or cell phone! If you have more time, consider organizing a group to help those in your community with the Operation Energy Save toolkit.

There are even organizations like the Case Foundation that are giving away trips to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration just for sharing your story. Tell them about it here and enter to win!

It looks like the incoming Obama administration wants to add to its already star-studded list of political appointees. The apparent front-runner for President-Elect Obama's Surgeon General appears to be none other than CNN's chief medical correspondent and acclaimed neuro-surgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Dr. Gupta would bring recognition and credibility to the post of America's leading medical officer. Gupta is reportedly weighing his decision as to whether or not he will accept Obama's offer.

In a response to the continued economic hardships facing millions of Americans, the IRS has given its agents new leeway in allowing taxpayers to defer penalties on late payments. Agents can take many variables into account including recent job loss and high medical expenses. I'm sure a lot of folks will appreciate a little leniency from the normally stingy IRS. Another group of people who may be getting a break from the IRS are those unfortunate investors in the Madoff scheme. The IRS could let them write off their losses in a move that would cost up to $20 billion in lost revenue.

While many companies are cutting benefits for their employees, you might be surprised to see which company is offering a great savings plan for its workers: McDonalds. The megalithic franchise decided to offer an auto-401 (k) with a huge match as a way to retain talent within the organization. Just how good is this program? Well employees who contribute 5% of their salaries to retirement savings can find matches from their employer as high as 11%. That'll buy a lot of Big Macs.