ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

I've spent a good amount of time here discussing lists of the best places to retire. There are many different sites to check out and they use varied criteria in assessing rankings. Here's one list that actually compiles and compares the results of other rankings. You can see how each different study values aspects of cities and determine which methods best suit your priorities. Of course, you can also check out the list AARP put together on the subject. How do your experiences compare with these rankings?

As you can see, director Ron Howard graces the most recent cover of AARP The Magazine. Howard offers up a mix of insight into his life along with his aspirations for the future in his interview. The director talks about some of his best known works, his family life, what he's really like and much more. Also, Howard mentions that he'd like to direct films "'til he drops." It's great to see someone who is so passionate about his work.

According to a new Harris Interactive Poll, baby boomers (aged 45-63) say that the popular sitcom from the 1970s and early 1980s is their favorite television program of all time. H/t The Examiner, which notes that when you aggregate all age groups CSI comes out on top. Me? I'll take any show with Alan Alda!

Here's Alda reflecting on the popularity of M*A*S*H some years later.

When you're on your daily commute, courtesy may be the furthest thing from your mind. Something about high stress and big crowds tends to make people forget some of the manners their parents hopefully taught them. In an effort to bring some of the civility back to public transportation, some cities' transit authorities are working to enforce existing rules such as priority seating for older and disabled riders.

In Washington D.C. for example, the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has begun a campaign to inform people about the rules on the Metro subways trains. They've even got this animated YouTube video:

The goal is to increase awareness of the rules and help make transit systems a friendlier and more considerate place.

Are you good about giving up your seat to someone who needs it more? Do you find that other riders are generally considerate about giving up a seat when you need one?

While the term "older people and children" is being thrown around frequently in the midst of swine flu cases found in the U.S. (in other words, older folks and kids are in more danger of getting really sick from the virus), new research has led the Center for Disease and Control to announce that people older 60 may actually have a higher immunity to swine flu than previously thought. Via Associated Press:

"The CDC said tests show higher levels of swine flu-fighting antibodies in the blood of older people than in younger ones, probably from exposure to earlier viruses similar to swine flu."

Yet the CDC also says it's not exactly clear how safe older people are from the infection, so please folks, take the same precautions anyone would to avoid the virus and seek our medical attention if you're feeling a fluish!

Check out our new ad on health care reform that reminds us just how necessary health reform is!