shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Who says that older people can't get an education?

While most would think that seniors have already had their fair share of school, this isn't the case for all of us. And for those who want to take classes, being older can sometimes include some barriers - after all, there's a big difference between 18 and 81! Fortunately, a new NY-based program allows older students to take classes without having to leave their home. DOROT University Without Walls allows older people to take classes by telephone, and is guessed to be the largest program of its kind in the U.S.:

The curriculum includes more than 250 courses and runs the gamut from understanding feng shui and poetry writing to discussions on moral, ethical and philosophical issues and a discourse on women of the progressive era. Informational classes on money management, Internet surfing and medicine also are available.

Kathy Leeds, a 79-year old widow with multiple sclerosis living in Manhattan has been taking courses for 12 years. "It gets me out emotionally. It releases me from the four walls around me," she says. The program not only aims to educate others, but to simply allow seniors who may not be able to get out often to stimulate their minds. Check out their website for more info, it seems like a really interesting program.

September 27 is the ServiceNation Day of Action. As a big supporter of ServiceNation, AARP is excited to announce that we expect more than 3000 events all over the country. More than 100,000 people--and it could easily be more than 200,000--are expected to participate.

What will you be doing?

Rally your friends, grab your grandkids, and click here to find an event in your community.

A new study shows that older Americans are the top purchasers of environmentally friendly products.

According to a survey conducted by ICOM Information & Communications, women aged 55-59 are more than twice as likely as the average consumer to use green products. Meanwhile, men aged 65-69 are 1.7 times as likely to use green goods.

ICOM's Peter Meyers says that younger buyers are still "green" -- "that is," he says, "inexperienced when it comes to engaging with environmentally friendly goods."

Indeed, somewhat counter-intuitively, the survey finds that "Of those who said they do not use environmentally friendly products, both male and female demographics age 25-34 years were among the 'least likely to use' when compared with the national average."

Remember life before the Internet? If you're 50+, like I am, you do. But you're not reminiscing the good old days. You're increasingly going online to research healthcare choices, manage your finances, plan your retirement and vacation, buy baseball tickets and groceries, and socialize with family, friends, even strangers, by emailing or blogging.

Life online brings great rewards and risks, particularly to our personal privacy. To help you stay safe online and protect yourself, AARP and Google have created a series of online consumer safety videos that you can watch on the Google Privacy Channel on YouTube and on AARP.org's online safety page.

Our videos offer tips for using passwords safely, enabling firewalls, shopping and sharing information wisely, and avoiding online scams like phishing and other ploys.

While you can't eliminate every risk, these tips can help you reduce the chance your personal information will be hijacked. Whether you're searching for doctors, dates, limousine drivers, or donut shops with online search engines or simply surfing the web for fun, our videos will help you be smart and protect yourself.

I hope you'll use our new online consumer safety videos and share them with family and friends!

Here are a few tips from our videos that I hope that you'll follow:

• Firewalls are your friend: They ensure that only trusted servers interact with your computer. Be sure your firewall is enabled.


• Passwords are key: Make them easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess. Never use social security numbers, birthdates, addresses or other easily found information.


• Acronyms get A+: Use a phrase you can't forget - like I Bought My Car in 2005 - and use the acronym, IBMCI2005, as a password.


• Beware of public computers: When accessing websites in your public library, a government office or friend's house, never click on a "Remember me on this computer" prompt.


• Inoculate your pc against viruses: Use anti-virus and anti-spy ware software and always keep them up to date.


• Be savvy when shopping and sharing: The Internet is an easy way to share emails, photos, and blog posts. But use the sharing controls provided by the service you're using. For example, when using AARP's photo-sharing service, use sharing controls to ensure that your family vacation photos stay within your family.

And as always, don't forget to check for daily updates on all the latest news you can use on both AARP's blog, ShAARPsession and the Official Google Blog. Have fun, and stay safe!

An article titled, "Why Presents Become Less Exciting As You Get Older" talks about how as we age, our brain's "reward system" doesn't function as strongly as it once did, making older folks less inclined to be excited about gifts than younger people are.

The new study says this is why kids are so excited to get presents, because a chemical in the brain which controls the feeling of reward is abundant when young, but decreases significantly as a person grows older.

I'm always interested to know more the science behind how our body ages, but a part of me has a hard time believing that there's biological certainty we'll all like gifts less as we get older. I don't know about you, but I've definitely seen 60+ year old men gleefully jump up and down for joy when they get a present!

AARP's very own Tom Nelson teamed up with pop-star phenom Usher Raymond IV (you probably know him from his dance song "Yeah" that had kids shakin' their booties) to talk about the importance of volunteerism and all generations working together.

Last week ServiceNation kicked off in New York City and this continues the drum beat of spreading the word about doing good (even if it's something small). Check out the full piece on HuffingtonPost.com!

Looking for a cool travel destination? Want to try something new...exotic...something that is NOT Europe? Ever given Indonesia a thought?

My friend came across this neat blog that is all about Indonesia. So whether you're thinking about summer vacation 2009 or you're a venture capitalist they've got something for everyone!

Quick Update to this post: According to a group called International Living, Mexico is the best place to retire. Uh oh...watch out Indonesia!

It's Friday (!!!) and I'm in an exceptionally good mood. Not for any particular reason - maybe it's because I slept well, or maybe just because it's Friday. Either way, I'm trying to do one nice thing for each of the people I love most in my life today and spread the joy along.

I live so far away from most of my friends and my family so I poked around for some easy ways to "be nice" and came across this great article from Real Simple.

Check it out and let me know...how have you been nice today?

Clinton Kelly, fashion guru and down to earth make over man, joined a packed room of men and women who wanted to hear about how to be stylish after 50. Clinton is from TLC's What Not To Wear and co-author of Dress Your Best shared with fans his essential style tips and easy ways women can funk up their wardrobe.

In a press conference, when asked if older women can or should be wearing the latest trends he offered this: "Last fall there were about 20 major trends out. Twenty! Of them, there were probably about 12 that a more mature woman could wear." Well, that makes us all feel better....no more keepin' up with ridiculous fads each year. He also offered that a woman should dedicate at least one day of shopping to getting the basics (classice white shirt, great fitting pants, etc.) so that you won't have to look at your closet in the morning and think, "Hm! Nothing in here works!'

Did we mention he was super nice and handsome too?!

You know we're bringing the biggest and the best to this year's Life@50+, but perhaps THE coolest? Well, that might be superdriver Richard Petty!

That guy really knows how to drive a car!

Oh Regis, we just can't get enough of you. In fact, we want to know SO much that an AARP member from the Q&A session at our Annual Member Event yesterday asked him if he's a boxer or briefs man. Well, more specifically: "Regis, do you wear boxers, 'tighty whities,' or thongs?"

We were happy to find that he's a boxers man.

Aside from his undergarments, Regis talked about his native home in the Bronx, joining the Navy, and his eventual path to Hollywood. Kudos to Regis for coming out to support and answering our ridiculously personal questions!

I love this. During this week's AARP Annual Member Event this week, one of the highlights I was particularly interested in was their Online Dating panel. Because online love is always worthy of a blog mention!

Did you know that as many as 20 percent of online daters at sites like Match.com are aged 50+? That's right, older folks can not only be single, but also know how to use the internets! Relationship expert Dr. Gilda Carle and Tom Blake, author of the weekly newsletter Finding Love After 50, were on the panel of experts o' love, and gave the audience a number of onling dating dos and don'ts, including:

• Seek friendship first, and build up to a more meaningful relationship.
• Leave your "baggage" behind.
• No prom pictures. Be honest! Use real, current pictures.

But the best line of the panel was actually from one of the gentlemen in the crowd, "I'm not interested unless she has an AARP card and hot flashes."

Awesome.

For those of you workaholics who didn't get away this summer, you might want to consider a group beach house next summer. Yes. I said group beach house.

Contrary to messy, drunken, 20-something belief group summer homes are turning into quite the class affair among those 50 and older. As reported by the Washington Post:

Members are recruited by word of mouth and vetted thoroughly. They work for the federal government, big corporations or defense contractors. They are college professors, economists, political consultants. Many are at the top of their game professionally.

Sounds like a deal to me! Make a note in your PDA to do some research for next Summer!

An article in last Sunday's Chicago Tribune reported that while just 35 percent of Americans over the age of 65 use the Internet, that number is up from 30 percent in November 2006. Boomers and older generations are not just using the Internet to check email and book travel. More and more adults are joining LinkedIn and Facebook for networking purposes, and even grandparents are now exploring the world of social media as a way to stay in touch with grandchildren.

With so many applications, widgets, pokes, requests and invitations, it can be tough to know when to accept or deny, what information to share or hide, and how to get the most out of your social media experience. This article on BusinessWeek.com offers business-related tips for choosing your friends and deciding which picture to post on your profile. Hint: Not a Glamour Shot!

Internet service provider EarthLink also has some great advice on general social networking security precautions and steps you should take to protect your identity. Here are eight tips:

• Read the privacy policy first - Review a site's privacy policy so you can understand the features and privacy controls offered to users. Review different sites before deciding which one to join.
• Know who's watching you - Some sites have options to restrict who can access your page, allowing you to keep your posted information public, private or restricted to a certain group of people.
• Use anonymous email addresses - As a precaution, you should consider using different e-mail addresses when setting up social networking accounts. Some email providers like EarthLink offer users different email addresses that interconnect so you can keep your information private and limit spam.
• Don't give out personal info - Never post personal information on your page, such as your Social Security number, address, bank accounts, etc. When you give someone personal information, such as your phone number, it can be taken and used by unwanted sources, even communicated via e-mail or posts.
• Use a strong password - Smart social networkers will always use strong passwords that contain both letters and numbers and aren't immediately associated with the person's identity. Try to keep passwords to five characters or more and change monthly to avoid password phishing -- when outside sources steal your password and then post messages under your persona.
• Keep your computer protected - It's a good idea to make sure your computer has anti-virus and anti-spyware features that help protect it from unwanted spam, viruses and other privacy breaches.
• Post only what you want others to see - Many people can potentially see your page, even if you have privacy settings. That means that not-so-subtle picture of you could be seen by future employers, colleagues or even the police. Any information or images you share could be seen by more people than you are comfortable with.

While attention on America's aging population has focused on the 70 million people who comprise the Baby Boomer generation, another aging population is quietly entering its older years. That is the 45 million pets the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says are ages seven or older--placing them squarely alongside their human-boomer counterparts. In fact, a seven-year-old dog or cat is roughly 45 human years old, putting it at the youngest end of today's Boomer spectrum.

Nationally recognized veterinarian, author and Baby Boomer Marty Becker, DVM, offers five common health problems to be watching for:

1. Weight Gain
2. Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
3. Stiff Joints and Slower Movement
4. Changes in Coat and Skin
5. Eye Abnormalities

Check out the The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health for information on how to care for your pets at all ages and stages of their lives, and learn how to recognize changes associated with aging.

Well this is good to see. "Saving the planet may be the next big trend in retirement living," said Leslie Moldow, head of the American Institute of Architects' Design for Aging Committee.

That's right - the newest fad in retirement living is to build homes that save more energy, improve indoor air quality, preserve the natural habitat, conserve water and rely on recycled materials. Environmentally friendly architects and designers are increasingly being hired to build retirement homes in an effort to support the "green design movement."

While it's natural to think going green automatically means making sacrifices, that's not always the case. "Our commitment to green practices fits nicely with our overall objective of delivering high-quality retirement living. What we save on utility bills, for example, we can use to improve residents' care," says Bernie Francis, board director of Dallas-based Senior Quality Lifestyles Corp., a pioneer in "graying" the green design movement.

Even if you don't live in one of these places that were green-designed, there's nothing wrong with supporting the environment in other ways in your home; check out AARP's suggestions on living green! And if you decide you want to get more involved in the green movement - check out LiveGreen for discounts, coupons and fun events!

The Wall Street Journal's blog Juggle has an interesting post on the issue of the younger boss. You would think most people dread the younger boss; after all, much of the time it's a new boss who comes into a company that you know better than them. But it seems a lot of people vary in their experiences. Blogger Jennifer Merritt wonders:

That may be true, but I wonder if having a younger boss -- particularly one without children and with a 24-7 mentality of messaging and communicating -- could be tough if you have a family. Constant communication can seem overbearing and a younger boss might not care about working until 8 p.m., or won't understand that your lack of chit-chatting isn't unfriendly, just a tactic to be efficient and make it home in time to say goodnight to your children.

But are those experiences Jennifer is wondering about an issue of age, or an issue of whether you're simply a good boss? What do you think?

The Christian Science Monitor's Bright Green Blog takes a look at recent Department of Transportation numbers and an AARP survey that shows people are hopping on their bikes, riding the bus and hittin' the pavement more.

Our own Elinor Ginzler was featured, here's what she had to say about this trend:

Four in 10 said they have used public transportation, walked or ridden a bicycle more frequently since gas prices have risen, according to the AARP poll, which was being released Wednesday.

Elinor Ginzler, AARP's senior vice president for livable communities, said she's concerned that communities don't have adequate sidewalks, bus shelters, bike lanes and public transportation options as more people look for other means to get around.

"More Americans age 50-plus are trying to leave their cars behind but face obstacles as soon as they walk out the door, climb on their bikes or head for the bus," Ginzler said.

Are you going green because of gas prices?

USMagazine has a great slide show of starlets who are beautiful, smart and just happen to be lookin' good at 50!

Congrats ladies!

While we're all watching Michael Phelps' historic quest to beat Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals...

Spitz was in our studios earlier this year talking about life after swimming - and how swimming in the 1972 Munich Olympics was different from today.

Phelps "reminds me of myself," Spitz recently said.

If you're at work and need a brain break, check out Ann's space. Ann, a 56 woman from St. Louis, MO explores everything from family to aging on her personal blog. She's poignant, funny and has an interesting perspective on the world. She's been blogging for about a year now (or so say her archives), so check her out!

"Voluntourism" is hotter on the travel trend list than just about any destination these days. But with so many people in need these days, what's a commitment phobe to do? Check these ideas courtesy of DailyCandy.com and AARP:

• Spend two weeks in Costa Rica and help local schoolkids learn English. Read about AARP The Magazine editor Ken Budd's experience here.
• Join Hands Up Holiday for a Yucatan experience that includes helping elderly stay active and independent and beachcombing.
• Visit Belize to snorkel and help protect precious coral reefs or dive with dolphins in Greece with Earthwatch diving and snorkel expeditions.

And for those of you that desire a more pampered jaunt, check out Ritz-Carlton's Give Back Getaways and when the hard work is over you can sink into your luxurious accommodations. They even have one that is helping restore a seniors home in Singapore this October. Sign me up - I can paint, garden and sightsee all in one shot!

Did the 1960 Olympics mirror or even cause major changes in society? In his new book Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World, David Maraniss makes the case that events from that year's Rome games reflected and accelerated the cataclysmic changes that would reverberate throughout the world in the 1960s.

From race relations to the Cold War, Maraniss paints with a broad brush, and makes a strong case that the Olympics that year were not "just" games.

In the clip below Maraniss and Prime Time Radio host Mike Cuthbert discuss Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila, his amazing story and what it meant for the world watching the 1960 Olympics.

Click here for the full interview with Maraniss and for AARP's Bulletin Today coverage of the 2008 Olympics, click here.

Have you read Connie Shakalis' essay What I Really Know About Summer Nights: Learning From the Family Next Door on AARP Bulletin Today yet? If you haven't, you should - it's a lovely account of enjoying summer through the delighted eyes of her neighbor's children. Makes me think of summer when I was a kid - "Be home by dark!" takes on a whole new meaning when it's light till 9! My cousins and I would ride our bikes all over town, coming home only for ice cream money and a quick "Hey Mom!"

What about you - what's your favorite summer memory?

There's a great op-ed today in the Chronicle of Philanthropy talking about how foundations can promote volunteering.

"The signs of interest in service are everywhere. A group of scholars and leaders housed at the Brookings Institution has proposed that Congress join with the White House to double the size of the Peace Corps and to establish a program of Global Service Fellowships to support American volunteers interested in working with nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, and universities that are committed to advancing peace and development. In the past few months, California created a new cabinet-level position for service and volunteering, and the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in establishing the National Service Congressional Caucus."

At AARP, we're pretty focused on engaging people in opportunities to make a difference. In fact, nearly half of our 39 million members are out making a difference from their own communities to the halls of Congress. That's why AARP's joining ServiceNation, which is working to make more opportunities available to people who want to get more involved in national or community service.

So, tell us, what do you do to make a difference? And, while everyone's focused on engaging young people, how can AARP be doing more to make sure those of us over 50 have more opportunities too?

AARP is excited to announce that we are getting involved in a new project called ServiceNation... and in a big way! Our head honcho, Bill Novelli, will be joining the likes of Caroline Kennedy and Alma Powell with the goal of getting more folks involved in giving back to their community.

American presidents have a history of taking this issue seriously. George W. Bush brought us Points of Light and Bill Clinton's baby was AmeriCorps. (Both of which are still going strong and part of the ServiceNation team!) On September 11 in NY, we've invited John McCain and Barack Obama to tell us what they would do. You can suggest questions you'd like the moderator to ask them here.

The next day, we'll be part of ServiceNation Summit, where hundreds of organizers will be coming together to learn new strategies and hear from our nations leaders. We'll be blogging live from the scene, bringing you interviews with big wigs like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as the average Joe and Jane's out there making a difference each day.

Read an excerpt from this week's TIME for more details. And, stay tuned to Shaarp Session for more!

Oh, summertime! Ball games and hot dogs, sunshine and salty ocean air. But beware - there's a hidden danger lurking out there. It's not a shark (cue scary music)...it's swimsuit season! No matter your age, shopping for a new suit is a much dreaded annual event for most of us. But some people really know how to do it style, like AARP Bulletin reader Barbara Costa. Read her account of shopping for a suit at the young-at-heart age of 74. Barbara shows us how it's really done, Esther Williams-style!

The sports world is abuzz this week with swimmer Dara Torres' record-setting 50-meter free-style win, qualifying her to compete on behalf of the United States at the 2008 summer Olympics. The catch? Torres is a 41 year old in a sport dominated by teenagers. She may be getting older, but she still got game.

Inspired by Torres' success (and who isn't?) The Miami Herald listed a few other athletes who excelled in their craft after hitting 40.

-Eamonn Coghlan: In 1994, the 41-year-old Irish miler and former world champion at 5,000 meters becomes the first person over 40 to run a sub-4 minute mile. Coghlan clocks a 3:58.15 at a race in Cambridge, Mass.

-George Foreman: In 1994, at age 45, the boxer regains part of the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years earlier, stopping Michael Moorer with a two-punch combination in the 10th round. Foreman captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.

-Jack Nicklaus: In 1986, the golfing great wins his last major championship, the Masters, at age 46.

-Nolan Ryan: In 1990, at age 43, threw the sixth no-hitter of his career, blanking Oakland 5-0 while pitching for the Texas Rangers. The next season, at age 44, Ryan tossed his seventh no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays.

-Darrell Green: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February in his first year of eligibility, the Washington Redskins cornerback was 42 when he retired after the 2002 season. He had at least one interception in 19 consecutive seasons.

-Martina Navratilova: A month before her 50th birthday, in 2006, the tennis champion finished her career by winning her 59th Grand Slam title, teaming with Bob Bryan to take the mixed doubles championship at the U.S. Open. To this illustrious list, I would add hockey legend Gordie Howe, who played until the age of 53 (and on a team with two of his sons!) I suppose we could also add Roger Clemens, but perhaps with an asterix? Who else would readers add to the hall-of-after-40 fame?

Photo from bmcvey on Flickr.com.

We've already discussed how gaming is becoming more popular among adults, and now so is the idea that gaming can help folks get fit.

According to an article in Inland Valley's Daily Bulletin, Nintendo's Wii is getting people up and moving at "senior centers" around the country.

The Wii, "which recreates games like bowling, baseball and tennis on the television screen and gets players mimicking the motion, has resulted in [folks] swinging, throwing and punching their way around the popular senior center." The article goes on to explain the benefits people are reaping from an increase in fun, physical activity and from an increase in social interaction with their peers.

Sounds like a win-win to us.

So who's got next game?

Check out this lovely story aboot older Canadians creating collages of their lives for the Calgary Seniors' Social Link (SSL) Heritage Collage Program. The SSL initiative gives seniors of different cultural backgrounds – some of whom do not speak English – a chance to share their life stories with each other visually.

Linda Wong, who emigrated from Hong Kong almost 50 years ago, said, "I didn't want to just cut up stuff and glue it on, I wanted to do it with my heart. They wanted a story, so I thought of a story of where I come from and what I've done in my lifetime."

How aboot it? What would be on your collage?

We’ve heard that “gaming” is all the rage, and people can’t stop talking about “friending” people on Facebook, but young people aren’t the only ones playing online anymore. Boomers are behaving like teenagers on the Internet too—joining online communities, playing games and shopping according to a new study. The perception that people over 50 are only dabbling on the Internet has been totally dispelled by this study – in fact, they’re pretty much doing the same stuff online that 20 year olds are! The majority of folks said their online community is important to them and that they are going online to check for news now more than ever!

Okay, shameless plug here. If you haven’t found a community yet – give aarp.org a try. Happy “friending.”

’It's kind of odd to think of Woodstock in terms of AARP…But that's probably the magazine we're going to advertise in,’ said Woodstock museum director Wade Lawrence in a recent Chicago Tribune article.

Woodstock seemed like a bookend to such a tumultuous decade – one filled with political turmoil and social change. My parents certainly didn’t get to experience Woodstock and its three days of “peace and music,” but it's been a marker for their younger years. Something by which to gauge the changing world around them. The generation that came of age during the 60s is redefining what the new 50, 60 and heck, even 70, looks and feels like now.

Any good Woodstock stories to share? Send us your pictures and we’ll post them up.

Peace, man.

From the Huffington Post: Can you believe this? “Harry Lee Hawk” McGinnis is 80 years old and in the process of walking across the world. He walked through the US in the 1980s and then in the early 90s, he began his quest around the world. Currently in Panama City, you can track the Hawk on his website. If this isn’t a testament to the importance of staying active, I am not sure what is.

Clay’s got some competition from Nancy Liatsis of Brooklyn, NY who won AARP Brooklyn’s Senior Idol Contest. Contestants ranged in age from early 50’s to 85, but Liatsis belted out “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Grobin to make her tops in the borough.

n honor of Earth Day, social networking site Boomj has put together a list of Top 10 Green Baby Boomers. The list includes lots of familiar names (Blythe Danner, George Clooney, Bono), but my personal favorite is the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Nutting, who has team scouts using “fuel flex” cars. Happy Earth Day!

Actor Andie MacDowell turns 50 today. She hit it big with starring roles in the films Ground Hog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral. She currently lives in Biltmore Forest, North Carolina and is has maintained an active lifestyle as an avid outdoors-woman. She has also shown fans that aging can be beautiful and glamorous. Happy 50th Andie!

Do you know who Kellie Pickler is? After this week, you probably do. She won the most awards at this week’s Country Music Television awards – three and is a former American Idol star. The reason I mention her is because CMT One Country donates to a charity of the winner’s choice and Kellie has designated the AARP Foundation’s Grandparents program as the beneficiary. Why? Kellie was raised by her grandparents and it’s something she has spoken about frequently as she has claimed the spotlight.

Yesterday, Jamie Lee Curtis was on Oprah dishing about being 50 plus and about posing for the AARP Magazine cover. Check it out!

Over at Back in Skinny Jeans, Stephanie marvels at just what Madonna does at nearly 50 (her birthday’s in August). Her new video, Four Minutes (with Justin Timberlake), is worth a look if you want to see the epitome of defying the stereotype. Check out her site to enjoy her moves.

There’s been quite the buzz in the blogosphere on Ms. Curtis since Friday, so I thought I would share:

Over at Pink is the New Blog, Trent voices his approval. Va Voom!

Celebrity Mound discusses the pressure women face to look a certain way, regardless of age.

Women’s Voices for Change is grateful that AARP the Magazine is not Penthouse.

Inspiration 365 Days is just that – Inspired!

Check out the cover of this month's AARP the Magazine, which is highlighted in the current issue of People magazine and online at people.com, for the splashy cover of Jamie Lee Curtis. Curtis, who turns 50 later this year, is looking fit and sexy as she dishes on being comfortable in her own skin and embracing aging.

Reuters reports that just one in four Americans are reading political blogs. The big readership, according to the poll is those who are 44 and older, with 26 percent of those over 63 saying they read political blogs. This is right on with what we know about those who are over 50. The 50+ group buys computers at twice the rate of younger consumers. Most of 50+ America has a computer and more than 42 million use the Internet. Boomers learned to use the Internet at work and are extremely savvy when it comes to technology.

See? We know you’re out there.

USA Today was on it early, but AARP is pairing up with musicians of all stripes to promote their upcoming 50th anniversary. This includes priority seating at the upcoming Foreigner concerts (14-cities to be announced in March); exclusive member-only pre-sale events to Ramsey Lewis and the Legends of Jazz (in April); the One Love Gospel Choir Competition (starting in March); and a June concert in Atlanta featuring soul music stars Yolanda Adams, Patti Austin, Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, CeCe Winans.

Time to get rockin!

AARP The Magazine’s Editor Steve Slon tells Valentine Day love seekers, “You don't have to be a glamorous movie star like Demi Moore to proudly sport a younger man.” We recently featured a study in the magazine that found one third 40+ single women are dating younger men.

It seems that marriage is less on our minds over 40 than when we obsessed through our younger years. What we all want most is someone to just hang out and have fun with. Maybe we aren’t so unlike our brothers when it comes to enjoying a wide range of ages.

For those of us that are single, the study found that 53 percent of those surveyed said personal freedom was the biggest perk and a sassy 28 percent of us love not having to answer to anyone but ourselves!

AARP Alaska’s Ann Secrest gets the most creative blog post lead of the day with this contest in the Anchorage Daily News calling for the most creative uses of romance words like “schmoopy” in a poem. Enjoy this one from Vicki Baker in from today’s paper!

OK, so your blogger has no plans for Valentine’s Day. So sad.

If anyone wants to take me out for a last minute date, please peruse the 2008 Movies for Grownups winners for ideas. I know I’m a bit of a nerd, but I might pass on Atonement for Paris, je t'aime, a collection of love stories set in Paris by Gena Rowlands.

(Maybe that’s why I don’t have a date… I should have said I wanted to see American Gangster or In the Shadow of the Moon. Men just love crime and space.)

Whether you heart or hate Valentine’s Day, here are a few things to get you in the mood:

· Tips on teaching your man to be a better kisser!

· Check out this article on revving up your relationship if your desire has been shifted into neutral and find out if there will ever be a PINK VIAGRA…

· Get tips on internet dating and try out our Interactive Personal Ad Maker.

· Did AARP’s Music Blogger Get the Top 10 Love Songs of All Time Right? Weigh in on your choices here.

· Read more about Hollywood bad boy and Bucket List star Jack Nicholson’s latest thoughts on love from the AARP The Magazine cover story: “I’d do everything to a woman of AARP age, and have. In fact, every year I like to cover a very broad spectrum.”

· Learn the secrets of 50-year marriages.

Leave us a comment here and tell us how you’re feeling today.

Variety’s talking about it, so we should too. AARP The Magazine held their 7th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards this week, taking home the coveted La Chaise d'Or (the Golden Chair), a trophy in the shape of a vintage theater chair. The awards honors those in the 50+ crowd that are continuing to engage grownup audiences challenging topics, thoughtful new approaches and sterling work by actors, actresses, directors and writers age 50+, all at the top of their game.

John Cleese and Dana Delany were the hosts for the evening and in true John Cleese form he made a joke out of Dana Delany being a last minute substitute for Jamie Lee Curtis who was sick with the flu. Winner Ruby Dee won for Best Supporting Actress over 50 for her performance in American Gangster. After a standing ovation, she had this to say, "I'm so happy this organization exists and this magazine exists. I'm so happy to join the ranks of folks who are no longer retired. I'm trying to form this army of the elders. Get motorized wheel-chairs and medications and hit the world, go up and down Congress, on the internet-worldwide seniors on the march. We'll make a difference. We're gonna put on our gloves and get going. Retirement...ha...what's that?"

Hal Holbrook accepted the Lifetime Achievement award from his wife, Dixie Carter (who presented him with the award) read a heartfelt letter written by his colleague, Robert Redford. Robert said that Hal has integrity, stamina, intelligence, humor and talent - all characteristics that make him "uniquely American." In his acceptance speech Hal said receiving the award was one of the "most awesome moments" of his life.