Senior Resources

Car Wash Raffle

2006-04-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

We started selling tickets to our car wash raffle today. The prize is 12 free car washes at one of Reno's top of the line car washes. The tickets are only $5 each with the drawing to be held on June 3, 2006.

If you are interested in supporting our raffle, visit our ribbon page and buy a ribbon. They are the same price.

Everyone buying a ribbon will be automatically entered into our car wash raffle. I can't think of a nicer way to say thank you for buying a ribbon.

Have a great day!

Math Problem Response

2006-04-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

I wish to say thank you to everyone who has participated in the math problem. To date, almost everyone got it correct. Several wanted to rewrite the question, but hey, that's to be expected.

It really is easy to solve given it is a straight addition problem. The tough part is deciphering the two numbers to add. I guess that's why it is called a problem, right?

Go to the home page and look just below the Proud 2 B A Senior© ribbon and you'll find the link taking you to the math problem.

Good luck!

Creating A Game

2006-03-31T21:20:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile my mind wanders into the game craze. I see it everywhere. Kids of all ages with a game in their hand and seemingly completely enthralled. If games are really that popular, why not create one, right?

Right. But I believe mine will have a twist or three. First, it'll cost about 20 bucks for the game with a lifetime subscription as an alternative. Second, you can make referrals one level deep and get ten bucks for everyone who joins because of your referral. Third, your sixteen digit registration code will be embedded somewhere in the game. When you find it, tell me where you found it and you get your twenty bucks back. Fourth, a secret 20 digit code will be hidden in the game. The first one to decode the code will get a thousand dollars.

Based on what you just read, would you participate? Why? Why not?

A Resource by Medical Librarians

2006-03-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

This particular site provides information on what seems like almost every known malady and it is completely free. Like all sites, you are still advised to do your own research and due diligence. Maybe this site will be your impetus:

http://healthweb.org

Community College's Community Service Department

2006-03-27T14:31:00.000-08:00

This is a neat way for seniors to pick up a few bucks, give something back to the community and, maybe, even start a new career. All a person really needs is knowledge in a particular field s/he is willing to teach others.

Every city, town, village, hamlet with a Community College has a department called Community Service. Its basic mission is to offer courses in a wide variety of subjects not covered by the main curriculum of the College.

For example, when I lived in California I taught a basic investment course that was one night in duration. Had I elected to make it more, the college would have gladly gone along with the length.

I took my knowledge of investments (I was a licensed stock broker at the time), wrote a basic course and taught it at the Community College. Students paid a fee to take the course which was split between me and the college.

At another community college, I not only received part of the registration fee but I sold a book to the students. 100% of the book's proceeds went into my pocket. If you have CDs, DVDs, or manuals you sell, do not include them in the fee split agreement you sign with the college. You want that money for you because you have earned it.

Grab a copy of your Community College's catalog and see what people are teaching and how much they are charging for the course. Don't get bothered if you see somebody teaching in your field. The College will also let you teach a course with the same subject.

By far, the best spot is to be the only one teaching an in-demand topic. If you are lucky enough to be in that situation, you'll make some decent bucks. In either situation, you should do very well.

If you want to learn how I did it, email: tom@senior2senior.org and we'll open a discussion.

Power to the teachers...

Junk Fax Remedy

2006-03-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

Junk faxing is not the problem it used to be. However, some people never get the word and keep sending out unsolicited faxes. A federal law passed in 1991 makes this activity illegal and gives the consumer standing to sue AND collect damages.

We put a report on: http://www.senior2senior.org/freereports.html detailing a way to stop the faxes from wasting your time, paper and cartridges. I discovered this method when I received several junk faxes from the same entity almost 2 years ago.

If it isn't a problem for you but you know of someone being plagued by this nonsense, tell them about the above page.

Debt Validation

2006-03-24T08:31:00.000-08:00

We recently had a question about debt validation. Specifically, the writer wanted to know if they were using a credit repair organization (their term) to help them get their debts resolved would the CRAs respond to a request originating from the credit repair organization for investigation of a disputed entry on their credit report. In other words, the letter came from the credit repair organization and not directly from the debtor.

I believe the new law, acronym FACT, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, permits the CRAs to ignore a letter from a credit repair organization even though you, the debtor, have a contract with the credit repair organization giving them actual, if not de facto, power of attorney to act on your behalf.

It is always best to consult with someone who actually works in this field on a day to day basis or type in the name of the act (above) into the google search engine and read it. Yes, you will probably fall asleep before you finish, but, hey, a little inconvenience is better than learning the hard way you are out in the cold.

Resources to find doctor's credentials and complaints

2006-03-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

A very nice lady sent me an email in which she made these statements:

“A site that would be good for all seniors and their caregivers would be one that would lead you to a review of the doctors or the site that list if they are in good standing or whatever the medical profession has to help consumers know if they are going to a good doctor or not. With seniors needing to go to more and more doctors with more and more specialties, it sure would help.”

This prompted me to see what was already on the Internet aimed at her points. I googled “doctor’s+credentials” (just like that) and this is a bit of what I found.

It seems the site most mentioned by articles, blogs, etc. was http://www.abms.org They are the American Board of Medical Specialists and allow up to 5 free searches a day.

The American Medical Association has two sites:

http://www.webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/home.html?apsamahg.htm
http://www.webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/html/patient.html

Their second site is geared for patients.

Other resources are in your county or state. For example, if you live in California, you would go to the website of the State Department of Consumer Affairs. Other states have State Boards of Registration. All states, but not all counties, have a Medical Society. Your local librarian may have a book called the Annual Book of Licensed Doctors.

I hope this helps anybody looking for this type of information.

Resources for Seniors

2006-03-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

This blog is all about resources for seniors, that is, immediately useable resources. And, tell me, what's better than immediately useable and free at the same time?