Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1297
As people approach age 65, we hope they are thinking about retirement, Social Security benefits and how they want to spend the next chapter of life, not where they are going to lay their head. Yet in Anchorage, 361 of our neighbors age 65 and older experienced homelessness last year. And many others faced the scary prospect of being without a safe, stable place to live. The good news? The number dropped by more than 20% between 2023 and 2025. Our community also has been expanding resources for those 55 and older, such as the In Our Backyard...
Dear Editor: I was so interested to read the article from Lawrence Weiss about driving around Europe (and beyond) in the late ’60s and early ’70s. I was living in England at the time and spent some time in Morocco with Minitrek (another similar organization to Encounter Overland). Basically, we drove around the country camping out in the desert, sometimes just on the ground as we didn't feel like putting the tents up, and at other times we all bunked in small cheap hotels to have a bit of comfort — and a shower! Several friends did similar trip...
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing technology with a wide variety of uses. An increasingly popular use of generative AI is as a form of mental health support. The temptation is real, as one college student, Violet, found out. "I try to avoid AI as much as possible. If I can use my own brain, I want to use my own brain. Except when it comes to venting. There have been periods of my life where I was in a very, very, very dark place with nobody to really talk to, who weren't going to...
Q: Why do I sometimes feel an instant connection with someone I've just met? A: It is common to feel an instant connection with someone you barely know. This phenomenon occurs when we recognize familiar personality traits, body language, or communication styles that make us feel understood and safe. Your brain subconsciously detects subtle cues-a specific tone of voice, a facial expression, or a unique mannerism-that put you at ease. When these nonverbal signals feel recognizable and intuitive,...
Claude, you are an artificial intelligence (AI) product created by Anthropic, but what does that mean? Who or what would a user be communicating with? I'm a large language model, which is a fancy way of saying I'm a very elaborate pattern-matching system trained on an enormous amount of text: books, articles, websites, conversations. So, what are you actually talking to? Not a person. Not a database. Not a search engine, though I can search the web when I need current information. I don't have a...
Dear Savvy Senior, I turn 62 early next year and plan to retire soon after. Most advice says I should wait to claim Social Security because my monthly benefit will be higher. But with all the recent news about Social Security’s financial problems, I’m wondering if taking benefits early might be the safer choice. Is there ever a good reason to claim at 62? - Ready to Retire Dear Ready, You’re definitely not alone in asking this. The latest Social Security Trustees Report projects the retirement trust fund could be depleted around 2032 if Congr...
Q. Can Apple AirTags track my family pet? A. I recommend against AirTags for pet locations. AirTags depend on iPhones, and they only report their location every once in a while. They can work in some circumstances, but they are not the right tool most of the time. If you want to track your pet, use a GPS collar. The GPS I use is made by a company called Fi, and they have an entire line of trackers of different sizes and capabilities to fit different sized pets. They require a subscription, which might be a dealbreaker for some users. But the...
I was in an online discussion with another estate planner recently. She practices in Indiana, and she raised an issue which, for her, mostly related to family farms. We don’t have all that many farms up here in Alaska (a few, I know, but nothing like the Midwest), but I have seen the same issue come up regarding small businesses. Here’s the underlying problem: What do you do when you have a single asset which dwarfs the rest of the estate, and one kid wants to take it over? Here’s what I’m t...
Fifty years ago, a scrappy boxing film with a surprisingly low budget and starring a little-known starving actor knocked out star-laden productions such as "A Star is Born" and "All the President's Men" to win the coveted title of highest grossing film for 1976. "Rocky" went on to win three Oscars including Best Picture. Contributing to the film's success, some 80 minutes into the story, audience eardrums are pelted with one of the most stirring and memorable movie themes of the 20th century...
Dear Savvy Senior, I had a living will/advance directive prepared about 10 years ago documenting my end-of-life medical wishes, but I’ve read that these documents are often ignored. What can you tell me about this? - Troubled Tina Dear Tina, Yes, unfortunately, that can happen. Living wills aren’t always followed in practice, most often because the document isn’t available when it’s needed or never reaches the right people in time. They can also fall short because they aren’t medical orders, and the language may be too vague to guide doctors i...
First, I have to tell you a true story about maps. It may seem a bit far afield from the main event, turning 80, but I promise this story will wham! bang! collide with turning 80. In 1969 I was a wild and crazy guy in my early 20s careening around Europe to see what I could see. I was running out of money and decided to head to London from France thinking the job opportunities there would be better. I am compelled to note here that the border crossing was, uh, kind of rough. The English border...
By KAREN CASANOVAS For Senior Voice Q: I spend hours playing word games and puzzles on my phone. Could I be addicted? A: To determine if your online habits are an addiction, ask yourself: 1. Interference: Do I game during conversations, meals, or while working? 2. Emotional dependency: Do I feel irritable, restless, or anxious when away from my phone and cannot finish my puzzles? 3. Tolerance: Do I extend play to feel accomplishment or to chase a high score? 4. Failed control: Have I tried to...
August lacks a major holiday, as July and September do. But there’s lots to do across the state. Salmonfest is July 31-Aug. 2 in Ninilchik at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds. It’s a weekend of live music, food, and family-friendly activities. One-day tickets are available..... The Alaska International Senior Games in Fairbanks is Aug. 7-16. https://www.alaskaisg.org/ …. Further south is the Sitka Blues Fest on Aug. 15.... The Blueberry Festival at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood is Aug. 15 and 16. There’s blueberry picking, crafts, music and foo...
Q. What are five simple tasks that everyone can and probably should do on a loved one’s smartphone? A. First, ask if your loved one has all their bank accounts accessible from their smartphone. If not, work with them to set up access. Most banking apps provide a place to name a beneficiary for the account. That simple task—adding beneficiaries to the account—allows you to pass ownership on funds quickly, which can help with final expenses. It may also make it easier for you to print bank statements and get a clear picture of their finan...
Most of us, or at least those of us who were old enough to watch grown-up TV in the 1970s, remember Rob Reiner as Michael Stivic, the liberal son-in-law of Archie Bunker on “All In The Family.” It’s easy to forget that after leaving the show he became a renowned movie director, with credits including “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and too many more to mention. But even after becoming such a prolific and well-respected director, people still mostly remembered...
As the predictable pace of summer settles in, we can all recharge and review our charitable goals before the fireweed fades. Last year’s comprehensive legislation introduced a few new tax considerations for tax-wise donors. To start, the 2026 standard deduction increased to $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for couples filing jointly. In addition, depending on income, some individuals over 65 may receive an additional deduction of up to $6,000. All to say, most of us will not itemize in 2026. For itemizers, charitable deductions must e...
Most people know they need a funeral director when someone dies. What many don't realize is how much a funeral director does behind the scenes to help families navigate one of life's most difficult experiences. When a death occurs, families are often overwhelmed with grief, paperwork, decisions, and deadlines. A funeral director serves as a guide through that process. They coordinate transportation of the deceased, obtain permits, help complete death certificates, communicate with cemeteries, clergy, veterans' organizations, florists, and...
One day years ago a fine fellow I worked with at the time came up to me and, in the course of water-cooler conversation, mentioned he had been chatting with, well, we will call him Dr. "X." My colleague reported to me that after a few minutes of chit-chat with Dr. X, my name came up. Without seeming too insistent I encouraged him to tell me about the conversation. Yes, I was fishing for compliments but trying to be oh so nonchalant about it. My coworker recounted that he told Dr. X that I had a...
Friends ask why I spend so much time volunteering with the League of Women Voters (LWV). Consider the mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. At no time in my 76 years has this work been more important. Voting is truly threatened. Our democracy is teetering, as a determined federal administration seizes power, ignores the rule of law, defies court rulings and dismantles institutions. They're not the first administration to attempt a power grab, and we're not the first generation of...
Q: As I age, I've noticed that certain situations make me feel unsettled, while feeling more sure of myself in others. What could be causing these feelings? A: Fear responses naturally shift as we age. Many adults experience a mix of apprehension in certain situations, while feeling confident in others. These feelings can stem from a mix of physical, mental, and social changes. Let’s explore these factors to better understand our fear responses and discover effective coping strategies. P...
Many Alaskan seniors age from physically demanding jobs that took them to remote parts of the state, from the fishing industry, to mining and oil production, as well as tourism activities like mountain guiding and heliskiing. But modern medicine offers relief through joint replacement. While invasive and painful depending on your pain tolerance an operation will give you years of pain-free mobility. It's a life changer. The damage to my left knee after being catapulted off a freight sled on the...
Summer in Alaska has a way of bringing people together. Family members travel long distances to visit, grandchildren are out of school, and community gatherings fill calendars across the state. Whether it is a backyard barbecue in Fairbanks, time spent at fish camp, a fishing trip on the Kenai, or a family reunion in Anchorage, these moments create opportunities for something that often matters more than we realize: sharing our stories. Stories are one of the most valuable gifts we can pass...
Electricity keeps our homes warm and bright, but it can also cause shocks and fires if we are not careful. For this reason, it is important to check our homes for electrical hazards. A few simple habits can help you stay safe and avoid a trip to the emergency room. Start by looking at the cords around your home. Frayed or cracked cords are dangerous. They can spark and start a fire before you even notice. If you see damage, stop using the item right away. Do not hide cords under rugs or behind...
I don’t know if other types of attorneys have to spend as much time explaining why it’s a bad deal to have to go through a court case. It’s probably obvious to the clients of criminal defense lawyers that it would be bad if they got caught and had to go to court. Likewise with divorce lawyers and personal injury lawyers. Businesspeople don’t generally need to be told that they should try to avoid going to court. And usually, I’m explaining why you should want to avoid probate court. But today...
Q. What exactly is an operating system? A. Every tech device has both a hardware component and a software component. The device is the hardware: the phone, tablet, or computer. The operating system is what orchestrates everything, from launching apps to providing network connectivity. The model and operating system version are vital bits of information when you have technical problem to solve. It would not be very useful to answer a question about Android when the person has an iPhone. Chances are the operating system is not part of your...
