A Canvas Craze?

Delaware Freeport

Art collectors are being replaced by investors. Where collectors might safeguard  prize works by placing them on long-term loan at a museum, tax-averse art investors hide away their masterpieces in free port warehouses. In Switzerland, perhaps. Or right here in the States, in Newark, Delaware.

Wonder what financial historians a century from now will say about our art craze. Will they be able to figure out why investors paid tens of millions of dollars, even hundreds of millions, for products that consisted of no more than a few hundred dollars worth of wood, canvas and pigment?


Maybe they'll call it just another Tulip Mania.

Posted by James L. Mcdonald, Retired Senior Editor, Merrill Anderson Co. Inc.

100-year-old Felimina Rotundo works 11-hour days, 6 days a week to keep active

Felimina Rotundo is 100 years old and still works 11 hours a day, six days a week at a Buffalo, New York, laundromat, and to her that seems perfectly normal.

"I don't believe in retirement,'' Rotundo told TODAY.com. "I believe 65 is too young. If I retired at 65, what would I have done all these years? I would've gone crazy! I work because I love people. I want to be around people."

WGRZ

Felimina Rotundo is 100 years old and still works 11 hours a day, six days a week at a laundromat in Buffalo, New York. 

Rotundo works from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday at College Laundry Shoppe — washing and folding clothes — something she believes keeps her young.

"That's why you have sick people in the old folks home,'' she said. "They didn't have enough to do and their mind deteriorated."

Rotundo, who turned 100 in August, has been working for 85 years outside of the time she raised her two children with her late husband, who was a bartender.

"My first job was working at a shoe factory in Annville, Pennsylvania, when I was 15 years old,'' she said. "Talk about slave labor. I was making about $10 a week, but I worked my 40 hours and never complained. I was glad to have a job."

Click here to read more and watch the interview

Theodore Roosevelt was one of most dynamic Presidents in White House history, and on the occasion of his 157th birthday, here are 10 fascinating facts about the 26th President.

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Roosevelt came from a wealthy New York family, but he didn’t take an easy path through life. Born on October 27, 1858 in Manhattan, Roosevelt survived the tragedy of losing his wife and his own mother to illness on the same day in 1884, an assassination attempt in 1912, and an extremely dangerous military charge in Cuba in 1898.

The former President passed away in 1919 at the age 60 from a blood clot that had lodged in his heart. He had been in declining health for several years.

Here are some interesting facts about the most dynamic of American Presidents.

1. As a child, Roosevelt witnessed the Abraham Lincoln funeral procession. There is a photo of the young Roosevelt perched in a window watching the procession in New York City in April 1865 that surfaced in the 1950s. Young TR and this brother were at his grandfather’s mansion.

2. Theodore Roosevelt had a really, really good memory. Roosevelt claimed he had a photographic memory, but it is a statement that can’t be easily proven today. But biographer and historian Edmund Morris cited several documented cases where Roosevelt was able to recite obscure poetry and other content well over a decade after he read the documents.

3. What’s the deal with how the Roosevelts were related? Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt were fifth cousins. Eleanor Roosevelt was Theodore’s niece. And Uncle Theodore presented the bride at Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s wedding.

4. The Republican leaders really didn’t want Roosevelt as President. As a young Bull Moose Republican in politics, TR had angered top GOP honchos by refusing to appoint Republicans to bureaucratic positions. Party bosses Mark Hanna and Thomas Platt were able to “kick Roosevelt upstairs” as the vice presidential nominee in 1900 for the incumbent President, William McKinley. Roosevelt agreed because he was thinking of running for President in 1904. No one thought that Roosevelt would take over for McKinley later in 1901.

5. Roosevelt was the first President to win a Nobel Peace Prize. As President, Roosevelt adopted an aggressive foreign policy, but he also saw America as deserving a role as a global peacemaker. In 1906, he convinced Japan and Russia to attend a peace conference in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to end their conflict. TR was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Roosevelt also settled a dispute between France and Germany over the division of Morocco.

6. Roosevelt was a prolific writer. Aided by his excellent memory and his always-high energy level, TR wrote about 35 books in his lifetime and an estimated 150,000 letters. And he did write an autobiography!

7. He was also the father of the modern U.S. Navy. To say Roosevelt was obsessed with naval power would be an understatement. As an undergrad at Harvard, Roosevelt’s scholarship on the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 is still cited today. He also served as the Undersecretary of the Navy as the conflict started with Cuba in 1898, and he sent the American navy on a worldwide tour in 1907 as a show of strength. And then there was his ultimate naval power achievement: the Panama Canal.  Click here to continue reading

38 Stunning Photos of Norwegian’s Biggest and Baddest Ship Ever

Weighing around 153,000 tons, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic is the 4th largest cruise ship operating in the world today. She made her maiden voyage in June of 2010, when she crossed the Atlantic to make a stop in New York City before taking up residence in Miami for a season of Caribbean cruises. Although there are newer cruise ships than the Epic, few of those ships are able to match the Epic’s commitment to innovation. This commitment is what makes a trip aboard her one of the most modern cruise experiences that money can buy.

From the water park above deck to the throbbing restaurants, bars and nightclubs below, a passenger on the Epic will never want for anything to tickle their senses. For those who privilege exclusivity in their vacations, there are even suites that come with access to exclusive areas aboard the ship. Not that you necessarily need that level of private access, because there are 20 restaurants and 20 bars aboard the Epic, including a comedy club and a jazz club!

Collected here, you’ll find 38 pictures that show why the Epic is Norwegian’s biggest and baddest ship. Be sure to stay tuned for #36 and #37, which offer a rare glimpse at the Epic’s most exclusive accommodations: the Owner’s Suites. Click here to continue reading

4 Money Mistakes People Often Make After a Spouse Dies

In the wake of a spouse's death, it may seem too soon to think about how to manage your money from here on out. And you would be right. 

But at some point, it's one of those topics you need to examine carefully. If this was the love of your life, and you're in deep grief, then you're in a state of mind that's prone to making financial mistakes. According to a number of financial experts, there are at least four major money missteps widowers and widows tend to make once a spouse passes on. 

Shaking up your life too soon. Whatever your situation, you probably have some major decisions to make with your partner's passing, but what seems like a logical decision today may not seem so smart tomorrow. 

Give yourself some time to really think about what you're doing, financial experts say 

"Some people want to immediately pay off a mortgage and make other large changes too quickly. That can create a situation where there [are] little liquid funds available, which may be more important for the survivor," says Rochelle Odesser, vice president of Madison Planning Group, a financial planning firm headquartered in White Plains, New York. 

Myra Salzer, who owns The Wealth Conservancy, a Boulder, Colorado, wealth management and financial planning firm, agrees. "Before one has experienced a new equilibrium, decisions that are made tend to be poor ones," she says, reeling off some of the things surviving partners may get wrong: "Widows might sell the family house for less than it's worth, just to get rid of it, or invest IRA assets in annuities to guarantee an income, even though the IRA is already tax-advantaged and the annuity might not pay out enough for the minimum-required distributions." 

And for good measure, Roger Bell, president of Roger R. Bell & Company Inc., a planning and investment advisory services firm in Pulaski, Virginia, concurs. 

In that first year, he says, "too often, the surviving spouse expends large sums of money to purchase vehicles, improve their house or take extended and numerous trips." 

It's understandable. You're recovering from a huge loss. A positive change, like  making home improvements or taking a trip abroad, is going to clear your head. But if you aren't careful, it will also clear out your bank account. 

This is a time, Bell says, when your "capacity to reason and think clearly is impaired." But he adds: "In time, the surviving spouse will regain their capacity to address matters in a rational and timely manner." 

Spending too much. If your husband or wife was the one who paid the bills and made the financial decisions, you may find it empowering to be in control of the purse strings. But be careful. You may not have as much money as you think. 

William Matthews, a financial counselor in Houston, says he often sees widows and widowers doling out loans and monetary gifts to family and friends. 

"Stop," he says. "You're emotional and shouldn't rush in to help others without thinking about it. You're down to one income, and you need it." 

It doesn't mean you can't help your kids with small purchases, Matthews says, but he was struck by what he saw with the daughter of a friend. After losing her husband, the widow gave the couple's daughter $2,000 toward a car down payment and gifted her $5,000 to go toward moving into an apartment. But she shouldn't have parted with so much money, according to Matthews. 

"She struggled to pay her bills ... and almost lost her home," he says. 

Being too trusting. "The biggest mistake I have seen is being too quick to trust someone, especially in places you may typically have your guard down," says Jeff Weeks, a certified financial planner with ATX Portfolio Advisors LLC in Austin, Texas. "Be wary of the salesperson you know only through places like church and social clubs." 

Twice, Weeks says, he has tried to help widows who lost large portions of their nest eggs, over $100,000, "in what turned out to be Ponzi schemes. In both cases, their spouse had been the primary decision maker in financial matters and died prematurely from sudden illness." 

In each case, the widow found her financial advisor through referrals at church. 

But those are extreme situations, Weeks says. "What's much more common are predatory insurance salespeople or stockbrokers that sell expensive commission-based investments that may qualify as suitable, but that benefit the salesperson more than the client. The salespeople count on unsophisticated clients that are unlikely to read or understand the language in an insurance contract or prospectus." 

Weeks makes the observation that "con people rely on a certain level of trust." 

It's tough, though. Wouldn't everyone like to think that if they're getting a referral through church, it's as solid a referral as they come? But no -- at least, you can't make that assumption. 

Switching financial advisors. Maybe this falls under the category of not being trusting enough. Quite a few financial advisors have mentioned that after a spouse dies, the surviving partner will often  change financial advisors. 

"A recent study by Fidelity Investments found that 70 percent of widows dismiss their advisor within a year after their spouse dies," says Robert Johnson, president and CEO of the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. "There can be significant costs to changing advisors both in terms of time and money. Surviving spouses should give the advisor the benefit of some time to establish a trusting relationship with them." 

Click here to continue reading.

Come to the Uniform Fashion Show in Stamford

People’s United Bank, with the City of Stamford, the Stamford Senior Center, the Stamford Police Department will team up to educate the public with a Uniform Fashion Show on Thursday November 5, 2015.

As uniformed municipal and private sector workers walk the catwalk during the event, the distinguishing features of true company employee uniforms and what kind of identification they use will be pointed out, making the process both fun and informative.

Created by People’s United Bank in collaboration with local law enforcement, the event provides the information and knowledge that families need to stay safe in their communities and at home. As recently as May 19, 2015, an 89-year-old woman in Stamford, CT opened her door to a man who claimed to be an employee of a local utility company. The man told the homeowner that her pipes needed a $50 inspection, which would later be reimbursed. He watched as she retrieved the money and led her down into the basement to distract her while an accomplice stole $51,000 from her home.

Models will include uniformed workers from companies such as Regional Water Authority, United Illuminating, Stamford Public Works, Federal Express, and representatives from the Milford fire and police departments, among others.

The uniform fashion show is going to be taking place Thursday, November 5, 2015 from 11:00am – 12:30pm at the Harry Bennett Public Library, 115 Vine Street, Stamford, CT 06905.  People of all ages are encouraged to attend.

Bridge of Spies—Movie Review

Bridge of Spies

by Peter J. O'Connell

Bridge of Spies. Released: Oct. 2015. Runtime: 141 mins. Rating: PG-13 for some violence and brief strong language.

Bridge of Spies is a (mostly) true tale of two spies (OK, a spy and the pilot of a spy plane) from the opposing powers of the Cold War—and of the lawyer who became the link between their fates. One spy was Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) of the Soviet KGB. The pilot of a CIA spy plane was Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell). The lawyer was James Donovan (Tom Hanks). Bridge, directed by Steven Spielberg from a script by Mark Charman and the Coen brothers, brings history to life, as Spielberg has done in other films, by the thrills of psychological and social interaction rather than the thrills of shootouts, car chases, gadgetry, special effects and sexual encounters.

In 1957 Abel is arrested in Brooklyn for espionage. After many defense attorneys turn down his case, insurance lawyer James Donovan is pressured to take it. It is, though, made clear to Donovan that he is not expected to be too energetic in his defense efforts. After all, the Cold War is in full freeze, and Soviet spies are servants of the archenemy. Donovan, however, keeps his lawyer's oath to provide a zealous defense for his client and even succeeds in taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. He is not, however, able to have Abel's conviction overturned, and the spy is imprisoned. Abel doesn't “break” and gives up no information. 

In 1960 Francis Gary Powers' U-2 is shot down over the Soviet Union. (Though the film has few action sequences, the shootdown is definitely a spectacular one.) After interrogation by the KGB for months, Power confesses to espionage  and is sentenced to hard labor. His failure to utilize a suicide device involving a coin leads him to be reviled in the U.S.--as Donovan was for defending Abel—but when indications are received that the Soviets would be willing to exchange Powers for Abel, Washington asks Donovan to arrange the swap—but to do it ostensibly as a private citizen rather than as someone connected to the government.

Donovan accepts the assignment, which involves complex negotiations in Berlin during the grim period when the notorious Wall is being erected. Tension mounts as the East German government gets into the act, making demands separate from those of the Soviets, and the fate of another American captive besides Powers becomes an issue.

In Bridge of Spies, Tom Hanks again performs the kind of role that he has done so well in the past—an “ordinary American” who achieves extraordinary things by means of his ingenuity, intelligence and integrity. Hanks' performance, however, is topped by that of Mark Rylance. Rylance, dubbed by some “a master of minimalism” for his acting style, is parsimonious in gesture and expression but makes every move that he makes and every bit of dialogue that he speaks have impact, often of a darkly humorous nature. The rest of the international cast, many little known, performs quite credibly. Mercifully, the film's score is by Thomas Newman rather than John Williams. All in all, with Bridge of Spies Steven Spielberg has once again built an effective connection between the mass audience's desire for entertainment and his own desire to address serious issues, such as law and world politics. 

“Footnotes” to the film: (1) Rudolf Abel is depicted painting a self-portrait in a way reminiscent of a famous Saturday Evening Post cover by all-American artist Norman Rockwell of Rockwell painting a self-portrait. (2) Specially designed coins played a role for both Powers and Abel. Powers did not use his “suicide coin.” Abel used hollowed-out “spy coins.” Not depicted in the movie, however, is the fact that one of Abel's coins containing micro-documents was accidentally placed into general circulation by an Abel assistant. After seven months a newsboy happened to break open the coin and turned it over to the FBI, which then spent four years unsuccessfully trying to decipher the documents. (3) The Soviets accidentally shot down one of their own planes at the same time that they shot down Powers' plane. (4) Francia Gary Powers had a son who founded the Cold War Museum, was a consultant on the film, and played a bit part in it. Two museums in Russia feature exhibits on Powers and the U-2. Rudolf

Abel was a consultant on a Soviet spy film and appeared in the foreword to it. Reportedly, in his last years he became disillusioned with the Soviet Union. He died in 1971, the year after James Donovan's death.    

Get lost for a cause … Dragon-shaped Corn Maze benefits St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound

A mile and a half of twists, turns, and taxing dead ends is back at the corn maze at Plasko’s Farm. The public is invited to Defeat the Dragon, a curvy, challenging design carved out of four acres of 10 foot tall corn stalks. For Halloween weekend, October 30-31, the maze will be open for Flashlight Nights from 5-9 p.m. For every trip through the corn maze this year, the Plasko family will donate $1 of the admission price to the St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound‘s cancer support, prevention, education, and screening programs.

The corn maze at Plasko’s Farm is believed to be the first of its kind in Fairfield County and attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year. The farm also offers a country store, bakery, and hayrides throughout the fall season.

Plasko’s maze is open now through Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with last tickets of the day sold 30 minutes before dusk. Visitors should allow 30-45 minutes in the maze. If guests get lost, there are “Corn Cops” stationed at strategic points throughout the maze to help navigate the way out.

Click here to continue reading.

How to Avoid Probate: Leave Connecticut!

by James L. Macdonld, Retired Senior Editor, Merrill Anderson Co. Inc.

Fifty years ago Norman Dacey, a Connecticut financial planner, shook the estate planning world by publishing How to Avoid Probate. Living trusts became the will substitute of choice.

Now the State of Connecticut has struck back, substituting painfully high probate fees for state funding of its probate courts. The "fees," amounting to an estate tax in drag, are levied on the gross taxable estate, not the probate estate.

If the northeast portion of I-95 seems even more crowded than usual, it's probably Connecticut's hedge fund elite, departing for friendlier tax climes.

Do You Have Early Warning Signs of Parkinson’s Disease?

By Michael S. Okun, MD, Special to Everyday Health

This year, more than 50,000 people worldwide will hear four simple words: “You have Parkinson’s disease.”

Once the shock subsides, four new words will dominate their thoughts: “Is there a cure?” Today, the answer is no; however, with advancements in early detection and expert care,  treatments are helping many people live long and happy lives with Parkinson’s. Research has shown that seeing a neurologist improves outcomes, and seeing a movement disorders specialist can speed improvement in symptoms.

What Is – and Isn’t – Parkinson’s Disease?

I am often asked if Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a form of Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s is not Alzheimer’s, ALS or a brain tumor, and the prognosis for Parkinson’s, though not a perfect scenario, leaves room to live a productive life.

PD is a progressive and chronic neurological disease that often begins with mild symptoms that advance gradually over time. Symptoms can be so subtle in the early stages that they go unnoticed, leaving the disease undiagnosed for years. For patients with Parkinson’s, there is a reduction in the body chemical dopamine, which controls movement and mood – so simple activities like walking, talking and writing can be impacted.

Due to the complexity of PD, diagnosis is based on a variety of factors. The best diagnosis is made by an expert doing a careful history and exam followed by tracking responses to therapy. There is no blood or laboratory test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.

While Parkinson’s reaches all demographics, the majority of people with PD are age 60 or older. Men and people with a family history of the disease have an increased risk.

12 Early Warning Signs of Parkinson’s

There is no one defining symptom or sign of Parkinson’s, but rather a combination of warning signs and symptoms. Not all of the signs and symptoms are present in every patient with PD, and this sometimes leads to confusion in diagnosis. Talk to your doctor if you or someone you know experiences more than one of the symptoms outlined below. Family and friends may be the first to spot the signs.

Tremor or shaking: An incessant or intermittent shaking in your finger, thumb, hand, chin, body, leg, lips or tongue could indicate Parkinson’s. The tremor usually happens at rest, and when you move the extremity it may disappear. One in five patients with PD may not have a tremor, which is an important reason the diagnosis may be missed.

Changes in handwriting: You may notice the way you write words on a page has changed, and particularly that your letter sizes are smaller and the words may be crowded together. 

Loss of smell: Some research suggests that loss of smell is one of the earliest warning signs of Parkinson’s and other cognitive disorders, appearing years before the onset of the motor and cognitive symptoms.

Trouble sleeping: Sudden and extreme movements during sleep – kicking and punching – or falling out of bed can be indicate PD. Patients with Parkinson’s often report vivid dreaming or acting out their dreams; in many cases these symptoms may predate the diagnosis.

Muscle tension: Some people with Parkinson’s may notice tightness in a wrist, elbow, hip or knee (rigidity). This uncontrolled tightness may cause mild to severe aches or pains and make it difficult to move around.

Changes in walking: Parkinson’s affects the area of your brain that controls movement. If you walk with short, shuffling steps, don’t swing your arms or have trouble starting, stopping and turning, talk to your doctor about PD.

Constipation: Constipation is a sign that may predate the other motor symptoms like tremor and rigidity in people with Parkinson’s.

A quiet voice: If friends and family are always asking you to speak up even though you feel like you are talking in a normal voice, you may be experiencing the Parkinson’s disease symptom of a muffled or soft voice – called hypophonia. PD patients are often unaware they are speaking softly.

Masked face: Masking is a term we use to describe facial expressions that appear muted and flat even though the person may be content. Many patients don’t realize masking is happening until someone points it out. If people say you often look unhappy, have a blank stare, or do not blink your eyes, talk to your doctor.

Dizziness or fainting: Feeling dizzy or fainting on a regular basis can be signs of low blood pressure linked to Parkinson’s or to PD medications.

Stooping or hunching over: Stooping, leaning or slouching when you stand can all be symptoms of Parskinson’s.

Depression or anxiety: Depression is the biggest unmet Parkinson’s disease need. With PD, depressive symptoms can be mild and missed easily.

What If You Have Parkinson’s?

After Parkinson’s is diagnosed, your doctor will help you develop an individualized plan to address the symptoms that have the biggest impact on your everyday life and help slow down the progression of the disease. The first step is getting a referral to a neurologist for expert care – especially one who is trained in movement disorders.

Why Is Expert Care Important?

Early expert care can help reduce PD complications. Findings show that 60 percent of people with Parkinson’s fall short of getting the expert care they need. The National Parkinson Foundation has estimated that about 6,400 people with Parkinson’s die unnecessarily  each year due to poor care.

Trained neurologists will help you recognize, treat and manage the disease. Common approaches include medication, surgical treatment, lifestyle modifications (such as rest and exercise), physical therapy, support groups, occupational therapy and speech therapy. The best approach is interdisciplinary care, where you are seen by multiple specialists on a regular basis and all of the specialists talk and arrange the best possible coordinated care. This is what is referred to as a patient-centric approach to Parkinson’s care.

The National Parkinson Foundation has easy-to-access communications options, including a toll-free helpline 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) and a free “Ask the Doctor” online forumon Parkinson.org.

Arming yourself with knowledge and expert care are the best methods of facing Parkinson’s disease.

Michael S. Okun, MD, is the National Medical Director of the National Parkinson Foundationand co-director of the Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, part of the McKnight Brain Institute and the University of Florida College of Medicine. He is the author of Amazon’s No. 1 Parkinson’s Best Seller 10 Secrets to a Happier Life. As NPF’s medical director, he has worked with NPF Centers to help foster the best possible environments for care, research and outreach in Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Okun has published more than 300 articles and is considered a world’s expert on Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders and deep brain stimulation.

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Tips for Social Security recipients worried about no COLA for 2016

Social Security recipients worried about the news Thursday that there will be no cost-of-living-adjustment for 2016 have a lot to think about — especially those of whom could see their Medicarepremiums jump 52%. So what might they consider doing?

•Cut back spending. Inflation over the past year, as measured by Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), was 0%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But that was due largely to the 18.4% decline in energy prices. Other costs, however, were up: Food was up 1.6%; shelter, 3.2%; and medical care, 2.4%. That means Social Security recipients might have to search for ways to cut back to balance their budgets. At the moment, according to the BLS' consumer expenditure survey, housing represents 33.9% of annual expenses for households over age 65; transportation, 15.9%; health care, 13.4%; and food, 12.5%.

Given that housing represents more than one-third of expenses, older Americans might look for ways to free up the equity in their homes by downsizing or taking out a reverse mortgage, or find ways to cut their housing costs by exploring such options as home-sharing.

•Increase income. On average, older Americans get about 34% of their total income from Social Security; 33% from earnings; 11% from personal assets such as money in IRAs, 401(k) plans and taxable accounts, and 22% from pensions. Given that there won't be a Social Security COLA, beneficiaries might need to consider ways to boost income. They could invest more aggressively in higher-yielding and perhaps more risky assets, such as long-term bonds and high-dividend-paying stocks; go back to work; or work more hours.

•Take solace in this fact. "Had there been a COLA increase, much of it would have been eroded by the Medicare Part B premium increase that the other 30% of beneficiaries now have to bear entirely — and many of them may be only slightly better off than you are," says David Mendels, director of financial planning at Creative Financial Concepts, in New York City.

•Write your representative in Congress. If you are among the 30% of Medicare beneficiaries who will pay a higher Medicare Part B premium, write your representative. "Since it is only past earnings that threw you into the 'fortunate' 30% (due to your income or other factors), there is nothing you can do to change that now," says Mendels. "If you are truly fortunate enough to be able to absorb the increase, be grateful. If you are not quite that fortunate, then be noisy, because that is the only way you can change it."

"Research any and all political candidates' positions on Social Security and Medicare benefits and vote/lobby/rally accordingly," says Francine Lipman, a professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

•Change the index used to calculate COLA. Lawmakers and policy wonks want the Social Security Administration to calculate the COLA using CPI-E, an experimental inflation index designed to measure cost of living for the elderly, instead of the CPI-W, which is now used to calculate Social Security COLAs. CPI-W critics contend the index currently used for the Social Security COLA does not reflect the spending patterns of older Americans, and therefore understates inflation, according to a forthcoming study by Alicia Munnell and Anqi Chen of the Center of Retirement Research at Boston College.

•It's not all bad news. For those still working, Social Security's tax rate stays the same at 7.65% for employees, 15.3% for the self-employed, says Andy Landis, author of Social Security: The Inside Story. So does the taxable earnings ceiling of $118,500. "If you're working and getting Social Security while under 66, note that the countable earnings threshold of $15,720 also stays the same in 2016," Landis says.

•Start/stop Social Security benefits. Rob Kron, head of investment and retirement education for BlackRock's U.S. Wealth Advisory group, suggests that you consider reinstating Social Security benefits for November 2015 through December 2015 if you have suspended collection. "In doing so, you may be able to avoid an increase in your Medicare Part B premium for 2016," he says. Click here to continue reading.

The Martian—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

The Martian. Released: Oct. 2015. Runtime: 144 mins. Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity.

Director Ridley Scott has been dubbed a “maker of mainstream movie masterpieces,” referring to such popular and critically well-regarded hits from his long career as the science-fiction classics Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982) and the historical spectacle Gladiator (2000). Now The Martian has joined the ranks of these works.

The eponymous hero of the film is American astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), marooned on the red planet after a fierce storm separates him from the rest of his manned mission mates as they blast off for Earth on the spaceship Hermes.

Earth presumes Watney to be dead, but the astronaut, who is also a botanist, determines to survive until the next mission to Mars arrives in four years. After making his way back to the habitat station and treating his injuries from the storm, Watney sets out to turn a year's worth of food into four years' worth by growing potatoes, using his own feces as fertilizer, and burning rocket fuel to make water. Like the hero of the 1985-1992 TV series MacGyver, Watney comes up with one ingenious solution after another so as to try and make it through four long and lonely years.

Watney is a kind of near-future Robinson Crusoe, but on Mars he lacks a Friday to help him. In a sense, however, he has a “Friday” back on Earth. Engineer Vincent Kapoor, a character—apparently American—with a South Asian name, played by Afro-British actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), attempts to convince NASA's bureaucratic, yet humanistic director, Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels), that Watney is alive and should have a probe sent to resupply him after various disasters have reduced his food supply. Eventually, a cheer-inducing international effort and a complex, suspenseful plan involving the Hermes develop to try and save “the Martian.”

The film's settings and effects are both spectacular and convincing. The acting, appropriately enough, is not “spectacular” but is quite convincing. Damon plays Watney as neither a superhero nor a “Clint Eastwood-type” hero but definitely as an American hero of a certain classic type—brave, optimistic, good-natured, resourceful. As the astronaut/botanist says: “You can either accept your fate or work toward fixing it.” Amid the gloom of much contemporary science-fiction, this film's faith that hardy individuals and diverse people working together can “fix things” casts a heartening glow.

“Footnotes” to the film: (1) Andy Weir, the writer of the novel of the same name on which The Martian is based, originally put the book on his own blog for free reading. Then friends urged him to put it on Amazon for reading on Kindle, which he did, making it available for the then minimum price of 99 cents. (2) The 1972 film Silent Running is a post-apocalyptic tale in which a solitary astronaut/botanist in space attempts to save a “pod” of plants from the machinations of an evil corporation and government. The well-regarded film starred Bruce Dern and was directed by Douglas Turnbull, the special effects wizard of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.