Issue 5: The Era of New Technology

THE ERA OF NEW TECHNOLOGY JULY/AUGUST 2014 ISSUE 5

In Awe of LEONARD NIMOY

Science Fiction That Predicted the Future Getting a Good Night’s Rest The Evolution of Music Technology

Adopting to the Digital Age

And: HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN MORE FUN & GAMES i

Body.

Mind.

Ease.

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Rube Goldberg (roob gōld'berg): a comically involved, complicated invention, laboriously contrived to perform a simple operation.

– Webster’s New World Dictionary

FEATURES

26 Finding Rhythm in Music Technology

by Enuma Okoro

30 ISSUE 5  JULY/AUGUST 2014

The Era of New Technology

Back to the Future: When Yesterday’s Science Fiction Predicted Today’s Technology

38 In Awe of Leonard Nimoy

by Walter Backerman

44 Linking to the Information Age

by Kimberly Brennsteiner

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DEPARTMENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Remember When

4

9 Did You Know?

49 Books: Lee Grant’s

I Said Yes to Everything

10 Health & Wellness:

Sleep No More?

14 Dr. Lori: Healthcare

in the Digital Age 16 The Benjamin Rose Institute

on Aging: Connections

for the Caregiver 18 House Call with Dr. Kramps:

Low-Tech Adaptive Aids

Letter from the Publisher

50 54 Fun & Games 57 Horoscopes 61 Puzzle Solutions 64 The Last Laugh

22 Life with The Eden Alternative: Building

Bridges in a Virtual World 3

LE T TER FROM THE PUBLISHER About 3.5 million years ago, one of our ancestors picked up a stone and, for the first time, made use of a “tool” that improved the outcome of some desired action—maybe for hunting or shelter-building, we don’t really know.

However, we do know that this problem-solving decision and others following it helped cultivate one of the defining characteristics of human civilization: the creation and production of new technologies.

For most of human history until the early 20th century, major advancements in technology occurred both centuries apart and in geographic isolation, allowing for gradual adoption by the global population with relatively little “tech disconnect” between older and younger people. All of that dramatically changed in the 1930s and 1940s, though, as specific advancements in transportation and communication systems facilitated the efficient distribution of goods and information on a global scale. Virtually every decade since has ended with the development of new technologies that rendered obsolete the previous decade’s breakthroughs…and, effectively, ever-widened the “technology gap” between older and younger generations.

Today, this technology gap—especially in areas like communication, personal devices, and multi-media sources—presents our global society with significant challenges and major opportunities. On the one hand, many aging adults (yours truly included!) struggle to keep pace with, or outright ignore, the technology systems that younger adults and children use extensively and are seemingly born understanding intuitively. On the other hand, some of those same technology systems are being deployed in exceptional ways that foster intergenerational and cross-cultural relationship building, or bring music therapy to adults with memory challenges.

In this issue, PS Lifestyle Magazine endeavors to elevate awareness of these new technology themes and foster further discussion about them.

Please enjoy this printed piece of “old technology” and email us your thoughts at magazine@salonps.com!

Sincerely,

John Polatz Publisher and CEO 4

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Brandon Crafts

Dr. Lori Stevic-Rust Laura Beck, The Eden Alternative

VICE PRESIDENT — BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

VICE PRESIDENT — FIELD OPERATIONS

Katherine Adams Walter Backerman Kimberly Brennsteiner Dr. Melissa Kramps Enuma Okoro

PS Lifestyle is published by Salon PS Magazine LLC

Cover: NASA

Brian Goetz Kristin Hinkson DIRECTOR — PROCUREMENT & LOGISTICS

Kenish Patel DIRECTOR — HUMAN RESOURCES

Serena Caruso

5

POP CULTURE, NEWS, AND EVENTS FROM PAST DECADES

Remember When...

1934

1944 Carl Sagan was born, and later popularized science with the original Cosmos TV series.

PHOTO: PETER MORENUS, COURTESY OF MS. ANN DRUYAN

The first binary (partially code-based) computer Colossus was created and played an integral part in the breaching of German communications during the war.

PHOTO: THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, UK

AT&T inaugurated transpacific telephone service, initially between the US and Japan, which cost $39 for the first three minutes.

Benjamin Green, a pharmacist in Miami Beach, Florida, invented the first suntan cream, Coppertone Suntan Cream, when he cooked cocoa butter and other ingredients in a granite coffeepot on the stove, testing each batch on his bald head.

PHOTO: Š 2014 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PHOTO: SUPERSTOCK

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1954

1964

1974

Danish engineer Hildaur Neilson and businessman Arnold Neustadter invented the Rotary Card-Filing System, later named the Rolodex. Rolodex comes from a combination of the words “rolling” and “index.”

Dr. Ruth Benerito, a physical chemist, perfected modern wrinkle-free cotton (better known as permanent press), saving the cotton industry and countless hours spent on household drudgery.

The first item scanned with a Universal Product Code (UPC) was a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum at the Marsh supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

PHOTO: 123RF

PHOTO: COURTESY OF WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY

PHOTO: SUPERSTOCK

USS Nautilus (SSN571) was the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine, which was later de-commissioned, becoming a museum in Groton, Connecticut.

Bell System’s Picturephone was introduced to the public at the 1964 World’s Fair and soon after, three Picturephone booths became available in Washington DC, New York, and Chicago, which could only communicate to each other.

The remains of a 3.2-million-year-old extinct hominid skeleton, now known as “Lucy”, were discovered in Ethiopia by Donald Johanson, PhD. PHOTO: INSTITUTE OF HUMAN ORIGINS, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

PHOTO: AT&T ARCHIVES

7

1984

BellSouth in Orlando, Florida introduced the first market trial of caller ID, while coining the name of the service.

PHOTO: 123RF

1994

2004

Netscape Navigator was released and with its user-friendly design, it quickly became the favorite for searching the Internet as consumer Mark Zuckerberg and use began to surge. his fellow Harvard University classmates launched the online social networking website Facebook, originally known as thefacebook.com.

A tomato crop named Flavr Savr was the first commercially grown, genetically engineered food brought to market.

Microwavable popcorn entered the mass market with the launch of Act II, which is non-refrigerated and in a revolutionary new bag that allows the kernels to pop in any microwave.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CONAGRA FOODS

PHOTO: 123RF

SpaceshipOne became the first privately funded human spaceflight to travel past the edge of space while piloted by the first commercial astronaut, Mike Melvill.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SCALES COMPOSITES, LLC

8

?

DID YOU KNOW FASCINATING FACTS TO KNOW AND TELL

The computer technology of the 1960s was in large part responsible for the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and would form the basis of modern computing. The Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), designed at MIT and built by Raytheon, used a real time operating system, which enabled astronauts to enter simple commands by typing in pairs of nouns and verbs to control the spacecraft. The AGC provided the accuracy in navigation and control required to send them to the Moon and return them safely to Earth. The Apollo computers had less processing power than today’s cellphones.

PHOTO: NASA

50,000,000

How long does it take to reach users?

Telephone: 75 years; Radio: 38 years; Television: 13 years; Internet: 4 years; Facebook: 3.5 years; iPod: 3 years; AOL: 2.5 years; Angry Birds Space app and Temple Run 2 app downloads: 35 days.

Starting with the first photograph taken in 1826 until present day, it is estimated that over 4 trillion photographs have been taken since the invention of the camera. According to Yahoo.com, 880 billion photos will be taken in 2014 alone.

PHOTO: 123RF.COM

The first Porsche model, P1 (“P” for Porsche, number 1), created in 1898, may resemble an antique horse-driven carriage but it was actually an electric car. The P1 ran on an electric drive that produced 3 horsepower and reached speeds of 21 miles per hour. Not only was it the fastest car at the time, it was energy efficient—the P1 recorded the lowest energy consumption in urban traffic.

PHOTO: PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

9

PHOTO: AGE FOTOSTOCK

z z z z z

10

HEALTH & WELLNESS

SleepNo More?

How Aging Can Affect Sleep Patterns

by KATHERINE ADAMS

I

n the days before electricity, when keeping a light on after dark was a luxury, people went to bed and woke with the sun. The cycles of the earth and of the seasons dictated sleep patterns. Man-made lights— the glare of the computer or television—didn’t interfere with our circadian rhythms, as they do today. The hard physical labor it took just to maintain a household, not to mention a business or farm, exhausted people.

That is not to say people back then did not have problems sleeping.

The long winter months of northern climes meant there was a lot of time for sleep. Maybe too much time, since it seems historically that many people —from ancient Greeks to modern tribes people—divided up their nights

Historically many people—from ancient Greeks to modern tribes people—divided up their nights into “first” and “second” sleep. into “first” and “second” sleep. In early modern Europe, people would go to bed after dark and wake up again around midnight for a while. During this time they read, finished chores, prayed, and even visited neighbors before returning to bed until morning. (Incidentally, this nightly sleep hiatus was promoted as the best for sex and conception.) In a recent study of sleep patterns where scientists forced subjects into bed for 14 hours a night, most subjects would wake up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night, suggesting that this might be the better solution for humans than the modern notion of an eight-hour continuous sleep.

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Segmented sleep began its decline in the late 17th century with city street lamps and the rise of industry over the next century.

By the 1920s, at least in our culture, dividing one’s sleep became a thing of the past.

We can’t really return to natural biorhythms for sleep. Those days are long gone, leaving us with a very real and very modern dilemma: how to get a good night’s sleep. Moreover, evidence shows that sleeping becomes more problematic with age, with many older adults unable to fall into or sustain sleep. Studies on the sleep habits of older Americans show it takes more time for us to fall asleep and we wake up more often during the night. Many of us do not tell our doctors about our lack of sleep, feeling that it is merely a consequence of aging. But it doesn’t have to be.

12

Sleep disturbances are often due to physical and psychiatric illnesses and medications. Chronic pain, restless legs, and sleep apnea can be addressed with your healthcare provider’s help. In elderhood there is often a decrease in daily activities, in which case even moderate exercise could help.

This is true of depression, as well, where exercise combined with a doctor’s supervision and possibly medicinal intervention could improve mood and sleep.

On the other side of this equation, many medications can cause sleepiness, which makes napping during the day difficult to avoid.

In these cases, changing when you take your meds might prove beneficial. Snoring is disruptive and can be exacerbated when overweight and by sleep apnea, a serious condition that should be addressed with your doctor’s help.

HOW TO GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP • Turn off all media one hour before bedtime, including TV, tablets, phones, and computers.

If you read ebooks, Kindles are better in that they aren’t backlit the same way as tablets.

• Don’t linger in bed before going to sleep or after you wake up.

Your bedroom should signal to your brain that this room is for sleeping. If you can’t fall asleep, get up, read, or listen to soothing music, and try again after a while.

• Make your bedroom a relaxing and stress-free environment, with dark shades, cool air, and low lights. If sounds are a problem, get a white noise machine.

• Don’t nap during the day. If one is habitually tired from not sleeping at night, napping during the day might become a habit that adversely affects nighttime sleeping, resulting in a cycle that is difficult to escape.

• Avoid caffeine late in the day.

For some, this means nothing caffeinated except morning tea or coffee.

• Keep up with your nutrition.

Many imbalances can cause insomnia, such as anemia.

• Exercise early in the day. The increased blood flow and energy from exercise might keep you up at night if done late in the day.

• Incorporate a bedtime routine that helps you relax such as a warm bath or meditation.

• Don’t eat too heavily or too late. Certain foods, like salmon, sugar, chocolate, and a too-full stomach can hinder sleep, not to mention exacerbate reflux.

• Stay active. Find physical exercise, hobbies, and social activities to keep you interested and involved during the day.

• Avoid or reduce alcohol consumption before going to sleep. While a nightcap may help to fall asleep faster, drinking has been proven to reduce the amount of the deepest sleep stage (REM), which is when most dreams occur, and also when memories are likely stored and learning occurs.

13

Doctor Lori Stevic-Rust

HEALTHCARE in the

DIGITAL AGE

A

ccess to the Internet and social media is changing the face of healthcare.

Internet sites like WebMD, Wikipedia, and Sharecare, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter provide users with guidance, and the access and exchange of health and medical information.

Worldwide, vast numbers of people are turning to the Internet to read about medical conditions and to seek healthcare support. In fact, 88% of caregivers reportedly use the Internet to find answers to 14

health questions, review hospital ratings, and explore end-of-life issues. One study found that while the majority of people search the Internet for medical conditions and symptoms, an increasing number of users look online for drug and food safety information. There is also a growing trend of users searching for information on dementia, memory loss, and long-term care needs. Further, many report using social media and websites to not only gather information but also to share their own medical stories, rate doctors and facilities, and connect with support groups.

However, the enthusiasm of acquiring healthcare information through digital means is not without controversy. There continues to be some debate among consumers and healthcare providers and organizations on whether health information belongs on the Internet. While the cautionary tale of inaccurate medical information existing on many sites is a legitimate concern, the reality is that the

Internet and social media as a means for communication and accessing information are here to stay. Therefore, more medical professionals and healthcare organizations must rise to the challenge.

The utility of health-related websites and social media allows consumers to become more educated about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as the approaches they should take to diet and nutrition. An educated patient is more likely to seek out treatment when symptoms first arise. They are less likely to use the emergency room for minor conditions and typically do not have as many unnecessary medical tests performed, thereby reducing healthcare costs.

Moreover, providers of healthcare are keenly aware that provisions in the Affordable Care Act will assess payments based on outcomes-based measurements; therefore, strategies for collaborative care must be implemented.

Social media can provide a venue for relationship building with healthcare providers (physicians,

nurses, etc.) and offer an easy mechanism for collaborating and strategic planning with other organizations to coordinate care and improve outcomes.

Many healthcare organizations are turning to various social media sites as a powerful marketing tool to share patient stories, broadcast the development of new procedures, and overall connect with the patients they serve.

For example, the Mayo Clinic, with over 800,000 followers on Twitter, states that part of their mission is to “lead the social media revolution in healthcare, contributing to health and wellbeing for people everywhere.�

One of the predicted results of a better-educated patient will be more transparency on issues of value, cost, and outcomes from healthcare organizations.

While initially this may be difficult for the healthcare industry to adjust to, the resulting net effect will be better performance for the organization and improved healthcare for the consumer.

And that is something to tweet about.

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PHOTO: DRUVO/GETTY

THE BENJAMIN ROSE INSTITUTE ON AGING

CONNECTIONS

FOR THE CAREGIVER Accessible Caregiving Support

C

aregiving for a loved one with a chronic health issue is hard work and can feel overwhelming at times. Some caregivers get depressed, feel alone and isolated, and experience tension or conflict with the relative or friend receiving care. Many people feel uncertain about whether their loved one is getting the best possible care. It can be very confusing to deal with all the different services or professionals or to know about all the available options for care.

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging has developed the evidence-based program BRI Care Consultation, 16

which helps caregivers by providing guidance, coaching, and information about how to deal with challenges of caregiving. The program’s consultants use a carefully developed protocol to work with individuals to develop a care plan and follow-up to make sure plans are being carried out. They are also available by telephone or email for enrolled individuals and their caregivers to contact when needs arise.

“The National Alzheimer’s Association strategic plan includes the goal of implementing evidencebased practices for individuals with dementia,” noted David M. Bass, PhD, Vice President for Research

The BRI Care Consultants are knowledgeable and trusted experts who: • Get to know you and your loved one for the long-term

• Offer simple and practical solutions

• Provide information so you feel empowered

• Help find, use, and monitor services

• Help you address your immediate concerns and avoid future problems

• Coach on communicating with doctors

and Director of the Margaret Blenkner Research Institute at Benjamin Rose. “BRI Care Consultation is a seamless fit with that goal.”

Through regular telephone calls, or emails, care consultants offer personalized coaching, connect people to available services and resources in the community, help organize assistance from family members and friends so it is most beneficial, and offer support for both the person with illness and the caregiver.

First, the care consultant helps the caregiver identify areas of concern or problems. Then, they work with the caregivers and the person in his or her care to create an action plan with small doable steps that address those concerns and problems.

Since the program is done by phone and email it is low-cost. It is

also effective in decreasing unnecessary visits to the emergency room or hospital. In some cases, families were able to continue providing care at home rather than in a nursing home. The program coached caregivers on how to best communicate with doctors and other professionals, which increased their satisfaction with health care providers.

BRI Care Consultation is currently offered in six states including Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, New Jersey, Alabama, and Texas.

The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging (www.benrose.org) is a nationally recognized nonprofit addressing the important issues of aging through service, research, and advocacy. As a champion for older adults, Benjamin Rose works to advance their health, independence, and dignity.

17

HOUSE CALLS WITH DR. KRAMPS

LOW-TECH ADAPTIVE AIDS FOR IMPROVING DAILY LIFE

by MELISSA KRAMPS, DNP

W

hen I worked as an ICU nurse, I would marvel at the technology around me—continuous heart monitors, bedside dialysis machines. Now that I work in an outpatient setting, I am aware of the aspects of technology that are available to patients to help them live better, independent lives. While the latest innovations in pacemakers and virtual colonoscopies are interesting, I would like to focus this article on more “low-tech” methods that are applicable to day-to-day life.

With older age may come diminished powers of your senses. Hearing may become more difficult, vision less acute, and touch made difficult due to impaired dexterity from conditions such as arthritis.

Decreased sensory input can lead to confusion, safety hazards, and decreased quality of life.

A person who is hard of hearing may not hear a car honking a 18

warning or a spouse calling from another room for assistance. Hearing loss can potentially lead to isolation and decreased enjoyment in activities such as dining with friends or going to the theater. While hearing aides are expensive and not covered by Medicare, there are affordable options that can be a compromise between top-of-the-line hearing aides and people shouting so you can hear them. Hearing amplifiers are designed to fit behind the ear so they are unobtrusive. There are headsets that amplify the sound of the television so the members of the household can listen to it at the usual volume but the volume can be adjusted for whoever is wearing the headset.

There is also TTY, which is text telephoning, and allows those who are hard of hearing or speech impaired to communicate over the telephone using a keyboard to type their message while the person at the other end either has their own

PHOTO: 123RF

keyboard or uses an operator who conveys messages.

Visual acuity, particularly for reading close-up material such as a newspaper, can decline with older age. Reading glasses can be obtained from an optometrist after an evaluation, and many pharmacies or other retailers sell non-prescription reading glasses of varying strengths. I recommend buying a few pairs and leaving them in the areas you usually need them such as where you do your leisure reading or where you write your bills. There are also an extensive variety of magnifiers on the market, both hand-held and tabletop, some of which are connected to a lamp. There are “natural light” or “full-spectrum” lamps available which create a better reading environment. For some people, vision is so impaired it is not possible to read a watch any longer so consider purchasing a watch that speaks the time when you press a button. Large button telephones are made for those who cannot see the small numbers printed on traditional phones. Some can even be programmed to dial a specific number at the touch of a single button identified with a picture of the person you want to call.

More and more people are using cell phones, but for some older adults, they may seem intimidating. A mobile phone is very helpful in emergency situations as well as other circumstances such as letting someone know you are running late. Models such as the Jitterbug® have large buttons and are very straightforward to use. More advanced phones have the ability to program alerts such as a reminder to take medications each day.

Older adults tend to take several medications and it may become difficult to remember to take them or whether or not you have taken them.

Or you may be concerned whether or not a loved one has been remembering to take his or her medication. The most low-tech way to keep track of medications is to keep a calendar near your pills and cross off the day once 19

you have taken your medication. This can be more complicated when you take medication at more than one time per day so using a weekly pillbox that has spaces for AM/PM or morning/afternoon/evening is very helpful. Advanced models light up and/or have an alarm to remind you to take your pills. Some will even send you or a loved one a telephone or e-mail message alerting that the medication has not been taken on schedule.

For visually impaired people, there are pill bottle holders with voice recording capabilities so when you press a button it will say the name of the medication and when to take it.

You can even subscribe to a telephone reminder service that will call you when it is time to take your pills.

The iconic commercial of the woman saying,“I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” feels more relevant as you get older. No one wants to be in a situation where they are helpless.

I recommend equipping your home with a personal emergency response system (PERS). Members of the household wear a waterproof button as a necklace or bracelet in the home so that if there is any distress it can be activated, even if you can’t reach a telephone. Depending on the entity 20

that sponsors the product, an alert will go out to a central monitoring station or local emergency dispatch and you will be able to speak to someone over intercom. Newer hightech models are equipped with an accelerometer, which can detect a fall and trigger an alert, even if you do not press the button.

The products mentioned in this article can be obtained by doing an Internet search, visiting your library and asking for assistance, or enlisting the help of a friend or family member.

Your local surgical supply store may be knowledgeable about products they carry or that can be ordered from catalogs. Finally, occupational therapists are a valuable resource.

Ask your health care provider to refer you to an occupational therapist who can guide you in selecting the tools you need to live in your home as safely and independently as possible.

Melissa Kramps, DNP, NP-C, GNP-BC is a board certified nurse practitioner in adult health and gerontology who earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Columbia University School of Nursing. She has experience in hospital medicine, primary care, and teaching.

Dr. Kramps currently works in neurology at the Weill Cornell Memory Disorders Program in New York City.

HIGH-TECH AIDS High-tech aids don’t have to be complicated for the user, and can simplify tasks and create a safer, more pleasant environment.

Digital hearing aids use a microcomputer to automatically change the volume. They can also respond to noise in the environment, eliminating feedback and echoes.

The EyeReader app turns your iPhone into a magnifying glass, with a light to help brighten the text. Simply hold your iPhone over a book or paperwork.

The Silver Surf app on your iPad will blow up the size of the navigation buttons and will enlarge text up to 200%.

The VizWiz app for tablets and smartphones allows those with limited vision to get quick information about an object. Simply take a photo of an object, ask a question about it, and get an answer almost instantly from a worldwide network of volunteers.

The Spantec Fall Detector is a human activity monitor that alerts for falls and extended periods of inactivity, and is available as an app on Android devices.

The Pillboxie app for iPad and iPhone keeps track of which times and medications you have to take. You can even customize your medications with different combinations of medication types and colors.

While still in the development stage, Honda hopes to bring to the market a walking assist device similar to the technology used for their humanoid robot, ASIMO, which will allow for a “lighter” body and less exertion leading to reduced fatigue while gaining the benefits of physical movement.

MIT’s FingerReader is a wearable audio reading device that assists in reading printed text.

Wearers scan a text line with their finger and receive an audio feedback of the words and a haptic feedback of the layout: start and end of line, new line, and other cues. It is expected to be available in 1–2 years.

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LIFE WITH THE EDEN ALTERNATIVE

Building Bridges I N A V I RT UA L WO R L D

by L AUR A BECK

I

t’s May 16th, 8:00 a.m. I pop open my laptop and begin my morning ritual of checking my email inbox. Here I am again, communing with the virtual world, instead of the real world. As I’m thinking that there’s just no heart in all of this technology, something, well, cracks open my heart. Buried amidst thirty unopened messages is a little gem, something “sweet” that the sender thinks I “will enjoy.” On the embedded link, a video begins to play where the opening shot takes me to São Paulo, Brazil. Students learning English are sitting down to enjoy the company of Elders living at a Chicago-based retirement community—via video conferencing.

Within 3 1/2 minutes, I am a weepy wreck, in a good way—so much for my theory about the heartless nature of technology. These interactions are genuine, heartfelt, and deeply connected. As this little 22

vignette unfolds, it’s clear that everyone is winning here. There is giving and receiving for all involved in every moment. People from two very different worlds, generations apart, could not seem closer.

The concept is strikingly simple.

A branch of the Brazilian-based language school CNA wanted to make the process of learning a second language “more real” for their students by helping them to build meaningful, online relationships with American Elders. Through CNA’s Speaking Exchange program, students are able to log into the program, connect visually with an elder online, and begin to chat in real time.

The process is initially guided by suggestions for topics to discuss, but space is made for the conversation to evolve more freely. After the virtual visit ends, a video of the conversation is uploaded to a private page on youtube.com, which is reviewed by

the instructors.

As I watch, clearly, language isn’t the only thing being exchanged here —so is the gift of wisdom. While the elders provide insight in the form of a life lived, the youth offer the gift of promise, hope, and dreams of a better future. This precious balance of giving and receiving across generations is essential to shifting paradigms about aging. Technology— only moments earlier my nemesis— has now transformed into a powerful tool for dissolving ageism.

No matter how old we are, we all need to know we have something to offer, that we are valued and appre-

ciated, that our voices count.

The Eden Alternative philosophy teaches that the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom exist, in part, due to ageism.

When people resort to snap judgments, don’t take the time to know us well as individuals, and write us off as either “too young” or “too old,” we never have the opportunity to share our talents, our gifts, or our generosity. Pigeon-holed by our age, we become ripe for boredom.

Technology, often dismissed as impersonal, can actually offer some very personal solutions to this dilemma. By creating opportunities 23

for connection where none previously existed, it can build bridges of understanding between the young and old.

Nathan York discovered this at the age of 7, when he met his 108-year-old friend, Mamie.

Sensitive to Mamie’s blindness, Nathan sought clever ways to stay in constant contact with her. Using the adaptive technology system developed by his father through It’s Never 2 Late, Nathan sent daily audio emails to Mamie between visits. With a little support, she was able to send audio emails in response. Nathan credits Mamie with painting him a picture of life in the early 1900s, teaching him to “love his little sister when she wasn’t easy to love,” and just making him feel like a better person. In a tender video message, Mamie captures the impact that Nathan’s friendship has had on her life. “He’s a wonderful little boy,” she shares, “and if I’ve been any influence of the better for him, it’s worth all of the years that the Lord has given me.”

Mamie’s words remind me that every effort made to weave Elders back into the social fabric of our communities—even a relationship 24

at a time—is another step toward creating a vision of elderhood as a valued phase of human development.

This is equally vital for Elders who live with different abilities.

Art to Life, an art therapy/life story preservation initiative sponsored

by Cognitive Dynamics, focuses on building relationships between University of Alabama students and Elders who live with Alzheimer’s disease. Through creative selfexpression, elder participants reveal who they are and stories of where they’ve been. Art to Life recently partnered with LifeBio, a virtual life story platform, to support the natural unfolding of these inter-

Every effort made to weave Elders back into the social fabric of our communities— even a relationship at a time—is another step toward creating a vision of elderhood as a valued phase of human development.

generational relationships. Using LifeBio Studio, a video recording app, the students can now document sessions with their elder partners in a manner that allows them to be fully in the moment with them. The unstructured nature of the interactions taps modes of communication and expression that may not typically arise. The students then upload the videos directly from their smartphones into an online story template that seamlessly produces a 20-plus page personal biography of the elder.

Working in teams, the students draw on their interactions with the elders to refine and enrich the life stories. Ironically, through the speed and ease of technology, the

students are able to slow down and simply “be.” Blending the technological savvy of youth with the timeless presence of an older person, the project’s sum is greater than its parts.

Yes, technology can be cold, disengaging, soulless, and isolating.

But it can also warm, enlighten, move, and unite us. Such is our paradoxical world, where anything is possible.

Laura Beck is the Learning and Development Guide for The Eden Alternative, an international, non-profit organization focused on creating quality of life for Elders and their care partners. For more information about The Eden Alternative, go to www.edenalt.org.

ARTWORK © & ™ RUBE GOLDBERG INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. RUBE GOLDBERG ® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF RUBE GOLDBERG INC. ALL MATERIALS USED WITH PERMISSION. RUBEGOLDBERG.COM

25

MUSIC TO M Y E ARS

Finding Rhythm

in Music Technology

PHOTO: CSA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

by ENUMA OKORO

I

t never fails, any time I hear the liquid golden voice of Nat King Cole or a tune by one of the famed Rat Pack, I am transported back in time to the living room of my childhood. I can see the ocean blue plush sofa and chairs still 26

encased in their vinyl protective coverings, the maroon carpet, and that one particular technological device that was sacred to my father and thereby off limits to my siblings and me. That item forbidden to our young eager and curious hands

was also the source of so much pleasure for us in our parent’s house. It was the record player.

My father was a music fanatic.

His record collection began with the Ragtime and Jazz of the 1920s and 30s, continued onto the Big Band era of the ’40s and ’50s, and extended to the likes of Bob Marley in the late ’70s and ’80s. I was raised to the deep, scratchy voice of Satchmo and his thundering trumpet, the rich almost crystal clear vocals of Bing Cosby, the haunting hypnotism of Billie Holiday, the scatting sass of Ella Fitzgerald, and the dapper cocktail lounge swoon of Dean Martin. By sheer passion and vinyl volume my father encouraged us to appreciate a wide range of musicians and talent. And though at any given time we could choose the music we wanted to listen to, we were never allowed to touch that record player. As far as my father was concerned, that device was too fragile, valuable, and advanced a piece of technology for us to handle. He was probably right. We would have broken the needle countess of times and scratched many records off beat.

Still, maybe because we were forbidden from it, maybe because it was the source of so much joy for our father and so much musical delight for us children, that large console record player that took up half a wall in our living room was a piece of technology with which we were fascinated and with which we, too, fell in love. Through that sacred record player my father taught us to appreciate and recognize the various ways music could hypnotize us into distinct moods and cultivate specific feelings in us.

Sometimes, when one of my siblings or I had selected our record of choice, my father would tower behind us and grant us the grand honor of carefully opening the heavy console lid that housed the turntable. Then pulling the record carefully out of its sheet, he would balance it on either side between his open palms, reach over our heads, and place it delicately onto the turntable. Once we were out of the way, my father would bend to his waist, aim his eye close to the needle, and blow it for any slight particle of dust that dared interfere with the quality of his music. Then slowly as we watched 27

28

my music-loving father could never have imagined. He passed away without ever having experienced such things as MP3 players, iPods, and iPhones.

It may sound trivial and silly, but there have been countless times in my adult life when I have wished that my father were still alive, if only to experience and enjoy how far musical technology has come.

I can only imagine what he would think of a device smaller than a cigarette box that could store hundreds, even thousands of songs. I can see it sometimes in my mind’s eye: Christmas Day, perhaps helping my father unwrap his gifts. Watching as his long, tapered

PHOTOS: THE LIFE PICTURE COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES, GIJSBERT HANEKROOT /GETTY IMAGES, SUPERSTOCK

from the sidelines, he would pick up the needle with his pinky, bring it carefully to the very edge of the vinyl, and lay it down with earnest precision, as if setting rare jewels in a ring. I owe my understanding of the power of music to my father.

Thirty-five years later, I still listen to some of these same musicians, many of whose songs still have some sort of haloed claim on me. The streetwise, New York corner-edge, romantic charm of Sinatra can still alter my mood and unleash my memory in just a stanza. The only difference is that these days I can carry these songs and thousands of others in my back pocket on technology that

fingers and always well-manicured nails handle the latest gift from me: an iPod. I imagine kneeling down to my father’s chair and showing him the different spots to place his fingers on the face of the small device in order to listen to any one of the thousands of songs I have already downloaded for him.

In an instant he could be listening to Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry,” a song I remember hearing countless mornings as my siblings and I got ready for school and my father shaved his beard in front of his dresser mirror getting ready for another day at his law firm. In less than a nanosecond he could switch the song to something like Perry Como’s “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ’Round the Ole Oak Tree.” That was the tune to which my father often let me stand on his feet as a seven- or eight-year-old, while he twirled me around our living room.

If the growing studies are correct then my father might have had an increased quality of life because of the benefits of technological musical advances like the iPod. And not just because he was a music buff, but also because as we mature in age several factors,

like loneliness, chronic illness, and memory loss can affect both our recognition and appreciation of the things life still has to offer.

Non-profit organizations, like Music & Memory, recognize that devices such as iPods and other technological advances in music can help maturing adults feel less isolated and perhaps even less depressed about the changing conditions of their bodies and minds. Music can be a powerful tool for creating shared moments and reliving memorable and life-sustaining periods from our pasts. Music can remind us of specific seasons that give our lives meaning. Beside a love of music, my father also gave me the gift of respecting and appreciating the technology that brought so much joy to his life. Musical technology keeps changing and advancing but the joy it can bring remains the same. I wish my father could experience that now.

Enuma Okoro is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives between New York City, Paris, and Abuja, Nigeria. www.enumaokoro.com 29

Back to the

FUTURE

WHEN YESTERDAY’S SCIENCE FICTION PREDICTED TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY

T

“Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.”

– Jules Verne, Around the World in Eighty Days

he advancement and progress of technology has developed at a staggering rate in the last century or so. Astonishingly, some of the great science fiction writers of the past—many of whom were scientists as much as they were writers—used the scientific knowledge of their time along with their imaginations to more or less accurately describe the world in which we live in now.

30

PHOTOS: NASA

Jules Verne is perhaps the most widely lauded for prophesizing many of our modern technologies. In De la terre à la lune (From the Earth to the Moon), published in French in 1865, Verne described a “projectile” spaceship, calling his the Columbiad, that would carry three passengers to the Moon. Verne also imagined a spacecraft meant to land and float in the ocean. Upon the return to Earth during the Apollo 11 mission, astronaut Neil Armstrong referenced Verne’s book during a TV broadcast: “A hundred years ago, Jules Verne wrote a book about a voyage to the Moon. His spaceship, Columbia [sic], took off from Florida and landed in the Pacific Ocean after completing a trip to the Moon. It seems appropriate to us to share with you some of the reflections of the crew as the modern-day Columbia completes its rendezvous with the planet Earth and the same Pacific Ocean tomorrow.”

31

32

PHOTOS: HEINZ-DIETER FALKENST / IMAGEBROKER.NET, NASA

Jules Verne may have predicted the logistics of putting a man on the Moon, but his book wasn’t the first work of fiction to describe lunar exploration.

Centuries earlier, German astrologer and mathematician Johannes Kepler wrote about an imaginary trip to the Moon in his fantasy novel, Somnium (The Dream). Published posthumously in the early 17th century, it is considered by some, including Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov, to be the first work of science fiction.

PHOTOS: 123RF

Published in 1953, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 described flatscreen televisions that take up an entire wall, in-ear headphones, twenty-four-hour banking machines, and the death of newspapers as society’s preference moves towards sensationalized, headline news stations.

Of the headphones, Bradbury wrote: “In her ears the little seashells, the thimble radios tamped tight, and an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music and talk coming in.”

33

H.G. Wells described a utopian society where people relied on voicemail messages and wireless communications in his 1923 book, Men Like Gods:

PHOTO: ISTOCK/GETTY

“A message is sent to the station of the district in which the recipient is known to be, and there it waits until he chooses to tap his accumulated messages.

And any that one wishes to repeat can be repeated. Then he talks back to the senders and dispatches any other messages he wishes. The transmission is wireless.�

34

COURTESY HONDA

The Czech writer, Karel Cˇapek, introduced the term “robot” and the concept of artificial people in his 1920 play, R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), and again in his 1936 novel, War with the Newts. Cˇapek later explained that he had originally wanted to call the human-like creatures laborˇi (from labor in Latin) until his brother, the famed painter Josef Cˇapek, suggested roboti (“robots” in English). Robot comes from the Slovak words robota (“work”) and robotník (“worker”), and entered the English language in 1923.

35

COURTESY AMAZON

Return from the Stars, a 1961 novel by Stanislaw Lem, is about an astronaut returning to Earth after a 127-year space mission. In it, Lem writes about “optons,” or electronic paper, and the end of printed books with the development of touch-screen technology such as tablets and e-readers: “I spent the afternoon in a bookstore. There were no books in it. None had been printed for nearly half a century. And how I have looked forward to them, after the micro films that made up the library of the Prometheus!

No such luck. No longer was it possible to browse among shelves, to weigh volumes in hand, to feel their heft, the promise of ponderous reading.

The bookstore resembled, instead, an electronic laboratory. The books were crystals with recorded contents. They can be read with the aid of an opton, which was similar to a book but had only one page between the covers. At a touch, successive pages of the text appeared on it.”

36

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC/GETTY IMAGES NANO CALVO / AGE FOTOSTOCK

In Isaac Asimov’s essay, “Visit to the World’s Fair of 2014”, written on the occasion of the 1964 World’s Fair, he forecasts: “Robots will neither be common nor very good in 2014, but they will be in existence.” He goes on to imagine international calling to even the most remote places on Earth, cordless appliances, video conferencing similar to Skype or Apple’s Facetime feature, 3-D televisions, and an increased life expectancy of 85 years in some parts of the world.

37

L

In Awe of

N

EONARD

O

by WALTER BACKERMANN

n September 12, 1962, with resounding optimism and an eye to the future, President John F. Kennedy announced: “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”

The ensuing years were destined to be an era of heartbreaking tragedy and profound challenges, as well as political and racial turmoil. Ultimately on July 20, 1969, we would achieve the goal that President Kennedy had articulated, before the decade was over.

The 1960s would prove to be characterized by that soaring belief that mankind could break free of our earthly restraints. It was with 38

IMOY

an eye to the heavens and the ethereal domain illuminated by the stars in the night sky, just beyond our reaches, that the brilliant writer Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek, the science fiction television series that followed the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise and its crew. The vision of Star Trek epitomized the quality of futuristic drama that inspired me as a young teen to dream about what lay beyond our terrestrial existence. By today’s standards with all the high-tech special effects that the entertainment industry now has at its disposal, Star Trek’s rather simple devices— though cutting-edge in that era— seem somewhat quaint. My entire family sat in our living room in front of our only TV—a black-and-white— mesmerized by that show. As a treat, I occasionally snuck into the local department store’s TV viewing room with a friend or two and quietly enjoyed episodes of Star Trek on a

39

PHOTO: SUPERSTOCK

40

PHOTOS: MONDADORI VIA GETTY IMAGES, CBS VIA GETTY IMAGES

on a color TV, until a very patient salesman would ask us to leave.

On Star Trek, a colorful mix of crew members and myriad other outerworldly beings and extraterrestrial encounters subtly and paradoxically reflected on the realities of the time.

Of all the characters that Star Trek spawned, first officer and science officer Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, stood out as certainly one of the most memorable. At a time when the concept of a “modern family” was a distant thought for TV audiences, Commander Spock, who was half human and half Vulcan, presented a revolutionary social statement.

Bitten by the acting bug when he was just 8 years old, Mr. Nimoy’s dramatic résumé dates back to 1951 when he acted in several films. By the mid-1950s, he made regular appearances on some of the major TV shows of the era including Dragnet, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. In 1963, he had a role on The Lieutenant, created by Gene Roddenberry. It was there that Mr. Roddenberry, who was developing the science fiction story, Star Trek, took notice of this fine actor. And so began one of the more memorable

pairings in entertainment history.

Versatility and creativity would characterize Mr. Nimoy’s lengthy and productive career. After Star Trek, he became a regular on the hit TV show, Mission: Impossible, playing the character of Paris for two seasons (1969–1971). He continued acting and then moved to the other side of the camera as the director of an episode of Night Gallery in 1973. He appeared on Broadway, and had a formidable voice-over career. His commanding pitch-perfect narration as the host of the TV series, In Search of..., was something I found particularly pleasant, soothing, and unforgettable. Yet despite all of Mr. Nimoy’s creative endeavors, his career has been inextricably intertwined with the Star Trek legacy, where he appeared in several Star Trek movies, Star Trek conventions, and TV shows reflecting his iconic portrayal of Mr. Spock, including an appearance on Saturday Night Live and in an episode of the Big Bang Theory in 2012.

Mr. Nimoy’s creativity is not limited to his dramatic portrayals; he is a director, writer, photographer, musical

vocalist, and a philanthropist.

He continues to act and is a proficient photographer. And, along with his wife Sandra Bay, he continues to support the arts generously from the platform of The Nimoy Foundation.

The role of Commander Spock is something Leonard Nimoy is probably most associated with, but beyond the character is a very real person, and someone I had the pleasure to meet more than two years ago. Mr. Nimoy is a frequent and popular reader for “Selected Shorts,” one of the programs at Symphony Space, a performing arts organization in New York City that was co-created

by Isaiah Sheffer, who was my seltzer customer and friend. In 2002, Symphony Space reopened after an impressive renovation that was in part generously funded

by The Nimoy Foundation. It was no secret that I wanted to meet Mr. Nimoy one day, and Mr. Sheffer graciously invited my family to be part of the audience to hear a recital of “Selected Shorts” performed by Mr. Nimoy, and made a brief introduction between us backstage. To my 41

amazement, Mr. Nimoy seemed to be as pleased to meet me as I was to meet him, and I was absolutely dumbfounded by the fact he knew exactly who I was. It later came to light that Mr. Sheffer, a playwright of sorts, had created a character called Walter the Seltzer Man, which was based on me.

Spock’s Vulcan salute became a lasting symbol of the show, and was a creation of one of Mr. Nimoy’s earliest childhood memories. Jewish Kohanim (priests) held their hands when giving the accompanying priestly blessing: May the Lord bless and keep you and may the Lord cause his countenance to shine upon you.

May the Lord be gracious unto you and grant you peace.

Live long and prosper.

Walter Backerman is best known as Walter the Seltzer Man, a third generation seltzer delivery man in New York City who works the route that was originally created on horse and cart by his grandfather in 1919. Walter has a great fondness for American history, particularly of the 20th century, and is an avid collector of popular culture memorabilia.

42

PHOTOS: DENVER POST VIA GETTY IMAGES, WIREIMAGE

I wish that for Leonard Nimoy, and you.

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your skin care essentials 43

TO THE INFORMATION AGE

by KIMBERLY BRENNSTEINER

T

echnology has become a common topic for intergenerational relationships, including my own, particularly since the Zeitgeist of the digital age has entered the vernacular. Even though 40% of people over 60 are not online, news anchors bark at us to follow them on Twitter and websites are more common than telephone numbers these days. So older adults often turn to younger people—either for assistance or out of frustration—and I am no 44

exception. When I talk to older adults about technology, there seem to be two distinct reactions.

One is a wistful longing; as if I could lead them to a magic potion that would enable them to know the things they assume my entire generation and everyone younger than me somehow inherently knows. Others look at me like I’m a snake-oil salesman; peddling them something totally irrelevant to their lives, of questionable utility, and perhaps even toxic.

PHOTO: EVAN JOSEPH. COURTEST OF OATS/SENIOR PLANET

LI N KI N G

Although someone twice my age might assume I belong to the generation that uses “intuition” to master new technology, I actually belong to the youngest cohort of people in America who straddle the digital divide. This means that I am one of the youngest people that can say “I am older than the Internet,” or remember school and even work without it. But I have had a front-row seat for the digital revolution and have been forced to learn about it, think about it, and use its arsenal as a student and as a professional. This situation has helped me become an effective translator between what we call “digital natives” and “digital immigrants.” I understand the power of new digital technology but I also respect the ambivalence many older adults feel about it.

In order to bridge the digital divide and ensure older adults are able to successfully learn new technology, two essential components have to be in place. One involves the training environment and process, and the other has to do with the content of the trainings.

The paralyzing fear or infuriating frustration that many older adults

© MYRA MUSGROVE

feel when they attempt to learn new technology is real. Any training environment or situation has to be sensitive to this by moving at an appropriate pace and allowing room for problem-solving and personal growth. It also has to confront the expectation that you can “master” digital technology in the same sense that many older people are used to having “mastered” another skill at some point in their lives.

Still, we have to respect the pedantic diligence valued by their generations and offer curriculum that nods to their desire to learn in the ways they are used to and comfortable learning. And it must be supportive, patient, and encouraging.

This is the only way to counteract the damage that has been done by the ageist TV commercials that poke fun at older people using technology, 45

the tech companies that exclusively market the next coolest thing to a teenage audience, and the insensitive family members who also assume a 3-year-old swiping pictures on a smartphone is “smarter” than grandma. It is painfully obvious that our society tends to dismiss older adults’ intentions to learn how to navigate the Internet or use digital technology as frivolous or “cute.” Or even impossible. And this can contribute to older adults becoming discouraged or even dismissive themselves. We have to fight against those ageist stereotypes and internalized selfdoubt at every turn.

We need to respect that each person needs to think about how they want to incorporate new technology into their own life, but we can no longer deny the absolute necessity of being online in today’s world. Access to government benefits, medical information, job postings, financial opportunities, or ways to become engaged 46

politically are exclusively available online. So when people tell me that they’ve lived very long, happy, fulfilling lives without digital tools—I believe them! However, I also know that there are so many ways that people are at a serious disadvantage when they are not online, and that disadvantage is becoming greater every day.

In order to feel successful and benefit from using new technology, it is imperative that older learners can see the relevance of the content they are learning and how it can benefit them personally. Older adults have serious intentions and goals in their lives. The magic happens when we can help match these to the appropriate technology. The creativity, innovation, self-efficacy, and power displayed by older adults who go online consistently demonstrate why it is important for people their age to be online.

A great misconception is that older adults will behave in the stereotypical image of digitally-obsessed

ILLUSTRATIONS © MYRA MUSGROVE

teenagers when they start to use new technology. But we all know that older adults have very little in common with teenagers and I can assure you they do not use new technology in the same way. We know and consistently see that it widens their world—it doesn’t turn them into mindless zombies, unable to communicate with loved ones and obsessed with frivolous time-consuming activities. Quite the contrary! Our experience and research has shown that those who are daring enough to cross the digital divide are benefitting in very real ways and the world is benefitting from them as well. Most every older adult who begins to use new technology finds new lines of communication to friends and relatives or joins a digital community that becomes important to them. Others create digital spaces to display a lifetime of artistic or professional work or find ways to drive donations, volunteers, or information about a charitable or religious cause. Some create ways to make additional income by working as a micro-

entrepreneur or freelancer, free to compete in a digital world absent of stereotypes about age or situation.

And these are just a few examples.

We know that that digital literacy can enhance and empower older adults’ lives in significant personal ways, and they can in turn contribute on a new level to our society. Older adults are fully capable of learning new technology, and can do it successfully given the right environment. The key is finding ways that individuals can benefit from technology by connecting them to things they care about and supporting them while they discover how using technology can produce meaningful outcomes in their lives. And this means, it’s not really about the technology itself at all.

Kimberly Brennsteiner is Director of Programs for Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet.

OATS is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of technology to change the way we age. OATS operates the Senior Planet Exploration Center, the country’s first technology-themed community center for people 60+, and the website www.seniorplanet.org.

47

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE NEW TECHNOLOGY Since 2004, OATS has delivered more than 20,000 free technology-training classes to older adults through more than 70 partner locations in New York City and across the US. OATS operates the Senior Planet Exploration Center, the country’s first technology-themed community center for people 60+, and the website seniorplanet.org. Along with OATS, seniorplanet.org, and the Senior Planet Exploration Center, there are other places that offer free or inexpensive courses that specialize in acquainting older learners with various areas of technology: SeniorNet seniornet.org Founded in 1986, SeniorNet offers “seniors teaching seniors” methodology in around 150 courses at more than 50 learning centers located across the US for an annual membership fee of $43. A blog (web log) off their Web site (seniornet.org/blog/) offers helpful technology-related advice without the membership.

Oasis Institute www.oasisnet.org Oasis Institute’s Connections program offers classes in 23 metro areas, including in libraries, senior centers, and senior residences YMCAs. 48

Senior Surf senior-surf.org This San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit offers classes to become savvy at email, Internet navigation, digital photography, graphic design, and other technological areas.

On Guard Online www.onguardonline.gov

Run by the federal government, this website offers practical tips in easy to understand language on becoming a smarter user of technology, including how to avoid email and other online scams.

Your Local Public Library Many public libraries offer free classes on using computers for those who have never started.

For those curious but resistant to finding help online, try these books: Is This Thing On?: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers, Technophobes, and the Kicking & Screaming by Abby Stokes Studio Visual Steps publishes many how-to books on technology that are designed for seniors including iPads for Seniors, Samsung Galaxy Tab for Seniors, Windows 7 for Seniors, and Picasa for Seniors.

BOOKS

B

I Said Yes to Everything

orn Lyova Rosenthal in New York City, she invented herself as Lee Grant and became an actor, then a director in her later career. This autobiography reads as a series of anecdotes from Lee Grant’s childhood through her lifetime, sometimes tending toward stream-ofconsciousness vagaries and, at other times, sharp and insightful. Her metaphors are particularly creative and delightful.

Put through ballet and singing lessons and failing at both, there was only acting left to realize her mother’s estimation of her. Grant had no choice—she had to become a star.

She made a smash debut on Broadway in Detective Story, and went on to act in the film version for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.

Grant eventually escaped her overbearing Jewish family for the much older writer Arnie Manoff and his three children—and eventually had a daughter of her own. But

that was the early 1950s, and her husband’s Communist beliefs and the McCarthy witch hunt soon saw her blacklisted as she was called to testify before grand committees determined to get actors to “name names.” As a result, she was unable to work in TV or film for the next 12 years.

In 1963, a newly face-lifted Grant (though only in her early thirties) was released from her Cold War chains. She managed to revitalize her career, hiding her age and becoming a TV and film star in the 1960s and 70s. She earned an Oscar for her role in Shampoo with Warren Beatty. Two decades later, she won a directing Oscar for her documentary, Down and Out in America.

Grant’s stories are juicy but not salacious. She charts her rise, her fall, and her rise again with both sincere regret and humor.

Lee Grant’s personality shines through as witty and sexy, and at times irresistible in this memoir.

49

What’s Wrong?

ÂŽ

How many silly things can you f ind in this picture?

Illustrated by Chuck Dillon

50

Name That

Ms. Nugent’s class has a new pet snake. What did they name it? Circle the names from the word list.

They are hidden up, down, across, backwards, and diagonally. Then write the leftover letters in order from left to right and top to bottom. They will spell the snake’s name.

C R U S H E R J A K E M I S S H I S S D J S

S L I T H E R S N S E N K I N G T U T O L L

P O H R U A L I M I G R U O I E M S F A N G

E S S D S T O U I K I T Y M I L S S N D Y W

Z Q U E E E Y I T E Z E Y K A E N S E W Y M

L R N E F E R T I T I

Answer on page 61

Name List CRUSHER DIAMOND FANG HISSY JAKE KING TUT MEDUSA MISS HISS MONTY NEFERTITI NOODLES PRETZEL SLIMY SLINKY SLITHERS SNEAKY TWISTER WIGGLES

Illustrations by Dave Clegg

Pet

The snake’s name is

© 2014 Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved.

.

51

Rock It

These rock climbers got their ropes tangled. Can you set them straight? Follow each rope from the climber on the mountain to find out who his or her partner is.

Illustrated by Jim Paillot

Answer on page 61

52

Inside Joke

Q: What do cows do for fun?

A: Go to the Moo-vies.

Find these objects hidden in the big picture. ring

mitten

Illustrated by Karen Stormer Brooks

artist’s brush shoe

feather Answer on page 61

53

FUN & GA MES

Solutions on page 63

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

2

6

3

7

9

4

5

8

10 11

12

13

16

14

15

17

18

54

DOWN 1. Sent from one place to another (11) 2. Be equal (5) 3. Financial considerations (9) 4. Drug addicts (5) 5. Possible outcome (11) 8. Scathing; mocking (9) 13. First Greek letter (5) 15. Christmas hymn (5) Š ANY PUZZLE MEDIA LTD

ACROSS 1. Sickness symptom, when high (11) 6. Illustrative craft (3) 7. Offensive (7) 9. Boring person; fool (slang) (5) 10. Start again (5) 11. Audio input (3) 12. Baghdad resident (5) 14. Capital of Ghana (5) 16. Laid out, as a book (7) 17. Carpal tunnel syndrome (inits) (3) 18. Radically (11)

WORD SEARCH In the Laboratory

© ANY PUZZLE MEDIA LTD

R E C U A U U U I D S S L N H

P E A T F B H C B A V L E S S

T W R P U B C D T A I I I P O

I B E R T I E R B T D D R M A

S R T L I B A T N D I E T O T

AUTOCLAVE AUTOCLAVE BEAKER BEAKER BOILING TUBE BOILING TUBE CLAMP CLAMP DESICCATOR DESICCATOR DROPPER FUME CUPBOARD DROPPER MORTAR FUME CUPBOARD MORTAR

T T E S T T U B E R K R K C A

D B M T R T S I T A I L E E E

E U O O E T O E E P M A L C E

F U M E C U P B O A R D A A R

E K R P D I L D E O R T E D D

U R E P P O R D R F B U T R P

H I H E L A U T O C L A V E E

D T T B O I L I N G T U B E C

R T A R D E S I C C A T O R E

E E L M R E R C D E B R K W A

PETRI DISH PETRI DISH PIPETTE PIPETTE SLIDE SLIDE STIRRER TEST TUBE STIRRER TEST TUBE THERMOMETER TRIPOD THERMOMETER WOULFE BOTTLE TRIPOD WOULFE BOTTLE 55

FUN & GA MES

Solutions on page 63

4 1

SUDOKU Sudoku—also known as Number Place—is a logicbased, combinatorial numberplacement puzzle. The aim of Sudoku is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each cell of a grid. Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of each number.

9 2

6 3

9 3

8 7 4 5 2 1 6 9 8 3

3 2

4 8

5 4

1 2 7 9

3 1

4 8

LETTER SOUP Can you rearrange the floating letters below to spell out the names of various vegetables?

Each letter should be used exactly once in the resulting set.

1.

2.

4.

5.

56

© ANY PUZZLE MEDIA LTD

3.

JULY/AUGUST 2014 HOROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21–April 19) You may be noticeably calmer as the summer progresses, which should come as a welcome relief given the fractious spring you encountered. Yet, there is still plenty of action for you Aries as your ruling planet, Mars, finally moves into Scorpio, where it also feels at home. You may be grappling with paperwork and finances as you continue to emerge from a cocoon of self-invention. This long-term shift may ultimately be exactly where you need to be, but you were probably unaware of the cost attached. Jupiter will serve as an aid in friendly Leo and the future looks bright.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) By now your home front may start to show lots of light and optimism which may have been a long time coming. It doesn’t matter what happened. What matters is now. You may feel as if it’s time to step up and commit to your partner; to make it official and seal the deal. This may provide a unique chance to take care of a multitude

by Chris Flisher

of lingering issues on your plate.

Your slow progress may suddenly shift into high gear and the action starts. You may find that you have to move simply to catch the wave.

This may not be the time to procrastinate. If the time has come; then act accordingly.

GEMINI (May 21–June 21) As hard as it appears, it may be important to keep your eyes on the prize. Your research skills may be in high demand as you worm your way to the top through collaborative efforts.

Teamwork may provide just the boost you need to reach your ultimate destination. This may be a time where you are in sight of the finish line with one more hurdle in the way. Reach out for the helping hand and play your cards wisely with the right players. The remuneration may arrive just as you thought you missed the mark.

Think of how good the victory may taste and let that be your motive.

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CANCER (June 22–July 22) Venus loves you and shines kindly on all that you do and say.

Use that influence to open doors that would ordinarily be closed.

This rare time allows you to fill your coffers with resources like never before. This period may be like that of King Midas where all you touch turns to gold. All of this may be clearly evident, but nothing will arrive unless you actively seek it. Follow your intuition and it will not fail you. Consider your entire sphere of influence before you act, since others may feel the impact of the direction you choose. This may not be the time to leave others behind in your ambitious pursuits.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Lucky you, Leo. You will have the power of Jupiter on your side for the next year, roughly. From the middle of July until August of 2015 you will be able to light up any room you enter with a glow of abundance and optimism. This event occurs for you once every 12 years so this will be a time to harness that power for your own best interest. With the responsibilities of managing home, health, and work, 58

you are able to wield your influence and presence towards the greater good. Areas that may exhibit the most impact include travel and education. Rise to the occasion and strike while the iron is hot.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Pay special attention to your written words, including emails, formal correspondences, and legal actions. Research may be your best tool as you dig to find the truth. This may signal a time of new beginnings so documentation may be increasingly important. Large institutions figure prominently in your upward climb so pay attention to the fine print. Your creative urges may leave a distinct imprint on those close to you so choose your pursuits carefully and with an eye for quality. The coming season may be a departure from your usual route, but therein lies the excitement and potential.

This may be the time to leave an impression that will follow you for some time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your greatest strengths may appear in your collaborative efforts.

As such, you may want to pay

special attention to those you enlist to help. The combined efforts are greater than what you may accomplish alone so your partners may be instrumental in determining the level of your success. Financial considerations may capture your time but these steps may be necessary to secure your success.

Outside investors bring to you the unexpected rush of support, but also the demand of accountability.

Your domestic foundation may require an alteration that allows you the freedom to work outside your normal schedule. Bear this in mind when you reveal your plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Put all your efforts into an expanding role at work. This area of your life may be receiving a heightened focus so lean into it to get the best reward possible. You may still be under the gun but you may be very able to rise to the demands as your ruling planet, Mars, steps in to Scorpio to motivate you in the proper direction. Surprise reorganizations in your daily activities could bring great potential in your career focus. Research my demand your time, but that is also

where you’ll find the greatest treasure. When you look back at this period you may recall the long hard climb, but the rewards may warrant your efforts.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You may be traveling more than you ever thought likely and yet, you may be fully in your realm. This may be a familiar scene and one which serves to enliven you and your entire spirit. The stimulation that comes with the journey also fills you with creative ideas that seem to pour out of you quite randomly. You may be on the brink of wrapping up a long-term project and about to begin another. You may want to pay close attention to your financial benefactors early in August, since they may be your greatest asset for a short span of time. This will be the time to act and settle plans and contracts.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The brightest light in your arena may be shining from large organizations. This area includes institutions, universities, and even legal 59

entities. If you are in the process of completing a task that brings you to a new level you may be able to look back at this time as significant. You may receive unusual support from family members who are eager to see you rise from a long period of reinvention and redemption. A strong work ethic may serve you well as you interact with others, creating something meaningful and lasting.

Your primary relationships are pleasantly influential and offer a safe harbor as you navigate a sea of change.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) The gentle light shining through all of your relations may offset the demands that you feel in your career. People who are inspired by you may be there when you need them the most and that can provide a great measure of comfort. A bold new phase may be on the horizon requiring a paradigm shift on your part. The changes in store for you may be brought about by your own inner evolution and desire to be someone new. You may not be content to remain in a pattern that has no long-term value.

As you search for a new purpose 60

you may discover that the most unusual endeavors offer the greatest reward.

PISCES (Feb. 19–March 20) This period bodes well for your daily patterns, including work, hobbies, and all sorts of routines. The dreamer in you may strive hard to expand through education and travel which could trigger your creativity in the most auspicious manner. Financial surprises may catch you off guard if you have been negligent or careless. The shadowy cast of Neptune hinders your ability to find clarity and you may only discover the truth through conversations. In an intricate web of dialog and exchange you may find that working closely with another offers you the most stability.

Since support comes from collaborating reach out and get involved. © 2014 Chris Flisher

FUN & GA MES SOLUTIONS NAME THAT PET (PAGE 51) C R U S H E R J A K E M I S S H I S S D J S

S L I T H E R S N S E N K I N G T U T O L L

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Z Q U E E E Y I T E Z E Y K A E N S E W Y M

L R N E F E R T I T I The snake’s name is JULIUS SQUEEZER.

ROCK IT (PAGE 52)

INSIDE JOKE (PAGE 53)

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Late Adopter One day while a granddaughter and her grandmother were having a phone conversation, the granddaughter suggested that her grandmother set up an email account so they could also communicate that way. A few days later, the grandmother called to say she managed to sign up for an e-mail account.

“Great,” the granddaughter said. “Send me a message so I’ll have your e-mail address.”

The granddaughter waited and waited, but she never received it. Several days later, she checked her mail, she found a letter from her grandmother—who had written her e-mail address on a lovely note.

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