ACBL’s commitment to fighting Alzheimer’s disease is in the cards

The Longest Day^®, a sunrise-to-sunset team event to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association, is June 20, and the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) has nearly 200 teams doing what they love – playing bridge – to honor those facing Alzheimer’s disease. Joe Sinkey, captain of the Fred’s Bridge Club team in Athens, Georgia, says, “My mother and my grandmother both died from Alzheimer’s, and several fraternal cousins have died from the disease, or are currently battling it. Remembering and honoring them provide more than enough reasons for me to keep participating in The Longest Day.” Join ACBL and other teams around the world on The Longest Day.

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You’re Never Too Old to Play

Playgrounds aren’t just for kids anymore. New designs cater to older adults who want to increase their flexibility and balance—as well as have fun.

Playgrounds aren’t just for kids anymore.
New designs cater to older adults who want to increase their flexibility and balance—as well as have fun.

Playgrounds for older adults are starting to mushroom in cities nationwide, including Miami, Kansas City, Los Angeles and New York City, according to Next Avenue. The latest fitness trend, popular in Europe, features low-impact exercise equipment designed to promote flexibility, balance, speed and coordination.

Adult playgrounds expose us to a new experience, and challenging older brains in such a way can help fight dementia. Plus, playgrounds are fun and provide a chance to interact (play) with others, including children who may have a nearby playground of their own.

Just take it slow on the slide.

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Let Your Fingers Do the Texting

Using your cellphone, you can communicate easily and quickly, especially with shorthand words and emojis.

Using your cellphone, you can communicate easily and quickly, especially with shorthand words and emojis.

You’ve probably figured out that if you want to communicate with your children, grandchildren or anyone younger than 50, you’ll need to learn how to text. That entails learning the most common abbreviations, so you don’t have to spell out “see you later” or “in my opinion.” And emojis, those characters such as smiley faces or hearts, can be a whole language in themselves.

Start With the Basics

Smartphones make it easy to text, although all cellphones have the capability. Look for the “Messages” icon on your phone, which will be different depending on whether it’s an Apple or Android device. From this icon, type in the contact name or phone number of the person you want to text. You can also create a new message from your contacts list by choosing the message icon. You can add more than one person to the “To” field and create a group text.

As soon as you put your cursor in the message field, the keyboard will open, so you can start typing. (Being all thumbs in this context is a plus. Texting with two thumbs is a skill some of us in the older generation don’t easily learn). After you type the message, hit “Send.” As you text back and forth with an individual or group, your conversation becomes an ongoing “thread,” which your phone will save until you delete it.

Some smartphones (such as iPhones) will let you speak into the microphone and produce written words, which will somewhat resemble what you said. So make sure you check the text for any embarrassing errors before hitting send.

You can also attach photos and videos to your text message. Depending on the kind of phone you have, you should find a menu that lets you attach several media, including audio clips, contact information for a third party or your location.

Be aware that your cellphone provider may limit the size of media you can send. Also, it can be easier to send a multimedia message by going to the source, such as a picture or video stored on your phone. You can use the share command and choose the path to share your photo or video, such as Facebook, email or text.

BTW, It’s More Than Words

Texting has delivered a whole new way of communicating, using abbreviations and emojis. It’s not easy typing complete words or phrases, let alone sentences, on a tiny keyboard. And in this fast-paced world, most people don’t want to take the time. Hence, certain well-worn phrases have become shortened to well-known abbreviations such as:

• BTW – By the way?
• OMG – Oh my god
• GR8 – Great
• FWIW – For what it’s worth
• LOL – Laugh out loud?
• NP – No problem
• JK – Just kidding
• TMI – Too much information
• TTYL – Talk to you later?
• WYWH – Wish you were here

A guide on Webopedida lists more than 1,450 text-message and online-chat abbreviations to help you translate today’s texting lingo. Netlingo provides the “Top 50 Most Popular Text Terms” to get you started.

Emojis originated in Japan in the late 1990s but have become increasingly popular worldwide since Apple included them on its iPhone. At last count, 800 of these ideograms exist, encompassing everything from fruit and animals to facial expressions and food. Some people compose texts solely of emojis.

Most smartphones come with a pre-installed emoji keyboard, but you can also get apps with additional emoji options. If you have an Android phone, you can get free emoji apps from the Google Play Store (found as an app on your phone). Make sure the emoji app is compatible with your phone.

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Use Your DNA to Find Your Ancestry

Commercial websites make it easy to discover your ethnic roots, common ancestors and family migration routes, and connect with relatives.

Commercial websites make it easy to discover your ethnic roots, common ancestors and family migration routes, and connect with relatives.

John received an online message from a fellow AncestryDNA website user who turned out to be the second cousin once removed from his father. The cousin told him about an 1860 census for the family, and John and his family were able to discover other family members tracing back to a family in France.

Two women who were adoptees used 23andMe, another genetic DNA website, to discover their genetic past. After Winnie took the DNA genealogy test, she was matched with a genetic relative who turned out to be her half nephew. Additional testing confirmed that his mother was Winnie’s half sister, and Winnie found herself with a new family. As an adoptee, Megan didn’t know anything about her biological parents or family history. Although she had assumed she was Hispanic, the reports of her DNA testing showed she is part Irish, part Scandinavian and part African, with some Native American ancestry as well.

Blaine Betteringer, of the Genetic Genealogist, was able to find a second cousin, three times removed and still living, who shared stories about their common ancestors, a family of Irish immigrants, and particularly about Blaine’s grandfather’s generation’s 11 children. “Every one of these connections enriches our understanding of the past, and helps keep alive ancestors that live on only in their memories,” says Betteringer.

Reasons to Take the Test

In an effort to scientifically determine their ancestry, millions of people around the world have taken a genetic DNA test. The results of the test can be used to:

• Find out if others with the same surname share a common ancestor.
• Provide clues about your ethnic origin.
• Find your historic country of origin.
• Discover relatives you didn’t know existed.
• Prove or disprove your family-tree research.
• Show the migration routes of your paternal ancestors.
• Find out to which of over 200 populations you are genetically most similar.
• Discover what proportions of your ancestry come from the seven continental level groups, including African, Asian, European or Native American descent.

The more people who take these tests and contribute their results to a larger database, the more family connections will be possible.

Three Genetic Markers

Most genetic DNA testing companies use a swab from your cheek that provides a sampling of your DNA, your unique genetic fingerprint. There are three genetic markers on your DNA that can provide clues to your ancestry: one from your father, another from your mother and a third from both sides of the family (from familysearch).

Y-DNA testing. Information stored in the Y chromosome (Ycs) is passed from father to son over centuries. Analysis of this genetic information can help determine whether you share a common paternal ancestor with another person alive today. Based on the number of genetic markers shared on the Ycs with another person, you can also estimate how many generations in the past your common paternal ancestor lived.

MTDNA testing. We inherit mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exclusively from our mothers, and this marker follows an unbroken maternal line. It can help in verifying the existence of a common maternal ancestor or in studying the ancient origins of our maternal line. MtDNA lineages can be grouped together in a large mtDNA tree. Each branch of this tree may have a specific geographic distribution that might help someone locate their maternal line’s country or region of origin.

Autosomal DNA testing. Autosomal DNA does not follow a clear and straight path of inheritance, like the Ycs and mtDNA. However, this information is helpful in identifying cousins within the last five generations or the ethnic origins of your family tree.

Three Main Testing Services

Because different people test with different companies, many of which maintain their own databases, you will achieve the greatest chance of useful matches by either being tested by or sharing your DNA results with as many companies as possible.

Other Resources

Besides the three commercial websites that provide easy access to information about your DNA, there are free sites that offer lots of information about ancestry and DNA.

International Society of Genetic Genealogists. Founded in 2005, the society’s mission is to educate about genetic genealogy and to offer a network for genealogists. It offers resources for beginners as well as a wiki for others to contribute information.

World Families Network. Check out this website to determine if a DNA project is underway for your surname. It provides free websites to display test results, family pedigrees and shared information, as well as forums for family discussions.

Your Genetic Genealogist. This site is intended for the non-scientist and includes recommendations for DNA testing services and links to articles on the topic. The author is an independent professional genetic genealogist and television consultant currently working as the adviser for the PBS television seriesFinding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

FamilySearch. This Mormon site offers basic information about genetic DNA testing, as well as many links to other resources.

Three testing services dominate the field:

AncestryDNA. A part of Ancestry.com, one of the original genealogy websites, AncestryDNA claims to have the world’s largest consumer DNA database, with more than 1.5 million people. You can supplement your DNA tests with Ancestry.com’s billions of historical records and millions of family trees. The cost is $99 for a DNA test kit, which looks only for autosomal markers.

Family Tree DNA. Unlike AncestryDNA, Family Tree does all three tests. The Y-DNA lets you join a surname project, and when paired with the mtDNA test, the results help you find recent and distant relatives on your father’s and mother’s side, confirm paternal and maternal relationships, and trace paternal and maternal ancestors’ migration routes. The tests also provide a list of people in its database who share a common direct ancestor with you: for paternal, going back 25 generations, or maternal, within 52 generations.

Its autosomal test, Family Finder, helps you find and connect with recent relatives on both sides of the family within five generations and can also give you a breakdown of your ethnic makeup by percentage.

Family Tree provides the names and emails of matches, an estimate of how closely related they are to you and any genealogical information they have uploaded. Sharing this information is optional.

Costs for Family Tree range from $99 to $350, depending on the test and its depth.

23 and Me. 23 and Me claims to be the “only genetic service available directly to you that includes reports that meet FDA standards.” Unlike the other two services, it also tests for your health, so you can find out if you have a marker that will pass on a genetic trait to your children. To analyze your DNA, 23 and Me uses U.S. laboratories that are certified to meet the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) standards. You’ll receive more than 60 personalized genetic reports, including ancestry (using the autosomal test) and whether you are a “carrier” for a genetic variation for conditions including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. Wellness reports tell you how your DNA relates to your caffeine consumption, lactose digestion and your muscle type. Cost for its test is $199.

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Buying a New Car Starts on the Internet

Before you even step into a car dealer’s showroom, you can research, find the vehicle you want and seal the price—all online.

Before you even step into a car dealer’s showroom, you can research, find the vehicle you want and seal the price—all online.

Getting advice for buying a new car can make you feel like you’re about to enter a minefield. There appears to be a dozen ways a car dealership can rush you into a decision or get you to spend more than you intended. Consumers routinely list buying a car as the worst shopping experience imaginable, Forbes recently reported.

So how do you navigate this minefield and get the car you want at a price you can afford? First, by doing your research on the Internet and then working with websites that can help you choose and find the car you desire. By the time you enter the dealership, you’ll have at least evened the playing field.

Start with Research

First, go online to check out different cars, models and options. Examine their safety and other ratings, find reviews and get an idea of prices. (See sidebar for what features to research.) Several companies are known for their expertise.

Kelley Blue Book. This standard guide since 1926 uses actual transactions to determine car prices for both new and used cars. KBB also lists the car manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and dealer invoice. The MSRP is the price the manufacturer recommends to the retailer, and the dealer invoice is the amount an auto dealership pays the manufacturer for a vehicle it puts on its lot. These two pieces of information can help you better negotiate the price with the car dealer. The site has reviews from both experts and consumers.

J.D. Power. The company has been providing consumer ratings since 1968. Its Power Circle Ratings are based on independent and unbiased feedback from a representative sample of verified product and service owners. On J.D. Power’s website, you can find ratings for a car’s mechanical, feature, accessory, body and interior quality, as well as for performance, creature comforts and style. There’s also a score for the dealership experience.

Consumer Reports. Known for its independent reviews and advice about all types of products and services, the magazine and website offer extensive advice on purchasing a car. Read about how to choose a type of car, avoid “car-buying surprises,” evaluate and negotiate with the dealership, finance the purchase and finalize the deal. If you subscribe to Consumer Reports, you also have access to its car reviews.

Where to Go for Help

While there are some people who might thrive on wheeling and dealing, many car buyers would rather avoid the whole process. There are organizations and businesses, some not necessarily dedicated to car buying, which you’ve dealt with over the years and have come to trust for various reasons. These are just a few.

Features and Functions to Research

When researching a new (or used) car, what should you look for? Kelley Blue Book offers these suggestions.

“Passive safety” precautions include airbags, energy-absorbing crumple zones and mechanisms that can detect an oncoming crash and tighten the seat belt (pretensioners). Other more active safety features include antilock brakes and traction and stability control. If you drive in bad weather or on slippery surfaces, consider getting all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, which can make driving safer.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Government 5-Star Safety Ratings provides the relative performance levels of various cars and trucks in crashes, and an indication of how your prospective vehicle’s safety features compare to those of others.

Using research tools like J.D. Power Circle Ratings, check out how your desired car rates in mechanical, feature and accessory quality as well as the quality of the body and interior. Make sure to research ratings for performance, creature comforts and style.

Consumer Reports. In addition to offering its own guide to purchasing a vehicle, Consumer Reports has a car-buying service. Using its Build & Buy Car Buying Service (developed with the car-shopping website TrueCar), you can get current price information about the make and model of the vehicle you want. In fact, online you can configure the car of your dreams, choosing the trim, color and options you want. From this information, you’ll get an estimated dealer price from Consumer Reports’ prescreened dealers in your area, plus a certificate guaranteeing you a certain amount of savings from the MSRP on the model you’ve chosen, if it’s in stock.

AARP. On AARP’s website, once you select the car model you’re looking for, you can choose the features, including sedan or hatchback, color, the desired mpg, and your price range. The service recommends dealers in your area, which will search local inventory for the car you want and provide pricing on available vehicles that match your preferences. You can then take the price, which is often below MSRP, to the dealer you choose. Be forewarned, though: To use AARP’s service, you must provide your email address and phone number (unlike Consumer Reports, which hides your identity), so be prepared to have dealers contacting you within five minutes of filling out AARP’s forms.

AAA. The national car club has its own Auto Buying Program for both a new or pre-owned vehicle. It’s similar to other organizations’ programs, but different regions of the country have slightly different programs. Consult with your local club for details.

Costco. Similar to the other programs, the warehouse shopping club uses selected dealers who meet the company’s requirements for value. Costco gives members the resources to “build” and research your car online and prearranges low costs with dealers. The company claims that it continuously monitors its dealers to ensure competitive pricing and good service.

United Services Automobile Association. Once you’ve researched and compared prices, you can choose up to three certified dealers for test drives. When you’re ready to make a decision, present the dealer with your USAA Savings Certificate that guarantees the price for the car you’ve chosen.

Car-Shopping Websites

You can also deal directly with an auto website, which provides reviews and advice and connects you with dealers. FoxNews chose several of what it considered the best, including:

Edmunds.com. This site won the highest ranking in J.D. Power’s 2014 survey of car-shopping sites based on content, ease of navigation, appearance and speed. Find reviews and shop for new and used cars in your area. After you choose a car, view the average price paid and get an estimated price from Edmunds. If you send the dealer your contact information, you can get a locked-in price.

TrueCar. Like Edmunds, this site monitors local car sales to determine the average price of a car in your zip code. When you find a car and dealer you like, you can lock in the price with a certificate you take to the dealer.

Carvana. Bypassing car dealerships, Carvana has its own inventory of inspected cars for sale. If you live in its service area (in the South), you never have to leave your house. You can do all the car shopping, dealing and financing online, and then wait for Carvana to deliver the car you chose to your house. If you don’t live in its service area, Carvana will pay for your plane ticket (up to $200) to fly and pick it up. Carvana estimates that cutting out the dealers saves buyers $1,500 per car. If you drive the car around for seven days and decide you don’t like it, you get your money back.

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