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You know that old computer in the closet, or on a bookshelf, or wherever you stashed it after Microsoft or Apple told you they wouldn’t update it anymore? You paid the big bucks for it, and it still turns on and seems to work okay. Apart from some dust, it looks pretty good. Its only problem is planned obsolescence. How maddening! Now that they have pulled the update plug, the manufacturers of your machine would love for you to rush right out and buy yet another brand-new flashy computer for a king’s ransom—until they pull the update plug...
Q. I am looking for a way to follow sports scores from different games on my phone. Does that exist? A. There are a few options. If all the games are in one league, such as MLB or the NBA, leagues usually have apps that can keep you up to date. Specific features vary within each app, but league-focused apps are a good place to start. Following a group of teams from different sports altogether requires a little creativity. The ESPN app permits you to create custom alerts for individual teams, and those alerts are delivered to your smartphone....
Q: Singalongs and musical performances are offered at my community center. I don’t normally participate in group activities, but am thinking about going to an event for something to do. A: Yes! You should go. From prehistoric times, music has served as entertainment, a practical function, or part of religious rituals. Historical sites have uncovered bones or carving implements used to create instruments. Horns and conch shells were some of the first wind instruments. Pipes, whistles and clay d...
Medicare coverage and costs change each year, so it’s important to understand and review your benefits. Here’s an overview of what’s new in 2024. Medicare Part A and Part B costs in 2024 Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, home health care, and hospice. Most people don’t owe a premium for Part A, but if neither you nor your spouse have 10 years of Social Security work credits, you may owe a monthly premium. If you’re admitted to the hospital...
Getting around and maintaining our independence gets more challenging every year. During some times of the year, it gets worse by the hour and the weather forecast. Fortunately, there is equipment to help people of all levels of mobility. These items, called assistive devices, are available through insurance or self-pay and can often be found in pharmacies. They range widely in price and upkeep needs, so here is some information on several types. Canes ($15-$75) are the most affordable option....
Since fall of 2023, Anchorage Community Theatre (ACT) has been making quite a big deal about its 70th year of creating community theatre in Anchorage, Alaska. Born out of The Anchorage Little Theatre in the 1940s and a significant Alaskan Armed Forces production of Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific in 1952, ACT has gone through much to still remain-leadership changes, economic ups and downs, a worldwide pandemic, and the second largest recorded earthquake in the world. The premise behind...
In August 2023, I was listening to my kitchen radio one morning as usual, when the Wasilla Mayor's weekly information blurb came on. Near the end, she said people who had a library card could read the Frontiersman, as well as other newspapers, for free, to check out additional local activities. My ears perked up. Read the Frontiersman for free! Several years ago, when the yearly subscription came due (with notice of a rate increase) my husband Gary decided the Frontiersman would no longer be...
Following the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and six months later at Kiska and Attu, wartime hysteria and fear of sabotage and espionage ran rampant across the country. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in February 1942. It ordered the removal of more than 112,000 Japanese Americans – also called Nikkei-from the West Coast. Those with Japanese ancestry were taken from their homes, businesses and schools and put in internment camps. Alaskans were n...
Born 109 years ago this February, glamorous actress Ann Sheridan (1915-1967) was destined for branding as the "Oomph Girl" following a mock contest organized by the Warner Brothers publicity department in 1939. Stunning on-screen and becoming a favorite pin-up girl of World War II troops, Sheridan could play any character-tough or tender, funny or flirty, sassy or seductive. She delighted audiences with her witty wisecracks and clever comebacks. While she certainly possessed an abundance of...
What’s your favorite dystopian fiction? Can you imagine a future like 1984, where the government watches and controls every aspect of your life? Or more like Brave New World, where the government uses sex, drugs and entertainment to keep the populace docile? Maybe Mad Max is more your style, with a barren post-apocalyptic landscape? Or do you go for Idiocracy, in which the world has just become dumber and dumber? Why am I asking these questions? Because I just went through filing my initial r...
Q. When I am online, I frequently see a message that asks me to accept cookies. What are cookies? A. A cookie is a small bit of data that a website stores on your computer. The name itself dates back to the earliest days of the web, when names were chosen by programmers. The original job of a cookie was to make web surfing easier. Unfortunately, they have become one of the primary ways that you are tracked online. Tracking people online is a big business. Surveillance is nearly invisible to users, but it can have a profound impact on...
Gay Wellman, how did you end up living in the Copper River Basin? I came up with my second husband to Alaska in '78. I just fell in love with the whole area. I was happy to live out here with my second husband. But you know, that didn't work out. I ended up marrying a man who had property out here and had been living out here for a long time. We ended up back in the Wasilla area before we could move out here after we got married. I finally got here in 1996 and it's been my home ever since. I...
Q: My son has asked me to accompany his family on a vacation. They’ve requested I choose a destination suitable for my chronic illness. This seems like an unsettling task. A: Living with a chronic condition can make a vacation seem daunting, but with proper planning and preparation, it is possible to have an enjoyable trip. After consulting with your healthcare professional, take time to plan your itinerary carefully, considering accessibility, availability of medical facilities, and climate o...
While I am writing this month’s article, we are in the last few days of the annual Open Enrollment Period, when you may sign up to change your enrollment in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. This period occurs annually from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7; changing your plan at other times of the year may require you to be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. But what if you don’t meet this requirement, and your prescription drug cost share (the amount you pay when you pick up the prescripti...
Pickleball, a funny name for the fastest growing sport for several years now. My office at The Alaska Club East is near the area where we have our pickup pickleball games. The sounds are iconic – the paddle hitting the ball, the ball bouncing on the floor, the shoes squeaking. However, it's always more than these mechanical sounds. There are oohs, ahhs, "I got it", high fives and laughter, so much laughter. Players are in love with the game of pickleball. It addresses so many needs – act...
The ice, snow and cold of wintertime are hazards, but with caution and preparation, people can stay safe and enjoy the winter season with a decreased risk of falls and injuries. This is vitally important for people with poor balance, but applies to everybody. Keep clear pathways and remove tripping dangers. Keep walkways and hallways clear of clutter and debris and make sure there are no tangled extension cords or other hazards. Improving lighting, placing handrails on both sides of stairs, and...
My daughter Erin called from her home in Colorado and left a voice message, "Call me when convenient. I want to talk about quilt batting." Erin had recently resumed work on the corduroy quilt she started over 20 years ago. The top was finished and she wanted to put the layers together, bind it and tie it. This was the same daughter who greatly disliked sewing in seventh grade Home-Ec class at Colony Middle School. It was too structured. She was more of the "creative" type. I'm glad she...
A little "two-by-four" island, a couple of miles off the city of Kodiak, has several Alaska firsts. The first horses in Alaska were brought here, the first road constructed, the Territory's first iron rails put in, and the first field of oats was sown: all to support a sawmill. The sawmill established on Woody Island was perhaps unique in commercial enterprises because its main product was sawdust. And the sawmill, the iron rails, Alaska's first road, and first horses were the result of what...
For those who keep track of Hollywood nuptials, the title of Joyce Bulifant's 2017 autobiography may not represent a marital world record, but it's certainly an attention grabber. The actress, who co-starred in TV series such as "Flo" and "Mary Tyler Moore," recounted her life and career in "My Four Hollywood Husbands." Bulifant describes how alcohol influenced her four hubbies: "Hawaii Five-O" star James ("Danno") MacArthur; TV/film producer, director and screenwriter William Asher; "Days of...
When you were a kid, there was a standard protocol for choosing sides in a pickup game. The two best players—and everybody knew who they were—did some little contest to see who would pick first. If it was basketball, whoever made a shot first got to choose first. In baseball they did that funny thing where they went hand over hand on the bat. And then they took turns picking the players for their team. Of course there were only a limited number of choices for each pick, namely whoever was sta...
Q. I got a new computer this year as a gift, are there any essential apps I should install? A. If you have been purchasing computers or phones for many years, it’s likely you’ve become habituated to installing special software soon after purchase. One of the best aspects of new devices is that every PC, Mac, smartphone and tablet sold today comes with a powerful bundle of free software. There is usually no need to go beyond the bundled software unless something does not fit your workflow, and the short list of exceptions grows shorter each yea...
When and why did you come to Alaska? I was swept up in that back-to-the-land movement of the late 60s, early 70s. And so was my husband at the time. He had gone to Alaska a couple of years prior. We had known each other from college. He liked what he saw and he wanted to go back, so we were married and drove up the Alcan in '71. It was in our VW bus after he'd outfitted it with the bed and the Coleman stove-and all that romantic notion of going off into nowhere. In my younger years I wanted to...
Q: I have seen an internist and a gastroenterologist, but still have unexplained chronic ailments. What else can I do? A: With advances in internet searches and artificial intelligence (AI), it is tempting to self-diagnose. Don’t do it. Leave the analysis for professional providers. What you can do while searching for answers is to approach the situation like a mystery—by thoroughly and systematically cataloging your symptoms. Here are a few easy steps to take. Approach each medical mystery wit...
Choosing a medical provider can be both challenging and overwhelming for many patients. Here in the Great Land, Alaskans often travel significant distances to obtain healthcare. Medicare can help, when searching for and finding a provider. You can also save money by choosing providers who accept Medicare assignment. This last term, “assignment,” is an important one to remember, especially if you are newly enrolled in Medicare. First, a brief introduction to finding health care providers, fro...
As cold winter months intensify, it’s important that drivers take prepare their vehicles in case of snowstorms and the like. It’s especially important to have the proper supplies and safety items on hand in case you get stuck or stranded while driving in wintry conditions. Being prepared can help ensure your safety and peace of mind. One of the most important things to pack is a basic emergency kit. This should include items like blankets, warm clothing layers, gloves, hats, food that won...
