Finding a Reputable Car Repair Shop

The California Department of Consumer Affairs' Bureau of Automotive Repair suggests how to find a reputable repair shop. Here's what they suggest:

1. Select a shop before you need one. You don't want to pick one when you're desperate.

2. Get recommendations from friends and family, especially those people who own a similar make and model.

3. Test the shop by having them do a minor repair.

4. Check the shop's hourly rates (and compare with other shops). Are they posted and guaranteed?

5. Make sure the station is licensed. Check for any complaints filed against them.

6. Look for cars similar to yours.

7. Does the shop look clean and well-organized?

8. Are the employees polite?

For more on cars, visit this site.

Buying Pre-Owned From the U.S. Government

Every month thousands of vehicles are seized and then auctioned to the public by different government agencies. Some of these vehicles are listed and sold at up to 95% off their original value. Most are only 2-3 years old and cannot be found other than on this site on the internet.

You have immediate access to over 4,000 updated auctions nationwide. Learn about auctions on a members-only tutorial. Find out what's listed in your state. Even read the testimonials from people like you.

For more on cars and driving and everything else an over-50 should know, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Cool Down in Summer Heat

According to Mayo Clinic, heatstroke can be a life-threatening heat-related problem. Older adults are at high risk as are those people suffering from dehydration, alcohol use, cardiovascular disease and certain medications.

If you or someone you know shows any of these signs, heatstroke may be the problem:

Rapid heartbeat

Rapid and shallow breathing

Elevated or lowered blood pressure

Hot and dry skin

Irritability, confusion, unconsciousness

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Headache

Nausea

Fainting

Move the person out of the sun and into a cooler place.

Call for emergency assistance.

Cover with damp sheets or spray with cool water.

Blow cooler air onto the person.

Encourage water.

For more about heatstroke, heat exhaustion and other first aid topics, visit 50somethinginfo.com. It's better and more thorough than ever.

Easy Access to Government Resources

If you're like me, you are overwhelmed by the amount of information on the web. For instance, if you want trusted information produced by the U.S. government and you'd rather not sift through everything that comes up on your screen, why not just go directly to the USA.gov website?

Here you'll find an overview tutorial which explains exactly in video and transcript how you can easily find what you're looking for. Other video tutorials make it effortless to understand:

1. How to government tasks online;

2. Where to shop government auctions and sales for real estate, cars, gifts, etc.;

3. Where to find government benefits, grants, loans and financial aid;

4. How to get your questions answered to common "government" issues;

5. How to work, study, travel or do business in the U.S.;

6. How to locate in-person government services near you.

You can find information by organization (Federal, State, Local or Tribal Government). You can contact the Government. You can look up information by topic. Find images, news, maps. And if you still have trouble locating the data you want, try the government search box.

For another source for everything specifically for 50+, check out 50somethinginfo.com.

Find the Words to the Music, Then Try to Sing On-Key

A number of years ago we invited all my aunts and uncles (dad was one of 13 children) to our home. We had the piano tuned and I prepared a songbook. It wasn't long before my mostly Canadian born relatives burst into song when Uncle Joe occupied the piano bench.

With the internet did you know you can find lyrics to all your favorite songs with ease? I just tried it out with "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." You can even hear it performed by several different artists!

Folks, this has got to be one of my current favorite sites. Don't miss it.

For more music links including early music and vaudeville, high quality music videos, concerts, internet radio and music news and reviews, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Get Financial Help With AARP's Money Tools

Someone at AARP is really on his/her toes. AARP has provided everyone (even those kids under 50) with the best financial calculators I've seen this side of the Rocky Mountains.

There are the budgeting and spending calculators: Home budget calculator and Credit card payoff calculator.

The retirement calculators include: Retirement calculator, Pension plan retirement options calculator and Required minimum distributions calculator.

Check out the housing calculators that include: Mortgage payoff calculator, Reverse mortgage calculator, Mortgage refinance calculator and Rent vs. buy home calculator.

For investing, go no further than: Compare investment fees calculator, Investment return calculator and Fixed annuity calculator.

Finally, for insurance, see the: Life insurance calculator, Disability insurance calculator and the HSA vs. Traditional health plan calculator.

For more on money check out 50somethinginfo.com directory listing on Money. Here you'll find listings for:

Banks and Banking

Public and Private Benefits

Charity

Credit

Debt

Financial Planning

Investing

Money Management

Pensions

Personal Finance

Retirement Accounts

Saving

Taxes

American Art

Eye Level, the blog by members of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, covers American art and the ways it reflects American history and culture.

Just recently one blogger commented on a current exhibition at the Smithsonian entitled "1934: A New Deal for Artists" (see the slide show of the exhibit). He connected the subject of a painting on the New York subway (particularly a woman applying lipstick) to dancer and choreographer Martha Graham's depiction of her life in New York where she inwardly debated daily whether to buy lunch or take public transportation home (her money granted her one wish).

The painting of the barber shop reminds me of the other day when I took my World War II veteran friend, Richard, downtown for the day. We visited a barber shop not unlike the one in the painting.

I guess some things don't change much. Thank goodness.

For more on art and art museums worldwide, check out this site.