When you order prescription drugs online from a Canada pharmacy, how do you know they come from an authentic Canada pharmacy?

Back in August, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted “Operation Bait and Switch” at three U.S. airports to determine if supposed Canadian prescription drugs were from actual Canada pharmacies. Of 4,000 packages confiscated, 85% were not manufactured in Canada, but in 27 other countries.
_{Photo courtesy of Trisha Shears}

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If you regularly use the Internet, you are in good company. The number of adults over 50 who use the Internet is growing steadily, according to a Harris Poll. Find out how many of your fellow older Americans use the Internet.

And what’s a popular leisure activity for Web-savvy seniors? Senior blogs, which offer a wealth of benefits for older adults, including mental stimulation, an opportunity to keep up with current events, and a connection to people around the world. Some of the most fun reading on the Internet are the wry, candid and thoughtful musings of older adults.
_{Photo by Norbert Machinek}

Many older adults take multiple prescriptions, some of which don’t interact well. That’s why it’s so important to have complete drug information about the medication and supplements you take, including their effectiveness, safety, and possible side effects. Here are two handy guides that provide comprehensive drug information about prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as herbal supplements. And one will even help you identify that stray pill in the bottom of your suitcase.

On the subject of health, it’s unfortunate that older adults are more vulnerable to problems caused by tainted food and unsafe medications because chronic illness, other medications and the aging process can weaken the immune system. Keep yourself safe by keeping up with the latest food recalls, drug recalls and safety alerts.
_{Photo: Don Bishop/Getty}

The groove that inspired disco, dance music, and hip-hop began with James Brown, more or less… but as with other kinds of history, music history isn’t always so simple. Read more about “Funk” and its history in my latest encyclopedia entry.

The last song on Help! was an afterthought, ending their trilogy of Larry Williams covers… and more or less ending Beatles covers in general. Read a detailed breakdown of “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” in my latest Beatles fact sheet.

Los Angeles’ county coroner has confirmed the shocking news: at 1:07 pm PST, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, died of cardiac arrest brought on by as-yet-unknown causes. The former Jackson 5 lead singer, who had gone on redefine superstar success in the Eighties with his monumental album Thriller, was rushed to the UCLA hospital earlier this afternoon after paramedics found him in a coma on the floor of the Bel-Air mansion he had been renting. Six minutes later, he arrived at the medical center, and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. (L.A. police have vowed to investigate the murder, although foul play is in no way suspected.) Thousands of fans have already begun gathering outside Michael’s home to grieve.

The 50-year-old megastar, whose career had been derailed over the past decade due to slumping album sales, bizarre personal behavior, an addiction to prescription painkillers, and a much-publicized child molestation trial (which brought back a “not guilty” verdict), had been primed to resurrect his career, recently holding a press conference to announce the This Is It tour, a series of 50 concerts to be performed at London’s 02 Arena beginning July 8. The pop icon, who had not mounted a tour since 1997, had begun rehearsals and personal training to prepare for the grueling series of concerts. The multitalented singer and dancer is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, both from Jackson’s second wife, dermatology nurse Debbie Rowe; and Prince Michael Jackson II, from an unnamed surrogate mother.

With the shocking news of Michael Jackson’s death, I take a look back at the juggernaut from Gary, Indiana that was the Jackson brood; they began by mixing bubblegum with soul, moved on to establish Seventies Motown, became disco’s most dynamic act, and then finally unleashed the force of nature known as Michael. This Jackson 5/Jacksons profile, one of a series on rock’s AM giants, focuses on all six(!) of the Jackson 5 brothers… and then some.

How about if we stop measuring success in our older years by the standards we used in our 20’s…or 40’s? With a slight shift in attitude and perspective (let go of grumbling and focus on what’s positive in your life) it’s possible to see aging in a new way, which will help make your senior years more fulfilling and happy. If you could use a little cheering up, perhaps this amusing and insightful advice about healthy aging will give you something to smile about.

More About Positive Thinking:
Positive Thinking Can Help You Feel Better, Longer
_{Photo: Dave Nagel/Getty Images}

As companies downsize or close as a result of our sluggish economy, benefits and jobs are being cut. One of the results is that at the same time boomers are considering (or being forced into) early retirement, more employers are reducing or eliminating retiree health benefits. To understand the reasons why even stable companies cut retiree health benefits–and what can you do to protect your benefits–here are some answers from economist and author, Paul Zane Pilzer.

Dementia is a progressive brain disease, often causing people who have dementia to struggle with memory loss and an inability to think clearly. People with dementia also find it difficult to maintain a stable mood and perform common daily functions such as eating, bathing, and communicating with others. While dementia patients struggle with daily life, their caregivers have special challenges too. If you are the caregiver for someone with dementia, look here for information and support about understanding and coping with dementia.
_{Photo by Alex Ward}

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