‘YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT’
Who doesn’t like Christmas? Those of us in Northeast Ohio get to celebrate it year-round with “A Christmas Story” house and museum. The movie arrived in theaters in 1983. Shots that included Cleveland locales were the outside of Ralphie’s house (3159 W. 11th St.), Public Square and Higbee’s department store on Prospect Avenue. The restored house and adjoining gift shop are open year-round. For details, visit achristmasstoryhouse.com.
FILE SAVER
When computer users save something in a Word file, they click on a tiny image of a floppy disk. Those of us old enough to remember early computer technology treated those black disks with care. Now mostly obsolete, the 3 1/2 inch floppy disk became a standard size in 1983. It continued to be the main, external storage device for everyday computer users who wanted to keep and transfer files back in the network-free age.
BABY, THESE NAMES SOUND FAMILIAR
Most Popular Baby Names Rank
1 Michael – Jennifer
2 Christopher – Jessica
3 Matthew – Amanda
4 David – Ashley
5 Joshua – Sarah
A FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND HIS CLEVELAND SPEECH
The Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke at an annual Labor Day event in 1983 at Luke Easter Park at Kinsman Road and East 116th streets. Louis Stokes established the 21st Congressional District Caucus Parade and Picnic at the park. The following year, Jackson organized the Rainbow Coalition and ran for president of the United States.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
TORN SWEATSHIRTS AND LEG WARMERS
Admit it: you took a perfectly good sweatshirt, tore it and wore it off your shoulder. And you weren’t even a dancer or a welder. Heck, you didn’t even live in Pittsburgh. The music was frenetic, the story predictable. But the fashion — oh — fashion — was irresistible.
...QUESTION: “I have osteoarthritis in my knee. Does this mean that I eventually will need a knee replacement?”
ANSWER: Osteoarthritis is essentially the breakdown of the cartilage of your joints over time. This can occur through normal wear and tear of the joint as we age, but can be accelerated by other causes.
Factors such as obesity, injuries, surgeries and genetics can increase the speed at which the joint breaks down. Think of your cartilage like the tread on a tire. Over many miles, the tread wears down based on the load placed on the wheels, the alignment of the vehicle, daily impact and the type of use. When that tread wears down too much, it’s time to get a new tire. As the cartilage breaks down, eventually the bone and nerve endings are exposed and can be painful.
NOW WHAT?
The first line of treatment with osteoarthritis is to manage the pain starting with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Physical therapy can be helpful to strengthen the weakened joint and improve range of motion. Many patients find short-term relief with cortisone shots for pain and/or gel injections that lubricate and increase the shock absorption of the joint.
If these conservative measures are no longer helpful, surgical intervention through a joint replacement may seem like your only option. However, advancements in regenerative therapies are providing a new hope for many patients struggling with arthritis pain and can delay or possibly even prevent the need for a joint replacement. These newer treatments use biologic elements such as your own adult stem cells and platelets to ease the pain. In many cases, they might regenerate lost cartilage.
As a form of regenerative medicine, stem cell procedures activate your body’s own stem cells to encourage healing and speed repair for bone, muscle, joint, soft tissue and nerve injuries.
...At the beginning of each year, many of us create resolutions for saving and spending.
This year it is especially vital to understand a crucial policy change MMthat Congress passed late last year as part of a budget deal. In it, Congress phased out a Social Security claiming strategy called “File & Suspend/Restricted Spousal Application.”
This news caused quite a stir, particularly because there has been much concern over the viability of the Social Security program. As pensions become less common, Social Security is quickly becoming the backbone of retirement for many.
Strategies vary based on marital status, earnings and disability history. Social Security benefits can be con- fusing and policy changes may seem alarming. Between the various claiming options, updates to the program and misinformation available, exactly how should you decide on a strategy?
To start, when reviewing your Social Security benefits, it’s best to do so within the context of a full financial plan. Each individual’s tax situation and spending goals, marital history, health status and retirement date varies.
Keep these key point in mind: The soonest you may apply for benefits (which varies, but is generally 62), the age you may collect “full,” unreduced benefits called “Full Retirement Age” (FRA) and the latest you may collect benefits, which is age 70 for everyone.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
Because the Social Security Administration is no longer regularly mailing statements, it’s best to visit the Social Security website www.ssa.gov to determine your benefits. On the site, create a login to your personal record and find your “Full Retirement Age.” This is the age any American who has worked long enough at a job where they paid into the Social Security system (at least 40 calendar quarters total) may claim the “full” benefit.
If you fall into this category and are married or divorced but previously married for more than 10 years, the recent legislative changes may apply to you.
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