A Retirement Guide For Texans: Fill & Download for Free

Living in a hotel is not only for the wealthy. It can make economic sense for the elderly as well, and is often less expensive than living in a typical retirement facility and comes with more services that you'd get Ina typical retirement facility.From Home - Long-Term Care Information:Some average costs for long-term care in the United States (in 2010) were:$205 per day or $6,235 per month for a semi-private room in a nursing home$229 per day or $6,965 per month for a private room in a nursing home$3,293 per month for care in an assisted living facility (for a one-bedroom unit)$21 per hour for a home health aide$19 per hour for homemaker services$67 per day for services in an adult day health care centerThe cost of long-term care depends on the type and duration of care you need, the provider you use, and where you live. Costs can be affected by certain factors, such as:Time of day. Home health and home care services, provided in two-to-four-hour blocks of time referred to as “visits,” are generally more expensive in the evening, on weekends, and on holidaysExtra charges for services provided beyond the basic room, food and housekeeping charges at facilities, although some may have “all inclusive” fees.Variable rates in some community programs, such as adult day service, are provided at a per-day rate, but can be more based on extra events and activitiesNow compare that to living in hotel, not in New York, Chicago or San Francisco, but let's say Amarillo, Texas, which we'll use as a guide for costs in typical middle America.A Holiday Inn Express in Amarillo costs $99 per night, plus taxes. We'll say $115. That includes daily maid service, and daily cleaning, free internet, free TV, free utilities, continental breakfast every morning, and usually apples or bananas for free.That would run $3,450 per month, exclusive of meals. If you hire a home health aide that would come to your hotel room for 4 days a week for 2 hours, at the above average of$19/hr, that would be an additional $152/week and $608/month. To get roughly the same level of care, or probably even much better care than you'd get in a nursing home. Even if you ate out for 2 meals a day, or called in food via delivery services, you could add $30-40/day for food, for $1,200. You could spend less than this of course, by using the fridge and microwave provided in the room. (See the ad below)Add all that up and you're now at $5,258 per month, still well below the average of $6,965 for the average private room in a nursing home.And you get a swimming pool, a work out facility, and more. Here's the ad for a Holiday Inn Express:Enjoy Real Texan Hospitality at our Amarillo, TX HotelNo matter what brings you to the Texas Panhandle, you'll find the finest hospitality in Texas at the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites in Amarillo, TX. Our hotel is located off I-40, close to R. Husband International Airport (AMA), downtown Amarillo and area attractions like Palo Duro Canyon.Business guests appreciate our Amarillo, Texas hotel's location near companies like Bell Helicopter, Pantex, Tyson Foods and area hospitals. We also boast free Internet access, stylish executive suites, a 24-hour Business Center and two meeting rooms to make life on the road simpler.Families enjoying a Texas vacation love affordable hotels in Amarillo, TX that are close to must-see attractions like the Panhandle Plains Museum, the American Quarter Horse Museum and Wonderland Amusement Park. The iconic Cadillac Ranch is also just 15 miles from our Amarillo, Texas lodging.Few hotels in Amarillo, TX can match our amenities and ambiance. From the unexpected waterfall in our lobby to freshly updated, smoke-free rooms with a microwave, fridge and a wet bar, you'll enjoy our great value. We offer a sparkling, indoor pool, a Fitness Center with a flat panel TV and a free breakfast buffet is served each morning. We're also one of the most affordable hotels in Amarillo, TX with hot tub suites. Stay Smart with our Amarillo, Texas hotel's great values on your next Texas vacation or business trip.Compare that to the amenities in a nursing home and which would you choose to live out your elderly years?

Simply put,No.The A-7 Corsair was introduced in 1965, which was before the times of the A-10. This means that the airframes are almost 40 years old assuming they were made in the 1980s, and not the first aircrafts to roll off the production line.Not to mention, the A-7 Corsair was retired in both the USAF and the USN in 1991.However, the USAF is looking at something different, the turboprop.See, over the past year or so, and take that with a grain of salt because I'm not exactly sure when the program was started, but the USAF wanted to try a different approach away from jet aircraft.This is because generaly, jet aircraft require more maintenance hours, more operating costs per hour, and more fuel.And that's what the USAF doesn't want.The USAF wants something that does exactly the opposite. They want something that is cheaper to operate, require less labour to maintain, and can loiter over the battlefield over a long period of time.So that's where these guys come in.Contestant numero uno, The T-29 Super TucanoThis aircraft has already seen combat in Afghanistan, mostly with the AAF that the US purchased for. She showed her ability to provide CAS in a low threat environment whilst loitering around for extended periods of time. She has an acceptable payload and variety of weapons and has been proven to effectively carry and drop laser-guided bombs.Contestant numero de dos, The AT-6 WolverineFunny how similar they look.In the original USAF bid for the LAS contract competition, this aircraft, by Beechcraft back in 2011 if I am not mistaken lost. She had an advantage over the Super Tucano because the Wolverine is just a brand new spanking T-6 Texan II, slapped with some freedom launchers, liberating guns, and oil seeking smart bombs. The T-6 is the current training aircraft for basic pilot training in the USAF.This means, that pilots assigned to this aircraft would be somewhat familiar when beginning training for this aircraft and would need less training hours to complete before being rated for that aircraft.However,Although they originally lost the contract, in 2015 or so, not 100% sure, but around that, the USAF decided to reboot that program and start experimenting with the two aircraft as Light Attack Aircraft. Unfortunately, they will only probably be able to operate in low threat environment as well, thus limiting it's ability to perform like other aircraft, but is great for Counter insurgency.Hope I helped answer your question and go beyond that to answer what it will look like in the future.Also be sure to follow my TwitterSawyer Stutchman (@SawyerStutchman) on TwitterEnjoy :)

The great Arthur Furguson:Retired Glasgow-born actor Arthur Furguson was a terrific salesperson. However, like many other such people, he was unaware of his talent until one inspiring day when the perfect opportunity presented itself to him. His moment happened in Trafalgar Square, one bright and sunny morning in 1923. The source of his revelation was a rich American from Iowa, who he found staring reverently at Nelson's Column.Furguson decided to appoint himself as the official guide to the Square. Speaking to the American, he explained that the statue atop the column was of Admiral Lord Nelson, one of Britain's most famous seafarers and naval heroes. He had died in during the Battle of Trafalgar, after which the square was named. Such a terrible shame, he sighed. The square wouldn't feel the same without it. However, it all had to go, lions and fountains included. Britain's debts were sky-high, and the government had decided to sell off the landmark to the highest bidder.The American was interested and inquired as to the price. Furguson mused and explained that it was to be sold for just £6000. Obviously, it would have to go to the right buyer: someone who would protect and appreciate a monument of this scale.By a curious coincidence, it was Furguson himself who had been entrusted by the government with the task of organising the sale, which had to be kept top-secret. The American pleaded with Furguson to allow him to jump the queue. At last he relented and telephoned his employers for instructions. He returned within a matter of minutes. It was decided that Britain was prepared to accept a cheque right away, to complete the deal as soon as possible.Furguson, amazed at his own cunning, immediately went off and cashed the cheque while his customer got in touch with some contractors. They were extremely reluctant to accept the job and told him why. It was not until he received an official assurance from Scotland Yard that he would believe that he had been conned. That summer was a good one as far as Arthur Furguson was concerned. The police however, were far from happy. Another American complained that he had paid £1000 for Big Ben, and another had made a £2000 downpayment on Buckingham Palace.While visiting Paris, he managed to sell the Eiffel Tower for scrap at an unknown price to yet another American. Since Americans had all been his best customers, he decided to continue his work in their country. In 1925, he leased the White House to a Texan cattle-rancher for 99 years at $100,000 a year, with the first year's rent payable in advance. Furguson's bank balance was now sufficiently large for him to consider retiring. His vanity got the better of him however, and he wanted to end his career with a grand finale. Whilst in New York, he found the perfect victim, an Australian from Sydney. Furguson told him that the entrance to New York harbour was to be widened and unfortunately, the Statue of Liberty was in the way. However, sentimental attachments was not going to stop the path of progress, and the US State Department was prepared to sell it to anyone who would to take it away.The Australian attempted to raise the £100,000 deposit over the next couple of days. Furguson was practically glued to his side, carefully steering him away from anyone with whom he might be tempted to boast about his venture. Furguson kindly allowed himself to be photographed with his buyer, arm in arm in front of the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, there was a delay in getting the money through. Furguson grew impatient, and the Australian was suspicious. He took the photograph of himself and Furguson to the police. It was exactly the breakthrough the police wanted. They already knew about the salesman of monuments, but he had always managed to escape them. The Australian led them straight to Furguson, who was promptly arrested.Furguson was jailed for five years, a rather small price to pay for the fortune he had made. He was released in 1930, and moved to Los Angeles where he lived in a lap of luxury (paid for by a few more convenient tricks) until he died in 1938.