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Health Beat: Aging Without Apology
By Mark McNease
New year, same old ageism. We’re surrounded by messages telling us that getting older is something to fight, hide, or delay. At the very least, we’re told to ‘age gracefully,’ because it’s required of us if we’re to be seen in public. We must be demure, soft-spoken, quiet. Loud, outspoken and old just won’t do.
Not here, and not by me. Aging is not a personal failure. It’s not something we did wrong. It’s a sign we’re still here, whether anyone wants to acknowledge us or not.
Health in later life isn’t about chasing youth or punishing your body into compliance. It’s about function, comfort, connection, and quality of life. It’s about knowing your body well enough to listen to it, and trusting ourselves to respond with care rather than criticism.
This column – this year – will be focused on our everyday realities: energy that comes and goes, sleep that changes, bodies that behave differently than they used to. We’ll talk honestly about what’s normal, what’s worth paying attention to, and what simply comes with time.
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Blank Page to Bookshelf: From First Sentence to First Sale: Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing Basics Now Available
Two years of workshops, one solid book
This has been a goal of mine for the last six months, and it’s out for 2026. You can get the ebook on Amazon ($8.95), various other online retaliers, or directly from me for a $2 discount ($6.96 – epub and PDF).
The paperback edition is available on Amazon, coming on IngramSpark, and will be available to bookstores and retailers everywhere.
About ‘Blank Page to Bookshelf’
Blank Page to Book Shelf: From First Sentence to First Sale: Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing Basics brings together the core lessons from author and workshop instructor Mark McNease’s writing workshops, distilled into a single, accessible volume for aspiring and emerging writers.
Guiding readers from initial idea through character creation, plotting, revision, and self-publishing, the book emphasizes practical steps and realistic expectations. It demystifies both the creative process and the mechanics of self-publishing, helping writers move from concept to completed book.
Suitable for individual writers, writing groups, and creative workshops, this how-to guide blends craft instruction with actionable publishing guidance.
A clear, encouraging roadmap for turning a blank page into a finished book.
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LGBTSr Is Back on Facebook!
LGBTSr returns to Facebook! This page is a supplement to LGBTSR. com, “where age is embraced and life is celebrated.” We’ve come back from a long hiatus to share all the great things at the website that has been serving the community for 15 years. The Daily Readlines (rhymes with headlines) news roundup, columns, advice, tech talk, health beat, podcasts and more. We hope you like us as much as we like you. Give us a like and a follow sometime. – Mark McNease / LGBTSr
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Cold Nights, Dark Secrets: LGBTQ+ Mysteries & Thrillers Giveaway January 1 – 15
Start the year with new thrills in this BookFunnel giveaway featuring mystery maestros Marshall Thornton, Garrett Hutson, Victor Dain, Delilah Knight and more. This giveaway runs from January 1 – 15 only, so surf over and download these chillers packed with secrets, suspense, and bold voices you’ll want to hear again and again.
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New Twist Podcast Survey for 2026: Which Resolutions, If Any, Fit You Best?
Which Resolutions, If Any, Fit You for 2026? Multiple Answers Allowed
- No more news/politics than I need to stay informed
- Simplify everything: fewer commitments, less clutter, real and imagined
- Say yes to joy, fun, laughter and creativity
- Take better care of myself, mentally and physically
- Stay open to new experiences, projects, trips, habits and perspective
- I don’t make resolutions
- Name your own in the comments
- What other resolution(s) would you make for 2026?
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Fun Facts for 2026 (Foresight is 20-20)
There was admittedly a short supply of fun in 2025, unless you were able to completely ignore the insanity of the world we’re had forced on us. Hopefully we all were able to step back, at least now and then. So let’s look ahead at 2026 and see what the sure bets are.
Fun Facts for 2026 – In Case You Didn’t Know
- 2026 is not a leap year and has 365 days. In case you were wondering.
- People over the age of 60 outnumber teenagers in the United States. That’s they blame us for everything.
- Streaming services now release more original programming annually than traditional network television ever did.
- The average adult manages over 100 online passwords. This probably won’t change until it’s all face-recognition.
- Vinyl records continue to outsell compact discs. Not all that surprising since nobody feels nostalgic for CDs.
- Text messaging is the most commonly preferred form of communication among adults. And often the most annoying – especially group texts.
- Most people spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching content. Very true. 500 options on Netflix and nothing to watch.
- Adults over 50 are increasingly taking up creative hobbies such as writing, art, and podcasting. Yes! Please do.
- Food safety–related searches remain among the most frequently Googled household questions. When in doubt, don’t eat it.
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Your LGBTSr Humorscope for the Year Ahead
🌈 Your LGBTSr 2026 Yearly Humorscope
The stars have spoken. They brought snacks.
2026 arrives with a mix of reflection, reinvention, and a strong collective desire to stop pretending we enjoy things we absolutely do not. This is a year of small joys, clearer boundaries, better naps, and saying “no thank you” without a follow-up explanation.
Here’s what the universe has in store for each sign.
♈ ARIES
Theme for 2026: Productive chaos
You’re still full of ideas, but this year you actually finish a few of them. The trick? Pacing yourself. The universe encourages bursts of energy followed by deliberate rest — yes, rest counts as an activity now.Sage advice: Not every hill needs to be charged.
♉ TAURUS
Theme for 2026: Comfort with intention
You refine your definition of “cozy” this year — emotionally, financially, and literally. If it doesn’t feel good, taste good, or support your peace, it slowly exits stage left.Sage advice: Invest in quality, not clutter.
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Tech Talk: Verizon’s Wi-Fi Backup – Is It Worth It?
Narration provided by Wondervox
By Mark McNease
Living where we do in rural New Jersey, power outages are fairly common. Any significant storm will cause them, or they sometimes just happen for no discernable reason. We have an all-house generator that takes care of that instantaneously, switching to an outside power source with just a moment of crossover. But sometimes we lose the internet, with or without the power, and that can be a major headache. Most of what I do, besides writing in Word documents, require an internet connect.
This happened a week ago, and the storms were so severe over a large area of the state that we were told to expect an outage lasting several days. While we were lucky to have lost the power for just a few hours, our internet connect stayed lost because the line is connected to one that serves other houses on the road. After living with it for 24 hours or so and using our antenna connection to watch TV, we went to the Verizon store in Flemington, NJ, to take them up on their offer of a Backup Wi-Fi unit for just $20 a month if you already have a Verizon mobile plan and autopay. Frank does (I switched to Visible a couple years ago). An hour later we were at home with a device that’s basically a large hotspot, and it worked like a charm. You get seven 24-hour cycles per month with the $20, after which it costs more, but we hope to never need it more often than that. So what is a backup wi-fi?
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MadeMark Media Lives: New Year (Almost), New Logos, New Adventures In Publishing
I started MadeMark Media over 15 years ago. It stepped into the background with my MadeMark Publishing imprint, but they’re both coming back full force in 2026. So exciting!
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The Twist Podcast Gets a New Intro for 2026!
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Your Weekly LGBTSr Humorscope: Astrology With Spunk, Snacks & Sparkle
Welcome to Your Weekly LGBTSr Humorscope, the upbeat horoscope that blends zodiac insights with wit, wisdom and a few cosmic surprises. Whether you’re searching for a lighthearted astrology forecast, or just a weekly dose of feel-good humor, the Humorscope delivers playful predictions for every sign. Read on, check your stars, and enjoy a fresh, entertaining weekly horoscope designed to keep you smiling all week long.
🌈 LGBTSr Weekly Humorscope
The stars texted, and honestly? They’re in a mood.
♈ Aries (March 21–April 19) 🔥🐏
Your ambition is revved up like you just drank motivational espresso. You’ll attempt three projects at once; two will succeed, one will mysteriously vanish.
Cosmic Caution: Avoid arguments with inanimate objects — especially printers. They hold grudges.
Lucky Snack: 🌶️🥟 Spicy dumplings that make you question your life choices.♉ Taurus (April 20–May 20) 🌿🐂
This week is all about cozy pleasures and gentle indulgence. You deserve softness — in blankets, people, and decisions.
Cosmic Caution: Don’t buy plants you know you won’t water. You’re not running a botanical hospice.
Lucky Snack: 🧀🥖 Cheese and bread… the Taurus holy sacrament. -
Savvy Senior: How to Appeal a Medicare Coverage Denial
By Jim Miller
How to Appeal a Medicare Coverage Denial
Dear Savvy Senior,
What steps do I need to take to appeal a denied Medicare claim?
Frustrated Retiree
Dear Frustrated,
If you disagree with a coverage or payment decision made by Medicare, you can appeal, and you’ll be happy to know that many appeals are successful, so it’s definitely worth your time.
But before going that route, talk with the doctor, hospital and Medicare to see if you can spot the problem and resubmit the claim. Many denials are caused by simple billing code errors by the doctor’s office or hospital. If, however, that doesn’t fix the problem, here’s how you appeal.
Original Medicare Appeals
If you have original Medicare, start with your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). This statement will list all the services, supplies and equipment billed to Medicare for your medical treatment and will tell you why a claim was denied. You can also check your Medicare claims early online at MyMedicare.gov, or by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227.
There are five levels of appeals for original Medicare, although you can initiate a “fast appeal” if you’re getting services from a hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health agency, outpatient rehabilitation facility or hospice, and the service is ending.