Double Nickels 55

The two August ‘98 articles describing my heart attack generate a surprising amount of e-mail. Often, a reader will inquire about the current state of my health (very good, thank you) and go on to explain that he (only men have responded so far) just underwent a similar incident. Recovering at home with time to spare, they stumble across my story and share the experience. Frankly, without the Internet, this type of communication would not occur.

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Steve Pearse. He explained how my heart attack story hit home for him. A co-worker and close friend with whom he car-pooled in California died of a heart attack 12 years ago. The incident had a life-changing impact and my story brought back a flood of memories. Pearse “quit the rat race” and took steps to take better care of his heath. Pearse had been surfing the Web as part of the ongoing process of updating the Double Nickels 55 Web site (www.doublenickels.com). The three-year-old site created by Pearse and his partner, Larry Latimer, focuses on seniors (folks over 55).

 

Seniors On The Internet

Seniors play an active role on the Net. Unlike younger surfers, they tend to be less patient and more cautious in their activities. With an inclination to avoid slow loading flashy fare, when sites offer concentrated, varied content, senior visitors tend to return. Herein lies the secret of the Double Nickels site. In order to visit the entire site, set aside an hour or more. In fact, the content tends to be so varied and interesting that seniors may wander off following hyperlinks to a number of new destinations.

When first arriving at a new Web site, such as Double Nickel 55, I look for the unusual. The Burma Shave area holds this type of fascination. Most younger surfers have never seen Burma Shave signs along America’s highways. For many seniors, viewing this extensive area brings back memories of simpler times. Pearse states that this area remains among the most popular stopping points. In fact, they will be adding a “Sons of the Pioneers” area, a singing group popular in the late ‘40s. Once engrossed with a Web site, I usually explore other areas.

The Medical Area, Scams, And More

The extensive Medial and Health area holds a treasure of information. Now that Alzheimer’s treatment breakthroughs seem close at hand, links in this area keep interested seniors informed. HMOs for seniors (a new area) also gets high marks for content. Many more links fill the site. They offer unusually broad coverage along with high quality content. Finding such a concentrated collection of medical information for seniors alone justifies a visit. It becomes immediately apparent great care was taken in choosing the links.

A concern of many newcomers to the Internet (seniors and non-seniors alike) is knowing the do’s and don’ts of credit card usage when purchasing merchandise on the Web. Insights into the issue get answered in the Scam area. Also found are links to FBI Internet Fraud, Senior’s Guidebook to Safety and Security (available in pdf format), CIA publications, and more. This area holds interest for surfers of all ages.

 

A Major Effort

Steve Pearse and Larry Latimer have assembled a remarkably comprehensive site. My comments have just skimmed the surface of this extensive undertaking. While the primary focus is on senior related topics, it holds broader interest for a larger population of Internet users. Generating 10,000+ visitors a month, the site continues to grow and prosper on a modest budget. Easy navigation, fast loading, no broken links, and constant updates ensure a pleasant visit to the 50+ MB size site. Make sure to bookmark the Double Nickel 55 URL. I will return again and again.

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of interest:

http://www.doublenickels.com

http://www.sonsofthepioneers.com

http://www.thebee.com/bweb/iinfo122.htm

(This is the 231st of a series of elementary articles designed for surfing the Internet. Next, “Distance Learning” is the subject on tap. Stay Tuned. Until next week, happy travels through cyberspace. Previous issues of Internet Info for Real People can be found: http://www.thebee.com. Please e-mail comments and suggestions: rbrand@JUNO.com or editor@thebee.com.)