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Should you be worried about princess mania?
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Is the princess craze hurting or helping your daughter's self-esteem? - photo by Susan Swann
The "princess debate" rages on in the media. Is all this targeted princess marketing good or bad for our girls? In her article, Rebecca Hain claims that "the princess culture always reduces girls' interests to being pretty and finding romance." Hains further states that because we find a sea of princesses everywhere, the princess culture "actually limits young girls' imaginations."

Can our girls really love pink and still be strong?

In another article, writer Peggy Orenstein concludes that "princesses are in fact a sign of progress, an indication that girls can embrace their predilection for pink without compromising strength or ambition; that at long last they can have it all."

What does a real expert have to say about princesses?

To resolve the princess debate in my own mind, I turned to an expert on the subject: my almost-three-year-old granddaughter. Her uncatagorical opinion on the debate was simply, "We need princesses." Since she didn't elaborate further, I was left to my own devices. Was she right? As something of a self-proclaimed feminist, could I accept my granddaughter's assertion that we need princesses? And if so, why do we need them?

Cinderella and Snow White vs. Belle and Anna

Clearly we don't need princesses if our focus on them is based only on their beauty, clothes, and perfection, accompanied by a relentless drive to find themselves a handsome prince. Focusing only on those things about princesses really does limit our imaginations. Cinderella and Snow White are more of the helpless variety of princesses. The kind of princesses I grew up with.

Today's princesses have much more sass and attitude; a combination of grit and grace, if you will. Princess Belle faced down a scary beast, selflessly rescued her father and stood up to the shallow townspeople. Tough as nails Princess Anna possessed the kind of true love that saved her sister. In the end, Anna realized that her prince's looks were truly only skin deep and that lurking in his chest beat an evil and narcissistic heart. So she chose instead a simple but genuine ice man who had been raised by trolls. Neither Belle nor Anna were damsels in distress in need of rescue.

What qualities make up a true princess?

The Urban Dictionary defines a princess as someone who "carries herself with poise and dignity and makes choices based on what's right, rather than how she feels. She is...selfless...thinks of others...is gentle and generous." Today's princesses are also brave and smart. Not bad qualities for girls of any age to emulate. Given the ubiquitous nature of princesses, let's use them wisely to help us teach our daughters to focus less on self and more on caring about others. Let's use princesses to teach our daughters about strength and resilience.

Maybe we really do need princesses

Dr. Suess once proclaimed, "Life is a great balancing act." And I think he's right. My little granddaughter loves Elsa and Anna, but she loves Doc McStuffins and Thomas the Tank Engine just as much. She lives in a world of race cars and crowns. Nothing limits her imagination. She is growing up believing she can have it all. And who knows? Maybe she can.

As long as our daughters and granddaughters realize that the best princesses are not defined by outward beauty and perfection, but by inner kindness and strength, perhaps we really do need princesses. Maybe we should all learn to relax about the whole princess thing and just have fun with it.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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