Tuesday News | The 80 Detector

  October 28, 2026

 

Apparently, Retirement Savings Are Now a Criminal Growth Industry

By Mare | Been There, Done That | Belated Tuesday News, October 27, 2026

Well, folks, apparently somebody forgot to tell the scammers that we’re supposed to be enjoying retirement.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that Americans age 60 and older lost approximately $3 billion to fraud in 2025. Three BILLION dollars! And that’s just what was reported.

Investment scams accounted for a substantial share. Now, I’ve spent plenty of time investigating those online advertisements promising fabulous returns, secret investments, and opportunities that will supposedly change my life before breakfast.

And I have a question: If everybody on Facebook knows how to become a millionaire, why are they all trying so desperately to get my $250?

 

The Senior Stereotype Needs a Tune-Up

Older adults are not necessarily more likely to fall for fraud than younger people. But when older victims do lose money, the losses can be especially painful.

Maybe we seniors have learned a thing or two after decades of dealing with salespeople, politicians, questionable investments, and those wonderful extended automobile warranties.

 

Artificial Intelligence Joins the Party

As if ordinary scammers weren’t enough, artificial intelligence has given them a shiny new toolbox: fake voices, convincing emails, manufactured videos, and endorsements from people who never endorsed a thing.

Imagine a phone call from someone who sounds exactly like your grandson, urgently asking for money. Twenty years ago, we worried about strangers selling aluminum siding. Now we have to wonder whether the caller is even a person!

And yes, I recognize the irony of writing this with help from artificial intelligence. At least my AI assistant isn’t asking for my banking password.

 

My 80 Detector Says…

Before sending money, ask: Who is behind this offer? Can I independently verify it? Why must I act RIGHT NOW?

If the answers don’t make sense, close the page. If a caller claims to be a family member in trouble, hang up and call that person using a number you already know.

 

One Final Thought

Getting older doesn’t mean getting foolish. We’ve survived recessions, inflation, questionable politicians, technological revolutions, and more sales pitches than anyone should endure.

We can survive internet scammers, too—by asking questions, checking sources, and warning one another.

Because the only thing I want my retirement savings funding is my retirement. Not somebody else’s yacht.

Until next Tuesday, keep your coffee hot, your passwords private, and your 80 Detector fully charged!

 

— Mare | Been There, Done That | https://homesharetucson.com

 

Source notes: https://www.ftc.gov/policy/reports/commission-staff-reports. Protecting Older Consumers 2025-2026: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission

A Little Age, A Little Wisdom, and a Healthy Dose of Skepticism

 

By Mare Pagel  |  Been There, Done That  |  October 30, 2026

 

You've probably heard of 80-proof whiskey.

 

Well, I've reached 80 proof myself — without the whiskey!

 

Eighty years of living, learning, working, making mistakes, recognizing opportunities, and occasionally wondering how some people manage to sell the same old nonsense in brand-new packaging.

 

And that's where 80 Proof comes in.

 

This is my new Friday column about investing, investigating, and asking questions before believing the next spectacular headline.

 

I enjoy researching stocks, new technologies, and the companies quietly building tomorrow's world. But I've also learned that a good story doesn't automatically make a good investment.

 

A billionaire's name in a headline doesn't guarantee a fortune. A tiny company with a revolutionary idea doesn't necessarily have a profitable business. And an advertisement shouting Act Now! is usually a good reason to slow down.

 

Here at 80 Proof, we'll look beyond the sales pitch. We'll explore interesting companies, investigate investment claims, and share what we discover along the way.

 

No crystal balls. No guaranteed winners. And absolutely no requirement to buy somebody's expensive newsletter.

 

Just curiosity, common sense, a little humor, and eight decades of perspective.

 

I've earned my 80 Proof. Now let's put it to work!

 

— Mare🌹

 

80 Proof is an educational and conversational column, not personalized financial advice.

THE VETO: Washington's Favorite Word Is NO!

The 80 Detector | Been There, Done That | Tuesday, November 10, 2026

 

The Kindergarten Version

Imagine the House and Senate have worked very hard on a new rule. They agree, shake hands, and carry it to the President.

The President reads it, folds their arms, and says: “NO!”

Congratulations. You have just met the presidential veto. Washington has turned a two-letter word into a constitutional event.

 

But Who Gets to Say NO?

Congress writes and passes bills. The President can sign a bill into law or send it back with objections.

The President does not get to erase a law simply by yelling “VETO!” at the television. The veto applies to legislation presented for approval.

 

Can Congress Say YES Anyway?

Yes! Congress can override a regular presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in BOTH the House and the Senate.

Not two-thirds of whichever chamber happens to be in a good mood. Both.

That is a pretty tall order. Which is why the threat of a veto can sometimes change a bill before it ever reaches the President.

 

The Ten-Day Clock

The President generally has ten days, not counting Sundays, to act on a bill.

If the President does nothing and Congress remains able to receive the bill back, the bill becomes law without a signature.

Apparently, even Washington has a deadline for returning paperwork.

 

The Pocket Veto: The Sneaky Cousin

If Congress adjourns in a way that prevents a bill from being returned during that constitutional window, the President can leave it unsigned and the bill does not become law. That is called a pocket veto.

Unlike a regular veto, a pocket veto cannot simply be overridden. Congress would have to start the legislative process again.

I picture a bill disappearing into a coat pocket beside a grocery receipt and three peppermint candies.

 

The 80 Detector’s Verdict

A veto is not a presidential magic wand. It is one part of a system deliberately designed to make the branches of government argue with one another.

The President can say NO. Congress can sometimes say YES anyway. And the Constitution gets the final word.

Now, if only they could all agree on who left the crayons on the floor. 🤣🌹 

 

— Mare | Been There, Done That

 

Sources and reader resources

National Archives — Constitution Questions and Answers

U.S. House of Representatives — Presidential Vetoes

National Archives — Constitution, Article I, Section 7