By Kiera Butler, an associate editor for Mother Jones.

Half of working Americans have saved $50,000 or less for their retirement. 25% have saved nothing.
A 20-year study found that attitudes about aging have more impact on life expectancy than cholesterol, smoking, or exercise.

People who had a positive attitude about getting older lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those who didn't.
In April, GlaxoSmithKline paid $720 million for a firm developing a "fountain of youth" pill.

In 2007, Americans bought nearly $30 billion worth of anti-aging products.

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine tells "anti-aging practitioners" that each patient can "bring $4,000 to $20,000 in annual gross revenue."

Between 1997 and 2007, the number of Botox treatments in the US rose by 4,159%.

4,500 women had "vaginal rejuvenation" surgery in 2007.

68-year-old Dave Cummings, the "world's oldest porn star," says he only uses Viagra "when I'm working for a producer who's very demanding."

Asked when old age begins, Americans aged 25 to 34 say 67; those over 45 say 77.
When 42-year-old John McCain met his 25-year-old future wife, Cindy, in 1979, he told her he was 4 years younger. She told him she was 4 years older.

18- to 49-year-olds are 35% more likely to watch the Cartoon Network than CNN.

In 1990, the typical video game player was 18. Today, he is 33.

At Los Angeles' Spa Di Da salon for kids, a "cupcake pedicure" costs $40. Leg waxing starts at $25. A baby manicure is $10.
40% of MySpace users are between 35 and 54. Site cofounder Tom Anderson made himself 4 years younger on his page.

About 35 Notre Dame alums have been entombed on campus since their alma mater began selling crypts for $10,000 last year.

A Hello Kitty tombstone costs about $1,350.