Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet

Courting Controversy: 'Should people in their 50's be allowed to buy into Medicare' (asks WSJ)

After quoting a study from the American Medical Association on the use of medical care before and after 65, Shirley Wang (Health Blog, Wall Street Journal) asks Should People in their 50's be allowed to buy into Medicare...What's your take on the topic?

Fastest group of Online Users with Time and Money (via Buzz Bruggeman)

While getting the ball rolling on the final composition of the Just Over 50 panel, I had the chance to get this nugget from Buzz Bruggeman, a young 62.

Whenever he gives a tech talk, he asks three questions:

a.       What’s the fastest growing group of computer users?
b.      Who has the greatest amount of discretionary time?
c.       When everyone born in the US before 1955 dies, how much money could generationally transfer?

The answers are:
Baby boomers, baby boomers and something like $38 Trillion dollars.

Thanks Buzz for your input.

Tis' the Season for Giving...Taking part in 'Menu for Hope 4'

For the second year in a row, I am taking part in Menu for Hope, an online Fundraising Event involving bloggers the world over.
It benefits the UN World Food Programme. The 2006 Edition raised close to $63000.
It was started by the ever generous Pim of Chez Pim.

Thanks to generous donors, I am able to offer 5 prizes to lucky winners.

You can find 3 of them on Serge the Concierge and 2 more on Food Wine Travel.

PLEASE NOTE: Since my prizes are food items, we will take bids only from people in the US as we are not familiar with rules and regulations of other countries.

If you want to contribute

Go to the Menu for Hope 4 Donation Page hosted by First Giving.

Then Make a Donation of at least $10 (US). Each $10 donation gives you one raffle ticket towards the prize you chose.

For US donors, if your company has agreed to match your charitable donation, please remember to select that option and fill in the necessary information so we may claim the corporate match.

Do not forget to leave your e-mail address so we can contact all you lucky winners.

Winners will be announced on Chez Pim and here bien sur in mid-January 2008.

For all other East Coast (US) Options visit Serious Eats.

Peter Gabriel and Bill Lasswell : 2 great examples of over 50 and still kicking

While catching up with new music releases (via Rhapsody), I listened to Hashisheen : The End Of Law by Bill Laswell. I would not call it mainstream but it shows that this Brooklyn based musician and producer comes up with innovative and sometimes challenging ideas.

More in the Limelight, Peter Gabriel with his own solo career, plus Womad (world music) and recently a Legal Free Music Download Service named WE7. It is supported by Ads and musicians get paid.

Both of these guys show creativity and passion.

Just over 50 and still kicking!

The fact that I passed the 50's bar not long ago made me look harder at marketing, perceptions and where I stand personally.
It seems that the online universe tends to repeat the modus operandi of network TV which is that "the hot segment is the 18 to 35 years old".
Let me question their wisdom and ask who buys books, goes to the movies, eats out and even still pays for music.
That's where I start today!

What do you mean? Just over 50 and...

In the heat of the summer we had the impulse of offering Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet (in a nutshell, the online world is not populated by 20 somethings) as a panel idea for South by Southwest Interactive (2008).

A week ago we learned that we were selected and now the fun/hard part has to start.
Here, in this hot spot we will update you on the panel and share ideas that are percolating while we are working on it.
Feel free to jump in and add your grain of salt.

Related: Just Over 50...Online and Not Ready for AARP.