Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet

In 'The Age of Entitlement', Boomers through the lenses of 3 US Centric Books

This week-end in The Age of Entitlement, Michael Skapinker (FT) takes a look at 3 Boomer focused books whose main drawback he thinks is their US centric view.
They are Boom! Voices of the Sixties by Tom Brokaw, second is Generation Ageless: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Live Today…And They’re Just Getting Started by J. Walker Smith, Ann S. Clurman and last  Boom: Marketing to the Ultimate Power Consumer-the Baby Boomer Woman  by  Mary Brown - Carol Orsborn.

Maybe there is too much of an accent on the material side but I guess this is where the sense of entitlement can be most noticed.

What happened to the idealism though?

'Rattled' at 50, On March 4, Debra Galant gives birth to 'Fear and Yoga in New Jersey'

If there is someone who can prove that the online world is not populated only by 20 somethings, the forever young Debra Galant proves that it is never too late to do anything you wanna do.

She founded Baristanet a few years back but her proudest achievement might be the publication of her first novel Rattled after a number of literary therapy sessions.
In one of these chance encounters, I met her on the New York bound train on my way to the Gambero Rosso tasting.
She was going to meet her publisher for a brainstorming session the day before the release, March 4, of her second opus titled Fear and Yoga in New Jersey. Will Johnny Depp be in the film adaptation?
To get back to our conversation, I found out for the first time that her first book was published just as she turned 50.

You can read Fear and Yoga in New Jersey First Chapter for Free before heading to the bookstore or your favorite online book source.

Merde! as they say in France.

'The older you get, the less time you want to spend doing stuff for money' (Richard Price)

There is be a sense once you pass 50, that time is fleeting .
Novelist Richard Price (all of 58) called by Charles McGrath a Sleepy-Eyed Writer, Wandedrin Byzanthium echoes that by stating that 'the older you get, the less time you want to spend doing stuff for money'.

Fade to Grey, 'The Graying of the Greens' (via CT Green Scene)

Connecticut blog CT Green Scene report on The Graying of the Greens and what the environmental groups do to attract fresh blood with networking events such as Green Drinks.

A Day at the Office with Nick Cave...Just Over 50 this year

I would put Nick Cave in the same sphere as Tom Waits for the stories and cast of characters he creates.
The man is Just Over 50 and opens his office if not his soul to Simon Hattenstone (The Guardian) for an Old Nick interview. The father of 7 year old twin boys tells us that "he doesn't take drugs, he doesn't drink, he doesn't even smoke. In one way, he says, life is no longer worth living; in others, he says, it has never been better".

Related: Prince, Madonna Turn 50

South by Southwest: What the 'Just Over 50...' Panel will cover...March 8

Since we are about 2 weeks away from this event, I thought I should share the scenario with you.

Feel free to give us your take on what will be covered.

Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet

Panel Discussion at South by Southwest Interactive (Austin, Texas) on March 8, 2008 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Speakers:
Rhea Becker   Writer,   The Boomer Chronicles
David Markus   CPO,   TeeBeeDee
Janet Greenlee   SVP Sr Partner GM,   Fleishman-Hillard
Ted Cohen   Managing Partner,   Tag Strategic
and yours truly, Serge Lescouarnec aka Serge the Concierge

There is life before and after 18 to 35.
More U2, New Order or Talking Heads than Tony Bennett.
Rewire rather than retire.
Life is short, let's enjoy it! Don't just consume food, cook some mean dishes.
Rekindle passion. Travel. Read. Slow down. Take a nap.
Who and what is online for people in their late 40's and early 50's and why are some sites targeting baby boomers failing to deliver?
What difference does it make to be over 50 and have a presence on the web?
How does it change the way you work, consume, live?
What do early boomers spend their time and money on? Travel, restaurants and food, financial products? How do companies and marketers reach out to them?
Are they successful? Are they using the right approach?
How can writers, musicians and movie makers tap that audience?

Old is a state of mind. (you're as old as you think you are -- up to a point...)

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The Pros & Cons of Life as a Grown Up: Toby Young & Lisa Markwell

Too bad that The Independent piece Old enough to know better: Toby Young gets to grips with his midlife crisis does not costar Lisa Markwell (features editor of Easy Living) in its headline but rather gives aging bad boy Toby Young top billing.
Her take is The key to staying in the game at 42? Willpower – and a rowing machine while the father of 4 with a 33 year old wife states that He may be bald and broke, but the 44-year-old is keeping hope alive.

They don't feel sorry for themselves and sprinkle their writing with just enough humor and good thinking to boot.

Who shrunk my magazine? Got Fortune?

After the demise of Business 2.0, I was informed that I would receive Fortune for the remainder of my subscription.
I received my first issue and wondered what happened, who shrunk my magazine?
Were heavy tomes of years past 3 part advertising, 1 part writing?
Who still reads magazines and books and where did the ads go?

Navigating a Publisher's Maze: 15 Steps to a Book Review

Today as I was looking for details on a book (published by Harper Collins) that I wanted to mention on Serge the Concierge, I had to jump through hoops before I could get to their publicity department.
On the book page, there was no press/media friendly 'button/link'.
It seems that most of the requests for book related materials could only be done by snail-mail or fax.
In my case I was interested mostly in getting photos or illustrations from this title with a 'food and drink' theme as this is what I write about on STC.
I ended up calling the PR office listed on their corporate site. I was then transfered to the voice-mail of the person that was really in charge of this title.
My suggestion, if they do not want to spend their life answering phone calls or e-mails, put these useful materials online.
This is 2008 after all.

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!