Tops News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Age Is as Age Does: Making the Generation Gap Work for You
Erin White
Wall Street Journal
July 1, 2008

Overview: “Companies world-wide are grappling with generational differences in their work forces. Managers and consultants say they see new workplace problems arising from differing mindsets and communication styles of workers born in different eras. The frictions are aggravated by new technology and work patterns that mix workers of different ages in ever-changing teams.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121478926535514813.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Financial Hardship Postpones Retirement
Betsy Stark
ABC News
June 30, 2008

Overview: “Baby Boomers Still Trapped in Daily Grind”

http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=5279743&page=1

Five Ways the Internet Can Keep You Young
Spectrum
July 1, 2008

Overview: “The older you are, the less likely you are to go online. That’s a fact that needs to change.”

http://senior-spectrum.com/news03_070108/

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

It's Splitsville
Daniel McGinn
Newsweek
July 2, 2008

Overview: “No, we're not talking about divorce, but about a new way of dividing time between multiple houses…as large numbers of baby boomers have begun buying second homes, trend watchers are starting to see the first signs that something new is going on. Today in vacation-home hotspots like Naples, Fla., you won't need binoculars to spy a new species of homeowner—one that some demographers are calling ‘splitters’.”

http://www.newsweek.com/id/39528

Retirement Takes on a New Meaning
Derek Sankey
Ottawacitizen
July 2, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers coming up to retirement age are often choosing modified work patterns rather than outright quitting… Recruiters say there really is no retirement age any more and aging workers are redefining the terms of work. Creative work arrangements are exploding as companies and employees push for a much more diverse and loose definition about what retirement means.”

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/working/story.html?id=a29c6112-f904-4d5d-8086-f0473dcca53b&p=1

As Parents Age Boomers Face Difficult Decisions
Erin Turner and Mary K. Reinhart
YourWestValley
July 1, 2008

Overview: “As Baby Boomers grow older, so, too, do their parents. And while middle-aged, many Boomer "children" have difficulty handling their aging parents' needs.”

http://www.yourwestvalley.com/news/parents_2944___article.html/children_adult.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Early Retirees in New Ventures, Mostly for Fun
Brent Bowers
The New York Times
July 3, 2008

Overview: “You, too, can be an entrepreneur… Not the hard-driving type who makes the business news pages. Rather, the laid-back, come-what-may variety. Many of them are part of the first wave of America’s 76 million baby boomers who are taking early retirement and turning their hobbies into small businesses. Very small businesses.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/business/smallbusiness/03hunt.html?em&ex=1215144000&en=4e9946981d7beac8&ei=5087%0A

Baby Boomers Keep Healthy With Senior Fitness Classes
Daveen Rae Kurutz
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
July 3, 2008

Overview: “As ailments, such as bursitis and arthritis, sideline baby boomers, senior fitness is becoming a more specialized area…The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 32 percent of people ages 65 and older exercise, with more than 30 percent of people older than 55 walking for exercise.”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/health/s_575665.html

True to Form, Boomers Start a Fitness Revolution
Barb Berggoetz
Press Connects
July 3, 2008

Overview: “While Bogard's physical exploits are greater than the adventures of many his age, he has a lot of company among 43- to 61-year-old baby boomers -- the fastest-growing segment of the health-conscious crowd. Fitness experts say more boomers are realizing they need a regimen of cardio, strength, flexibility and balance training to enjoy a long, healthy retirement.”

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/LIFESTYLE03/807030316/1004/LIFESTYLE

The Pew Research Center recently released a social and demographic trends survey, which won headlines in numerous publications along the lines of “Baby Boomers more gloomy than younger and older adults.” Other even larger surveys, such as the Natural Marketing Institute’s Healthy Aging Boomer Database study, with which FH Boom collaborated, have uncovered similarly newsworthy stats. Is this good or bad news for marketers? And more importantly, is this even true?

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

A Facebook for Boomers
Robin Wolaner
Newsweek
November 19, 2007

Overview: “As she turned 50, the founder of Parenting magazine wanted more than an AARP card. Her new start-up aims to be a social network for the graying set.”

http://www.newsweek.com/id/68907

Baby Boomers Return to College at Record-Breaking Rates Finds Academy of Art University in San Francisco
PRWeb
July 7, 2008

Overview: “The group of adults defined by sociologists as "baby boomers" are once again filling the halls of colleges and universities nationwide, making them the new kids on campus.”

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/7/prweb1075434.htm

Retirement Developers Cater to Active Baby Boomers
Adrian Sainz
Houston Chronicle
July 4, 2008

Overview: “They embark on kayaking trips or go hang gliding with their friends, learn conversational Spanish in a state-of-the-art facility or boogie the evening away to disco-era hits… These options and countless others are emerging in active adult living communities across the U.S., which are filled with residents 55 and older who want to stay active and healthy.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5872415.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Web Sites Help Baby Boomers Get Hip to a New Bag of Tunes
Larry Rodgers
The Seattle Times
July 8, 2008

Overview: “Web sites where baby boomers can discover music beyond the classic sounds of their teens and 20s.”

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008038055_boomermusicnew08.html

The Changing Face of the U.S. Consumer
Peter Francese
Advertising Age
July 7, 2008

Overview: “The marketing community, already dealing with a slumping economy and an increasingly consumer-controlled media marketplace, must confront another new reality: The face of the American consumer is changing dramatically. It's not news that the nation is aging, but the fact that the average U.S. head of household is just six months shy of 50 is a startling statistic.”

http://adage.com/article?article_id=128181

Communes for Grownups --Co-housing for Boomers a Growing Trend
Beth Wechsler
Wallet Pop
July 3, 2008

Overview: “Cohousing, the current incarnation of what we Baby Boomers used to call communal living, turns out to be a growing senior living trend. Both in Denmark, where co-housing originated in the 1970's, and in the United States where the model has been gaining ground, senior interest is on the rise.”

http://www.walletpop.com/2008/07/03/communes-for-grownups-co-housing-for-boomers-a-growing-trend/

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

In Act 2 of Life, Doing Work That Matters
Jane E. Brody
The New York Times
July 8, 2008

Overview: “Dr. Pressman is a classic example of a retiree who reinvented himself. Marc Freedman, the founder of Civic Ventures, an institution seeking to capitalize on the experience of baby boomers in solving the world’s problems, calls it ‘Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life’.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/health/08brod.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Myths About So-Called Bust to Follow Aging Baby Boomers
Russell Beland
The Mercury News
July 9, 2008

Overview: “The warnings have rumbled for decades: Just wait till the baby boomers retire. If you think there are strains on Social Security and Medicare now, brace yourselves for the implosion as the boomers start heading out to pasture. With the first of that generation now doing just that, we should be seeing the dust cloud soon, right? Actually, if you've bought into the following myths about the bust the baby boom is supposed to usher in, you may be surprised.”

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_9825491

Build Your Balance
Anne Lampe
The Sydney Morning Herald & The Age
July 9 2008

Overview: “Recent research by Russell Investments, based on Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, shows 41 per cent of full-time workers expect to shift to part-time work before retiring, while 20 per cent don't expect to retire at all… A Newspoll survey shows 43 per cent of baby boomers expect to work past 65, with 57 per cent of middle-income earners citing financial need as the main reason.”

http://www.moneymanager.com.au/articles/2008/07/07/1215282744150.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Demand for Older Models Grows
Monica Corcoran
Star Tribune
July 9, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers want to see someone more like themselves, and agencies and advertisers are taking notice.”

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/style/24196769.html?location_refer=Homepage:6

Late Shift
Brenda J. Buote
Boston Globe
July 10, 2008

Overview: “Retirement for many baby boomers will have to wait as they pursue new careers”

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/07/10/late_shift/

Study: Baby Boomers Are "Savvy Shoppers" Who Brand-Jump More Than Younger Generations
Chris Walters
The Consumerist
July 9, 2008

Overview: “If you or someone you know is between the ages of 40-59, you won't want to miss this very important message—but to summarize it for the ADD crowd, it seems younger folks are (slightly) more likely to choose a brand based on fashion and hype, whereas Boomers are (slightly) less brand-loyal and seek greater value.”

http://consumerist.com/tag/marketing/?i=5023389&t=study-baby-boomers-are-savvy-shoppers-who-brand+jump-more-than-younger-generations

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Demand for Older Models Grows
Monica Corcoran
Star Tribune
July 9, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers want to see someone more like themselves, and agencies and advertisers are taking notice.”

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/style/24196769.html?location_refer=Homepage:6

Late Shift
Brenda J. Buote
Boston Globe
July 10, 2008

Overview: “Retirement for many baby boomers will have to wait as they pursue new careers”

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/07/10/late_shift/

Study: Baby Boomers Are "Savvy Shoppers" Who Brand-Jump More Than Younger Generations
Chris Walters
The Consumerist
July 9, 2008

Overview: “If you or someone you know is between the ages of 40-59, you won't want to miss this very important message—but to summarize it for the ADD crowd, it seems younger folks are (slightly) more likely to choose a brand based on fashion and hype, whereas Boomers are (slightly) less brand-loyal and seek greater value.”

http://consumerist.com/tag/marketing/?i=5023389&t=study-baby-boomers-are-savvy-shoppers-who-brand+jump-more-than-younger-generations

“Despite knowing the size, spending power and influence of the Boomer generation, many marketers and advertisers have yet to realize the major business opportunity this market represents.” So writes the Focalyst Executive Forum in their e-blast invite to their 2008 gathering (October 2-3 in NYC.)

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Why Are Baby Boomers in a Funk?
Rob Woutat
Kitsap Sun
July 11, 2008

Overview: “… if some of those readers sound pessimistic, we can't completely deny them justification. And if they're between 43 and 62, they're even more likely to be disgruntled than the rest of the population … 'Members of the large generation born from 1946 to 1964 are more downbeat about their lives than are adults who are younger or older, according to the new Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends survey'."

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/11/rob-woutat-why-are-baby-boomers-in-a-funk/

Recruiting and Retaining Older Workers
Jennifer Swanberg
Business Lexington
July 10, 2008

Overview: “Over the next ten years, U.S. employers will lose the expertise of millions of highly skilled and knowledgeable workers. Though some of us may want to deny we are aging, we cannot hide from reality — the first of the baby boomers hit their 60th birthday in 2006.”

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-c-2008-07-10-78166.113117_Recruiting_and_retaining_older_workers.html

Baby Boomers Less Brand Loyal But Spend More
Colloquy
July 10, 2008

Overview: “With 40- and 50-somethings at or near the peak of their earning potential and typically having several financial dependants ranging from small children to elderly parents, this prime Adult demographic is making the majority of the household spending decisions, according to TV Land’s 'Generation BUY: A Close Look at the Boomer Consumer' Study.”

http://www.colloquy.com/breaking_view.asp?xd=4843

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Five Things You Don’t Know About Baby Boomers
Susan Reda
NRF Stores
June 2008

Overview: “Boomers spend an estimated $2.3 trillion on consumer goods and services annually, yet Thornhill claims that ‘few retailers fully appreciate today’s older boomer consumer, instead merchandising and marketing to young, less affluent adults. Retailers that fail to acknowledge boomers today — thinking they’re past their spending prime — are limiting their success’…In other words, those who think they know all there is to know about the baby boomer generation need to think again.”

http://www.stores.org/Current_Issue/2008/06/Cover/index.asp

Retirees Find Home-Price Decline Has a Silver Lining
Susan Stellin
Chicago Tribune
July 13, 2008

Overview: “What was once a seemingly unstoppable climb in home prices has given way to a plunge in value in many areas. Yet there is a bit of good news: This might be the right time to find a bargain, especially for buyers approaching their retirement years who can afford to take their time. Not only are home prices down more than 25 percent in some parts of the country, there remains a glut of inventory on the market in traditional retirement destinations like Florida, Arizona and Nevada.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-re-time-to-buy-retire-0713jul13,0,2276674.story

Baby Boomers and Seniors Volunteering for Peace Corps in Bigger Numbers
David Levinsky
Burlington County Times
July 14, 2008

Overview: “The common perception of Peace Corps volunteers are 20-somethings who want to see the world and do some good after finishing college. There are plenty of those, yes, but the ranks of the foreign service organization created by President John F. Kennedy are being filled with a growing number of baby boomers and seniors who prefer volunteering overseas to a retirement spent playing bridge or golf.”

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-07142008-1562670.html

Hurray for Ad Age who is running a special report this week on the surging importance of the boomer demographic. A video clip of the report ran July 10 on Ad Age’s “3 Minute” on-line digest. The headline: “Brands Beware: Baby Boomer Consumer Colossus Gathers More Steam” and I urge marketers to take particular note of the subtitle: “Latest data underscores declining importance of youth market.”

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Retirement vs. Secondment
MarketWatch
July 15, 2008

Overview: “As more than 76 million baby boomers, that's more than one-quarter of the US population, enter their 50's and 60's they are confronting the ‘r’ word ... retirement. But theirs is a generation of over-achievers; a generation that will not stop working altogether in the traditional sense -- nor will they necessarily want to keep working full-time… boomers are instead looking to the ‘s’ word ... secondment…”

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/retirement-vs-secondment/story.aspx?guid=%7B05ECC233-4C0D-41CE-B352-B51689238BE5%7D&dist=hppr

Just Don't Call Me 'Granny'
Jackie Burrell
Contra Costa Times
July 14, 2008

Overview: “‘We're often the same age as our mothers and their mothers were when they became grandmothers,’ says Lara, ‘but it looks different and feels different on us. We're in our forties and fifties, in the middle of our lives and careers’.”

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9878428

Here's How Kids Can Get Along with Baby Boomers
Sarri Gilman
HeraldNet
July 15, 2008

Overview: “There has been more than enough said about how to relate to the young adults in the work force. Those of us who are older, late 40s to mid 50s, are getting whiplash trying to look behind us and figure out what to offer this younger generation. It does occur to me that it may also be time to orient them to how to successfully work with boomers.”

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080715/LIVING/652492982

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

A New Look at the Joys of Being 60 For Men
Tom Clavin
South Hampton Press
July 15, 2008

Overview: “Robert Schwalbe is a man with a mission. ‘There is so much out there on aging women and so much focus on them that men have been ignored,’ the therapist and author said in a recent interview. ‘I wanted to do something about that’.”

http://www.southamptonpress.com/story_detail.cfm?cat=arts&id=155706

Baby Boomers: Who Said Anything About Slowing Down?
Tom Anselm
North County Journal
July 15, 2008

Overview: “We shun the idea of ‘middle age,’ which conjures up images of rocking chairs and white hair and iced teas under the maple tree. Ours has been a generation of movers and doers. We can't sit still. Jogging, biking, tai chi and tae bo, power walking and yoga - all of this is just part and parcel of a boomer's daily routine. Call it the Peter Pan Syndrome; we just won't grow up!”

http://northcountyjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/07/15/opinions/sj2tn20080715-0716flo-boomercol20.ii1.txt

Boomers Are Living Longer --- But Are They Healthier?
Jan Pollack
North County Journal
July 15, 2008

Overview: “The expected life span of America's 77 million baby boomers has increased significantly over that of our parents. But living a longer life doesn't always mean living a healthier life. Even the most active boomers are discovering that their bodies aren't as young as they used to be.”

http://northcountyjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/07/15/news/sj2tn20080715-0716flo-boom0.ii1.txt

I went to a new t’ai chi class, and now my teeth are whiter, my hair is fuller and my legs smoother.

This is not to tout the benefits of t’ai chi (although they are equally impressive) but rather, a smart marketing effort that has figured out that people who do things like t’ai chi and yoga are likely to buy certain products.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Boomer Woman’s Group Celebrates One Year Anniversary
WebWire
July 16, 2008

Overview: “They’re known as Baby Boomer Divas---women over 40 who are on the move and making a difference in their personal and professional lives. This month the group celebrates its one year anniversary.”

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=70205

Recreational Vehicle Market - Aging Baby Boomers to Fuel Growth
PR Inside
July 17, 2008

Overview: “The psychographics of the aging baby boom generation shows a strong desire for recreational activities especially spending time with family and friends. This generation also likes to travel a lot and they have a strong desire for freedom in leisure activities.”

http://www.pr-inside.com/recreational-vehicle-market-aging-baby-r706495.htm

Ageing Rolling Stones Fans Will Demand Exciting Retirements, says Audit Commission
Martin Beckford
Telegraph.co.uk
July 17, 2008

Overview: “The baby boomer generation will demand excitement in retirement, according to an official report which claims many councils are unprepared for Britain's ageing population.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2303966/Ageing-Rolling-Stones-fans-will-demand-exciting-retirements,-says-Audit-Commission.html

Boomer Woman’s Group Celebrates One Year Anniversary
WebWire
July 16, 2008

Overview: “They’re known as Baby Boomer Divas---women over 40 who are on the move and making a difference in their personal and professional lives. This month the group celebrates its one year anniversary.”

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=70205

Recreational Vehicle Market - Aging Baby Boomers to Fuel Growth
PR Inside
July 17, 2008

Overview: “The psychographics of the aging baby boom generation shows a strong desire for recreational activities especially spending time with family and friends. This generation also likes to travel a lot and they have a strong desire for freedom in leisure activities.”

http://www.pr-inside.com/recreational-vehicle-market-aging-baby-r706495.htm

Ageing Rolling Stones Fans Will Demand Exciting Retirements, says Audit Commission
Martin Beckford
Telegraph.co.uk
July 17, 2008

Overview: “The baby boomer generation will demand excitement in retirement, according to an official report which claims many councils are unprepared for Britain's ageing population.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2303966/Ageing-Rolling-Stones-fans-will-demand-exciting-retirements,-says-Audit-Commission.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Silver Threads Among the Old Deliver Retirement Gilt
Jonathan Dart
Sydney Morning Herald
July 18, 2008

Overview: “Most of the 3.4 million Australians older than 45 and planning to retire will do so within 15 years, the Bureau of Statistics has reported. But unlike previous generations, the baby boomers are cashed up and ready to spend their money, said the demographer Bernard Salt.”

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/silver-threads-among-the-old-deliver-retirement-gilt/2008/07/17/1216163059318.html

The Glummest Generation
Tom Jacobs
Miller-Mccune.com
July 18, 2008

Overview: “Pew finds that baby boomers are gloomier than Americans older and younger than they are — and their gloom has been around for decades.”

http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/503

State Work Force Faces Crush of Retirements, Report Says
William C. Flook
The Examiner
July 18, 2008

Overview: “More than 25 percent of the Department of Corrections’ workers will be able to retire in the next five years. Not all of those employees will choose to leave the work force at once. An estimated 60 to 70 percent of baby boomers are expected to keep working after they reach retirement age, said Tony Hylton, spokesman for the Virginia office of AARP”

http://www.examiner.com/a-1493486~State_work_force_faces_crush_of_retirements__report_says.html?cid=temp-popular

On the very day IndyMac went belly up, stock prices went down (again) and a recent study on how gloomy boomers are got yet more ink, I was on another planet.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at the Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Geezers Doing Good
Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times
July 20, 2008

Overview: “Some 78 million American baby boomers are now beginning to retire, and one survey this year by a research institute found that half of boomers are interested in starting such new careers with a positive social impact. If we boomers decide to use our retirement to change the world, rather than our golf game, our dodderdom will have consequences for society every bit as profound as our youth did.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/opinion/20kristof.html?em&ex=1216699200&en=c87a8d3515851406&ei=5087

Closing the Gaps Between the Ages
Ann Meyer
The Chicago Tribune
July 21, 2008

Overview: “While the so-called generation gap is nothing new, the younger set, with a keen interest in immediate gratification and often little consideration for policies and corporate hierarchies, is causing plenty of employer headaches, experts said.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-minding-generation-gap-jul21,0,4908668.story

Don't Be Afraid of Mid-Career Change
Hillary Rhodes
The Cabin
July 21, 2008

Overview: “The Baby Boomers were affected by the depression-era parenting. Our training was, pick a major very young, know what you're going to be and stick to it. We were trained to fear change, and security was the be-all, end-all. What I'm training people to do is realize the greatest security is you can deal with anything life presents you. There are only two innate fears: fear of falling and fear of loud noises. It's not natural to be afraid of career change.”

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/072008/sty_0720080042.shtml

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby Boomers Looking for Jobs Find the Landscape Has Changed
Bob Moos
The Dallas Morning News
July 21, 2008

Overview: “Having spent their career with only one or two employers, many [Boomers] are looking for work for the first time in years. Some have been laid off. Others have taken buyouts but can't afford to retire. Still others are coming out of retirement because their nest eggs have shrunk. Workers 55 and older take an average of 21 weeks to find a job, about five weeks longer than younger job seekers, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute.”

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/072008dnbusjobinterview.47f109b.html

Getting Younger by the Day
Brenda Woods
Herald.ie
July 22 2008

Overview: “It seems we can all knock 10 years off our ages and we have the Canadians to thank for it. It's now official -- 50 is the new 40, and 40 is the new 30. That can only mean good things for the thirtysomethings. A recent national survey in Canada said that 61pc of baby boomers felt 10 years younger than their true age.”

http://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/getting-younger-by-the-day-1438103.html

Communication at Work
Robert J. Holland
Richmond.com
July 22, 2008

Overview: “A lot has been written about the difference between Baby Boomers – people born between 1946 and 1964 – and Generation Y, who joined the workforce around the new millennium. Yet, for all their differences, a new global study commissioned by the IABC Research Foundation found that the two generations have some striking similarities as well.”

http://www.richmond.com/business/24950

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to learn that boomers buy about 1 in every 7 books sold each year - this according to Sara Nelson, editor in chief of Publisher’s Weekly, who was recently interviewed online by a blogger on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Web site (blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com).

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Speak Up
David Stillman and Lynne Lancaster
Business Week
July 21, 2008

Overview: “Sure, we have those Boomers who are retiring in the traditional way, but many Boomers not only enjoy working, but feel identified by their jobs. Others have a strong need to be fulfilled and make a difference. Still others must continue working to stay afloat financially. Not enough leaders are tuned in to Boomers who are far from wrapping it up and are only beginning to ramp it up—a golden opportunity in a time where talent is scarce, but a huge missed opportunity when no one is willing to talk about it.”

http://www.businessweek.com/business_at_work/generation_gap/archives/2008/07/speak_up.html

The Swinging Set
Jennifer Parks
Canada.com
July 23, 2008

Overview: “While there's nothing new about swapping spouses, we're becoming less likely to pass judgment…Today's baby boomers are more sexually fulfilled, and are open to experimenting and having multiple partners, says a survey by online dating website Lavalife.”

http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/story.html?id=3ab75597-fcda-4740-975a-73b015e29c01

If Senior Citizen Sir Mick Jagger Can Keep Rocking - So Can We
Richard Morrison
Times Online
July 23, 2008

Overview: “I think the baby-boomers may have been a historical blip…Healthier and wealthier than any previous generation, they grew up in an era seeded with hope, revolution and verdant creativity. How much they were favoured by the tide of history and how much they created their own good luck by their feisty resolve to live their lives as they wished will always be debated.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/richard_morrison/article4379836.ece

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Older Aussies Spending Their Kids' Inheritance
The Sydney Morning Herald
July 24, 2008

Overview: “Two-thirds of Aussies over 55 years of age are eager to hit the road for an extended trip around Australia. It is a ritual which many have been following for many years. They're known as "grey nomads" and they are out on Australia's roads in their tens of thousands.…Eighty per cent are likely to spend their kids' inheritance - the SKIN principle, Spending Kids' Inheritance Now - on travel.”

http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/older-aussies-spending-their-kids-inheritance/2008/07/24/1216492606846.html

Multiple Generations at Work
Genevieve Roberts
Virginia Business
July 23, 2008

Overview: “The workplace is full of various personalities, employees of diverse backgrounds and differing viewpoints. No, I’m not speaking of ethnicity or national origin. Rather, I’m referring to the dynamics of multiple generations at work today. Each generation brings with them a unique set of characteristics, expectations and experiences. Therefore, it’s important for employers to acknowledge the generational differences, understand and respect them (not just tolerate them), in order to bridge the gaps and work together cohesively.”

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/opinion/article/multiple-generations-at-work/1319/

Maybe Those Whining Boomers Have Reason to Complain
Matt Thornhill
In Rich.com
July 24, 2008

Overview: “These days everyone from Oprah and Dr. Phil to USA Today is offering not-so-deep thoughts on boomers in their late 40s, 50s, and early 60s. The number of studies, reports, articles, and opinions trying to analyze the current mindset of 78 million Americans is overwhelming. From national studies by Pew Research, to academic papers written by sociologists and psychologists, to articles by Gen X-age reporters at national newspapers like The Washington Post, to blogs penned (with the help of spell check) by wet-behind-the-ear bloggers, everyone wants to weigh in on the unhappy, gloomy, not-the-greatest-by-a-long-shot generation: baby boomers.”

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-24-0002.html

I got a great laugh from The Daily Show segment featuring Kristin Schaal’s take on older women as cougars trying to snare younger men. I thought it was even funnier when she labeled older men doing the same as Redenbachers. But really, isn’t this all about headlines, stereotypes and people trying to define some new space in their lives?

For the rest of today's blog, continue at the Boomer Blog

Top News from Todays "Boomiverse"

Old Workers Look to Ease into Retirement
Tess van Straaten
Business Edge
July 25 2008

Overview: “More and more people are finding that to be true as the trend to keep working on your own terms gets a big boost from Baby Boomers. No longer a cut-off date, it seems retirement is something that many workers would prefer to ease into. ‘Baby Boomers have had a tendency over their careers to work really hard, to work long hours and for them to just stop working one day and do nothing is really hard,’ explains Danley Yip, division director for Robert Half Management Resources.”

http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/18340.cfm

Generational Conflict Impacting Productivity
Queens Land Business Review
July 25, 2008

Overview: “A substantial proportion of HR managers believe that conflicts between the generations affect workplace performance, according to a new study. Nearly half the respondents (48 percent) to a survey of 1060 HR practitioners agreed that inter-generational conflict affects performance, and nearly three quarters of respondents (71 percent) said that organisations should have strategies in place to manage generational differences, with the same proportion (71 percent) saying their organisation does not have a strategy to manage the issue.”

http://www.qbr.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=35753&cp=displaystory

It's Not All About Money!
Stuart Kahan
WebCPA
July 25, 2008

Overview: “It’s no secret that plenty of the 76 million Baby Boomers are tossing and turning every night, trying to calm down and get to sleep. Why? Clearly, they are concerned about whether they will have enough money to retire. But, add to that is the vital question of what they would like to do with their lives after such retirement.”

http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=27881

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby Boomers Aren’t a Homogeneous Group
James Dornbrook
Kansas City Business Journal
July 25, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers — 78 million strong — represent a vast market for everything from financial services to health care to real estate. Ranging in age from 44 to 62, this group also offers a vastly diverse set of wants, needs and expectations, and a range of perspectives on what it means to be a baby boomer.”

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/07/28/focus28.html?b=1217217600%5E1673420

American Idle
Jennifer Nicholson Graham
Boston.com
July 27, 2008

Overview: “‘HOW YA BEEN?’ THE GROCERY- STORE CLERK ASKED THE WOMAN IN front of me. ‘Busy, busy, busy,’ she answered wearily. ‘Me too,"’ said the clerk, and everyone around nodded sympathetically. Of course they were busy. They were baby boomers, as I am, and you can conjugate the boomers like this: I am busy; you are busy; he, she, and it are busy.”

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/07/27/american_idle/

Role Models for Fitness
Bill Lohmann
InRich.com
July 26, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers and others beyond the traditional age of competitive sports don't need a lot of encouragement when it comes to acknowledging the importance of exercise -- even if they don't all carry through by actually jogging, lifting weights or taking aerobics classes… ‘The boomers are really the first generation that's grown up with exercise as part of their life’…”

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-26-0014.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby Boomers Become the Forgotten Consumer
Jennifer Mann
The Kansas City Star
July 29, 2008

Overview: “There are almost 100 million consumers in the United States who are age 50-plus. They control more than $8 trillion in assets, more than 70 percent of the disposable dollars in the U.S. Yet they barely get passing notice from American advertisers.”

http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/724432.html

Older, Wiser, and Available
Stacey Chase
Boston.com
July 27, 2008

Overview: “An AARP analysis of 2007 US Census Bureau data found that of the 76.7 million baby boomers, 18.5 percent were divorced or separated, 10.6 percent had never married, and 2.8 percent were widowed, making nearly a third of the generation (24.5 million) single.”

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/07/27/older_wiser_and_available/

Baby Boomers Not Backing Down from Foot and Ankle Arthritis
Newswise
July 29, 2008

Overview: “They danced to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and disco. They worked out with Jane Fonda and made jogging their national pastime... Now approaching retirement, many members of the 'Me Generation' aren't ready to slow down, even if their bodies are. Foot and ankle surgeons say Baby Boomers are more likely than previous generations to seek care when arthritis develops in their toes, feet and ankles.”

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/542957/

“Are you on Twitter yet?” The question came to me from a fellow boomer, who was part of the in-crowd on the “what’s next” technology frontier.

“Twitter is way cool, but what I’m really into now is Yelp,” I replied.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Bucking Boomer Back Pain
Mary Beth Faller
The Arizona Republic
July 29, 2008

Overview: “Back pain is one of the most common complaints that send Baby Boomers to the doctor. The National Institutes of Health reports that 80 percent of adults in this age group will have a bout with back pain in their lifetimes… One good way to build both back strength and flexibility is to practice yoga.”

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/2008/07/29/20080729boomerback0729.html

It's Binge There and Drunk That for Baby Boomers
Rebekah Cavanagh
Northern Territory News
July 30th, 2008

Overview: “BINGE drinking is normally associated with young revellers -- but a new report shows baby boomers are out-drinking their kids. “

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/07/30/4870_ntnews.html

Retire to Your Dream Job
Mary Beth Franklin & Bob Frick
Kiplinger.com
July 30, 2008

Overview: “Boomers are redefining what it means to grow old. Although the most senior among them can start collecting Social Security benefits now, many of them won't. Instead, they'll stay on the job so they can bolster their retirement savings and hang on to employer-sponsored health benefits until they qualify for Medicare at 65. Others, who are more financially prepared, may take the opportunity to pursue a new career or volunteer -- and find a life that's more enticing than living in a gated golf community. And some will look for part-time or seasonal work just to stay busy or to make ends meet.”

http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2008/07/rpg_retire_to_your_dream_job.html