What Are Boomers Blogging About?

     Baby Boomers are concerned about momentous events and real news, from the historic to the sociological to the economic.

     It may not surprise you that Baby Boomers, above all, are focused on themselves -- which may explain why I, as a Baby Boomer, write a blog about the comings and goings, the interests and intrigues, of none other than the Baby Boomers. And for those of you who are not Boomers -- and I know there are a few people in America who are not Boomers -- well, maybe you have an older or younger sibling who is a Boomer, and so you can become an honorary member of our exclusive and very special club.

     Okay, I hope you sense a little tongue-in-cheek. But seriously . . .

     Laura Lee Carter, the Midlife Crisis Queen, who, yes, is a bona fide Boomer, says she hopes everyone was able to see "The Boomer List," an interesting and insightful American Masters TV program about growing up Boomer.
   
     American Masters: The Boomer List, which premiered on Sept. 23 on PBS, tells the story of our "influential" (ahem ... see I told you) generation, born between 1946 and 1964, through the lives of 19 iconic boomers—one born each year of the Baby Boom.

     By the way, who did they interview from your birth year? For me it was actor Samuel L. Jackson. So I don't think I'm in bad company.
 
     As if to prove the "exceptionalism" of the Boomers, Modern Senior takes on Ken Jennings, who is decidedly not a Boomer (born 1974). Modern Senior points out that social media (Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, born 1950, was one of those interviewed for the Boomer List) can be a blessing or a curse. Different sites have proven to be powerful platforms that can raise awareness about current events, media censorship and other important issues.

     The trending twitter hashtag #heardwhilstdisabled, exposing society's bias against those with disabilities, was just picking up steam when Ken Jennings, famous for being the champion of the quiz show Jeopardy! sent out a controversial tweet that was offensive to many -- and defended by some. Read his tweet, and weigh in with your thoughts at Is Ken Jennings Not So Smart After All?

View of Flight 93 crash site from the memorial

      Meanwhile, Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting spent a few days visiting friends, and on the way home detoured to a memorial for a seminal event in Boomer (and all American) lives: the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA. Baer shares her thoughts about the 9/11 Memorial, a simple but moving remembrance to 40 ordinary people suddenly confronted with extraordinary circumstances. Read the account of her visit at Pause to Remember.

 
     Finally, on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, Rita R. Robison, consumer journalist, writes about The Great Recession, and how consumers are finally recovering from that dark economic period and are starting to spend again. She reports on a Survey by Consumer Reports showing that people are now, finally, back in the market for major purchases such as homes, cars, and appliances – and that they plan to spend even more money in the coming year.

     What about you? Are you getting ready to help out the American economy by making a major purchase? I, myself, am not. I still haven't recovered from the 2000 - 2002 recession -- the one brought on by the bursting of the Internet bubble and dealt a second blow by 9/11.

     But B has just stepped into the market for a new car. She's got the bug -- she wants a car big enough to feel safe on the highway, but small and nimble enough to scoot around town. So far she hasn't found just the right thing. But I know B. Like most Baby Boomers (Boomer List interviewed Amy Tan for her year), when she sets her mind on something, she gets the job done!