Media

It’s here! The 40^th Anniversary of what some of us would consider our most memorable summer. Whether you were there to slog through the muddy fields yourself, or you heard about it from friends, it’s hard to forget Woodstock and August of 1969.

In celebration of the good times that summer and all those that have followed, we present to you a small collection of sites and events that might help you to revisit that weekend:

The original Woodstock documentary was released in 1970, and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1996.

A new film called “TAKING WOODSTOCK” is set for release in late August. Visit the IMDB website for more information and to view trailers for the film.

NEWSEUM WOODSTOCK EXHIBIT:

If you happen to be near DC on Saturday Aug. 15, join former New York Times journalist Bernard Collier, as he talks about what made Woodstock newsworthy.

Share your own memories of Woodstock with us! What do you think was so unique about the event? Were you forced to stay at home or did you head off with some friends to camp out in the fields? Have you been to anything like it since?

Filed under: Boomers • Fun • History • Media

Think Baby Boomers are slowing down? Not a chance!

In fact,  Baby Boomers currently have the highest rate of starting a new business of any age group in the U.S.

U.S. News and World Report published an article the 0ther day stating that “over the past decade, the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity was among people between the ages of 55 and 64,” and that “about 21 percent of all workers who change careers after age 51 are self-employed at their new jobs.”  It goes on to say that after making the decision to start a business, “entrepreneurial baby boomers need to pick a place to set up shop.”  Here at Springboard we took particular interest because, frankly, we couldn’t agree more!

(Check out the U.S. News and World Report article here)

While the article focusses on great places for entrepreneurial boomers to retire, we feel that the real expert on the subject is our author Barbara Corcoran, real estate guru, who wrote an entire book devoted to the subject of where to “live your life” called Nextville. Not only does Corcoran’s book include a quiz to help you figure out where and how you want to live, but it breaks each location down by cost, weather, median age, and local activities. Nextville is actually about to come out in paperback, and includes a new forward by Corcoran about how to survive the current (read: tough!) real estate market.

For more info, check out Barbara Corcoran’s website directly:

http://barbaracorcoran.com/

Filed under: Boomers • Media

Facebook began in 2004 as a way for college students to connect with classmates at their respective schools. The original Facebook networks were exclusive to students who had direct contact with each other. It was a way for students to see, for instance, who else was in their Biology 101 class. Two years later, Facebook had exploded into a world-wide social networking site.

This past Monday The New York Times ran an article about how social networking websites like Facebook  and MySpace have become important to “aging baby boomers” because they provide an easy way for people to connect with each other from home at a time when they begin to feel most isolated. 

The article concludes that by providing an easy way for people to connect with each other, social networking sites have enriched the lives of many aging adults.

A few months ago The New York Times ran another article emphasizing the importance of friends and social connections to longevity of life.

So is it safe to conclude that Facebook, MySpace and Twitter (to name a few) are actually increasing the life expectancy of those who participate in the social networking world?

What do you think?

How do you feel about these websites?  Have they affected people positively? Negatively?

Interesting factoid:

Despite the fact that Facebook was created for 18-21 year olds, CNN.com ran an article in April stating that women over 55 are currently the biggest market for facebook.

Filed under: Boomers • Media • News

We’re entering swimsuit season which means that women around the country are looking in the mirror and wondering how they’ll pull it off this time around. Finding a flattering swimsuit can be a daunting and demoralizing task after a long winter. Feeling self-conscious about the extra winter weight and loss of muscle-tone may be a yearly tradition for you, but this time Charla’s here to help!

Our fabulous beauty expert Charla Krupp has some advice about how to look younger and feel better in a bathing suit this summer. This week she did an interview with Oprah in which she gave some tips about how to choose the right bathing suit for your body.

Here’s the link to her interview in O, The Oprah Magazine:

Filed under: Media • Style

Paula Span, author of WHEN THE TIME COMES (in stores this June!)

When she’s not writing, Paula Span, one of our own Springboard authors, teaches classes at Columbia University. She teaches such classes as “Techniques of Feature Writing,” and serves as an advisor to students working on their master’s projects. We are delighted to announce that this past week Paula was named Teacher of the Year by the Class of 2009. This award is quite an honor, and was presented to her by The Society of Professional Journalists at Columbia.

Congratulations Paula!

Read more about the award on the Columbia University website!

Filed under: Books • Media

I don’t know how many of you have seen Charles Grodin’s great comedic roles in The Heartbreak Kid or Midnight Run, but his performances are laugh-out-loud funny. What you may not know, is that he’s also a really great person who has spent much of the last 20 years giving back to those who need help–from the homeless (he is a major fundraiser for Help USA) to those who are suffering extremely long imprisonments under the felony murder rule.
We are so proud to have published HOW I GOT TO BE WHOEVER IT IS I AM, Chuck’s recent memoir that recounts the “teaching moments” in his life from his days in Hebrew School to his days as a talk show host. His stories are funny and revelatory. I am lucky enough to know Chuck; I’d like to introduce him to you through his book.

Filed under: Books • Boomers • Media

It seems like everyone is talking about Susan Boyle. The New York Times even devoted a large part of the Sunday Styles section this past weekend to an article about “the dowdy Scottish spinster who sang her way to fame” on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. The reason Susan Boyle is the talk of the town is not just that she’s a great singer—it’s that she’s a great singer who is an unattractive and awkward middle-aged woman. If Ms. Boyle had been young, or if she had been attractive, the story would not be what it is.

What do you make of all this?               

(If you haven’t seen the video, watch it here on YouTube )

Do you think it’s fantastic she’s getting recognition despite her looks, or do you think it’s upsetting she’s getting such extreme recognition because of her looks?  Is this a big deal or not? Have people learned a lesson about making superficial judgments, or is Susan Boyle being sensationalized only to be forgotten after her 15 minutes of fame?  Let us know what you think!

Many people have voiced their opinions on the Susan Boyle story, including our own author, Charla Krupp. On her blog, Charla states that, “Part of [Susan's] charm is the way she looks. What a big mistake it would be for her to undergo an extreme makeover at this point.” Still, since Charla gives such great beauty advice, she lists a few things that Susan could do to change her look if she wanted to. And lucky for us, her tips are useful for us, too. Here’s a teaser:

        5. Only wear light pink lipstick. Dark reds or wines are aging.        

Check out the rest of Charla’s tips here!

Filed under: Media • Style

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Open up your windows, and let the fresh air in!

Yup—it’s time for spring cleaning.                                

Why not lighten up for the new season

by getting rid of all the clutter that has

accumulated during the long winter?

Out with the old!                                                                    

Gail Blanke, author of Throw Out Fifty Things  recently appeared on the Today Show to give some advice about  how (and why) to simplify our lives by getting rid of the things we don’t need.  Creating physical and mental space in your life is the best way to usher in the new season.

Here is the video of Gail on the Today Show

Filed under: Media

Time also has a wonderful interview with Judith Sills on their website. She talks about the idea of “turning single.” Here’s what she says:

To become single involves more than the absence of a partner. It is a wardrobe change. It is a social status change. It’s a financial change. It is a change in your whole sense of self. So in order to be part of the new romantic world, over time you have to become a single woman and see yourself actually walking into a party and having a person say to you, “Would you care to go out for a drink after this party,” and leaving the party with him. What an odd thing, to leave a party with someone you didn’t arrive with. You haven’t done it since you were 23.

If anyone out there can relate, come and share your story. We want to hear about your dating woes, or your successes. And you can read the entire interview here.

Filed under: Media

And you can read more about the book here.

Filed under: Media