Hi Jennifer! Thanks for the nice comment. I agree - Katherine Bigelow deserves a second look-see from us all. She's an amazing talent.

Thanks, Sylvia. You might enjoy a blog I like called Women and Hollywood. It's at www.womenandhollywood.com. Lots of great content!

Thanks, Sam, for your nice comment. For those of you reading this who don't know Sam, I encourage you to check out her blog at www.PopofMind.blogspot.com. Talk about insightful and original! it's a treat!

Interesting perspective, Rebecca. I can't say that I've had that experience - feeling the films were too focused on 20-somethings. Perhaps, though, that's because I have kids in their 20's and the films I've seen that did focus on that age group were actually interesting to me. As you know from attending TFF, there's so much variety there, it's easier to see films that are more relevant to our age group. I think maybe part of the issue is younger people are financing movies these days and backing younger producers. That's why it's such a joy to see movies like It's Complicated and Julie & Julia break away and do well!

Thanks for your comment, Nick. I haven't seen data that dates back for several decades, but you'll notice the current data does indicate that the largest portion of volunteer time is contributed to religious organizations. Certainly, many moms keep the wheels turning at our PTOs, Camp Fire Girls, etc., thank goodness. The wonderful thing about volunteerism is that it's as individual as the people who give their time!Oh, and BTW, did you know that, on average, people who volunteer live longer than those who don't?

Hi Rebecca, Thanks for your comments and please accept my condolences on the passing of your father. I know exactly where you're coming from. My dad also doesn't want to "have to deal with lawyers" and while I know some things about his wishes and he and mom have shared general information about their insurance policies, I'm not certain I know about all of them, nor have I actually read them. I only know they're filed in a drawer. I think this site is a great solution and I intend to make sure Ralph and I register all our papers this way!

Hi Kate. Thanks for your note.Yes, I did read the article on the 12 most annoying types of FB posters. It was spot on and I even sent it out to my connections as a status update. Of course, people rarely see themselves in articles like that! Hence, my love of the "hide" button. I do agree that it can get overwhelming to try and follow a lot of thought leaders or even friends. I already get 300-400 e-mails a day, so I'm hesitant to add to my own load!

Thanks for weighing in, Andrea. I agree with you that when you're posting on FB, you shouldn't have to be concerned about "offending" a client or business colleague. I personally don't think companies should block their employees from getting onto social networks at the office, but I do think employees need to be judicious. I do find myself making judgments about folks based on what they choose to put out there!

Thanks for your nice compliment, Steve. Your analogy is a good one. No business desk belongs in the middle of the playground. And I agree that sometimes you can make contacts on FB that can translate to business. What bugs me is when people use their status update almost daily - and sometimes multiple times a day - to remind us what they do for a living. I guess I feel like if people are good enough friends to be connected on FB, they probably already have a good idea what we do. Good luck with Twitter, btw. It's a great tool for business building when used properly!

Chris, I couldn't agree more. I found myself trying to slow down my reading during the last few chapters of The Help. I didn't want it to end. What a profound, beautifully written book. To me, the mark of a good book is whether I'd read it again. No question The Help will stay in my Kindle so I can revisit it like a friend. I'm so glad you've brought it to your readers' attention!

Hi Ian, Thanks for reading my blog. You say I haven't identified boomers, and yet I do so right in the title of my blog - they're people who were born between 1946 and 1964. And yes, I'm over 48... in fact, I'm 52, which I've revealed many times in this blog. BTW, I don't "lump in" people to the boomer generation - your age determines what generation you're in. And if you're between 45 and 63, but don't self-identify as a boomer... well, that's certainly your privilege. Edelman's research shows 28% of people who are technically boomers do not identify as such.

Mark, thanks for reading my blog and correcting my error. I was so certain he pitched for Shamwow, but just now I looked it up and you're right, he wasn't their pitchman. Just goes to show that when you're as ubiquitous as Billy was, it's easy for people to assume if they remember the product, they remember who pitched it. Anyway, I stand corrected. Thanks.

Thanks for your comment, Sharon. I don't get it either, especially since hearing aids are so small now. Women in particular can usually wear the in-the-canal type aids without anyone ever noticing. Heck, I never had any idea until you wrote this comment that YOU wear them! Totally agree with you on the phone/aid situation. When I purchased my last phone, I did a lot of research on which ones are most compatible with my aids and ended up purchasing an LG from Verizon. I can hear great on it, but I still can't use a headset with my aids!

Yes, interest started trailing off a little over the weekend, probably because we started being told by the media it wasn't as severe as originally thought. As you know, "if it bleeds, it leads." So, sadly, unless several people die - especially children - it'll begin to fade as a top story. It's the media way - create mass hysteria then move on to something else. Sigh.

Great observation, Terry! Thanks! BTW, I've added your web site, Encore Careers, to my blogroll. It's a great site and I highly recommend it to boomers who want to learn more about new careers!