Monthly Archive for February, 2010

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French Anti-smoking Ads Target Teens Effectively

Published on February 23, 2010 in Baby Boomer. 6 Comments Tags: , .

Yeah, this might get a few teens to associate their tobacco addiction to something they might consider less cool. It’s effective because the man in the picture represents an authority figure that a teen would never hang with.

I like these ads.

UPDATE:

Huge controversy over these ads across the pond.

Christiane Terry, who represents a socially conservative family-friendly organization called Familles de France told The Daily Beast that the ad is “indecent” for its provocative portrayal of “denigration, humiliation, and submission.”

Christiane Terry, who represents a socially conservative family-friendly organization called Familles de France told The Daily Beast that the ad is “indecent” for its provocative portrayal of “denigration, humiliation, and submission.”

Women’s groups in France have been more direct, lambasting everything from a new “trivialization of sexual violence” to the sudden disappearance of decades of progress. The shock-ad has even allowed its enemy, Big Tobacco, to portray itself and 29,000 beloved French kiosk sellers of cigarettes as victims of a campaign that goes over the top by suggesting that they are equal to rapists and pedophiles.

Shutter Island: DiCaprio and Scorsese Can’t Fix Bad Screenplay

Published on February 22, 2010 in Baby Boomer. 3 Comments Tags: , , .


When we saw the trailer for Shutter Island, we both agreed it would be a movie we wanted to see. It had been ages since we had the crap scared out of us or seen a really good mystery.

We both like Leonardo DiCaprio and I especially like Martin Scorsese movies.

Nancy said we had to go to an early matinée so when we came out there was still daylight.  She didn’t want to go home in the dark, she was so convinced that Shutter Island would be that intense.

It was a really nice day and I didn’t want to waste it sitting inside a dark theater so we compromised and went to the four o’clock showing.

What a waste of time and money. I not only didn’t like the movie, worse yet, I actually thought it was boring. There was at least a half dozen times I just put my head back and listened to the dialog drone on.

This was a screenplay that written backwards from a great idea for an ending. The last plot twist was excellent. (No spoilers.)  The end of the movie left me wondering where the truth was. Nice. But truly a forgettable movie.

But getting to the point of the movie was painful.

If I was the film editor, I could have cut this movie down from 138 minutes to at least 100 minutes and still maintained the story line. It probably would have improved the flow and been a better movie.

There was not one scary part. I can state this for a fact because I have no bruises from where Nancy grabbed one of my body parts. She agreed that it was a disappointing effort.

Even the special effects were pretty lame.

Leonardo DiCaprio was convincing as a tormented man whose mind was twisted and turned inside out. Ben Kingsley as the antagonist is just OK.

From the trailer and pre-publicity, you will know this is the story of a U.S. Marshal sent to an island for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of an inmate/patient.

Go see Shutter Island if you like a plot that takes forever to develop and an ending that is fairly routine. Better yet, rent any other DiCaprio or Scorcese movie and save your money for a better movie.

Geeky Animated Gif Monday

Published on February 22, 2010 in Baby Boomer. 0 Comments

Eggsactly what you need in the a.m.


From Jonco

Tom Brokaw is Going to Use 120 Minutes To Explain Boomer$. Summit Explains How to Touch a Boomer

Published on February 21, 2010 in Baby Boomer. 2 Comments Tags: .

Regular readers will know that I have a real problem with boomers being lumped together in one giant demographic and so-called experts proclaiming we all have similar traits and are homogenized.

“TOM BROKAW REPORTS: BOOMER$!” WILL PREMIERE ON MARCH 4TH ON CNBC

CNBC will premiere a 2 hour documentary, “TOM BROKAW REPORTS: BOOMER$!” on Thursday, March 4th at 9pm. In a two-hour documentary, Tom Brokaw tells the story of history’s wealthiest and most influential generation. From hula hoops to civil rights, in war and politics, Brokaw chronicles the extraordinary impact 78 million baby boomers have had on American society over the past six decades, and explores the challenges they face as they begin to approach the age of retirement.

CNBC couldn’t find a boomer to do the documentary? Brokaw is 70, well outside the boomer edge. But then again, all the real boomers have real jobs hosting the nightly news on real networks like NBC, CBS, ABC.

They obviously are too important to mess around talking about the boomers. Pshaw, I say, Fie on you. A pox on your botox..

Boomers are hot because they represent an opportunity to sell books and junkets.

The Seventh Annual What’s Next Business Boomer Summit is March 19, 2010 in Chicago. The most recent agenda is posted.

They promise a “prominent list of presenters…”

  • The COO of AARP. AARP: AARetired People. Boomers are 62 tops and pretty much have seen their retirement decimated by the crash. Unless they are retired military or UAW worker, the AARP is going to be irrelevant unless they change their deal to AAReally Pissed.
  • The Sr. VP of iVillage. Tell me about iVillage. g’head. You can’t because you don’t know and don’t care who or what iVillage does. Hint: it’s connected to the same geniuses that hired Tom Brokenjaw for Boomer$.
  • Chief economist of Zillow.com. He’s going to tell junket-takers “boomer houses are worth less and therefore they will not move to Ft. Myers.”
  • CEO of Posit Science (www.positscience.com), the leader in delivering clinically-proven brain fitness software. This is the NBT (next big thing) for boomers, exercising your brain. Here’s a clue: don’t watch “The Bachelor”, “Biggest Loser”, “Extreme Makeover”, any show with “Kardashian” in the title or credits.
  • Vice President of Advertising Sales at Retirement Living TV (RLTV). Same deal as iVillage. Who the hell is Retirement Living TV? I spend more hours on the web than most boomers I know, and I have never heard, seen or read anything about Retirement Living TV. So I Googled it, the first story is “Atrial fibrillation” WTF? And of course the second is the 80 year old unofficial spokesperson for “all things retired” Florence Henderson (who does not appear nude – yet.) That was Shirley Jones who was almost nude - America keeps getting the two confused.

To sell the junket to Chicago in March (ewwww) the promoters suggest:

you need to be able to answer three questions:

  • Specifically — who is this baby boomer/senior customer and what is their unmet need?
  • Where can your customer be found
  • Who or what touches your customer

Naturally, I am here to serve and since I am one of the oldest boomers, I am totally qualified to answer the questions:
Who is boomer? Born between 1946 and 1964.
Where can your customers be found? In the United States and Canada.
Who or what touches your customer? “Touch me and I’ll kill ya.” (Psycho aka Francis from “Stripes”)

There you go!
Please send your money to ShitYourBoomerSays via paypal.com. I will give suitable documentation so you can be reimbursed. If you have extra expense account items, please list them and the amount you would be able to sneak by the approver. “Hookers” and “Hotel Porn” will both be listed as “Taxis and Tolls.”

Sunday Stealing: More Stuff about Me Meme (me me me!)

Published on February 21, 2010 in Baby Boomer. 4 Comments

Today we ripped this meme off blogger named Boppo from the blog Boppo the Clown’s Journal. She states that she grabbed it at Drgncrystlwkr. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft’s thieves might take some time. It is a long meme, so we will do it in parts. Today is Part Two. If you missed last week, do them together today! Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!

Sunday Stealing: The Clown’s Meme 2 – I didn’t do part two, I guess I missed it!

34. What do you like about the summer? Heat AND Humidity. Every state east of the Mississippi has heat and humidity that is sometimes oppressive. Floridians think they have the H & H market cornered, but na-uh. It’s everywhere, it just may not last as long.

35. What do you like about spring? The new flowers and coming greenness.

36. How many states provinces have you lived in? MI, MO, IN, IL, KY

37. What cities/towns have you lived in? Allen, Big Rapids, and Bay City, MI; Boonville, MO, Ft. Branch and Wabash, IN; Monmouth, IL, Bowling Green, KY.

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet? Assuming warmth isn’t a factor. Bare feet. I often walk the dogs barefoot in the street during the summer. I get tough feet.

39. Are you a social person? Not very. I can be sociable however. I’ve changed. I used to be engaging when in a group of strangers, now I really don’t give a shit. If approached, I am a great listener.

40. What was the last thing you ate? Nutri-system chocolate snack.

41. What is your favorite restaurant? Central Grocery for Muffalettas, Commander’s Palace for Bread Pudding, both in New Orleans. I love the bathroom at the Silver Saddle Room of the Cowboy Club in Sedona. We had a great time at the Grand Canyon Bright Angel Lodge Restaurant simply because three out of the four of us got the uncontrollable giggles because I botched a joke told to our server. Had great Apple Pie ala Mode in Hutto, Texas. I have tons of favorites… it depends on what you are looking for and where.

42. What is your favorite ice cream? Home-made vanilla.

43. What is your favorite dessert? See above, add Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and Nestle’s Chocolate Chips.

44. What is your favorite kind of soup? Nancy’s homemade potato. It’s her “comfort food.”

45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich? I don’t care for PB straight. PB cookies or fudge or other stuff made with PB is great.

46. Do you like Chinese food? Yes, but couldn’t name a favorite because I never remember.

47. Do you like coffee? Yes, don’t drink it tho’ But the smell of coffee in the grocery is one of the best.

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average? One.

49. What do you drink in the morning? Nothing.

50. What non-banking related card in your wallet is the most valuable to you? Driver’s license, but if I lost it, I would keep driving.

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? Yes, at home, on the road, the side closest to the electrical outlet for my CPAP!

52. Do you know how to play poker? You bet. Wanna bet? I know all the games of H.O.R.S.E. and play in online tournaments fairly regularly (both free chips and real money.)

53. Do you like to cuddle? Yes, but sleeping with a dog sure has screwed that up.

54. Have you ever been to Canada? I love Canada. If we could flip Canada and Mexico, we would visit more often. Love Quebec.

55. Do you have an addictive personality? Oh hell no.

56. Do you eat out or at home more often? Home, even more now because of diet.

57. What do you miss about highschool, if anything? Worst time of my life. I miss nothing.

58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you? No.

59. Do you want kids? No thank you, have two already.

60. Do you speak any other languages? Nein, nyet, non, iie, onay.

61. Have you ever gotten stitches? Yes, head and knee.

62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? Yes, many many miles when I was 20.

63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool? Oh, toughie. Love to sit by the ocean. Kinda skeered to go in above my waist if there are waves of any size.

64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat? Aisle, because Nancy likes to sit by with window so she can snooze! Nice, huh?

65. Do you know how to drive stick? Yes including a truck with overdrive.

66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on? Bargains. I love a good bargain. I crave bargains. Search them out daily.