Turned on, tuned in and droppin' in everywhere
By sheer numbers, we've sucked more out of the world, and maybe put more back than any generation on the planet. Take a look at some of the things we've done and the people and forces that influenced us. You'll have lots of opportunities to add your favorites to lists and to voice your opinion. Dig it!
Image courtesy Mimsi Bags & Accessories
Our parents and grandparents gave us the automobile, washing machine, flight, the H-bomb and the A-bomb, the Cold War, other wars we couldn't win, and cold fear of communism. They also gave us prosperity like the world has never seen, minds of our own, unprecedented literature, and rock and roll.We listened, rolled over, tuned out, jumped back in, bought more, traveled more, invented more, than any generation in the history of human kind.
Image courtesy Sherlock77 under
Creative Commons license
We raised our consciousness, transacted our analyses, identified our dysfunctions, and co-opted our co-dependencies. We jogged for health and beauty, sculpted hard bodies, danced with Richard Simmons, boxed Tai-bo, and ran marathons.Time passed and we traded our buses for Beamers and flower power for power suits, power lunches and power sleep. We dressed for success and played as hard as we worked.
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Creative Commons license
Today we keep our bodies limber with Yoga, our minds at peace with Zen, and our fingers on the pulse of the next generation. We're plugged in to cell phones, I-Tunes, Blackberries, bluetooth, and we catch the game on handheld TVs. (Eat your heart out, Dick Tracy.)We're the hippest, coolest, hottest, youngest grandparents the planet has ever seen. We're turned on, tuned in, and droppin' in everywhere. We e-vite, e-trade, e-mail, e-bay, and now we Squidoo.
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What they said
Boomers who changed our world
What's your top boomer quote? Move 'em around. Add to 'em. Pop 'em in here! Try to use quotes that are sourced, 'cause a falsely attributed quote isn't half as much fun.
1
Steve Jobs - CEO Apple Computer
I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being s...10 points
2
Sally Ride, Astronaut
Mind-numbing, bone-rattling and exhilarating - On how it feels to be blasted into space5 points
3
Oprah Winfrey, Talk-show host
Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn't changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I'm just wearing better shoes.5 points
4
Amy Tan, Author
I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.3 points
5
Denzel Washington - Actor
Hollywood is a town that has some stars on the sidewalk - Dateline NBC, July 23rd, 20043 points
6
Bill Clinton, 42nd US president
The world knows of Rosa Parks because of a single, simple act of dignity and courage that struck a lethal blow to the foundations of legal bigotry.2 points
7
Barbara Lee, Congresswoman
It was a vote of conscience - On why she cast Congress' only vote against giving the president broad authority to attack suspected terrorists2 points
8
Linda (Lovelace) Borman - Actor
My name is not Linda Lovelace - Lifelong mantra following her role in Deep Throat2 points
9
Richard Stallman - Wikiquote
My work on free software is motivated by an idealistic goal: spreading freedom and cooperation. I want to encourage free software to spread, replacing...2 points
10
Garry Trudeau, Doonesbury cartoonist
Commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been...1 point
11
George W. Bush, 43rd US President
I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace - Remarks on home ownership at the Department of Housing and Ur...1 point
We heard it, we danced to it, we changed it, we made history
The music - Ten of the best
Listen to the original Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton and tell me in the comments below whether you like it better than Elvis' version.
Oh yeah, and you can vote on these and add to 'em too.
2
The Beatles - Let It Be
They loved Elvis' sound and the sounds comin' from the South--R and B, Blues, Country. They mixed it all up with the sounds of industrial Livermore, s...6 points
4
The Doors - Light My Fire (long version)
Sippin' a milkshake at lunchtime on a wintry day, smell of white leather seats in the big Ford Galaxy 500, sweetheart close beside, and Light My F...5 points
5
Creedence Clearwater Revival Band - Green River
Remember when you felt like you'd been dancin' for hours to the same song and still you hoped it wouldn't end?4 points
6
The Doors - Riders on the Storm
One of the most hauntingly beautiful rock ballads of the era, and that boy Jim could wear leather pants, mm hmm4 points
8
The Eagles - Hotel California
We got a little softer as the sixties faded to the seventies, but the beat went on3 points
9
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Mmmmm, the veils and the riffs and the harmonies kept you dancin' like you were twenty3 points
10
Big Brother and the Holding Company - Cheap Thrills
Do you remember where you were the first time you heard this album and Janis' gravelly, electrifying voice? I can smell the room, feel the orange ...2 points
11
The Rolling Stones - Forty Licks
Mick still can't get no satisfaction, but the Stones keep rollin' and rockin' in their sixties1 point
12
The Very Best of Dusty Springfield
(Viewer added) The undisputed queen of blue-eyed soul, and one of the best female singers of the 60s and beyond.1 point
13
Natural Woman: Very Best of Carole King
(Viewer added) How can I choose one song from this album, now CD. This was one of my favorites and one of my daughter's favorites as well. I was born in 1939; she was born in 1963; my current husband was born in 1949. I think that we cover the gambit, from the beginning to the end and beyond. My personal favorite from this album was the title song, (You make me feel like a) Natural Woman. Great Album/1 point
14
Led Zeppelin: A Classical Tribute
(Viewer added) Stairway To Heaven. The greatest music in the history of rock like you ve never heard it before. Featured here are the musical highlights from Led Zeppelin's career from 1968-1980 featuring the entire spectrum of Zeppelin classics.1 point
15
Paul Weller's You Do Something to Me on Catch-Flame!
(Viewer added) Click through, scroll down, and listen to You Do Something to Me on Disc 2 - Unashamedly romantic. Still gives me the shivers, but the best kind! What is it about Paul Weller? Hmmmmmm....0 points
16
Blue
(Viewer added) One of the very best albums ever made, in my Opinion. Worth playing again if you have not heard this for a while.0 points
What do you think?
Elvis learned his style in the backwoods shacks where people like Big Mama Thornton rocked the night. Did you listen to the Amazon snippet of her singin' Hound Dog?
What did you think?
EdwardRogoff wrote...
Hi there!
I thought you might be interested in this new group I created: Boomers Back in Business. If you have some time, please come check it out, add your lenses, or leave some feedback.
http://www.squidoo.com/group/create_lens/boomer-entrepreneurs/df105b29ede06f714282464b230d835e
Thanks!
Edward Rogoff
Boomers Back in Business
How to Write a Bankable Business Plan
9 Good Reasons Why 50 Plus Entrepreneurship Is In The Cards for You
HomeAndBedroom wrote...
elvis was in the army but he's better off as king of rock and roll!
Lovin_workin_at_home wrote...
Yes, I listened. Elvis was better! Did you know that he and Johnny Cash got their start together? I learned that from Johnny's brother, Tommy, who used to beg to tag along and sit backstage while the older boys sang. Who woulda thunk it?
poutine wrote...
Love Elvis better. I grew up with his songs and like Susan52 said "there's not much that can beat childhood memories."
5 stars
poutine
Forgiven wrote...
5 Star lens! Please visit my faithography lens when you get time and rate it if you would.
It's a little bit country, a little bit folk, a little bit ...
Was it country that rocked you on your heels durin' that time? Downhome folk pickin' mixed with a little blues? From Maria Muldaur's "My Tennessee Mountain Home" to Bobby Gentry's "Ode to Billy Joe" to Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison", we sang, we cried, we stomped and we two-stepped in our high-heeled shit-kickers and our boot-legged (I'm not talkin' about whiskey here) jeans. It just don't get any better 'n that.
Thanks to Lovin_workin_at_home for gettin' this one started with Johnny Cash's 16 Biggest Hits.
1
16 Biggest Hits
If you don't remember Folsum Prison and Ring of Fire, then you ain't a boomer! It wasn't all rock, remember?3 points
2
Maria Muldaur
Smokey, country, bluesy, sexy (Don't you feel my leg), mellow and hot all at once just like the cover. A must-have.3 points
3
The Essential Marty Robbins
He's the cowboy who made it in pop too. What more is there to say. You really gotta hear 'im.2 points
4
Roses in the Snow
Crunchy-delicious mix of bluegrass and country with greats rangin' from Flatt and Scruggs to Paul Simon. Throw in some Johnny Cash, some Dolly Parton ...1 point
Constantly changin'
and full of fun
This lens is chock full of plexos, polls, and places to post your opinion, includin' right here, so don't be shy! I'm cookin' up new Baby Boomer trivia and history all the time so if you love all things Boomer, check back often.
FESA wrote...
I've nominated/voted for Boomers Rockin' the World. I love spending time here. This site is absolutely fantastic!! It's full of historical and fun content that sparks so many memories and moments, including music, books, quotes and news events. Thanks for the memories! Great work! Fran (FESA)
rksmythe wrote...
You've been blessed by a SquidAngel. Keep up the good work. Proud to be a Boomer!
They shook us up, knocked us out, made us think, and rocked our world
Voices that shaped our generation
Who influenced you? Add 'em in here! (Again, please include the source of the quote.)
1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader
One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws - In letter from Birmingham jail upon his arrest for civil disobedience5 points
2
John Lennon, Musician
All we are saying, is give peace a chance3 points
3
Gloria Steinem
There's more to bunnyhood than stuffing bosoms - About her undercover reporter stint as a Playboy bunny, in Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions1 point
4
Fritz Perls, Psychologist
I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are...1 point
5
Allen Ginsberg, Poet & Author
America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel - in America, 19561 point
6
Ken Kesey, author
The answer is never the answer. What's really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you'll always be seeking. I'v...1 point
7
Janis Joplin, Musician
So when I got home, this guy comes up to me and he says, "Well, I hear you learned about the Great Saturday Night Swindle." That's what he c...1 point
8
Timothy Leary, Counter-culture guru
Turn on, tune in, drop out1 point
9
Alan Watts, Author
Zen ... does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes. - The Way...1 point
10
Marilyn Monroe - Actor
Well behaved woman rarely make history1 point
11
Erica Jong
The zipless f--k is absolutely pure. It is free of ulterior motives. There is no power game . The man is not "taking" and the woman is not &...0 points
You're a boomer if ...
you were born between 1946 and 1964 and ...
1
JFK: The Day the Nation Cried
... you remember exactly where you were when you learned that Kennedy had been shot5 points
2
National Geographic - Vietnam's Unseen War - Pictures from the Other Side
... a lot of the guys you knew went to Vietnam and came home broken, or didn't come home at all4 points
3
From the Earth to the Moon - The Signature Edition
... you watched the live telecast of the first moon walk4 points
4
Norma Rae / Working Girl
... you embraced - or not - feminism and the feminist mystique and the idea that a woman's place wasn't necessarily in the kitchen4 points
5
Let's Twist - Chuck Berry
... you learned the twist when it was the latest dance craze3 points
7
Surfin USA
... every guy you knew got a tan and wore a madras shirt and loafers without socks2 points
8
The Grateful Dead Collection
... you opened your mind to a whole lot of ideas your parents never knew existed (so you thought)2 points
9
Historic Civil Rights & Black History Films DVD: African American Racism & Prejudice Movies w/ Martin Luther King (MLK) & Maya Angelou Footage
... you watched Dr. King give his I have a Dream speech, live2 points
10
NBC News Presents: Deep Throat - The Full Story of Watergate
... you know why 18 minutes of erased tape brought down Richard Nixon (and you know what I mean by tape)1 point
11
Macarena Non Stop
... if you were a woman, you wore shoulder pads on your camisole, shoulder pads on your blouse, and shoulder pads on your dress-for-success blazer, and you danced the macarena0 points
12
Baby Boomers Can My Eighties Be Like My Fifties? (Springer Series on Life Styles and Issues in Aging)
... you are starting to look at books like this one0 points
Boomers deliver
Boomers brought a lot of good to the world, not that we haven't messed up here and there, but stayin' on the positive side. What have you, or someone you know or admire, contributed that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside?
Frankster wrote...
I am proud of the way boomers are taking action in righting some wrongs. We're joining the Peace Core; starting or joining non-profits to save endangered species, feed people, stop the violence and save the environment. With the help and support of non-boomers, we can make a huge difference.
KnotGypsy wrote...
Ha Ha, Margaret, My mother, a little too old for the boomers never understood my penchant for long hair on men. One time, some years ago, she finally asked me. I told her. She never said another word to me about it! I think I embarrassed her.
This is a fun site. Adding it to my favorites.
Dedicated to families and survivors of the Vietnam war
The war that wasn't a war
Our brothers, cousins, classmates, friends and husbands fought--and many died--in Viet Nam. Our unarmed sisters and conscientious objectors in the MASH tents patched up their comrades' torn, bullet-ridden, often drug-wracked bodies best they could and sent them home, one by one.There were no parades, no glory days for the soldiers returning home from the war that was not a war.
Those of us who stayed behind patched up their souls best we could. A lot of 'em didn't get better. Some are still druggin' and dyin' slow in cardboard shantytowns under overpasses and in wheelchairs parked on city streets, holdin' out a ragged paper cup for spare change.
Some, though, came home and started families, built houses and office buildings and businesses. Some became teachers, hospital administrators, congressmen, senators. Some ran for president. Some train our sons and grandsons to kill and send them overseas to fight in wars that can't be won.
Image: Vietnam Women's Memorial
Courtesy jcolman
Sympathy for the Devil
by Kent Anderson
Sympathy for the Devil
Hanson is an effective killing machine in Vietnam. He exults in the chase, the surviving, the countryside, and a few buddies, like Quinn and Silver. In a series of episodes the cruelty and madness of war mold him into almost a nonhuman.
Release Date: 08/01/2000
Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 11/09/2009) ![]()
List Price: $7.50
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Are you a Boomer? Know someone who is?
Tell us somethin' you know or remember about the Hip Generation.
Cumberland wrote...
The coolest things remembered from the sixties: Cool cars, cruisin', and watching girl's skirts get shorter. Hey, I'm just a guy, don't blame me.
Having recently created a baby boomer lens I was crusin' Squidoo and found this one. I like it 5 stars worth.
KCStargazer wrote...
Hey Giddy - great to have your Rockin' Boomer's lens join us at the Kaleidoscope Group! I'm just ashamed it took me so long to dig it out of a pile of 200 some pending lenses. Keep on Rockin'!
25 books that shaped our world, our minds, and our behavior
VOTE FOR EVERY ONE YOU'VE READ
Vote for the books you've read. This is a popular list, and it got so long, Giddy had to split it, so you'll see the next 25 titles immediately below this Plexo.
1
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
By turns funny, wise, and heartbreaking, To Kill a Mockingbird is one classic that continues to speak to new generations, and deserves to be reread often. --Alix Wilber8 points
2
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has rivaled Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea as the Shortest Serious Novel It's OK to Write a Book Report About. --Joyce Thompson7 points
3
Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery) by E. B. White
One of the greatest feats of marketing skill and talent ever perpetrated: a spider named Charlotte saves a pig named Wilbur from the ax by spinning the words Some Pig into her web. You read it as a child. I know you did.6 points
4
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Who hasn't suffered with the March girls at the ball, each wearing a single good glove and carrying a torn one? Who hasn't cried when Beth dies? Or shuddered when Jo comes home shorn of her one beauty, having sold her hair?6 points
5
1984 by George Orwell
Orwell's classic continues to deliver its horrible vision of totalitarian society. Once considered futuristic, it now conjures fear because of how closely it fits the reality of contemporary times. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine5 points
6
The Grapes of Wrath (Centennial Edition) by John Steinbeck
In 1939, this was the Great American Novel. This little quote from the story, of patriarch Tom Joad gives you a delicious taste: They're a-workin' away at our spirits. They're a tryin' to make us cringe an' crawl like a whipped bitch. They tryin' to break us. Why, Jesus Christ, Ma, they comes a time when the on'y way a fella can keep his decency is by takin' a sock at a cop. They're workin' on our decency.5 points
7
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Not for the faint of heart, this Pulitzer Prize winner pulls no punches. Repeatedly raped by her father, Celie is torn asunder when her papa sells her children, who are by paternity her brother and sister, then marries her off to a neighboring farmer who enslaves and abuses her. Yet this is a tale of love and the power of love.4 points
8
Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
Perhaps it was Kennedy's impassioned closeups of these eight men that made us trust him. Here he tells us why his heroes should be ours--men who defied political wisdom and risked their reputations and their futures to champion what was right. They did not cave.4 points
9
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
J. D. Salinger's famous classic about a boy coming of age. At the time of publication it caused quite an uproar because of it's language and was b...4 points
10
The Call of the Wild: Complete and Unabridged (Tor Classics) by Jack London
It has always been slightly amusing that London chose to tell this tale from the viewpoint of the dog. The connotations of a tame, comfortable male's descent to vicious killer and subsequent rise to alpha male are provocative to say the least.4 points
11
Pride and Prejudice (Bantam Classics) by Jane Austen
Elizabeth Bennet is the perfect Austen heroine: intelligent, generous, sensible, incapable of jealousy or any other major sin. That makes her sound like an insufferable goody-goody, but the truth is she's a completely hip character, who if provoked is not above skewering her antagonist with a piece of her exceptionally sharp -- but always polite -- 18th century wit. The point is, you spend the whole book absolutely fixated on the critical question: will Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy hook up? --Amazon....4 points
12
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
Author Griffin, a privileged southern white man and a journalist with sympathies for what was known then as the race issue, used chemicals and ultraviolet light to darken his skin. Traveling through the south as a Black man, he experienced racism first hand until he could bear the deprivation no longer.3 points
13
The Autobiography of Malcolm X : As Told to Alex Haley
Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for African Americans. And there's the vividness with which he depicts black popular culture--try as he might to criticize those lindy...3 points
14
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
Deaf, blind, and mute twelve-year-old Helen Keller was like a wild animal. Scared out of her wits but still murderously strong, she clawed and struggled against all who tried to help her. Half-blind herself but blessed with fanatical dedication, Annie Sullivan began a titanic struggle to release the young girl from the terrifying prison of eternal darkness and silence. --From the Publisher3 points
15
The Women of Brewster Place (Penguin Contemporary American Fiction Series) by Gloria Naylor
It chronicles the communal strength of seven diverse black women who live in decaying rented houses on a walled-off street of an urban neighborhood. As the middle-aged matriarch of the group, Mattie Michael is a source of comfort and strength...At the novel's end the women angrily demolish the wall that separates them from the rest of the city. The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature3 points
16
Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver
A collection of essays straight out of Dante's Inferno. The hell is there, and its name is America...as with Malcolm X, Cleaver's book is a spiritual autobiography. An odyssey of a soul in search of itself, groping toward a personal humanism which will give meaning to life...the book is important...the book is extraordinary. --Shane Stevens, The Progressive3 points
17
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Anyone who loves the prairie, language, strong women, and robust life has fallen in love with Cather at some point. We eat her up, like meat and potatoes and apple pie.3 points
18
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
Man, there's somethin' to be said for a book whose cover hasn't changed in nearly thirty years. Inside, they're still drivin' that VW bus and holdin' hands in a circle till Coby stops cryin'.2 points
19
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts
One of the first we read on Eastern philosophy, and one of the first to teach us the value of sitting absolutely still, letting go of our thoughts, one after the other.2 points
20
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
[An] allegory of individualism versus the establishment, which, as a film, gave Jack Nicholson one of his more memorable roles. Cowed by sadistic Nurse Ratched, the inmates of a mental hospital are galvanized by a new patient, the free-spirited McMurphy, who enters a pitched battle of wills with the nurse. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine2 points
21
The Art of Loving (Perennial Classics) by Erich Fromm
An astonishing frank and candid book, ... it explores the ways in which this extraordinary emotion can alter the course of one's life.2 points
22
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
On The Road, the most famous of Jack Kerouac's works, is not only the soul of the Beat movement and literature, but one of the most important novels of the century. Like nearly all of Kerouac's writing, On The Road is thinly fictionalized autobiography, filled with a cast made of Kerouac's real life friends, lovers, and fellow travelers. --Amazon.com2 points
23
The Basic Book of Organic Gardening by Robert Rodale
This is the first mass market book compiled by the editors of Organic Gardening packed with information about organic materials and foods -- and w...1 point
24
Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker
[Tashi's] compelling story is every Eve's account of those "whose chastity belt was made of leather, or of silk and diamonds, or of fear and not of our own 'flesh.'" --Faye A. Chadwell1 point
25
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Silent Spring ... offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Carson argued that ... for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. --Amazon.com1 point
25 more books that shaped our world, our minds, and our behavior
Vote for all you've read
Vote for the books you've read. If you don't see a title that influenced you in some way, add it!
Â
1
Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics) by Charlotte Brontë
The Bronte sisters and Jane Austen were writing romance novels long before Danielle Steele. We wept with Jane on the Moor. We caught our breath with her when we heard Mr. Rochester's bellowed Jane! Jane! on the wind.4 points
2
Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit by Adelle Davis
Davis is another who showed us the relationship of the food we eat to the safety and health of our children. She taught us a new, energy-efficient way to boil eggs, changed our ideas about Jello and helped to launch the Granola Generation.3 points
3
The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon
The spy story to end all spy stories. If you like the movie, you should read the book. It's better.3 points
4
Diet for a Small Planet (20th Anniversary Edition) by Frances Moore Lappe
Lappe was one of the first to show us the connection between politics, the environment and the food we eat. This may be one of the more revolutionary books of our time.3 points
5
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan--One of the first to say, Hey, wait a minute. I can do more than polish silver and furniture! She held the torch.3 points
6
Stranger in a Strange Land, New Edition by Robert A. Heinlein
Epic saga of an earthling, Valentine Michael Smith, born and educated on Mars, who arrives on our planet with psi powers--telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, telekinesis, teleportation, pyrolysis, and the ability to take control of the minds of others--—and complete innocence regarding the mores of man. After his tutelage under a surrogate-father figure, Valentine begins his transformation into a messiah...3 points
7
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson
We waited breathlessly every month for the new Rolling Stone Magazine to come with the latest installment of Thompson's drug-crazed, roiling tale. Savage is right.2 points
8
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Even if we didn't drop acid, or drink it in our Kool-Aid, some of us squinted our eyes and, voyeur-like, peeked into the lives of people who thought LSD was the new Messiah.2 points
9
Hardy Boys Boxed Set 1-6 by Franklin W. Dixon
Did you grow up on the Hardy Boys? Seemed tame to me, like Huckleberry Finn on milk toast instead of a skinned skunk. Still, they had some adventures, and some of 'em more interesting than those of Nancy Drew.2 points
10
Silences by Tillie Olsen
Tillie broke the sound barrier and showed us why we must do everything in our power to break ours. If Friedan encouraged us to leave the kitchen, Tillie taught us to open our mouths (and our typewriters) with confidence.1 point
11
Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas
Lewis helped us see the earth as the living organism it is, teeming with life, simultaneously durable and fragile.1 point
12
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Before Tillie Olsen, Woolf understood how very difficult it is for a woman to find her voice and speak when others would shoo her back to the kitchen. What could we accomplish if we had a room of our own in which to retreat, reflect, renew and create?1 point
13
On Lies, Secrets, and Silence: Selected Prose 1966-1978 by Adrienne Cecile Rich
Ever wonder why women drive their children into the bog? Impossible to understand. Rich, affected as we all are by such stories, delves beneath the surface to help us all, illuminating and healing.1 point
14
Heather Has Two Mommies: 10th Anniversary Edition (Alyson Wonderland) by Leslea Newman
Brave Leslea Newman helps children of lesbian parents understand their often unique situation and the love that makes them a family. Much needed groundbreaking that refuses to pretend all people were made the same.1 point
15
Richard Brautigan's Trout Fishing in America, The Pill versus The Springhill Mine Disaster, and In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan
Self-absorbed Brautigan's odyssey was a kick to read, especially for the guys with fantasies of takin' off with a fishin' rod and a beatup pickup truck.1 point
16
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Somewhat autobiographical, Woolf's exploration of the minds of her characters, and her deft stream-of-consciousness keep you rolling like the waves--absolutley predictable, incessant, and dangerous.1 point
17
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherrie Moraga
More than any single book, this one helped us begin to know and understand our sisters of color both like and different than ours--Black, Latina, Native American, Asian. Feel the rage, the terror, the frustration, the dignity in the face of every imaginable indignity. If you dare, feel the love.1 point
18
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
I didn't like it, but lots of folks thought it groundbreaking and talked about it endlessly. You decide.1 point
19
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Unabridged Classics) by Jules Verne
Long before Jacques Cousteau and his Alvin sub went exploring, Verne thrilled us with until then unimaginable adventures. Pure joy.1 point
20
The Family Bed by Tine Thevenin
After decades of spare the rod, spoil the child parenting advice, moms like Tine Thevenin suggested that nurture and attention just might raise a happier, more self-actuated (aka Maslow) child. Worked for us.1 point
21
Sisterhood is Global: The International Women's Movement Anthology
After Sisterhood is Powerful, and decades before rock stars and movie icons got into the act, Morgan raised our consciousness to the needs of women and their families all over the world. She led the way.1 point
22
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
The rich, deep lives of this family wrap around us like a velvet cloak. We luxuriate in the language, the joy, the terror, the love--so many ways to love--and the sorrow. It is a story to read again and again and to discover always something new.1 point
23
Silent World (NG Adventure Classics) by Jacques Cousteau
Cousteau gave us the real thing--underwater adventures and stunning black and white images of the world swimming in our seas.0 points
24
Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out by Timothy Leary
He went to jail for using the drugs he espoused as agents to open the mind. Later in life, he said maybe he was wrong about some of his early love affair with drugs. One thing is certain. We noticed.0 points
25
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
What influences a boy becoming a man? Baldwin held little back in this autobiographical novel of a Black boy coping with brutality within his home and within society--brutality against race, yes, and against sexuality and gender.0 points
In memoriam: Kurt Vonnegut
A Wikipedia article quotes him in 2006: "I've written books. Lots of them. Please, I've done everything I'm supposed to do. Can I go home now?"
Glad you're home, Mr. Vonnegut. Thanks for all you taught us about war and life and the bravery of living when it would have been so easy to die.
Goodbye Blue Monday
Where do you think Boomers have made the greatest contribution?
As KT Oslin said in her song, 80's Ladies "there just ain't much these ladies ain't tried."
Substitute Boomers for ladies.
Tell us more!
You voted - Now tell us what you are most proud of in our generation
Somethin' was on your mind when you voted the way you did a moment ago. What was it? What makes your heart swell with pride about the Boomer generation? How did we make our mark? What are we doing to leave the world better than we found it?
Speak up! Your opinion is sure to generate some traffic back to your lens.
Cumberland wrote...
I had to go with Space Exploration. The spin offs from the space program have benefited all Americans. The future effects of space travel may change to course of humanity.
Cumberland wrote...
I had to go with Space Exploration. The spin offs from the space program have benefited all Americans. The future effects of space travel may change to course of humanity.
giddygabby wrote...
Yup, Bee, this was my first or second lens. I was taken by the interactive nature of Squidoo. I admit that if I were building lenses today, I would do only one guestbook, but I'm glad you like it this way. I'm always hopin' to start a conversation, 'cause gabbin' is so much fun!
beeobrien wrote...
I've never seen so many guestbooks on one lens. I like it. Really encourages people to chime in. I'm adding this lens to my featured lenses at Cool Gadgets for Baby Boomers.
rogercarr wrote...
I agree that science was a big contributer. Not just the actual advances but also our vision of the future. Consider TV shows like Star Trek and Get Smart...
Nathanville wrote...
The Boomers may have contributed to all the above items to varying degrees, but science has certainly rocketed in recent decades.
Baby Boomer Central
WHAT'S NEW AT BOOMERS ROCK! HQ? WHO'S HOT FOR LENS OF THE WEEK? AND MORE ...
Check it out! What's happenin' at the Boomers Rock group headquarters? See who's joined, who's updatin' their lenses, and get in on the chatter.While you're at it, pick one you like and nominate it for Baby Boomer Lens of the Week (BBLOTW).
Do you have a lens that is about, or for, Baby Boomers? Join! Want to see all the lenses in Boomers Rock!? They're comin' up!
Image courtesy Mimsi Bags and Accessories
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Boomers Rock Headquarters
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Welcome to Boomers Rock! If you have a lens geared toward Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), join us. There's lots here--including the Baby Boomer Lens of the Week contest--to entertain, inspire, and motivate. Enjoy. I wish I d...
Woot! Your vote counts!
Nominate your favorite Baby Boomer lens for Baby Boomer Lens of the Week--don't forget to vote! But wait--You don't have to go to the BBLOTW lens to vote. You can nominate and vote right here, in the next module.
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Baby Boomer Lens of the Week
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If you loved zoomin' around on a CHP Harley with Ponch and Jon, you'll love zippin' around Freaknoodles' CHiPs lens. Thanks to lensmaster Eviejewelry for nomitatin' this week's winner.
Nominate & Vote right here!
THIS IS THE PLACE!
Sizzlin' new lenses pop up in the Boomers Rock! group every week. You've plenty to choose from! Give recognition to your faves--nominate as many as you like. Before you go, grab this plexo for your own lens and invite your fans, friends and family to vote too. First time? Just two rules--read 'em first!
Â
Remember to vote for your nominee!
Then refresh and re-rank so you can see your vote!
EXAMPLE! DO IT JUST LIKE THIS
Nominated by [Your Squidoo name goes here]. [Use t more...0 points
Yes! I nominated a Boomers Rock! Lens for BBLOTW
AND HERE'S WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR IT!
Here's your chance to tell us more about why you picked the lens you nominated. What grabs you? What's hot? What did you learn? If you like, add this badge to your lens and tell your fans who you voted for and why.
GrillGirl wrote...
Pondlady's lens may not sound like Baby Boomer, but it's all about being at that point in life and then NOTHING. Everything washed away by Hurricane Katrina. It's very heartfelt.
GrillGirl wrote...
Since I write on cooking, I was looking at some of the other cooking lenses. I found Cooking for Real People by Susan52. Then, I checked her other lenses. Since I love the color pink, I checked out her Think Pink page. Then I saw the one I nominated about Boomers to Seniors. She has a friendly style
JustBon-Crochet-Designs wrote...
Lots of 70s facts, but particularly the music and entertainment of the 70s decade appeal to me. Nice to be able to suggest your own memories of the time too!
The Avengers: The TV Series
Get ideas for Boomer lenses on Lens Fodder
Plus: Learn why Baby Boomers are still the biggest target on the market
Looking for inspiration for updating your lens? Or to create a new one just for Baby Boomers? You'll find tons of ideas on Fodder for Baby Boomer lenses.-
Fodder for Baby Boomer lenses
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This lens is for you if you are a Boomer lensmaster or are thinking about making a lens about Boomers. We Boomers changed the world. It's up to you, the lensmaster, to show us how we did it, where we're goin' now, and what we just can't do without alo...
The Boomers Rock Lenses
HERE THEY ARE ALL OF 'EM!
You can vote for your faves here, but if you want your vote to count for Baby Boomer Lens of the Week, jump back up and add it to the BBLOTW plexo--then vote for it there too!
Â
The Beatles Songs - My Favorite Kind Of Music
Lensmaster: zuzanna. There were probably bands tha more...9 points
I Really Love Lucy
Lensmaster: Robbin. As a baby boomer, I, along wit more...7 points
Janis Joplin
Lensmaster: copini. Everything about rock singer J more...7 points
Leonard Cohen
Lensmaster: Copini. Everything about singer songwr more...7 points
1963 Corvette Grand Sport
Lensmaster: Margaret_Schaut. This Corvette was sta more...6 points
Paul Simon
Lensmaster: Copini. Everything on Paul Simon (and more...6 points
Boomers Rockin' the World
Lensmaster: giddygabby. By sheer numbers, we've su more...5 points
Stuck in the '70's
Lensmaster: 3dachshunds. Were you born in the 50's more...5 points
These boots are made for walkin'
Lensmaster: Pat2. These Boots Are Made for Walkin' more...5 points
Boomer Babes
Lensmaster: PatinKC. Baby Boomers (technically, th more...4 points
John Lennon on Squidoo
Lensmaster: Pat2. John Lennon was an iconic 20th c more...4 points
Boomer women - Maturing, growing, and working
Lensmaster: Lovin-workin-at-home. Older women have more...4 points
Schoolhouse Rock
Lensmaster: generationzip. Conjunction Junction, w more...4 points
The Avengers
Lensmaster: JustBon_Crochet_Design. The TV series more...4 points
Martin Luther King
Lensmaster: Copini. The Reverend Martin Luther Kin more...4 points
Marti Lawrence
All about Marti...wife, mother, friend, writer, bl more...4 points
From Boomer to senior
Lensmaster: Susan52. Those of us on the early end more...4 points
Outlaw Country
Lensmaster: GrillGirl. Defining Outlaw Country is more...4 points
Classic TV Theme Song Lyrics
Lensmaster: timefortravel. Take a Trip Down Memory more...4 points
Joan Baez on Squidoo
Lensmaster: Pat2. There aren't many in showbiz lik more...3 points
Fodder for Baby Boomer lenses
Lensmaster: giddygabby. This lens is for you if yo more...3 points
Hey You Guys!!! The Electric Company!
Lensmaster: MonkeyGroupie. When my brother and I w more...3 points
Star Wars Fan Site
Lensmaster: bdkz. Yes, I am a Star Wars addict...A more...3 points
Jim Henson
Lensmaster: blondeheroine. Of course, Jim Henson d more...3 points
I Love The Brady Bunch
Lensmaster: bdkz. OK I am a huge fan of The Brady more...3 points
Patricia Cornwell, America's #1 Bestselling Crime Writer
Lensmaster: timefortravel. When Patricia Cornwell more...3 points
Baby Boomer Lens of the Week
Lensmaster: giddygabby. Not eligible for BBLOTW! T more...3 points
Emergency!
Lensmaster: Freaknoodles. Emergency! was a pioneer more...3 points
Tools for Your Memory
Lensmaster: 3dachshunds. I'm a boomer. Big time bo more...2 points
Contemporary Retirement
Lensmaster: AnnHarrison. Retirement is changing. T more...2 points
Tips and Ideas for Becoming an Entrepreneur at Age 50 Plus
Lensmaster: Lindashome. Whether for economic reaso more...2 points
Kurt Vonnegut
Lensmaster: Daione. On Wednesday 11 April 2007, au more...2 points
Aging-Baby-Boomers: How to keep us healthy and safe
Lensmaster: Susan52. Baby Boomers, defined as thos more...2 points
The Cowsills
Lensmaster: VickyS. Back in the early 1960's, four more...2 points
Baby Boomer Friendly
Lensmaster: bookmarkme. Marketing to Baby Boomers- more...2 points
Baby Boomers Get Fit
Lensmaster: emailcash. When I was growing up, I th more...2 points
Baby Boomers, you can buy back your childhood!
Lensmaster: joanv334. Searching for the games and more...2 points
The Music of Nick Drake
Lensmaster: generationzip. With every passing year more...2 points
Recipe For A Vintage 70's Room
Lensmaster: joanv334. Hey, all you groovy 70's guy more...2 points
The Original Perry Mason Television Series
Lensmaster: timefortravel. Perry Mason, the most s more...2 points
Retired and Ready to ...
Lensmaster: purplelady. We are looking for people more...2 points
Gordon Lightfoot: Gord's Gold
Lensmaster: Freaknoodles. Gord's Gold is not just more...2 points
How To Boost Your Baby Boomer Brain Power
Lensmaster: MaryAnderson. Are you a baby boomer th more...1 point
Games for Boomers...what baby boomers like in a game
Lensmaster: thydot. As baby boomers it has been a more...1 point
TheHalfCenturyGrrl
Lensmaster: AdrienneZurub. Thoughts on what turnin more...1 point
Boomer-centric marketing
Lensmaster: WCM. What is Boomer-Centric? A Boomer- more...1 point
Boomersaurus Rocks Colorado
Lensmaster: Boomer. Boomersaurus is a northern Col more...1 point
Boomer Fitness
Lensmaster: eproduct-mentor. Boomers, it's time to more...1 point
If retirement is in your future, you need to read this
Lensmaster: BeverlyM. This baby boomer is rockin' more...1 point
Off The Beaten Path
Lensmaster: RedHotMama. Welcome, Baby Boomers, as more...1 point
Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
Lensmaster: BeverlyM. Middle age spread is one iss more...1 point
Boomer Business
Lensmaster: eproduct-mentor. Boomers, haven't you more...1 point
Block Buster! British Glam Rock of the 70s
Lensmaster: JustBon_Crochet_Designs. At the beginn more...1 point
Funseekers Past Fifty
Lensmaster: chas7. This lens designed for people o more...1 point
My Favorite 1970's Electronics
Lensmaster: bdkz. The 1970s were a banner year for more...1 point
Caregiver Stress - The Impact of Caregiving Too Much
Lensmaster: ComfortDoc. Caregiver Stress is the em more...1 point
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Lensmaster: Loyalis. This is the one-stop resource more...1 point
Recipe for a vintage retro kitchen!
Lensmaster: joanv334. 1 Chrome Dinette Set, 1 vint more...1 point
Recipe for a vintage elvis room
Lensmater: joanv334. 1 elvis 68 Comeback Special D more...1 point
Grace Kelly
Lensmaster: GypsyPirate. Grace Kelly. Even just he more...1 point
Tina Turner
Lensmaster: CardLady. An eight-time Grammy Award w more...1 point
Wow! You made it all the way to the end!
Did you like it? Have suggestions?
Last chance to weigh in on anything Boomer, anything this lens, anything on your mind. Then, if you can spend about three more seconds, won't you jump back to the top and light my Squidoo sky with some stars?
Y'all come back now, y'hear.
(Remember where that line came from?)
Cumberland wrote...
Lit the lens with 5 stars as promised. We boomers have to stick together. I am going to try and Lensroll this lens to my Boomer lens. I haven't tried lensrolling before, so you are an experiment.
joanv334 wrote...
Wow, this is my favorite Boomer lens! Fantastic job! Best of luck to all here...Rock On!
GrillGirl wrote...
I like this lens, because it's interesting, friendly and interactive.
Frankster wrote...
Great lens! I will come back! 5* and lensroll from me. Frankie
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