Baby Boomer Talk & other stuff

As the grandmother of a young black male, I was outraged and disappointed at the verdict rendered by the jury in Minnesota in the case of Philando Castile. For those of you who don’t watch or read the news, Philando was a 33-year-old black male who was shot at 7 times on July 6, 2016 (10 days before his birthday) by a white police officer while he was sitting in his car with his girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter. According to reports the car was pulled over because he had a wide nose like an alleged suspect in an armed robbery that had been reported earlier. After stopping the car, the officer asked him for his license and registration, at which time Philando informed the officer that he had a weapon in his possession which he was licensed to carry. As he was reaching in his pocket to show the ID, the officer “feared for his life” and shot Philando — two of the bullets pierced his heart so he had no chance of survival. The incident was recorded live on Facebook. I just knew t…

In case you haven't heard the news, there's a online petition encouraging the man they call the President of the U.S. to establish a National Millennials Day.

Self-proclaimed millennial leaders James Goodnow and Ryan Avery want to establish June 19 as a day for Generation Y to dispel the FAKE NEWS being spread about them.  They say they simply want to show those of us who have labeled them as "entitled" selfish" lazy" "narcissistic" (and other choice adjectives) that they can be important contributors to society.  Their "vision is to make National Millennials Day a day of service--a day when they reach out and help others in their communities.

 According to their website, millennialsday.org, organizers say "With National Millennials Day, we want to turn the stereotypes inside--out.  To show that we're more GENERATION WE than Generation ME. To transform ideals into actions.  To inspire hope for the future.  To celebrate the most open…

Money, health, family, safety, time, and the future are some of the things Millennial parents say they are worried about as they take their rightful places in adulthood and parenting.  In a new study by Microban, Millennials, some who now have children of their own, were asked to share the top concerns they have.

The number one worry for millennial parents is money.  Ninety-two percent agreed that being financially secure was an issue for them and their families.  That not only means having more money but also a better paying job and a home equity line of credit.

Another issue for Millennial parents is not having enough time to to the things they want to.  An overwhelming number say they would prefer to spend more time with their family (especially their mates) and friends but often times their schedules are busy and demanding.  When they do have a little bit of down time, the parents find their homes taking a back seat.  Seventy-four percent agree they are worried about keeping a cl…

I, just like many blacks, was stunned to learn Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was invited to give the commencement speech for the Spring 2017 graduating class at Bethune-Cookman. I wondered what President Edison Jackson was thinking when he extended the invitation.  I know he said, "If our students are robbed of the opportunity to experience and interact with views that may be different from their own, then they will be tremendously less equipped for the demands of democratic citizenship."  I don't know what that actually means in his head but, perhaps, he believes inviting her gives him an open door to the President (as the new "Uncle Tom" for his Millennial graduates)  and an opportunity to be a voice for ALL HBCUs.  Whatever his reasoning was I say it was DUMB!

Did Dr. Jackson forget when Mrs. DeVos referred to HBCU's as "real pioneers when it comes to school choice."  She said "They are living proof that when more options …

The decision to write my latest book, The Baby Boomer/Millennial Divide:  Making it Work at Work, came after returning to the job market as a woman over 50.  I went into culture shock momentarily after finding myself working side-by-side with people young enough to be my daughter.  As someone who comes from the "old school" ways of doing things and a low tolerance for nonsense and foolishness, I had to learn to adapt to the new reality:  Millennials have arrived and if I wanted to stay in the job market I had work with them.

Much to my surprise, my younger co-workers have been a breath of fresh air.  They have made me laugh and taught me skills to help me improve my own job performance.  As I continue to study them, I have come to a very clear conclusion:

ALL MILLENNIALS ARE NOT ALIKE.

All of the research and data indicates this Gen Y group is made up of job hoppers who don't like the business as usual mentality, they're very creative, independent thinkers, tech savv…

Going in Style is a movie about what lengths three former employees, who became life-long friends while working for the same steel manufacturing plant, would go to change the course of their lives.  After learning his home was in foreclosure, the Company was planning to move overseas and their pensions were being taken away, Joe (played by Michael Caine) had an idea to rob a bank--the same bank he had been in during a previous successful robbery.  He figured he and his buddies, Willie (Morgan Freeman) and Albert (Alan Arkin)  could steal enough to keep them financially secure until their deaths---which between the three of the was estimated to be less than 15 years.

With the help of his dead-beat son-in-law, who ran a Marjuana Shop, and a surprise criminal, the trio set out to prepare for the big heist.  I won't give anymore details about the movie but I will tell you it held my interest throughout.  I'll also tell you that if Morgan Freeman had not been in the movie, I probabl…