Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Boy, this was impossible to conclude

No doubt the current Washington Redskins roster have already been afflicted.
A study commissioned by the National Football League reports that Alzheimer’s disease or similar memory-related diseases appear to have been diagnosed in the league’s former players vastly more often than in the national population — including a rate of 19 times the normal rate for men ages 30 through 49.

Pretty much obvious

Investment advice from Americans have proven to suck, so let's give the Aussies a shot.
NEW superannuation laws mean generation X must drastically change its approach to saving for retirement, as the days of waiting until 50 to start seriously contributing to super -- a popular strategy among baby boomers -- are over.

For those in their 40s who have only ever relied on the standard contribution of 9per cent of their annual income to super, this may mean putting away between $12,000 and $25,000 a year (depending on the starting balance and how much is needed in retirement) and building up a portfolio of investments outside super.

However, this is a generation that has more debt than any of the generations before it, so while genX-ers may be earning more than their parents did at their age, it is very likely that their cash flow will be lower.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Subliminal messaging maybe?

Jesus. This was in magazines? Today's easily offended Morality Patrol would have shit an eggroll. Now it's too easy for them to organize and show up like a pack of rats, like they did in my state during the Teri Schiavo ordeal.

This reminded me of the 2nd worst T-shirt I'd ever seen worn by a Florida redneck. It read "Put your lipstick on my dipstick". I'm not easily offended or have been woven with a strong 'moral fiber', but I even thought he was a dirt-leg hick that deserved to have been tied down and then trampled on by women in 5 inch heels.

I'm surrounded by idiots and sociopaths

She could have offered to blow the trucker for gas $, but instead she offered to sell her kid.

I'd feel much happier to be forgotten than unintentially mocked

80's culture seems to be making a comeback. I don't think of it as being retro'd as much as I feel we're being dragged around like the dead dude in Weekend at Bernie's.
And studio release slates are top-heavy with such '80s remakes as “The Stepfather,” “Footloose,” “Red Dawn,” “Karate Kid,” “Smurfs” and “Clash of the Titans.” Eighties horror franchises such as “Hellraiser” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” will be refreshed, as “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th” have recently, successfully been.

More Dougie Cee!

WARNING: If there's something about Douglas Coupland I'll probably document it. I just like the dude.
It’s odd that Gen X was the thing that would change my life, because everything about the book reeked of disaster and bad decision-making. I’d only begun writing less than three years earlier – non-fiction for magazines in Canada – and I was soon hitting that point in life where poor decisions come back to bite one. I was at the end of my 20s and it was becoming clear to me that my 30s were going to be a continuing mix of rootlessness and poverty.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Keep slackin'. Don't ever stop

I felt skeptical to link to this article since there's a quote by the Gen Y suck-up, Neil Howe, but I enjoyed it anyhow.
"Generation X, we were hip for like five minutes in the 1990s," she says. "Our moment in the sun came and went pretty quickly and it wasn't very sunny while it did last."

The image of surly slackers living their lives to a grunge soundtrack isn't the true spirit of her cohort, she says. Rather, she believes the grown-up version of generation X is about leaping off the corporate ladder to define your own version of success.

"You look at somebody like Tony Hawk, who took what was essentially a hobby and turned it into a way to make a living, and he makes a very nice living as a skateboarder and he's 41 years old," she says. "This will probably never change for generation X and I don't think it should."

Kings of Leon

Very tight band. If you can get past their hipsterness they're worth a listen. They seem to 'get it' more than Timberlake/Spears/Christina crap their generation is known for. I saw them at Jannus Landing (ST. Peter, FL) and the live act kicked ass (no mosh pit, though......goddamn pussy hipster fans).
Throughout the last fifty years, there have been many time periods defined by a drive for renewed originality and authenticity in music. Reacting against the excesses of self-indulgent late-’70s rock and the cocaine-addled disco lifestyle, the punk and new wave movements returned to simplicity, wit and raw energy. From the hairspray and spandex haze of plastic, ’80s glam-rock stars, the grunge movement, at once aggressive and introspective, captured the disillusionment and angst of Generation X.

We all remember the music of the turn of the century: Boy bands and pop princesses dominated the charts. Mainstream hip-hop was steadily losing the street cred of the early ’90s, opting instead for club cred. Alternative rock had become anything but alternative, as legions of Eddie Vedder imitators played against watered down riff-rock. In this climate, cultural and musical attitudes seemed poised for another major shift.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Speed. It'll be the death of me.

...at least that's my plan.

Once a dickhead, always a....

Kirk Cameron was a tool even when popular during his time on the set of Growing Pains. Him, and the weasel from Silver Spoons, were the two guys my fellow middle-schoolers and I would most wanted to take in a back room and slap around like a human pinata.

So I certainly got a hee-hee chuckle from this: (via LGF)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

If you're not a gator, you're gator bait!

This pic has nothing to do with the story, I just like the shot of this gator coming out of the water like a jack-in-the-box. Although this link does have a video of the woman a-matter-of-factly discussing her near death experience.

Gator Bait!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Too soon.

I think The Replacements should be given an honorary Gen X membership. Besides their age, they have little in common with babyboomers.

Uggh. Of course he chose a babyboomer

Really wish a GenXster was appointed.
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick today named Paul G. Kirk Jr., a former aide and longtime confidant of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, to Mr. Kennedy’s seat.

Don't get this?

He shot himself. HIMSELF! It's like they're charging him for attemped murder.
Former Steelers and Giants receiver Plaxico Burress began his two-year prison term on Tuesday.

First stop? Rikers Island.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

"Something suddenly came up."

Shit. I was just getting back into my blogging groove after my week off. Hopefully tomorrow. Nothings ever dull if you have family.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I fear for the 'internets'

Cuz someone gave longtime Latchkey commenter, Kath, a set of keys to their blog. Haha! You'll do teh awesome, Kath. Can't wait to read your posts.

This song, appropriately titled, is dedicated to ya!

...in more important music news

Here's a Jay-Z interview.
At almost 40, the man also known as Beyoncé's hubby is still on top of his game.

A keen businessman - he has his own clothing line Rocawear, and was at the helm of Def Jam, before parting ways and setting up his own label, Roc Nation - and a discoverer of talents including Rihanna, Jay-Z is a focused man.

Probably better than 90% of the crap on the radio

Pearl Jam has a new album out. I've never been a huge fan of theirs. They seemed pretty weak-dick compared to Soundgarden & Alice in Chains. And that fucking song Jeremy may have been the most overrated of the 90's.
It comes with a slight sense of irony now that Eddie Vedder and company are essentially practicing an art that they are supposed to have redefined with Ten and Vs. Not that the band would notice the irony of it all. If Kurt Cobain was Generation X's reluctant social satirist, Vedder was the earnest confessor, preferring instead to repel the social misfitism that ran through his psyche and his lyrics with impassioned heart-wailing and wild, gesticulating on-stage showmanship.

Monday, September 21, 2009

I think she has a TV show in her future

Florida's hottest hunter.

'Leave it To Beaver' life kinda backfired

Since I work in the technology field I can see why it's hard to get back in the game. Missing 5 years will set you back an eternity. Via: Atrios
Guess what The New York Times has just discovered? Women who quit their careers to stay home can face financial challenges if a recession hits and their husbands lose their jobs! And—gasp!—when these women try to re-enter the labor force after a timeout, it’s hard for them to find work, and they earn far less than they did when they left!

50 companies you don't want to work for

AARP lists the places of employment most babyboomer friendly.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

For Gladys Knight

Just go away

A problem with old goons is they like to dump on younger generations before they get wheeled from a nursing home feet-first. Here Gladys Knight can't resist shitting on Hip Hop artists that made her genre irrelevant.
It has not elevated our industry musically, and it definitely has not elevated us as African-Americans...

She's probably angry that no one is named "Gladys" anymore.

Friday, September 18, 2009

I wish I was 60

via Balloon Juice

The incomes of the young and middle-aged — especially men — have fallen off a cliff since 2000, leaving many age groups poorer than they were even in the 1970s, a USA TODAY analysis of new Census data found.

People 54 or younger are losing ground financially at an unprecedented rate in this recession, widening a gap between young and old that had been expanding for years.

While the young have lost ground, older people have grown more prosperous over the years and the decades. Older women have done best of all.

The dividing line between those getting richer or poorer: the year 1955. If you were born before that, you’re part of a generation enjoying a four-decade run of historic income growth. Every generation after that is now sinking economically.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

It's difficult being perfecto

If you're an asshole like me, and enjoy pointing out the shortcomings of others, then you've probably already seen People of Walmart.

Douglas Coupland

Interviewed by GQ.
Ask most people to proffer a cultural opinion on what's "over" and you'll likely receive answers of the "suit jacket worn with jeans" variety. Ask author Douglas Coupland and, depending on the year, he'll respond with "the Interview," "Literature," or "Movies." Bold claims. But a word of warning to those who dare doubt him: This is the same man who successfully named a generation (X) without even trying, who anticipated the ungodly power of Microsoft and the dot-com bubble (in his 1995 novel Microserfs) and introduced the phrase "McJob" into the English language.

RIP

Sheesh. Just heard that Patrick Swayze checked out. He inspired my friends and me to run around the woods with BB guns yelling "Wolverines" and shooting at invisible commies.

I'm home!

Actually, I've been home since Tuesday. I had to make it back to see Motorhead that night. My hearing has been greatly effected. For the worse.

Funny interview with Lemmy before they came into town.
When not stuck doing interviews, what do you do on a typical day off?

If I go out, I chase women. If I stay in, I phone them up.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Catch you soonly

I bought a plane ticket to a tropically little island. Some time tomorrow I'll land at an airport with a terminal that looks like a grass hut. From there I'll be picked up by boat and brought to a smaller island with a population of 20. The next 5 nights I'll pass out on a couch, completely exhausted from surfing all day.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

This guy lives 25 minutes from me.....

Mugshot of the day...or the week.....possibly the month.

Raise my taxes

And your's, too. It's for a good cause (actually it's not happening in the USA).
The idea of feminist porn may be attractive to some but there is no reason for the state to cough up half a million kronor to fund its production, argues Beatrice Fredriksson, a member of the Moderate Party's youth organisation and author of the Anti-Feminist Initiative blog.

Generation A

Douglas Coupland has a new book out. Woohoo! Do people still read books or just read Tweets?

I've read some reviews and, judging by the babyboomers condescending attitude towards it, the book must be good.
Calling the novel "Generation A" was, as far as book titling goes, a provocative act. Coupland's debut novel, Generation X, managed to give a voice to a section of society that had previously lacked definition. Whether Generation A can do something similar remains to be seen - though it's important to remember that Generation A are, in many ways, the same as Generation X.

The title itself refers to a speech made by Kurt Vonnegut in 1994 where he remarked: "Well, the media do us all such tremendous favors when they call you Generation X, right? Two clicks from the very end of the alphabet. I hereby declare you Generation A, as much at the beginning of a series of astonishing triumphs and failures as Adam and Eve were."

Thursday, September 3, 2009

We're such losers

Hang your heads in guilt. This is all your fault.
The median age of a foreclosed homeowner was 41 in 2008, and the median age of a homebuyer was 41, falling into so-called "Generation X," the group of people between 32 and 45 years old, Fogarty said.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

This makes me miss college

I wish it took me 6 years to graduate instead of 5.

Back in the day when I carried a lunchbox....

The great LT Nixon posted on President Obama speaking to our nation's kiddies. If you're familiar with the LT you'll know his take on this.

It reminded me of Ron and Nancy Reagan telling little Latchkey Man to "just say no". Don't remember it? Here's a great mockery of this pathetic event.

Snubbed Gen X Authors

Along with Dave Eggers these 2 remain my faves.
I have an interest in all things Gen X. I'm also a fiction writer. So, it's only natural that I would be interested in other authors born during that so-called "baby bust" era, particularly "era defining" scribes. And being the geek that I am, I would also do such things as search for the top whatever (ten, twenty) Gen X books. For sure, such a search would mention Douglas Coupland (SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT:see my recent article: That's so Gen X: Douglas Coupland and Starbucks), at least two David Foster Wallace books (The Broom of the System; Infinite Jest) and some Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club; Choke).It almost sounds brainless: of course such a search would render those three authors.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Skateboards. Guitars. A Cemetery. Near Perfection.

'Nawlins

I'd love to see NOLA reinvested in. It just seems strange that Gen X is still thought of as a broke-ass generation that needs to go to a damaged city to get a leg-up.
There are so many opportunities for home-buying right now and there are also many employment opportunities for those who are willing to expand their career horizons. New Orleans stands out as a city where Generation X can build communities. It has a rich history of cultural diversity and community amalgamation. Plus there are a lot of young professionals here Post-Katrina, we work hard and enjoy the celebratory spirit of our community. One perk of the city is the festivals, national ones and the local ones. There are festivals for seafood, Creole tomatoes, and of course music. And nearly all festivals are family-friendly, meaning the kids will have fun too.

From the Department of Who Cares

Not that we didn't know we're old already.
Jason Priestley spent this weekend in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel to celebrate his 40th birthday! Has Generation X reached the threshhold of old!? Seems like not too long ago we said good-bye as they all graduated high school and moved onto the adult world. And this actor-turned-director has moved on. The Lake is his most recent project for TheWB.com which will air as a webisode online. He also has a wife and two kids.
I really believe if 90210 came out 10 years too early. It enjoyed huge success in the 90's but this would have easily become the biggest hit in Generation Y history considering how they celebrate celebrity/wealthy people culture.