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November 21, 2008 9:35:59 CST

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baby boomers

baby boomers news stories

7 Stories

 Nuke Tests 
 Left Mark on 
 Trees, People 

Scientists can date humans and trees by the extra carbon in their systems

NPR NPR Nov 16, 08 4:04 PM CST
(Newser) - Scientists can now carbon-date baby boomers by detecting atomic bomb residue in their DNA, NPR reports. Turns out that carbon-14 released during above-ground nuclear tests in the 1950s and '60s hung around, then was absorbed into living tissue, experts say. Evidence, in the form of extra carbon neutrons, has been found in humans and trees that were alive between 1954 and 1963. More »

More about:  trees • atomic bomb • baby boomers • carbon • radiocarbon dating

OPINION

Gen X to Boomers:
We Get It Now

With Obam's election, Gen X sees the political light

Salon Salon Nov 9, 08 5:09 CST
(Newser) - Sorry, boomers, for taking so long to drop the cynicism and eye-rolling, writes Heather Havrilesky in Salon. But to those who "became rational adults at the exact moment a reckless frat boy boomer became president," your generation's idealism and tales of '60s radicalism fell flat, she spills. Barack Obama's win changed that. Gen X'ers get it now, understanding "there's no shame in throwing ourselves into this new future with full hearts, with tears in our eyes." More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • Barack Obama supporters • Generation X • baby boomers • salon

 Gender and
 Race Aside,
 Age Pushes
 to Fore 

Boomers, seniors split on whether to support fellow oldster

New York Times New York Times Jun 15, 08 3:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - Now that a primary season fraught with racism and sexism has ended, the nation now gears up to face its general-election gremlin: ageism. While John McCain, 71, may joke that the primary qualification to be president is "to be very, very, very, very old," the New York Times reports that his age may work for him among ever-more vibrant oldsters trying to break a gray ceiling, of sorts. More »

new release

Author Just Talking 'Bout
X Generation

'Ignored' demographic keeps 'everything from sucking,' book argues

Time Time Apr 18, 08 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - Between the stuck-in-the-'60s boomers and their blog-happy offspring is a mighty yet forgotten generation, Jeff Gordinier writes in his new book, X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft But Can Still Keep Everything From Sucking . From less Dylan to more Cobain, the author wants the "dark-horse generation" born between 1965 and 1980 to get the credit it's due. More »

More about:  Generation X • baby boomers • generation gap • Generation Y

Boomers Will Overrun Health System: Study

Aging US already low on doctors, others with geriatrics training

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Apr 15, 08 2:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - America’s healthcare system isn’t prepared to handle the wave of aging baby boomers about to hit, according to a sweeping government report released today. As that huge generation enters its 60s, the industry faces crisis-level workforce shortages, the Los Angeles Times r eports. “There will never be enough geriatricians,” said one professor of medicine. More »

More about:  health care • nurses • baby boomers • geriatric medicine

analysis

Revenge of
the Geezers?

As boomers hit 60, politics become
an old man's—or woman's—game

New York Times New York Times Apr 12, 08 1:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - Once, Frank Lautenberg was a 58-year-old hopeful who implied that his opponent, at 72, was too old. Now, Lautenberg is running for re-election in New Jersey at the spry age of 84. “Age is not a factor,” he says. “The question is effectiveness.” But as John McCain seeks to become the oldest first-term president ever, age has become an issue, writes Gail Collins in the New York Times . More »

More about:  Election 2008 • John McCain • Hillary Clinton • old age • baby boomers • age discrimination

 Boomers Move Back Home 

Shaky economy has more children living with their parents—even at age 50

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 24, 08 3:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - Young people have long fled recessionary job markets by moving back home, but the current crisis has a new demographic scurrying there: the middle-aged. "This is not like, 'OK, my son just graduated from college and needs to move back in' type of thing," says one financial planner, who has seen more adult children leaning on parents for everything from rent to groceries. More »

More about:  US economy • recession • subprime crisis • unemployment • housing • parents • Generation X • baby boomers

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