Are Entrepreneurs Down in the Dumps?

[27 April 2007 - BusinessWeek] Three recent surveys showed that small-business owners are more pessimistic about the economy and the future than they have been in years. ... A first-of-its-kind generational study conducted by American Express (AEXP) showed that a majority of Generation Y and Baby Boomer entrepreneurs are optimistic about the state of the U.S. economy. And large majorities—76% and 90%, respectively—of Gen Yers and Boomers described opening their own companies as "a good idea." More

Oops, I Did It Again: New brain research may help explain why some people don't seem to learn from their mistakes.

[24 April 2007 - Newsweek] Benjamin Franklin was no brain scientist. He was a keen observer of human behavior, and of the natural world, but he was a couple centuries too early to explore the intricate neuronal interplay of physics and biochemistry that makes us the people we are: healthy, wise, quirky, self-destructive. So, when he famously defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results," this 18th-century polymath was really being more intuitive than rigorously scientific. Yet it looks like he got it right. New neuropsychological research is now suggesting that the inability to learn from one's mistakes may indeed be at the root of a broad range of human problems, ranging from childhood bullying and truancy to aggressive acts like road rage to all manner of substance abuse. And this cognitive aberration, deep-wired into the neurons and genes, may even underlie the vagaries of normal human behavior and personality. (It's important in the wake of the tragic events at Virginia Tech to emphasize that this column is not about such deeply disturbed psychology.) More

The Coming Culture Is Aging-Oriented: Fairfax Plans to Accommodate and Use Its Many Boomers

[12 April 2007 - Washington Post - By Annie Gowen] When Karren Scott retired from her job last year as a manager at the Department of Defense, she sometimes found herself "completely disoriented" as she made the transition from a life with "a very clear mission every day" to the more relaxed pace of a retiree. Now, Scott says, she's reinventing herself, taking classes in Annandale and searching for rewarding volunteer work. Still healthy and active at 55 -- and determined to continue living in her home in the Alexandria section of Fairfax -- Scott is one of a growing number of baby boomer retirees that Fairfax County hopes to get more involved in their communities -- by volunteering, for example -- as the Board of Supervisors works on an initiative to better serve and accommodate the county's increasing older population. Across the country, jurisdictions are grappling to address a senior population that surely will grow dramatically in the next two decades, mostly because of the large baby boom generation, some 77 million U.S. residents born between 1946 and 1964. More

Creativity is ...

[12 March 2007 – Steve Dahlberg, International Centre for Creativity and
Imagination]
Participants at the "Creative Wisdom Workshop: Composing a Creative
Life" at the Hartford Public Library (Hartford, Connecticut) generated
the following definitions of creativity last month.

CREATIVITY IS …

* Looking at the ordinary and seeing what others don't see
* Passion – being own voice
* Responding to conflict
* Coming out from under
* Inspiration
* Energy
* Perseverance
* Universal
* Sharing
* Spontaneous
* Intuitive
* Your own way of interpreting of things around you
* Coming with your own ideas
* Drawing, dancing, walking, singing
* Unique, genuine, given easily, capable, reliable
* Freedom to think of new ideas and ways of doing things
* Sense of bringing to well-being
* New interest, focus, happiness, fulfillment
* Thinking out of the box
* Ideas practically formulated into reality
* Imagination acting on life
* Spiritual – from God
* Co-creator with the divine
* Being able to visualize
* Bring unrelated resources together to make something new
* Making something from nothing
* Tapping into the great unconscious

Charlie Rose Science Series Continues with Leading Experts in Longevity and Aging: Third Part of Science Series to Examine Longevity and the Aging Pro

[26 March 2007 - PRNewswire] Emmy Award winning journalist Charlie Rose announced the third installment of his 12-part Science Series examining the importance of scientific research in human health. This episode is an in- depth discussion of longevity and aging, including a look at existing and ongoing studies and the social and economic implications of an increase in human life span. Charlie's discussion includes experts who have contributed to important developments in the science of aging and how research into calorie restriction, anti-aging drugs, and genetic manipulation have led to exciting advances over the past decade. Special guests will include Dr. Richard Weindruch, University of Wisconsin; Dr. Robert Butler, President and CEO, International Longevity Center; Dr. Cynthia Kenyon; University of California-San Francisco; Dr. Jay Olshansky, University of Illinois-Chicago; and, Dr. Leonard Guarente, MIT. The program will air on more than 200 PBS stations across the country beginning on Wednesday, March 28th during Charlie's regularly scheduled program. "Longevity has reached something of a precipitating moment," said Charlie Rose. "It has become a subject of great interest for obvious reasons, and with great implications because the baby boom generation is moving forward. With a better understanding of the aging process, science will be able to assist the aging baby boomers, and improve on successes in fighting the diseases of aging." The Charlie Rose Science Series, which is sponsored by Pfizer Inc, is an exploration of the advances being made in scientific research, their contribution to our understanding of the world around us, and how these breakthroughs may be applied to improving human health. The series' first episode focused on the research and growing understanding of the human brain and the second episode examined the contributions that have been made to science through the discovering and mapping of human DNA. As the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age and many older people live into their late 70s and beyond, the U.S. and global communities face tremendous challenges to health and economic security, quality of life, and the management of the diseases of aging. Across the world, scientists are conducting research to advance the field of longevity science, and address the close association between aging and diseases like Alzheimer's. According to a report released by the Alzheimer's Association on March 20, 2007, there are more than five million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's disease. This number includes 4.9 million people over the age of 65, which translates into one out of eight people age 65 and older and one out of every two people age 85 or older. It is estimated that by 2030, 7.7 million people will have Alzheimer's and by mid-century nearly 16 million will be affected. "While aging is the number one risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and the number of people with Alzheimer's continues to grow, the good news is that science is continuing to gain knowledge of how the disease works. This research has led to the effective treatments that are available today, and we expect it to lead to new treatments in the future that will address the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease, thus allowing us to prevent it from developing or progressing," said Thomas McRae, M.D., of Pfizer. "We are committed to helping people live longer and healthier lives. To help fulfill that promise we are engaged in more research programs and clinical trials than at any other time in our history to develop the therapies that address this and other diseases of aging." Charlie Rose is joined in this series by his co-host, Sir Paul Nurse, PhD, Nobel Laureate and President of Rockefeller University. Speaking about the Charlie Rose Science Series, Dr. Nurse said, "Given the major impact that science has on every day life, it is necessary that we take the time to explain to the public how scientific advances and discoveries affect their daily lives. A proper understanding of how science will facilitate public debate on many of the important scientific questions such as aging and human longevity is increasingly important. I'm pleased to be involved with this effort, and I want to thank Pfizer for the promotion and support of the Science Series." More | Watch Clips

Too Young to be Old ... Dove Pro-Age: Campaign for Real Beauty Uncovers the Beauty of Women over 50

[8 February 2007 - Dove/Unilever Press Release] Are you anti-age or pro·age? According to a recent Dove global study, nearly all women over 50 want to see a change in society’s view on women and aging. In addition, the majority of women believe that if media were reflective of the population, a person would likely believe women over 50 do not exist. For the first time, a brand is talking to women about aging in a positive tone. Continuing its ongoing commitment to widen the narrow definition of beauty, Dove, the global beauty brand, is boldly challenging the “only young-is-beautiful” stereotype with the next phase of the Campaign for Real Beauty: pro·age. Designed to expose what our anti-aging society has been hiding, pro·age celebrates women 50+ by showing their honest, real beauty. The initiative is being brought to life through a global communications campaign created with internationally renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz, an over-50-year-old woman herself. The campaign features images of real women, literally uncovering all of their age spots, grey hair and curves, demonstrating that women are genuinely stunning – at any age. “Dove seeks to create an attitudinal change in the anti-aging category – from negative and fear-driven to affirmative and hope-driven,” says Kathy O’Brien, Dove Marketing Director. “pro·age is about looking great for your age.” Read Full Press Release Read Summary of the 2006 Dove Global Study Read Full White Paper on “Beauty Comes of Age”: Findings of the 2006 Dove global study on aging, beauty and well-being (September 2006) Read More and See the Ad

Author, 96, Proves it's Never too Late

[1 April 2007 - 6abc.com/Associated Press] Into his 90s, decimated by the loss of his beloved wife, and alone at night with the memories of a rough and sad childhood spent battling an alcoholic father and vicious anti-Semitism, Harry Bernstein decided to write. What started out as almost a form of therapy eventually turned into a book called "The Invisible Wall" that chronicles his childhood in a northern England mill town and - considering that it wasn't published until he was 96 - serves as an inspiration for aspiring authors. Bernstein began writing "The Invisible Wall" when he was 93 as a way to deal with his memories and the loneliness he felt after his wife of almost seven decades, Ruby, passed away from leukemia in 2002. "I didn't know what the heck to do with myself. ... You know when you get into your 90s like I am, there's nowhere else to think except the past. There's no future to think about. There's very little present," says Bernstein, who gets around his New Jersey house slowly, with the aid of a cane, and is the sole survivor in his family. More