Boomer Years
More ADVISOR.com know-how...
My Close Encounters with Bill Gates
Bill Gates got involved with microcomputer software in 1975, and he built Microsoft by seeing, seizing and maximizing key opportunities.
My first use of Microsoft software was in 1978, and my first personal brush with Bill was in 1981.
During Microsoft's most influential period, the '80s and '90s, I had a variety of face-to-face Bill Gates experiences. Here are some of my Boomer Years stories.
Gray Matters
I remember how it started. I was at the beauty salon waiting to have my hair highlighted when my hairdresser sighed, "This just isn't going to work anymore."
Political Promoter For A Week, Rocker For A Night
How did a young, non-political San Francisco radio station DJ end up in Washington, sitting in the President's chair in the White House Oval Office? And playing rock 'n' roll piano with a dozen legendary performers?
It all happened one week in 1972, and especially one amazing night. Here's my Boomer Years experience.
How I escaped from Windows Vista
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 23 January, 2008 - 00:00.I have a new/old laptop computer and I love it -- finally -- because I dumped Microsoft Windows Vista.
In June 2007 I got a new Lenovo ThinkPad T61 with Windows Vista. I expected to be thrilled with my new laptop, but instead, it was horrible. Whatever I tried to do, the new computer fought me -- and usually, it won. By "do" I mean basic stuff: save a file, connect to my office network and the Internet, turn on, turn off, copy some files. It's MY computer -- shouldn't I be allowed to do these things? Nope, not without lots of effort, wasted time, and sometimes, complete failure.
Advisor's Experience in San Diego Firestorm 2007
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 24 October, 2007 - 16:38.Boomer Advisor is published by Advisor Media from our home office in the heart of San Diego. For the past three day we've been living the nightmare known as Firestorm 2007. So far, so good. Our office hasn't been threatened (unlike the Cedar Fire of 2003, which burned just a block from us). None of our San Diego-area staff was harmed and their homes all survived.
But I must add, "so far", because fires still rage in various areas of the county, and if new fires start, there's still plenty left to burn.
Boomer Snapshot
Is the Baby Boom generation really that different? In many respects, the answer is no, but there are important ways the 78 million people born from the end of World War II to 1964 are distinguishable from all previous generations. The distinctiveness is not just in the numbers, but also in values, life choices, and longevity.
Flying United's unfriendly skies: Is airline loyalty a sucker bet?
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 29 March, 2007 - 08:25.My wife and I used to fly United Airlines a lot. For many years our status was Premier Executive. We accumulated a huge quantity of frequent-flyer miles. We liked the people who worked for United, and we enjoyed giving them our business.
That all changed yesterday.
A few months ago I used a big chunk of United Mileage Plus points to buy three tickets from San Diego to New York for a family trip in April. I had to pay extra miles to get the dates I needed. I picked out some decent seats, and expected my trip to go well.
Reduce Airport Security Hassles for Seniors
AdvisorAudio: Click to hear this story.
Air travel security can impact some travelers much more than others -- especially certain seniors. But there are things you can do to help a senior traveler be prepared, and things you can do to help the security process. Problems can arise if the traveler can't handle a long airport walk, or the traveler's stuff isn't organized with security in mind, or if the traveler's body contains some metal that will beep.
Hollywood comes to my town...again.
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 9 January, 2004 - 00:00.Ahh, the glamor of Hollywood, the excitement of film-making... Unless the movie crew has filled up your street and you just want to get home! It happened in my neighborhood (again). Here's a report.
San Diego might not be known as a hotbed of film production, but one day the one block street leading to my house once again filled with movie-making trucks, equipment, people and even actors who aren't people.
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Advisorama
If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance.