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For everyone born in 60's and 70's - anything goes! I've been posting entertainment value, & didn't realize, that with just 5 channels I still managed to watch a lot of tv. Also like to post about music, cars, and other things unique to our age. It's also fun to hear about what it was like growing up in countries around the world at that time

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"Famous" people born in 1968

Posted by cypher - 05/29/08, 06:20 pm

All Names Living people Dead people Band Names Book Titles Movie Titles Full Text for  

Born in 1968

LISTS

Dave Abbruzzese Drummer17-May-1968 Ex-drummer for Pearl Jam

Shai AgassiBusiness1968 Former executive, SAP

Damon AlbarnMusician23-Mar-1968 Frontman for Blur

Roberto AlomarBaseball5-Feb-1968 Former All-Star second baseman

Jason AltmirePolitician7-Mar-1968 Congressman, Pennsylvania 4th

Gillian AndersonActor9-Aug-1968 Scully on The X-Files

Kurt AngleWrestling9-Dec-1968 Olympic medalist, WWE wrestler

Phil AnselmoMusician30-Jun-1968 Former vocalist for Pantera

Patricia ArquetteActor8-Apr-1968 Ed Wood

Danni AshePornstar16-Jan-1968 World's most-downloaded breasts

Prince of AsturiasRoyalty30-Jan-1968 Heir to the throne of Spain

Mohammed AttaTerrorist1-Sep-196811-Sep-2001Mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks

Eric BDisc Jockey8-Nov-1968 Eric B for President

Sebastian BachMusician3-Apr-1968 Former Skid Row vocalist

Jeff BagwellBaseball27-May-1968 Former 1st Baseman, Houston AstrosJ

eanne BalibarActor13-Apr-1968 Va Savoir

Eric BanaActor9-Aug-1968 Hulk, Chopper

Julian BarrattComic4-May-1968 Daaan Aaaashcroooft

Dana BarronActor22-Apr-1968 National Lampoon's VacationJ

ames T. BartlettBusinessc. 1968 LS Power Group

Ol' Dirty BastardRapper15-Nov-196813-Nov-2004Profoundly deranged rapper, Wu-Tang Clan

Randall BatinkoffActor16-Oct-1968 For KeepsRod BeckBaseball3-Aug-196823-Jun-2007MLB relief pitcher

Walt BeckerFilm Director16-Sep-1968 Van Wilder

Catherine BellActor14-Aug-1968 Sarah MacKenzie on JAG

Daisy BerkowitzGuitarist28-Apr-1968 Original Marilyn Manson guitarist, 1990-6

Big Daddy VWrestling14-Feb-1968 World's Largest Love Machine

Traci BinghamActor13-Jan-1968 Baywatch, Surreal Life

Yasmine BleethActor14-Jun-1968 Baywatch babe

Lesley BooneActor25-Feb-1968 Molly Hudson on Ed

T.T. BoyPornstar30-Apr-1968 Shock, Anal Heartbreaker

Billy BoydActor28-Aug-1968 Pippin in The Lord of the Rings

Connie BrittonActor6-Mar-1968 Nikki Faber on Spin City

Josh BrolinActor12-Feb-1968 No Country for Old Men

Edward BurnsActor29-Jan-1968 Saving Private Ryan

Pascale BussièresActor27-Jun-1968 When Night Is Falling

Crazy CabbieRadio Personality10-Dec-1968 Part of the Howard Stern menagerie

Tisha CampbellActor13-Oct-1968 Gina on Martin

Amy CarlsonActor7-Jul-1968 Alex Taylor on Third Watch

Rodney CarringtonComic19-Oct-1968 Dear Penis

Lisa CarverAuthorc. 1968 Rollerderby, Suckdog

Thomas CavanaghActor26-Oct-1968 Ed Stevens on Ed

James CaviezelActor26-Sep-1968 Christ on a cross in Mel Gibson's Passion

Iris ChangAuthor28-Mar-19689-Nov-2004Author of The Rape of Nanking

Brandi ChastainSoccer21-Jul-1968 Pioneer of sports-bra exhibitionism

ChayanneMusician28-Jun-1968 Puerto Rican teen idol

Kristin ChenowethActor24-Jul-1968 Annabeth Schott on The West Wing

Eagle-Eye CherryMusician7-May-1968 Desireless

Kenny ChesneyCountry Musician26-Mar-1968 You Had Me From Hello

Margaret ChoComic5-Dec-1968 Loud-mouthed standup comic

David ChokachiActor16-Jan-1968 Cody Madison on Baywatch

Helena ChristensenModel25-Dec-1968 Danish model dates rock stars

Terri ClarkCountry Musician5-Aug-1968 Better Things to Do

Paula ColeMusician5-Apr-1968 Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?

Gary ColemanActor8-Feb-1968 Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes

Andrew ConruBusiness3-Feb-1968 Creator of Friendfinder

Cat CoraChefc. 1968 Iron Chef America

Bridgid CoulterActor2-Aug-1968 Actress/girlfriend of Don Cheadle

Alan CoxComputer Programmer1968 Linux kernel developer

Daniel CraigActor2-Mar-1968 The new James Bond

Terry CrewsActor30-Jul-1968 Everybody Hates Chris

Monica CrowleyPundit19-Sep-1968 Conservative commentator on FOX News

Billy CrudupActor8-Jul-1968 Almost Famous and Stage Beauty

Cliff CurtisActor27-Jul-1968 Whale Rider

Donna D'ErricoActor30-Mar-1968 Donna Marco on Baywatch

Racquel DarrianPornstar21-Jul-1968 Doggie Me Deeply, Hershe Highway #3

Jaye DavidsonActor21-Mar-1968 The Crying Game

Theo de RaadtComputer Programmer19-May-1968 Developer of OpenBSD operating system

Inspecta DeckMusician6-Jul-1968 Wu-Tang Clan

Laurie DhueTV Personality10-Feb-1968 Fox News presenter

John DickersonJournalistc. 1968 Time White House correspondent

Casper Van DienActor18-Dec-1968 Watch Over MeJ

ohn DiMaggioActor4-Sep-1968 Voice of Bender on Futurama

Viet DinhGovernment22-Feb-1968 USA PATRIOT Act mastermind

Celine DionSinger30-Mar-1968 Canadian diva

Jason DonovanSinger1-Jun-1968 Australian singer/actor, MDAJ

effrey DonovanActor11-May-1968 Purpose

Brian DougansMusician1968 The Future Sound of London

Tammy DuckworthMilitary12-Mar-1968 Blackhawk pilot, wounded in Iraq

Trevor DunnBassist30-Jan-1968 Mr. Bungle and Trio-Convulsant bassist

Aaron EckhartActor12-Mar-1968 Chad In the Company of Men

Sean ElliotBasketball2-Feb-1968 San Antonio Spurs star, kidney recipient

Warren EllisAuthorc. 1968 Transmetropolitan

Sully ErnaMusician7-Feb-1968 Godsmack frontman

Todd S. FarhaBusiness1968 President and CEO of WellCare Health Plans

Verona FeldbuschActor30-Apr-1968 Driven

Thom FiliciaTV Personality17-May-1968 Interior Design Queer Eye guy

Megan FollowsActor14-Mar-1968 Anne of Green Gables

Jorja FoxActor7-Jul-1968 Sara Sidle on CSI

James FrainActor14-Mar-1968 Sunshine

Brendan FraserActor3-Dec-1968 The Mummy

Prince FrederikRoyalty26-May-1968 Heir to the throne of Denmark

Thomas F. Frist IIIBusinessc. 1968 Frist Capital Partners

Robert GantActor13-Jul-1968 Ben on Queer as Folk

Jonathan GilbertActor10-Jul-1968 Little House on the Prairie

Aidan GillenActor24-Apr-1968 Stuart Alan Jones on Queer as Folk

Ron GoldmanVictim2-Jul-196812-Jun-1994Murder victim, OJ Simpson trial

Cuba Gooding, Jr.Actor2-Jan-1968 Show him the money already

Luke GossDrummer29-Sep-1968 Bros

Charles A. GranerMilitary1968 Abu Ghraib prison guard

Jennifer GranickAttorneyc. 1968 Cyber lawyer

Stacey Grenrock-WoodsComic22-Nov-1968 The Daily Show

Eddie GriffinComic15-Jul-1968 Undercover Brother

Rachel GriffithsActor20-Feb-1968 Brenda Chenowith on Six Feet Under

Stacy HaidukActor24-Apr-1968 Seaquest DSV

Mika HäkkinenAuto Racing28-Sep-1968 Formula 1 World Champion, 1998-99

Anthony Michael HallActor14-Apr-1968 Sixteen Candles

Rachael HarrisActor12-Jan-1968 Notes from the Underbelly

Tony HawkSkateboarder12-May-1968 Pro skateboarder

Mitch HedbergComic24-Feb-196830-Mar-2005Stand-up comedian known for one-liners

Jill HennessyActor25-Nov-1968 Crossing Jordan

David HewlettActor18-Apr-1968 Dr. Rodney McKay on Stargate: Atlantis

Kelly HuActor13-Feb-1968 Cradle 2 the Grave

Vanilla IceRapper31-Oct-1968 Ice Ice Baby

Rhys IfansActor22-Jul-1968 Notting Hill

James IhaGuitarist26-Mar-1968 Guitarist for Smashing Pumpkins

Carrie Ann InabaDancer5-Jan-1968 Judge, Dancing with the Stars

LL Cool JMusician14-Jan-1968 Ladies Love Cool James

Hugh JackmanActor12-Oct-1968 X-Men

Alex JamesBassist21-Nov-1968 Bassist for Blur

Brad JohnsonFootball13-Sep-1968 Minnesota Vikings QB

Jay JohnstonComic22-Oct-1968 Mr. Show with Bob and David

Orlando JonesActor10-Apr-1968 Drumline

Ashley JuddActor19-Apr-1968 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Heidi JulavitsAuthor1968 The Mineral Palace

Big Daddy KaneMusician10-Sep-1968 King Asiatic Nobody's Equal

Thomas H. Kean, Jr.Politician5-Sep-1968 New Jersey State Senator

Johnny KellyDrummer9-Mar-1968 Drummer for Type O Negative

Michael KellyActor22-May-1968 Det. Crocker on Kojak revival

Moira KellyActor6-Mar-1968 Mandy on The West Wing

Ruth KellyPolitician9-May-1968 UK Minister of Transport

Andy KennedyBasketball13-Mar-1968 Head Coach, University of Mississippi

Patsy KensitActor4-Mar-1968 Absolute Beginners

Sandrine KiberlainActor25-Feb-1968 Alias Betty

Daniel Dae KimActor4-Aug-1968 Jin Kwon on Lost

Jane KrakowskiActor11-Oct-1968 Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal

Patrick KroupaAuthor20-Jan-1968 Lord Digital of LOD, Mindvox

David KuoGovernmentc. 1968 Tempting Faith

Ricki LakeTalk Show Host21-Sep-1968 Hairspray

Lucy LawlessActor29-Mar-1968 Xena, Warrior Princess

Brian LeetchHockey3-Mar-1968 Two-Time Norris Trophy winner

Laura LeightonActor24-Jul-1968 Sydney Andrews on Melrose Place

Donovan Leitch, Jr.Actor16-Aug-1968 Glory

Rasmus LerdorfComputer Programmer22-Nov-1968 Creator of PHP programming language

Steven LevittEconomist1968 Freakonomics

Phill LewisActor4-Sep-1968 Mr. Moseby on The Suite Life

Robin LiBusinessc. 1968 CEO of Baidu

Janine LindemulderPornstar14-Nov-1968 Annoying "girls only" butterface performer

Dahlia LithwickJournalistc. 1968 Slate senior editor

Beth LittlefordComic17-Jul-1968 Daily Show correspondent

Lucy LiuActor2-Dec-1968 Ling on Ally McBeal

Lisa LoebSinger/Songwriter11-Mar-1968 Stay (I Missed You)

Traci LordsPornstar7-May-1968 We Love You, Traci

Faizon LoveActor14-Jun-1968 Friday

Chad LoweActor15-Jan-1968 Jesse McKenna on Life Goes On

Rich LowryEditor1968 Editor of the National Review

Shelby LynneCountry Musician22-Oct-1968 Country/rock singer/songwriter

Romany MalcoActor18-Nov-1968 Conrad Shepard on Weeds

Vanessa MarcilActor15-Oct-1968 Gina Kinkaid on Beverly Hills 90210

Ken MarinoActor19-Dec-1968 The State

Ziggy MarleyMusician17-Oct-1968 Reggae for white people

Christopher McCandlessVictim12-Feb-196818-Aug-1992Subject of Into the Wild

Scott McClellanGovernment14-Feb-1968 White House Press Secretary, 2003-06

Mark McGrathMusician15-Mar-1968 Frontman for Sugar Ray

Sarah McLachlanMusician28-Jan-1968 Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Julian McMahonActor27-Jul-1968 Dr. Christian Troy on Nip/Tuck

Colin McRaeAuto Racing5-Aug-196815-Sep-2007Scottish rally car champion

Timothy McVeighTerrorist23-Apr-196811-Jun-2001Oklahoma City Bomber

Christoph MeiliVictim21-Apr-1968 Security guard fired by Union Banque Suisse

Lyle MenendezCriminal10-Jan-1968 Killed parents with brother Erik

Debra MessingActor15-Aug-1968 Grace on Will & Grace

Dina MeyerActor22-Dec-1968 Starship Troopers

Dana MilbankJournalist27-Apr-1968 Washington Post White House reporter

Heather MillsActivist12-Jan-1968 Estranged wife of Paul McCartney

Kylie MinogueSinger/Songwriter28-May-1968 Red-blooded Australian pop singer

Jordi MollàActor1-Jul-1968 Diego Delgado in Blow

Tracy MorganActor10-Nov-1968 Saturday Night Live

Zacarias MoussaouiTerrorist30-May-1968 Would-be al Qaeda hijacker

DJ MuggsDisc Jockey28-Jan-1968 Cypress Hill

Patrick MuldoonActor27-Sep-1968 Starship Troopers

Nina MunkAuthorc. 1968 Fools Rush In

Stuart MurdochMusician25-Aug-1968 Belle & Sebastian frontman

Ryan MurphyScreenwriterc. 1968 Creator, Nip/Tuck

Tim MurrayPolitician7-Jun-1968 Lt. Governor of Massachusetts

Mike MussinaBaseball8-Dec-1968 Pitcher, New York Yankees

Graham NelsonComputer Programmerc. 1968 Created Inform programming language

Jim NortonComic19-Jul-1968 Bald white guy on Tough Crowd

Brad NowellMusician22-Feb-196825-May-1996Lead singer of Sublime

Danny NucciActor15-Sep-1968 Eraser

Ed O'BrienGuitarist15-Apr-1968 Guitar, shaky things for Radiohead

Timothy OlyphantActor20-May-1968 Sheriff Bullock on Deadwood

Carré OtisModel28-Sep-1968 Mickey Rourke's ex-wife

Peter PaigeActor10-Apr-1968 Emmett on Queer as Folk

Karyn ParsonsActor9-Aug-1968 Hilary Banks on Fresh Prince

Mike PattonMusician27-Jan-1968 Faith No More and Mr. Bungle frontman

Allen PayneActor7-Jul-1968 Lance Rodman on The Cosby Show

PeachesMusician1968 Fatherfucker

John PelphreyBasketball18-Jul-1968 Head Coach, Arkansas Razorbacks

Max PerlichActor28-Mar-1968 Brodie on Homicide

Kyra PhillipsJournalist8-Aug-1968 CNN anchor

Mike PiazzaBaseball4-Sep-1968 Mets catcher

Markus PoppElectronic Musician1968 Oval

Parker PoseyActor8-Nov-1968 Waiting for Guffman

Lisa Marie PresleyRelative1-Feb-1968 Daughter of Elvis Presley

Emily ProcterActor8-Oct-1968 CSI: Miami

Ed QuinnActor26-Feb-1968 Eureka

RaekwonMusician12-Jan-1968 Wu-Tang Clan and solo rapper

RakimRapper28-Jan-1968 Eric B and RakimKool G RapRapper20-Jul-1968 The Juice CrewThe Madd RapperRapper31-Jul-1968 Tell 'Em Why U MaddRachael RayTV Personality25-Aug-1968 30 Minute MealsJoseph D. ReitmanActor25-May-1968 Actor/Husband of Shannon ElizabethMary Lou RettonGymnastics24-Jan-1968 Olympic gymnastAl ReynoldsRelative1968 Husband of Star JonesAdam RichActor12-Oct-1968 Nicholas Bradford on Eight is EnoughRick RifleTV Personality14-Dec-1968 Interior decorator on Trading SpacesMolly RingwaldActor18-Feb-1968 The Breakfast ClubRodney Allen RippyActor29-Jul-1968 Jack in the Box commercialsGuy RitchieFilm Director10-Sep-1968 Madonna's sperm donorMelissa RiversTV Personality20-Jan-1968 Daughter of Joan RiversSam RockwellActor5-Nov-1968 Lawn DogsRobert RodriguezFilm Director20-Jun-1968 El MariachiPhilip RosedaleBusiness1968 Founder and CEO, Linden LabCharlotte RossActor21-Jan-1968 Det. McDowell on NYPD BlueKelly RutherfordActor6-Nov-1968 Megan Mancini on Melrose PlaceJeri RyanActor22-Feb-1968 Seven of Nine on Star Trek: VoyagerLaetitia SadierSinger6-May-1968 Chanteuse for StereolabSaffronSinger3-Jun-1968 RepublicaRick SalomonSocialite24-Jan-1968 Paris Hilton sex tapeBarry SandersFootball16-Jul-1968 Detroit Lions running backLarry SangerEncyclopaedist16-Jul-1968 Co-Founder of WikipediaAlejandro SanzSinger18-Dec-1968 MásJulia SawalhaActor9-Sep-1968 Saffron on Absolutely FabulousMarcus SchenkenbergModel4-Aug-1968 Male supermodelDavid SchizerEducatorc. 1968 Dean of Columbia Law SchoolBitty SchramActor17-Jul-1968 A League of Their OwnScott SchwartzActor12-May-1968 The ToyPamela SegallActor1968 Voice of Bobby on King of the HillStephanie SeymourModel23-Jul-1968 Cover 1990 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issueGrant ShappsPolitician14-Sep-1968 British MP, Welwyn HatfieldShannon SharpeFootball26-Jun-1968 Commentator, Former Denver BroncoGary SheffieldBaseball18-Nov-1968 Atlanta Braves, Yankees outfielderBen ShenkmanActor26-Sep-1968 PiPauly ShoreComic1-Feb-1968 Encino ManJohn SingletonFilm Director6-Jan-1968 Boyz N the HoodMatthew J. SlaughterEconomistc. 1968 Council of Economic Advisers, 2005-07Thomas P. SmithBusinessc. 1968 Chairman of TASER InternationalWill SmithActor25-Sep-1968 Fresh Prince of Bel AirLiza SnyderActor20-Mar-1968 Linda on JesseRena SoferActor2-Dec-1968 General HospitalSammy SosaBaseball12-Nov-1968 Caught with a corked batDr. SputnikBlogger20-Mar-1968 Dr. Sputnik's Society PagesMathew St. PatrickActor17-Mar-1968 Keith Charles on Six Feet UnderHoward K. SternTV Personality29-Nov-1968 Anna Nicole Smith's lawyerRob StutzmanGovernment4-Apr-1968 Press flak for Gov. SchwarzeneggerWolfgang TillmansPhotographer16-Aug-1968 If One Thing Matters, Everything MattersPaul F. TompkinsComic12-Sep-1968 Mr. ShowJohn Paul TremblayActor1968 Julian on Trailer Park BoysRalph TresvantSinger16-May-1968 New EditionGloria TreviMusician15-Feb-1968 Mexican MadonnaTrickyRapper27-Jan-1968 Trip-hop rapperGuinevere TurnerActor23-May-1968 Preaching to the PervertedU-GodMusician10-Nov-1968 Wu-Tang ClanTheodore W. UllyotAttorneyc. 1968 Chief of Staff to Alberto Gonzales, 2005Jay UnderwoodActor1-Oct-1968 The Boy Who Could FlyJeff VandermeerAuthor1968 The Book of Lost PlacesMichael VartanActor27-Nov-1968 Never Been KissedJohn VentimigliaActor17-Jul-1968 Artie Bucco on The SopranosJanet Ventura-ArvizoRelative16-Jul-1968 Gavin Arvizo's motherJürgen VogelActor29-Apr-1968 Life Is All You GetSpamford WallaceCriminalc. 1968 Notorious spammerMelora WaltersActor21-Oct-1968 Boogie NightsGarrett WangActor15-Dec-1968 Harry Kim on Star Trek: VoyagerAndre WareFootball31-Jul-1968 Winner, 1989 Heisman TrophyCynthia WatrosActor2-Sep-1968 Erin Fitzpatrick on TitusNaomi WattsActor28-Sep-1968 First you see The Ring, then you dieMichael WeatherlyActor8-Jul-1968 Navy NCISEric WedgeBaseball27-Jan-1968 Manager, Cleveland IndiansJamie WhiteRadio Personality6-Dec-1968 KYSR radio host in Los AngelesWendy WhoppersPornstar13-Aug-1968 80HHH-21-34, 38E-21-34 post reductionJames WilderActor5-Aug-1968 A Face to Die ForBernie WilliamsBaseball13-Sep-1968 New York YankeesJayson WilliamsBasketball22-Feb-1968 Retired NBA player, accused murdererOlivia WilliamsActor26-Jul-1968 The Sixth SenseCarnie WilsonSinger29-Apr-1968 Wilson PhillipsOwen WilsonActor18-Nov-1968 ZoolanderScott WolfActor4-Jun-1968 Bailey Salinger on Party of FiveRichard WolffeJournalistSep-1968 Newsweek Senior White House CorrespondentD'arcy WretzkyBassist1-May-1968 Former bass player for Smashing PumpkinsJerry YangBusiness6-Nov-1968 Co-Founder of YahooBrook YeatonActor13-Feb-1968 Prop guy, actor, Traci Lords' ex-husbandVern YipTV Personality27-Jun-1968 Interior decorator on Trading SpacesThom YorkeMusician7-Oct-1968 Radiohead singerRamzi YousefTerrorist27-Apr-1968 Mastermind of 1993 WTC bombingSteve ZahnActor13-Nov-1968 Glenn in Out of SightYang ZhiyaCriminalc. 196814-Feb-2004Chinese serial killer, charged 65 murders

This article's only 11 years old ...

Posted by cypher - 05/29/08, 06:13 pm

Generation X defies definition

by Jennifer Jochim, Outpost Contributor

 

Generation X can technically be defined as the generation following the Baby Boomers. Xers were born between 1965 and 1980, 1961 and 1981, 1964 and 1979, 1963 and 1979, 1965 and 1975 or since the mid-1960s, depending on which source you use. For practical purposes we will say that Generation X was born between 1965 and 1980, now ranging in age from 17-32 and usually judged by characteristics assigned to them by the media.

Generation Xers were brought up on television, Atari 2600s and personal computers. They are the generation that was raised in the 1970s and 1980s, and saw this country undergo a selfish phase that they do not want to repeat.

"Generation X grew up in the 'me generation' of the 1980s, and now they are able to see that it is not all it is cracked up to be," said Jackie Shelton, 31, vice president of Minor Advertising in Reno. David Bever takes time from studies to play video basketball. Photo by Arthur Pines.

The term Generation X came from a book written in 1991 by Douglas Coupland by the same name. It is a fictional book about three strangers who decide to distance themselves from society to get a better sense of who they are. He describes the characters as "underemployed, overeducated, intensely private and unpredictable."

Coupland took his book's title from another book "Class," by Paul Fussell. Fussell used "X" to describe a group of people who want to pull away from class, status and money in society. Because the characters in Coupland's book fit that description, he decided on the title "Generation X."

The media found elements of Coupland's characters' lives in America's youth and labeled them Generation X. This stereotypical definition leads society to believe that Generation X is made up of cynical, hopeless, frustrated and unmotivated slackers who wear grunge clothing, listen to alternative music and still live at home because they cannot get real jobs. It is a label that has stuck, stereotypes and all.

not just wiser ...

Posted by cypher - 05/28/08, 06:16 pm

This Group invites you to share your experience of one of the most important turning points in your life so that you and others can teach and learn, inspire and be inspired, challenge and be challenged, and experience Turning 40 to the fullest.

 

As Kylie Minogue hits the landmark birthday, Jasper Gerard offers some sage advice. ’Kylie!” exclaimed a tabloid newspaper in wonder yesterday. “STILL fabulous at 40.” Well, what did they expect, as the much-loved, heroic chanteuse hits that milestone birthday today? Blue rinse, dentures and a wicker shopping basket? And just look at the others who have turned, or will turn, 40 in 2008: Daniel Craig, Lisa Marie Presley, Céline Dion, Patricia Arquette, Will Smith and Lucy Liu, a Charlie’s Angel celebrated for tight leather hot pants that she’s unlikely to be packing away any time soon.

In fact, none of the aforementioned is an obvious candidate for middle age as we once knew it. Not so long ago, 40-year-olds were thought to be in the grave, or making impressive strides towards it.

An unmarried woman like Kylie Minogue would not have been viewed as a glamourpuss “just spinning around” but as a spinster more likely to be Zimmering around in a rather sad fashion.

Not any more. Now there are entire industries devoted to reversing Newton’s law of gravity and the pursuit of eternal youth: thanks to diet, dentistry and exercise - and, for those less blessed than Kylie, cosmetic surgery - we can now look as peachy at 40 and beyond as we did at 30.

We’re not short of role models, either, in the baby boomers (Bill Clinton, Lulu, Sir Richard Branson, Grace Jones, Harrison Ford) who are trailblazing their way to their bus passes while continuing to flaunt youthful looks, fit bodies and fulfilling sex lives.

However, while it all helps, it doesn’t entirely ease the pain of reaching your 40th birthday - and I speak from recent experience. It remains the entry point to a club that none of us really wants to join: middle age.

It was a cruel moment when I awoke and found that a thief had come in the night for the last remnant of my youth, leaving a chilling calling card: “Happy 40th!” I tried to ignore the “loved ones” who were insisting on a party.

Instead, I was hit, very powerfully, by the thought that now is the time: that while I wasn’t yet approaching the finishing line, I was certainly no longer limbering up and waiting for the starting pistol. -Mark Levy 


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