ideas don't care how old, er, senior you are

A new company has come up with a package that sells itself. Literally. No ad budget necessary. Next time you're in a drugstore, look for NXT Shaving Gel. You won't have to look hard. The containers are embedded with LEDs, which lights them up like little lava lamps. The new pack's stopping power means it can be stocked on lower shelves, saving the manufacturer millions on retail real estate. (Purchasing eye-level shelf placement is like buying on Fifth Avenue which is why you usually bend down or reach up for off-brand products.)

The creative genius responsible for this breakthrough product that targets guys 18-24? Some MIT whiz kid? Design geeks in Japan? Nah. An 85 year old chemist who's been coming up with ideas for Gillette and other companies for over 50 years. He's already planning his next product rollout. So take heart, senior creative citizens. There's hope for us dinos in the age of mammals.

dressing for success

How does an ad broad maintain self esteem in conference rooms peopled with the impossibly young and sculpted? This morning, scrambling for something to wear, I pulled down a lovely cashmere ensemble given to me by a friend whose mom passed away leaving a wardrobe too small to fit her. All day, 30-somethings complimented me on the outfit, asking where did I get it? Of course, I didn't let on that I'd shopped the closet of a deceased octogenarian.