The other day, I violated one of my rules, sort of.

I clicked on one of those fake news sites that are just a collection of advertisements for stuff we don’t need. It was a kind of tutorial explaining to Boomers what they should avoid if they wanted to be cool.

So, let’s start at the start. Boomers, I assume, refer to the demographic known as “baby boomers,” the generation born between 1946 and 1964. You know, the kids, now grownups, born in the post-World War II baby boom. If you are between 57 and 75, that means you.

The site touted 40 uncool things Boomers won’t give up, but should if they want to be cool. Just for the record, I won’t go through the list of all 40 uncool things that mark you as being an old fuddy-duddy. In truth, I got bored after the first dozen or so and moved on to some chore on my honey-do list that I had been avoiding for the last week.

But, FYI, here are a few of the things they say Boomers should avoid if they want to be cool:

Right at the top of the list is the suggestion we all give up our family’s paper fiscal records. To be cool, you should not get your bills delivered by the post office. You should not pay them with a check. Instead, the cool kids get them online and pay them with a click. That means you should trust your entire family finances to a system that is filled with hackers, ransomware pirates, Russians, scam artists, forgotten passwords, and heaven knows what else. Right?

No matter what problems folks have with the U.S. Postal Service (and there are many), you can trust them not to rob you blind. They may be a bit tardy in delivering the mail, but most likely, the nice lady at the local post office won’t steal your check.

For some strange reason, the site says it is no longer cool to eat toast. Yes, you read it right. They claimed the cool kids don’t eat toast. Instead, with all these handy dandy waffle makers and other kitchen gadgets, you should eat waffles and pancakes and breakfast burritos.

Sorry, I like toast. It is simple. Little preparation, no fancy gadgets, and no mess, unless you drop a glob of jam in your lap. I love simple, tasty toast. If I have to give up eating toast to be cool, I guess I flunk.

Another sign of being uncool is wearing New Balance sneakers. To that, I say “Horsefeathers” and other barnyard sayings.

They fit and are comfortable. Many NB sneakers are made here in the great state of Maine. What is uncool about supporting a local business that hires local workers to make, ship and sell a good product? Besides, the alternative is wearing some knockoff sneaker made from away. A shoe that will fall apart in a week or so of sloshing around on the shore.

And here is the real reason to wear New Balance sneakers. I was watching the Red Sox game the other night and the players were wearing them. Sorry, Mr. Website man. If NB sneakers are cool enough for the Red Sox, they are cool enough for me.

That website had many other things the uncool old-timers should avoid, like wearing socks with sandals, tucking in your golf shirt into your shorts, and collecting diamonds and fine china. I guess they might be right on some of those.

And, they say, it is not cool to keep blaming the younger generation for the ills of the world, and they are right.

I know we had to learn math by memorizing formulas and tables. We had to practice penmanship so we could write an essay in a little blue notebook. But today’s youngest kids can solve problems in a flash with a phone and a click or two while we are sharpening our pencils or looking for the slide rule.

For me, many Boomers are not cool because of this or that item or practice. Most don’t care about being cool anymore. We know we all have a fatal disease – TMB. Too many birthdays. In a few years, we will join our generation’s beloved political leaders on the obituary page. For me, it is time to enjoy life and not worry about being cool.

So, tomorrow morning, I think I will grab my bright blue New Balance sneakers, walk into the kitchen, brew some coffee, and get out the toaster and jam.

Then I will sit down at the table and enjoy the morning sunshine and watch the birds flitting around the feeder.

That’s a pretty cool way to start the day.

Isn’t it?