by Becky Sun At the risk of sounding like one more blog, tweet or Facebook status update lamenting Michael Jackson’s death, this week’s newsletter is Iconoculture’s tribute to the King of Pop. I am an American Gen Xer, and MJ supplied the soundtrack to my adolescence. During high school band camp, my then boyfriend, who [...]
by Abelardo de la Peña Jr. WHAT’S HAPPENING The homeless aren’t the only ones searching for shelter in San Francisco nowadays. The Dolores Housing Program’s two shelters are providing service to more working Latinos lining up for a meal and a place to stay. Founded in 1983 to aid Central Americans seeking asylum from political [...]
by Hans Eisenbeis WHAT’S HAPPENING How desperate are Americans for relief from escalating health insurance costs and disappearing benefits? They’re increasingly willing to let the federal government get involved. That’s according to a May 2009 poll by CNN and Opinion Research, which found that 63% of survey respondents “would favor an increase in the federal [...]
By iconoculture
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Posted in Consumer Trend, Health, Money/Spending
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Tagged Boomers, Consumer trends, Gen Xers, Hans Eisenbeis, healthcare reform, Iconoculture, Iconowatch, Matures, Millennials
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by Katie Elfering WHAT’S HAPPENING Office drones chained to their desks have no hope of heating up a hot lunch … until now. Heinz has developed a prototype USB-powered microwave that lets workers keep working and eat a hot lunch without leaving their desks. Called the Beanzawave, the mini-microwave stands a short 7.4-inches tall by [...]
By iconoculture
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Posted in Consumer Trend, Food/Beverage, Work
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Tagged Beanzawave, Boomers, Consumer trends, Gen Xers, Heinz, Iconoculture, Iconowatch, Katie Elfering, Millennials, USB-powered microwave
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by Lisa Parks WHAT’S HAPPENING Keeping rappers on a reasonable budget in this economy is like pulling teeth and that’s truer than ever for hip hop artists who are used to putting their money where their mouth is. Rap stars and wannabes are ditching their gold and diamond encrusted teeth, called “grillz,” at websites like [...]
By iconoculture
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Posted in Consumer Trend, Fashion, Money/Spending
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Tagged Consumer trends, Gen Xers, hip-hop culture, Iconoculture, Iconowatch, Johnny Dang, Lisa Parks, Millennials, selling gold
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by Hans Eisenbeis I have a new friend — my hairstylist. For 20 years, I’ve been a stereotypical Gen X slacker who cut his own hair. Finally, my wife persuaded me to let go. “Isn’t it about time you got an adult haircut?” So I booked a chair at a local salon and met Tim. [...]
by Anna Otieno WHAT’S HAPPENING Estimates by the Census Bureau show that multiracial Americans are the fastest growing demographic in the U.S. (DiversityInc.com 5.29.09). Prior to 2000, census survey takers could check only one race or ethnicity, even if they identify with more than one. But since 2000, the Census has allowed people to check [...]
by Hans Eisenbeis WHAT’S HAPPENING Thanks to the Great Recession and the huge bite it’s taken out of home equity, 401(k)s, and long-term savings, most Americans believe they’ll never be able to retire. But some older Boomers are taking the opposite approach: They’re taking early retirement to receive the guaranteed cash flow of social security [...]
By Iconoculture
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Posted in Consumer Trend, Economic meltdown, Economy, Money/Spending, Work
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Tagged Boomers, Consumer trends, early retirement, Hans Eisenbeis, Iconoculture, Iconowatch, Matures, Social Security benefits
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by Paul Katz WHAT’S HAPPENING Text stress is no longer a worry for parents who haven’t a clue what the kiddies are typing away. LG introduces DTXTR to translate from text to English. The application can translate over 2,000 commonly used words from/to text, much like language site BabelFish.com. LG is positioning the DTXTR tool [...]
by Cree McCree WHAT’S HAPPENING They’ve had to put their wedding dreams on hold, but gay guys in California can become prom queen. Sergio Garcia, an openly gay senior at L.A.’s Fairfax High, beat out several female rivals in a classwide election for the coveted spot. Garcia’s campaign speech drew thunderous applause and a team [...]
by Paul Katz There are many key dates in any significant relationship: The first glance, the first touch and the first time the realization dawns that the relationship will change your life forever. For me, that date is June 29, 2007 — the day the original iPhone hit stores. It has been two years, and [...]
by Abelardo de la Peña Jr. WHAT’S HAPPENING As is the case with many Latinos, Chicago residents are feeling the effects of the ongoing housing bust. But that hasn’t discouraged families from continuing to find ways to own their own home. The obstacles are alarming: Lost jobs, lack of affordable housing and tight credit. But [...]
by Robert van Alstyne WHAT’S HAPPENING Customized insoles creator ESoles plans to get consumers’ feet talking — to their cell phones. The tech wirelessly transfers info to cells via multi-purpose electronic pressure sensors, and an application on the phone relays the pressure being applied in 11 different zones of each foot. ESoles’ founder envisions applications for [...]
by Nina Elder WHAT’S HAPPENING Well-known Los Angeles chef Susan Feniger has opened Street, a restaurant that takes its inspiration from street vendors from across the globe. The menu — a mix of small plates, medium-sized portions and proper entrées — features dishes from Singapore to India. Kaya toast, a common breakfast dish in Singapore, is [...]
By Iconoculture
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Posted in Consumer Trend, Food/Beverage
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Tagged Boomers, Consumer trends, Gen Xers, global dining, Iconoculture, Iconowatch, Matures, Millennials, Nina Elder, street cart culture, Susan Feniger
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by Cree McCree WHAT’S HAPPENING Baby getting fidgety? Hand him Mommy’s iPhone and let him play with Baby Rattle Bab Bab or listen to the soothing sounds of White Noise Lite. A plethora of new mobile apps help consumers distract and amuse the kids. Some parents use souped-up phones to play learning games with their [...]
