Back to work... No more Teva-tans. No more mid-day HBO. Back to email and meetings.  ¶ 11:58 PM 0 comments

  Here we are now...over-analyze us... The NYT business section writes a dumb-ass analysis of the mind-blowing fact that Gen-X, the slacker generation, is now consuming its own weight in luxury goods:

"Ann Fishman, president of Generational Targeted Marketing, reminded me: 'This generation got no support from family, religion or government. They grew up as latchkey kids. They had to check their trick-or-treat bags for razor blades. They were taught that sex can kill.' And so? 'So,' Ms. Fishman answered, 'they want someplace that yells 'Home!' It's really important to them to have a home.'

IN other words, our Sub-Zero refrigerators and Dualit toasters are substitutes for the ideal home we never had, just as our too-big, too-heavy Bugaboo strollers are a substitute for the ideal parent we never had, and our flat-screen TV's are a substitute for all those years our parents left us at home alone. All alone is all we are."

OR MAYBE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME F---ING MONEY NOW.

Hmmm....

"Greatest Generation"
Self-sacrificing GI's (in their 20's) to Man in Grey Flannel Suit (in their 30's-40's)

"Baby Boomers"
Hippies (in their 20's) to Yuppies (in their 30's-40's)

"Gen X"
Slackers (in our 20's) to big-spending-whatever-they're calling us (in our 30's and 40's)

Anyone see the trend here?

AS THE EDUCATED "TREND-SETTING" COHORT OF ANY AGE GROUP GETS OLDER, THEY MAKE (AND SPEND) MORE MONEY.

Someone remind me why marketers only want to talk to people under 25?  ¶ 6:38 PM 1 comments

  Open Source Organization Once again, Chris blogs something extremely cool: What Business Can Learn from Open Source. Although it's geared towards hackers, it's really useful for almost any start-up or organization. It's not perfect (towards the end, it gets a little libertarian without examining the value of stability for those who are more risk averse), but it's a great discussion and very thought-provoking.
  ¶ 10:24 AM 0 comments