Connecting.the.Dots http://www.carlenlea.com Exploring the connections between of technology and culture Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:44:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Generation X: The Revolution will Be Tasty http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/generation-x-the-revolution-will-be-tasty/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/generation-x-the-revolution-will-be-tasty/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:44:27 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=388 I spend most of my days at work thinking and talking about either Millenials (1981ish-2000ish)or Boomers (1946-1963ish). It’s not really surprising that my own generation — Generation X (1964ish-1980ish) is mostly forgotten by marketers and a lot of other people.  What’s funny, is that part of the reason we’re forgotten is that no one wants to admit their getting older, so the fact that the 40-somethings are no longer Boomers is hard for a HUGE segment of the American public. Beyond that and the obvious issue that both the Boomers and Millenials dwarf us in size, the reality is that our many accomplishments as a generation are also easy to over look for Boomers and Millenials whose ways of changing the world are really different from ours.

Generation X, according to generational theorists Strauss and Howe, is a “nomad” generation.  That means our legacy to the world will be liberty, survival, and humor.  Let’s compare that to the Boomers, who are a “prophet” generation.  According to Strauss & Howe their legacy will be vision, values and religion.  Well — those seem like much more obvious things.  Yes, you can thank Generation X for Tina Fey and we totally claim Jon Stewart, even if he’s on the cusp of being a Boomer.

But there’s  a real change that Generation X is bringing to the world, and it’s really changing the face of America.  I look around me and see some of the greatest minds of my generation focusing on the food we eat.  I do live in Washington, DC — so it’s a bit of a bubble — but I see Gen-Xers launching farm-to-table initiatives, becoming the next generation of great chefs and focusing on artisan produced foods, brewers, bakers, and probably candlestick makers!

You may thing that this focus on the food we eat is yet another sign of the “slacker” mentality we were branded with before we turned 20, but it’s not.  It’s a practical focus on ways to improved the world we live in.  Gen-X isn’t so much about, collectively, about marching and shouting.  We tend to be, as Strauss & Howe point out, a more Han Solo like group.  She may not be pretty — but the Millennium Falcon is the fastest ship in the quadrant!

Think about it for a second.  Right now Gen-X is the prime of our income earning power, since we’re in our late 30s to late 40s. If we are prioritizing the food we eat, and choosing food that is artisan, sustainable and/or local – it changes shopping patterns for more than just us. I’m not saying that the Millennials aren’t with us on this, and many Boomers.  But we’re doing more than just buying this stuff — we’re making it.  We’re creating new industries and subcultures around this.

We’re taking our skills and ambitions and changing the face of how America eats.  How we eat, in so many ways, defines our cultural values. If Generation X has anything to say about it, the future will be bright, healthy, and really, really delicious.

]]> http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/generation-x-the-revolution-will-be-tasty/feed/ 0 Check us Out! http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/check-us-out/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/check-us-out/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:42:56 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=377

The new Young & Rubicam Group website featuring yours truly!

Well, look at that….check our sh!t out on the new YR Group homepage.  You’ll find my Dii team blog Treffpunkt  featured along with several members of my team.  Basically, look for the women — the majority you’ll see there are from my amazing Digital Integration and Innovation team at RTC!

]]> http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/check-us-out/feed/ 0 SXSW 2012 – Get Real: Pharma Fair Balance for a Digital World http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/sxsw2012-panel-picker/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/sxsw2012-panel-picker/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:45:25 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=353 Last year, I asked SXSW – Who Wants to “Like” Hemorrhoid Cream. When it came time again to think about submitting a proposal for SXSW, I really wasn’t sure I was going to.  I was having a hard time thinking about what I was feeling passionate enough about to pitch, especially in healthcare. I didn’t want to raise more questions.  I didn’t want to get on my soapbox. I didn’t want to have the same conversation as last year — since very little seems to have changed.

 

Then I decided it was time to “be the change, I want to see in the world.”  ~ yes, I just quoted Gandhi.


This Guy -- you know you want to see him at SXSWThis year, I don’t want to come to SXSW and ask questions.  I want to come with answers.  To do that I’ve roped my amazing colleague Brent Canfield into this with me.  Brent is probably one the most brilliant (and slightly crazy) people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.  He’s an amazing User Experience Designer, in the truest sense of that discipline. He’s not one these talking heads with thousands of Twitter followers.  He’s one of the people actually doing the work everyday, which is why I wanted to get him out in front of the world. We work together everyday, and I know he can not only rock SXSW, but also bring the goods in UX-land.

So what’s the solution we want to bring to SXSW?

An entirely new approach to Pharma websites and banner ads.

The way it’s done is based on print and television — and frankly — often to appease how creative is reviewed.  It should be done based on what’s best for the patients, professionals and brands. It should make the best use of digital storytelling techniques.  It should make the best use of emerging technologies.  It should really really be fair and balanced.

Help us help you.  Go to the Panel Picker, vote, and please tell us what is important to you and tell us what you want to see by leaving comments there.

]]> http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/sxsw2012-panel-picker/feed/ 0 Technology of Religion, Part I http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/technology-of-religion-part-i/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/technology-of-religion-part-i/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 16:00:02 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=339

]]> http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/technology-of-religion-part-i/feed/ 0 What Caught My Eye This Week: May 20, 2011 http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-may-20-2011/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-may-20-2011/#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 14:30:56 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=337
  • CDC explains how to prepare for a zombie apocalypse

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  • Embroidery Sampler Magnets

    via CRAFT

    These adorable embroidery sampler magnets from Corinne of So September might be just about the most clever, cute things I’ve … Read More >>

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  • Is Fanboyism a Religion? [Apple]

    via Top Technology Stories

    Ever wonder why Apple fans stand in line for hours end just to buy a phone? According to the BBC’s Alex RIley, it’s because … Read More >>

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  • Douglas Adams on generational rhythms in the adoption of tech

    via CultureBy – Grant McCracken

    Douglas Adams was the author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  We have just passed the 10th anniversary of his … Read More >>

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    ]]>     http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-may-20-2011/feed/ 0     Mashable Connect 2011 – Recap http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/mashable-connect-2011-recap/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/mashable-connect-2011-recap/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 19:00:24 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=324 I’ve heard words like epic, amazing, and unforgettable applied to the first Mashable Connect conference.

    Here’s my recap.  To check out all the conversations look for hashtag #mashcon on Twitter.

    ]]>     http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/mashable-connect-2011-recap/feed/ 0     What Caught My Eye This Week: April 22, 2011 http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-22-2011/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-22-2011/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:01:39 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=322
  • YouTube Improves Video Analytics for Partners With New Tools

    via Mashable!

    Analyzing your video channel’s content is about to get a lot easier for YouTube Partners, thanks to the preview launch … Read More >>

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  • Volkswagen and American Express Tap LinkedIn API for Marketing Campaigns

    via Mashable!

    We’re used to seeing apps from marketers that incorporate Facebook and Twitter, but what about LinkedIn? A couple of apps … Read More >>

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  • Mashable Follow Opens To All

    via Mashable!

    Ten weeks ago we announced the private beta test of Mashable Follow, a new social layer at Mashable that lets you follow the … Read More >>

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  • Weird Al Gets the Go-Ahead to Include Lady Gaga Parody on Album

    via Mashable!

     

    The web was set aflurry (well, as aflurry as it could be over a parody song) Wednesday after Weird Al Yankovic posted his … Read More >>

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  • Amazon Unveils Kindle Lending With 11,000 Libraries: Does This Mark The End Of The Local Library?

    via Fast Company

    Today, Amazon announced a new feature for its Kindle e-reader called Library Lending, which will enable users to borrow … Read More >>

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  • Cancer Patients To Receive Highly Personalized Care, Thanks To Genome Sequencing

    via Fast Company

    Whole-genome sequencing is helping doctors target care. And as the technology becomes more affordable, new studies are showing … Read More >>

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    ]]>     http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-22-2011/feed/ 0     What Caught My Eye This Week: April 8, 2011 http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-8-2011/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-8-2011/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:40:42 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=313
  • Amazing Handmade Muppet Show Theater Playset

    via CRAFT

    This is one of those rare projects that leaves me completely speechless. Lance of Cardinal Designs created this amazing … Read More >>

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  • Combatting Colony Collapse with “The Bee Station” by Jamie Hutchinson

    via Core77

    Thoughtful design succeeds on multiple levels beyond aesthetic appeal: solving problems, starting discussions and, at best, … Read More >>

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  • Eight Things to Do with 143 Hours Besides Watch TV

    via GOOD

    The average American watched an eye-aching 143 hours and 37 minutes of television in the second quarter of 2010, … Read More >>

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  • @GOOD Asks: What Is Your Ideal Job? The Community Answers

    via GOOD

    Yesterday on Twitter and Facebook, we asked our friends: What is your ideal job? We ask a question to our Twitter and … Read More >>

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  • AMC Theaters To Sell Snacks Not Covered In Liquid Fat, Sugar

    via Top Lifestyle Stories

    Maybe you like covering your movie snacks (and therefore your insides) in gooey, fatty liquid butter and topping it with a … Read More >>

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  • Pinhead Minifig

    via Top Lifestyle Stories

    I’m not sure the Hellraiser franchise is going to adapt as well to Lego as Star Wars did. Still, I’ll be first in line to buy … Read More >>

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  • How Baby Boomers Are Embracing Digital Media

    via Mashable!

    This year, some of the nearly 80 million Baby Boomers in the United States have turned 65 and are now … Read More >>

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    ]]>     http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-8-2011/feed/ 0     What Caught My Eye This Week: April 1, 2011 http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-1-2011/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-1-2011/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:41:12 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=312
  • Salesforce Acquires Radian6 For $326 Million

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    Enterprise cloud computing company Salesforce has acquired social media monitoring platform Radian6 for approximately $276 … Read More >>

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  • Untitled

    via prophetsandpopstars

     

    Very cool images of community dispersion and emergent … Read More >>

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  • Stoles And Denim

    via Beauty Tips for Ministers

    Good Lord, children, please do NOT WEAR A CLERICAL STOLE OVER A DENIM OR CHAMBRAY SHIRT. in the name of all that is holy! What … Read More >>

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  • GroupMe Brings Group Messaging Boom to Brands

    via Mashable!

    Fresh off a successful feature release and marketing binge at SXSW, group messaging startup GroupMe is revealing part of its … Read More >>

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  • Urban Graffiti Knitters Are the New, Cozier Christo and Jeanne-Claude

    via Fast Company

    It’s a rare criminal who gets stopped by the police for knitting.But that’s what happened in the shadow of Big Ben, where a … Read More >>

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  • eTextile, Smart Clothing and Wearable Computing Showcase

    via Fiber Art Calls for Entry

    Deadline: 18 May 2011eTextile, Smart Clothing and Wearable Computing ShowcaseMaker Faire and Lynne BruningSan Mateo County … Read More >>

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  • Hard Twist 6 – Obsession

    via Fiber Art Calls for Entry

    Deadline: May 6, 2011 (EMAIL) or (RECEIVE)Hard Twist 2011 – OBSESSIONGladstone HotelToronto, ONNovember 25, 2011 – January 29, … Read More >>

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  • What is Leadership?

    via Life as a Healthcare CIO

    Thousands of books have been written about leadership.   I’ve posted many blogs about my leadership lessons learned as a … Read More >>

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  • Are social media celebrity endorsements a waste of money?

    via SmartBlog on Social Media – Best Practices and Case Studies on Social Media Marketing for Business

    This post was written by Mirna Bard, a social media consultant, speaker, author and instructor of social media at the … Read More >>

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  • Cool Technology of the Week

    via Life as a Healthcare CIO

    As a Prius driver since 2005, I’ve closely watched the evolution of hybrid vehicles.   The FY10 Prius included an optional … Read More >>

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  • Inkjet Textile Exhibition

    via Fiber Art Calls for Entry

    Deadline: 1 MAY 2011 (RECEIVE)Inkjet Textile ExhibitionmeltemBIREY GALLERYPhiladelphia PA5 October – 1 November 2011meltemBIREY … Read More >>

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  • Halpert Biennial 2011

    via Fiber Art Calls for Entry

    Deadline: March 28, 2011 (POSTMARK)Halpert Biennial 2011Turchin Center for the Visual ArtsAppalachian Summer FestivalBoone, NC … Read More >>

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  • A Guide To Your Style

    via Beauty Tips for Ministers

    So many pigeons contact me and they say, “Help! I am going to be a leader now, and I have no idea what to wear! I sort of … Read More >>

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  • Great Photo

    via Beauty Tips for Ministers

    I was reading Religion Dispatches and clicked on an article written by Joanna Brooks here: She looks groomed, polished, lovely, … Read More >>

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  • The Cutting (& Stitching) Edge – Aidan Sofia Earle

    via Mr X Stitch

    Aidan Sofia Earle is a mixed media artist from Brooklyn, NY.

    She has worked professionally as a fashion textile dyer and … Read More >>

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    ]]>     http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/what-caught-my-eye-this-week-april-1-2011/feed/ 0     SXSW 2011: Who Wants to Like Hemorrhoid Cream http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/sxsw-2011-who-wants-to-like-hemorrhoid-cream/ http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/sxsw-2011-who-wants-to-like-hemorrhoid-cream/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:46:40 +0000 CarlenLea http://www.carlenlea.com/?p=310 Once I get a chance to breathe, I hope to have a chance to sum up my experience at SXSW 2011, both as a presenter and an attendee.  But for now, here’s my presentation and a few links to the nice things people have had to say about it! I didn’t manage to get a video of the presentation, but I may do it again for clients and the gang at RTCRM. If I do, I’ll definitely manage to get it on tape this time!

     

    Here’s the Twitter stream for the hashtag: #want2like

    Porter Novelli: How Likable is Pharma?
    GSW IQ: SXSW Daily Summary

    See some behind-the-scenes action at www.whowantstolike.com

    ]]>     http://www.carlenlea.com/blog/sxsw-2011-who-wants-to-like-hemorrhoid-cream/feed/ 0