Before it became a ubiquitous part of urban life, Starbucks was, in most American cities, a radically new idea. Virginia Postrel americancityidea Change image and share on social
The impulse for personal adornment is hard to stamp out. Virginia Postrel adornmenthardimpulse Change image and share on social
Neon signs don't consume much power, but they look like they do. A cousin of fluorescent lighting, neon is actually quite energy efficient. A neon tube glows coolly when high-voltage, low-amperage electrical power excites the gas within it. Virginia Postrel amperageconsumecoolly share on social
As discomfiting as it is to both market optimists and policy activists, a certain amount of instability is inherent to the economy. Virginia Postrel activistamountdiscomfit Change image and share on social
I think glamour has a genuine appeal, has a genuine value. I'm not against glamour. But there's a kind of wonder in the stuff that gets edited away in the cords of life. Virginia Postrel appealcordedit Change image and share on social
Just as producers often give consumers things they want but didn't think to ask for, consumers sometimes come up with surprising uses for new inventions. When a new product appears, it can uncover dissatisfactions and desires no one knew were there. Virginia Postrel appearconsumerdesire share on social
Through the 1990s, 'Reason' was a voice of 'dissident feminism,' upholding the equal dignity of both sexes and supporting the rights of individuals against a government that had gone mad over sexual harassment. Virginia Postrel 1990sdignitydissident share on social
There's a popular saying that the Internet interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. Desire and innovation will trump policy, the argument goes, as clever programmers circumvent controls. Virginia Postrel argumentcensorshipcircumvent Change image and share on social
Like John Kennedy in 1960, Obama combines youth, vigor, and good looks with the promise of political change. Like Kennedy, he grew up in unusual circumstances that distance him from ordinary American life. Virginia Postrel americanchangecircumstance share on social
When credit is cheaper to use and easier to arrange, people do use more of it. Virginia Postrel arrangecheapcredit Change image and share on social
