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 Keynote Speaker

Going Like Sixty

Articles
2,891
Views
24,006,000
Location
Florida
Member Since
Oct 2006
Mark Van Patten is Going Like Sixty.

I'm baby boomer man who turned 60 in late 2007. Boomer born in 1947 for search engine optimization. I retired from the newspaper business July 1, 2011.

Contact me: goinglikesixty(at)gmail(dork)com or @goinglike60. Facebook? Friends and family plan only, you can friend me and depending on my mood, I may take you into my inner-circle. We have a club-card and secret handshake, but no dues.
What is unique that's not in your bio?
I still have lots of hair. On my head.
What's your favorite accomplishment?
Uncle Milton's trust fund.
How do you define cool?
Anything Bianca writes is cool. Anything Jeremy wears is cool. Anything Marissa does is cool. Trend Hunter is cool. Therefore, I am cool. Next question?
What is your secret to uncovering trends?
RSS feeds. I use Google Feed Reader which allows feeds to be sorted into folders. I can filter the feeds into different folders and prioritize how and when I read the feeds. I use the keyboard short cut to buzz through the feeds very quickly. Because of this I hate truncated RSS feeds. I still have a few in my reader, but only because they have proved themselves to be valuable resources. I subscribe to a handful email blasts from good sources.
What do you enjoy most about Trend Hunter?
Being able to be conversational about a huge variety of topics. Often I will find myself holding back just a little because someone is excited that they made a "discovery" that had been covered by Trend Hunter a week before. At my age, it can be a challenge to keep up, but Trend Hunter keeps me ahead.
What is your favorite trend?
Luxury. Cars, yachts, architecture, real or conceptual.
What are your tips for writing a juicy post?
Keywords. Sometimes it's awkward to get a keyword in the post as often as Google likes. But keywords can grab monumental traffic if used properly. Jeremy and Bianca taught me that the right keyword used throughout a post is worth the effort. Otherwise, I just go with whatever impressions I have first. I think if I analyzed my posts, I probably have three forms: Conversational; write like you are telling someone what you just found. Factual; straight up about the trend and it's impact. Off-the-wall whacky: sometimes you just get feeling goofy and it's fun to write a post that reflects your feelings at the time.
How do you reset to be creative?
I write more. I have five blogs and I love to comment on other blogs and participate on the Trend Hunter Wall. I read more. Looking at other writing styles is a good kick start. As a last resort, I eat M & M's in their intended order: Red, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Green and Blue.
What inspires or excites you?
Inside information. And... Going Like Sixty
Predict something awesome for 2020?
Favorable: Most televisions are gone, replaced by Pico projectors in phones that are mass market affordable. Unfavorable: Digital divide will have widened because of government interference.
Multi-Lingual Social Media
Multi-Lingual Social Media
Mybabilon.com Crashes Language Barriers
While Facebook is dominating social media news with its stock offering, an inventive company in Costa Rica has put a new twist to social media. MyBabilon.com has a feature that breaks down the... MORE
Silky Fair Frocks
Silky Fair Frocks
Shabby Apple Boutique Releases Green Leaf Line Using Vintage-Inspired Photos
Shabby Apple makes custom, one-of-a-kind dresses that have been creatively designed and beautifully executed. Green Leaf is the new line of 100% silk hand-crafted dresses that achieve the highest standard… MORE
Plus Size Magazine Covers
Plus Size Magazine Covers
The Vogue Italia Full-Figured Cover is a Welcome Surprise
The latest issue of Vogue Italy features plus-sized models on the cover. Tara Lynn, Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley are a part of the June issue cover story and the lovely full-figured ladies were photographed… MORE
Badass Frankfurter Grillers
Badass Frankfurter Grillers
The Cthulhu Weenie Roaster is the Ultimate Skull-Shaped Hot Dog Cooker
This skull-like hot dog griller is called the Cthulhu Weenie Roaster. Cthulhu is supposed to strike fear into mere mortals. It is the one of the diabolical figures from Lovecraft Mythos. Why the giant… MORE
Upcycled Steampunk Lamps
Upcycled Steampunk Lamps
Gilles Eichenbaum Uses Vintage Rejects for Light Fixtures
It's time to revisit Gilles Eichenbaum who first made an appearance back in 2009. Eichenbaum has continued his craft and art of transforming vintage junk into steampunk lighting fixtures. Eichenbaum toiled… MORE
Brilliant Blooming Lamps
Brilliant Blooming Lamps
The Modular 'Blossom Light' by Ewa Sendecka Features LED Systems
Polish designer Ewa Sendecka uses LED systems and a modular design to create a beautiful brilliant light design she calls the Blossom Light. Using the same materials that are designed to hold up microphones,… MORE
Simplified Health Symbols
Simplified Health Symbols
The USDA MyPlate Graphic Replaces Ancient Food Pyramid
I never paid much attention to the USDA Food Pyramid to encourage me to eat healthy, but MyPlate might change that. Who could figure out all those different levels? Did the big bottom mean I could eat… MORE
Iconic Marketing Celebrations
Iconic Marketing Celebrations
The Louis Vuitton 'Voyages' Show at the National Museum of China
The Louis Vuitton 'Voyages' show has the iconic brand going to a land where it has ventured before: The National Museum of China. The French fashion behemoth, known for its luxury, is moving to the east… MORE
Eerily Fantastical Prints
Eerily Fantastical Prints
The Corey Helford Gallery's Awe-Inspiring Flight and Fable Series
Three female artists will be doing a show at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City, California, titled Flight and Fable. These fantastical works are a showing of figures, animals and fantastical scenes.… MORE
Faded Beauty Photography
Faded Beauty Photography
Shane Woodward Makes Soft-Focus Photos Look Sharp
Photographer Shane Woodward takes inspiration for his unusual photographic stylings from his love of old movies. The Texas-born photographer got his start just five years ago after his sister gave him… MORE
Illusory Staircases
Illusory Staircases
Interior Design Blog Features Stupendous Stairways That Command Attention
This collection of staircases will make readers wish they had a second level to their home or office. Perhaps adventurous interior designer will add a stairway to nowhere as just a design element. These… MORE
Bike Booze-Carriers
Bike Booze-Carriers
The Bicycle Wine Rack by Oopsmark Has a Steampunk Aesthetic
Oopsmark is a steampunk designer who loves to work in leather. Apparently, Oopsmark also loves the fermented juice of the grape because he has made a leather bicycle wine carrier. This is a great Father's… MORE
Culinary Fashion Films
Culinary Fashion Films
Retro Pizza-Making in Precious by Monica Menez for Willems Wonderglasses
Monica Menez made a sexy, spectacular lookbook in her latest fashion film called Precious. The short film features a retro-styled model making pizza in an sensuous way. Shot in lovely lighting with fantastic… MORE
Celebrity-Studded Gaming
Celebrity-Studded Gaming
The New Black Ops Characters are Causing Commotion in the Gaming World
Black Ops gamers will love the new Activision and Treyarch levels for Call of Duty: Black Ops. The new zombie level for Call of Duty: Black Ops is mind-blowing, especially with the addition of some awesome… MORE
Psychedelic Swimwear
Psychedelic Swimwear
Agua Bendita Releases Avant-Garde Bikinis for Summer 2011
The Aqua Bendita Swimwear collection for 2011 features a psychedelic splash of vibrant colors. Despite the limitations of the skimpy bikini, Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel and top Israeli model… MORE
iPod-Enhanced Surgery
iPod-Enhanced Surgery
A Breakthrough Concept for Navigating Around Knees and Hips
Remember iPods? Seems that the "old" technology of yesterday has a new life as a medical devide. Not sure that I would want my orthopedic surgeon using an iPod to navigate around my joints in surgery,… MORE
Trashy-Chic Photograhy
Trashy-Chic Photograhy
The Danil Golovkin Garbage Reign Photo Shoot Celebrates Royalty
Danil Golovkin has mashed up fashion, photography and what some would argue fine arts for this photo shoot called Garbage Reign. Is it a coincidence that just a week before the royal wedding, Golovkin… MORE
$6,400 Luxury Toilets
$6,400 Luxury Toilets
The Over-the-Top Kohler Numi Bidet Toilet is a Palatial Place to Poop
If your bum deserves the best (or your poop doesn't stink), you are ready for the Kohler Numi, an ultra-luxurious toilet-bidet with its own footwarmer and built-in music system. The heated seat rises and… MORE
Aging Eye Celeb Blogs
Aging Eye Celeb Blogs
The Chicks With Steve Buscemi Eyes Tumblr Site is Hilarious and Odd
This Chicks With Steve Buscemi Eyes Tumblr site presents a number of celebrities donning the eyes of the iconic star Steve Buscemi. These mash-up photographs will definitely make you look twice as it… MORE
Elected Comic Book Characters
Elected Comic Book Characters
The Governator is a Comic Book Featuring Schwarzenegger
Some say Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been cartoonish. From his early days as an outrageous body builder to his movie roles as a cyborg terminator—and even some would argue—as governor of California.… MORE
Exploding Cakes
Exploding Cakes
Turn Up the Volume is the Latest Wicked Video for Autoerotique
My friend and Trend Hunter 'Cowbag,' aka Emmylou Cakehead of Cakehead Loves Evil, should have made this video for the band Autoerotique. It is done in a manner that is so her style. Alas, the exploding… MORE
Iconic Toy Mashups
Iconic Toy Mashups
These Star Wars Rubber Duckies Bring Kids Fun in the Bathtub
Duck Fader, Pondtrooper, Luke Pondwalker and Princess Layer are ready to do battle for control of your bathtub. These hilarious Star Wars rubber duckies have water-activated LEDs that flash various colors… MORE
Designer Period Protection
Designer Period Protection
Kotex Hires Patricia Field to Create Pretty Pads
Kotex is breaking out of the traditional feminine sanitary napkin advertising mold. They have hired famous designer Patricia Field to create a series of pads that they are calling “haute.” I’ll wait for… MORE
Monstrous Knit Designs
Monstrous Knit Designs
Badass Needler Tracy Widdess is Skilled at Brutal Knitting
Tracy Widdess is a monster knitter. Focus on her sci-fi based Tumblr blog and you will see the depths of depravity and despair applied to her custom knitted headgear. It will blow your mind. Widdess… MORE
Wearable Portable Shelter
Wearable Portable Shelter
The Lullatic Portable Home is a Haute Life-Saving Apparel
The Lullatic Portable Home is the perfect mix between fashion and necessity. Three Middlesex University students, Franziska Lusser, Hanna Nielsen, and Luca Romanyi, obviously were out too late one night… MORE
Brainwave Music Composition
Brainwave Music Composition
Eduardo Miranda's EEG System Aims to Revolutionize Musicianship
Beethoven was deaf when he composed his greatest works; with this EEG system by Eduardo Miranda of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research at the University of Plymouth, the next great… MORE
Marshallmallow  Chick Marketing
Marshallmallow Chick Marketing
Peepster Uses a Modified Volkswagen to Promote Sugary Sweetness
If you live east of the Mississippi, there is a chance for you to catch a glimpse of the Peepster. The genius idea is from Just Born, the company that produces the iconic Easter candy Peeps. The Peepster… MORE
Delectable Dessert Furniture
Delectable Dessert Furniture
Kibiljo's Milan Design Week 2011 Creations are Simply Sweet
Kabiljo, a Viennese designer house, created two odd signature furniture pieces at Milan Design Week 2011, both looking good enough to eat. The first is called the 'Let them Sit Cake,' featuring multiple… MORE
Macho Museum Ads
Macho Museum Ads
Historically Hardcore is a Mash-Up of Pop Culture and Dead Guys
Three art school project posters are making the rounds of the design blogs as a series of ads for the Smithsonian Museum, but there is one problem--the immensely creative and well-executed Historically… MORE
Mechanical Cyborg Arms
Mechanical Cyborg Arms
Revolutionary Equipois Exoskelton Limb Makes Gun Shows Obsolete
Forget juicing up to build the biceps for an impressive gun show--with the world's first exoskeleton arm, pumping iron gets a cyborg assist. The x-Ar from Equipois will be on the market to help give "dynamic… MORE
Social Media Stock Pickers
Social Media Stock Pickers
Study Proves That Twitter and Facebook Correlate to Market Performance
When you tweet, Wall Street listens. When you Like, Wall Street is watching and aggregates your likes to determine a brand popularity and indicate future stock prices. Using social media to predict a stock… MORE
Pop-Up Portable Coffee Shops
Pop-Up Portable Coffee Shops
The Nescafe Nomadic Cafe Center Gives You Your Caffeine Kick Anywhere
The Nescafe Nomadic Cafe Center is a concept by Australian designer Bobby Lowe, who decided to merge an urban coffee center and a retro travel trailer into one through this design. Created in hopes to… MORE
Pacman Rears
Pacman Rears
Bizarre Lower Back Tattoos that Take a Crack at Creativity
Tattoos on the lower back were made popular in the late 90’s with young women originally sporting the look. Now lower back tattoos, aka “tramp stamps,” are being seen everywhere—even some guys… MORE
Innappropriate Dessert Branding
Innappropriate Dessert Branding
The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck Roams NYC
The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck wants to replace your Mr. Softee craving. Hoping that NYC gays and lesbians have good humor, Doug Quint, a bassoon blower (phallic enough?) is driving around the Big Apple in… MORE
Bottle-Stopper Laxatives
Bottle-Stopper Laxatives
Italian Dulcolax Ad Proves They Can Uncork Anything
This Italian campaign for Dulcolax uses popped corks to prove their laxatives can help you when you are all stopped up. The ad from Saatchi & Saatchi, Milan, Italy is just too clever for me. Seems like… MORE
Future Car Exoskeletons
Future Car Exoskeletons
Recycled Aluminum 'Stauro' Vehicle Runs on Oranges
Taylor Welden led an experienced seven-person team to design the “Stauro” city vehicle. The frame of the car, which cane be seen in the gallery here, is part of the design. Made from 100% recycled… MORE

Featured Ideas

Healthier Donuts
Healthier Donuts
Krispy Kreme Will Make Whole Wheat Donuts
It's true! While you are shoving those yummy pleasures down your throat, you can keep telling yourself: "the donut is only 180 calories." Of course, the caramel flavor adds just a few more calories, right?… MORE
Two Person Rocking Chairs
Two Person Rocking Chairs
The Tete-a-Tete Chair is a Sea-Saw For Grown Ups
Laurie Beckerman displayed this rocker for lovers at a recent furniture show in the Big Apple. It's made of Dupont Coran and it's designed to work only if the chair is shared with another person. I really… MORE
Pink Gold  Mania
Pink Gold Mania
Blushing Rose Gold is All the Rage in the Jewelry World
All gold is yellow -- except when it’s not. Pink gold is making a strong push for the fashion forward. To make pink gold, the jeweler just adds copper. Idalia is one of the better known jewelry houses… MORE
Home Micro Mosaics
Home Micro Mosaics
Tiny Porcelain Tiles Give Home Floors A Dramatic Edge
Luxury interior designers love mosaics. When you see a gallery of the potential uses, it’s easy to understand why. Me? I think of bathroom floors and the Taj Mahal, nothing in between. That’s why… MORE
Off Road Concept Car In Geneva
Off Road Concept Car In Geneva
Magna Steyr Mila Future Hilltopper
Magna Steyr introduces the Mila Future concept at Geneva. Resembling a glorified all terrain vehicle, in fact, climbing snowy roads was part of the design challenge. It will climb 45 degree hills, runs… MORE
Film Noir Lingerie
Film Noir Lingerie
Black Lace, Ruffles and Bows for the Fashionable Femme Fatale
The French are known for decadent and risque lingerie, and Chantal Thomass does the style as well as any. With design cues that evoke a retro femme fatale, the pieces in the gallery above are each softened… MORE
Kitten as Food
Kitten as Food
Firefox Shares Logo with Cat Cooks, Festival
I Can BE Cheezeburger! LOL. I love kitties, with a nice chianti and some fava beans. Every September, people from all around Peru flock to La Quebrada to have a festival in honor of Saint Efigenia. (Saint… MORE
Overcrowded Offices
Overcrowded Offices
10 Trading Floors to Honor the Bailout Bill
The whole world is wondering what is going on with the ‘Trading Spaces’ world--the markets where money is bought and sold like apples and oranges. These are ten of the trading floors that remodel 401k’s… MORE
Mobile Apps as Health Trackers
Mobile Apps as Health Trackers
The iPhone Heart Monitor
Aside from the iPint virtual beer, this may be the most appropriate iPhone app for geezers. The iPhone 3G has hundreds of apps, but if your heart gets racing over the newest MacBook Pro, the iPhone Heart… MORE
Inked Family Values
Inked Family Values
Relatives and 'Family' Tattoos Are Both Permanent
Need an all-purpose tat? Try getting “family” inked on yourself. After all, we all have family. Either we came from a family or have started a family. If the family unit decides that you need to move… MORE
Credit Crunch Fantasies
Credit Crunch Fantasies
Forbes Estimates What Fake Houses Are Worth
Leave it to Forbes to put a value on fake mansions and estates. I knocked the list down a little, leaving out cartoon houses, like Richie Rich and Burns Manor (Simpsons), but left in Barbie's Malibu Dream… MORE
Blossoming Bikinis and Contrast
Blossoming Bikinis and Contrast
Tibi and Smilovic at The Miami Mercedes Swimwear Show
Tibi swimsuits displayed brightly at the Mercedes-Benze Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach. Along with the bright colors were bold prints and attention getting contrasts. Tibi’s designer Amy Smilovic returned… MORE
Bottle-Stopper Laxatives
Bottle-Stopper Laxatives
Italian Dulcolax Ad Proves They Can Uncork Anything
This Italian campaign for Dulcolax uses popped corks to prove their laxatives can help you when you are all stopped up. The ad from Saatchi & Saatchi, Milan, Italy is just too clever for me. Seems like… MORE
10 Ugly Sports Logos
10 Ugly Sports Logos
What Were They Thinking?
Here are 10 truly ugly sport team logos. Some were used for a very short time before graphic designers existed, some are the work of probably highly compensated graphic designers. The teams are the Jets,… MORE