Tark and Mara were holding their AGM. Their 12,000 square foot penthouse resembled the control room of an overly optimistic mission to Mars. Every window blind was a projection screen festooned with graphs and media strategies. Every surface, including the grand piano, was a sea of printouts, computer equipment, and swatches of ruinously expensive fabric. They had twenty-four hours before their annual New Year’s Party, at which they traditionally announced the most important trends for the following year.

“You can’t just say that, darling.”

“Why ever not, my effervescent poison of choice?”

“They’re resolutions, Tark. Not ideas. I want concrete goals, and ‘make 6.5 million euro on elbow patches’ is not a concrete goal. When? How? I want dates. I want graphs, for God’s sake.”

“Fine. I am going to make €6.5 million with my new line of suede elbow patches for the New Man of 2015. Hipsters are out. Jaded Academics…