After the college board, the longboard

Chico State University students arrive at class on narrow-tailed longboards. Their feet don't touch the pavement between the dorm and the doorway where they hop off before propping their boards against classroom walls.

Yesterday, a knee-sized Chico resident whizzed by me on a board as tall as he was. Three years old and already preparing for college, California style. Just a reminder, if you're predicting trends always watch California kids.

Kids are quick, sales follow

It astounded me to see how a 1.5 second appearance of a previously unadvertised book within a sweepstakes commercial made an immediate difference in its Amazon sales rank. Edgar & Ellen's Mischief Manual had previously ranked last among the Edgar & Ellen books but it flew to the top during the promotion period. It was briefly mentioned as part of a prize package for an Edgar & Ellen Party in a Box on Nicktoons Network.

More proof that today's kids have an uncanny ability to grasp visual information at high speeds. Maybe auditory, too.

Clan costuming

This year, I spotted groups of people dressed as "casts." There were two groups of Ghost Busters, a handful of glistening French courtiers, a gang of jolly cons and a crew of pirates.

Costumes catch the eye when they're multiplied. Halloween customs seem to be borrowing from the costumed tribes in role-playing games.

Halloween, America's Carnaval

Returning from the Greenwich Village Halloween scene, I doubt that costumes will remain the domain of kids.

Sure there were little pirates, fairies, Spidermen and Elmos trick-or-treating at generous shops and liquor stores, but they were outnumbered by the throngs of Paris Hiltons, sexy angels, Louis IV courtiers, and taller pirates. Through the evening, the epicenter moved from 6th avenue to Washington Square. Lots of laughing students and groups of tottering girls--expect bands, sponsors and pregnancies to follow.

While we talk about KGOY "Kids Getting Older Younger," I propose a parallel trend: ASYLUM "Adults Staying Younger Longer Until Married." Bring on the adult-sized costumes, welcome to Carnaval.