Culinary Culture
I am fascinated by trends in popular food, mini-zeitgeist of society's peculiar and unpredictable loves. Here are some current trends, possible reasons for their inception, and what I predict will come next!

Fancy/athletic/pricey/healthy drinks
Americans, evolved past the banality of Perrier and Evian of the 1980's, are prepared to pay for "healthier" water. There is a resurgence of drink as accessory, beverage as status symbol. We have Smart Water, Gatorade's Propel Water, and now, even Coke is trying to add minerals. Fifty Cent has stock in Vitamin water, which blatantly sells the stories of its famous drinkers on little anecdotes on the labels. And there's proof of the effectiveness of its design and marketability to the American public: he's made millions.
The future: water enhanced with the only food celebrities are allowed to have, low-fat protein...da da da da: food water! It should be expensive, so people know it's good/cool.

Açai berry anything.
There's already a Haagen-Daaz flavor of this Brazilian berry, a Vitamin water blended flavor (with blueberry and pomegranate) and a seasonal drink at Caribou Coffee (a coffee shop chain). I think it tastes like a cross between a blueberry and an a raw potato- starchy but sweet. It's popular because not only does it exploit a new fruit (I thought I knew them all!) and it vaguely feels like you're supporting the rainforest by consuming it, since I think most people subconsciously connect use of anything from the rainforest (or purportedly from the rainforest) with conservation (i.e. "Look at my teak table...yes, I know; I just have to help if I can.")
The future: açai berries on desserts at fancy restaurants, in glazes for meat, and in very ritzy salad dressings. And the jackfruit will be the next weird fruit to be everywhere soon- I love it! It tastes like a cross between an orange and a kiwi!

Organic, grass-fed, all-natural, no trans-fat meat.
Oh my gosh: Kentucky Fried Chicken is promoting itself as a healthy choice! It's scary because it's obviously untrue and because despite that, the company has actually been compelled by popular sentiment to get rid of the trans-fats. So that's something. Even McDonald's is marketing McNuggets as chicken. I remember the days when they were unrecognizable, reconstituted meat, back in the days before it was considered appropriate to eat McDonald's for every meal.
The future: other fast food restaurants will promote their use of real meat. Maybe Taco Bell will stop serving dog food. That would be so nice.

Latino flavors
Not the flavors of Latinos, (spicy?) but tastes that have been part of Latino culture for centuries. Apparently, Miller Brewing Company thought that a slightly lime and salt flavored beer, called Miller Chill and packaged in a green beer bottle, was a good idea. Eww. Wrigley took a chance on Mojito-Lime gum, highlighted in this New York Times article, and Mayan chocolate is gaining popularity.
The future: quesadillas at McDonald's. Why hasn't that happened yet? Even though McDonald's owns Chipotle, they need to follow this trend, too. And possibly, eventually, popular culture will be ready for mole. Maybe.

What trends have you spotted? :)

I've been thinking about patriotism recently. There is so much pessimism, defeatism, and resignation to the fact that our president seems be bogging us down in a quagmire of lies, secrecy, and worldwide hatred directed at all we hold so dear. There are suicide bombers killing soldiers and civilians daily, prompted, indirectly, by our country's involvement in Iraq. It's easy to be a bitter liberal and think that hope can only be found in a well-chosen democratic candidate. But today, I want to start a list of acts of Americanism that we see everyday, and overlook for how truly valuable they are to our country. More than our military, who make the biggest and least repayable service to us, these are small daily signs of our inner patriotism:

*People pulling their cars over for ambulances, not knowing the person who's inside, just that he or she is one of us and it's the small thing we can do to help.
*That our ambulances will save anyone who needs them.
*In my neighborhood, Muslim Somali women can walk unafraid in full hijab.
*My students, many of whom faced challenging lives in their native countries, can learn English, and hopefully, do whatever they want with their lives, because of the opportunities in our country.

I know there are many more aspects of truly American behavior. What else should I add to my list?