TESTING 1, 2, 3. Not every invention, improvement, or innovation we are promised becomes popular or is accepted in our culture. We were all told 50 years ago that by now we would be getting around by way of jetpacks strapped to our backs. So far, no jetpack. The self-driving car is still a possibility, along with solar-powered homes with rainwater-collection systems. Here are some of the experiments that are predicted to succeed in the near future:

• Used clothes. Both J.C. Penny and Macy’s have partnered with used clothing company ThredUp. Department stores are finding new ways to compete with the online shopping trend. ThredUp, the largest online thrift store, projects that by 2028 the secondhand market will reach $64 billion. According to a Business of Fashion 2019 report, the “circular fashion movement” is expected to exceed first-owned fashion within 10 years. J.C. Penney and Macy’s plan to feature ThredUp clothing, starting with 30 stores before expanding. Both companies plan to rotate selections of clothing weekly.

• Safety Razors. What’s a safety razor? Ask your grandfather. The old-fashioned, built-to-last, metal, double-edged safety razor is making a comeback, thanks to the global campaign to reduce plastic waste. In addition to Styrofoam cups and containers, plastic straws, and plastic bags, disposable razors are a problem. More than 1.2 billion plastic disposable razors are sold in the U.S. each year. The French company BIC tried, but failed, to get French users of disposables to recycle. In the U.S., Gillette is partnering with Terracycle to try to cope with the plastic waste. The only drawback to using a safety razor is you can’t take the blades on a plane in your carry-on luggage.

• New “I do.” The traditional wedding is almost obsolete. A recent survey by WeddingWire found that only 25 percent of couples marry in a church or a religious setting. Forty-four percent of couples write their own vows. Young couples do not promise to love and honor a spouse in sickness or in health to “death do us part.” Their so-called vows are not vows at all—more like yearbook inscriptions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average age of marrying couples in 2018 was 29. Some states (Colorado is one) do not require an officiant to marry. You are married when the marriage license is signed by both parties. Voila! You are married.

• Memo Emoji. Corporations are embracing the use of emojis in the office. Formality in business communication is being transformed by millennials and Gen-Zers who have brought color and humor to the boring memo.

• Modern Resume. Young job applicants are jazzing up the traditional resume with colored paper, avatars, cartoons, and photographs. For Gen-Zers, Instagram is how they communicate. The formal, black-and-white resume is not their jam. They prefer teal paper with lots of colorful illustrations, including college mascots, icons representing hobbies and travel, logos of former employers, and other eye-catching artwork. Stodgy employers will have to get used to this trend. It is not going away.

• Eco-Friendly Schools. A new elementary school in Wimberly, Texas, will be the first “One Water” school in the state. A rainwater collection system will provide water to drink, wash hands and dishes, and flush toilets. Clear pipes will run through the school’s library to show students how water flows from the roof to underground tanks.

• Self-driving Trucks. UPS has invested in TuSimple, a company that makes selfdriving trucks. The first route will be between Phoenix and Tucson, with more routes planned in the western U.S. The U.S. Postal Service also has a deal with TuSimple that has tested delivery between Phoenix and Dallas.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mary Jane McKinney is the founder and CEO of Grammardog.com LLC, a publisher of grammar exercises. She has used her English degree as a teacher, editor, reporter, and marketing executive. Readers who have questions or comments on this column are welcome to write to the author in care of The Canadian Record, PO Box 898, Canadian, TX 79014, or by e-mail at: fifi@grammardog.com.