Presley's sense of humour was a key, if underappreciated, part of his appeal to later generations, the notion that he was in on the joke.
There's been no more powerful and consistent idea in American politics during the past generation than the notion that government is the problem, not the solution.
We were probably the last generation with the notion of a graven image, where filmmaking and film watching were a very physical thing.
The YouTube generation find the notion of debating issues across coloured podiums bizarre, mainstream news channels tedious, and party political broadcasts embarrassing.
A generation ago, the notion of running a marathon in a costume would have been regarded as absurd, if it were considered at all.
It is assumed that the older generation find the notion of photographing dinner a vulgarity – a distraction from the proper business of dining, conversation, booze, and eating every spoonful of risotto.
Campaigning last week in Texas, Senator John McCain weighed in on one of the most politicized scientific issues in a generation, raising the notion that the epidemic in autism is related to the preservative in vaccines.
"Serena's up with every bit of it," Mr. Sirulnick said, "whereas with Stone Phillips or whoever, it would be, 'How's school, junior?' " For those not of the MTV generation, the whole notion of fearless MTV documentaries takes some getting used to.
Many in the younger generations find the notion that war would break out in Europe frankly comical -- and with good cause.
