[Plutarch]

...it's useful to realize how fast the world is changing before our eyes.

I think the pace of change has palpably slowed. The differences between 2005 and 1980 are much much less than the difference beween 1980 and 1955.

[Clemenza]

Which begs the question, what would Marshall "we're living in speed-up" McLuhan have to say about this.

I agree with you about the differences between 1960-1980 and 1980-2000. The main difference I notice between 1980 and the current period are slight changes in how we view sexuality, race, and politics (largely having to do with the fact that the so-called "Greatest Generation" have largely bought the farm, taking their attitudes with them), as well as in music. These changes are largely cosmetic, and most of the technological advances of the past 20 years (the internet, telecommunications, etc) were already in place back in the 1970s.