One of the main points of critical respect often bestowed upon works of fiction taking place in the "not-too-distant future", so to speak, is that of the accurate prediction. That is, when a minor piece of scene-setting detail (as opposed to actual plot point) which seems satiric upon publication turns out to be all-too-true just a few years later. Think of the critical reception of William Gibson's Pattern Recognition and its attendant sequels.
In the Jest, DFW introduces the ridiculous notion that, following the example of college football bowl games (and, presumably, sports stadium names), actual calendar years will someday soon have their names sold to corporate sponsors. For those of you new to the Jest, you'll notice this right away: yes, the "Year Of Glad" does indeed refer to the household plastics manufacturer.
For those of you who live in Philadelphia, well, you probably know where I'm going with this. Philadelphia's public transit system has two urban subway lines: the orange, or Broad Street line, and the blue, or Market Street line. At the southern extremity of the cartographically vertical Broad Street line lies the city's sports complex, a multi-acre expanse of stadia, arenae, parking lots and the occasional sports bar. As the major through street in the vicinity is named Pattison Avenue, this terminus was, until recently, named Pattison Avenue Station.
No longer. Say hello, denizens of the immediate future, to AT&T Station.
Not kidding: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20100625_SEPTA_approves_changing_name_of_Pattison_station_to_AT_T.html
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