The equivalent of a postcard in 2010 (or in 2008, for that matter) is the sms/text message. This image of a mobile chat is branded with the 2010 "I <3 NY" campaign to re-brand New York as the premier 21st century city. As attention increases in value as a commodity, every aspect of life is fair game for advertising.
I Imagine this conversation is a casual encounter between two people who met on the 'Social' page of The New Times.
I've also started this blog for one of my characters as a way to expand the fiction of the '21010' world
The premise is that this character, Irena, was hired to write a profile piece about life on living wage in the form of this blog, that will be linked from 'The New Times' website.