I picked up a copy of Susan Boyle's first CD spawned by her appearance on "Britain's Got Talent" and the viral results of her YouTube video. Her renditions of "I Dream the Dream" and the other eleven … [Read more...]
Social Issues and Debatable Topics
Are Retailers Killing Off their Customers?
The news in this morning’s paper–front page–is the same. Retailers are hysterically worried about another “bad Christmas.” Consumers have tightened their belts, hidden their credit cards and won’t even walk into a retail store unless there’s a big “70% off” sign in the window. What’s going on? I think retailers need to step back mentally [...]
Internet Privacy in a Sea of Web Cookies
Worried about Internet privacy, web monitoring, flash cookies and who’s watching your website activity? Need better privacy protection in your life? Read on. Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal published the first article in a series called “The Web’s New Gold Mine: Your Secrets,” a comprehensive piece describing how ad networks and Internet tracking companies are [...]
Christmas Gift Giving in an Age of Guilt
If you believe the polls, everyone’s reporting that Christmas gift shoppers are crossing you off their lists while Santa is sleeping in on Christmas eve and Rudolf’s red nose is dimming fast. So much for polls. On the other hand, you read about thoughtful people in the current recession who are creatively giving gifts that [...]
Can Silicon Valley and Wall Street Learn from Wyoming?
Wyoming, population 533,000, is experiencing its 8th straight year of population growth. What does Wyoming know that Silicon Valley doesn’t? Slower economic growth, less dependence on technology and adopting green energy has kept its unemployment rate at 6.8%. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts concluded that the American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed early [...]
Hurley Creates Golf Courses and Hope On Lost Islands
During an episode of the TV series “Lost,” one of the best television series, Hurley, the big guy in need of a diet, told Jack: “You know what’s wrong? We’re just not having fun,” the best kick-in-the-ass comment made by any character in the series. Jack, the medical doctor, the guy who always needed to [...]
Bridges Connect People in the Bay Area? Drain the Bay
Residents in the San Francisco Bay Area awoke again today not knowing how to quickly commutel from one side of the Bay to the other. The Bay Bridge, connecting Oakland/East Bay with San Francisco, was shut down again due to safety issues. (On Labor Day, the bridge was also closed to fix a dangerous section [...]
Passionate People Colliding with Passionate People
It’s very energizing to meet people who share similar interests. It’s like an auto collision without the damage. For me, this week has been a series of “people collisions” as I’ve met mobile professionals in San Francisco at the annual Smaato advertising events. Wednesday night, I was part of a roundtable discussion with app developers, [...]
Health Care Benefits for Congress?
To the Congress of the United States regarding your health care benefits: Over the weekend with the Senate’s narrow but passing vote to “debate” health care legislation, it’s become crystal clear that some members of Congress don’t care about the health care crisis. With a few exceptions, the Republican leadership is unwilling to debate the [...]