ethanbeute

Most of us buy things we don’t really need, but instead simply want. I’m good with that. Buying socks for your chairs, though, crosses the line into ridiculous consumption.

From the Kevin Garnett, Charlie Villanueva, “cancer patient” dust-up, a reminder: your personal brand exists in real time across many media … what you say can and will be used against you.

Lisa Gansky’s new book “The Mesh: Why The Future Of Business Is Sharing” nicely connects the themes and sub-heading of this blog – marketing, environment and culture. This post explains how – and links to my written and video book reviews.

The distance created by my multi-year tardiness in reading Kevin Kelly’s 2004 essay “We Are The Web” gave me enhanced appreciation of it. Here: my advocacy for your reading it … and a video in case you’re insufficiently motivated to do so.

I’ll spare us all the rote litany of tired criticisms (think “if it bleeds it leads”) that have been lobbed at mainstream media for decades. I’ll take a short cut straight to: you get to decide what’s news.

What you want, when you want it, as often as you want it – without cable or satellite … it’s easier than ever. Just don’t tell me it’s about saving money.

Like water into wine, Pabst Blue Ribbon went seriously upscale for its product launch in China, demonstrating the power of product positioning.

So, BP gets called out for Photoshopping an image of their Command Center for use on their website. I’ve seen two primary, polar reactions: 1″It’s no surprise coming from those no-good, lying, reckless, corner-cutting, profit-hoarding goons!” and 2) “What’s the big deal? They’ve obviously got bigger fish to fry!” (or fish to slick, as it were). I’ll take a minute to stand more toward the middle, but clearly on one side.

On the eve of one of what could be the most significant free agency periods in the history of the National Basketball Association, I’d like to share a few observable upsides.

With perfect weather and good, unexpected company, my second round trip hike of Pikes Peak by Barr Trail was the best summit experience yet.