Tak Tik Boom

Success Is Never Final

We like to think that history has an inevitability to it. We like to believe that there is an arc that goes from the bad old days to the good new days; that things move toward virtue; that freedom and prosperity will inevitably triumph and evil and depredation will ultimately be vanquished.

There is absolutely no reason to believe this. And yet we do.

It's the same type of silly belief we have

The Hidden Danger Of Precision Targeting

There is very little difference between your customer and your competitor’s customer.

And get ready for a shock. To them there is very little difference between you and your competitor.

Most consumers are oblivious to the positioning subtleties among major brands. The average consumer has no idea why Coke is different from Pepsi, or Crest is different from Colgate. They see no difference

Spirit of Lost Angels up for The People's Book Award

Anyone who has read and enjoyed Spirit of Lost Angels, I'd really appreciate your vote! Thanks in advance.

Opening Day 2013

Today is Opening Day for the World Champion San Francisco Giants. Here is my traditional Opening Day post.

The economy is still in the toilet. Somewhere, asteroids are heading
toward Earth. Web pornography is warping the minds of our children.
Grown men and women are relentlessly Tweeting each other. Yes, my friend, the end is near.

But who gives a damn?

It's
Opening Day. I'm going to

Latest review of Spirit of Lost Angels

Many thanks to Megan, of Reading in the Sunshine, for her lovely 5-star review of Spirit of Lost Angels.

The Data Delusion

Systems in extremis often delude themselves into believing they are something they are not.

Our educational system has convinced itself that it's not really in the education business. It's in the "self-discovery" business or the business of "celebrating diversity" or other such nonsense. The result is that it is very successful at not educating our kids.

Pepsi decided a few years ago that it

10 Rules For Happy Living

Today, I begin a new life as an irresponsible drain on the treasury of the United States.

It's a career I've always felt well-suited for. I'm afraid it's not going to last long because I'm already drawing up plans. But while it's here I'm going to enjoy it.

I am kicking off my new situation on a positive note. I know, it's not really my brand, but what the hell.

Having lived now for a couple