My Blogs

  • Owned! The Power of Branding

    I just came from a marketing research group for a new Starbucks product. To quote one of the ladies at the table, "There's something classy about walking into a room holding a Starbucks cup...like Mary Kate and Ashley" Really? Holding a paper cup destined for landfill with a Starbucks logo on it makes you feel superior to others? I wonder if others feel her superiority when she's armed with her cup.

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  • Are We Openminded Enough To Change Outdated Practices So That We Can Adapt to Our New Climate?

    With today's unpredictable climate, producing an ample food supply for the world's population has become increasingly challenging, especially in developing countries. Much of the farmland in these areas have been made available by clearing rainforests, which only compounds the problem of global warming. Even after the land has been cleared, there's no guarantee that the field will produce a bountiful harvest. Often, a flood, drought, or other natural disaster will prevail, leaving farmers with little or no reward for all their hard work. If the crops do come through, they must be shipped hundreds or thousands of miles to the highest bidding consumers all around the world, and all too often, thrown in the trash where they end up in a landfill. We know our population is growing and demand for food is growing. We know weather conditions will only get worse. How will we adapt as a species to the new habitat that we've created for ourselves? What is the solution?

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  • Building One House

    This week, after all the questionable nonprofit organizations in the news, I'd like to highlight one of my favorite nonprofit organizations. Red Feather Development Group, started by Robert Young in 1995, builds sustainable housing for homeless native Americans living on reservations in the middle of nowhere.

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