I have a great respect for President Obama and his team and his ability to tap into the tone of the country, which he will certainly leverage during his presidency.  I also appreciate the goals of his stimulus package.  It would probably have a benefit that the country needs, especially more mid- and long-term results such as a better infrastructure that is sorely needed.  But I do think there are alternative ideas that would stimulate the economy much sooner and provide much more of a “jolt” than the President’s plan would provide. Read more…

Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

My article about the similarities of today and the period leading up to the French Revolution has stirred some really interesting discussions.  One thing I’ve learned is that people are much more comfortable in private versus public conversations, and that is probably a good thing.  I’ve also learned that all sorts of people across industries, ages, and economic classes share a serious concern about what’s happening, and that the most optimistic among them hold to the belief:  Read more…

Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

I remember reading the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel while in college.  I’m very certain that what I remember about him was more attributable to the extraordinary lectures of my professor, Thelma Z. Lavine, who at the time (1965-67) held an endowed chair at George Washington University and who subsequently was a Robinson Professor at George Mason University.

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Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

In the legitimate pursuit of trying to understand the current economic situation in the context of history, the question most often asked is:  How does this compare to the Depression?  That could be the wrong question.  It might be more appropriate to ask:  How does this compare to the environment that led to the French Revolution?

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Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal President & CEO, was interviewed a little bit ago by CNBC, as part of their coverage on the economic viability and future of New York City.  He addressed three issues:

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Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

There may well be questions about which social media tools will have long lives and which will die because they are too faddish or because they do not evolve as quickly as they will need if they are to become integral to the future of communications. But one thing is not at issue: the age of social media is here. People are communicating differently, expecting to receive information differently, and given more options to interact with other people (those they know and those they don’t). Read more…

Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

Significant attention has been focused on the decline of marketing communications budgets, and how that will impact the public ad agencies. Read more…

Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

The New York Times published an editorial yesterday with the title “Undermining Justice.”  Without holding back, The Times rightfully criticized the Bush Administration for forcing career attorneys out of the Department of Justice so that they could be replaced with “real Americans,” who would support a right-wing political agenda.

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Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

A while ago I wrote an article entitled “The Death of the Internet,” in which I argued that when something becomes truly ubiquitous it no longer exists.  I cited transistors as a perfect example:  they were hyped in the 1950s as much as the Internet is now, predicted to be “everywhere” and likely to change lives.  And the predictions came true.  Today, transistors are everywhere and have changed our lives.  They are so “everywhere” that, for all practical purposes, their presence is no longer noticed, and they no longer exist.  I think that is beginning to happen with the Internet.

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Basic Theme Of Death Of Time

It’s hard not to be impressed by President-elect Obama.  The mere fact of his election as the first Black president is impressive by itself.  But it goes well beyond that:  his appearance, his oratorical skills, the quality of his campaign, and his ability to maintain a consistent message are also formidable. Read more…

Basic Theme Of Death Of Time