I have never been one to get caught up in consumerism, but the lure of participating in the ever-growing phenomenon that is Black Friday...

Sometimes I get a birthday gift right. Like the time I found an ink-drawn Dr. Gonzo, clutching a briefcase full of drugs in one...

I regularly see posts on LinkedIn scolding the general network for the sin of posting anything that could be considered political. The wording varies, but it’s usually along the lines of: “this is supposed to be a business networking site, leave politics out of it.” It always gets lots of likes and affirmation in the comments. The problem is, politics and business are inextricably combined. Politics creates the context and the conditions for business. Politics provides the incentives and the punishments that encourage the “right” and discourage the “wrong” kind of business. The same people that buy what they want and need from businesses vote for and are influenced by politicians that represent what they believe to be their values. Overlay mainstream and social media spinning it all to amplify winning sentiments and trends (what it thinks will make them money), manipulating the emotions of consumers/voters, swaying the way they buy and...