What I got rid of today.

A brand close to my heart.

So, here I sit…at the Tribecca Grand in New York…typing this entry out whilst I have my breakfast (and coffee, natch!)

I RID this book today about the Starbucks success story. I have kind of a love/hate relationship with the brand. When I lived in Seattle, I had several better coffeeshops within walking distance of my house. Like here. Or here.

And, in Dallas, Starbucks doesn’t hold a candle to this place.

And, when in NYC, I’m a fan of this joint.

But, when you’re traveling in an unfamiliar city, I must admit…Starbucks is a nice “go to.” A place with dependable quality.

Because you really don’t want to deal with me pre-morning joe.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to work.

Seems like a time gone by.

Today, I RID this book about the rise of the titans of Silicon Valley.

However, it’s the word “empire” that’s on my mind.

I read an article this morning about how yesterday might have been the saddest day in American political history. A day where our president, due to the insane (and mostly racist) ramblings of a bunch of teabaggers, produced his birth certificate to appease a bunch of asshats.

I’m sorry – but can we please have a discussion about what matters? Like the fact that we still have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with no end in sight? Like the fact that Wikileaks has shown us that army doctors have ignored the obvious signs of torture at Guantanamo, and looked the other way?

Folks, this is how empires fall.

The country I love has lost the high ground. We used to be a shining beacon of the most high-minded ideals in the world.

Now, we’re concerned about birth certificates, Charlie Sheen, and today’s boxscore.

Sorry for today’s rant — I’ve just had it.

Back to our regular scheduled programming tomorrow.

Reorienting.

Today, I’m RIDding this book on how “bad” our society has become.

It was written many, many, years ago. But I worry now that it was very prescient. The decline of science literacy, the “sound bite” nature of our news, the mere existence of the “birthers,” etc. have all contributed to our populace being more poorly informed than ever.

It’s time to wake up people. Click here. Or here. And learn the lessons.

But today, I’m RIDding this book because it de-motivates me from trying to improve things. To accept things as they are. And to let a sleeping dog lie.

No more.

I’m going to challenge ignorance and lack of information when I see it.

So, uh…get ready.

Never read.

Recently, I was at a conference presenting, and I used the word “consumer.”

It’s amazing how hard a habit that is to break. Even though I’m trying to be more thoughtful about consuming myself, and to treat others as more than mere consumption machines,…that word just keeps creeping back into my vernacular.

So, as I RID this book today about “Consumerspace,” I remind myself to stop using that word.

To stop treating people as mere consumption opportunities.

And to consume less myself.

Free to the next owner.

RIDding this book today written by the editor of Wired about our “free” economy.

I’m thinking a bit this morning about the things we take for granted. The things that we treat almost as if they’re “free,” because they’re so natural, so “easy.”

But they rarely are.

Things that we care about take care to take care of.

And, on a day where many of you are celebrating a holiday, that might be a good thing to remember.

Take care of those, and that, you need to.

Happy Easter. Or Sunday. Or day off.

Or whatever it is you’re celebrating today.

Perspective.

Today I RID this book about career choice.

I talked to my 16-year old daughter yesterday about her college/major choice, and it made me reflect upon my own.

I went to Creighton University because of its stellar pre-law program, as I fully intended to become a lawyer.

A few weeks after being in school, I turned my direction to marketing…and towards the path of advertising where I’ve made my living.

It makes me wonder…what if I hadn’t listened to that instinct? What if I were so dogged in my beliefs, and so stubborn…that I had continued down that path? My hunch is…I wouldn’t be as happy as I am today.

So…as I RID this book, I remind myself to listen to those instincts.

They’ve served me well. Very well.

Good reading for someone...certainly was for me.

Today, I RID this book on bad science…in theory, in practice, and most importantly…in publication.

There’s so much of this around us….beliefs about how vaccines cause autism, questionable “health” claims on products we buy, and general lack of care or understanding of what science really means.

I RID this book today in the hopes it opens someone’s eyes…and helps them see what we “know” isn’t always what we really know.