The Economics of Celebrity Endorsements
Money well spent?
These days, the endorsement game faces a challenge: the erosion of the aura that surrounds fame.
Last Writes
When Words Fail: The Emoji Era
How the cutesy graphics continue to shape the conversation.
Since their emergence on Japanese cellphones some 19 years ago, emoji have become a standard feature of conversation in the digital age.
The Return of Vintage Neon Signs
Light bright.
After being phased out of the Vancouver scene in the seventies, neon signs are back in vogue.
The Future of Fixing
A new generation of menders is picking up needle and thread.
Today, visible repairs, creatively handled, can signal love, individuality, environmental awareness, or all three.
Idiosyncrasies of Wine Labels
Beyond the brand.
Whether we’re attracted to a quirky brand name or a picture of an animal, it’s the label that guides us to the bottle.
The Tradition of Viennese Balls
Waltzing through winter.
Vienna has been known as the ball capital of the world for over two centuries, and hosts about 450 separate balls annually.
The Economic and Social Cost of the Panama Papers
Don't follow the money.
The Panama Papers are less about rich vs. poor, haves vs. have-nots, and more about all-in-this-together vs. every-man-for-himself.
Joe Gebbia of Airbnb
Turning tourism into travel.
To co-founder Joe Gebbia, what Airbnb is actually selling is a kind of antidote to a peculiar sense of 20th century alienation.
Sleep No More
Art unexpected.
The premise of Sleep No More sounded nonsensical, like rantings born of a fever dream, but it was intriguing enough that I bought a ticket. And several weeks later, I waited in a thunderstorm for what would be one of the most phenomenal artistic experiences in my life.
