Seriously, this is the last time I plan to talk about JCPenney and its "leadership." New old CEO Mike Ullman claims a turnaround is underway... "Over the last six months, we have made significant strides and are now seeing positive signs in many important areas of the business," said Ullman.

Nothing complements bad service and total operational inefficiency like increased prices. So – naturally – the United States Postal Service yesterday announced proposed price changes, including an increase in the price of a First Class mail single-piece letter from 46 cents to 49 cents.

About 2,500  years ago, Heraclitus – the Greek philosopher – suggested that everything flows, nothing stands still. This simple thought eventually evolved into the more commonly recognized "change is the only constant." Anyway, this idea hit me today like a cold, wet epiphany when I read about the concept Phoneblok...

If you ever wondered what a collaboration between Steve Jobs, Dean Kamen, Sam Walton and Ashton Kutcher might look like, you may soon have your answer. SMIRK (social media integrated in retail kiosks) may in fact be the most exciting – and  profitable – use of social media since Charlie Sheen launched his #winning campaign on Twitter.

Nothing against Yahoo!, I am sure this is a really big deal to them, but there's been way too much noise about this logo design and no good reason for it.

The Internet is a strange place indeed.  And the social aspect of it is the strangest part of all.  All day, everyday I get invitations to follow people and like people and endorse people... many of whom I don't know.

Campbell's Soups are as American as mom, apple pie and baseball. So it kind of stings when allegations are made that Campbell's and the American Heart Association are pulling the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting consumers. Which really makes you appreciate the power of marketing in all forms – product labels, website content, advertising, publicity, in-store displays.  It also makes you appreciate the value of honesty and integrity.

A lot of companies (I would guess 100%) are either currently using social media or attempting to use social media for the express purpose of selling product.  Most of them – and the inbound marketers they work with – will deny it.

Not so very long ago, standard marketing consisted primarily of broadcast and print advertising with a dash of publicity and direct marketing... and maybe some events, sponsorships and outdoor (reference any episode of Mad Men). Today, thanks to the Internet, there are just a few more spokes on the wheel.  New media – digital and social media – has created a whole new world...

Well, I hope you're happy with yourself.  After years of listening to a hoard of mind-numbing inbound marketing and SEO experts you've finally done it.  You've saturated the marketplace with an endless array of content. I tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen.