by Mark O'Brien | Feb 26, 2015
According to dictionary.com, hype is a derivation of hyperbole: Origin: 1925–30, Americanism; in sense “to trick, swindle,” of uncertain origin; subsequent senses perhaps by reanalysis as a shortening of hyperbole That’s easy enough to imagine. A hyperbolic pitch...
by Mark O'Brien | Feb 23, 2015
I read an article in Inc., “It’s Official: Networking Makes People Feel Sleazy”, over breakfast the other morning. Its psychological premise engaged me fully, especially this: Just the thought of saying “find me on LinkedIn” is enough to...
by Mark O'Brien | Feb 20, 2015
Hunter Thompson died by his own hand nine years ago today. I found out at about 10:00 the next morning. Despite my brute incomprehension of what I was reading, it struck me as a rather Thompsonesque moment: It was snowing — bleak, cold. I’d gone to my...
by Mark O'Brien | Feb 19, 2015
About three or 47 times a week, I get email from a sender who identifies as Reverse Your Diabetes. The body of the email says: WARNING! You will be SHOCKED by this video, Mark! Viewer Discretion is Advised While I’ve never clicked through to view the video, I do...
by Mark O'Brien | Feb 13, 2015
When my three siblings and I were children, Mom and Dad took us to dinner at the historic Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut. The place was bustling, as always. Young members of the wait staff hustled from table to table, tending to their patrons. After a few minutes,...
