In cities across America, it's the season of the "cause." From charity 10K runs to sumptuous galas, volunteers of all sizes and stripes step forward in the fall to do their part. Chicago's no different. In fact, 1.7 million people volunteer in Chicago, contributing an equivalent of $3.6 million...

On October 28, 1938 the first mass gathering of American Marxists was held in New York City. Glenn Beck seems set on marking the occasion. I'm referring to his flagrant use of the word "socialism" to describe the Obama administration's policies.

Whether it's the federal bail-out or health care reform,...

Like many Chicago residents, I grew up somewhere else. After graduating from college in the early 1980s, I was unable to find meaningful work in my hometown of Detroit. Frustrated, I crammed my clothes, record albums and a howling cat into my Ford Fiesta and split for Chicago. Years later,...

Amazon is acquiring Zappos. On the face of it, the deal should work. Similarities abound. Both companies are online retailers -- one sells books CDs, and devices; the other, shoes. Both CEOs are visionary and respected. It should be a happy union save one striking difference: Zappos' legendary...

Meet Kyle Alvarez, a young, ambitious Chicago filmmaker who is officially launching his first feature film, Easier With Practice, at CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas. I learned about Kyle through an acquaintance. And I plan to follow his exploits because I'm sure his journey will be chock-full...

Pundits are fond of comparing Americans to Romans and forecasting our imminent fall. The plain truth is that we're living up to the reputation. But as we enter the death spiral of our civilization, history also teaches that this is what it looks like right before a renaissance. Nothing drove...

Al Gore's consciousness raising over global warming appears to be making its way into the fashion world. Last week, as the School of the Art Institute's top design students took their visionary designs to the runway, the most consistent theme was fashion for...

A few years ago, Judith Krug, Director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom and resident of Evanston, IL, invited me to lunch to discuss an idea she had. Over iced tea and fancy salads, she explained that she found the erosion of reader privacy in the digital...

Dear Barney Frank:

Thanks for lowering the boom on Northern Trust for its lavish PGA sponsorship. But is a letter from you enough to reform an entire industry's marketing mentality? I'm dubious.

Your letter to CEO Rick Waddell describes the foul deed:

"Your bank not only sponsored the...

As an expert on consumer culture, I'm always on the prowl for fresh insights into human behavior. Last week I had the opportunity to team up with award-winning photographer Catherine Karnow. She travels the globe photographing rare and often surprising aspects of world cultures.

She attended the inauguration...

Dear Laura Bush,

You made it. It's over, finally. I can only imagine the relief you must feel as you stroll across the White House lawn and into the helicopter leaving the whole sorry eight years behind you.

I want you to know that I always rooted for you....

Is Rod Blagojevich out Twittering today to tell his side of the story? Or is an impostor posting tweets like "How about joining me for a keg party in my office later?" Given a ribald remark such as this it may seem obvious to people living outside Illinois that it...

Dear Rick Warren,

From one marketer to another, my hat's off to you. You've built one of the world's most successful franchises: The Purpose Driven Life. I suspect you didn't set out to be a marketer. I assume that you wanted to be a preacher, but somehow the mega-church concept...

Dear Brian France:

It's time to retool NASCAR. While your family guided the franchise through good times, there's no denying that times have changed. The economic crisis means the bottom is falling out of pricey sponsorship deals that fueled the NASCAR machine for years. With corporate sponsors accounting for roughly...