There Is Immense Strength In Vulnerability (Ergo, We're Gettin' Stronger Every Day)
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” -Ray Bradbury
¿Cómo te va?
At the beginning of April this year, I joined a Spanish class with an amazing teacher and four other students. We meet once a week on Zoom for two hours. It’s a joyful language, and I am happy to learn and to stretch my mind.
I’m also excited to return to Mexico soon with a slightly better handle on the language.
Mailin’ Snails
The Post Office has to survive! How else will we send and receive letters and postcards? Email is not a replacement. Email is the convenient means of transmitting information, but snail mail is the way to “surprise and delight.”
Did you know that each day the Postal Service processes and delivers 181.9 million pieces of First-Class Mail? The Postal Service also issues 269,098 money orders daily. That’s a lot of service delivery. The USPO also helps to keep millions of American businesses in business.
Adbrains, the eBook Will Be Available Soon
I am now editing and putting final touches together for my first eBook. Adbrains: Honest Conversations with Advertising’s Icons, Rebels, and Rulers will be available on Amazon.com and via my website soon after the volume is released later this month. The book will feature interviews that I conducted with Rob Schwartz, Ernie Schenck, Sally Hogshead, and many other notable ad industry “characters.”
The New X Factor: Gen Z
In these dark times, it’s fair to ask if there’s hope for us as a nation. Like air, there’s always hope, but sometimes we need a sign to keep hope alive. I’ve been receiving signs since April when I started working closely with young writers who now write for Adpulp.com, or want to. Last week, I had two Zoom chats with recent graduates, both looking for a chance to show what they can do. It’s been said that young people help keep you young. I believe it. While everyone has their own personality and means of being in the world, so far, I’m detecting large degrees of humility to go with the talent that these young people possess. Unlike Gen Y, there’s no obvious entitlement, and that alone is a gift to the world.
Subscriber Spotlight
You’re part of my community when you receive my email newsletter. This is how I perceive the relationship. Ergo, I want to introduce you to other members of this group.
Meet John Shaski. ‘Ski and I went to college together and have been friends ever since. Today, he lives in the ABQ, where he runs the recycling program for the University of New Mexico and his own resources reclamation consulting firm, Knowaste. Do you have questions about resource reclamation? Ski has answers.
What Is Collectivism?
German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel argued that the individual realizes his true being and freedom only in unqualified submission to the laws and institutions of the nation-state, which to Hegel was the highest embodiment of social morality.
Defiant masklessness is not collectivism. This harrowing report from the Iowa Great Lakes attempts to provide insight into the thinking that it’s all good as long as you’re rich, white, and young.
“If you wear a mask around here, it reflects defiance against President Trump.”
Get me a bucket.
A Writing Tip
Smart is better than clever. Clever writing draws attention to itself. Smart writing draws attention to the product or service advertised (in a memorable way).
Click It
How to Make Taquitos Dorados Ahogados by Pati Jinich.
FWIW: CBD is identical whether from hemp or marijuana. Indistinguishable.
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the decline of several retailers, which have faced dwindling sales and growing debt over the past few years.
Jerry Garcia Life Lessons — A written celebration of The Days Between.
MAC becomes the first FBS conference to cancel the 2020 college football season for the fall.
Buy American, buy tiny pies (baked in small batches from scratch daily in Austin, Texas).
Say Hola
My homepage is DavidBurn.com. My ad industry site is Adpulp.com. My email is david@davidburn.com.
Please feel free to ask me any writing or marketing-related questions you may have.