Google announced a few weeks back that they were launching a new feature to their Google News product—human beings. Last week, they upped the ante by buying Zagat. 

Have human beings become the next algorithm?

A few months ago, I spoke on a panel about brand APIs put on by Mashery with the heads of Open API programs at PayPal, NetFlix and Best Buy. I learned a hell of a lot. 

Kumar Kandaswamy is the API chief at Best Buy. He's also a friend. As I've written quite a bit about brand APIs on this blog and on Mashable, Kumar has been generous enough to answer some questions I had about the realities of brands and APIs.

A while back, I started a comic strip to entertain myself.  Most of the work is  indulgent, riddled with inside jokes, off-color humor and vulgar language.  In other words: it is brilliant—or at least I think so.

So I thought I would share my "brilliance" with all of you.

Every good agency, design house, marketing company or interactive shop does some kind of strategic thinking. Whether they are transparent about it or not, this thinking is integral to creating work that is successful.

Yet so many clients consider outside strategic thinking as "fluff" work that is costly and irrelevant. Oh how wrong they are.

For the past five years, I have practiced tai chi with the disciple of a great master in Beijing. My teacher is very wise.

Of the many lessons I have learned, there are several that I apply to my life in business. So much so, that I've considered writing a book about them. For now, however, I'll begin with a series of blog posts I'm calling Tai Chi for Business.

There's a lot of debate in the halls at Traction  (and every other interactive advertising agency I'd presume) about the hot trend of the moment: responsive design.

Weigh in on the debate. Would love to hear what you think...

Two newspaper publications have recently evolved their mobile strategies. One is an example of what not to do. The other represents an evolution in the thinking around mobile and a case study model for a thoughtful and effective mobile strategy for a content publication. 

Let's take a look at the San Francisco Chronicle and the Financial Times.

One of the joys of having office space near SF Civic Center, is having people wander into our offices on a weekly basis and ask us what Traction is all about. 

So we gathered the team and made a video to answer this persistent question—in our own special way of course...

You might not realize it, but Tai Chi is a martial art. 

While the movements are practiced slowly so we can internalize proper body mechanics, those movements are the foundation of how Tai Chi can be used in a martial interaction.

Think Ralph Macchio waxing on, waxing off.