As graduation day approaches for many college students, my colleague Megan Pluskis and I have decided to examine the different paths we took to our eventual meeting at Siegel+Gale—where we now sit just a swivel-roll away from each other.

For years I’ve admired Dyson’s advertising campaigns. Smugness aside, they represent minimalism at its most pristine: nothing more than a product shot, few copy lines and logo. Dyson is rigorous in sticking to the script of simplicity in everything they do.

This month, the United States’ embargo on Cuba reached its 50-year anniversary. The longest-lasting embargo in the western world coincides exactly with the explosion of consumerism on our shores. During the gleam and shimmer of our Mad Men era, Cubans were struggling for commodities. As American franchises span the world, Cuba remains Starbucks-free.

Companies do not always have good news for customers. Service fees rise, claims are sometimes rejected and mistakes happen. I’ve recently received correspondence in my own mailbox that reminded me how important it is to strike the right tone and stay on message—no matter how much the situation tempts you to paint flowers or point fingers.

Companies do not always have good news for customers. Service fees rise, claims are sometimes rejected and mistakes happen. I’ve recently received correspondence in my own mailbox that reminded me how important it is to strike the right tone and stay on message—no matter how much the situation tempts you to paint flowers or point fingers.

Over the course of the past 20 months, I’ve received a special monthly delivery of 25 colored pencils from Japan. They’re part of a subscription to 500 Pencils, a limited edition collection of artist’s pencils in unique hues, with names like “Tragedy” and “Tea with Milk.”

It’s Saturday, and you’re in a pinch. You click on to a website, find a location and reserve a time. No, it’s not for a Zipcar or Hertz on Demand rental. It is a new way to get medical treatment for anything that ails you. Need a strep test? Now it’s as easy as booking a Prius. One Medical is a new primary care medical practice with doctors’ offices in San Francisco (the original and most robust network), New York City and Washington, DC. The yearly membership runs about $150, with pay-as-you go appointments, screenings and tests that are covered by most health insurance policies.