So much has been written about the recently concluded Presidential campaign, so I will be careful not to rehash it here. But if there is one lesson coming out of this period that is relevant for you, as the readers of Bazaarblog, it is that social media defined this campaign. Back in June, I wrote about Obama and The Open Brand (a reference to Kelly Mooney’s brilliant book). Then my good friend and fellow entrepreneur Auren Hoffman wrote an article for BusinessWeek in August about technology being the defining factor in election campaigns. From Obama’s social network to the will.i.am music-video community-collage to his exceptional use of the Web as a fundraising vehicle (raising an amazing 400% more than McCain), Obama’s use of social media has defined a new era for election campaigns. Remember that Obama’s innovation adoption of social media comes at a time where five social networks, including Facebook, have recently moved into the top-ten most trafficked websites in the world (reference my June post on Mary Meeker).
When voting moves online, as it undoubtedly will (just think about all of the tax money we would save if we did not have to set up temporary voting centers everywhere), the marriage of social media and election campaigns will be that much more profound.
Wow – do we ever live in the digital age! You have probably already heard the buzz about 
But you probably haven't heard about this: today, Google's valuation surpassed Wal-Mart's for the first time. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the world as the Fortune and Global 1. As of today's market close, 
Pete is well known on many levels. He was helping CDnow run analysis back in the pre-boom times. He has been very outspoken in the age of digital music, advising music companies on how to market in these rapidly changing times. I remember him best as my 
Dave is also very well known. He consults for companies all over the world. He served as the Executive Director of the 
