Like the United States Postal Service, Hallmark is trying to find its way in a new era. But it has not always been successful. It has in recent years laid off some longtime employees, and some stores are closing. The store closures are particularly troublesome because they are locally owned,MORE HERE

A new book by Dan Backer and Lance Watson taps brewing history to detail the can designs of nearly 500 beer brands. The book, published by Chronicle (Amazon link at right) shows major and minor brands. Like other Chronicle books, it is handsomely produced at is quite authoritative. It isMORE HERE

Want to read what happens to the merged company Kodak and Duracell, better known as Kodacell? This Thanksgiving, go out and read Cory Doctorow’s Makers, a tale of the future where everything is so cheap to make that all the legacy companies have had to adapt. It’s free on hisMORE HERE

Everyone seems to be using Twitter to help build their brands. And while it is no substitute for a major ad campaign, it costs nothing, except for staff time. Think of it as your own little wire service or ticker tape. Below, an excerpt from the new book Twitter PowerMORE HERE