About 20 years ago, Ray Oldenburg, PhD, who wrote a book called The Great Good Place, argued that there are a number of attributes that make a third place a third place: It has to be convenient, inviting, serve something, and have some good regulars (which, he says, is actually more important than having a good host).

FORBES: Starbucks' Power Over Us Is Bigger Than Coffee: It's Personal.

Google has long realized that the hot market of wireless is a great place to grow the number of eyeballs and it has become very active in this space.

FORBES: Guess Who Keeps Wireless Operators Up At Night?

My sense from talking with a number of investors is that most place great weight on the concept of a distinctive view, an investment thesis.

FORBES: Forget Bulls And Bears: Why Are So Many Investors Boors?

"There are a great number of these extraordinary creatures lumbering around the place, " he recalls, adding that one of them stole his shoes from outside the tent.

WSJ