“Things I’ve Learned from Lately” is a regular compilation of articles that have made me a smarter marketer. Hopefully, they’ll help you, too.

The United States in the Internet Slow Lane - Claire Cain Miller of The New York Times provides this fascinating report on the state of Internet connectivity in the United States and where it sits compared to the rest of the world. The findings are not pretty. The U.S. lags behind much of the world when it comes to speed and affordability, and this is largely because of “the lack of competition in the broadband industry.” The Internet lets us do some very exciting things to connect brands with consumers, but progress will certainly be stifled by a lack of connectivity if it isn’t already.

The Thriving Family Business - This piece from The Economist looks at the state of family-run businesses and dynasties, which have thrived despite expectations that they would decline. Much of this has been fueled by the “rapid growth in big developing economies where family ownership is the norm among large businesses.” The article explained some of the reasons for family run businesses to be successful: more likely to have less debt, tendency to have better labor relations and better corporate culture. It’s an interesting look at how different businesses are performing in the global economy.

“Like” Voting - Mid-term elections are over in the United States, and The Verge’s Russell Brandom looks at the effect Facebook is having on elections and some of the controversy it’s caused. Some believe Facebook may drive one party more than another to the polls, but Facebook claims its efforts are apolitical. It just wants to get people to vote. However, recent news about Facebook experimenting with user News Feed content has made some uneasy. As Brandom puts it, “…the platform itself is emerging as a new political force.”

Ebook Anger - Amazon and Hachette have had an ongoing dispute over ebook pricing for some time, but what started it all and where is it going? This piece from Keith Kessen looks at the battle over ebook pricing from all angles.

Obsessively Obsessing About Our Obsessions - We love being in-the-know, especially when it comes to pop culture, and this is only amplified in a world of social media that encourages inside jokes, additional content creation and ongoing discussion. The cycle of “totally obsessed” is constant. Willa Paskin looks at this new entertainment mindset and the silo effect social media has on our obsession obsessed culture and how it makes things feel “far more widespread than they are." Like what seems like everyone else, I'm obsessed with the Serial podcast.