The King of Pops Arrives

Spring break is upon us, but the real news in Inman Park is the surfacing of King of Pops.

Last night we dropped by the Irwin Street Market to check out the scene after seeing a Facebook post from the King on his Atlanta debut. The King's store in the Buddy's parking lot is a work in progress, so consider this a sneak peak.

The popsicles, $2.50 each, where all good. Strawberry/Rhubarb was amazing. The kids had a blast and the presentation of the popsicles is cool.

I will be making a solo trip this week for Mexican Chocolate. See you there!

North Mississippi Allstars Forever

Our toddler Will is enjoying the thrill of randomly puling CDs out of the music cabinet. Last night I found him with the first North Mississippi Allstars album. Hard to believe this is ten years old.
Shaking Hands with Shorty

Google and China

Systemax Gives New Life to Failed Brands - WSJ.com

Systemax Gives New Life to Failed Brands - WSJ.com

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China Talks Tough to U.S. on Currency - WSJ.com

China Talks Tough to U.S. on Currency - WSJ.com

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Abstract Expressionism for Your Letters

This morning the Postal Service unveils a new panel of stamps celebrating highlights of Abstract Expressionism. This post-war explosion redrew the boundaries of Western art and established the U.S., or at least the players within the New York School, as a force to be reckoned with on the world

The panel includes images from Hans Hofmann, Adolph Gottlieb, Mark Rothko, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, Clyfford Still, Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell, and Joan Mitchell.

The stamps should hit your local Post Office next week.

Another Side of Outsourcing

(click image to enlarge. Steven Davis/Carnegie Institution for Science)

While China continues to win praise for it green programs at home, a study released yesterday in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences highlights that much of the CO2 emission of developing economies like China and India are actually "exported" to the US and Europe.

As the study reports, over a third of carbon dioxide emissions associated with consumption of goods and services in many developed countries are actually emitted outside their borders. Some countries, such as Switzerland, “outsource” over half of their carbon dioxide emissions, primarily to developing countries. The study finds that, per person, about 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide are consumed in the U.S. but produced somewhere else. For Europeans, the figure can exceed four tons per person. Most of these emissions are outsourced to developing countries, especially China.

The map above details the net outflow of CO2 emissions (in megatons) embedded in shipments between exporting and importing countries in 2004.

How does this insight make you feel about Walmart's Green initiatives?

Giving Face – Social Media Lessons from China

A key insight to share from working and socializing in China involves Face (mianzi), the overall perception of one’s abilities, character and standing. A perspective on giving Face is worthwhile for creators and consumers of Social Media.

There are volumes devoted to Face and other Chinese social customs (here is a primer), most of which focus on tactics to save Face. This is a familiar enough concept for Westerners accustomed to a little C.Y.A. In China, however, the effort to preserve one’s standing can lead to sacrifice and subterfuge of the highest order. Face is a big deal.

While looking good in front of the Man is a big part of Face, the real lesson for social marketers comes from the other side of the coin – giving face.

In my China days, I often worked with my company’s CEO and other senior managers. My work also involved me with scores of mid-level managers anonymously grueling away in various corners of our large enterprise. These staffers were the people helping me with presentations, dealing with my jet lagged customers and generally making it possible for me to do my job.

I quickly got in the habit of sharing my enthusiasm for the great work of specific individuals with the big cheeses. My preferred method was to snag a deserving manager as I spied them running past the board room and pull them inside for fifteen seconds of praise in front of their leadership.

This was a genuine effort, but one that I employed to the maximum benefit of those I singled out.

How did I benefit? While I may have gained some political standing (not likely), the real benefit of showing respect for the best and brightest within the company was association. Being vocal and sincere in my praise created a link between me and the recipient, regardless of their place on the org chart.

Giving face is akin to adding a link to your home page or highlighting a great blog post in your own writing. Your association and endorsement lends credibility to the recipient, and to you.

Chris Brogan is one of the leading face givers on the Web. On any given day you have at least a 90% shot at finding an endorsement of a company, product or idea on his blog or Twitter stream.

Does this benefit the recipient? Absolutely. Does Chris benefit? Probably, but no more than me or you. I for one think Chris shoots straight, so I am inclined to check out recommended resources I otherwise might miss.

Give it a try! Kick down some positive Face for your partners, new or old, and see how social networking is really just a new angle on an ancient art.

Leave a comment about how the love comes back to you.

Oxford American Comes to Atlanta

Oxford American magazine, the pride of Arkansas, hits Atlanta on March 26 to celebrate their 2010 Southern Food issue.

Support the cause by attending the luncheon or hang with the players at the $1,000 a couple dinner at Dogwood.

I will be keeping it real by just reading the new issue of the magazine. $5.95 at your favorite newsstand.

Want the sheep? Come Take 'em!

(Click image to enlarge. From Economist.com)

My spouse has long suffered my obsession with the 1982 Falklands War.

Costing more than 1,000 lives, this 74 day conflict was far from a trivial event in history. Ostensibly a territorial dispute over a tiny land of sheep and farmers, the conflict provided Margaret Thatcher a vehicle to stay in power, drove elected government into Argentina, and provided one last view of the British Empire in action for those who would forget her.

Is Round II in the works? According to a recent Economist article, an oil rig will arrive in the Falklands this month and "by the end of this year, the 2,500 islanders will have a better idea of whether the Falklands are to become a Saudi Arabia with penguins."

I can't want to see how Ms Fernández plays this one out.

Human Rights and U.S.-China Relations - U.S. - Asia Law Institute NYU

Human Rights and U.S.-China Relations - U.S. - Asia Law Institute NYU

The Sales Never Stops

(click image to enlarge. Chart from Reverse Logistics Association)

Folks outside the consumer goods world are often surprised to learn that the sale of an item is not the penultimate transaction between vendor and customer. The service cycle in mass retail, and many other industries, includes dealing with returned merchandise, shipping materials and damaged goods that traditionally where pushed back through the supply chain.

The practice of Reverse Logistics centers on minimizing this back flow. Check out the Reverse Logistics Association for more about the dramatic cost savings companies are realizing through a holistic view of their product flow.

Social change: Clash of generations

Social change: Clash of generations | The Economist

I-What?

(click chart to enlarge * by Dan Frommer for Business Insider)

Social Media Week Tweak

While perhaps overshadowed by Groundhog Day, the first week of February is also Social Media Week. As I get more active in the Social Media community it is easy to forget that many folks are not knee deep in Tweetups and Poken exchanges.

Here are a few suggestions for those on the sidelines.

Grab a Seat – Even if you are not an active Twitter user, grab your ID now. As James Fallows reminded us this week, with the example of Justice Scalia, its not always fun having a surrogate on the Web.

Listen – Think it is arrogant to Google yourself? Take it to the next level anyway and setup a Google Alerts email report for every mention on the Internet of your company, your favorite restaurant or your loud neighbor.

I Don’t Know from Blogs – Just for kicks, poke around the web and find a well written, cool looking blog about a subject you enjoy. Leave a comment and you are instantly a social networker. Start at Blissful Glutton or Ropeadope in a pinch.

Get Your Jam On – Have a flashback by finding footage of your old favorites on YouTube or go all in and download the Barton Hall ’77 show from the massive Internet Archive site.

Back It Up – Once you are tweeting, networking on LinkedIn and swapping pics of the kids on Facebook, register with Backupify (free through Feb. 15) to have a permanent online back up of all of your social media exchanges.

Have another idea for the social media upstart? Leave a comment!

Sotheby's Sells Giacometti for $104.3 Million

Sotheby's Sells Giacometti for $104.3 Million - WSJ.com

Why Apple = China

We’re Doing It Wrong; Why Apple = China « A Product Guy

RIP Chin-Ning Chu

While researching for an article this afternoon, I discovered that author Chin-Ning Chu passed away on December 10, 2009.

Ms. Chu authored a book examining The Art of War and several other volumes full of blunt insights into the contrasts of East and West. Her book The Asian Mind Game is mandatory reading for any American seriously engaged with Asia - a beautifully tactless primer. Over the years I have bought then passed along to friends and colleagues at least ten copies of this book.

My sincere condolences to Ms. Chu 's family. She was a remarkable and honest communicator.

Colour of Social Media

Coke's New Bottle Is Part Plant

Green is getting to be the new norm! Great article at WSJ.com

Soup Dumplings - A Cautionary Tale

Inspired by the Blissful Glutton, I headed to Chef Liu this afternoon with college buddy and China Hand Dave Black. We enjoyed a table full of dumplings with a centerpiece of the restaurant's renowned soup buns.

Dave, an avowed Din Tai Fung addict, went all in on his first steaming, perfectly flavored soup bun. After the burn wore off he kept on eating!

New World of Airline Coupons

Inside the New World of Airline Coupons - WSJ.com

China's Gray Consumers Are a Golden Opportunity

Marketing: China's Gray Consumers Are a Golden Opportunity - Global News - Advertising Age

China's economy: Not just another fake | The Economist

China's economy: Not just another fake | The Economist

Ride the Tide with McBride

Plenty of tickets are still available for bass master Christian McBride's show Jan. 16 in Atlanta. Can't make the gig? Check out Christian's blistering two CD live set on Ropeadope Records.

Fresh Juice From Social Media

This week's SocialFresh gathering in Nashville was poor in organization but rich in information. With an agenda focusing on the marketing side of social networking, the event offered a number of insights on the coming year in social marketing.

The star of the show was pundit/guru Jason Falls. While Chris Brogan of Trust Agents fame preaches a purist version of the gospel of Social Media, Jason is the no B.S. prophet of value and revenue via social marketing tools. His gruff-but-lovable, Dukes of Hazard tinted delivery makes him a star.

The crowd, I am guessing over 250 folks, included many luminaries and players. I enjoyed lunch with author Dan Zarrella, who's Social Media Marketing Book was published in November. Dan delivered the deepest presentation of the day, delving into the psychological models and conditioning that underpin our behavior online. Check out some of these amazing insights in Dan's white paper on Retweeting.

Here are my key takeaways:

Social Acceleration - 2010 is the year of social media integration. More organizations will view social media applications and customer networking as a core part of their marketing mix. By extension, email and social will begin to morph together, with mobile advertising joining the gumbo too.

Don't play in Social Media if You Don't Care About Your Customers - Social Media is at its core an extension of a company's culture. You have to be willing to open a real dialogue with your customers to be serious about social networking.

Protect Your Turf - Home Depot has an eighteen month track record on Twitter, but their presence was driven by a squatter claiming the Home Depot ID. All organizations (and individuals) must have at least a basic presence in the core social media channels to ensure, at the very least, that their interest are properly represented.

Small Businesses Must Have a Storefront - The imperative of basic Social Media planning for small business was stressed by several speakers. Home-based businesses in particular can leverage the trinity of email campaigns, meaningful blog content and effective use of social media tools to construct a virtual storefront.

The Smartest Way to View China's Booming Success

Supply Chain and Logistics Issues: | The Smartest Way to View China's Booming Success

Wordle Love

This morning I was introduced to Wordle, an online word cloud engine. I could not help tossing some random historical documents into the blender. Here, for example, is the text of Sarah Palin's July 26, 2009 resignation speech.

Trail Blazing

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is spearheading the effort to launch an Appalachian Trail license plate for the State of Georgia. Represent by submitting the reservation form to be included in the first thousand plates issued. The $25 fee includes a one year membership in the ATC. Better yet, just hit the trail.

Paul Krugman on the Year Ahead for China

Chinese New Year - NYTimes.com