This reminds me of two things: first, that the real international language and the key to culture is cuisine; and secondly, I am on a diet and thinking about the upcoming holidays helps to keep me on track!

Here is what I am reading today:

from the Harvard Business Review

“If you’re buying a car, do you check Facebook? Or do you read up on Kelley Blue Book values and scour the company website for every spec, from horsepower to miles per gallon? What about music — do you check Top 40 radio charts or scope out what your Facebook friends are actually listening to on Spotify?

Social media has infiltrated the purchasing funnel, helping consumers make informed decisions, from what to have for lunch to where to go on vacation. Depending on the decision, sometimes you turn to your social graph, and sometimes you turn to Google. So, as a brand marketer, you want to know what online channels you should be targeting in order to reach the perfect audience for your product.”

“When Ferdinand Magellan set off to circumnavigate unknown seas, he brought a compass.

When your employees launch into social media, they should have their own compass, which can be guided by your social media policy, says Christopher Burgess, chief security officer and president of global public sector for Atigeo, a technology company. Companies that don’t let employees know what’s expected of them will be in for unpleasant surprises when employees start posting on social networks.”

“Last week, we asked you to send us your social media and tech-inspired Jack-o-Lanterns. We received a bunch of great designs, ranging from tech company logos to carvings paying homage to the web’s favorite viral videos.”

“Starbucks is launching a QR code program designed to let consumers learn more about its coffee. The codes, created by Scanbuy, have already started appearing at some Starbucks locations and in ads in popular magazines like People and in daily newspapers as well as on billboard ads. The ads promote Starbucks’ mobile payment app and give additional information, often in video form, about coffee sold at the stores beginning with Caffe Verona. “

“Increasing tablet usage is also expected to provide further momentum. Soaring usage of social gaming, driven largely by the sharp rise in smartphone adoption, will push the global market for virtual goods bought from mobile social media services from $3b this year to $4.6b by 2016, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

Sales of virtual goods via mobile social media services are flourishing in Japan and China, as social gaming familiarises consumers with virtual goods, the report said…”