:: The Chinese red army performing Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” No biggie. Bravo!  // AjS

:: since 2007, the Neocha team has been dedicated to supporting China’s creative community through our online platform Neocha.com, various online and offline events, and ongoing projects / collaborations with commercial entities in China and abroad.

In late 2009, we launched NeochaEDGE to communicate our consultancy offering and more effectively showcase to the world the very best, local creative content and talent in China that we work with on various client efforts. As an extension of that commitment, we are excited – thrilled, in fact – to announce the next phase of NeochaEDGE: the EDGE Creative Collective.

Please note that this is just the “soft launch” (whatever that really means) of the EDGE Creative Collective (aka: ECC). Over the next few months, expect to see ECC continuously grow and evolve with fresh talent and new creative disciplines.

To learn more about the EDGE Creative Collective and get access to the ECC widget link here.

To enter the EDGE Creative Collective, link here.  // AjS

:: MEDIA Magazine (Asia) featured us (NeochaEDGE) in pretty good China-focused youth marketing piece. Link here for a hi-res / readable version. // AjS

:: taken at the Neocha Studio in Shanghai; just a few books I’m reading on my lunch break. // AjS

:: some snaps from a couple dinner parties last month. Finally getting around to posting. // AjS

:: my couch does this whenever anyone sits on it. Below is my marking. // AjS

:: a nice article was recently written about us in China International Business. See below.  // AjS

Read the rest of this entry »

:: i love this. Just watch.  // AjS

:: instead, do / remember these things:

• learn how to write “human”
• planning is guesswork, think about the today and tomorrow, then go from there
• decisions in a start up are temporary, just get going
• VC is a time bomb and one of the most harmful things you can do to a new business
• small is not a phase in VC game; without VC, small can happily / profitably be the “all” of your business
• making a start-up work doesn’t require founders to become workaholics – focus on the things that matter
• you’re not going to be an over-night success

David Heineimeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails and partner at 37signals in Chicago, says that planning is guessing, and for a start-up, the focus must be on today and not on tomorrow. He argues that constraints–fiscal, temporal, or otherwise–drive innovation and effective problem-solving. The most important thing, Hansson believes, is to make a dent in the universe with your company.

:: Mark Haas (pictured below), former MS&L Global CEO, was recently named . He’ll be reporting to Edelman Asia Pacific Regional President AlanVandermolen, and his current firm MH Group Communications has also been acquired by Edelman. Follow Mark on Twitter at . For more details about his new role role, link here.  // AjS

[full disclosure: I'm employed by Edelman Digital, Asia Pacific]

:: I was recently having lunch with VICE Magazine publisher Erik Lavoie in Shanghai and as the conversation wandered, he told me about some random Google recommendation algorithm quirks I hadn’t actually heard. Enjoy.  // AjS

:: can anyone help me understand wtf is going on with this sign? Seen today at Zara in Shanghai – so many things wrong with it. Completely mental.  // AjS

:: we had a party last night at my place and I decide to capture the second half of it with a new iPhone app called Hipstimatic. I used the Kaimal Mark II lens, however, there are quite a few more you can add-on.

I’m such a fan of the snapshot aesthetic.  // AjS

:: a cool viral for Harbin beer. Does anyone know who made it?  // AjS

:: a snap of me celebrating freedom in my glorious native land. Taken on Liberty Island, U-S-Motherfucking A! // AjS