"...there is growing evidence to support claims that some social networking services ... can be a powerful professional ally to businesses -- in particular, independent entrepreneurs and smaller companies, for whom each new personal connection is a significant business building block.

LinkedIn and ZeroDegrees are two of the more popular services that facilitate business-oriented connections...."

"Trucking is an important industry in America. The trucking industry is comprised of more than 500,000 for-hire, private and government fleets, including owner operators. It employs 9.7 million people, including 3.12 million drivers, and accounts for nearly 5% of the U.S. gross domestic product."

We picked up on four major trends in Watts' talk, to share with you:

• What a Small World! Watts says we should all get used to the concept of a global culture -- not a U.S. culture, not a European culture, but a global one. Frenchmen go to a DisneyWorld for vacation and eat Big Macs. The world's culture knows no geographic borders anymore.



• Information is King. "The value of information about goods and services eclipses the value of the goods and services themselves," he says. Watts gave as an example certain collectible Campbell's Soup labels. The soup cans cost far less than the labels, which are being sold on eBay for more than 10 times the price of the soup.



• Paradox -- Get Used to the Word. As Watts pointed out, we will be seeing more paradoxes, where society moves in multiple different directions at the same time. For example, low carb diets are hot, at the same time cooking is hot. This is a reflection of the complexity of our world.



• Capitalism Rules and China Ascends.The last two decades have seen the rise of capitalism, affecting China greatly as that country's economic system transforms and morphs. China now has a US$1 Trillion economy and is poised to be a major economic power moving forward.

1. smaller government, including a lower tax burden to support that government;
2. a secure legal structure and protection of property rights, so that businesses can be assured of reaping the benefits of contract rights, patents and innovations;
3. access to sound money, including a reliable banking system and low inflation;
4. freedom to do business internationally, including low tariffs and taxes; and
5. less regulation of businesses.

Editor's note: This is the twenty-third in our popular weekly series of PowerBlog Reviews of other weblogs...

Howard Lovy's Nanobot is the place we go to for "independent nanotechnology information and commentary."

As the title suggests, the weblog is about nanotechnology, a very hot field right now.

Nanotechnology describes science at the molecular level. Materials and substances are made better (stronger, thinner, lighter) through nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology is still a pretty mysterious subject to much of the general public. It has a sci fi air about it, although it is very real and very much part of the here and now.

Howard Lovy, the publisher of Nanobot, de-mystifies nanotechnology. At the same time, he revels in the "gee whiz" aspect of it. And he knows how to use the gee whiz factor to capture his readers' attention, along with some humor and wit thrown in for good measure.

For instance, a recent post entitled "A Night at the Micro Opera" reproduces a photo of an incredibly tiny model of the Sydney Opera House.

"Swinburne University of Technology's Centre for Micro-Photonics constructed a model of the Sydney Opera House. Its dimensions are 64 x 38 x 41 micrometers, (yes, I know; not nano, but cool, anyway). It was built from a hybrid material of glass and polymer. *** What does any of this do to advance the science of nanotechnology? Probably very little. But when it comes to attracting the interest of the general public, you know what they say about that picture/word ratio. The micro opera house was among Yahoo News' most e-mailed photos."

"Garden art ... we're not talking about the little wooden bent-over lady you see everywhere ... but true art... is a necessity in the garden today...."

Few of us are going to spring for the six figures that a Chihuly installation costs. But modestly-priced pieces, such as metal sculptures or one-of-a-kind painted benches, are a different story.

Gardeners who are committed enough to want to decorate outdoor rooms with art, are likely to spend generously if it means a lightened spirit -- and "ooohs" and "aaahs" from visitors.

In my art gallery days I observed that the commercially successful artists tended to pay attention to changing tastes and trends. The garden art trend could open up new opportunities for artists with an entrepreneurial streak who pay attention.

Photo courtesy of www.chihuly.com. Be sure to visit the site and check out the slideshow for "Chihuly in the Garden" at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a feast for the eyes.