It's hard to breed pandas in captivity. But they seem to find it reasonably easy.
Jemima Kiss sums up the moment well.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Panda eyes
Links on 08/29/2008
Creativity In Public Relations : Top websites today versus 3 years ago
Interesting stats from Forbes.
I got 1m 42s in before I had to stop.
Great rant, but gives 'her' more power.
VIDEO: The panda that makes giving birth look easy | Mail Online
Continuing the meme. This is actually awesome to watch.
TechCrunch UK » Blog Archive » The top 15 ways to get on with TechCrunch UK, and maybe other media
Useful tips for PRs.
Wanted: An iPhone power miser app - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
This idea is gathering momentum.
CR Blog » Blog Archive » Wallace & Gromit model for Harvey Nics
Being a journalist again
Page 285 of September's at home magazine features the best article ever written on home audio gadgets. Or maybe the second best, depending on whether you count the cover story of Australian Reseller News' home audio supplement in 2004.
"So, what was it like being a journalist again?" I hear you all cry. (Having recovered from the shock at reading an article of such raw power and general awesomeness.)
Well, first of all, it appeared in print extremely quickly. In PR I'm used to an article I write going to the client contact for approval, then to their legal team, then back to me for changes, then to the client contact for final approval, then to the client contact's boss, then back to us for formatting, then off to the PR team, then out to a journalist or editor who may or may not print it. In this instance, I wrote it - and in less than two weeks my mum's proudly plucking if off the shelf in Waitrose.
Secondly - in stark contrast to PR - everyone was nice. The deputy editor sent me emails thanking me for my work. The editor said she liked my chatty writing style. The subeditor even kept most of my words in. The PR people I rang up were so nice it got embarrassing. That was the weirdest bit - being back on the other side. If I'd had any problems downloading the high res images I'm sure Sony's PR person would've hand delivered them to me. On their day off. And apologised for the inconvenience.
And finally... It was really easy. After the initial shock (which felt a little bit like being released into the wild after a nice comfortable spell in the zoo), the freedom to share my own opinion in print was sublime, bordering on ridiculous. It took a while to get my head around the fact that I didn't have to consider messaging, positioning, competition, branding, potential conflicts and the marketing schedule. But when it clicked I was away. I just had a laugh with it.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not lamenting my move into PR or wishing I was back on the other side. But what the experience has reminded me of is how things work over there. The result is some clear thinking on what makes the difference between PR that works and PR that doesn't.
I feel a list coming on.
"So, what was it like being a journalist again?" I hear you all cry. (Having recovered from the shock at reading an article of such raw power and general awesomeness.)
Well, first of all, it appeared in print extremely quickly. In PR I'm used to an article I write going to the client contact for approval, then to their legal team, then back to me for changes, then to the client contact for final approval, then to the client contact's boss, then back to us for formatting, then off to the PR team, then out to a journalist or editor who may or may not print it. In this instance, I wrote it - and in less than two weeks my mum's proudly plucking if off the shelf in Waitrose.
Secondly - in stark contrast to PR - everyone was nice. The deputy editor sent me emails thanking me for my work. The editor said she liked my chatty writing style. The subeditor even kept most of my words in. The PR people I rang up were so nice it got embarrassing. That was the weirdest bit - being back on the other side. If I'd had any problems downloading the high res images I'm sure Sony's PR person would've hand delivered them to me. On their day off. And apologised for the inconvenience.
And finally... It was really easy. After the initial shock (which felt a little bit like being released into the wild after a nice comfortable spell in the zoo), the freedom to share my own opinion in print was sublime, bordering on ridiculous. It took a while to get my head around the fact that I didn't have to consider messaging, positioning, competition, branding, potential conflicts and the marketing schedule. But when it clicked I was away. I just had a laugh with it.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not lamenting my move into PR or wishing I was back on the other side. But what the experience has reminded me of is how things work over there. The result is some clear thinking on what makes the difference between PR that works and PR that doesn't.
I feel a list coming on.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Bristol's biggest stars?
Love this ad for Harvey Nics' new Bristol store, using Bristol's biggest export - Wallace & Gromit.
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Links on 08/28/2008
Drew B's take on tech PR: New PR blogs to subscribe to
Good old Drew's doing the reading so you don't have to.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Links on 08/27/2008
Introducing Fortune Cookies to China - Diner’s Journal - Dining & Wine - New York Times Blog
Fortune cookies are American?! You'll be telling me pizza isn't Italian next.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Nothing changes
I couldn't help laughing at a quote in a story on page 17 of today's Independent:
"A new shared and flashy-looking technology might serve as one form of social glue by which larger social networks were bonded." Metin Eren, researcher at Exeter University.
No, Metin is not talking about a new Facebook app or netbook. The story is about how Neanderthal tools were just as good as those of Homo Sapiens, but the latter won due to their tools being considered more fashionable.
The result was the end of the Neanderthal species altogether, and the creation of newer and flashier social networks by Homo Sapiens.
Which reminds me - anyone want to be my friend on Blip?
"A new shared and flashy-looking technology might serve as one form of social glue by which larger social networks were bonded." Metin Eren, researcher at Exeter University.
No, Metin is not talking about a new Facebook app or netbook. The story is about how Neanderthal tools were just as good as those of Homo Sapiens, but the latter won due to their tools being considered more fashionable.
The result was the end of the Neanderthal species altogether, and the creation of newer and flashier social networks by Homo Sapiens.
Which reminds me - anyone want to be my friend on Blip?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Links on 08/21/2008
Global Neighbourhoods: 7 Tips for new Twitter Users
Good tips for people that don't get Twitter ( ie. most people.)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Poor Police PR
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Links on 08/19/2008
The Official Ninja Webpage: REAL Ultimate Power!!!!
Definitely the best site I've ever seen.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Links on 08/18/2008
... Until the first stone bounces up off the car in front and rips you a new door.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Links on 08/17/2008
Listen to Flying Dutchman – Tori Amos for free: A favorite." />
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Why you love Twitter
So much noise today about Twitter and its recent decisions to (gasp!) cap following to 2,000 people and (shock!) stop the UK text messaging service.
I've been meaning to write this post for a while but watching the rising bile on Summize has spurred me to finally put finger to keyboard.
Why you love Twitter...
1. It's like MySpace for grownups. "Hey! Thanks for following!" = "Hi! Thanks for the add!"
2. Email's straining under the weight of spam. Twitter blocking gives you more control.
3. It's a massive chatroom. Except it's more interesting as everybody's always showing off.
4. It breaks, and when you whinge about it with others it makes you feel part of something.
5. People say things like "Morning Twitterland! Just woke up!". Heh heh. Idiots.
6. You can't describe it. Biz can't describe it. Normal people don't understand it.
7. It's the only time you speak directly to Scoble (even though he won't answer. Or even read it).
8. Downloading new Twitter clients gives you something new to play with for 30 seconds.
9. Wil Wheaton once @ed you. Wil frickin' Wheaton!
10. You secretly love the big whale for its easy smile in the face of monumental failure.
Go on, admit it.
I've been meaning to write this post for a while but watching the rising bile on Summize has spurred me to finally put finger to keyboard.
Why you love Twitter...
1. It's like MySpace for grownups. "Hey! Thanks for following!" = "Hi! Thanks for the add!"
2. Email's straining under the weight of spam. Twitter blocking gives you more control.
3. It's a massive chatroom. Except it's more interesting as everybody's always showing off.
4. It breaks, and when you whinge about it with others it makes you feel part of something.
5. People say things like "Morning Twitterland! Just woke up!". Heh heh. Idiots.
6. You can't describe it. Biz can't describe it. Normal people don't understand it.
7. It's the only time you speak directly to Scoble (even though he won't answer. Or even read it).
8. Downloading new Twitter clients gives you something new to play with for 30 seconds.
9. Wil Wheaton once @ed you. Wil frickin' Wheaton!
10. You secretly love the big whale for its easy smile in the face of monumental failure.
Go on, admit it.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Links on 08/13/2008
BBC documentary maker compares injections of THC and cannabidiol - Boing Boing
Not keen on this presenter, but she suddenly seems far less annoying.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Links on 08/12/2008
Go ahead, cover your keyboard in syrup | Crave, the gadget blog - CNET
This toy joins my gadget queue.
Cops break into wrong house, leave note in magnetic fridge letters - Boing Boing
File under 'Eh?'.
More like it.
The new pill that could signal the death of the common cold | Mail Online
Sniff. Smells like b*llocks.
Tip Testers: IKEA Laptop Stand and Organizer
For some reason I with I had this desk. I think it's the statue.
Barack Roll - Featured Video on BuzzFeed
Best thing I've seen all day.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Trying out Ping
This is a test post from Ping. I wonder what it'll look like?
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Links on 08/09/2008
YouTube - Morta Deller is the next Uri Geller
Not as funny as Daniel Chesterfield.
At last! Daily automatic link posting to Blogger
This must've taken me three years of looking. I love the idea of auto daily link posting (as it means you can share ideas on your blog without having to write a full post) but could never find a workable way to do it in Blogger. And I refuse to give up Blogger - I'm in too deep.
Anyway, I've had a breakthrough - bookmarking site Diigo has got a handy 'Daily Post to Blog' feature with a Blogger option. You can then plug in the Diigo toolbar to Firefox and one-click update.
First, set your account up on Diigo. Then go to 'tools' and 'Daily Blog Post'. Then it's just a case of inputting your blog username and password, then setting up a job (a bit like del.icio.us provides for TypePad blogs) with a post interval and time...
The Diigo service works with loads of blogging platforms, and you can set up multiple blogs that it publishes to simultaneously. Sweet.
The only problem with this is that I've had to switch from Google Notepad for my bookmarks - which was a bit of a wrench. Can't really see any reason with Google wouldn't offer this service, and if it did I'd switch back before you could say "Diigo's a rubbish name".
Anyway, I've had a breakthrough - bookmarking site Diigo has got a handy 'Daily Post to Blog' feature with a Blogger option. You can then plug in the Diigo toolbar to Firefox and one-click update.
First, set your account up on Diigo. Then go to 'tools' and 'Daily Blog Post'. Then it's just a case of inputting your blog username and password, then setting up a job (a bit like del.icio.us provides for TypePad blogs) with a post interval and time...
The Diigo service works with loads of blogging platforms, and you can set up multiple blogs that it publishes to simultaneously. Sweet.
The only problem with this is that I've had to switch from Google Notepad for my bookmarks - which was a bit of a wrench. Can't really see any reason with Google wouldn't offer this service, and if it did I'd switch back before you could say "Diigo's a rubbish name".
Friday, August 08, 2008
Links on 08/08/2008
A Whole Poo World - The Guestlist
Worth revisting Jordan's real voice. Unmistakeable.
Beaver Casemod Is Scary, Disturbing, Furry - Geekologie
I have no comments to give.
Behold the horror of the “shorts suit” « The Journal of Rockett Science
I just laughed. Out loud.
Surely you just need a steady hand?
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Links on 08/07/2008
YouTube - Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me
It's the PR Geek Pop Music Video Of The Day (PRGPMVOTD)!
Drew B's take on tech PR: A first look at Papershow
Drew's review of Papershow. Sure I had something like this years ago...
CR Blog » Blog Archive » Terminal 5 Is Working…
Is it me or do the new T5 ads make it look rubbish. Also, 89% of flights arriving n time means more than one in ten didn't. What am I missing?
Sturgeon's Law: TFL: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
How did Will know about my secret plan?
Paris Hilton In Spoof Presidential Campaign Ad Hitting Back At John McCain | World News | Sky News
This is the best thing Paris has ever done.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Links on 08/06/2008
Do-It-Yourself Public Relations - The Andy Oliver Interview : Mixergy.com
Pow!
Rocketboom Inks Seven-Figure Distribution Deal With Sony
The 'Boom sells to Sony. But will it give Crackle some pop? (Sorry.)
YouTube - Alan Braxe ft. Killa Kela & Fallon "Nightwatcher (Show Me)"
Love this. Not sure why.
The 5 Greatest Things Ever Accomplished While High - Page 2 | Cracked.com
DNA discovered while Crick was on acid. Fact of the day!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Music on the move
Creative Review has received a promo copy of MTV2's new short film 'Made in Queens'. Took my back to the days when I used to have speakers on my handlebars, clipped on with bits of wire from coathangers. No, really.
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Decent cameras banned from Beijing?
According to CNET Asia, turning up at the Olympics with your fancy new Nikon D80 is going to get you into big trouble...
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