BJK&E

While I listened to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” on the tube on my first day of work, I found myself happy to be returning to BJK&E.  Last summer I was fortunate enough to intern for them in an internship program I learned about through my university in the States.  Proudly named ‘the American intern’ last summer I was now a university graduate and returning as ‘the American ex-intern’ and could not be more excited about it.  No longer the intern, I was somehow more excited about being able to work longer hours and have more responsibility….I might be a glutton for pain.
      The great thing I’ve noticed about the media industry, and most likely the reason why I returned, was that everyone you work with is amazing.  Whether it is helping you understand something or being able to go out for a drink and be completely relaxed.  Then again, this just may be the difference between the American lifestyle and the British lifestyle.  I am American by the way……in case you missed that.  It might just be me but I feel that there are very few people who dislike working with media.  I imagine every person will say this about their industry, however, I can think of a few accountants who dislike their work but only work for the fact that they are earning a lot of money.  Does money really buy happiness?  I think it gives you options but not happiness.
      Anyways…..since I’ve been gone I have noticed: Facebook has changed its format, a lot of those digital screens on my way down (and up) to the tube,  screen projectors on the tube walls, much better cell phones (the Nokia N95 8GB is amazing), less rain this summer, tons of new business, and lastly even MORE road construction.
      It is good to be back…Magic Friday has made an official return.

You’re probably sitting down when you read this, just as well because what I have to say will knock you off your feet, have you rushing for the nearest internet explorer window, and thinking that enlightened beings have given divine wisdom to us all…

conde Nast have decided to launch a *drum roll…………………* social networking site for teenage girls. Flip.com

Yep, flip.com

flip, flop, flip, flop, flip,

Exactly what we the internet needs!

The marketing blurb about the sites read “These girls are so creative, they create shrines within their environment”. “It must be the hormones - they customize everything”

Does it offer anything you can’t already do on facebook, myspace, bebo, and the host of other sites already sucking minutes, hours, days out of our lives just wondering if any of our ‘friends’ have ‘popped’ by?

Not really, in fact it’s hard to look at it as anything more than an application where you can make a digital flip book of photo’s, images and music which reflect the user. In some ways this isn’t even untapped as slideshow applications have been kicking around for years.

It’s hard to see the site bringing people back to it after they ‘customised everything’ because the content can then be plugged into other social networking sites. It’ll be interesting to see how the site grows and develops, it just smacks a little bit of ‘me to’ and stealing the pennies off dead mens eyes

The sun finally reared his/her beautiful head yesterday and I for one made full use of his/her life giving rays. Unfortunately we only had sun factor 4 in the house, so owing a duty of care to my pale skin I exercised constant application. However, like most people of sound mind who have better things to do than salaciously rub thick white gloop into their own buttocks, I missed a spot. Well, two spots. Hence I now have a line of pink humorously spanning the length of my nose. What’s not so funny, and extremely painful, is the sunburn running the entire length of my inside left leg.

Most of my body is radiating a healthy glow similar to that of a roast chicken which has just been removed from the oven, my leg and nose have a lobster hue. When does the sun go away?

I was watching the match last night and found it rather amusing.  The French coach, Raymond Domenech, has a very unusual approach to team selection….he likes to take a players star sign into consideration before making his decision.  He apparently doesn’t trust players who are
Scorpios and thinks that defenders who are Leo’s are show-offs and has been quoted saying “When I have a Leo in defence I’ve always
got my gun ready as I know he’s going to want to show off at one moment or another and cost us”.

Can this theory be applied to the media industry?  What star sign do you have to be in order to go far in media?  I’ve conducted a quick review
of all 31 BJK&E employees and noted the following:

We have a fairly even spread across the 12 star signs although interestingly 26% of us are Geminis.  Now, the purpose of Gemini is to be
one who gathers and conveys information - a good trait within our industry, one could say!  It also states that Gemini is an air sign, and as such
puts great value on the mind and its thinking function, to the extent that emotional experiences may be regarded as complications that are
best avoided. Psychologically, air is attracted to water, but air finds the emotions difficult to deal with as they don’t fit in with its concept of an
ideal world.  Hmm, they may need some more emotionally-led team members in order to create the rounded media strategy?? 

In an industry that is based on numbers and spreadsheets, is it any wonder that there are no Pisces at BJK&E.  Pisces have vivid
imaginations and will often think they are being followed. They have some influence over their friends and people resent them for flaunting
their power.   Underneath it all they lack confidence and are generally thought to be cowardly. 

Fortunately, only 2 people in BJK&E are Scorpio.  This is the star sign that is said to be shrewd in business but cannot be trusted. They
will reach the pinnacle of success because of their total lack of ethics. Tut tut…..you Scorpios know who you are!

I, myself, am a Capricorn and am one of three in the company.  We have a need to conserve…the survival of the clan.  Our sign
denotes time, age, strength through patience. Ah yes, clearly the best!!!

Yes, it’s that time of year again. The time when we do our bit for foreign relations.  Brown may have Bush visit for a few days but how much do they really get to know each other?  BJK&E host 2 interns for 6 weeks and by the end of it, we get to know all about them - from how many siblings they have to their deepest darkest secrets! .  It’s their first day and here is what I’ve found out so far……..

First Name:   Heather
Surname: Blouin
Sits:  On the dark side

Heather is from Delmas, Saskatchewan, Canada. She has just completed a Marketing Degree from the University of Regina, which is also in Saskatchewan. Heather grew up on a farm and spends every Winter snowboarding.  Her Summers are usually filled with camping and fishing.
This is Heather’s first time in London and also my first internship.  During university she worked for a field marketing company. 
 
First Name:   Emily
Surname: Stephens
Sits:  On the light side

Emily is 21 years old, and she’s from Wichita Falls, TX. It’s a medium sized town about two hours north of Dallas. She is currently a student at the University of Texas in Austin and is majoring in Advertising with a Minor in Business Foundations. She has one older sister who is living and working in Atlanta, GA. Her favourite hobby is trying new restaurants/food of all kinds, especially finding organic food places which is sometimes pretty hard to come across in America!

Euro 2008 kicked off in earnest on Saturday and so far it’s been quite boring. No upsets thus far - the form guide being strictly adhered to despite the so called top teams not performing very well.  Germany and Portugal have the easy draw, will probably meet in the semi-finals and, for my money, the winner of that game will win the tournament.

Tonight throws up the first round of the group of death, and hopefully the first upsets. Having drawn Portugal, Holland and Croatia in work / home based sweepstakes I’m cheering on Romania and the amicable Dutch from Group C. My ideal final would be Portugal vs Holland with Ronaldo et al coming out on top.

Unfortunately the Portugeezers and the Croats will probably face each other in the Quarter finals meaning one of my runners falls at the second hurdle. Why have UEFA ruined such an entertaining tournament with a ridiculous layout?

Ok so I’m sure I’m not the only one impatiently awaiting the much anticipated Sex and the City film…

It began with a few whispers and hopeful predictions that a film was to be made and now the time has come for what I believe will be one of the biggest Box Office hits of the year.

Whilst us BJK&E girls are being treated to a true SATC experience of cinema and cocktails I’m not sure that my excitement can wait that long and I’m already planning Thursday night’s trip to the cinema.

Although I am a big SATC fan and I am hugely excited about the launch of the film, I worry that I may be disappointed following the hype…does Big die? does Steve cheat on Miranda? There speculations are endless and I for one worry that the film may not live up to them.
Regardless of what may loom ahead , I shall sit with my  BJK&E girls dressed in our cocktail dresses to watch the most anticipated film of the year!

There’s nothing like a good old veritable romp in the cinema and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was just that, nothing like one.
Lovingly hand crafted by the accomplished magi Lucas and Spielberg  over many years, forged in the deepest recesses of Hollywood with one of the strongest iconic heroes of our generation as its metal -and then blessed with the latest magic of digital arts technology, I was somewhat looking forward to a rapier of a film to lead this summer’s wave of new releases and thrust through the swathes of audience cynicism.
I think we got something more akin to a butter knife.
Despite Ford’s usual expert brandishing of whatever he is given, (still the best action hero of his generation in my book by a country mile), this film is guilty of one of the worst sins a film can commit – not knowing what it is about. Chucking the kitchen sink at this film was too much; adding the floorboards, radiators and doorframes then starts to become criminal vandalism.
Ok, there were occasional nice moments, clever references, the usual imaginative scenery but the after-taste of disappointment takes a long time to disperse. The only way I think the film could have been saved would have been to stick Mel Brooks in the director’s chair and properly develop this movie into what it clearly was –the Space Balls of Indiana Jones.

Its that time of year again when people don their flipflops/or wellies and head of for a weekend filled with friends, beer and live bands… but yet again that won’t be me!

The logistics and organisation needed to plan a much anticipated trip to a festival have yet again defeated me. Not only do you have to choose a festival that will suit everyone’s tastes which is a challenge in itself, getting a group of 6 girls to all agree and commit to a date any further than a week away is near enough impossible. If you are lucky enough to have a good response from said friends there then comes the issue of money! No-one can ever afford to pay for a ticket until May when everything is sold out.

So, here I am yet again suffering from my summer festival blues trying not to listen to all the line-up announcements or look at how much Ebay are selling tickets  for.

Maybe next year I will manage to get organised in time to buy a ticket before they sell out….

Now the Summer sun is finally shining - at least for a week - some of my old lunchtime haunts are looking a little bit dark and dejected. It could be time to move onto places lighter and brighter…. being new to Holborn in the Summer where are the best places to indulge in a spot of outdoors media lunching?

My impressions to date:

Truckles : Very close but it’s overpriced, under-portion-sized and refuses to allow outside reservations.

The Old Crown: This is probably my favourite local pub but the comforting winter exterior looks a bit dark and gloomy in the summer sunshine. Easier to get a table mind you.

The Plough: Again nearby with some outdoor seating (which gets over the slightly stale inside smell - to put it nicely) but the road tends to get covered in shade by the buildings and lets face it, unless you want your food fried not a culinary classic.

Collective media thoughts on nearby alternatives?