Saturday 9 November 2013

Soz

There's a very good reason for my protracted absence from this blog.

I have eloped with a divine Prince from a far-flung paradise. We are in the process of making a home for ourselves in the lap of luxury.

I'm lying.

I have started my Masters. MSc History of International Relations to be precise and it is FULL. ON. But certainly in a positive way! I'd like to think I have made a positive impression on course colleagues and professors alike.. Having said that, I did recently raise a few eyebrows when I compared foreign policy to an advertising pitch. But hey ho, objectivity and the forming of a specific argument and opinion is all part of the plan, non?

On a completely different note, I was recently sent this, and it made me so so happy! Sheer genius.

Tuesday 17 September 2013

#tumblr

Hollerrrr! About 27 years after everyone else, I now have a Tumblr. 


Perhaps I'll be a little better at updating it. This poor blog has been frightfully neglected recently. Je suis désolé!


Monday 12 August 2013

I'm not bored. I'm creative.

I recently came across two quite similar and interesting articles, one of them being a summary of Arianna Huffington’s speech at an event held at London’s Bafta on the 30th of July. Although different in context and audience, the underlying message of both pieces was simple: to embrace boredom. Yes indeed, be bored once in a while.

Rumour has it that Steve Jobs developed his amazing ideas for apple while Zen meditating. The article by Simon Attwater implies that dozing under apple trees gave us theories of gravity. My personal example? I have had some of my best and most creative ideas while out on a run – the epitome of boredom, if you think about it… It’s simply a long stretch of pavement pounding, perhaps spruced up a little by a ‘motivational’ playlist.

Although Huffington’s line of thought had a different motivation, it delivered a similar message: today we are so over- or ‘hyper-connected’ and always ‘digitally multi-tasking’ that we’re overstressed and suffering from burnouts. There’s simply no room for creativity or inspiration! She too mentioned Jobs, by suggesting that he certainly didn’t have his amazing ideas while ‘clearing out his inbox’.

I’m afraid to say that I do see some truth behind these ideas. In the past (wow I feel old) when had to get the school bus (1 hour each way, it was painful) and no one was there to keep me company or entertain me with school related anecdotes, I would put in my headphones and daydream. Now if I’m bored on the bus, train or tube it’s a different story. In my defence I must say that I do make an effort. I’ll read a book, newspaper or magazine if I can but often I end up playing on my iPhone. While I may not go as far as checking my emails, I’ll still be aimlessly fiddling around on some other app or messaging platform.


But now that I’ve read and digested these two articles I may just change my ways. I may just sit there and stare into space. Waiting for inspiration to come.

Thursday 1 August 2013

Sexism at the airport

On mashable today I stumbled across this article. It outlines a new idea put forward by Heathrow Airport that passengers in the terminals will be 'trackable' as "passengers who are running late for flights can cause delays." 

The idea is as follows: "To address this problem, Heathrow Airport has pioneered a new technology through its boarding card system that is designed to track the locations of passengers in the airport as well as direct the passengers where to go or what to do to catch their flight on time. With the new system, which the airport is calling "positive boarding," passengers simply present their boarding cards at an automated gate where the boarding card barcodes are scanned. The gate's computer cross-references information from the barcode with flight details and, once verified, the passengers may enter the departure area. Information about their flights also pop up on a screen, so passengers will know if they are in the right terminal or if they have to go somewhere else."


I didn't really have any strong feelings on the matter, positive or negative. When I carried on reading however, what did jump out at me was the following:

"If a passenger arrives at the gate less than 30 minutes before the plane is set to depart, she will not receive access to the terminal and will need to visit the check-in counter for more information."

Sorry what? she will not receive access to the terminal? Is the suggestion here that the women cause the delays due to their excessive duty free shopping? I'm hoping that a simple / was missed out here (which would make it a far more acceptable s/he).

Wednesday 24 July 2013

22/07/2013


Monday July 22nd 2013 was a pretty good day for me. Not only was it my birthday, but clever K-Mids and Baby-Cambridge (literally just announced to be called George) decided to reinforce the fact that it’s an excellent day for birthing. Congratulations Kate and Wills! I will now share my birthday with the future King of England*!

Their emergence from the hospital yesterday evening was pretty cute and they did indeed look rather happy. I did however, pick up on Wills’ comment along the lines of 'we've only just met him, this is a very special time' which I interpreted as ‘we’ve done out bit by showing you our baby, now please do your bit and give us some space and privacy!’ which I think is fair enough. I feel quite sorry for them and really do think that the media coverage is slightly excessive. Then again I think that certain articles such as this one are just unnecessary. I’m pretty certain that given the choice, they wouldn’t want any of this hype and they certainly haven’t asked for it. They simply want to enjoy some time with their newborn, like any brand new parents would! I think it would be wonderful if we could give them a bit of space, but also if people who are bitter / ‘pitying’ of the royals / whatever they want to call it, could just pipe down. If you don’t like the media frenzy, ignore it and go and read a good book. It will have died down soon enough.


*Not to put a downer on the mood at all, but wouldn’t it have been just a teensy bit more interesting if it had been a girl?! History would have been made, as she would have been Queen, regardless of brother or not!

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Big Mac unveiled as headliner

I may not be a fan of the food available at McDonald's, but I am 100% in awe of their advertising. I think they always hit the spot and come up with a good 'un.

Namely this new beauty: (Agency: DDB Stockholm, Client: McDonald's Sweden)


It's fair to say that festival season is in full swing and so Sweden's McDonald's has launched this clever poster featuring its performers in its own year-long festival of food! Obviously the Big Mac is the headline act. No brainer. And where are the ads placed? Adjacent to the festival posters of course. Kudos to your ads once again Maccys'!

Thursday 4 July 2013

Stone Hipsters


Apologies. I have been a busy bee, buzzing between the hive, the flower and the honey... (Or home, work and the occasional post-work-drinks..) Therefore my writing has shamefully been neglected. Nonetheless, I still find the occasional moment to marvel at the wonders of the world via the genius of the dangerous depths of the internet. In all of those nooks and crannies there are some real treasures. For instance this:

Basically, photographer Léo Caillard and art director Alexis Persani had a moment of creative hilarity. A genius idea that was pretty simple to translate: Leo photographed the classic sculptures at the Louvre in Paris and then his friends posed in a similar way. Alexis then took over to do the retouching and place the clothes on the sculptures. Ta-dah, the Street Stone series were created!

"The creative duo once again prove that nothing is truly set in stone!"

Information here and here

Thursday 27 June 2013

100% of readers of this blog think it’s a cracker!*

Ah the power of marketing and advertising. Even though I like to think of myself as smart, uneasily influenced and resistant to glossy print advertising and super tv ads, I do sometimes find myself in Boots heading to the till with that super swish newly launched mascara that will definitely give me the ‘falsies’ effect – after all, ‘99% of users agree’!


It is 100% true, that most beauty product related ads aimed at females, have a strap line along the lines of “90% of testers” or “9 out of 10 testers” were overjoyed with the product, would use it again and even recommend it to their bff. Wow, must be a super product!

Indicating that 99% of testers were very happy to recommend the product sounds great. I immediately envisage masses upon masses of women all running to their local Boots to snap up said mascara. Then they’ll all run straight home and put it on and POW have fabulously fluttering lashes. Men will go weak at the knees and before we know it the likes of Sushi Samba, The Oblix and any other London venue du jour will be unable to process the magnitude in couples wanting a table for a hot date. I MUST have this mascara.

BUT what we don’t usually know, or wouldn’t even think to consider, is the number of ‘testers’ that were actually asked about the product. We all went through the painful and seemingly pointless process of learning all about proportions and ratios at school and now would be a good time to advocate that accumulated knowledge..! I remember once being suitably impressed with a strong endorsement for a new mascara; 93% of customers who tried said mascara loved it and thought that it was the bees’ knees. Pretty impressive, must be worth the money! Then I read the itty bitty details. The sample size of testers was 7. Yes, seven.
 
So obviously this is an exaggeration, but you get the jist. Companies are quite content with pulling the wool over the eyes of their poor, loyal consumers who perhaps don’t have a strong understanding of sample sizes and reliability… God damn it maybe they simply trust the brand!

When companies were originally forced to start disclosing the evidence for their sometimes amazingly abstract claims, the idea was for customers to receive the clarity they deserve. Now somewhere along the line, thanks to some sly marketing fox that is probably now giggling into his gold, this has gone walkabout. I think that perhaps it’s time to put the issue up for discussion… Even if companies are merely ‘encouraged’ as opposed to forced to use a reliable sample size, one company will hopefully do so and set the standard. Not asking for a lot here pals, simply some truth… I can’t afford all of these new mascaras!!


*Sample size: 1

Thursday 30 May 2013

Top 10 Veggies.


I am a great advocate of the vegetable. Salad? Roasted veg? I’d have either any day over a pack of fries. Pathetic? Possibly. Yummy? Yah. 

  • Asparagus – Sadly only limited to May and June, asparagus is a firm favourite of mine. Yes it does make your wee smell, but I am an adult now, I can handle this. (It still freaks me out) 
  • Broccoli – no words describe my love for broccoli. In a stir fry, in a salad, in a sauce. 
  • Mushrooms – as a child, these were my worst nightmare. On a plate. How could I have been so naïve?! Mushrooms of the world, I apologise for misjudging you. Fried, baked, roasted or steamed, you’re delish and are even a suitable solo snack. 
  • Brussel sprouts – ah another classic childhood ‘ew’. But thanks to Jamie O, I have learned that together with some bacon and walnuts, these little bad boys are frightfully yummy. 
  • Cucumber – dipped in salsa. All day and everyday. 
  • Tomato – this is a fruit my bottom. A vegetable as great as they come, there’s always space for a tomato in my salad. Gives the green some colour! 
  • Kale – while I’m not going to follow the trend and blitz some kale into a super smoothie, I do very much advocate kale crisps. Lessons learned from many a wasted batch? (Burned to a crisp.. ha) Timing is crucial! 
  • Spinach – Is there actually any proof that spinach gives you Popeye worthy Pecks? Obviously this is a third childhood hate. But if mother dishes this up now I gladly oblige. 
  • Aubergine – Purple gentle giants that are ideal when roasted. 
  • Beetroot – makes an utter mess if spilled down a white top. The father, the sister and I still giggle about the time it happened to a very unlucky nun wearing a white habit.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Over the hills & far away, Teletubbies come to play..


The Metro (London) on Tuesday May 14th: “Without a doubt, the UK is leading the world in pre-school programming with shows from Teletubbies to Peppa Pig.”


Pardon?

Now I have yet to experience the delights of Peppa Pig for myself, but I have indeed seen the Teletubbies. And world leading they are not… “eh-oh”

I think I was about 6 or 7 when they first appeared on the small screen and yes, I did have a brief but deep love for them. I even saved up my pocket money for a couple of weeks in order to be able to buy my very own version of Lala. Sadly my mama dear was not a big fan of the Teletubbies and was far from keen on my delight in their antics. She simply explained that such a program would lead to “verblödung” (like ‘schadenfreude’, this is one of those amazing words, which captures an entire English expression in one word. It simply means that ‘watching this program will make you dumb’)

So why is the Metro implying that programs like the Teletubbies are world leading? Perhaps because otherwise, we’d have to admit to ourselves that if our kiddiwinks weren’t watching the Teletubbies, then they would probably be playing on Dad’s/Mum’s/Granny’s/(god forbid) their own iPads.

Go and play in the dirt girls and boys!

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Childhood v Adulthood


In continuing with yesterday's little post, I thought I'd compare the pro's of childhood with those of adulthood...
The pros of being a child:

  1. You can do the most random and outrageous things and it’s (mostly) socially acceptable, sometimes even cute! If you want to have a little scream in Tescos and throw some apples on the floor then go right ahead.
  2. Role playing is insane. Any career is a possibility. One day I was a mother, with an army of BabyBorn children that all needed my love and devotion. The next day I was a significantly successful musical super star in the West End. And the next I was Titania, Queen of the Fairies...and naturally ma petite soeur was my elfin slave.
  3. Not only do I think that children’s imaginations are amazing, but also their approach on things. It’s usually so straight forward and direct. Things that us ‘adults’ simply overlook. (Brutal simplicity of thought Mr Saatchi? Employ some children.) For example: I was listening to a literary podcast where children around the ages of 5-7 years old were asked whether they would like to be Harry Potter and why. While most boys my age would probably have said yes and waved some pretend magic wand through the air shouting EXPECTO PATRONUM, the little boy on the podcast simply said “No. Because Harry is always having to do something or be something. He is never just normal Harry and hangs out with his friends.” I had never even considered that. (I would still want to be Ginny.)
  4. Dating and interacting with the other sex. Oh my gosh, why did I never take advantage of how simple this is as a child?? “Hello, my name’s Lisa. Would you like to share my Smarties?” Nowadays an awkward lock of the eyes in a crowded bar could lead to an awkward “Would you like a drink?” followed by an awkward “So what do you do?”
  5. The biggest worry I had was probably along the lines of whether Hattie had more Beanie Babies than me. Phone bill? Que?
The pros of being an adult:

  1. I’ve spent 16 years in education to date. I’d like to say I have learnt a lot. Obviously I can’t remember exactly what I learnt in Year 4 in the Summer Term, (I think we did a pond project and I caught some tadpoles) but I’m confident that having overcome childhood I certainly have both more general and expertise knowledge than I did as a child.
  2. Although I no longer have the liberty of choosing a new ‘career’ on a daily basis, I do have the opportunity to actually practice a career. QUOTE: if you find a job you like you’ll never work a day in your life and all that jazz. Having said that, if Titania offered a grad scheme I’d be on it like a shot.
  3. Decisions. Yes I can still consult the parents on various matters, but at the end of the day it’s down to me to decide. Right from what time I go to bed, to where and when I’m going on holiday this summer. (Am I invited on the family holiday?!)
  4. I am a lot less restricted in daily life! I can go on theme park rides for those over 1.4 meters, I can take out films labelled 18 and I can drive, drink and buy lottery tickets. 
  5. I can do the most random and outrageous things. Ok so I may not be able to have a little scream in Tescos and throw some apples on the floor without being sent to a psychologist, but I could literally right this second get on a tube, go to Heathrow and get on a flight to Cuba. Why Cuba? Not sure.