Yes, the woman is obviously mentally disturbed, and for that we mustn’t laugh, but being mad aside, the hilarity isn’t in the typical vigilanty ‘burn the witch’ reaction from the British public, rather the more creatively funny responses to the story….

The genius ‘Revenge of the Cat’ spoof YouTube video has attracted thousands of viewers (and blanket national coverage). But for me funnier still is some of the comments from people who post their ‘reaction’ to the story. My favourites so far have come from the comments on The Sun website:

‘Don’t know what al te fuss is about, Top Cat lived in a bin for years. lol ’ – ‘lol‘ indeed Ellie1975

And my second favourite…

‘ just opened my wheelie bin and a wasp came out. What sort of sicko would shut a wasp in a wheelie bin? I hope the full resourses of the law are brought to bear on the individual responsible. Forget murderers, rapists, muggers and paedos, just catch this wasp molester now!’ DaveWM

Dumb..of course. Just what you need after a frantically busy week with seemingly no end in sight…most definitely!

Its first-ever product launched outside of the US is targeting young, middle class Asian consumers between the ages of 18 and 28 – and what better way of targeting them than hiring ten of them to blog?

The 10 lucky ones have been selected from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and India to represent the rising Asian generation – and also cleverly to support ‘Denizen’ which, after launching in China last week, will subsequently expand to Singapore and South Korea.

This 100-day innovative pan-Asian social media campaign appears to be rather audacious given that the bloggers have been given total editorial freedom and only asked to ‘share their experiences and thoughts’ – topics are suggested but not imposed and their blogs aren’t linked to the official brand website.

Is this why the Head of Corporate Affairs at Levi Strauss Asia-Pacific division said that Denizen10 wasn’t part of their official marketing plan? “Denizen wants to provide a social media platform that speaks from grass-root level and represents the youth 24/7”, he also added, un-marketingly.

Professional models weren’t hired for the launch of the first collection in Shanghai but bloggers, musicians and friends of those involved with the campaign – people who could be identified as ‘regular people’ – well, if this isn’t marketing then…

Currently looking for a flat share in London myself, trying to make sure I don’t end up living with a weirdo is no mean feat. The Easyroommate and Flatshare websites have begun organising Speed Flat Mating events in and around London. This is a great way to meet potential roomies and make new friends.

In the same way as Speed dating you get given a name badge. If you’re looking to rent you display your name, budget and desired area. For those who are trying to rent their rooms out they display their name, rental amount and the nearest overland/tube station. Once everyone’s arrived and you’ve had a few bevies, for Dutch courage, the mingling begins.

Feeling bleary eyed on my long commute home I ended up coming across a feature in the Evening Standard about some commuters living in tents on Lea Valley Leisure Complex to avoid the Monday – Friday slog. They call themselves ‘Camputers’, I call them nuts. I, for one, will be packing up my tent at the end of festival season and it won’t be coming out until V Festival next year. In the mean time I will carry on looking for the flatshare of my dreams and speed sharing until the right one comes along.

This week, Marie Efthymiou (phonetic spelling available on request) entertains us with holiday anecdotes and suggestions as to how one might explain ‘PR’ to a four year old.

You’ve just got back from your holiday. Where did you go?

I had the most amazing two weeks! We started in not so sunny San Francisco (the best bit was visiting Alcatraz). And then onto Vegas which was out of this world and one massive party! And ended up in LA, which was all about soaking up the sun and celeb hunting (I didn’t see any, but I do have some very interesting snaps of Jennifer Aniston, Simon Cowell and Orlando Bloom’s front gates if you’re interested?)

What was your best meal?

I’m embarrassed to say but it was actually in a Greek restaurant on Long Beach – you see we’re not to dissimilar to you Brits, us Greeks will always sniff out the lamb kebabs.

I also became a little obsessed with their pancakes for breakfast. Everyday I ordered a short stack buttermilk pancake with maple syrup and bacon (very yummy, but thank goodness I don’t live there as I would be HUGE, it was near to impossible to find anything that resembled fresh fruit or veg).

What’s the one thing you have done on a holiday that would most shock us?

Being the good Greek girl that I am, I didn’t do anything that risqué or shocking. But I did take a liking to Harley’s and spent most of the time travelling around LA on one (on the back that is, there’s no ways I could control one of those big, bad boys).

How would you explain PR in three sentences to Steve Earls’ 4-year old?

We tell stories. And we try to make them as exciting as possible (which can sometimes be hard) so when we tell all the big bosses who work at the newspapers, magazines, TV and with computers they like them so much that they tell the whole wide world (well not always the whole world, sometimes just Basingstoke).

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title would be?

Good Greek Girls Don’t Exist

Why are manholes round?

Well it’s pretty common knowledge that round tubes are the strongest and most material-efficient shape against the compression of the earth around them. And obviously we all already know that it also needs to be round as human beings have a roughly circular cross-section.

This week, Technology director, Ruth, tells us exactly how it is with her inimitable Northern flair…

What did you have for breakfast. And why?

Slightly burnt brown toast with marmite. Because I like it.

Describe your journey from BD1 to WC2H.

Did I take a wrong turn?

What makes a good PR person?

Somebody who is hungry for success.  It is all about the result (within budget).

Favourite lunchtime venue near Leicester Square?

Ben & Jerry’s

Sum up leadership in five words. Do you make the mark?

Vision-control-delegation-motivation-accountability

Sure. And, if I don’t, it is your job to fire me.

What pisses you off?

- Excuses rather than solutions

- Lack of proactive drive (don’t talk about it, just do it)

- Made up timesheets

- Opinions without foundations

- Unconstructive feedback

- Pointless meetings

- Timewasters

- Boo shoers

- Crap coffee

The Financial Times recently identified this group as “becoming a powerful force in the digital media market” and evidence seems strong from the sponsors for the recent Cybermummy conference, which included Procter & Gamble, Huggies, Fisher Price and Vodafone.  

There’s an interesting debate going on about how PRs and mummy bloggers should or shouldn’t interact.

Whilst it seems some bloggers are receptive to approaches from PRs – so much so that P&G recently used bloggers to announce the news that its traditional white Fairy Liquid bottle was coming back to celebrate the brand’s 50-year anniversary in the UK, some bloggers seem aghast that they could ever be considered as a marketing target.

Working Mum on the Verge recently wrote “you have to be a product pretty close to my heart to get an endorsement (Green & Black’s may apply, of course).”

Yet some mummy bloggers are involved in ongoing relationships with brands – for example, the Disney Ambassadors, Huggies Mums and Pampers Mums.

Approaching a mummy blogger with PR content can be minefield – make a mistake and you’ll be blogged about for all the wrong reasons but it’s not always easy to tell who’d like to be approached.

Sally Whittle, founder of the Tots100index (a monthly index of Mummy and Daddy blogs) recently published a useful blogger outreach guide but even following this means a tricky balancing act for any PR trying to engage the mummy blogging audience – don’t approach too many, make it a little bit exclusive and sample with caution.

Whilst many of these rules also apply to traditional PR, liaising with mummy bloggers is a whole different ball game to journalists and one which we PRs should not underestimate.

This week, Speed’s revered creative director, Chris McCrudden, talks rainbow socks, the definition of ‘fugly’ and why the best ideas in life often crop up in the bog.  (Some parts of this profile may have been edited to protect the guilty)

How is the leg?

Broken.

You head up the Creative Team here at Speed. Any pointers for those faced with a seemingly boring/conservative client and want to inject a bit of creativity and pizzazz into the account?

Mind-bending drugs. Seriously, did you know the ‘work’ and ‘play’ bits of your brain are diametrically opposed? You’re not going to come up with a wonderful idea staring at a screen – that’s why we always do brainstorms in the creative area. If you’re stuck, go for a walk, or the loo. You always have the best ideas in the bog.

What is the weirdest suggestion you have had in a brainstorm that a client has considered or gone ahead with?

A very early experiment with social media that involved blogging about office ‘ghost stories’, way back in the days when we still thought Livejournal was a good idea. Like its subject matter, it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

What would you consider to be your biggest achievement so far in your PR career?

Winning Symantec was pretty awesome. I wanted that account for years. Oh, and persuading Sir Ian McKellan, Michael Caine and Anna Ford to part with ties for a charity auction.

What is the most irritating consumer trend you are seeing today?

Not so much a trend as an idea that won’t die. Men wearing big cargo shorts and flip flops. Fugly. Do not do it.

That said, I’m totes hearting the shoulder padded jacket, skirt and t-shirt look that East End girls are working at the moment. It’s identical to what my Mum wore to work in the early 90s.

You are usually in close proximity of some historical tome. But what newspapers/mags/tv programmes do you regularly read/watch?

I don’t watch TV if I can help it, but have a shameful addiction to The Archers (a soap opera on Radio 4 about sheep farming, for the uninitiated). And that’s only for the gin soaked old fag hag who runs the pub. She’s amazing. Other than that I read National Geographic occasionally, and steal the consumer team’s copy of Pick Me Up (it’s only 79p) when I want handy household tips and true life features on spousal battery and incest.

We have seen your feet come in an array of colors. So what advice would you give the men at Speed when considering purchasing a pair of socks?

If you wear artificial fibres on your feet you deserve all the athlete’s foot you get. And never wear a tie and socks in the same colour – it’s too matchy-matchy.

If you could give Nick Bishop one gift what would it be?

My thanks for nagging me into actually finding out I have a broken leg.

This week, the winner of our ‘Wall of Shame’ competition (on the basis of the submission of this super snap), Simon Matthews, answers some suitably random questions about fetishes, football and the role of PR in today’s business climate.

Q – Tell us about your worst habit – throw in any fetishes.

A – I’m far too generous which has led to at least one of my friends owing me £600

Q – List the 3 most embarrassing things you’ve ever said/done – whilst sober.

A- Inadvertently accusing my step-step-grandfather (step-dad’s step-dad) of using inflatable sex dolls – in my defence I was young and didn’t really understand what I was talking about.

In ‘Nam I fell down an open manhole while walking across a field with my friends, after an interesting run in with some prostitutes who stole 100,000 Dong (about 5 of her majesty’s sterling pounds) – without any form of professional services being exchanged I hasten to add.

I once ate a habenero chilli in one mouthful because an attractive lady bet I couldn’t. I was successful in the attempt but my mouth was in such a state of pain and dribbling that I was rendered insensible.

Q – What’s your take on today’s business climate and the role & importance of PR?

A – It’s still a little rocky out there in places and PR is as important as ever – if not more so. A company with no PR will struggle for awareness in a competitive business environment, so they need us to put them right in front of their customers in a way that advertising and other marketing disciplines can’t.

Q – Are you a football fan? Why? Who do you support? Have they won anything?

A – Crystal Palace. Winning is for chumps.

Q – I hear match.com will soon have a new member – what qualities do you possess that one might…consider?

A – In the name of research, I have bravely volunteered to sign up to match.com. Apart from being generally great at everything, I’m a pretty good cook. All I can ask is that the ladies form an orderly queue.

Q – Name your top 3 Speeps and the reasons why you love them/don’t love them so much. We’re an honest bunch, don’t be afraid of the possibly hostile repercussions.

A – Very difficult to choose as I do like all of you lot, despite your best efforts – here’s an arbitrary selection:

Bex has to get a look in on this – she’s lovely and, as a bonus, hasn’t fired me.

John Brown – often looks quite dapper and is the source of many japes.

Nicole – lunch buddy extraordinaire.

Why have these glorious cosmetics gone to waste when they were so obviously a must-have at the time….? While yes, a lot of the time it transpires that I have amazingly managed to duplicate a previously purchased gem, but for the most part it is because the new Arizona Tan bronzer makes me more oompa loompa than sun kissed beauty or the Raspberry Crush eye shadow gives me the sexy look of festering conjunctivitis that I hadn’t anticipated.

Now the days of clashing cosmetics with my pasty skin tone are numbered as a new technology is set to revolutionise how we buy our makeup (apparently). Cosmetics giant L’Oréal is piloting a range of digital mirrors which take a snapshot of a customers face and ‘applies’ the makeup of their choice to the image once the product barcode has been scanned. You can have a wee play to see how it will look here .

Will it put an end to those iffy beauty purchases? In an ideal world…perhaps. I love the concept and think a valid alternative to the bacteria-infested ‘testers’ is long overdue. But…do I trust Boots to not let them break after the first weekend of heavy use and to leave them taking up valuable floor space? Erm, quite frankly, no.

I would love to be proved wrong and although L’Oréal would like us to believe ‘we’re worth it’ in terms of enhancing our cosmetics shopping experience, I’m afraid this may be less one step closer to Minority Report and more one off (very expensive) gimmick. We’ll see….

Sea, Christmas and Sun

Selfridges is getting ready to celebrate Christmas – and is encouraging us to do the same – by launching its Christmas season next Monday, its earliest ever opening.

To justify kicking off the festivities 145 days before the actual day, the store used the well-known pretext of ‘responding to consumer demand’.

Yes previous sales had shown that some customers, especially overseas tourists, started thinking about Christmas during August which obviously represents a great opportunity for the store to increase its profits but what about the Christmas spirit?

Isn’t Christmas so special and still so popular because it is fleeting?

By spreading Christmas over four months, it will not only dilute its meaning (even more than it already is) but will also make people tired of it before the annoying Christmas ads have even started.

Even more worrying, given the fierce competition amongst retailers, it is also an invitation for the others to raise the bar and start their Christmas season sooner next year.”

Christmas is coming earlier each year” says a spokesperson from Selfridges.  Well, I don’t know for you, but my calendar hasn’t changed and Christmas is still on 25 December.

Instead, how about making some Christmas must-haves available throughout the year for the fanatics and launching the Christmas season at an acceptable time, i.e. when people aren’t thinking about barbecues and sun cream?

In the meantime, I will try to explain to my niece in vain, that yes Santa Claus will bring her a Barbie but she’ll need to be patient, very patient.