What The Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

Been a fan of Malcolm Gladwell so it was a no brainer to pick up his most recent book, "What The Dog Saw".

What's different this time is that this is a collection from previous works Gladwell has written, nineteen in total. I enjoyed almost all of them, some much more than others. My favorite was "Something Borrowed", about plagiarism.

This one got my attention the most because I have always wondered exactly what he talks about. It's hard to explain but basically, that plagiarism is inevitable. Of coarse there are blatant copies, but that is not what we are talking about. At this point in the world, it is bound to be that somehow somewhere at another point, someone wrote something extremely similar to what you have wrote, whether you know it or not. So if someone happens to catch this actual coincidence, should you really be labeled a cheat, crook, unoriginal, whatever?

Gladwell goes through countless examples of this, particularly in the music industry. Background beats like Led Zepplin and Muddy Water's. Steve Miller Band and Shaggy. But then he goes into another argument his friend made. Could it just be considered influences? If every beat was copyrighted and never allowed to be used and warped again, then many songs would have never been created.

Back to the case of actual writing, I just recently did a blog entry about how some girl totally jacked my idea about gym grifting. I have no evidence whatsoever proving this was my idea first. So she gets credit for it and I have to suck it up. But what if I had wrote something about it and could prove it was MY idea? Could I accuse her of plagiarism? No not really in my opinion.

People will naturally come up with similar ideas, it's just bound to happen. Unless shes using specific phrases of mine, I cant really say she stole anything. Even if she did though, 1. I'd be kinda flattered for something stupid like that but if it was something I put years of research into I'd be pissed. 2. In the case of being in college, is it really fair for her to fail out because of it (in the case of the less intense example)?

There are these new crazy programs that literally scan words and phrases and its hooked up to a database that matches it up with like, everything ever written, making it that much more impossible for students to get away with plagiarizing. Whoa.

So this is just one of the few stories that really get things going up there in that noggin. Pretty good for readers with ADD too because you want to finish the story and it's only a couple pages.

A Sparkling Event

My friend Melissa works in the Sparkle Factory aka with Tarina Tarantino, a jewelry designer who rocks. Her latest endeavor for the company: makeup.

They just launched a line for Sephora and one of my event planning idol's, Jes Gordon/ProperFun, was tapped by coincidence by Melissa to coordinate the event. Jes is author of the book, Party Like A Rock Star.

BizBash did a great write up on Wednesday's party HERE.
The concept was adorable with so many details. I love the vanities they set up along the walls to display the new products.

What was cool was Melissa contacted me in the midst of all this busyness to say she noticed I was a fan of Jes's and told me Jes was one of the coolest people she had worked with and would send me her book. I then noticed some twitter shoutouts from her as well. I am grateful to Melissa for doing that. I don't think she realized how inspiring Jes was to me as a wannabe event planner when I was graduating. These are the kinds of events and things that make me want to move to LA and be Melissa's assistant (which is not an available position, fyi).

Keep up with The Sparkle Factory here: thesparklefactory.blogspot.com

More coverage of the event:
Purse Buzz
Nick Verreos
Dolce Chica

Trend Alert: Your Own PR Firm

The PR world is smaller then people think. The big names are known and the companies gossip like it's a high school.

In latest news:

My OSU classmate Sara Ferne, who is the assistant to Matt Labov (clients include Jack Black, Steve Carell, Sacha Baron Cohen, Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Jay Roach, and Jason Schwartzman among others) at BWR, a hugh Hollywoody firm, announced on her twitter last Friday that she is following Matt on his venture into his own company. "i can officially say: my boss, Matt Labov is opening his own publicity management firm and has hired me on as his first employee! :-D 12:33 PM Feb 23rd "

Deadline Hollywood reported the next day. I'm very excited for her. Pretty amazing opportunity for someone who graduated only 2 years ago. And yes, I am jealous! But its all love.

Also talks of Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, is leaving her home at Warner Music Group to start her own shop.

Oh and then there's this ball of fire (from thewrap.com in Dec.):

Immediately after PMK/HBH announced its merger with BNC in December, a significant group of top publicists -- co-CEO Simon Halls, Stephen Huvane, Robin Baum and Andy Gelb -- chose to split, founding Slate PR with fellow PR vet Ina Treciokas.

Editors Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Jennifer Allen as having joined Slate PR. She left PMK along with her colleagues, but started her own shop, Viewpoint, along with former colleague Melissa Kates.

Le Quatre Saisons

Central Park Mall

Photo from Getty

Photos from Google Images

Hipster Dog Of The Day

Click here , just do it. http://hipsterpuppies.tumblr.com/post/395012366/rambos-appreciation-for-the-music-of-r-kelly

I Should Have Been The "Gym Grifter"

Another one bites the dust. I had this idea, when I first moved to Manhattan. I really wanted to join a gym and thought to myself, "I should just go gym hopping. Free trials should get me through. There are enough gyms that I could probably keep it going for a while. Plus my single friends would love sampling out the guys at each." But then, laziness got the best of me, and I never stepped foot in a Manhattan gym for the entire year. Bitch even started a blog! (bunsofsteal.blogspot.com.)

Today, there's some coverage I am seeing on a young women who apparently had the same idea as me and went through with it. DARNIT! She's been dubbed the "Gym Grifter" by the Daily News.

"Most people aren't cheap enough to do this for a whole year," she said. "But I am."
But then, thinking from an entrepreneur's standpoint, I started realizing something and what I read next was a comment from a front desker at a gym and my exact thought: "Checking out two or three gyms I understand, but to do it for a year is just ripping people off," he said.

I wish I wasn't so lazy. Personally, I would have started the blog AFTER the project, in the event of exactly what happened to her (the news blowing her cover). Wonder how long the free passes will last for her now?

PR Ponderings

You need to get in touch with a writer. Say you happen to follow them on twitter. Or are facebook friends. I get that it is one thing if you are actually friends and hit them up because you have that relationship and you know that they will respond to this form of contact as opposed to the general email. For whatever reason you don't want to pick up the phone, or they aren't answering. Is it appropriate to contact them on these other forms of internet?

For example, Jada Yuan of Party Lines in NYMag. I email her all the time. Is it OK if I also add an umph of "Hey @jadayuan, sent you an email!" on the twitter? I've seen it done from one peer to another but they are friends with each other. For example Jason Kennedy and Lizzie Grubman. Lizzie was asking about Fatjew and Jason wrote, "check your email Lizzie!". I don't know their relationship but an alternative way of communicating was available and he used it.

I don't think I would ever send a pitch on facebook to a writer but it's just something I was thinking about. I have facebooked a couple writers in my day, after a couple email correlations with them in the past. So now if I lost their email, would it be bad to write them on facebook and ask them for their email because I have a pitch I want to send them?

The reason I really ask I guess is because for many people, these are their personal sites. Just like we discuss how twitter and facebook for me is NOT my resume, but can be seen by others and if its ethical to judge me based on it for a job. If this is their personal site, do they want to deal with work? Is it inevitable to crossover? How do writers feel about this? And while I'm on the subject, are writers ever weary of publicists befriending them? Any writers have anything to say about this?

Valentino's Pugs

I plan on watching the Valentino movie, The Last Emperor eventually but in the meantime, I'm on a kick about his pugs. He has five, Milton, Molly, Margot, Maude and Monty. Observe.

Shaq says Size DOES Matter

I love NYC. I love Art. I love Shaq. I love Free. I love Things That Are Our Of Proportion.

If I lived in NYC, I would go see Shaq's new venture into the art world as curator to "Size DOES Matter". You can see the exhibit at the FLAG Art Foundation in Chelsea.

Photos thanks to Huffpo.com

Kell On Earth Ep. 4 - Live Blog

I usually write this write up in a different format as you can see in previous episodes but this live blog just came more naturally today. Ladies and gents, my thoughts on this week's episode of Kell On Earth.

The most common phrase used on this show is "One of our favorite clients".

Wait, all of a sudden Vorhees has an assistant in this show?! Also, I totally love how she just got bitched out because she looks happy and healthy and is well dressed. The boss should be and the workers should be disheveled and tired according to Kelly. This is possibly one of the greatest things I have ever heard.

Ah the book name drop finally. I wouldn't think Kelly was a good publicist unless she publicized her own stuff! I ain't givin her shit for this one, in fact I'm high fiving it. I just finished the book and it is a good one! (review to come)

Really, being a writer has its perks. You get invited to events, know the scoop, get to meet so many different types of people. I see why some people make the transition. I honestly don't think most writers become writers for perks either which is what I think is genuine about it. You can't fake good writing, unless you hire a ghost writer.

PR Rule: Never drink on the job. But if you absolutely have to, hold your shit together! Favorite memory of mine in my pr life: club opening and we each took turns firing the brand new drunk intern. THAT was a fun night!

Quote award for this episode goes to: Andrew
"Sharing misery brings people together."
"I hate these boxes of plastic that we rely on."

Kelly shows a sensitive side frowning and saying I don't want to fire her. I like vulnerability. It shows the human side of her.

"I wasn't going to do it. Cuz I was going to a Jonas Brothers concert!" - Kelly on firing.

I guess that makes us "superman on amphetamines" Vorhees! But wait, did she just ask to be fired?! I am glad she is gone, I can't listen to her without getting angry. She just isn't one of us.

It's sad that I make sure the DVR doesn't skip a beat because I like seeing the city shots. Dam I miss NYC.

Kelly and I pack the same! Just throw in things and wing it. I always get made fun of but you know what, I'm the one who isn't freaking out about outfits and you are so shut up!

Aw really sweet how Kelly says that it gets harder and harder to leave your kid as they get older.

Summer Friday's - Many pr places do this in the summer. It's our little secret, shhh. Friday you are out at either 2 or 4. Its great. Don't ever expect it but its a total nice perk for us every now and then. Granted half the time it's because you are schelping to get to the Hampton Jitney only to go work more on the weekends.

This scene of them being left alone is hysterical. The conference call and them leaving early is also just reminding me of some of my favorite times at my first pr job. Ah there were some fun afternoons at Paris Match. @chrisonchris @reneevlucas @erinlryder @lau525 I miss us.

Just another typicalness. When people think they don't apply to world rules. Like sending in your RSVPs a day before. They never show the end result though. What happened? Did he make a miracle like we tend to do and make it happen? I bet he did.

"Kelly says if you have to cry go outside. So go re-apply your bronzer and pull yourself together and come back in." - Skinner to a man
I dont get how Skinner's only a Jr. Account Exec. I love her more and more. Sex and the City dreams. "Slowly but surely I'm making my way to that booth. "

Why are they interviewing people with no pr experience?

The most important/relevant part of this episode:
I'M DYING from this twitter account thing. Rules of fight club, never talk about fight club. I wonder what her twitter will say now? Haha apparently so does Andrew. This is possibly extremely entertaining to me for three reasons. 1. I was involved in a conversation on PRBreakfastClub today about this very situation. Go check it out here! 2. They claim you cant share/twitter/blog whatever and as a career I want to continue in the future, I seriously question this blog entry all together. Kinda ironic. 3. PeoplesRev is on twitter! The entire staff is. But I do understand where and why its OK and not OK in this situation. If you don't, try reading some PRBC entries. Very interesting and relevant stuff people!

UPDATE:
Holy crap Kelly Cutrone herself just freakin tweeted me!

@BeccaMeyers yeah it's relevant #kellonearth is the new social media rules teacher - the housewives are not on twitter - duh
Tweeted by @peoplesrev Mon 22 Feb 23:10 in reply to
@stina6001 please tell me you watched #kellonearth? The twitter got someone fired...#prbc relevant much?!