Shop Talk

I guess I’ll share the good news …

In addition to starting MBA studies, I will be interning with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society this spring. Yes, it’s same place I was supposed to intern with over the summer. Better late than never, people always say.

After much thought and consideration, I’m going to go for my dream - working for a professional sports team in community relations. This internship is a step in the right direction and I will be able to familiarize myself more with fundraising and community outreach.

(I can’t intern directly with a team because I can’t receive college credit, in case anyone is wondering why I just don’t apply with a team).

I’m also planning to volunteer with the Symphony and whatever else I can get my hands on. I will definitely be a busy person this spring, but it will all be worth it!

So, I’ve been on Second Life for about two weeks now. Other than the torturous routine crashing of my platform, so far so good.

It’s relatively easy to use and provides a much more engaging way to converse with other people rather than the boring text of an IM box. OK, yes, we know this.

The program reminds me of a Sims-esque world crossed with the Phalanx/Palace chat clients. If you’re unfamilar with either client, Phalanx and Palace allow users to create avatars to chat with each other. Unlike SL, they don’t freely move. In addition, Phalanx/Palace are mainly used by young teens and more than likely skeezy old men disguised as teens. I first used Palace when I was about 14, so I’m really dating that chat client and marveling as to how much technology has progressed since then.

This program is just one more way to extend the conversation and I like its potential to be something great. This space will provide another medium for PR practictioners to relay messages/interact with others. As Paull Young described in a recent post, some agencies already are.

I’ve visited a few of them and I liked the setup, though no one was really around. It’s evident that these agencies truly recognize the potential of having a virtual community. What has yet to be determined, however, is whether or not each virtual agency will be actively maintained or if they’ll lie defunct with occasional use. I agreed with Paull that they shouldn’t be manned 24 hours a day, but there should be a weekly set networking meeting hosted by each agency. I’d prefer to see even one meeting a month rather than an agency boasting they have a SL community without doing anything with it. There’s no point in having one then.

My only issue is the regular crashing. I’m not sure if it’s my system or settings. I only have this little laptop which is decent, but no supersystem. I’d just like to keep the crashing down to a minimum. It hasn’t done so too much the last day or so, but I’m probably now jinxing myself.

Oh yeah. My name on SL is Jenni Blazer, so if you see me, say hello.  Or, feel free to add me as a friend. I don’t bite. Heh. Now, I sound like a little five year old - “Will you be my friend?!”

See ya’ll around.

**Note of advice to PR professionals in SL: PLEASE be welcoming of those who are visiting your agency/general area. The whole point is to network and represent your field. Not saying anything may reflect badly on you and your company. I’m not going to call anyone out a la Jeremy Pepper, but I’m just saying, if I’m visiting your agency’s area and you’re there as a representative of that agency, say hello. Good grief.  

Just wanted to share that I have been accepted to graduate school. I shall be starting coursework for a MBA this spring. Woohoo!

So, if you haven’t heard by now: Britney is divorcing Kevin.

Not like this is real news so much. I’m not so much a fan of either, but if Spears is serious about rekindling her career, it is the right moment to shed anything and everything that is unsightly (read: baby weight and Kevin Federline) or a hiderance to performing (read: baby weight and Kevin Federline).

Last night, she made an appearance on Letterman showing off her slimmed down figure. Today, we read she filed for divorce. What next? A reunion with ex-flame Justin Timberlake? Real singing lessons?
I was reading around on a few gossip boards. Someone suggested that this is all a publicity stunt to help boost Federline’s sagging record sales. Well, I don’t know who would buy a talentless rapper’s album just because he’s getting a divorce from a high-profile celebrity, but while the poster’s suggestion is more than likely wrong, the idea isn’t totally improbable.

Could you imagine if this was all just a big publicity stunt? I couldn’t even begin to fathom how much of a fiasco this would be for her PR camp. They’d really have some ’splaining to do. (Yes, I just quoted Desi Arnaz, again).

Yes, Britney seems to be on her way again. As long as her PR people advise her not to do anything stupid or draw excessive attention to herself, she’ll be OK. Don’t fret for Kevin, however. The tell-all book will be out in two weeks and I’m sure this rumored sex tape will be on its heels. Ha!

Edit: 12/1

Ah, I forgot to mention this tidbit - I was spot on about the sex tape release threat. What a sleeze. I’m still waiting for the book deal. He’ll be desparate for cash, so I wouldn’t count that out just yet.