Turning over a new leaf


Nissan has announced that it is to produce its new electric car, the Leaf, in Sunderland. With Renault beginning production of its electric models in 2011 and Honda's FCX Clarity gaining popularity in California, the electric revolution is gathering pace. If Britain can take the lead in carbon reducing technologies then maybe our once world beating manufacturing industry can rise again and throw down the gauntlet to the global economy.

The rise of electric cars does leave our large multinational oil companies with some interesting questions. Shell announced this week that they intend to increase production by 11% to 3.5 million barrels a day in 2012. They also revealed further job losses despite years of mind boggling profits. Are the oil companies making hay when the sun shines? Cutting costs and maximising profits whilst they can? After all if a car no longer needs petrol...

Finnish With The Snow


In Finland, snow isn't headline news. It's simply considered a fact of life that when winter comes along, some of the cold white stuff is probably going to fall out of the sky.

Getting to work, taking the kids to a school that's open, and choosing to stop off at the shops without being tempted to buy the whole of aisle 16 is something the Finns take in their stride.

Meanwhile over here in Blighty anyone brave enough to attempt a bold gesture such as 'taking something in their stride' is very likely to find themselves horizontal in mid-air before gravity ensures that their (quickly disappearing) festive flab-embellished rear-end hits the icy deck with a bump. And naturally, ITN will be there to capture the ungraceful moment for the evening news slot to add to the indignity.

'If you can't beat them, join them' so the old adage goes. But with regular daily temperatures in the Finnish capital of -30C each winter it may be that you'll only be considering to leave the UK for a life in Finland when Helsinki freezes over.

Well, it already has!

Nähdään siellä! (see you there!)

Goodbye to the Noughties

Whether you're watching the latest repeat of Wallace & Gromit or staring at the unwanted 'orange and green ones' from Auntie Dot's Quality Street, you may lean further back into the sofa and contemplate what's next.

A new year, a fresh start, a clean slate and the most futuristic sounding year yet... 2010! But there is still one important event in the calendar left before we finally say goodbye to the noughties, New Year's Eve, of course.

And if you're linking arms at the local pub, throwing shapes at the O2 Arena or writing down your resolutions while sipping a cup of cocoa, it's time to reflect on what's gone and look forward to the new decade......

The Teenies?!

Happy New Year from all at Media Bounty.

Christmas Crackers

Christmas is a time everyone looks foward to - especially the presents bit. But if your loved ones are difficult to buy for, Christmas shopping can be about as appealing as discovering your organic, free range, all-singing all-dancing turkey has to be hand-plucked by you... on Christmas Eve... when you’d much rather be tucking into the eggnog with all the festive good cheer you can muster.  

 

Generally speaking, women are easier to buy for, as boyfriends and husbands have been carefully trained in their partners’ likes and dislikes for years. And even if the lingerie is four sizes too big and the perfume smells only marginally better than the sprouts, most women can fake a smile. But the men of the house are notoriously picky and their general look of disinterest is all too easy to read. So, to give you a helping hand, here are our top ten things to buy your partner, from push-the-boat-out gifts for those in new relationships, to the staple stocking filler for a man that’s become part of the furniture:

 

 

1. For boys of all ages buy a Sony Playstation 3 – let’s face it, it’s a guaranteed winner.

2. If the man in your life is more adventurous than that, give him indoor sky diving lessons. See www.airkix.com

3. Treat him to the much sought-after MechRC Robot - what happens when a robot inventor and a Transformers’ artist are left in the same room together!

4. A Washable Computer Keyboard can make snacking at his desk an altogether more pleasant experience.

5. Bring out the inner child in him with a Bladez 3D Toy Helicopter.

6. Play-time is never over with a Glo-in-the-dark Frisbee.

7. He probably needs no encouragement to drink beer, but a Beer Machine Brew Master will ensure he spends more time at home and less in the pub.  

8. Let him make his own solar-powered boys’ toys with the 6-in-1 Solar Robot Kit.

9. Make sure he does his bit by buying an acre of rainforest from the World Land Trust in his name. Find out more at www.worldlandtrust.org

10. And finally, The SAS Survival Handbook, just in case he decides to leave the sofa anytime soon!

 

Good Luck!

A Bridge Too Far...


A row of epic proportions has broken out on the river Thames, with rival landmarks Tower Bridge and London Bridge goading each other on Twitter, according to the Daily Telegraph. The saga started when Tower Bridge was teased by its upstream counterpart about the tedious nature of its tweets.

Posting that it had been raised and then closed for various ships was just too dull and repetitive for the wag who set up the rival London Bridge account. The bridge’s first words spelt out its intentions: “Certain other bridges in London think they're so cool getting a Twitter account. Well, they're not. I'm the coolest bridge in London. Official.” It then went on to liken speeded-up film of Tower Bridge to “the world’s least exciting pinball machine”. Tower Bridge is yet to comment.

At last...


It's been a long time coming, but I'm pleased to report we've finally made it into our new offices...

You can now reach us at: 5 Selous House, 5-12 Mandela Street, London, NW1 0DU. Tel: 0207 388 8551.

We're On The Move


So please call us on our temporary number: 07717 828139


It's sunny and warm, and while we could be lazing in the park, or sipping Pimms as we watch the tennis, we're not... Instead, we're up to our eyes in boxes as we embark on an office move.

As a result, some of you might have had trouble getting us on the phone in the past couple of days. Until we've kicked the phone company into shape, it's probably best to reach us individually on the following numbers:

Jake: 07798 790681
Emma or Ellie: 07739 127361
Matt: 07717 828139
Alex: 07789 772467
Fran: 07717 818801

Thanks for bearing with us.

Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards


The Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards: a chance for commercial radio to celebrate their achievements in tough times, without Radio 3 popping up to spoil the party. And what a party?! Friday night's ceremony was the first time the awards had been held in the evening, and it's fair to say the experiment was a success... to the extent that one BBC executive, there on special invitation, was heard to utter 'these are better than the Sonys aren't they?'...

A-Ha's set went down a storm, and when, on talkSPORT winning Station of the Year (1 million>), Alan Brazil suggested everyone should celebrate, he wasn't ignored!

Sign in to the Gallery to see all the pictures, and see below for the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards winners in full:

Station Sound Award - JACKfm
Station Creative Award - Gary Muircroft, Carole McConnell & Ann-Marie Miller, Central FM
News Award - Pirate FM News Team
Schools Radioo Award - Chepping View Primary School, Buckinghamshire
Social Action Initiative Award - 97.4 Rock FM Breakfast Breakout
Technical Innovation Award - Global Radio Creative Technology Team for the iPhone application
Programmer of the Year - Darren Henley, Classic FM
Programme or Feature of the Year - Classic FM - The A-Z of Classical Music
Presentation Newcomer of the Year - Ryan Taylor, STAR Radio Cambridge
Marketing Award - 107.6 Juice FM S&P team
Presenter(s) of the Year - Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott - London's Heart
Local Sales Team of the Year - Alpha Radio
National Sales Team of the Year - talkSPORT
Digital Station of the Year - Planet Rock
Station of the Year <300,000 TSA - STAR Radio Cambridge
Station of the Year 300,000-1 million TSA - Lincs FM
Station of the Year > 1 million TSA - talkSPORT
Neil Robinson Memorial Award for Marketing Excellence - Suzanne Grant, Radio City and CityTalk
Special Award - John Myers
Chairman's Award - COI
Gold Award - GMG

Kids Go Free


You can't move for special offers at the moment. If it's not a voucher code deal, it's 2-for-1 in the shops, but car manufacturer Mitsubushi is taking freebies to a new level in New Zealand, by offering a free goat to anyone who buys one of its Triton pick-ups.

The motor giant will run the offer until August in a bid to help boost the rural economy, and stave off the recession. MMNZ general manager of sales and marketing Peter Wilkins said: "Goats improve farm productivity by providing an environmentally friendly defence against noxious weeds and they’re a lot cheaper than toxic sprays." He added that there was also money to be made from their milk and fleeces.

Those who are less than enthusiastic about a new career as a goatherd can instead opt for a 'no-goat' package that includes an extended warranty.

Desperately sea-king a mate...


It’s a lonely hearts ad with a difference... a government official on Cocos Island in the Indian Ocean is seeking a mate for a single male dugong. ‘Kat’ appears to be the only dugong, or sea cow, in the island’s waters, and is said to be desperately searching for a mate. As a result, the island’s authorities are appealing to Australia’s government to help, with the idea of flying in a harem of females from the Northern Territory.

Welcome Back...


So the latest bank holiday is done and dusted, over, finito, finished. One minute you were sat on a grubby pub garden bench toasting the weekend with your 9th organic cider. Then with the next blink of your already half-closed eyes your mobile phone was blasting an un-caring, inert digital chorus from somewhere inside your jacket WAY over the other side of your bedroom. It’s the beginning of another working week!

But what is there to upset your delicate balance, apart from soldiering through your hangover? Your colleagues, that’s what. Here are five major headaches in the shape of those dangerous beings that you have to sit near on an almost daily basis (and probably one of the reasons for your dehydrated state) and who you definitely MUST avoid at work after a heavy bank holiday weekend:

1) The Egotist: Egotists like to compensate for their deep insecurities and desperate need for adoration by projecting an inflated sense of self worth and expertise to everyone around them. They are legends in their own minds which makes them very difficult to work with and for. Tell-tale signs of an egotist: spending hours arranging an intricate sculpture crafted solely from paper clips to demonstrate their lofty status.

2) The Gossip: Let’s face it, we’re all gossips, but these characters take it to the next level. Real gossips will never rest and their activities will increase nearer to Christmas....or just after a bank holiday. The one upside is that life will never be dull while they’re around. Tell-tale signs of a gossip: very long toilet breaks, with detours that encompass the four corners of the office. They’re also likely to become occasional smokers when they get a whiff of a scandal.

3) The Fog Horn: One of the true ‘joys’ of the open plan office, the Fog Horn invariably works in sales, and even feels the need to broadcast a conversation with his mum at excessive decibels. They will also have an ingratiating laugh specially developed for use with clients. Tell-tale signs of the Fog Horn: All bodily noises will be exaggerated too - even the ones that have no place in polite society.

4) The Idle Git: Ah, the delegators of the working environment. Beggars probably put in more effort than the average idle git. At least they will carefully lay out their cardboard, cover themselves with a blanket and say “any loose change please”. They probably do longer hours too. Tell-tale signs of the Idle Git: They’ll schedule ‘meetings’ for the morning after a night out, but the only thing they’ll be meeting is the pillow.

5) The Jargon Junkie: Whether in IT, HR, Finance or Marketing. The Jargon Junkies, I’m afraid, are here to stay. All claim not to understand another group’s jargon but will be unable to hold back the torrent of acronyms spewing from their mouths when asked a simple question; even if it’s “Would you like a cuppa?”. Tell-tale signs of the jargon Junkie: They claim to have an MBA from a college you’ve never heard of, and have an unnatural fascination with Powerpoint.

Roadside Attractions


There’s nothing quite as dull as staring at mile after mile of concrete, punctuated only by roadkill and services that bring a new definition to the word ‘squalid’. But thanks to the powers that be, there are, for a fortunate few, some chinks of light on the charcoal-coloured horizon this Bank Holiday weekend. ‘Public art’ might provide a gathering point for hoodies in the shopping centre near you, but it’s by the roadside where this artistic expression really comes into its own. Here, for your driving pleasure, we present our top 10 roadside highlights...

1. The Wicker Man
Location: M5, near Bridgwater, Somerset
Standing at around 40ft tall, he’s really called ‘Willow Man’ and was built by artist Serena de la Hay. Willow Man was destroyed by arsonists in 2001, but was quickly rebuilt.

2. Encounter
Location: Junction 11 of M62, near Warrington, Cheshire

3. Somerset Camels: Humphrey and Bernard (or Boo)
Location: M5, near Bridgwater, Somerset
Humphrey has been there for more than 20 years, since he took part in a local carnival. His friend Bernard joined him in recent years.

4. Big Heids
Location: Mossend on the M8, North Lanarkshire.
Artist David Mach based the heads on the faces of three people he came across on streets locally.

5. Horn of Polkemmet
Location: Polkemmet Country Park on the M8, between Whitburn and Harthill, West Lothian.
This 80ft high horn can’t be missed visually. Up close you’ll also hear that it transmits recorded music, poetry and prose.

6. Concrete Cows on the Dairy Crest building
Location: At the start of the M3, Sunbury, Surrey.
Milton Keynes might have the most famous concrete cows, but these ones enjoy an elevated status by virtue of the fact they’re on a roof, and they distract attention from the water works across the road.

7. Dream
Location: M62 in Merseyside.
The newest monument on the list, Dream has only just been completed. The 60ft sculpture of a head was erected on a former slag heap and was built to honour former miners.

8. Dorking Cockerel
Location: A24 in Dorking, Surrey.
The council apparently chose a cockerel to represent the town as a special breed of cockerel is one of Dorking’s most famous exports. Hmm...

9. Millennium Landmark Structure.
Location: M50 interchange, Tallaght, Dublin.
Telecommunications mast becomes art installation with a spectacular light show.

10. Angel of the North, obviously...
Location: A1, Gateshead.
Anthony Gormley’s most iconic work. Even one of the model prototypes became the first million-pound valuation on the Antiques Roadshow.

Places you really wouldn't want to live...


Have you ever visited anywhere and breathed a hefty sigh of relief once you'd left? No, I'm not talking about a bathroom mis-adventure. I mean towns, villages, places on the map you never knew were there and you wished it had remained that way.

Well, here are the Top 20 places that are great for a photo opportunity, but with limited appeal as places to actually live ...

1. Bleak Street, Somerset
2. Dirt Pot, Northumberland
3. Hell Corner, Berkshire
4. Crazies Hill, Berkshire
5. Nasty, Hertfordshire
6. Crackpot, North Yorkshire
7. Dull, Perthshire
8. Crank, St Helens
9. Hole, Devon
10. Maggots End, Essex
11. Pett Bottom, Kent
12. Crook, Cumbria
13. Ogle, Northumberland
14. Donkey Town, Surrey
15. Clink, Somerset
16. Pitt, Hampshire
17. Splatt, Cornwall
18. Swine, Yorkshire
19. Twatt, Shetlands
20. Ugley, Essex