Legal larceny.

Look at them Apples - my very first class in college. Enough Apples and journalism nerds in the room to scare anyone away.

I figured out why companies want interns. They want to steal our ideas.

That may sound mean, but it’s true – it’s legal larceny.

This week I participated in a discussion group about SI.com. A group of interns and I sat around and took questions from SI.com staff. We talked about online use, twitter accounts, video content, page design, mobile applications, and social media identity – pretty much everything any journalism nerd skips class to sit around RJI to debate.

And the discussion was a perfect setting for me – I like to talk, I like having opinions, and I really like talking about my opinions on online/social media. Plus they threw in sports. Screw volunteering for this, I would have PAID to be part of the group.

The beauty of it all was that everyone in the room was exactly like me. Nerd haven. They gave us one question to start the discussion – what do you think of our facebook page – and off we went. The simple lunch discussion turned into two hours of complete brand evaluation. The best part was that our group was the perfect mix. Interns have a facilitating combination of journalism knowledge, millennial generation ideology, understanding of a company’s capabilities, and ambitious attitudes willing to suggest ideas outside the box.

Before you knew it we had redeveloped SI.com (okay, not really – but we did have some worthwhile comments).

SI.com got a lot out of our discussion. I think we confirmed and contradicted some of their decisions – giving them ideas to grow and recreate. But, how about us interns? We had our ideas willingly stolen. Besides that, what did we get out of it?

More than you may think.

We realized that, yes, sometimes we do know more than the bosses. We can see from an outsider’s perspective, but with an insider’s understanding. Yes, we are valuable. They listened to our opinions and genuinely wanted to understand our thoughts. What we said can create change. Yes, we can contribute. Interns can be more than fact checkers, sometimes those little ideas you come up with sitting in your cubicle can actually be put in effect. So, overall, yes – we are earning our pay (at least for today).

If there is another intern discussion in the next few weeks, count me in. I like to talk, but, more importantly, I like what I get out of it.

Decisions, decisions.

Thank God for football right? Image from The Daily What.

Where were you when LeBron James made The Decision? I sure hope in 10, 20, or 30 years no one will ask me this. But I have a feeling someone will… (Let me document it now – I was sitting in Columbia University’s East Campus dorm, room 1210, illegally streaming ESPN on my Apple laptop and simultaneously watching So You Think You Can Dance, no judgement please).

This is my decision on The Decision: it was the most hyped hour of television (Lost was two plus hours, so don’t say I’m wrong) of my life, it was the most disappointing hour of television of my life, and it was the longest hour of television of my life. I placed a bet LeBron would announce at 9:03 he was staying with the Cavs – now you see why I feel the way I do. Thank God the bet was only a few bucks (and it was a bet NO ONE in the pool of sports journos won, that’s saying something).

But I’m just a fan (interns lack credentials, therefore I get fan status), and, sadly, in the sports world, the fan’s opinion matters less and less each year. So whose opinion does matter? The pros of the media and NBA. Here is what some of them thought about the lasting legacy of The Decision…

About LeBron:

In no way does Jordan join a superstar like Wade. LeBron doesn’t have the competitive fire to even be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan. – Bleacher Report

James is a genius for what he engineered with Wade and Bosh. – FanNation

LeBron played with fire – unnecessarily. – PR Inside

James’ team isn’t saying how much in total was raised, but Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR, did say on Thursday afternoon that more than $2 million in net proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club of America. Vitaminwater and Nike also contributed in the charitable effort. – CNBC.com

Everybody can say what they want — it was the wrong decision, there was too much hoopla, whatever — but for me it  was about doing the event, getting the advertisers to participate and doing it for charity. – Ad Age

About ESPN:

ESPN has just sent a message to CAA, IMG, Scott Boras, etc., that they are OPEN FOR BUSINESS! for ‘news’ announcements. – NY Daily News

It was a ratings hit, so don’t be surprised if we see more packaged programs of free agents announcing their next stop in prime time. – USA Today

I’m keeping my 2 yr old up to watch the LeBron James Special. I want her to see the exact moment our society hit rock bottom. – Sports Illustrated

About the NBA:

The face of the NBA has now turned into one of the biggest villains in sports. Things could not be worse for LeBron’s image right now. – Bleacher Report

For the first time in league history, players themselves, not an owner or general manager, put together a championship team. – FanNation

Here is the thing about opinions – everyone is entitled to one, and usually no one opinion is right or wrong. But I think in this situation there will be an evident right and wrong (dependent on multiple factors including if LeBron gets rings, how other players handle their free agencies, if ESPN starts dishing out hour specials, etc.). Problem is, no one will be able to see this evidence for years to come. And by then – who really cares? There is no need to have an ultimate decision about The Decision. LeBron will still be a talented basketball millionaire, and we will all still be willing witnesses of whatever court the King decides to hold.

Empire state of mind.

“In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do. Now you’re in New York,
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The lights will inspire you.” (Jay-Z/Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind)

Chuck Bass I've been watching you too - Gossip Girl reruns are prepping me for NYC, because, we all know, the way things are on television are just like they are in real life.

In just a few weeks time I will be on a plane headed for the ‘concert jungle’ and for a summer in THE city, New York City – can’t wait!

So is the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys anthem the theme song for my summer? Too soon to decide, but it is a good lead-off song for the playlist. The motto for this playlist? Work hard, play hard…

Work hard:

I am so lucky to have the opportunity to be one of 50 editorial interns for Time Inc. and to work in the Sports Illustrated for Kids department. There is no opportunity in Missouri that can compare to this; I will get to work with experienced professionals, at a reputable publication, and in a professional atmosphere. I am excited for whatever journalistic opportunities I will be given this summer and I will jump to take on any project out there. The internship is my ticket to an amazing summer so I will make sure I do everything possible to earn it.

Play hard:

St. Louis to New York – culture shock right? With only three months to experience the greatest city on Earth, you can bet I will be busy. Dave Matthews says to “Stay up late and make some memories,” in his song So Right.

I don’t know if that quote actually is the best approach to take toward college, but it will be my approach for this summer. Sleep is not an option when you have a limited time in a city that never sleeps. I will never be younger and more full of life than I am right now – time to take advantage of it and take advantage of an experience I will not get again.

I will fake the Ivy Leage cred while living at a Columbia University dorm and I will walk the ‘working girl’ walk while slaving away in an office in Rockefeller Center – what more can I possibly ask for?

… Maybe a map for the subway, hmmm.