Huge Ass Bike Billboards Hated by Torontoist

Reacting to a Cyclemedia press release which read, in part, "These billboards are impossible to miss and are fully interactive! Get ready for in your face advertising that literally screams from the streets of Toronto," Torontoist wondered, as we do, what the hell is interactive about a bike billboard. Oh, yea, as Torontoist says, it's the eggs that will be thrown at the poor billboard cyclist as he tries to weave his way in and out of pedestrian and automotive traffic on the narrow streets of Toronto.

McDonald's Lures Snowboarders With Rooftop Ski Slope

Snowboarding makes you hungry so why not, as a marketer, make sure snowboarders have a clear view of your restaurant while they are out getting air. That's exactly what this Quebec McDonald's did by placing a see-through "slope" over the top of its restaurant, albeit a fake restaurant as a commenter corrects. Now, every time a boarder passes over, he's greeted with the view of tables full of McDonald's food.

Coffee Shop Launches Ambient Campaign, Starbucks Not Pleased

Draft New Zealand created an ambient campaign for an Aukland coffee cafe, a market segment we're told is filled with many independents alongside giants like Starbucks. Draft created and placed branded trashcans throughout the city that looked like coffee cups including a stir stick. We're also told Starbucks wasn't too happy one was placed outside its own store and several Starbucks employees ripped all the branding off that particular can. Brand wars are alive and well in New Zealand.

Newspaper Says Nothing's Harder Than the Truth

Well, yes, the truth is sometimes hard to take but a good newspaper is always up to the task. To make sure everyone knows this, German newspaper Bild, during the Art Director's Club awards show in Berlin, placed properly angled mirrors above men's toilets which read, "Nothing's harder than the truth." Now, there you have it. This might be the first time a newspaper has tied its hard hitting news approach to an actual hard on. German ad agency Jung von Matt Hamburg came up with the idea. See more here at Adverblog.

Apple to Unveil Million Square Yard Ad, Viewable From Space

MIT Advertising Lab points out Boakes.org has discovered a gigantic iPod ad built on an abandoned mineral mine in Australia. Reportedly, Steve Jobs acquired the land two years ago in a poker game. The ad, supposedly set to be unveiled Saturday is roughly one million square yards in size and looks like the new iPod video. Boakes surmises the unveiling will coincide with Apple's 30th anniversary and may be tied to the launch of Apple's touch screen iPod. The "ad" is viewable on Google Maps here.

Of course, as one commenter points out, it could all be a lead up to an elaborate April Fools Day joke. Or, even better, a new form of satellite map stealth advertising.

Eyewear Retailer Takes Advantage of Superman

Here's an interesting ad installation for laser eye surgery clinic in Ecuador. It seems this poor Superman forgot to visit the clinic.

Nike Takes to Street With Sneakers And Soccer Ball

There's good guerrilla marketing and then there's brilliant guerrilla marketing. This recent work from JWT Mexico for Nike is the latter. The agency built three vehicles. Two in the shape of a pair of Nike sneakers and one the shape of a soccer (football) ball. They then drove the two sneaker mobiles behind the soccer ball mobile as if a soccer player were running after the ball. Definitely a head turner. And they didn't even have to resort to sex. See more images here.

MSN Music Teams With House of Blues For Branded Experience

In an effort to lend some cool factor to MSN Music, The Wexley School for Girls and General Public have, in partnership with the House of Blues, created a branded experience for venue's MSN Music Nights. Elements include a special drink, temp tattoos, drink glasses, projections, in-house tv films, branded instrument installations, bathroom mirror stencils, t-shirts, bar shirts, collectible download cards, posters and silk screened drum heads. The work looks great and appears to blend nicely with the House of Blues decor. See two more images here and here and a video here.

Greenpeace Scales Jesus, Hangs Ad banner

Here's an inventive stunt for Greenpeace Billboardom points out whereby a large banner with the copy, "The future of the planet is in your hands. What would Jesus do?" is hung over a large statue of Jesus (the Cristo Redentor, in Rio) by a team of climbers.

Giant Chair Used to Sell Disney Classic DVD Series

It's the over sized furniture strategy again. this time Disney is trying to make parents feel like kids again so they'll buy the company's Classic DVD series.