MochiMedia Launches Self-Serve Online Game Ad Network

We've never heard of these guys as they've been in private beta for a while but yesterday Mochi Media announced its public launch of MochiAds, online games ad network for advertisers and independent game developers who want to capitalize on the estimated one in three Internet users that visit online games sites each month.

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Timberland Recycles Commercial to Promote Eco-Friendly Boots

Arnold has repurposed its wall of rain spot which ran last year in Europe last year into an Americanized, full-on, politically correct, environmentally friendly campaign about Timberland's use of organic materials in its boots and how it's jumping on the carbon offset bandwagon. Carbon dioxide emissions associated with the campaign will be offset by Timberland's purchase of wind power from Western Massachusetts' Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort wind project. We're told the move will be equivalent to not driving 109,000 miles or planting approximately 44 acres of trees.

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Mod-Happy Geeks Make Hot Rods Out of PCs

Who needs Import Tuner or Pimp My Ride when you've got a mod shop for computers?

The custom PC-rigging site was launched by Future US and is hosting a monthly "gladiator-style" tourney for $2,000 in cash and prizes, courtesy of Microsoft.

We're not really sure what to say aside from that apparently geeks have testosterone too. So. When do the PC models debut? Is the MySpace Queen up for that? Oh wait, she's busy looking for love right now.

Kolbrener Compiles Branding Elements in Periodic Table

Hey, this is neat. In the style of the Periodic Table of Elements, Kolbrener put together a Table of Brand Evolution Terms. Each set is segmented by color under Advertising, Direct, Branding, Marketing Communications, M&A, and Misc.

We never thought we'd actually ever like playing with a table. If there were a way to incorporate it into an educational framework, that would be cooler still. (We remember learning a ton of these definitions in marketing class. There was no way to make that fun. Making it scientific, however, might add to the conceit that we're all going to go off and do something important with our lives.)

Play with your elements here. Thanks to Allie at PETA for pointing it out.

Colbert Invades NYT to Verbally Dismantle Icons, Heroes, Presidents-to-Be

We always knew elections were partly spectacle but nothing beats Election '08 (unless you live in Belgium).

If only to prove how desperately our political society needs a clue, Stephen Colbert appeared as a guest columnist for The New York Times this weekend to trash-talk everyone relevant, including Obama and Jesus, and suggest that what the world needs is him (or his new book).

Read it all here. And to think we honestly believed we were the only ones drinking on the job. Ain't blogging grand?!

Japan Gets Pink AxeBusters

We all know how much the Japanese love their manga and how kinky they can be so it makes perfect sense they get their own version of the Axe campaign with their own fighting hotties presented Charlie's Angels-style. There's even a 16 year old hottie because, well, the laws about that sort of thing are different over there. We tried to play the game but we set of some sort of alarm. Perhaps they don't want Americans getting in on the fun.

Canadians -- of All People -- Put the Bridle on Seduction

Few things are funner on a Sunday than the prospect of watching 10 Canadian shorts on seduction. (Apparently Canada's inherited more from the French than just a moody passel of Quebecois.) But there's more to do on the Sundance Channel's Art of Seduction site than sit around watching politicians lie, pretty people lamenting their genetic burden, and devious webcammers (all of which we did).

The seduction style quiz was among the funner surveys we've taken in awhile. As an added incentive to blowing 20 minutes on 40 questions, the site strokes your ego with an illustrated seduction guide for your type. Yum.

DHL Location Locator May Correct Geo Issues Your Teachers Never Did

This is neat. If you were ever a fan of that game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? you'll enjoy the hell out of this location locator game for DHL.

The object is to locate each state as it appears on your country's map. The faster you can do it, the higher your score. Your mistakes are also counted.

Our teachers will be happy to know that we finally know where Wyoming is. Seriously. We were beginning to think it didn't really exist.

Visa Ad Brims with Toys, Still Lacks Luster

In this ad by TBWA\Chiat\Day, LA for FAO Schwarz -- er, the Visa check card, we mean, a bunch of people wander around in a toy store while juggling toys.

The ad just doesn't hit the spot.

We never really got used to the "Life takes Visa" thing. It's like a second-rate "Priceless" -- which is ironic, because Mastercard's like a second-rate Visa.

Hosting Ads on Ad-Supported Sites May Be a Bad Idea

We were trying very hard to watch this Bacardi spot called Made to Mix. But the media people stuck it on Veoh and there was this interactive MarketWatch ad playing right next to it. So our eyes darted frantically back and forth and in the end we decided neither was worth much of a damn.