Movie Trailer Touts KLM 'Fly for Fortne' Online Game

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has introduced an online flying game called Fly for Fortune in which players fly to catch certain objects and avoid others. Those who are successful, are eligible to win tickets to anywhere in the world. There's a great movie trailer-style video that promotes the game and features a Cars-style talking airplane. Hmm. Disney? Maybe KLM will license their lane boy to you for your next animated blockbuster.

Contextual Advertising Comes to Video

Launched quietly last week, Immese LLC has introduced a product called Walnuts, contextual advertising which appears at the end of videos on the Blip.tv video service and others as the service expands. Currently, ads are priced at 22 cents per click. Adding to Revver's post-roll approach, Immense intends to make contextual advertising a mainstay in online video.

FDR Ad Compares Stem Cells to Penicillin

Continuing the stem cell debate that's risen into public salience because of the Michael J. Fox ad, this ad asks us to imagine what life would be like if FDR looked at penicillin the way Bush looks at stem cell research.

It's a provocative context to say the least. And not to change the subject or anything, but doesn't FDR sound kind of like the Wizard of Oz? - Contributed by Angela Natividad

Kancept Makes 'Hot or Not' Style Site for Ideas

On Kancept users can load prototype photos of their ideas, describe what they do and get feedback with a simple "Would you buy this? Yes or no." Kind of like Hot or Not but a little more straightforward.

Clever. See? A lot of inspiration can come out of watching a showcase of drunk co-eds waiting to be bought - er, rated. - Angela Natividad

'SHUT UP AND SING' Courts MySpace Audience

Nodding to the adage that no advertising is bad advertising, the Dixie Chicks are riding a torrent of criticism to promote their documentary "Shut Up and Sing." The campaign includes a Technorati-fed Myspace page created by Deep Focus claiming to be "the largest discussion of free speech the web has ever seen," which is funny because the comments are screened.

Deep Focus CEO Ian Schafer explains that all political views are represented on the site but "jibberish" or threats of violence get filtered out. That's logical. It's not like anybody is interested in hearing fringey deviant opinions anyway. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

Drudge Report Loves to Write About Banned Ads...Except It's Own

An anonymous tipster takes issue with the Drudge reports fascination with covering other media outlets banning of various ads and other content while, at the same time, banning the ad for the upcoming film, http://drudgereport.com/flash4.htm), but when it comes to its own censorship, The Drudge Report is no different from CNN.com, Fox News, or The History Channel, all of which banned ads for Newmarket's fim Death of a President which hits theatres today. A film which in no way advocates the assassination of the sitting president, Death of a President is a "what-if" political thriller that should be accessible to any free-thinking American interested in viewing the film. If you believe in freedom of expression, go see this film today and tell the Drudge Report to stop the hypocrisy, and stand up against censorship!">Death of a President, writing, "It seems as though The Drudge Report has no problem reporting on ads which other outlets ban (http://drudgereport.com/flash4.htm), but when it comes to its own censorship, The Drudge Report is no different from CNN.com, Fox News, or The History Channel, all of which banned ads for Newmarket's fim Death of a President which hits theatres today. A film which in no way advocates the assassination of the sitting president, Death of a President is a "what-if" political thriller that should be accessible to any free-thinking American interested in viewing the film. If you believe in freedom of expression, go see this film today and tell the Drudge Report to stop the hypocrisy, and stand up against censorship!" Anyway

McD's Drive Thru Staff Gets Serenaded, to Virtually No Response

McDonald's needs a lot of love now that Fast Food Nation is out, so we'd like to think customers who bother to write a song about them and then sing it to their droney drive-thru guy would get a better reaction. All the clerk says in response is "Um, I missed everything, just ... all I got was the M&M McFlurry part. $2.26 at the first window."

Come on. In the words of Heather from another controversial movie, did you have a brain tumor for breakfast?!! - Contributed by Angela Natividad

Quixtar Ad Gets Torn a New One By Kids who Know Better

This Quixtar ad was so loaded with camp that it was only a matter of time before it got spoofed. Here's a parody calling Quixtar a pimp that whores dreams. It even includes a message for future generations: "Our god is money, and he treats us very well. You will join our land someday, and then you will understand the frozen smiles."

We're glad this frozen smile thing is a common problem. We actually thought people just didn't really like us, but this hope-filled manifesto reminds us that's not possible. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

Wrigley Adds Played-Out Racing Game to Candystand

Because we can't get enough of Wrigley, here's another update from their Candystand site. Adrants reader Mikey Rivve is stoked about the new "Xbox 360-quality" racing game which is just smothered in Wrigley's branding and which apparently also kicks Burger King's ass. But that's enough indulging Mikey. We think the BK games kick slightly more ass. We also think EVERYBODY makes a racing game.

We are bored with racing games. We think Wrigley should go that extra mile and use its other resources to make a really entertaining car-washing game. When they do, we will smile. And we will share it with all of you. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

Contextual Corrigendum Continues to Catch Fire

Hello? Purveyors of contextual advertising? Are you there? Do you care? Hasn't your technology been around long enough to cease the endless contextual mishaps that keep popping up? Do we really need killer values from supermarkets offered next to articles about Amish killings? Do we need turpentine ads next to bits about a teen drinking turpentine to abort a pregnancy? How about putting Anna Nicole Smith's dead son up for sale? Or "card shark" credit card copy next to an article about a woman jilled by a shark? Haven't we seen enough of these to realize a tune up is needed? Apparently not. Here's another one sent to us by The Consumerist.

We do not profess to be an expert of any kind on contextual advertising. We do not believe any of this is done maliciously either. We know there are very reputable contextual advertising companies out there who are above board and provide a great service to marketers. We don't know if these "misplacements" can ever be stopped but we'd love to see if anyone can try. On second thought, maybe not because then we'd have nothing to write about on this topic.