Cracked Posts List of Seductive Ads for Crap Items

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Cracked.com posted a list of the 10 Most Laughably Misleading Ads. It's scored 3439 diggs so far. The description:

"So you're an inventor, and you've just created a product that actually sucks quite a bit more than the ones people are already using. How do you sell it?

"Why, by creating a cornball TV ad that portrays everyday tasks as being next to impossible without your product. As we'll see, the results range from ridiculous to downright sad."

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by Angela Natividad    Jan- 3-08    
Topic: Online, Opinion, Packaging, Trends and Culture



Google Lavishes Affiliates with Flip Video Cameras

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Once upon a time, before Google was worth more than the souls of our unborn children, we were premium Google affiliates.

What did we get for the holidays? A leather binder stuffed with branded Google adaptors, miniature lights, memory sticks and wireless mice.

This year, Google's giving away branded Flip video cameras.

Okay. It's not exactly an iPod touch, but come on! It's 256 times cooler than a memory stick and wireless mouse with Chinese implementation instructions.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-20-07    
Topic: Brands, Packaging



Alphabets & Architecture Make a Killing on Scrapped Letters

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What do you get a monogram-happy couple for the holidays? A framed mash-up of their names!

Remember when mashing up mismatched letters was the sole domain of serial killers and passive aggressive molotov cocktail waiters? Whatever happened to those days?

by Angela Natividad    Dec-19-07    
Topic: Packaging, Worst



Toastvertising Rears its Crunchy and Delightful Head

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Unless the Virgin Mary toast phenomenon counts, we don't see much of a future in toastvertising.

(A moment of emotional wrestling: We once had a Hello Kitty toaster that burned a Hello Kitty-shaped head onto our bread. That was actually pretty awesome.)

Anywho, Martijn at Fresh Creation's got the meat on toastvertising, as well as the making-of video for the Book of Spam/toast ad linked above.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-18-07    
Topic: Packaging, Strange, Video



Paris Goes Gold for Bubbly Blonde Beverage

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We've spent 15 minutes digging through the filth and sludge of the 'net to try finding a copy of Paris' latest ad, where she crawls around naked and covered in gold as if she OD'ed on these. If you find it someplace, pass it over. (In the meantime, we found this glorious piece of work.)

The golden Paris ad is for a canned wine drink called Bubbly Blonde by Rich Prosecco -- which, as far as brands go, is pretty fond of the Hiltons' black sheep. (She even sings on their homepage!)

Packaging description: "The perfect 'starter drink' for your night or a special pleasure as a reward at the end of the day." We're guessing nobody read that out loud to check for "flow."

The "wine" comes in passionfruit, strawberry and original (uh, grape?) flavor. It launches in Berlin, Germany this week. Expect to see it Stateside in '08.

Nude Paris a la gold paint. We'd smack our lips and go "GRRR!", but that's Steve's thing.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-12-07    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Commercials, Packaging



Microsoft's 'Hey Genius!' Tries Luring New Minds, Fresh Faces into Same Ol' Same

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LOL. To help big, stodgy Microsoft reinvent itself for the creative kiddies, Wexley presents Hey Genius.

Hey Genius includes a jobcuzzi (for steamy interview de-stressing), a genius transporter, and brain massage stations for geniuses suffering from finals week.

If only these attempts to make Microsoft cool actually coincided with one another. (See Zune and Vista efforts.) And if only Apple didn't already have a Genius training program.

And how much do you want to bet that even if Microsoft did draw young, sexy (bedraggled?) talent away from Google or Facebook, those same kids would still feel a little jipped upon walking into Corporate? Uh, it ain't exactly Californication in the Pacific Northwest.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-12-07    
Topic: Brands, Online, Packaging



Get Your HuffPo Democrat '08 Stocking Stuffers Today!

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The Huffington Names/Slogans/Events campaign for Democrats '08 is allegedly so convicting that the campaign has decided to release stocking stuffer posters. Yes. Get your elongated 24x36" lithograph for $20 a pop.

Meanwhilst, the campaign enjoys some parody, courtesy of Michelle Malkin and friends, and gets compared to Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Gotta love our political climate.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-12-07    
Topic: Packaging, Policy, Poster



If You Can't Shit Roses, At Least Shit Glitter

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Here's a decadent delight. Adrants reader Candace pointed us to this story about the Gold Pill. Created by Tobias Wong and Ju$t Another Rich Kid, the pills increase your self worth and literally make your excrement sparkle -- all for just $425.

If you've got the money to burn and your self-worth to protect (with FLECKS OF GOLD IN PILL FORM!), you may as well wash it down with some Bling H2O. The Tang Dynasty -- or at least P. Diddy -- probably did worse.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-11-07    
Topic: Packaging, Strange



Brawndo Graduates from Big Screen to Seven Eleven

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If you saw Idiocracy, you know what Brawndo is: the energy-pumped thirst mutilator that's so potent it replaces water, even for crop irrigation.

Now you can use Brawndo to water your own plants, or at least soothe you while thirsty. The drinks are slated to start appearing at 7-Elevens, says Uncrate.

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 7-07    
Topic: Good, Packaging, Promotions



Dell Undergoes Brand Adolescence, and it Ain't Pretty

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We can't help but notice Dell is using its XPS model to (ever so innocuously) try repositioning its brand as a whole.

For this decidedly complicated gig, it enlisted Mother, NY, which in August demanded that we reconcile a passel of mod devotchkas to our mental image of Dell. It was a brave and interesting effort, but an ultimately unconvincing one.

For the XPS One, Dell and Mother are pushing harder still.

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by Angela Natividad    Dec- 6-07    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Packaging