According to Greenpeace, Even Trees Have Sex

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OK, so this has been covered everywhere but it isn't news until it appears on Adrants. Oops. Sorry about that pompous attitude. Just read a Bob Garfield article and it must have had an undue influence. Anyway, Greenpeace, much like PETA, often resorts to sensationalistic tactics when it comes to its advertising campaigns. This recent bit of tree hugging is no different.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-30-08    
Topic: Cause, Racy, Video



Classic Ad Gimmicks Used to Help Save Energy

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This is sorta nifty. Motivated by the assumption that youth adopt ideals based on how they're presented, Grey/Madrid launched Compra esta actitude ("Buy this attitude") on behalf of the Madrid City Council.

The effort tells people to save energy by twisting up gimmicks we're all familiar with. Ads were inspired by shampoo and perfume ads, and even those totally improbable amateur online videos.

Creative is divided by medium: Internet, TV, Radio, Grafica. Run a barcode scanner over each to see the work. The image at left is from the shampoo spoof, where a woman with lustrous hair swings it in the direction of a lightswitch and flips it off. And here's the online video they're pushing: "The light pong masters," inspired in part by stuff like "Guy catches glasses with face" for Ray Ban. Expect some heavily edited, totally improbable ping pong action. Yeah, baby, yeah.



Women Make Less, and You Can Take That to the Bank

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To make a point about how women make less money than men in the work force, Miljopartiet de grona -- the green party in Sweden -- ran a print ad that compares currency featuring men to lower-value currency featuring women. The tagline: "Different gender, different worth."

Commercial Archive observes the idea's been done before; moreover, income disparity is slightly more complicated than some male-chauvinist exec going "Hey, a girl, I'm gonna SAVE."

On a casual YouTube quest for gender-disparaging videos, I found this clip about penis power. Please watch it. It will make your whole day. (Yes yes, SFW, but plug your headphones in.)

by Angela Natividad    Jul-25-08    
Topic: Cause, Magazine, Newspaper, Trends and Culture



Ford, 'Entertainment Weekly' Hook Up For Susan Komen Promotion

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Ford has teamed with Entertainment Weekly to extend its sponsorship of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with a new Warriors in Pinks t-shirt and a chance to win one of four limited edition Zune 30GB music players donated by Microsoft. heck it our at fordcares.com.

Ooo...there's so much feel-good goodness here, crassly commenting on the curvaceous hotness of the t-shirt model would bring things down a bit don't you think?

by Steve Hall    Jul-24-08    
Topic: Cause, Promotions



Just Another Sad Chick Who Thinks Sex Will Save Puppies

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Subject Line: How Sex with Brad Garrett Can Save Puppies!

Body: This is hilarious! You got to see it. Regina Russell partners with us at The Humane Society of the United States from time to time and oh man is the video a riot! She is one creative gal producing this video!

Homegirl's not that funny. Though I can see how the scene with the bear and the cigarette might elicit a hoarse guffaw.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-23-08    
Topic: Bad, Cause, Online, Video



To Push Pickens Plan, T. Boone Pickens Takes Aim for Our Wallets

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Lately I can't turn the TV on without running into an ad for the Pickens Plan, T. Boone Pickens' $58 million attempt to liberate the US from its sordid addiction to foreign oil.

Interesting things about Pickens and this campaign:

o Pickens is an oil magnate. (Can you hear the crows going "OMG! OMG!"?) Soon, he'll be a wind magnate too.
o The ads are totally finance-focused. Pickens hardly says the e-word ("environmental") at all.

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by Angela Natividad    Jul-22-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Commercials, Good, Television



What is It About Doppelgangers? They Always Seem So Angry.

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If you carry a knife, you risked being stabbed by your own blade. Most likely wielded by Evil You from Mirror World.

The spot was put together by AMV BBDO for the Tower Hamlets Council, which is concerned about "rising!" knife crime and convinced people won't stop carrying blades unless they believe they're disproportionately likely to trip, fall and impale themselves.

Bet that pansy-ass excuse didn't stop Genghis Khan, though. (Yeah, I know that's not Genghis, but it's a pretty rad picture.)

by Angela Natividad    Jul-21-08    
Topic: Cause, Commercials, Strange, Television



Dressed Like Cancer, Henry Winkler Dashes House of Cards

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Most sobering situations could use an inappropriate joke. Contributing to Stand Up to Cancer's "This is where the end of cancer begins" campaign, celebrities use donated airtime to make laughter, not bummer. See spots:

"Cancer patients and their chemo-induced baldness have stolen the sympathy that is rightfully mine." And that's why Larry David can't get laid.

Meanwhile, Henry Winkler plays cancer in the style of Epuron's infuriating Wind guy. "Did I bite you? ... I didn't mean to." Ahh. That Fonzie's still a riot after all these years.

More videos at the Stand Up to Cancer website, including one where the Daily Show says FU to cancer, and one where Katie Couric ... well, "Katie Couric" should be enough to make you laugh, actually.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-21-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Commercials, Good, Television



Not Every Suicide Note Looks Like a Suicide Note. (Some Look Like Kate Moss)

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For the Looking Glass Foundation, which assists adolescents with eating disorders, DDB, Canada launched a PG-rated but poignant awareness campaign in British Columbia.

The "Pencil Marks" PSA features a girl charting her waist-slimming progress with pencil marks on a wall. The agency also distributed broken toothbrushes in baggies that read, "Attempting to purge, Jane B. broke a toothbrush off in her throat and choked."

See, if you're gonna be all pro-Mia, you need to get over your squeamies and use a finger.*

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by Angela Natividad    Jul-18-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Commercials, Guerilla, Online, Television



Hey There, Easy Rider. Florida Wants to See Your Day-Glo Chaps.

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The DHSMV and the Florida Rider Training Program are looking for cool ways to get bikers to dress more visibly. So they launched Ride Proud Dress Loud.

The associated print ad campaign -- put together by Kidd Group -- features bikers in various shades of yikes! and oh my!. There's also some wince-worthy flaming-leather action. Great balls indeed.

More ads here.

Our source at Kidd says a lot of hardcore bikers are pissed about the campaign. Well hell, sour grapes, it could always be worse. Good stuff from Kidd though. I like a little colour on my burly man.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-17-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Good, Magazine, Poster