Toy Inspectors Plead Their Case in Consumers Union Video

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Sometimes people beg and beg and beg us to write stuff. OK, so they don't beg but they are very persistent. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Usually it doesn't. But when the persistent person is also a very nice person, their effort has a much better chance of happening as it did in this case. Of course it helps if what we're being asked to look at is actually good...which is the case with this funny video from Consumers Union.

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by Steve Hall    Dec- 5-07    
Topic: Cause, Good, Video



LA Ecology-Focused Non-Profit Gets Aminated Love

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Repping company Resource has created Treesource, an organization that donates to charities including the LA-based natural resources-focused non-profit TreePeople. To promote Treesource, Cole Gerst, option-g and 2todesign have created two short videos (one, two) each beautifully illustrated. Yes, it took us a few to get all those trees and sources straight too.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 4-07    
Topic: Cause, Good, Video



World AIDS Day's A-Comin'. Please Get Appropriately Somber

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We do love a broken record.

Seriously though, this spot is for World AIDS Day '07, which happens tomorrow. It reminded us of candles being lit in a church -- nice mental contrast.

The VP at Blattner Brunner assures us thus, and we thought we'd use it to assure you too:

"33,200,000 cases. Represented by one shot/one second. 86400 seconds in a day. Don't worry, though, the thing is only a minute long."

Far cry from the King of Condoms approach.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-30-07    
Topic: Cause, Online, Promotions, Video



Doe-Eyed Child Slaves Stare Bleakly Out of South African Shop Windows

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To add a personal face to human trafficking, Leo Burnett, South Africa put young children on the auction block in shop windows for its client, The Salvation Army. See variation here.

The children do not look amused.

This isn't the first time kids have been put in windows, but we've previously seen the idea in cheerier settings.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-30-07    
Topic: Cause, Guerilla



Fully Clothed Obama Girl Touts Candidate Who Can Dance

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Noting the apparent inability of most politicians who simply can't dance, Amber Lee aka Obama Girl, wearing far more than her usual garb, urges us to note Barack Obama is seemingly one of the few politicians who actually can dance...which is why she is voting for him in the 2008 presidential election. We're not sure the ability to dance is an important criteria for becoming the President of the United States but we're not complaining. If Amber Lee wants to keep making videos, we're happy to keep watching.

by Steve Hall    Nov-28-07    
Topic: Cause, Video



RJ Reynolds Kills Print Ads in 2008, Bullshit Sifted

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Following intense negative reaction to its Camel No. 9 campaign which likened the brand to a fashion accessory, RJ Reynolds yesterday announced it would cease all print advertising in 2008.

Downplaying the Camel No. 9 furor, R.J. Reynolds spokeswoman Jan Smith said the cut is "an effort by the company to enhance and sharpen the effectiveness and efficiency of its marketing programs." Hmm. We just threw up...a tiny bit...in our mouth.

Getting more truthful, Smith added, "Obviously tobacco industry issues are in mind with every decision we make. A result of this is there should be less controversy over cigarette advertising in magazines and newspapers, because we won't be doing it."

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by Steve Hall    Nov-28-07    
Topic: Brands, Cause, Opinion, Policy



That Burning Sensation May Actually Be Sunbeams, Not Hemorrhoids

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We used to have a friend who, when trumped by life, would look up at the sky and say, "Sun, stop shining out of my ass; it burns." We thought this expression originated with him, but apparently Greenpeace has heard it too.

The spot promotes energy efficient light bulbs (do they stink like we now imagine them to?) and was put together by Park Village London for Escape Partners. Directed by Sven Harding.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-27-07    
Topic: Cause, Strange, Video



World AIDS Day Celebrated With Beautiful Agony-Style Orgasm

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Taking a cue from orgasm site Beautiful Agony, French condom company King of the Condom has released its final two minute video of a woman in the throes of a lengthy orgasm (real or fake, you decide) in support of World AIDS Day.

King of Condoms will offer a lifetime five percent discount to anyone who buys condoms on World AIDS Day, December 1, and will donate the proceeds from the day to AIDS group Association Sida Info Service.

by Steve Hall    Nov-27-07    
Topic: Cause, Racy, Video



Barbie Leaded, Ads Humanized, Jenny Switches, Planes Logoed

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- Can't we just enjoy a happy Barbie and Ken Christmas without depressing PSAs? Apparently not.

- Writing on Advertising for Peanuts, Jim Morris thinks the best ads are the ones that capture "the quiet power of a genuinely human moment." He might be right.

- Y&R has scooped up the $55 million Jenny Craig Account. Direct response and celebrity management factored heavily in the decision. JWT handled previously.

- Black Friday's online spending was up 22 percent to $531 million. Cyber Monday is expected to surpass $700 million.

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by Steve Hall    Nov-26-07    
Topic: Agencies, Brands, Cause, Opinion, Research



Here's a Winner: Throwing Lambs Out of Planes for Sick Kids!

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Here's another one of those for-charity games. Developed by Koko Digital, it's called Lamb Chop Drop and is raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation. All donations get handled by Just Giving.

The game involves sky-diving sheep. You're supposed to slam the falling sheep into little colorful stars and try to earn as many pounds (that is, the British currency) as possible before the sheep hits the ground. We don't really understand why and will probably go back to playing Headcase shortly after this.

One charity game we really liked was that rice/vocab thing, though we feel mildly suspicious about its actual ties to a charitable organization.

by Angela Natividad    Nov-19-07    
Topic: Cause, Games, Online