Who Needs to Win A D&AD When YOU Can Buy One

Hmm. Apparently we don't need awards shows any more. This "spycam" video catches famed UK creatives BBH's Rosie Arnold, TBWA's Steve Henry, BBH's Sir John Hegarty, M&C Saatchi's Tiger Savage and others shopping the Berwick Street Market in Soho, London for their own D&AD Pencils. Ah ha. So that's how so many awards find their way to the shelves of creative's offices the world over.

2/3 of a Donation Drive is Provoking Empathy. Will Ferrell Can't Do It; This Might

For MTV and the Burma Arts Board, Shilo and Ogilvy & Mather/Amsterdam created the "Burma Viral," which will air on MTV's Times Square Jumbotron and elsewhere around the world.

The film depicts war planes lifting off all over the world and meeting over Burma. I watched with a pinch of irritation as their hatches open, expecting bombs and the requisite sight of human suffering, but -- unexpectedly -- the planes rain a canopy of flowers over the cityscape.

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Fair Trade Groupies Toss Wares in Aisles Six and Seven

The Max Havelaar Foundation, a coalition of fair trade producers and initiatives worldwide, is using this video to promote fair trade practices.

I'm not really sure what's going on, aside from that a bunch of subversives seem really unhappy with what they're finding at the grocery store.

Alternatively, they could just be looking for buddies to play catch with. Reason #458 to take up Ultimate Frisbee.

Finally Those Subway Tunnel Walls Get Used for Something

Imagine sitting on the northbound Metro Red Line between Hollywood/Highland and Universal, reading whatever's in your lap, when all of a sudden a Speed Racer trailer starts playing just outside your window.

"WTF," you might say. "Even underground, LA's infested with movies."

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Charismatic Guitarist Peddles for Ribs on Open Mic Night

I'm not really sure what to say about "Spare a Rib" for KC Masterpiece (agency: DDB, SF). I guess I'd argue that if some guy solicits you for food with a catchy chorus, then compels everyone around you to leap up and perform choreographed dance moves, you should probably leave, because that's some unnerving Pied Piper shit, and we all know how that story ended.

Oh, and nice touch with the ragey guy breaking his banjo over the anvil.

Mom's a Slut. Men Are Free Loading Slobs. Happy Mother's Day

I will admit I did not "get" this Mother New York-created Mother's Day video at first. I figured it was yet another sappy ode to a holiday that demands men to, in one day, must express their appreciation for the mom in their life with trite ditties such as a card or a meal at a restaurant as opposed to the daily verbal appreciation that truly expresses appreciation.

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Because It's Obligatory for Moms to Be Like, 'No, Don't Get Me Anything'

I read somewhere that Mother's Day is more important to mothers than any other holiday. And while we may suspect that's true, moms are constantly trying to downplay it -- which is a dirty trick you should never fall for.

Seriously. I fell for the "It's just a day, don't bother" speech two years ago. The next time I saw my mother, she tossed my gift aside and snarled, "I didn't want your presents. I wanted your presence." It was clear she'd been practicing that line for days.

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Vespa Wheatpasted, fauxreel Projects, GOP Promotes Panic Drug, and Republican Goes Obama Way

- Check out the projections on the fauxreel website. Not quite sure what they're all about, but watching people alter billboards at high speed can easily kill about four minutes. Without regrets.

- Dentsu Canada's got fauxreel plastering Vespa Squareheads -- Millennials with headlights and mirrored antennae, essentially -- all over Canada.

- MoveOn has finally tapped a winner for its Obama in 30 Seconds campaign. It lacks the flair of the will.i.am mashup, and it's obvious the video was picked because the subject is a converted Republican. Also, MoveOn wants $200,000 from you to help air it.

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Video Advocates Creation of Cannes Humanitarian Lion

About a week ago, a video appeared on YouTube that advocates the creation of the Cannes Humanitarian Lion, an award honoring the agency which submitted the best idea and action plan to solve one of several pre-determined worldwide humanitarian issues. Each agency that submitted work to Cannes for any category would be required to also provide one Humanitarian Lion idea. Finalists would then be selected and have until the next year's Festival to execute the work at which time the work would be judged and the winner awarded the Humanitarian Lion.

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Optical Allusions Amuse, Confuse, Promote Non-Existent Site

This was probably fun to film but, um, huh? OK, so it's kind of fun but to promote a new phone, the Samsung Soul? Two minutes later, you don't even care what it's for. Oh the not so minor detail the Song site is down doesn't help.