Garfield Gets Dizzy, Catalyst Emerges, NASA Re-Emerges

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- True to form, Bob Garfield reviews a fairly good Sprint commercial and then rips the shit out of it for what he deems dizzying camera work. Bob, you almost Puked? Seriously. You need to see a doctor or use your walker when reviewing commercials.

- Catalyst, the "marketing capital" firm launched by John Durham and Cory Treffiletti is rolling out a new Emerging Media Buying Service (EMS) that will provide planning and buying expertise for online video, mobile, social media, widgets, and gaming.

- Writing on AdFreak, David Griner, whose mom worked at NASA for years and was acting director of the Marshal Space Flight Center for a time, tells us about four NASA workers who are trying to "re-ignite the enthusiasm for space by reaching out directly to today's hyper-connected youth."

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by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Agencies, Social



Abandoned Carts Have Feelings Too. Also, They Talk. Also, This Guy's INSANE.

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Why would you abandon a shopping cart? Do you like raising their hopes and dashing them? Did someone once abandon you? Or is your heart cast entirely out of ice?

Cart whisperer Liberty Fillmore wants to know. Watch as he guides estranged metal baskets back into the sunshine and absorbs the therapy bills that, by all rights, YOU should be paying.

Oh, if Mother could see you now.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Online, Strange, Video



Rape is Funny When It's Happening to Hot Dogs ... Right?

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... in the world according to Wienerschnitzel. (Push play on the right-hand side.)

Well, maybe the vibe is less like rape and more like cannibalism. Either way, it's malicious and creepy.

To demonstrate the irresistibility of its wieners, Wienerschnitzel's running an ad where a talking hot dog tries convincing Eskimos to move beyond an all-blubber diet. Horrors ensue when they look to him for comfort.

Neither funny nor appetizing.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Commercials, Television



CareerBuilder's Lesson 32C Gauges Workplace Worth

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Created by Wieden + Kennedy, CareerBuilder has launched a four part video series called Office Worker Survival Series which aim to "humorously instruct the disgruntled worker how to navigate the treacherous waters of corporate America."

In the first video, Gauging Your Workplace Worth, the worth of an employee is examined based on how elaborately their birthday gets celebrated in the office. From time of day to location to attendance to food to whether or not your co-workers sung happy birthday to you, the CareerBuilder Birthday Celebration Observational System gauges the liklihood you'll be considered for a promotion in the future or tossed out the door at the first sign of a downturn.

And no, we didn't miss the nod to bra sizes in the Lesson labeling system. We are, however, very interested in how big the lessons will become as the series progresses.

by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Good, Video



Oh Look! More Boobs On A Billboard!

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The childish wit within agency creative departments never ceases to amaze. Oh wait, this billboard for Playboy is actually funny. Or is it? We can't decide. Though we're pretty sure childish wit, Playboy and its depiction of a singular female body part are perfect bedfellows.

by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Outdoor



Mother's Day Celebrated With Womanly Threshold Carry

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A bit predictable what with the last 20 years of men taking shit for all those years they gave women shit but hey, let's not be bitter and just be grateful to all the mother's of the world this Renault ad aims to appreciate. Besides, what man wouldn't want to be carried into his new home after drinking too much at his wedding reception and sharing a little too much intimacy with that bridesmaid about which he's always fantasized.

Isn't Mother's Day like two months from now? And what's with calling it "Woman's Day?" Must be a bad Italian to English translation. The ad is from Publicis Roma, Italy. Do they even have Mother's Day in Italy?

by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Magazine



Obama Girl Tells Hillary to Stop Hating on Barak.

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Who knew? Really. Who knew Obama Girl would amount to anything more than a one-off from some random YouTube chick with a "crush" on Obama. Well, it seems a good percentage of the nation has a crush on Obama and that crush might get him all the way to the White House this fall.

In the latest Obama Girl video from Barely Political, Amber takes down Hillary and urges her to stop hating on Obama. Amber tells Hillary her quest is becoming hopeless, that America is Obama Nation, and that her continued attacks are just making the McCain option look better which, of course, is not good for the Democrats' cause.

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by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Cause, Good, Political, Racy, Video



Chrysler Weds Political Correctness With Web 2.0, Renames Focus Group

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We just love how the same old thing gets a new name every few years. Retard? Mentally Impaired. Handicapped? Physically Challenged. Midget? Little Person. Indian? Native American. Oriental? Asian. Stewardess? Flight Attendant. Waiter/Waitress? Food Server. Mankind? Humankind. Mailman? Letter Carrier. Unemployed? Job Seeker. Boob flash? Wardrobe Malfunction. Genocide? Ethnic Cleansing. Garbage Man? Sanitary Engineer.

And now. Focus Group? On-Demand Customer Collaboration. Well that's a fucking mouthful but that's what Chrysler's labeled its foray into web 2.0-enabled conversational goodness with the launch of ChryslerListens. Yup, Chrysler now gives a shit what its customers and potential customers think.

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by Steve Hall    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Brands, Research, Trends and Culture



Lovable Loser Challenges Celebrities for Cozy Cotton Underpants

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With money to burn from Hanes, a scruffy guy called Dave -- who's clearly approaching midlife with misgivings -- is challenging celebrities to games like Rock Paper Scissors or wrestling. (Somewhat more entertaining than watching Sarah Chalke moan off a wedgie.)

Dave has so far lost challenges to Cuba Gooding, Jr., Reggie Bush and Nelly, among others. But he did win a Comfortsoft Pose-Off against Paris, who unwittingly forfeited the game when she just didn't bother to look at him twice.

We'll clarify. She looked at him once, then tore him to shreds with her stare and publicly forgot he existed. It was superhuman.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Guerilla, Online, Sponsorship



Signs Say 'Thanks!' When Rooms Go Dark

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To encourage Philippine businesses to save energy, BBDO Guerrero Ortega paired up with the World Wide Fund (WWF) to launch glow-in-the-dark stickers that say things like "Thanks for Saving Energy." They can be placed next to light switches in hallways.

The stickers are part of "Earth Hour" and were distributed to offices throughout Manila.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar-24-08    
Topic: Cause