Only America Would Say the Hot Dog Is America's Greatest Invention Ever

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Who knew? Better than the cotton gin? More important the discovery of electricity? Yup, the hot dog. America's contribution to the world's quinine. And Ball Park, with help from Y&R New York, would like us to meet the brand's Park's Finest hot dogs, made with 100% beef, no nitrates and "infused with bold premium seasonings."

Let's be honest. Hot dogs taste awesome. But let's also be honest. They aren't really food. They are a collections of scraps that were trimmed off actual pieces of meat with a bunch of chemicals added then formed by machinery into a phallic symbol and sold off as perfectly healthy summertime cookout fare.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-15-14    
Topic: Commercials



Pedigree Uses Other Brands' Ad Budgets to Support Its Own Adoption Drive

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Hoping to latch itself onto the belief that any video with cute pets will go viral, Pedigree, with help from Colenso BBDO, is out with a video featuring cute puppies that's part of its Adoption Drive. The brand will donate any YouTube advertising revenue generated from this video's views and earmark it for feeding dogs in need.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-15-14    
Topic: Cause



Honda Trades Death and Dismemberment For Emoticons in Safe Driving PSA

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While there have been some amazingly powerful safe driving PSAs from all over the world, most of them resort to the dramatic, real-life trauma of the crash (see the all-time classic here). But this entry from Honda takes a different approach.

The automotive brand has enlisted the power of emoticons to convey its message with a new social media program aligned with April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month to call attention to the dangers of texting while driving. In support of this first-ever National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiative, Honda is launching the "Thumbs Up" (#thumbsup) social media campaign to reach young drivers by using emoticons along with a video that illustrates the importance of safe driving.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-15-14    
Topic: Cause



JWT Changes Name Back to J. Walter Thompson

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Nine years after changing it's name to JWT, the agency will, once again, be known as J. Walter Thompson. While the change was planned for later this year, WPP's Martin Sorrell let the change slip at a breakfast event Monday hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

Sorrell shared with the audience that the agency has been "talking about rebranding" and said the J. Walter Thompson name is "immensely powerful" and that a return to the name would be "a slick and good move."

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by Steve Hall    Apr-15-14    
Topic: Agencies



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Miller High Life Acknowledges It's Low Life Appeal

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AdWeek doesn't like the new Miller High ads and neither do we. While Gabriel Beltrone does an exquisite job of explaining why the ads suck, we'll be more blunt. They come off like some copywriter's hipsterific dream of cool as defined by a sort of fuck you sensibility to the fact losers who drink Miller High Life can't afford to get out of the pool hall and make something of themselves.

Rather, they'd prefer to spew a stereotypically Millennial "I don't give a shit" tonality -- with "we're so cool we're in black and white" 'tude no less -- that just wants to make you punch Rich for his lame attempt at wry wit and self-importance.

Too harsh? Go read Gabriel's take. She was much nicer.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-15-14    
Topic: Creative Commentary



See The Divinyls 'I Touch Myself' Turned Into A Touching Breast Cancer PSA

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In April of 2013, Dininyls frontwomen Chrissy Amphlett died from breast cancer after an ultrasound and mammogram missed the cancer. Later, Amphlett found a lump on her own through self-examination.

It's said that her dying wish was to have the 1990 hit, I Touch Myself, be a reminder to all women to check themselves regularly for signs of breast cancer. The Australian advocacy group, Cancer Council New South Wales, took it upon themselves to work with supporters and other singers to create this new version of the song.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-15-14    
Topic: Cause