National Geographic Wins Three Ellies, Y&R Mails, Social Media Whitepapered

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- National Geographic hauled in three Ellies at the National Magazine Awards with The New Yorker and New York each getting one.

- PJA Advertising + Marketing is hosting Portfolio Night in Boston on May 8th at District.

- For some reason, some Y&R types created a Facebook group based on some big "reply all" email chain. Beyond that, it's totally unclear what the hell this is all about or why anyone would care.

- smashLAB has crafted a white paper on social media designed to be a primer for those clients who look at you with a blank stare when you utter the words "social media" in a meeting.

- Want on of those Flip video cameras all the cool kids have? Head over to Budget's Flip for Budget contest. Be sure to check out the rejected videos from Budget employees.

by Steve Hall    May- 2-08    
Topic: Agencies, Magazine, Research, Social



Chatterous Gets You Laid, Spoken Word Promotes Healthcare, Starbucks Points Fingers, Acura Sucks Up

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- There's something about spoken word poetry that makes us clench our glutes. You know, like someone about to suffer something unavoidably bad. This spoken word PSA by "MIKE-E" for the American Cancer Society wasn't terrible, but we winced all through it anyway.

- Google Maps, meet GTA IV.

- So Twitter went down for just exactly too long, and in that time frame Jolie O'Dell discovered Chatterous (now in alpha!). It will get you laid.

- New Google killer on the loose. You know what's fun? Googling "Google killer".

- Starbuck's profits fell 28 percent compared to this time last year. Bummer. CEO Schultz says the crappy numbers "reflect the sharp weakening US consumer environment."

- Acura's TSX hopes to endear itself to Millennials by pointing out how we don't sleep. EVER. Printwork by RPA.

by Angela Natividad    May- 1-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Cause, Magazine, Online, Promotions, Video



If Ever You Sense a Traitor in Your Midst, Here's How to Sniff Her Out

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Gift shops aren't exactly hotspots of envy. When I think "gift shop," I think over-expensive cigarettes, travel deodorant and hand-whittled local goods.

But there's this gift shop in St. Louis called Lusso. If its advertising is anything to go by (and when would it ever lie?), objects from Lusso compel people to steal, pick fights, and take back wedding presents.

Maybe it's the handmade gift-wrap service. See acts of insanity here:

o In certain cases, there is no honor among maids.
o Always remember who was absent from the cha-cha line.

All this to tell you Lusso's moved to The Crescent on Carondelet Plaza. Now that you know, go thee forth and wreak havoc. Agency: Rodgers Townsend, St. Louis.

by Angela Natividad    May- 1-08    
Topic: Administrivia, Magazine, Poster



Mobile Phone Replaces Cue Cat in Magazine Interactive Feature

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Well, it's better than Cue Cat. Rolling Stone and Men's Health are testing a program whereby readers take pictured of ads and txt them to a number which returns offer information from the advertiser. Technology from SnapTell enables image recognition so snapped images are matched with the correct offers.

Not a bad idea. After all, it's definitely easier to simply take a picture than text a URL for more info. Nice way to track ad viewership as well.

Cue Cat attempted this years ago with a clumsy device that would plug into one computer and be used to scan a bar code in the ad. A web page with product information was returned. With near everyone owning a cell phone these days, there's no need for a separate device such as the Cue Cat.

by Steve Hall    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Good, Magazine, Mobile/Wireless, Opinion



Sorry Disney, But You're Kind of a Skank Factory

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Next month's Vanity Fair features "provocative" photos, taken by Annie Leibovitz, of Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus. It would likely have come and gone, relatively ripple-free, if Disney hadn't claimed the firm "deliberately [manipulated] a 15-year-old [...] to sell magazines."*

In allegiance with her corporate shareholders, Miley said the photos embarrassed her and apologized to fans.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Celebrity, Magazine



Comments on Fake Campaign Become Young Lions Promotion

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Abusing those who make a living commenting on advertising, the Leo Burnett Brazil campaign that gave us that cockroach on the bottom of a pizza box has been extended to further abuse. By highlighting comments made on a set of fake print ads, the agency extended the campaign adding the tagline, "Advertising needs more doers than talkers." Nice. Kick the shit out of the people you are trying to woo.

It doesn't really matter though because the whole thing is for some shitty ass awards shows called Cannes Young Lions:-)

by Steve Hall    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Bad, Good, Industry Events, Magazine, Online



Comedy Central Takes Giggles Serious

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To demonstrate how serious Comedy Central takes comedy, kempertrautmann/Hamburg hand-drew a few classic gags. This is the continuation of a campaign that won Comedy Central some love at Cannes.

See bucket over door and thumbtacks on chairs. Also see how I'm struggling not to yawn.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Magazine



Sexy Chain-Linked Legs Supposed to Stop Sex Trafficking

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Is it wrong to think this Amnesty International sex trafficking ad is just a tiny bit hot while at the same time realizing it's a clever representation of a reprehensible practice? Please! Don't confuse. It's like those ads where young girls with huge boobs are used to convince you underage sex is a bad thing while making you want to have sex at the same time. (Not with the underage girls in the ads, mind you. Contrary to popular belief, even I know the difference between right and wrong.)

The ad, created by Switzerland's Walker, does catch the eye and that's half the battle in this game. But like the underage sex ads, it creates an uncomfortable awkwardness. Maybe that's a good thing. Perhaps it causes one to feel a bit skeeved. Trouble is, the people who engage in this reprehensible practice, after seeing the ad, may simply be more motivated to find the next young, hot thing to trade like a piece of property.

by Steve Hall    Apr-23-08    
Topic: Bad, Creative Commentary, Good, Magazine, Opinion, Racy, Strange



Not All Underwear is Designed to Cover Your Coverable Parts

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Apparently, as this ad would have us believe, K-Lynn Panty 2nd skin underwear is so sheer, it's like wearing none at all. Created by JWT Dubai, it[s unclear whether or not people will realize it's underwear they're being sold as opposed to, say, some ribbon-of-the-week statement from some cause group.

by Steve Hall    Apr-22-08    
Topic: Good, Magazine, Racy



Condom Maker Goes Fairy Tale in New Print Campaign

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Certainly not as subtle as those designers who had fun sneaking phallic images onto the covers of Disney DVDs nor intended to be so, these new ads from Manix have fun with, as Adland calls it, an "Alice in Wonderland meet oversexed mind" approach to condom advertising.

Toungues, balls, vulva, booty, boobs and dick. It's all in there in these colorful ads from CLM BBDO Paris and illustrators Jean-Paul Letellier & Hélio.

by Steve Hall    Apr-22-08    
Topic: Good, Magazine, Racy