Other People's Germs Get Camera Eye for Sonicare Toothbrush

For the Philips Sonicare UV Sanitizer toothbrush, Tribal DDB, NY gives us an opportunity to explore somebody else's bathroom. To scavenge its germs.

Sexy stuff.

Folksonomy Socially Graphs the Ajaxed Web 2.0 Bubble

If you don't think we're in a bubble reminiscent of 1999-2001, take a look at this video. It's amazing what a bit of time crunched historical retrospective will do to one's perspective on that topic. It's pretty amazing what's happened in the last two to three years. This video captures it and more. Give it a look and then let us now whether or not you think we're in a bubble and if you think it's about to pop. Comment here or over on AdGabber where the video is hosted.

Be sure to check out the similarly styled video on the last two years worth of viral videos.

Kentucky Offers Jelly-Free, Unbridled Adventure

Perhaps pushing the interpretation a bit too far or perhaps not, Steve Wright, on the Brand Canada Blog, thinks Kentucky's adventure version of its new "Unbridled Spirit" logo connotes a certain type of adventure likely far from what was originally intended. Though it's safe to say a state whose abbreviation is KY has become quite used to this sort of analysis or is so oblivious to it it doesn't care.

ING Direct To Turn Philadelphia City Blocks Into Board Game

AdFreak just received an email which claimed ING Direct this Friday would, "take over two city blocks with a life sized board game. 'Road to Saving' is designed to teach Philadelphians how to save their money, in a fun, innovative way." Apparently, local celebrities (they have them) will be there to instruct people on how to play the game as well as compete with the $5,000 first prize going to charity. The average Joe, three of which will compete after the celebs, not being so rich will get to keep the prize money for themselves.

So if you live in Philadelphia, don't be surprised if your favorite block suddenly resembles Monopoly...or something.

eBillme Confessions Contest is Funny as Hell!

eBillme's been emailing us off the hook about this CGA contest they conducted awhile back. They claim they're beating all the big guys like Home Depot and Pepto Bismol, who (scoff) have to pay for sponsorship and still don't win the hearts and minds of the body public.

Okay. But seriously, it doesn't take much nudging to get some emo kid to make a YouTube confession. Wave some cash in his face, and he'll probably air his family's dirty laundry, too.

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Vista So Distasteful, Even Pirates Won't Steal It

Despite Microsoft's charmingest attempts to promote Vista (witty subsites, banner gymnastics), the evidence betrays a sad truth: nobody wants it.

Not even pirates.

But facing news that Vista counterfeit rates are estimated at half those of Windows XP's, Microsoft plays the ignorant housewife: Pirates' refusal to touch the goods is due to Vista's "proven and effective" authentication system!

Oh, of course.

AMEX Urges People to Become Creepy Avatars, Sing Karaoke

Trying to capitalize on the success OfficeMax has had with ElfYourself, American Express' new Holiday Rockstar campaign invites users to turn themselves into one of Oddcast's "virtual characters."

If you're not familiar, Oddcast creates those creepy characters whose eyes follow your cursor and start blabbing away without first asking permission.

Though songs from Mariah Carey's holiday album are strangely missing, the service also allows you to sing one of three holiday songs by calling a number. You can then send your holiday greeting to a loved one, most likely resulting in uncomfortable laughter.

However, when we tried uploading two different headshots, it ended in the window crashing, immediately evoking the disastrous SimpsonizeMe tool. Good thing there are back-up characters.

Hasidic Jews Sing Village People's YMCA For HDTV Service

Here's something you don't see everyday. To support the launch of its new HDTV service, Israel's YES TV network with help from McCann Digital gathered together an army of Hasidic Jews to perfom the Village People's YMCA in the street. Perhaps it's just it's weirdness but we like it a lot.

Influenced Entirely by the Advertising, Adrants Picks Up The Gum Thief

After watching all nine web opera-style ads composed of three different narratives, we finally picked up Douglas Coupland's The Gum Thief.

The narrative style of the book maintained a weird fidelity to the ads -- segmented between Roger, his co-worker Bethany, and Roger's novel-in-progress, Glove Pond.

Every once in awhile, you get another voice -- Bethany's mom, some malicious Staples employees, or Roger's bitchy ex-wife. Sometimes you get an experimental scenescape involving buttered toast. And for a brief, completely insane moment, you get a story in a story in a story.

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Starbucks Advocates Gratuitous Hugging of Bears

For its cavity-sweet Pass the Cheer campaign, Starbucks has opted to try warming hearts online and possibly on television.

In this spot, a bummed-out girl trudges out in the snow and hugs a bear.

Strangely, the bear hugs her back.

And stranger still, there's a bunny involved. We're not really sure why (aside from that it proves useful for nudging a warm drink into the shot with its nose), but it sure does amp up the cute overload.

Pass the cheer!