Pig in Pain Promotes ... Pig ... Pain.

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Duvall Guillaume launched a bizarre campaign for animal rights group GAIA in Belgium. It's called Pigs in Pain. From the PR guy's letter:

"In Belgium, five million piglets are castrated without anaesthetic every year. The cries of agony of these piglets are unbearable. Yet our government still pretends not to hear it. In spite of promises they made 3 years ago to ban the cruelty."

With that in mind they created a pop group called Pigs in Pain. Their single, which was actually released on the radio, consisted of pigs screaming in inexplicable agony. It made our ears bleed. Clever way to get animal angst out to the public. So read the requisite blog, watch the music video and share in the plight of Belgian pigs. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 6-06    
Topic: Campaigns, Good, Guerilla, Online



Microsoft Makes Good with HANDTOSS Sufferers

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In an intersection between the surreal story-telling band The Decemberists and Napoleon Dynamite, Microsoft uses Clearification to promote Vista. This is a subtly witty bio-site about a guy suffering from HANDTOSS, or Hyper-Achiever with No Direction and Tendency to Overcomplicate Situations Syndrome.

The campaign was created by McCann and Mekanism. The HANDTOSS victim is comedian Demetri Martin. We never thought we'd say this about any one of Microsoft's myriad attempts to de-stodge, but we dig it. Then again we'd love anybody who covertly reveals his favourite subject in school "involved karate and ... crying."

We could listen to this guy spout neuroses in his mellow little voice for hours. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 6-06    
Topic: Best, Campaigns, Online



Office Max Gives Us the Gift of ... 20 New Holiday Sites

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Apparently that Subservient Santa thing is part of a larger campaign by Toy, NY for OfficeMax. The idea is to get people supply-shopping for the holidays by disseminating 20 time-burning holiday sites as "gifts" into the 'net, which is already as bloated as the gift-giving Saint himself. The concept does have that idle but colourful FAO Schwarz feel to it so maybe it's ingenious and we just don't know it.

Upload your head and elf yourself. Armwrestle with a reindeer (that sounds horrifically painful, actually). Get a kid with his tongue stuck to a pole to talk. Sing conspiracy carols. You get the idea. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 6-06    
Topic: Campaigns, Good, Online



Viagra Keeps Gymnast Up

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Viagra works. It really does. Even for gymnasts who need to stay rock hard during their routines. Huh? WTF? Just click here if you want to see the full version of this NSFW ad Jason Kottke received as a spam email. Damn, that looks painful!

by Steve Hall    Dec- 6-06    
Topic: Online, Racy, Strange



Save Face This Party Season With Fake Business Cards

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You know you're going to do something stupid at some holiday party this year so why not protect yourself from the morning after guilt by pretending to be someone else during your evening of frivolity? Now, you can with Alternate Identity Business Cards, an interesting service from, yes, an ad agency. DDB to be specific. Now this is way better (and more useful) than some Christmas card or video.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 6-06    
Topic: Agencies, Good, Strange



Danica Patrick Godaddy Super Bowl Spot Not Guaranteed

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During a press conference held today at Victory Lane in Arizona with GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons and Andretti Green Racing's Danica Patrick who has signed a deal with GoDaddy to be a "GoDaddy Girl," Parsons could not guarantee Patrick's appearance in either of the two Super Bowl 2007 spots for which the company has contracted. It's unclear whether or not the spots will feature long time GoDaddy Girl Candice Michelle either but Parsons, ever the cagey one, did clarify both will be in several spots for the company in the near future. When asked when we might see a version of the completed Super Bowl spot, Parsons replied, "Game day, unless it's banned." Then we'll be able to see it online prior to the game.

more »

by Steve Hall    Dec- 5-06    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Good, Sponsorship, Super Bowl 2007



WaySpa Saves Witless from Christmas Faux-Pas

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For its clients at WaySpa, Dentsu Canada creates this viral-intended spot that reminds the witless, whipsawed men out there how very screwed they are if they forget to get honey a gift on the day of judgment. Once all the stress is over you too might want to book a spa visit.

And in the style of easy humour it's always funny when a dude with an accent and a bad sweater says something like, "You forgot to get that bitch a gift!" - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 5-06    
Topic: Good, Online



Timberland Offers Self-Expression With Leather Billboards

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It's rare we receive a press release that isn't rife with orgasmic marketing blather and seems more concerned with "appearing" intelligent than actually being intelligent so we were pleased to received this straight forward release from Arnold touting their new leather billboard work for Timberland. We're so happy we don't have to sift through this release like so many others simply to find, among the thousands of words, the hundred or so that actually say anything that we're just going to reprint the thing here:

"Today, Timberland started posting billboards made of its iconic (Ed: OK, "iconic" might be a bit over the top) boot leather in three New York City boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bronx. Over a two-day period, local artists representing each borough will adorn the billboards with original artwork reflecting what the borough means to them. (Ed: a little squishy but we'll let it pass) The goal of the project, created by Arnold, is to create a platform for artists to express themselves and their passion for community, using the Timberland boot as canvas. (Ed: Easy now. It's just a billboard.)

more »

by Steve Hall    Dec- 5-06    
Topic: Consumer Created, Good, Guerilla, Outdoor



Billboards Power Local Appliances

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Following yesterday's wind-blown dress for Pretty Polly lingerie, the outdoor medium continues to impress with a recent Saatchi Saatchi Switzerland campaign for Swiss electric utility Groupe E. Most people know everything runs on electricity which, for an electric utility, can be a problem. After all, when was the last time you gave a thought to the name of the company that delivers your electricity? This campaign works towards highlighting Groupe E and to remind people electricity, though ubiquitous, should never be taken for granted. See all the creative here.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 5-06    
Topic: Good, Outdoor



ValueClick Media Makes Major Announcement With Cheesy Video

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Our friend Snake Oil Guy has a problem with ValueClick Media General Manager David Yovanno's recent announcement video for the company's video offering for publishers wondering why Yovanno:

1. Can't put on a tie for a major rollout announcement?
2. Can't afford a lavaliere mike?
3. Can't shoot in a room with no echo?
4. Can't speak slower?
5. Can't find a decent backdrop?

Indeed, it seems Yovanno spewed this out between checking his morning email and making his first sales call for the day.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 5-06    
Topic: Bad, Video