Avoid Massive Bodily Injury. Heed This Caltrop-Wielding Butterfly

You've gotta love when a butterfly says, "It's up to you to help the planet. And if you don't, well, I'll rain an assemblage of caltrops down on you like Greek fire." Which is why we love this new TDA Advertising-created campiagn for 1% For the Planet.

The organization urges people to buy from its stores and urges businesses to sell their wares through the store. One percent of every sale goes to environmental causes

Brands Pay to Have Tweets Displayed on Mashable

Mashable has debuted a new advertising opportunity called The Twitter Brand Sponsors Module. Brands can pay to have their tweets syndicated into the module which is displayed in the right hand column of the site. Mashable will also include one charity gratis.

It's an interesting idea and yet another of the hundreds of Twitter monetization ideas floating around out there that, amazingly, Twitter has yet to adopt.

The module was developed exclusively for Mashable by Dan Zarella.

Smart Marketers Advertise During A Recession. You Should Too

You know that tired old mantra as to why it's smart to advertise during a recession? Ever wonder why it's regurgitated ad naseum every time the economy tanks? Because it's true! Yes, advertising during a recession is the right thing to and there's research top back that up.

A McGraw-Hill study of 600 businesses found businesses that maintained or increased their ad spend saw higher sales growth during a recession and in the years following. In fact, the study found those who maintained or increased their ad budgets experienced a 256 percent increase in sales compared to those who cut their budgets.

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The Pam Gods Gift Dining Hostess With a Second Chance

Not quite sure what to think of this new Pam spot, which plays on the slogan "Pam Helps You Pull It Off." Teflon makes accidents like this one a non-issue.

Points for being odd without being off-putting, though.

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JWT's Anxiety Blog, Ogilvy's Recession Salve, Revisiting 'Like a Prayer'

- Flashback to Madonna's banned Like a Prayer ad for Pepsi.

- Wolff Olins brings minimalist flickr magic -- and a forum for inquiry -- to "scientific" cosmetic brand Living Proof.

- Tracking (corporate accounts on) Twitter.

- The Guardian makes good observations about Twitter (scroll down to the bulletpoints).

- Ogilvy-branded solutions to a recession. Take that hype with a few spoonfuls of salt. Hat tip to our favourite mad man.

- JWT launches a blog called Anxiety Index.

- ScapeNation: another tween-targeting web destination, brought to you by Red Tettemer.

Cannibal Pigs Plug Boost Mobile Over Dinner

Boost Mobile's "UNwrong'D" campaign continues with two fine-dining pigs that like ham. (Think of it as enjoying the flavours of a fallen friend. Don't act like you're too good to tear into the carcasses of the downtrodden, literally or otherwise.)

The talkier pig puts their behaviour in perspective by telling users the real wrong in life lies in mobile carriers charging hidden fees. In contrast, Boost Mobile charges a flat fee for dependable, unlimited nationwide service.

Hear-to-the-fucking-hear, then, and pass that human flank real quick.

At a loss for words? Doff your hats to 180LA.

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Zippo Pulls the Eco-Guilt Card

Zippo wises up to its cachet as a potentially "green" product with a brusque new slogan: "Disposable. Just another word for garbage."

On print and banner ads alike, this profundity is flanked by images of dirty disposable lighters, piled up in junkyards. See trash cube, earthbound briquets and three-part display ad.

Creatively, the latter is a disappointing downgrade from this naughty beast. But it gets the point across, and display's cheap these days anyway, so we can't hate with much conviction.

Expect to see the prints in trade pubs, at convenient stores and your local tobacconist. By Brunner/Pittsburgh.

Emerald Nuts: The Snack of Choice for Discriminating French ... Nuts.

"French squirrel goes nuts" -- one more reason to avoid bringing housewarming gifts to your vinyl-spinning French neighbour,* squirrel or not.

"Thank you, Larry, for picking these sad little acorns out of the dirt and putting them in this box. I feel so warm and tingly inside; now we will be friends forever."

Cold, man, cold.

Disseminated for Emerald Nuts, the brand of choice for nut elitists (and kryptonite to the mischievous Robert Goulet!), by Feed Company.

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Spoofs for a Cause, Courtesy of AIA

To promote the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Agencies in Action and Bill Oberlander at Cossette produced a triage of cynical spoofs on well-known ad campaigns. (See iPod and HSBC variants.)

The goal: to get Manhattan's agency creatives to volunteer at soup kitchens and food pantries at least once monthly. So far, six agencies have committed: Arnold Worldwide, Cossette, DiMassimo Goldstein, Gotham, Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners and TBWA\Chiat\Day.

In the event that you need more convincing, or just feel compelled to show your face at another social gathering, hit up the AIA kickoff reception on Thursday, March 12 at 7pm. It all happens at the Cossette office on 415 Mad Ave, 3rd floor.

More intelligence at the website.

Ford to Give Away 100 Fiestas Social Media Style

The ever photogenic Julia Roy and her agency, Undercurrent, are working with Ford on a program called Fiesta Movement. The automaker plans to give away 100 Ford Fiestas for six months complete with free gas, insurance, parking and a concierge service. The lucky 100 will be sent on "cool monthly missions" not unlike AT&T's Lost in America.

And oh yes, they must document their travels for public consumption. After all, it's the social media thing to do, right? And, yes, there will be tweets.