Talking Furniture Insures Ad Industry's Survival

For even more horrific consumer-generated idiocy, be sure to check out ForRent.com's video contest in which people create videos that explain why they should win the $10,000 furniture makeover "through the eyes of their furniture." Make it stop. Please. Make it stop!

Darfur Cause Aims for Paris Hilton-Like Publicity

Forrester Senior Analyst Jeremiah Owyang has written a concise summary with insightful commentary on the Louis Vuitton brand-jacked Darfur t-shirt situation. Briefly, an artist, Nadia Plesner, created a t-shirt showing a Darfur child holding an LV bag and a little dog.

Imagery sound familiar? It should and that's Plesner's point who explains, "My illustration Simple Living is an idea inspired by the media's constant cover of completely meaningless things [ie. Paris Hilton]. My thought was: Since doing nothing but wearing designer bags and small ugly dogs apparently is enough to get you on a magazine cover, maybe it is worth a try for people who actually deserves and needs attention."

more »

Prada Auctions, Yelp Yelped, Mo Rocca Talks Money, and Love Grows on Trees

- Big spenders who can't be bothered to attend a fashion show: Prada wants your business. Click on "Prototypes Auction" at Prada.com to see what's bid-worthy.

- Product packaging can be vastly improved with the addition of Braille.

- Twitter, allegedly the 439th largest social networking site, is deemed niche but influential. (The niche aspect is part of what makes something influential in the first place ... right?)

- Yelp.com released a self-serving documentary to showcase its whole anti-Zagat, down-with-the-homies feel. The mini-doc was fast made mockumentary fodder by the anti-Yelp Elite, which seem to think Yelp's all about hair. No arguments here. And apparently Yelpers find the mock more amusing.

more »

Now There's a Home for Your Lame Home-Made Sports Videos

That home is "Homestyle Sports."

And when I say "home," I mean a bonafide online show complete with hosts (Dan and Adam!), sponsor (Champion!) and a big-ass box of swag, which Dan and Adam explore between candid sports takes.

The whole thing's kinda like watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" except with two Bob Sagets, a lot of balls and some hoodies.

To be part of all the fear and loathing, upload your own clips to Break.com or YouTube.com/homestylesports. Be sure to tag them with "homestylesports."

'Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis' Brings Garish Colors Out in Soccer Match

Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, a movie that plays on southern French stereotypes about northerners (the "Ch'tis"), beat France's beloved La Grande Vadrouille record at the box office with over 17 million views, according to Gael Clouzard of Influencia.net.

Those that don't know what it means to be a Ch'ti got a quick education at a soccer match involving northerner team Lens, when a group unrolled a banner reading "Pedophiles, unemployed and inbred, bienvenue chez les Ch'tis."

Ohhh. So being a Ch'ti is kinda like being a redneck on South Park. Got it.

more »

Google Hate Website is Back in Business

Ahhh. Nothing spells success like the obsessive, well-indexed and unquenchable hatred of an anti-corporate website.

Rejoining Starbucked, I Hate Microsoft, Untied and Comcast Must Die is Fucked Google, which was shafted in 2006.

We're not sure what tipped the scale back in its favor. Probably had something to do with all those firings. Because the author of Fucked Google has this to say: "I finally have a good stream of pissed-off Google employees feeding me information so you guys can look forward to lots of valleywag-style dirt in the coming days."

more »

Voyeurism, Vodka and Nudity Wave the Flag for High Art

Over 21? Neato. That means you can see Christi naked, or at least flashes of nakedness while Christiania -- a vodka company that digs nudity -- walks you through its 2008 NEW CLASSIC NUDE ART competition rules and regs.

What a tease.

In case you weren't clear, we're not talking Christi the supermodel. Christi (short for Christiania) is a vodka, and nudity's its gimmick. That chick at left with the tube-hair? That's a work of art by bobbykro from Christi's 2007 NEW CLASSIC NUDE ART competition.

College Students Ask For $25,000 CGM-Style

Look! Look! Look! It's consumer-generated media! That's right. Step on over to Upromise's Tuition Tales (great name) for a glimpse at videos created by students seeking $25,000 to cover college costs. Over the past 12 weeks, a field of hundreds has been narrowed to ten finalist. The winner will be chosen by public vote. As an incentive, Upromise is offering every person who votes a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Bed Bath & Beyond.

Now if only Upromise would remove the annoying control bar which floats over the bottom of each video, the fullness of every video could be more pleasingly appreciated.

Because You Know You Have One.

Wired wants your best Star Wars tribute photos. Contrary to what you might think, this isn't because George Lucas needs more love. (We've heard that when your net worth is cushioned with many zeroes, life can be quite cozy.) This is actually in honor of Fanboys, an Ernie Cline homage to Star Wars fandom.

Why doesn't anybody ever ask for our Spice Girls tribute photos? We have big shoes! Dolls! Slutty skirts! Dresses made out of the Union Jack! Unsavory images of ourselves in pout-mode! Come ON, guys.

Calling All Stillborn Ad Ideas! Your Time is Now

Raging Artists wants the ad ideas your boss already told you to bury, along with your dignity and the ugly easter eggs that the children didn't want. On a roll? Good for you. Join the Speckies too.