Cross-Dressing Jersey Mom Puts Bells on for Broadband Emmys

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Did you ever see "Christmas Tree" by Clay Weiner? It's this short online film where a dude, impersonating somebody's ultra-New Jersey mom, hustles an invisible family through the dire process of buying a Christmas tree.

That video got Clay nominated for an Emmy.

To spread the love he put together "Make Your Mom Proud," a promotional video for the 2008 Broadband Emmy Awards. The video was commissioned by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

We laughed. And cried. And flashed back to Moonstruck.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-24-08    
Topic: Events, Good, Online, Promotions



Miller Blogs Bud, MoveOn Hates McCain, Saturday Night Extorts Horny Party People

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- Miller employee James Andorfer has launched The Brew Blog, which is oddly a really good resource for Anheuser-Busch news. Thanks AlexanderGordon for the tip.

- John McCain is pissing people off again, and by "people" I mean MoveOn.org, which is circulating yet another "GRR, ARG, MCCAIN!" petition.

- Saturday Night Magazine is inviting a few lucky bloggers to the Playboy Mansion on May 10th for a debauchery-ridden pajama party. Register at playboypajamaparty.com with the code on the invite. Oh, and cough up $1500. What, you thought the Hef would just open his door to you?!

by Angela Natividad    Apr-24-08    
Topic: Events, Online, Political



Because Do You REALLY Wanna Take the Casale Bag Home?

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Last week at ad:tech, Steve and I ran into Marjorie Kase. Kase, in tangent with David Preciado and originator Mike Liskin, is a mastermind behind the Schwaggin' Wagon, whose mission is to gather craploads of SWAG (Stuff We All Get -- but don't actually want) for charity.

The Schwaggin' Wagon will take donations all through the Web 2.0 conference in SF this week. Follow the van's activities on Twitter (caution: psychedelia ahead) or check Facebook for tour updates.

Let's just hope the Schwaggin' Wagon doesn't cross paths with Plaid Tour '08, because the result (AESTHETIC WARFARE!) might give us epilepsy.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-23-08    
Topic: Brands, Cause, Events, Good



Photos from ad:tech's SF '08 Exhibit Hall

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This year I got to visit the exhibit hall at ad:tech. Come share my experience, starting with this winning number from the AKQA /Search booth.

I am hipster. Witness the sulk-age against bleak existential black, and my awful white chairs.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-21-08    
Topic: Brands, Events, Industry Events, Promotions



Because All of Moby's Friends Will Be Washing Their Hair that Night

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Moby tests the limits of your self-esteem with this popularity contest for his new album.

Entrants are competing for control of the guestlist for Moby's entire UK launch party. The trick is to "fill the place with 1500 mates, or mates of mates or their mates." To flood the house, UK players get friends to MMS 63333 with a unique guestlist ID. Back on the website, your audience swells as the messages roll in.

Five ambitious promoters will be awarded "party crasher" tickets for punting the fete in the most original way and posting a video on YouTube. Pretty neat campaign. Seems like a helluva lot of work though. Put together by archibald ingall stretton.

by Angela Natividad    Apr- 8-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Events, Games, Online, Promotions



It's a Skid Steer Smackdown!

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Watch big mean tractors climb hills, lift dirt, pop wheelies and whatnot. Every once in awhile you might see a Vanna White protege in a hard hat.

Brought to you by those crazy kids at John Deere and agency Tattoo, the Smackdown is a promotional event for John Deere's 313 Skid Steer. The real thing goes down on April 15 and will be marketed through dealerships and via online video.

Bring your tractor. Bring your balls. And prepare to showcase your manliness in a ferocious game of tractor tug-o'-war.

by Angela Natividad    Apr- 7-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Events, Product Placement, Promotions



Those Wacky Borderless Reporters Are at It Again!

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Not all advertising for the Beijing Olympics is pretty and nice. Reporters without Borders is disseminating this image to remind Olympic fans how China treats reporters, activists and bloggers.

The home of the Great Firewall is under pressure to open the 'net to journalists during the Games. "I'm satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for this and they will do it," said Vice Chairman Kevan Gospar of the International Olympic Committee's coordinating commission.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr- 4-08    
Topic: Cause, Events, Online, Political



Google Might Axe 300 DoubleClick Jobs, Mostly Stateside, and Shafts Performics

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With its acquisition of DoubleClick finally secure, Google gets down to the more controversial part of not being evil: axing a shit-ton of jobs.

As of today Google started making with the mass lay-offs. The New York Times says it's possible 300 could go, but the GOOG ain't all bad; it's softening the blow by giving a few chumps "transitional" roles, which means you get to transition-the-hell-out after the two big ships become one.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr- 2-08    
Topic: Brands, Events, Online, Worst



Mug Stirs Guilt Trip into Every Hot Drink

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To draw attention to climate change, the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) made special mugs with the world's land mass printed on them. The land disappears when you fill the cup with something hot, leaving parched parties with scathing food for thought:

"A global climate increase of just two degrees Celsius will have irreversible, catastrophic effects. www.wwfchina.org."

WWF disseminated 250 of these sunny mugs to attendees at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. The Dutch Environmental Minister said it "dramatically captured the critical nature of the global warming issue."

Dismal. Also, reason No. 546 to pick up an ice-cold Coca-Cola.

by Angela Natividad    Apr- 1-08    
Topic: Cause, Events, Packaging, Promotions



The Guild Wins Best Series at YouTube Video Awards

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The Guild, an online show written by MMOG gamers for MMOG gamers, got some love at the YouTube Video Awards. Huzzah.

Catch the webisodes at Watch the Guild. Turn the volume down: we thought we were getting all schizophrenic, but it was just that a bunch of them started playing at the same time.

Since closing the window, the room seems quiet. And lonely.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-27-08    
Topic: Events, Good, Online, Video