Canadian Poster Campaign Carries Gun Control Message

Let's not revisit that heated gun control debate we stirred up a short time ago but rather appreciate a new 172 john st-created Canadian gun control pro-bono campaign for its stark simplicity and directness of message. Reacting to an increase in gun violence, the online initiative, Stop the Guns, has launched this poster campaign which portrays people with gun range targets on them and the headline, "Gun Crime Affects Us All."

Get a Fiat, but Avoid Temptation of Driving Along Subway Tracks

Okay. Leo Burnett, Sao Paulo sent us this Fiat ad, which we'd like to say we get, but we're really not sure.

Is the car fast? Is that it? Is it super strong or safe? Is it actually a train in an anomalous body whose unique capacities enable it to "lead the pack," so to speak, like Rudolphe the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Are we overreaching?

Doc Martens: Will Dead Idols Revive Sleeping Brand?

When a hot rock star dies young, idolatry takes an immortal leap. Hoping to piggy-back this star-crossed love is Doc Martens, who tapped Saatchi & Saatchi, London for this U.K.-based poster campaign.

Fallen stars Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious, Joey Ramone and Joe Strummer compose the centerpiece of this print and poster collabo.

Writer Andrew Petch tells AdCritic, "We wanted to communicate that Dr. Martens boots are 'made to last,' and we discovered that these idolized musicians wore them. Showing them still wearing their Docs in heaven dramatized the boots' durability perfectly."

Well, let's hope customers think "durability" and not "premature death."

Tootsie Pop Redo, Ageism Wrong, Verizon Tickets, MySpace Photobuckets

- Classic "How many licks does it take?" Tootsie Pop commercial gets a makeover. not sure we like.

- With rampant ageism in this industry, here's a few reasons why it isn't always such a great idea to cast out over 40s.

- Cynopsis reports, "MySpace agreed to acquire PhotoBucket for a reported $250 million in cash and bonuses. Photobucket, one of the darlings of the Web 2.0 phenomenon, is the web's dominant photo sharing site with 41 million registered users."

- ABC will air Lost three more seasons ending in 2010. That's two seasons too many.

- Do you design movie posters? Do you think they are stupid/ Think you can do better? now you can design your own with Movie Poster Toolbox.

- Verizon and Fergie have teamed to offer mobile phone-based wireless tickets to her upcoming tour.

- MySpace is said to be purchasing Photobucket for $250 million.

- Fewer and fewer people may not be watching your TV ads but if your target audience is kids under 2, you're in luck. Ninety percent watch.

Emma Watson Gets Breast Augmentation For 3D Movie Poster

While not as dramatic an increase, proportionately, as Keira Knightley received for her King Arthur movie poster appearance, Harry Potter's Hermione, played by 17 year old Emma Watson has been given a cup size increase for the IMAX 3D version of the Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix movie poster. One could argue it makes sense to give her an increase since, after all, this is the 3d version of the movie and things do appear differently than they might on a flat movie screen. One could also argue an art director let loose with Photoshop just can't help himself. And finally, one could also argue the mere discussion of breast size in relation to the cherished Harry Poter series is simply blasphemous. You decide.

Absolut World Promises to Slather Us in Warhol

TBWA/Chiat/Day, New York acts as guiding hand behind Absolut World, Absolut Vodka's newest global campaign in 25 years. In the ad at left, media messages on Times Square have been replaced by art.

Yeah. Because when we're soaked in vodka, that's all we ever want to see.

Nature Loves Crustaceans More than People, Says Biss

To raise awareness (and hopefully funds) for the homeless, Munich-based magazine Biss disseminates 300 strange little posters and print ads to show nature doesn't automatically grant everybody a place to call home. They are somewhat creepy as expressions cross between homeless angst and something sea creaturish. The layer of slime probably throws us off. Or is that malnutrition?

Copy reads, "Nature doesn't provide everyone with a home. Help homeless by buying this magasin."

See the snail and turtle variations.

Doe-Eyed Kashmir Kids Gaze Longingly Out of Grocer Freezers

The people of Norway get a surprising little treat in the frozen section of their local grocery stores. This strategically-placed UNICEF poster is meant to raise awareness about the sub-zero living conditions of poor children in Kashmir. Copy reads, "The children of Kashmir are freezing" and the concept belongs to Dinamo Reklamebyra of Oslo, Norway.

We think the campaign is borderline clever but doubt it will inspire much emo checkbook-busting. At best it may just make Norwegian moms think twice about getting frozen pizza.

Mirror Ad Appears, Disappears, Appears, Disappears, Appears...

Here's an interesting combination of vanity and technology in the form of a mirror that displays ads except when you look directly into it. How nice. It's a mirror when it's supposed to be a mirror and it's an ad when it's supposed to be an ad. And it's distracting too. Annoying enough to make you look. Polite enough to let you look.

Be a Lady's Man Like David Barton, Says Irresistible New Ad

Guys who pump iron are always easy targets for self-infatuated narcissist jokes. But this Sugartown Creative ad for David Barton Gym practically spoonfeeds the smirks to us.

In case you wondered, Monsieur Barton himself is standing dead center. The title of the ad is, aptly, "Irresistible."

Really, could you resist? We didn't think so.