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A Halfrican Explores Multi-Racial Life in America It's nice to see Advertising Age ramp up its coverage of diversity in advertising and in general. We've been supporters of the exploration of diversity (or lack thereof) in the ad business and are glad the industry's number one publication has increased the size of the platform where this conversation can take place. Toyota Highlights, ACDelco Moves, Airborne Pays, Facebook Poked - This Canadian spot for Toyota's Matrix has fun envisioning a day full of potential as highlighted by the vehicle's headlights. - While this happened back in late January, we thought we'd share the news that as part of an agency consolidation, GM has opted to move its ACDelco account, with Campbell-Ewald since 1917, to Publicis Groupe on May 1. - Facebook gets poked! Right. Facebook backlash YouTube-style. Jarvik Pulled, HBO Subverts, Obay Continues, L'Oreal Does Second Life - Pfizer has pulled its long-ish running commercial featuring Jarvik heart inventor Robert Jarvik because he was portrayed as a doctor when, in fact, he's not. - HBO is at it again with quirky videos promoting their shows. These new BBDO-created videos show two stories twice with second ending the more daring one, representative of stories you might see on HBO. Times Square's Naked Cowboy Sues Blue M&M It's seems Times Square's Naked Cowboy - aka Robert Burck - who, at first, thought the video billboard showing a blue M&M dressed like a cowboy was funny now has had second thoughts and is suing Mars $6 million for trademark infringement. Burck thinks the video represents too closely what he does each day in his underwear and would like to see some cash out of the situation. Does that mean with $6 million in his pocket (if he wins), Burck won't have to perform for money thereby depriving New Yorkers of an entertainment in institution? Oh the horror! To pass through Times Square and not see the dude in his underwear? That is just wrong. So wrong. We hope he loses. Oh wait, that's not nice. We hope he wins and heads to Calvin Klein to grab himself some stylish new drawers. Dutch Elderly Make Naked Protest of Rotating Homecare Adfreak pointed us to this homecare ad for the Dutch Socialist Party. In it, an 86-year-old woman undresses for the camera eye to demonstrate displeasure with the government's new policy of rotating personal helpers amongst the elderly. Second-Hand Smoke Destroys Gastronomic Experience To celebrate the first birthday of Louisiana's Smoke-Free Air Act (Act 815), New Orleans-based Trumpet created this ad, which appeared in newspapers throughout the state. It features an overturned ashtray with a birthday candle on top. Part of it reads, "For the past year, the Louisiana Smoke-Free Act has increased the flavor and health of Louisiana dishes by removing one toxic ingredient: Secondhand smoke." We like the unique message (which makes us hungry, actually) and brave use of white space. Happy first birthday, Act 815. Microsoft Makes $44.6 Billion Bid For Yahoo Microsoft, following its unsuccessful bid a year ago, has made an unexpected and unsolicited bid for troubled Yahoo as it continues its efforts to compete with and/or topple (never happen) Google. In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will "carefully and promptly" study Microsoft's bid. Even if the takeover doesn't happen, at least Yahoo will benefit from a 50 percent jump in its share price following the news. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer tells us, "This is a decision we have - and I have - thought long and hard about. We are confident it's the right path for Microsoft and Yahoo." Presidential Candidates Get the Brand Treatment CEO Alan Siegel of Siegel & Gale put together a manifesto of what brand messages each of the Election 2008 candidates are conveying. Among other things, John McCain is read as the "straight-talking rebel." Oh, we cannot emphasize how painfully we winced when we heard "The MAC is BACK!" pouring out of New Hampshire. Can't politicans just leave rap -- and any music, really -- alone? Bulworth was a movie, not a career blueprint. Hillary Clinton, Siegel adds, undermines her "Leading Brand" role by attacking "Challenger Brand" Barack Obama. How very Coke vs. Pepsi. Just one more reason to avoid frothy drinks and frothy speeches. Read full text below. ASA: Boots Nipple Cream's OK By Us! Check out this warped Boots nipple cream ad that's pissing so many English interest groups off. If Tim Burton were a creative, such would be the fruits of his labour. Oddly enough, the Advertising Standards Authority has decided the ad is fair game. In response to complaints about its misleading nature (creepy imagery aside), ASA said breast-feeding moms should be "reasonably well-informed" about the causes of sore nipples. We love how Boots nipple cream escapes the wrath of UK Ad Nazis -- despite 19 complaints and weird copy about "wanting three nipples" -- but mascara gets the shaft every time. Is it because people who focus on reading literature (and taking courses!) on sore nipples have neglected their "physics of eyelash enhancing" lessons? Or is it because the Boots factory is bigger than your average ivy league? Sarkozy Proposes Real Cultural Devolution President Nicolas Sarkozy is proposing a complete ban on public TV commercials in France. To make up for revenue lost, the country will tax the internet and mobile phones. The IHT calls the move "virtually without precedent." The move is positioned as a means to protect old streams of income. With that in mind, it's easy to look at the 'net and mobile as the bad guys. But to penalize growing industries for their effect on old technology? Please be more backward. Anywho, the Sarkozy government may draft a bill of the proposal, which has to move through both houses of Parliament. If it passes, expect big changes in France by January 1, '09 at the earliest. (Sarkozy is hoping to make it happen before Q4 of '08, but it doesn't look likely.) Stuff's changing fast over there. Didn't the smoking ban just formalize? 
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