Marissa Mayer Brings Brand Capital to Yahoo

Marissa Mayer's move to Yahoo as CEO made me reexamine the question of personal brands. I maintain my position: they don't exist in any meaningful way. They are just (not terribly) fancy jargon for bloggers. What Mayer brings to Yahoo is not her personal brand, but the brand capital of Google.

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Culture Clubs: Creation, Navigation, Conversation

There is certainly humor to be had watching, sprawled out in the comfort of another century, the way previous generations handled – or didn’t – destabilizing changes that we now take for granted. We are now obligated to live in a culture of conversation with its simultaneous flattening of things like expert culture and its ever-expanding choice of content providers and options.

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Coupon, If You Dare

The endless-loop news of Groupon's financial bleeding — largely self-inflicted — brings no joy to those who thought they were on to the next big thing. As Sunday's New York Times points out, the daily-discount site was all-too recently offered a stunning $6 billion from Google, but the time-tested combination of corporate hubris, greed and flimsy accounting got in the way of all of that.

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Google+, Minus Active Users?

Public posts to Google+ have decreased 41 percent month over month, according to 89n data cited on TechCrunch. After a fast start out of the gates, quickly gaining 25 million users, is Google+ losing steam?

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Fashion and Feminism - Without the Fuss

Kara Jesella's informed and insightful look at fashion and feminism and Tavi Gevinson's new online magazine, Rookie, are well worth the read.

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Books Unbound

There may be more bears in publishing than there are on Wall St. This isn’t new to the current recession; as Ken Auletta recently noted in the New Yorker, “publishing exists in a continual state of forecasting its own demise.” Now add to that traditional gloomy propensity today’s market conditions - a period when most industries are wrestling with digital disintermediation and even wholesale redefinitions of function. You get a complete meltdown.

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Boston Globe Trek Redefines Digital for Newspaper Industry

The Boston Globe recently launched a digital scavenger hunt that further blurs the lines between physical and digital spaces, news and entertainment, and social and traditional media. Boston Globe Trek is a prime example of innovation within an industry struggling to reinvent itself, and other news organizations should take note.

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Perspectives on The Decision: The King is Dead

LeBron James is a tease. Instead of Tiger’s plethora of women, LeBron toyed with ESPN, Twitter, Bing, VitaminWater, McDonald’s, Sprite, Nike, University of Phoenix, Cleveland, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, old media, new media, journalistic integrity and the general public at large. And it backfired.

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Perspectives on The Decision: A Missed Opportunity

I’ve never watched more than a few minutes of a professional basketball game, and probably couldn’t name ten guys currently playing in the NBA. But I flipped to ESPN last night to see how the network would handle being downgraded to just one more media channel broadcasting Team LeBron’s message to the world. Would they bring anything Twitter, Facebook, and blogs worldwide could not? Sadly, not really.

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Defining Reality – The Augmented Kind

Last week, Santa Clara hosted the first global augmented reality event - gathering the developers, creative directors and engineers from around the world who are driving nascent “augmentation” technology into our immediate reality. If you said “Say what?” to that sentence, you will appreciate the following. In the first keynote of the conference, WIRED’s contributing editor Bruce Sterling defined a singular challenge for the assembled that had very little to do with technological wizardry and everything to do with communication: create and shape the language of this brave new world.

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Before Knocking CNN, Check Yourself for Fractures

Poor CNN. The network is trying to be everything to everyone and, as is usually the case with such efforts, pleasing no one. Ratings are in the toilet and in every corner -- from the plush offices of Vanity Fair to the hallowed halls of NYU to the ash-covered continent -- one hears the jarring thumps of unsolicited advice. It's enough to make an executive producer drink more heavily than he already does.

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Woods' Superego Featured in New Nike Spot

Nike's new Tiger spot is drawing some praise, and much criticism, for its resurrection (and arguably, exploitation) of the late Earl Woods. A black and white Tiger, humbled but head-up, stares into the camera while the voice of his father asks "Did you learn anything?" No question it's a risk, but the ad works because it neither ignores the golfer's many indiscretions, nor does it imply that the Woods on the course is somehow separate from the Woods in the bedroom (or backseat...or backyard...). And it suggests mistakes on and off the course can lead to growth on and off the course.

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Brands Go Gaga for "Telephone"

In a time when brands must move comfortably across contexts to extend their relevance and engage consumers, Lady Gaga's mind is prime real estate. Her latest brainchild, a 10-minute long mini-film for "Telephone," is a product placement hotbed. Miracle Whip, Virgin Mobile, Diet Coke, HP, Polaroid, Wonder Bread, and the dating Web site Plenty Of Fish all co-star, shaped by the artist into a surreal mashup that confirms the importance of brand to our cultural dialogue.

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Up-pity ABC Basterds Put the Hurt on Ashley's Precious Avatar Ad

AshleyMadison, of "Life is short. Have an affair." fame, trotted out this Avatar-themed spot for broadcast during Sunday's Academy Awards. Then, in a move as predictable as an over-the-top Sharon Stone reaction shot, ABC banned it from the telecast. Funny that the nation's leading adultery enabler ends up flaccid on Oscar night. Why did those frigid execs give Ashley's aliens the cock block?

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Fashion Forward: Brands Moving from Supermodel to Everywoman

Haute couture brands recently have been in the headlines for promoting an unhealthy body image, mourning the loss of one of fashion's brightest stars and, in general, dealing with a full-blown identity crisis. Meanwhile, an increasing number of mainstream brands have turned their attention explicitly to the end consumer: she now plays a central role in how we view and buy fashion. This reinvention and democratization of fashion has its origin in the mainstream, unlike most trends, which work their way in from the fringe. Moreover, it's a global phenomenon with brands from Japan to Germany embracing the everyday woman's new role.

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Toyota's Fall From Grace

In December, Davis Brand Capital announced the 2009 Davis Brand Capital 25 ranking. Toyota ranked #8 overall and was the top-ranking automaker. Since the release, Toyota has issued a series of historic recalls, and the brand has suffered a precipitous fall from grace. So far, the recalls affect more than eight million vehicles worldwide, with Toyota considering still more for its best-selling Corolla. And recall-related malfunctions have caused an estimated 34 deaths since 2000 in the U.S. alone, according to government data released this week. Beyond the direct financial, legal and ethical implications of the recalls themselves, Toyota faces a crisis of consumer confidence comparable to the Tylenol cyanide murders or the Ford Explorer/Firestone fiasco. Rebuilding consumer trust will require much more than a public relations war room and marketing blitz. Toyota faces a fundamental brand challenge that extends deep into its culture, its operations and its core meaning. As the story unfolds and an embattled Toyota hunkers down for the onslaught, important lessons from the crisis are already coming to light.

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Don't Let the Dumbledore Hit You in the Azkaban on Your Way Out, Mickey

This spring, Universal Orlando will open the much-anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which it promises will be "unlike any other experience on earth." If the park succeeds with what it's got tucked up the sleeve of its flowing robe, there's going to be a new owner of magical theme park experience (that sound you just heard was a 81-year-old mouse shaking in his over-sized yellow shoes).

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Mobile Apps from Car Brands Blur Lines Between Branded Utilities and Product Features

New mobile applications from automakers GM, Mercedes, Ford and BMW advance the concept of branded utility in profound ways. Recent apps from these brands blur the lines between branded utilities and pure product features. And there are important implications in the auto industry and beyond.

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UE's Most Read Posts of 2009

As the year ends, we look back at the most read and shared posts from Unbound Edition's contributors, and a few more favorites chosen by our editorial team. We appreciate your continued readership and commentary and look forward to more dialog in 2010.

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Is Rupert Murdoch the Steve Jobs of Journalism?

Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, new walls are being erected that challenge the fundamental right of the public to free news and information. However, free today no longer means free from bias or state control, but instead not paying for content. News Corp.'s announcement that it would introduce pay walls has set off a firestorm of response -- the majority of whom say it will not work. The minority see Murdoch as the potential savior of professional journalism, an ironic twist for the man behind The New York Post and other tabloids. Others focus on the proposed model and respond that it could work, if News Corp. can apply the lessons it has learned from pay television and the music industry, which evolved its model in response to illegal downloading.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode 13

The Unbound Edition players, wisely sporting plastic-lined undergarments, take the stage to present the season finale, "Shut the Door. Have a Seat."

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode 12

Help yourself to the prime rib and the fillet of sole and move to the front of the theatre as the Unbound Edition Players present "The Grown Ups."

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Reporters or Voyeurs? Media Trapped in Real Time

It always stops me in my tracks when a television anchor utters a phrase that somehow references the real world as separate from the world of television journalism. As in: "Well, I guess out there in the real world...." Say what? As if they forget, for a second, that the sets aren't real and the stories are. So it's probably not surprising that, in the latest CNN Opinion Research poll, 70% of the respondents answered "yes" to the question "Are the media out of touch with average Americans?"

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode 11

Grab yourself a steaming bowl of Rice-a-Pony and sit back while the Unbound Edition Players present "The Gypsy and the Hobo."

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Three, Episode 10

After 40 years of lying, cheating and stealing together, the Unbound Edition Players and their barely functioning livers reunite to present “The Color Blue.”

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode Nine

Fresh from a vacation on the lunar Hilton, the Unbound Edition Players now present "Wee Small Hours." (curtain up)

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Three, Episode Eight

Bitter and jetlagged, the Unbound Edition Players present "The Souvenir."

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Three, Episode Seven

Still wearing yesterday's clothes and reeking of alcohol, the Unbound Edition Players do the walk of shame to the stage to present this week's performance of "Seven Twenty Three." And no, they don't want to talk about it.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode Six

The Unbound Edition Players now present "Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency." Heads up, front row. In the second act, you'll want to grab that plastic sheeting you saved from the 1984 Gallagher show.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode Five

With dramatic, pre-epidural era panting and groaning, the Unbound Edition Players now put their feet in the stirrups and push out this week's episode, "The Fog."

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Members Only?

No, we aren't referring to the 80s clothing line, rather we are referencing the mixed messages professional tennis is sending to the public. Both authors are tennis fanatics. However, despite our love of the game, as brand strategists we are baffled by the sport's inability to evolve, notwithstanding its stated intention to do so.

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Bud Light Lime “In the Can”: AdAge Gets it Bass Ackwards

The most successful beer marketers in the world have crossed a line. According to AdAge, a pun is “the final frontier” in “tasteless” beer advertising. In a spot for Bud Light Lime leaked on the Internet, everyday folks innocently confess to getting it “in the can” (some of them like it and want to do so again!). The punch line of the spot reveals that the popular brew is now available in all-too-familiar handy aluminum containers.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Three, Episode Four

As part of their court-mandated "Revive a Tall Blonde Singer and His Wee Mustachioed Sidekick" charity work, The Unbound Edition Players now present "the Arrangements."

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Three, Episode Three

After a brief delay to buy nacho cheese Doritos and Visine, the Unbound Edition Players casually amble across the stage to take their places for this week’s presentation of “My Old Kentucky Home.” Who’s up for a Taco Bell run at intermission?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Three, Episode Two

The Unbound Edition Players now take the stage for "Love Among the Ruins," alternately titled, "The One Where Betty's Father Takes Up Way Too Much Screen Time."

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The Team Colors of Profit

We're in a post agency age, would someone please notify the sports leagues? While middlemen everywhere cry out in pain, umbrella sports organizations from high school to the pros skip blithely along with blinders on, slicing their member institutions' intellectual property into ever smaller segments while their lawyers kick and scream at technological advancements and rail at the consumers themselves - yes, that's right, the very fans who comprise what ESPN dubs Sports Nation, otherwise known as the blood that courses through the veins of the mighty American sports machine. 
Does this sound sustainable to you?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Three, Episode One

After nearly ten months of making ends meet by twirling signs outside of Jiffy Lube, the Unbound Edition Players dust themselves off, oil their squeaky joints, and take the stage for “Out of Town.”

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Post-Agency II: Mad Man Market Thyself

It is no news that advertising agencies are in crisis, struggling to survive under the multiple pressures of reduced client budgets, degraded media effectiveness, and connected, informed consumers. What is news: agencies are proving themselves unable to adapt and to fix their own business problems; client-side solutions are winning. This, more than anything, illustrates the disconnect too often experienced between “the business” and “the creative” sides of marketing. The marketer’s role, in the end, is to navigate the markets — to succeed even amidst change — not just to razzle and dazzle though sales don’t come in the door. This applies to clients and to marketers alike. Mad Man: market thyself.

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MMMmmmm... Crowdsourced Doughnut

Given that I last wrote about Hardee’s Biscuit Holes, I couldn't resist continuing the theme of fried dough. This time: doughnuts. Specifically, Krispy Kreme’s new international “Fave Fan” contest, celebrating six dozen years selling original glazed. Open to Krispy Kreme doughnut lovers in Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines and United Kingdom, "Fave Fan" invites customers to write, in 72 words or less, “how Krispy Kreme has made their lives special.” A winning contestant from each country receives 12 dozen doughnuts over the course of a year and a plane ticket to Krispy Kreme’s U.S. headquarters, where they will go head-to-head in a competition to “design the best doughnut.” Why Americans aren't invited to participate probably has something to do with the company's 2007 bankruptcy (and $3 stock price, down from a high near $50), but why celebrate an American brand through an international contest? Is "Fave Fan" the secret ingredient to a Krispy Kreme comeback, or is their marketing team one original glazed short of a dozen?

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CNN: Stuck in the Middle with You

CNN and sister network HLN face a difficult brand challenge. As Teri Schindler noted in her recent post on the branding of broadcast networks, CNN is caught between a rock and a hard place with MSNBC’s liberal bent and Fox News’ right-wing “reality."

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A Brand New Broadcast

It’s a hard time to tackle branding if you are a television channel. What with the mishmash of shows, the plethora of “talent,” the multitude of distribution platforms, the unrelenting pressure on retaining audience and the changing media landscape, distinguishing the distributor is a difficult and possibly thankless chore. So many egos and properties, so many fragmented audiences, so little room for a clear, identifiable position. So little opportunity for a relationship with the public.

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Ad Execs and Other Bloodsuckers Revamp TV Marketing

On Tuesday’s DVD release of Mad Men’s second season and across recent promotions for the August 16 premiere of season three, we’re seeing an inspired, Draper-esque approach to making 60s era ad culture relevant to today's audiences. Mad Men’s marketing blitz blends past with present as skillfully and successfully as Weiner himself. This mashup of reality and fiction, a strategy also used to great effect by HBO’s True Blood and its advertisers, proves that brands willing to go off script are endearing themselves to new, loyal audiences.

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Steven Brill’s Problem: What Clear’s Failure Means for Journalism Online

Steven Brill’s TSA “fast pass” company and creator of the Clear card has imploded. Verified Identity Pass takes with it more than $100 million in investor cash, the registration fees of approximately 200,000 travelers, and a dumpster-load of sensitive biometric data. The company provides only a message that it has ceased operations as of June 22, 2009 due to creditor problems, and posts a link to its privacy policies. The one message that seems to be coming out clearly in media is that Brill stepped aside from daily management some time ago. Got it: you are not responsible. Unfortunately, Brill isn’t done with us yet. He has one more bad idea that, like Clear, involves gathering up data, segregating worthy information from unworthy, and charging for it: Journalism Online.

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#iran

Noam Cohen wrote in the New York Times this weekend -- Twitter on the Barricades -- analyzing the impact of Twitter on the events of the last several days in Iran. There is no question that Twitter has been influential in transmitting and spreading what is happening on the ground there. But focusing solely on the Twitter-effect misses the larger and more consequential communication story. Any one communication tool in a web of such tools does not act alone in producing tremendous social network effects. What is especially noteworthy in the information transfer that is occurring around the dramatic events in Iran is how utterly dispersed yet interwoven and mutually reinforcing the various expression and transmission outlets are -- both analog and digital.

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Extension Satisfies AMC, Weiner

This week, fans of “Mad Men” were treated to some real-life drama about the upcoming third season of the acclaimed AMC original series. Strangely enough, a television show about an advertising guy and his model wife set more than four decades ago may be at the forefront of new revenue models for television advertising.

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"Yesterday" is so Today in The Beatles: Rock Band

Anyone who’s seen me flail at Guitar Hero understands - even encourages - my reticence to play Rock Band. In spite of my enthusiasm, intense concentration and true desire to rock out, I once performed so poorly that a kind friend suggested to the room that “perhaps the signal isn’t getting through.” That, combined with the overt disappointment and head-shaking from the animated characters on-screen put me off the game. I must say, however, that for the opportunity to play some Beatles Rock Band, I would again risk such embarrassment.

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Change is Gonna Come

The American Idol finale will easily win the ratings war this week. Despite another year of declining viewership (and the disappointing coherence of Paula Abdul), it remains the number one show on television. This year’s final battle between aw-shucks Christian boy-next-door Kris Allen and aw-hell that boy ain’t right queen-of-scream Adam Lambert may have looked like red versus blue state politics personified. But truth is, the secret of Idol's success is the same popular narrative playing out over and over across American culture today.

 With the economy in the proverbial terlet and our own future uncertain, we take comfort in cheering on the average Joes and the biggest losers as they claw their way toward transformation.

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Mommy Bloggers May Grimace, But I'm Lovin' It

Something shocking has happened at McDonald’s, the likes of which we haven't seen since the embezzlement scandal that sent Mayor McCheese to white collar prison in the mid-80s. For the first time in its almost 30 year existence, the Happy Meal's freebie is a piece of media rather than a cheap, plastic doodad. Clouds part, angels sing. And sing they will, to the jaunty tunes of Kidz Bop.

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Should Twitter Be Quarantined?

The gloves are off (and the hand sanitizer, on). While the world searches for the latest facts and figures on the swine flu, some are singling out Twitter for drumming up global panic and spreading misinformation. Have the old media dinosaurs exposed a genetic flaw in the new social media species, or are they bellowing in vain as they sink deeper into the tar pit?

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An Open Letter to Ad Age

Ad Age released five new rules for marketing this week and invited emails for other “new rules.” At Patrick Davis Partners, we agree that these times demand new thinking by marketers. We even released our own thoughts about new priorities for a post-agency age last November. So with a nod to the “radical transparency” Ad Age cites, and a sense that one ought to practice what one preaches, we’re responding in an open letter instead of an email.

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The Good Business of Good Citizenship

For most Americans, the conspicuous consumption of the late 20th century was not just a show of status or an assumed birthright in the land of plenty, it was an act of justified (if not inspired) patriotism. Prospering and buying things proved the American system worked. In our greatest moment of national crisis, George W. Bush called us to arms post-9/11, with the rallying cry of “go shopping” to support our economy and stabilize our nation. Consumption was the way to fight back; it was our role as citizens. Economic policies followed that fueled this citizen-consumer march into battle. But something else happened along the way, too. We didn’t just shop. We reconnected. We found new ways of expressing citizenship, and they can serve us well now as marketers, if we follow a few, new citizen-based rules.

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Social Media: A Marketplace of Sour Milk and Champagne

It would be a mistake to believe that social media is about technology. The underlying technology -- which will assuredly change -- is like the electricity running a factory: it enables certain functions, but is not the purpose of the place. Content drives social media. Why? Because content forms communities... and communities form markets.

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Voice Beyond Petulance

Peggy Noonan recently wrote an opinion piece in the WSJ detailing what she interpreted as the depression we are feeling as we sense “something slipping away, a world receding, not only an economic one but a world of old structures, old ways and assumptions.” I agree with her overarching sentiment – and know a lot of people who are anxious and depressed in the current environment, and for good reason. But holding a glass to the cultural wall and listening closely - pardon me Peggy, but the loudest voice I hear is petulance.

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Microsoft’s Viral Disconnect: Pretending to Build the Brand

There’s plenty of chatter about Microsoft’s new viral video. Great. You got some people to watch it, and with this post, even more. At a technical level, the spot is working (pun intended). At a brand level, I am at a loss.

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A Talking Head by Any Other Name

Pity poor CNBC. Oh, the horror. To be taken on by a comedian - a comedian! - and lose. To have the comedian come off as more serious, more substantive, more tuned in to the zeitgeist, more honest. To have a funnyman call you out for not doing your job. And then to have that showdown not just air and be forgotten, but pick up speed virally and, for gosh sakes, make the front page of the Financial Times, among others, despite all the media weight you use (Stewart’s term: “all those peacocks”) to try to downplay it.

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Companion Baking Identity

After ten years, Companion was embarking on an ambitious plan to expand its bakery/cafe business. In conjunction with the expansion, Saint Louis-based designlab and Atlanta-based Patrick Davis Partners developed a unique identity. The wordmark and logo—birds holding various conversations about life, bread and friendship—provided the foundation for an extensive brand strategy. Because a majority of the design would be produced in-house, a Brand Expression Guide was developed to assist designers and vendors with creating a cohesive presence.

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Unbound Edition, Rebound

Welcome to the new Unbound Edition. For the past two years, our readers have made Unbound Edition one of the Web’s most read marketing news aggregators and blogs. Along the way, we have laughed with you, listened to you and learned from you. Thank you. Now, we are making some changes to serve you better and to take advantage of new technologies.

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Brendan Canning

Broken Social Scene’s hugely talented founding member, Brendan Canning, busted out on his own in 2008 with his album Something for All of Us. The Brothers Gibbsian track “Love is New” features Canning using his walk, with very little time to talk.

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Wandering Generality or Meaningful Specific?

Seth Godin makes a great case for not using Twitter... if you’re Seth Godin. Can you be the best at Twitter in your little world? Maybe. Can you be the best in your world at Twitter, Flickr and Facebook? Probably not. Seth’s advice: find your niche. Be the best at it. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Create a brilliant little product, service, or idea that people want to talk about. Then craft a compelling story that helps them do just that.

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6th Sense... Without the Dead People

MIT’s Pattie Maes and her sidekick Pranav Mistry set out to bridge the divide between the real and digital world. Their goal: leverage the vast amounts of data currently living on the web and in our social networks to aid real-time, real-world decision-making. The results of their work, demonstrated at TED, are jaw-dropping.

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Animal Collective

Animal Collective is a revolving group of musicians originally from Baltimore. Their avant-garde style leaves listeners divided – fans can’t say enough about their creative genius while others walk away perplexed as to what all the fuss is about. The band’s latest album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, has been lauded by critics as a body of work that maintains the band’s experimental approach while being far more accessible than previous albums.

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The Sound of Silence

1899 U.S. Patent Office Commissioner Charles H. Duell is commonly (and falsely) attributed with having claimed “everything that can be invented has been invented.” Woody Norris thinks the opposite is true. His latest invention, hypersonic sound, creates high quality sound without breaking the silence. What a brilliant gift for a culture with a noise problem.

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2019: A Good Year for Architects

Microsoft wowed the web in 2007 with the Surface. Its latest vision of the future, 2019, is equally powerful (for a shorter version click here). The video features hyper-productive professionals in perfect sync with technology. The beautiful special effects and hypnotic music distract the viewer from the fact that, given the roomy planes, empty airports and sparsely-populated cities we see, a superflu apparently has killed off all but a handful of architects and their children.   Plague aside, imagining a world like this makes us smile - as do the comments left by YouTube viewers, who inject a healthy dose of Microsoft, circa 2009, into this utopian world.

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Newspapers Beyond the Infographic

What should newspapers do?  What newspaper can’t do.

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J. Tillman

  Seattle-based J. Tillman is both a solo artist and a member of the much-lauded Fleet Foxes. “First Born,” a fine track from Tillman’s latest album, Vacilando Territory Blues, is sparse but beautiful. This video reflects that sparse beauty as it focuses upward on the natural rhythm of an avian slow-dance.

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What We Mean When We Say Hope

Surgeon and writer Sherwin Nuland makes a brilliant connection between medicine and language. “If there’s one operation for a disease,” he explains, “you know it works. If there are 15 operations, you know that none of them work.” Such it is, he suggests, with the many definitions of the word hope. In this talk, Nuland traces the latest political and cultural buzzword to its IndoEuropean root to find its original meaning. Studying the etymology of this powerful concept, he proposes, is the only way we can hope to make sense of it.

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Searching for MAILER's-DAEMON

Shortly before his death, Norman Mailer said “every one of my books has killed me a little more.” Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling memoir Eat, Pray, Love, explores the psychological pressure that comes with creative pursuits, and the intense fear that each short dance with brilliance may be one’s last.

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My Better Half

Neuroanatamist Jill Bolte Taylor understood the brain like few others. Then she had a stroke. In this video, she describes the revelation that came from the fracture: the recalibration that stemmed from seeing herself wholly through the perspective of each separate hemisphere.

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Maybe She’s Born with It. Maybe It’s Fiber!

I saw Benefiber’s current commercial for the first time last night, and it caught me off-guard.

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Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele

Mississippi-based Dent May is an unlikely stud.  An American counterpart to Sweden’s Jens Lekman, May recently released his first album, The Feel Good Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele. “Meet Me In The Garden” is the first single.

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What Love Really Looks Like

  A bright spot in Bright Eyes’ otherwise maudlin repertoire, “The First Day of My Life” reminds us that love isn't as complicated as we make it this time each year.

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The Boss At His Best

If you’ve ever had the privilege of seeing Bruce Springsteen perform live, you know that it’s unlike any other live show. It’s not just a concert, it’s chemistry. Jon Stewart once said, “Do you like joy? If you do, you should go and see Bruce Springsteen.” Unfortunately, this did not translate to home viewers of the Super Bowl halftime show.

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Sometimes a Beer is Just a Beer

For those who think TeleFlora’s verbally abusive bouquet delivered the most offensive lines of the Super Bowl, behold the purple prose of Heineken’s Warrior...

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Hey CNN, Have You Seen This?

Oh that’s a trick question – you MUST have seen it because I watched it on your air.

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Resolution Week: Take More Risks

  IDEO CEO Tim Brown discusses freedom from judgement and the importance of play to the creative process.

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Resolution Week: Make Smarter Decisions

Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert shares Dutch-Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli’s secret to making the best decision possible every time, and explains why we rarely do so.

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Resolution Week: Live Morally

For one year, journalist A.J. Jacobs strictly followed the 700+ rules he mined from the Bible. He tossed his polycotton, kepy holy the Sabbath and even stoned a 70-year-old adulterer. His greatest insight: changing behavior changes thinking, not vice versa.

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Resolution Week: Eat Better

New York Times food writer Mark Bittman gives a brief history of eating in America, and how too much meat, too few plants, too much fast food, and too little home cooking started killing us.

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A Very Hall & Oates Christmas

UE’s holiday spirit continues with the dancing and prancing duo, Hall & Oates. Commence the jingle hop!

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Happy Holidays from UE

    Remember: No man is a failure who has friends. We wish you and yours the very best.

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Christmas Remix

Holiday parties always bring diverse people together. Your sister's boyfriend Mitch, fresh out of prison. Your cousin Mary who wants to tell everyone all about the multi-level marketing opportunity she just discovered. That strange boy in the corner eating nothing but black olives.  GAP's new campaign celebrates the joy of holiday mixing by giving web visitors the tools to create their own odd couplings from the likes of the Dixie Chicks, Rainn Wilson, Janelle Monae, Sandra Bernhard, Flo Rida, Trey Songz, Selma Blair and others. Don't forget the olives.

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Beware the Blank Sheet of Paper

Many of America’s greatest achievements were born of our bleakest eras. This week we look at how constraints inspire innovation... Google Vice President of User Experience Marissa Mayer explains how starting inside the lines can inspire great ideas.

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Web 2.0 Summit 08: Web Politics

  If the Internet did not exist, would Barack Obama be President? Not according to Arianna Huffington. Here, at the Web 2.0 Summit '08, John Heilemann of New York Magazine, Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post, Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco, and Joe Trippi of Trippi and Associates talk about the current state of politics and the role the Web has played.

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Web 2.0 Summit 08: Facebook

  Last week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke at the Web 2.0 Summit '08 about Facebook Connect, the newest developments in social networking, monetizing social networking and the future of Facebook.

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Web 2.0 Summit 08: Zappos.com

  Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, dishes about the Zappos brand, its number one priority (company culture), its investment in the customer experience and its plan for the future at the Web 2.0 Summit '08.

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The Election and the Web

  The use of digital and social media in the 2008 Presidential Election has forever changed the United States' election landscape. But how will it impact elections abroad? The U.K.'s Sky News examines the candidates' use of the Web and how it might affect campaigns across the pond.

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Out of Context

  This MadTV skit may be a few months old - telling voters to choose between a war hero, a black guy and a woman - but its portrayal of campaign ads seems to be particularly accurate in the days before the election.

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The Campaign Team

  How does Mr. Burns even stand a chance against the state's most beloved governor? By fixing his image using the finest campaign team that money can buy.

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The Youth Vote

  In this segment of the Onion News Network's "Beyond The Facts," a precocious 8-year-old girl participates in grown-up politics by creating her own ad attacking McCain. Because you're never too young to get involved in politics, even if you're too young to vote.

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Gov. Palin gets WAMPed: 2008’s Top 527s

After witnessing the successful swiftboating of Sen. Kerry in the 2004 election, many pundits anticipated a flurry of devastating 527 ads in 2008. Surprisingly, stricter regulation and admonition from both candidates have limited television play. The ads have not, however, disappeared completely. The most notable (and powerful) spots of 2008 linger online, and the liberal groups who produced and distributed them have learned from and improved upon the 527s of elections past.

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Time for Some Campaignin'

  As campaign ads increase in frequency and negativity in the week before the election, we thought featuring humorous and quirky campaign videos would be a refreshing change of pace.  Here, the guys at JibJab bid farewell to Bush and officially kick off campaignin' season.

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Grim Economy Bites Deeper Into Marketing Industry

  Budget cuts, ad campaign cancellations, broad pullbacks, revenue declines and even some big marketer bankruptcies. Just how bad is it for the media and marketing industries? Advertising Age editor Jonah Bloom offers his insight on the conversations around marketing budgets, the challenges agencies face in winning new business and the absolute need to continue investing in brands.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Two, Episode 12

The Unbound Edition Players, jetlagged from traveling to both coasts to perform this week’s production, now present “The Mountain King.” When the evil villain Dr. Greg shows up and twirls his moustache, feel free to boo and hiss.

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Keep Advertising!

  This commercial, a result of the early 90s recession, encourages companies to keep the momentum going around their brands by continuing to advertise. The same advice could be given to companies today, as many marketers consider decreasing their marketing budgets, or even slashing them completely.

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How the Markets Really Work

  Amazingly, this video was created in 2007, before the collapse of the U.S. economy. Originally airing on "Bremner, Bird and Fortune," an award-winning, satirical British television show, the sketch forewarns of the meltdown and reminds us that markets are based on sentiment. All with a pinch of British humor.

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The Recession and Retailers

  As the economic crisis tightens the wallets of shoppers throughout the nation, retailers are scrambling to find ways to increase consumer holiday spending. From early bargains to promotions to e-coupons and even scaling back on inventory, retailers are preparing for a dismal shopping season.

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Diller on Media Differences

  Barry Diller, CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp, compares his experiences at traditional media companies like Paramount and Fox with running an Internet company. The biggest difference? The people who make the editorial decisions about the content we see.

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Architecture as Marketing

  Next week, Jet Blue will open its new $740 million T5 terminal at New York's JFK Airport, the first new terminal built in the U.S. since 9/11. When desiging the new 26-gate hub, the company worked with architects to create a distinct brand experience. Last month, Jet Blue held a ribbon-cutting celebration that was as much about the terminal's architecture as it was about marketing.

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The Web and the City

  Outside.in's Steven Johnson says the Web is like a city: built by many people, completely controlled by no one, intricately interconnected and yet functioning as many independent parts. Just as no single person is behind the personality of a neighborhood, a new model of interactivity is taking over the Web.

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Face Time

  The consulting firm Sensory Logic uses its "facial coding" technology, a system that studies the emotions expressed by facial muscles, to study second-by-second consumer reaction to TV commercials. Here, the company has applied its technology to analyze audience reactions to ads by both Obama and McCain.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Two, Episode Ten

Grab your inappropriately aged soulmate and gather ‘round as the Unbound Edition Players, still delusional from too much Benadryl, present “The Inheritance.”

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Au Revoir Simone

    Brooklyn-based Au Revoir Simone makes a lot of music with just two synthesizers, a drum machine and the occasional xylophone. The track “Sad Song,” is off of their second album, “The Bird of Music.”

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Social Networks for Boomers

  While social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace have been successful with a younger demographic, other sites are trying to gain popularity with a different age group, the baby boomers. Here, WebProNews talks with Multiply.com Board Member David Carlick and Chief Product Officer for TeeBeeDee.com David Markus about the future of these sites and how they are different from other social networks.

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Pushing Credit Cards to College Kids

  Credit card companies are notorious for marketing to college students on campus. Now, they are even using popular social networking sites to reach the coveted demographic. U.S. News and World Report Associate Editor Kimberly Palmer examines the ways companies target college kids on campus and online.

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Kids Getting Older, Younger

  According to a recent report, tweens wield $43 billion in spending power annually.  Here, Today Show Consumer Correspondent Janice Lieberman discusses the ways young girls are being overly sexualized in the mass media.

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Cradle to Grave Marketing

    Investigative journalist Susan Gregory Thomas has examined how companies are marketing to kids, even babies. She talks with Katie Couric about the effects of this practice.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: Mad Men, Season Two, Episode Nine

The Unbound Edition Players now present “Six Month Leave.” Be sure to pick up one of our UE-branded catheters at the gift kiosk on your way home this evening.

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The Runners

  Hailing from Herts, England, The Runners are just now gaining momentum in the U.S, among bands of the same ilk, including The Futureheads and The Kooks. Aptly named, The Runners’ energetic sound makes you want to lace up your trainers and get going.  “All Over Again” is their first single.

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Award-Winning Spam: You Be the Judge

If you won an award as the result of spam, would you want it?  Apparently the folks at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business think you would. They have spammed me to help them judge the overwhelming number of entries they have gotten worldwide.  If you spam, surely you consider your email public garbage worthy of being blown about in the digital wind — so I set it free here below.

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Morning in America

  With its messages of stability and optimism, is it any wonder that this ad for the Reagan campaign has been called one of the most effective campaign ads ever? Considering the current chaos in the U.S. economy, does anyone else want to go back to 1984?

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Markets, Marketers and Marketing: The End of the Road for Imposters

What is happening in the global financial markets is stunning, surely. I am more stunned, however, by the complete absence of dialogue in the marketing community about this historic moment. Like most stockbrokers who fell into success as markets expanded, most marketers only know how to carnival-call their offerings to cash-flush consumers. Say goodbye to that easy effort. The age of true strategy is at hand. It is make or break, to be sure.

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Experience Matters

  This ad for John F. Kennedy aired nearly 50 years ago, yet it sounds eerily familiar to the campaign ads of 2008. Lack of "experience"...needing to "get back to you" with examples...the question is, who will provide "real leadership" now?

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Self-Improvement by Satellite: An American Portrait in Real Time

I subscribed to satellite radio for the programming.  Little did I know that with my paid subscription they would throw in a Walmart-worthy makeover.

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Daisy Girl

  Though it only aired on television once, this controversial ad for Lyndon Johnson's campaign was instrumental in his win over Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, who had made comments about using nuclear weapons in Vietnam. Johnson's campaign quickly pulled the ad after criticism, but by that time, the fear-inducing attack ad had already served its purpose.

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I Like Ike

  With the number of political ads bombarding us every day, it's hard to believe the election is still weeks away. For those of you who are already tired of the candidates' "approved" messages, we look to political ads of the past for a little relief. This ad from Eisenhower, produced by Disney, was one of the first political ads to appear on TV.

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Estelle

    British singer and rapper Estelle has been a celebrated artist in the U.K. since her self-titled debut album was released on her own label, Stella Ents. Her first hit, “1980,” hit the charts in 2004, showing that she was in good company with peers such as Ms. Dynamite. She now is gaining popularity in the U.S. with “American Boy” featuring Kanye West, and her new album, Shine. “No Substitute Love” combines a catchy reggae feel with an unexpected ode to George Michael.

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The Importance of Creative Quality

  The desire to create content does not equal the creation of compelling content that is capable of engaging large online audiences. Here, PepsiCo.'s North American VP of Marketing Frank Cooper discusses the importance of creative quality, even in an age of consumer-generated content.

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Animator vs. Animation

  Everyone knows Web developers are evil - why else would they torture us with things like codes and bots and languages some of us may never understand? Yet, you can't argue with their creativity. Here, a duel between a cruel Flash developer and his feeble stick creation.

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Spore: Create!

  Despite negative press around Electronic Arts' strict digital-rights management "scheme" (which it recently relaxed), Spore has been one of the year's most anticipated PC games. Here, Spore creator Will Wright talks about the role creativity plays within Spore and explains the philosophy behind Spore's creativity-based gameplay.

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Font Conference

  A font can say a lot about a brand's personality, making it one of those minute details that inevitably is debated during the creative process. Here, fonts take on their own personalities in a humorous skit by the guys at CollegeHumor.

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Substance vs. Hype: Celebrities

    The Wall Street Journal asks readers if their parenting skills stack up to Britney's. Newsweek tells us 15 things we didn't know about Paris. And the New York Times confirms that yes, Larry Birkhead is the father (duh). Is it any wonder Americans are apathetic about the real issues? Celebrity news can be a nice break from the daily grind, but let's leave it to Perez to handle the reporting.

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Substance vs. Hype: Wall Street Pranks

  Monday, as Lehman Brothers employees walked out of the building with boxes full of belongings, Sal and Richard from the Howard Stern show effectively turned the serious news story into a frat boy prank. What's worse, the CNN anchors felt the need to joke about it afterward. UE enjoys a good laugh, but we still think fundamentals - like staying solvent - are critical issues for America. Let's focus on what's important.

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Substance vs. Hype: Lipstick on a Pig

  With all of the media talk about lipstick on a pig, one might think Miss Piggy herself was preparing to enter the 2008 race for the White House. In this political season, UE votes for substance over hype.

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Substance vs. Hype: Large Hadron Collider

  While the scientists at CERN prepared for what has been called the biggest physics experiment in history, media outlets around the world seemed to care only about the sensational side of the story.  In a week where UE looks at the media's tendency to focus on hype over facts, we say stop worrying about the end of the world and start learning about the world.

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Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

    Springfield, Illinois’ own SSLYB recently released their second album, Pershing. The video for the first single, “Modern Mystery,” explores the potential peril of a paper route gone bad.

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Trends in Mobile Advertising

  Advertising Age digital editor Abbey Klaassen hosts a roundtable on mobile marketing with Eric Bader of Brand in Hand, Cynthia McIntyre of Careerbuilder.com, Richard Ting of R/GA and Maria Mandel of Ogilvy. The group discusses the meaning of mobile marketing, the use of applications, and the need for a relevant and entertaining user experience.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Two, Episode Seven

Please take your seats as the Unbound Edition players present “The Gold Violin.” Heads up to the front row: you might want to have some Gallagher-esque plastic sheeting on standby.

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Volvo Goes Mobile

  Volvo is one company that is using Bluetooth technology to distribute multimedia mobile content to customers who enter its showrooms. Through the free Bluetooth technology, customers can receive videos, 360 degree views of the cars and even set up a test drive. With all of this information literally at our fingertips, who needs car salesmen?

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Mobile from the Eyes of the Marketer

  People aren't always in front of their e-mail, but they usually have their cell phones on them.  Here, the founders of AdVieux, a firm specializing in the creation and execution of mobile marketing campaigns, discuss some of the many ways cell phones can be used for marketing, including mobile coupons, notification of special events or sweepstakes, and time-based offers, among others.

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Issues in Mobile Marketing

   Laura Marriott, president of the Mobile Marketing Association, discusses some of the issues currently affecting mobile marketing such as consumer engagement, relevant content and quantitative metrics at CTIA Wireless 2008.

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Save Money. Live Better. vs. Expect More. Pay Less.

  While Wal-Mart may not be completely recession proof, its "Save Money. Live Better." message has not been ignored by consumers seeking ways to save a few dollars.  Even Target, known for its "cheap-chic" designs, is adjusting its marketing messages to emphasize its value and convenience in order to better compete with Wally World.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Two, Episode Six

Leave your soul at the door, grab a bottle of whiskey, and watch as the Unbound Edition Players present their entire performance of “Maidenform” from outside, their sad little noses pressed against the window.

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Relationship Marketing in Tough Times

    Relationship marketing can be one of the most important strategies during a recession. Here, Jim Cathcart, author, professional  speaker, and founder and president of Cathcart Institute, Inc., discusses how businesses can grow in any economy when relationships are a priority.

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Recession Marketing Tips from Kraft

    According to Kraft Foods CMO Mary Beth West, in order to keep products moving during a recession, companies must understand the economy from the viewpoint of the consumer. Speaking at Ad Age's annual Women to Watch luncheon, Kraft's marketing chief explains how America's largest food company is using data to adjust its marketing strategies.

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Gnarls Barkley Makes Hearts Sing …

  … In the video for the latest single “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul?” Hmmm. Creepy. Maybe Gnarls is crazy, after all?

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Defending Public Relations

PRSA Chair and CEO Jeffrey Julin is featured in this video response to CBS Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen's commentary challenging the integrity of the public relations profession.  "Show me a PR person who is "accurate" and "truthful," and I'll show you a PR person who is unemployed," Cohen said.  This, coming from a legal analyst?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Two, Episode Five

Break out your specimen collection cups and toast the Unbound Edition Players as they present “The New Girl.”

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The Art of "PR"

  Is it any wonder why "PR" is often equated with "spin"?  As the digital revolution changes the face of the communications industry, honesty and transparency have become essential.  Yet, many still think "PR" and propaganda are one and the same.  Will public relations ever overcome its own tarnished reputation?

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The Best of Times

  Richard Edelman, Global CEO of Edelman, gives his perspective on the future of public relations and the communications industry. According to Edelman, this is the "best of times for PR."

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Brian Solis on PR and Social Media

  In this odd combination of wine tasting and interview, BuzzLogic talks with Brian Solis, founder of FutureWorks, co-founder of the Social Media Club, and author of the blog "PR 2.0," about the social media press release and the impact new media is having on the public relations industry.

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Ladies of the World

    Why do the ladies of the world love roller skates?   According to Bret and Jermaine, a.k.a. the Flight of the Conchords, it's "the rhythm of the movement of the feel of the wheel of the rhythm of the feeling."  But you decide, as you watch the Kiwi roller kings' smooth moves in their new video for "Ladies of the World."

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Two, Episode Four

Begrudgingly, the Unbound Edition Players lumber across the stage to present “Three Sundays.” That clunking sound you just heard is the prop guy bringing in an artificial respirator to try to breathe some life into this corpse.

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The Death of the Newspaper

    Will the Internet cause newspapers to go extinct?  According to Jack Kapica of the Globe and Mail, as long as people want to see their name - or company name - in print, newspapers aren't dying anytime soon.  In Kapica's opinion, the real threat isn't the Internet, but rather investors who demand higher and higher profit margins.  What do you think?

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Jeff Jarvis on Journalism

  Speaking at the AlwaysOn conference in February 2008, Jeff Jarvis, associate professor and director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism, discusses the future of journalism and how a little cell phone may cause huge ripples in the news industry.

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Newspapers and Digital Platforms

  While print newspaper readership is declining, online newspapers are gaining readers, especially among people ages 25 to 34. Chris Saridakis, Chief Digital Officer of Gannett Company Inc., discusses the social and technical challenges involved when newspapers transfer content onto digital platforms.

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The Future of Media

    In recent months, thousands of print journalists have lost their jobs.  Newspaper circulation is down, as well as advertising revenue, page counts and stock prices.  A new survey reveals that, for the first time, fewer than half of Americans are reading a newspaper on a daily basis.  Here, a look at the future of media and the challenges impacting the newspaper industry through interviews with several media makers who are creating their own content for their own niches on their own time, and foresee a future that will make traditional media obsolete.

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Devendra Banhart – Bollywood Style

    Venezuelan-American Devendra Banhart is known for his eccentric dress, low-rise pants and surreal, often pretty songs. In the video for his new track, “Carmencita,” starring Natalie Portman, Banhart goes old Bollywood movie-style, complete with grainy footage and oddly translated subtitles.

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The More We Get Together

    McDonald's, an official sponsor of the Olympics since 1976, has committed more dollars to Beijing 2008 than any other Games. The fast food giant introduced new menu items, such as the Beijing Burger and Rice Sticks, in stores across the globe, sent 300 kids from 40 countries to the Beijing Games through its Champion Kids program, launched an online game called "The Lost Ring" and implemented a viral component allowing visitors to FacetheGlory.com to superimpose their heads on athletes' bodies and send the images to friends.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season Two, Episode Three

This week, the Unbound Edition Players take the stage for their interpretation of “The Benefactor.” Just a warning: afterward, you might not want to shake their hands.

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The Bird's Nest, Coca-Cola Style

    As a "real" global company, Coca-Cola is a natural global sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In addition to its advertising campaign, which includes this cute take on Beijing's Bird's Nest, Coca-Cola also collaborated with Chinese artists to create a series of specially designed bottles, developed interactive games for its website, and implemented the largest-ever Bluetooth campaign.

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Go World

    Visa, an official sponsor of the past 11 Olympics, is using its presence at the Games to increase its global acceptance. Along with its U.S. "Go World" ad campaign, Visa ran a promotion in 66 countries offering cardholders the opportunity to win a trip to the Olympics, installed more than 90,000 ATMs in China, and created an online campaign asking consumers to submit photos that represented the Olympic theme, "Faster. Highter. Stronger."

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NBC’s Old-Media Thinking Means Missed Opportunity

“Tune in at this time” is one of the reasons the top-down, big-media model is struggling. By delaying the airing of the Olympics opening ceremonies, NBC limited its thinking to this old broadcast model and squandered the opportunity to leverage its online assets.

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Nothing Is Impossible

  One of the top 2008 Olympics sponsors, Adidas has spend tens of millions on its "Nothing Is Impossible" campaign, which includes advertisements, user-generated videos and online trading cards featuring athletes and other Olympics-oriented images. The campaign will continue even after the Games end, as Adidas plans to open 5,000 new stores in China by the end of 2008.

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Alltop: Am I the Last to Know?

Does everybody already know about this wonderful site, which provides massive amounts of content "aggregation without the aggravation," as the Alltoppers say?  It's new to me -- but then again, much is.

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Brand China, Sponsored by the Olympic Games

With 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, we see a China that is a powerhouse of contemporary, iconic architecture. We see a China that is global host, not a walled world. We see an entire culture struggling with freedom, technology and the environment. From this view, China is a massive case study -- a window into -- the global future.

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Gorillaz Go Olympic

    In May 2008, the BBC commissioned Gorillaz founders Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn to produce an animated commercial for the Beijing Olympics. It hit British television two weeks ago and shows how Gorillaz infused the Olympic theme with their style. Not sure about you, but this totally gets us in the mood for some pommel horse action.

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Beijing Olympics: The Great Firewall of China

  This video from Digital Journal was created more than a year ago, yet the Internet censorship issues it discusses are still a problem just one day before the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremonies. But as bloggers find ways around China's censorship, and citizen journalism increases, could the 2008 Olympics spell the end of China's great firewall?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Two, Episode Two

This week, the Unbound Edition Players, accompanied by their love children, present their interpretation of “Flight 1.”

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Beijing Olympics: Made in China

    The Made in China label has taken a hit as the world has come to fear tainted pet food, lead in toys and poisonous toothpaste.  CNN International looks at the recent safety recalls of products made in China, evaluates Beijing's response and highlights China's attempt to protect its brand name.

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Beijing Olympics: Clearing the Pollution

    Despite closing down factories and drastically restricting traffic in order to reduce pollution, a thick smog still shrouds Beijing.  While China has said it will continue anti-pollution efforts after the Olympics, whether the athletes can handle the pollution-ridden air still remains to be seen.

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Beijing Olympics: Human Rights

  With the Beijing 2008 Olympics approaching, this week UE looks at China and the cultural issues that have defined the country's image. One of these issues, the controversy over China’s human rights record, continues even as the opening ceremonies are just days away. New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), a New York-based, non-profit television and news organization dedicated to providing an alternative voice on Chinese culture and issues, originally aired this story about the forced evictions, and in some cases incarceration, of Beijing business and home owners to make way for the 2008 Olympics.

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Fleet Foxes

    Seattle’s Fleet Foxes describe their music as “baroque harmonic pop jams.”  “White Winter Hymnal,” a single off of their self-titled debut shows you exactly what that means.

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Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should

    There are many great commercials that epitomize advertising in the 1960s, but perhaps none better than the cigarette commercial.  This ad for Winston uses The Flintstones, the same characters on children's vitamins today, to promote rich tobacco flavor 20-times a pack.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season Two, Episode One

After nine months of unemployment and government cheese, the Unbound Edition Players finally return to the stage in “For Those Who Think Young.” Kindly refrain from heckling or hurling your Jujubes. They’re a little rusty.

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Tastes Good as Fresh-Perked!

  What do you get when you combine a lack of confidence, male dominance and Folger's Instant Coffee?  A happy marriage!

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The Hamburger Happy Clown

    This early McDonald's ad features a creepy Ronald McDonald that most of us have never seen before.  Played by Willard Scott, Ronald is fully equipped with a magic tray to keep him supplied with hamburgers, another tray hat on his head, and a bad jingle to boot.

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A Quicker Tan with QT

    In honor of the return of AMC's "Mad Men" (and UE's "Attention Deficit Theater"), this week we will be featuring classic commercials from the 1960s. This one, for Coppertone QT, advertises the first sunless tanning lotion. Although many people have changed their minds about tanning since '60s, the active ingredient in QT remains the same for bronzing products today.

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Joan As Police Woman

  Joan Wasser, a.k.a. Joan As Police Woman, formerly of the Dambuilders recently released her second solo album, "To Survive." "To Be Loved" is the first single off the album. Listening to her voice, it's pretty easy to see why Jeff Buckley fell in love with her.

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Consuming Kids

    American kids now influence an estimated $700 billion in annual spending, targeted virtually from birth with sophisticated commercial appeals designed to sell everything from Hollywood merchandise and junk foods to iPods, cell phones, the family car and vacations.

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Why Twitterers Love Tweeting

  Why do people love Twitter?  More than 100 Twitterers responded to that very question via the social media/microblogging technology.  Their answers varied, but many mentioned the ability to feel socially connected to others, meet new people and have fun.  Why do you love (or hate) Twitter?

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Attention Deficit Theatre Ready to Lift Curtain for “Mad Men,” Season Two

After what seems like the longest hiatus in history, the Unbound Edition Players are, at last, ready to return to the stage for the second season of "Mad Men" recaps. The only potential hitch is that the players just moved to Atlanta, where the wardrobe department doesn’t seem to offer anything but hoop skirts and parasols. (That “woo-hoo!” you just heard was Salvatore.)

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Global Digital Journalism

  Joyce Barnathan, an award-winning former journalist with BusinessWeek and Newsweek, discusses how the Internet has transformed the way news is reported across the globe, particularly in developing countries, while arguing that journalism today must uphold quality and integrity in a fragmented digital landscape.

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Facebook Page Personalizes Tragedy

A tragedy today in Maplewood, Mo., shows how social networking sites can provide a morbid glimpse into a life lost. One that’s arguably far more powerful than the ubiquitous news story featuring grieving friends and family.

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Memes and Temes

    Susan Blackmore studies memes: ideas that replicate themselves from brain to brain like a virus. She makes a new argument: Humanity has spawned a new kind of meme, the teme, which spreads itself via technology -- and invents ways to keep itself alive.

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House of Cards

  Once again, Radiohead is doing things differently. In their new video for "House of Cards," no cameras or lights were used. Instead, 3D plotting technologies collected information about the shapes and relative distances of objects. The video was created entirely with visualizations of that data. Don’t understand what that means, exactly? Well, if you do (or want to learn more) the band invites fans to make videos of their own and post them on the Radio Head “House of Cards” YouTube page.

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Made in American Apparel

    American Apparel's CEO Dov Charney discusses his company's commitment to quality, fair labor and the "Made in America" label - as well as the controversies around the brand - with CBS Sunday Morning.

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Whole Earth Generation

    For Earth Day 2008, Whole Foods created another outlet to express its social agenda with the Whole Earth Generation video contest for children. From a cute kid rapping about the environment to an awkward teenager giving an election-style speech about "the problem of today," these contest winners just might convince you  that you can make the world a little better (by shopping at Whole Foods).

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On Everyone's Agenda

    While other carmakers use beautiful scenery to sell cars, Toyota sells the Earth as the reason to buy a Prius, a car the company calls a continual work in progress to solve the world's biggest problem.

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A Beautiful World

  As Americans' wallets continue to tighten, Target's Design for All mantra reminds us that we don't have to sacrifice great design when shopping on a budget.

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The Baseball Project

  When you think summer’s too hot and humid to tolerate, few things are more welcome than new summer music to take the edge off. The Baseball Project may just be the stuff that cools us in 2008.     A true “super group,” made up of Steve Wynn, Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck and Linda Pitmon, The Baseball Project is all about the greats (and not-so-greats) of baseball. Its songs tell the stories of baseball legends such as Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial, Teddy Williams and Mark McGwire in a college rock way that both reveres the past and questions the future of America’s Favorite Pastime.

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The iPhone 3G

    With only one day left before the Apple iPhone 3G officially goes on sale, David Pogue of the New York Times recaps the highs and lows of iPhone 2 while checking in with those already waiting in line.

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Good Game

    Did you see that catch?  Or, rather, did you see that Gatorade bottle next to the ball girl's feet?  While no one is claiming responsibility for this viral video, Gatorade is happily claiming the buzz around it.

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It's All About the Story

    As advertisers try tactic after tactic to keep consumers' attention during commercial breaks, Coca-Cola's Happiness Factory ads, including its most recent three-and-a-half minute movie, have garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube alone.

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Design and the Elastic Mind

  Solar cells that look like ivy? Gastric juices to power a flashlight? Paola Antonelli, curator of MoMA's "Design and the Elastic Mind," explains the elasticity of modern life and how designers take major revolutions in science and technology and transform them into objects that we can actually use.

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Fourth of July

    May the dreamy music of Galaxie 500 kick off for you a safe and fun Independence Day weekend.

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Big Box America

  While WALL-E tells the story of the Earth's demise thanks to Buy n Large, the guys at JibJab take a humorous, yet all too real, stab at the American Big Box Mart.

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Live By It

  Talk about a lifestyle. For more than 100 years, this iconic brand has symbolized freedom and rebellion, two traits that are as American as baseball and apple pie.

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Rebuilding Brand America

  As Independence Day approaches, a top-notch panel of global influencers at Davos 2008 provide their thoughts on how the next president can rebuild the United States' brand equity.

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Girl Talk: Killer Mash-Up, Killer Video

  Girl Talk is the stage name for mash-up DJ Greg Gillis, based in Pittsburgh, Pa. By seamlessly joining samples from artists that span the spectrum of musical taste - from G-Unit to Genesis, Nelly to Neutral Milk Hotel, Jay-Z to Jefferson Airplane - Gillis creates entirely new songs. This video for Girl Talk's track “Bounce That” was created by 64 Communication Studies students at Concordia University for the Open Source Cinema Project. Inspired by the Rotoshop animation of Bob Sabiston (A Scanner Darkly), each student rotoscoped 1 – 3 seconds of video over three weeks. A ton of work, yes. But this video rules.

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Post-Agency Era, Now Powered by Google

Ad Planner service from Web giant announces age of advertising brokerage.

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Twitter for Dummies

  Forget Friendster and MySpace.  Even Facebook is getting old. Here, a step-by-step introduction to today's hottest social media site, Twitter.

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Facebook in Real Life

  Do we interact with others differently on social networks than we do in person? Let's see...Would ever actually "poke" an old acquaintance in reality? How about write on someone's wall? I didn't think so.

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Web Sensations: The Soundtrack

  If you have a problem with Chris Crocker, Diet Coke and Mentos, or Irag and the whatnot, you call Weezer and deal with them!

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Broadcasting a Joyful Noise: R.E.M. and Politics in the Digital Age

In one powerful night, R.E.M. concludes its North American tour with a meaningful set built for an election year and the digital age.

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Social Media Addiction

    Are you addicted to social media?  The Poetic Prophet, aka The SEO Rapper is back with an entertaining rap about the social media tools that have taken over our lives.

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Whoo Doggie!

    What happens when two tough cowboys face a fierce herd of Pomeranians? Only musicians/funny men We Are Scientists know the answer to this and other questions.

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A Fair(y) Use Tale

  In light of the AP's recent confusion over copyright law's "fair use" provision, professor Eric Faden of Bucknell University gives us an entertaining overview of the law through his own demonstration of fair use.

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Anything But Flat

  This Japanese ad campaign for Louis Vuitton, featuring characters created by acclaimed "Superflat" artist Takashi Murakami, is a true combination of art and marketing at its finest.

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Rabbits to the Rescue

    Don't worry, Microsoft, this one is okay to spread.  Featuring comedian Amy Sedaris, this viral video for Microsoft Office 2007 is cute and smart - two words not typically associated with Office products.

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Better Luck Next Time, Cubby

    So "Xanadu" isn't the Best Musical. Still, Tony Campaign Manager Cubby Bernstein's efforts have made the Tony Awards relevant again, at a time when the awards show's viewership is in decline.

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Just a Song about Ping Pong

    Queensland, Australia’s Operator Please was formed in 2005 by female vocalist Amandah Wilkinson who got the band mates together to enter their high school Battle of the Bands contest. Not surprisingly, they won. Now, they have moved from the high school gymnasium to huge music festivals and will be touring this summer with The Futureheads.

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The Data Web

    For the last word on Web 3.0, the Semantic Web, the Data Web or whatever you want to call it, we turn to Tim Berners Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web.

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5,000 Days

    Kevin Kelly, founder and editor-at-large of Wired magazine, shares his fascinating thoughts on the Web as it is now and where it is headed.  Just imagine where we'll be in another 5,000 days.

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The Semantic Web

    It's all semantics.  Here, a quick intoduction to the Semantic Web, aka Web 3.0.

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Web What?

    An easy question?  Hardly.  Here, Google's CEO Eric Schmidt gives his prediction for what the vague world of Web 3.0 might entail.

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A Tale of Two (Actually, Three) Hoosiers

    Hailing from Britain and Sweden, The Hoosiers music videos are as varied as lead singer Irwin Sparkes’ vocal range. This one for their song “Cops and Robbers” is Dickensian in nature, while others such as this one and this one are about monsters and superheroes. Viva la music video!

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A Decade of Design

    This mashup of Apple commercials from the past ten years demonstrates why the company is so strongly associated with innovation and design.  What will the next decade have in store?

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Web Design Rap

    Unsure of how to design a Web site? Never fear, the SEO Rapper is here with tips for proper Web design.

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Trends in Logo Design

  According to Logo Orange, these 10 trends will shape logo design in 2008.  Have their predictions come true?  Click here to read the accompanying article.

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Interactive Product Design

    More than just a recruitment tool for Otis College of Art and Design, this video provides insight into the intense process and art of product design.

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R.I.P. Fido …. and Teenage Angst

    French band M83 goes a little bit John Hughes, a little bit “Pet Cemetery” with this video for their new single, "Graveyard Girl."

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Consumer Review Week: Wii Fit

    This satirical look at the Wii Fit may convince you to think twice before buying the $89 game. That is, unless you enjoy such timeless activities as "leaning side to side," "roll the ball in the hole," and the ever-popular "step up on the white thing game."

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Consumer Review Week: The iPhone

    First rule of creating a video review for YouTube: make sure there is no "Coke or something" on the product. Oh, and you might want to stick to a script.

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Applying Portfolio Strategies to Advertising Strategies

NBC Universal is still trolling for broadcast advertising dollars the old fashioned way.  While they claim to be doing something different, their approach is far from innovative.  If NBCU wants to avoid extinction, its leaders should think like portfolio managers.

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Consumer Review Week: Little Mermaid Lollipop

  Some consumer reviews are serious and highly influential; others simply point out the multitude of stupid and pointless products out there. The latter is exemplified by this review of a Disney-licensed (really?) lollipop.

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Supernatural Superserious

    Wow, indeed. R.E.M. Accelerates into the summer with a collection of new songs that prove the legendary band is back and focused.

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The Real Last Crusade?

    Talk about reviving a brand. The latest installment of the Indiana Jones franchise opens in theaters today, 19 years after Indy's last crusade. Should he have remained retired? Only ticket sales will tell.

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RIP Atari

  The beloved Atari brand has been beaten and bruised since its heyday in the '70s and early '80s. After a number of name and ownership changes, Atari was finally bought out by Infogrames Entertainment in April 2008.

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Out of Gas

    When Amoco merged with BP in 1998, the plan was to convert all U.S. BP stations to Amoco-branded stations. By 2001, however, Amoco was a brand of the past, its familiar red, white and blue logo replaced by BP's green and yellow sunburst.

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Reviving the Brand: NKOTB

  Just because they started the boy band phenomenon doesn't mean they can revive it - or the New Kids on the Block brand. Will a new album and international tour breathe life into NKOTB, or is this one brand that should remain a memory?

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Their Name Is …

  The Ting Tings!. Go ahead, dance. We know you want to.

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Innovation at Google

  This long, yet fascinating, presentation by former Google CIO Douglas Merrill gives us insight into why the search giant consistently is named one of the world's most innovative companies.

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Stop Talking. Start Doing.

  Just because throw out a few buzzwords doesn't mean you're innovative.  As IBM points out in this broadcast campaign, innovation occurs when people stop talking and take action.

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Innovate or Die

    Sometimes the biggest innovations come from the smallest ideas.  This winner of last year's Innovate or Die competition developed a pedal-powered vehicle that transports, filters and stores water for the developing world.

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Defining Innovation

    BMW and kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen remind us that the walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds. Those that have the imagination to see beyond the walls are the truly innovative.

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We Fly Balloons On This Fuel Called …

  Front man Yannis Philippakis named his Oxford, England, band Foals because his surname means “little lover of horses” in Greek. How cute is that? Foals’ music is anything but cutesy, however. It moves at a healthy gait, with a fine balance of dance and rock and a healthy splash of saxophone.

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Corporate Video Week: The Hideous

  Is anyone really happy after watching this, or is that smile on your face just a result of permanent shock?

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Corporate Video Week: The Ugly

  The question is, which was rocked more? Microsoft's sales of Vista, or its reputation?

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Corporate Video Week: The Bad

  While there are plenty of bad corporate videos out there, this is one that is just unacceptable.

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Corporate Video Week: The Good

    Whether meant to remain internal or to be "leaked" as part of a viral campaign, this Kodak corporate video proves that you don't have to be super cheesy to get your message across to employees.

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A Good Cover Can Be Hard to Find

  Covering a classic hit always is a risk. But Sunderland, England’s “finest rock band," The Futureheads handle this Kate Bush classic with care and do it complete justice.

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Design Is in the Details

  Creativity doesn't always mean coming up with the big ideas. Sometimes its the small ones that make the biggest difference.

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Creativity in Education

  As Ken Robinson says, "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original." Looks like we could all stand to be wrong a little more often.

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Creativity and the Law

    Renowned Stanford professor of law and founder of the "Free Culture" movement, Lawrence Lessig, discusses the shortcomings of our pre-digital intellectual property laws and how they inhibit creativity on the Web.

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Where Does Creativity Hide?

  How do you create something out of nothing? Amy Tan delves into the creative process and discusses the question: What invokes creativity?

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God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)

  Swedish artist Sarah Assbring is the sole member of the lovely El Perro del Mar. Her first full-length album, From the Valley to the Stars, was just released in the U.S.   Animator and illustrator Asa Arnehed made this beautiful animated film. She is “fascinated by small, gentle and graceful movements that are filled with meaning.”  As Earth Week winds up, both the lyrics of the song and the idea behind the animation are gentle reminders of what’s important every week of the year.

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No One Said It Was Easy

  Despite all the talk about it on Earth Day/Week/Month, in the end, it's not easy being green. But we can try.

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Sustainable by Design

      Just because a product is green doesn't mean it can't look good.  The conscionable designers behind Moral Fervor discuss their use of renewable fabrics in designing their fashions.

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Earth Day: Our Once and Future Planet

  In honor of Earth Day, a beautiful yet disturbing, hypothetical view of what Earth's surface may look like in years to come.

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Green Marketing: Is It All a Wash?

  With Earth Day 2008 approaching, it's difficult to find an ad that doesn't mention the word "green." But do companies really mean green, or is it just a marketing fad? Dave Michael Garg takes a look at the truth behind green marketing and greenwashing.

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Human: Beings

  Amidst all of our differences, there is one great truth that binds us all - life will go on when we are gone. As Seal reminds us, in the end, we're all human beings.

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Human: Nature

  Is the human mind a blank slate or pre-programmed with certain beliefs? Is human nature malleable? Steven Pinker, renowned research psychologist and Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, discusses the implications of and recent advances in evolutionary psychology.

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Human: Race

    The human race is in a race against threats of its own making.  Dr. Stephen Hawking discusses whether or not we will cross the finish line in the next 100 years.

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Human: Rights

    Peter Gabriel has a first-hand understanding of citizen journalism in service of human rights. Everyday people with video cameras keep the powers that be from supressing the story.

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Human: Element

  Dow comes out with a very nice (unintentional) companion piece to the Cisco "human network" spot.

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Out of Control Circus

    The Arctic Monkeys must have picked their favourite worst nightmare when they decided to create this video.   (Word of warninng for the faint of heart. These clowns are not clowning around when it comes to violence.)

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Save the Internet: Don't Forget about the Tron Guy

    If you're still not convinced Net Neutrality is an important issue, here's our closing argument: Without Net Neutrality, there is no Tron Guy.   Case closed.

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Save the Internet: Protect the Tubes!

    John Hodgman of The Daily Show describes the excitement of the information supertube.

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Save the Internet: Listen to the Ninja

    What do you do if you still don't understand Net Neutrality? Ask A Ninja.

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Save the Internet: Keep it Pure, Clear, Free and Unregulated

    Why does the inventor of the World Wide Web worry that it will end in the United States? Don't expect to get the answer from Ed Whitacre.

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Have a "Vampire Weekend"

    These darlings of the New York music press conjure up a feel-good sound that borrows cues from world beat, ska and punk.  Owing much to artists like Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, the Specials and the Clash, Vampire Weekend are Ivy League lit dorks who could “give a f*%k” about an “Oxford Comma.” But we love this frenetic video for “A-Punk.”

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Advertising: This Is Your Life

    Some people laugh and think there's no way it's actually like this. Others weep because they're looking in the mirror.

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Ads vs. Reality

     Pundo3000.com shows the importance of authenticity. When you're trying to fake it, it's obvious. Go here to see their full 100 product comparison.

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Health Care's Potential?

    We can't decide if this is incredibly cool or incredibly scary, but it's Microsoft's "health future vision." Are the fellas in Redmond finally getting aesthetics?

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SHITDISCO

      Judging by their name, SHITDISCO’s discoing moves aren’t exactly on par with Travolta’s.  But we like their quirky, 80s-esque video and their “new rave” sound.  As for their polka-dot shirts?  Not so much.

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Jargon Week: Marketing BS Generator

    Warning: Use of this tool may put entire departments out of a job.

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Jargon Week: The Truth In Ad Sales

    Ever feel like you need a special edition of Rosetta Stone software to translate the worst of the media world? Welcome to The Truth in Ad Sales.

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Jargon Week: A Few Good Creative Men

    Remember when it all seems too much, don’'t take it too seriously. It ain’'t like Jack says: “We write ads or people die.”

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Jargon Week: How to Sound As Smart As Your Boss

    Sadly, few realize this clip is a joke.  Sadly, it is also excellent advice in most companies.

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No Funny Business

    MTV may have edited this video, but not UE. Rolling Stone said "M.I.A. is sick of anonymous editors taking the ammo out of the chorus," so we've left the original sound intact. What's life without a little controversy?

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Smackdown: Nancy Grace v. Control Room

    Poor Nancy Grace just can’t get her way. Actually, scratch that, this is awesome. Kudos to the control room!

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Smackdown: Weatherman v. Caption

    Is Mississippi’s WXVT-TV trying to tell us something about their weatherman?

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Smackdown: Reporter v. Reporter

    Whoever said reporters are all talk and no action? Well, whoever did sure seemed to know what they were talking about.

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Smackdown: Anchor v. Reporter

   There seems to be some sort of spat between a robe-sporting tenant and the elevator company in this Good Day NY segment, but the real throwdown is between Anchor Jim and Reporter Ollie. And Ollie is down for the count!

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Your English is Good

     A little bit of Tokyo Police Club fun to warm you up and to leave you dreaming about summer.

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Spoken Word Week: Joshua Beckman

    The concrete image. The repetition. The handsome sounds. The concrete image. The Karate Chop of Love. Poet Joshua Beckman reads his poem at Machine Project Los Angeles.

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Spoken Word Week: Frank Bidart

      From the Culture Project’s “A Question of Impeachment: Closing Celebration,” Bidart’s “To the Republic” raises the voice of the dead.

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Spoken Word Week: Dave Eggers

    How does a white guy with genius literary flair channel the experiences of a Sudanese civil war refugee?  With careful attention to voice. Dave Eggers renders Valentino Achak Deng’s experiences in this clip from Moe’s Books in Berkeley. Voice is what is the what.

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Spoken Word Week: David Sedaris

    Sorry ladies, this fashion advice from Mr. Sedaris is for men only. Just like all of his best words of wisdom, it's discreet, masculine and practical...and involves an oddly swollen calf.

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British “New Rave”

    Remember the androgyny and nonsensical, over-the-top music videos of the 80s?  The Klaxons do.  The British press has labeled their music “new rave.”  We’re not sure what to call it, but here’s some poppy, melodic madness and creepy ribbon dancing to brighten up your Friday.

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Firebrand Already Burns Out

     Shockingly, Firebrand, the ads-as-content video site, is closing after six months. Is this their last podcast? What will we do without their site?

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No Starbucks. No Problem.

    In case you didn't hear it everywhere, Starbucks closed for 3 hours last Tuesday to retrain its entire staff. (Apparently, the art of baristaing only takes 3 hours to learn.) Our good friend Stephen Colbert didn't let the closing affect him at all.

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The Prime Directive of Digital Content

Many a geek can tell you the story of the huge music and video collection they used to have. Yes, used to have.

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Can’t Stand Him Now

      Poor Pete Doherty. Just $200 to book him? This pre-Babyshambles song from his days with The Libertines was a bit prophetic. Apparently it’s how Kate and the general public seem to feel about him these days. Get well, Pete.

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A Vessel of the Conservative Faith Passes On

    While we may not have always agreed with William F. Buckley's opinions, he was an important conservative American voice, and his thoughts were always cogent and compelling.

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The Original Viral Video

    Racing headfirst into Internet legend, Leroy Jenkins went viral before viral was viral.

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Huckabee Good

    The writers are back, giving SNL its best night in a year. But can they one up The Colbert Bump for the governor from Arkansas and defy mathematical impossibility?

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There Will Be Oscars

      2007 proved to be a fantastic year for film. Five nominees all deserving of the industry’s highest honor. However, when there is one movie that is simply perfect, you can’t stop what’s comin. The “literate meditation on America's bloodlust for the easy fix” was, without a doubt, this year’s must see movie.

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Stuck Between Channels

    What a wonderful world that this angle can see…when you’ve got Billboard’s number one CD!

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The Best of Late Night: Facial Flex

We’ve all done it. Had a tough bout with insomnia, turned on the tube and started watching some infomercial about a product we’ll never need but somehow seems compelling. This week, we celebrate some of the best of the best.     Is your face weak? Well, have no fear, Facial Flex is here.

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The Best of Late Night: Tiddy Bear

We’ve all done it. Had a tough bout with insomnia, turned on the tube and started watching some infomercial about a product we’ll never need but somehow seems compelling. This week, we celebrate some of the best of the best.     If your seat belt bothers you when you drive, we’ve got a solution for you: Tiddy Bear. Soft cushy bears keep that strap away from your, er, body to keep you comfortable as you drive.

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The Best of Late Night: Nads

We’ve all done it. Had a tough bout with insomnia, turned on the tube and started watching some infomercial about a product we’ll never need but somehow seems compelling. This week, we celebrate some of the best.     Ladies, do you have an unwanted beard? Get some Nads and lose that excess hair.

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The Best of Late Night: The Hawaii Chair

We’ve all done it. Had a tough bout with insomnia, turned on the tube and started watching some infomercial about a product we’ll never need but somehow seems compelling. This week, we celebrate some of the best.     If you’re big on sitting and small on working out, then have we got the product for you! Somehow, you lose weight just by shaking!

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Finding Love is Tough for Dracula, Too

    If cupid didn’t treat you right this Valentine’s Day, think of how tough it is for Dracula to find love in the big, lonely city.  “Crazy” drove us…um, crazy after months of nonstop airplay.  But we’re hoping Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green have a few more good tracks up their sleeves for their follow-up Gnarls Barkley album due out in April.

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They Might as Well Change Their Name to Burger Queen

    Burger King’s clever, and lauded , “Whopper Freakout” campaign uses hidden cameras and a deprivation threat to document consumers’ strong emotional ties to the behemoth burger. And it’s worked!

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Luxury on the Little Screen

      With this landmark ad campaign, Louis Vuitton takes consumers, and the entire luxury market, on a new journey.

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May Increase Disturbing Thoughts

  Heard all those claims about the rare side effects of anti-depressants? Turns out they are the result of a major PR campaign. Guess who is behind it?

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A Spaced Out Band

    A band whose members perform from three different continents. No way...in real life. Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the virtual world.

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Wanna Be Remixing Something

    Nobody wanna see them together, but it don't matter, no. Because Akon rocks a little MJ.

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Misguided Marketing

      Nolitours is trying to help Ashley find a flight. Careful Ashley. Listen Ashley.

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Have You Found Jesus?

    Local news at its finest.

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A Nation of Participants

    whytuesday.org explains how this particular Tuesday became "super"...and also why our whole process probably needs to be changed.

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Mass Ave – and We Don’t Mean in Boston

The twenty-something girls called from Boston at the end of the game to log in with their commercial picks.  They put the cell on speaker and yelled in together: “Universally lame.”

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The Big Game

    Hope everyone has recovered from last night's festivities. Here are a few things you may not know about the big game. (For instance, why we have to call it the big game!)

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No Place Without You

      Does anyone remember Zwan? Honestly?

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The Consumer Voice, Unedited: A Courtesy Call from British Telecom

    "Mrs. Carter" received a call to ensure "she" was getting the best value in service from BT. It didn't seem to be appreciated.

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The Consumer Voice, Unedited: Cancelling AOL

      Vincent wants to cancel his AOL account. Luckily, John is here to help. And we're sure that AOL is pleased to have John represent them, especially since this call made the Today Show.

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The Consumer Voice, Unedited: Randy's Not Happy about What Happened to His Sausage

    There's over 600 pounds of men, a plump little Scottish girl and a 13 year old in Texas who simply can't survive on a 12 ounce roll of sausage. Somebody needs their @$$ kicked.

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The 'Shut Up' Heard 'Round the World

With Target’s wholesale dismissal of bloggers, America's favorite retailer said more than it realized about the tired PR industry and its own relevance going forward.

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The Consumer Voice, Unedited: Milk's Favorite Cookie Is Missing Some Cream

      This “not so old hippy” sure loves his Oreos, and he’s a bit disappointed in Nabisco’s response to his complaint. (We bet they’re a bit disappointed he read it out loud for the world to hear.)

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The Tide is High and It's Rising Still

    Why is the night so still? Why did I take the pill? Because I don't wanna see it at my windowsil.

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Coolest Place to Work?

    Ever wonder what it's like to be a Googler? Well, you get 20% of your time to work on your own projects and you're probably going to put on weight, among other things.

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Takeaways from DLD #3: Streams of Consciousness

There are a lot of left turns engineered into DLD . There is always the possibility you might look at a scheduled session and think, “what does this have to do with anything?” and then come away with a completely new idea. You might hear someone speak about their work and be certain they are brilliant and equally certain you don’t completely understand what they’re saying or what it actually applies to. Sometimes you are just knocked out by the beauty or ingenuity of thought processes and topics

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Takeaways from DLD #2: A Brand on Any Other Platform Can Still Smell as Sweet

A Brand on Any Other Platform Can Still Smell as Sweet There was a lot of talk at DLD about Millennials – 3 billion under age 25 in the world, but fewer of them in the audience. They’re probably at home on Facebook, listening to their ipods, surfing YouTube or canvassing door to door for Obama.

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Happy People

    The new ad campaign from Hewlett Packard.

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Takeaways from DLD #1: Are We Having a Conversation Yet?

It’s warm in Munich at DLD , and we are talking about audiences. Or what used to be called audiences and now might also be known as fellow users, producers, consumers, colleagues or all of the above. A conference session called “Exploding Media” focused on both the exploding media world and our exploding notion of media – and the implications of that explosion for not just media, but inevitably, also for brands.

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Lighter than Air

      Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air last week. The New York Times reviewed it as "a stunningly beautiful aluminum slab" and "a razor-thin slice of heaven." But did they know it could fit inside a manila envelope?

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The Best Ads of 2007

    BestAds.tv gives us their picks for the best ads of 2007.

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Lies in Wake

    Saying goodbye is never easy, but it's easier to leave than be left behind.   Straight off the boat, where to go?

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Join the Davos Discussion

    If you have a question for the folks at Davos, get it in by Monday!

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Never in a Trillion Years

    Do you think David Lynch loves the iPhone?

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A Kindler, Gentler Reader

      Can Amazon do for the written word what iPod did for music?  Let's hope so (and pray for a color version fast, too!)

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Gates' Last Day

    As we covered on Thursday, Bill Gates delivered his last keynote address last week at the CES. Well, here's a little bit of what he gave to all those people who waited in line forever.

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A Dream It's True

    Hope you get to waste some time this weekend. As John Lennon said, "Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."

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All the News That's Unfit to Print

Who sends their sick kid to Dr. Phil??  And then is shocked, shocked (!) to discover he’s known more for ratings than for cures?  The whole broken Spears family has lost touch with reality.  I have a lot more to say about this, but if I added more than a sentence to this voyeuristic mess, I’d have to boycott myself. But speaking of the use and misuse of the press, how about Parade magazine?

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Louis Vuitton Goes Psychopandadelic

    This isn't your grandmother's Louis Vuitton.  Big luxury brands can embrace the luxury consumer of the future.  Here's a little narrative marketing by Mamoru Hosoda and Takashi Murakami.

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Goodwill, Good Fashion, Good Idea

      A great case study of effective social media for a cause.  The Fashion of Goodwill - Virtual Runway Show & Online Auction.

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Project Censored

    Project Censored tracks the news published in independent journals and newsletters, and every year the group compiles an annual list of 25 news stories of social significance that have been overlooked, under-reported or self-censored by the country's major national news media.

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Anyone Else But You

    If you have a part-time lover or a full time friend (or someone's whose both), then we have a movie recommendation for you: Juno. A sweet and funny movie from Jason Reitman. In the background, you'll hear Michael Cera and Ellen Page cover The Moldy Peaches.

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O'Reilly Opera

    Welcome back to work everyone. Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's Day. Enjoy a little O'Reilly Opera on this first day back to the grind.

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Happy New Year!

    Hope all is quiet for you this New Year's Day.

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Put Your Bowtie On

    Everyone get ready to celebrate. Happy New Year's Eve!

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Another Year Over

    And another one on the way.  Let's hope it's a good one.

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Don't Forget the Writers

    Hope everyone enjoys their "vacation" from the strike. Good luck in the New Year!

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You Can Be Saved

    Hope you learned something this Christmas...and hope it didn't take a visit from three ghosts!

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Merry Christmas!

    The gift that keeps on giving. Hallelujah! Holy $#!%

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Happy Holidays!

    Hope you win a major award!

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Music Week: Newman's Picks #5

  (We decided to pass the mic to our resident DJ, Rachel Newman, so that she can spin her unique sound on this week leading up to Christmas. Enjoy!)       England’s Saint Etienne finishes out the week with some poppy yuletide spirit. “I was Born on Christmas Day” is off of the 1994 album, Tiger Bay.   Happy holidays!

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Music Week: Newman's Picks #4

   (We decided to pass the mic to our resident DJ, Rachel Newman, so that she can spin her unique sound on this week leading up to Christmas. Enjoy!)        The Streets is the stage name of UK rapper Mike Skinner. Skinner has been instrumental in the growth of the UK Garage music genre, which is heavily influenced by house and rap. “Let’s Push Things Forward” is part of The Streets’ acclaimed concept album, Original Pirate Material, released in 2002.

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Music Week: Newman's Picks #3

  (We decided to pass the mic to our resident DJ, Rachel Newman, so that she can spin her unique sound on this week leading up to Christmas. Enjoy!)       The Hold Steady is a Brooklyn-via-the-Twin Cities-based bar band.  The band’s combination of strong guitar, piano, storytelling style and almost spoken-word vocals is reminiscent of both Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band and The Falls’ Mark E. Smith. Amazing.   “Stuck Between Stations” is off their latest album, Boys and Girls in America.

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Music Week: Newman's Picks #2

  (We decided to pass the mic to our resident DJ, Rachel Newman, so that she can spin her unique sound on this week leading up to Christmas. Enjoy!)     Toronto’s own Broken Social Scene is a dreamy, stop-you-in-your-tracks indie powerhouse. It is made up of 19 musicians, all prominent members of the Toronto indie music scene in their own right. One of the more notable members is the incredibly talented Leslie Feist. You may remember seeing Feist here on Unbound Edition back in October. She can’t help it if she’s mega-talented and looks awesome in a sequin jump suit, right?   “7/4 Shoreline” is off BSS’s 2005 album, You Forgot it in People.

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Music Week: Newman's Picks #1

  (We decided to pass the mic to our resident DJ, Rachel Newman, so that she can spin her unique sound on this week leading up to Christmas. Enjoy!)       Brighton, England’s The Go! Team, are a lively, funky six-piece that mixes drums, horns and recorders with cheerleading and double-dutch chants, hip-hop beats and altogether excellent instrumentals. “Junior Kickstart” is an awesome chase theme off of their first album, Thunder, Lightening, Strike, released in 2005.

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Gotta Make It Through

    If you find yourself counting numbered days, take a little novacaine for the soul, and don't care about the little minds in the little heads of the herd.

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The Worlds Biggest Shortest Film

      Can one second change the world? Could it bring the whole world together? Who knows, but it's worth a shot. And it's just the beginning of an impressive 5 Phase Plan. For more info, click here.

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Dove Gets the Axe

      Based on yesterday's video, Dove is an industry leader, changing the idea of "real beauty" and helping girls and women appreciate themselves. Hmmm. Well, what about the fellas in the Axe ads? Seems that, when it comes to women, all these guys are taught to appreciate is the industry's shallow notion of beauty.

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Onslaught

    Enjoy Dove's follow up to Evolution. Great campain from a great company, right? Save your judgement until you've seen tomorrow's Daily.

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2000 Redux?

    Are we about to experience another Internet bubble burst? Adotas' Robert S.K. Regular argues that "whenever a whole industry finds itself being mocked on YouTube at the obsurdity of it all you know you’re nearing the unpredictable pop." We know what the makers of this video think. What do you?

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Odd Products Week: Chindogu

      A little ditty to celebrate the artfulness of unuselessness.

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Odd Products Week: PetSpa

    Have you ever wanted to enclose your dog or cat in an oversized microwave and have water and soap sprayed on him/her, as he/she stares back at you in utter misery? Well, now, with the all new PetSpa, you can do exactly that! Look forward to lots of laughs and good times...and maybe waking up with your dog trying to bite you or your cat attempting to claw out your eyes.

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Cultural Collage, Daily Edition

We all know the sad song: newspapers are dying.  Some even say they should, as soon as possible.  Yes, we can get our “news” – whatever the slippery definition of it may now be – in more efficient and interactive ways.  But what do we lose if the newspaper goes away?

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Odd Products Week: The MPAA

      Products are not just things. Sometimes, they are cultural artifacts. Like flipping the bird -- how odd, really. Or signing something with an "X." Well here's something in the same vein: the inside scoop on those "friendly" movie ratings we all trust. Here's to the MPAA and the secretive, draconian factory that produces the odd cultural products we know as G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, X and XXX.

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Odd Products Week: Snackshotz Treat Launcher

      A little plastic gun. Wee treats to load and shoot a distance of ten feet. Indeed, it’s “the ultimate game of fetch” with man’s best friend. And so it shall be until we evolve some sort of appendages on our upper bodies that provide the physical ability to throw things ourselves. A silly pipe dream, we know. Thank goodness for this device.

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Odd Products Week: Rip-Away 1000

      Geeks 1, Schoolyard bullies 0. Thanks to the enterprising minds of young Justin and Jared Serovich, future generations of kids can enjoy a wedgie-free existence. No word yet on how they’re getting along with plans for swirlie-proof hair gel or trousers that are impervious to pantsing.

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Bam, Emeril!

After ten years, the Food Network announced earlier this week that it will discontinue Emeril Lagasse’s evening extravaganza “Emeril Live.”

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Ain't a Turnin' Back to Livin' that Old Life No More

    It's carny time! Hey mama rock me!

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Ads You Wouldn't See Today Week: #4

      Or would you? GEICO hasn't learned a thing from the lessons of the past. Mocking racial offense is about as sophisticated as the old-school tricks of using a green giant to sell green veggies, or a cheetah to sell cheese puffs. What's next? A lizard to sell insurance? Geez.

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Ads You Wouldn't See Today Week: #3

      How can a PSA be both anti-pollution and pure pollution at the same time. Talk about adding insult to injury. Thanks, US Government!

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Ads You Wouldn't See Today Week: #2

      J-E-R-R-O. Hysterical. Mature. Did you sell more with this? Wonder if Bill Cosby knew of this before he became the trusted face of Jello?

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Ads You Wouldn't See Today Week: #1

      Here's a secret for you, Calgon: you made a joke of what would become the largest emerging economy on Earth. You ad guys really should talk to the strategic planning group a bit more.

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Gobble Gobble Goo and Gobble Gobble Gickel

      Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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A Fox Special Report

      We've shown Fox's fair and balanced approach to the news before, and as the holidays approach, Brit Hume files this special report. Happy holidays everyone.

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Follow the Money

    Can Free Culture guru Lawrence Lessig free us from governmental corruption?  Global warming? Welcome to the future of applied transparency.

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The Godfather of Authenticity

       Newspaper slayer, do-gooder, and champion of user utility over cash, Craig Newmark of Craigslist.org holds his own with Stephen Colbert.

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Challengers of the Unknown

      All week we've paid homage to a challenger of human behavior. So, we end the week with a song by The New Pornographers celebrating those who challenge the unknown. As good old Gilda said, "Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity."

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Noam Unbound: Booyakasha!

      In the most important video of the week, Ali G attempts to discover how many words Noam Chomsky knows.

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Noam Unbound: Manufacturing Consent

    Whose consent is being manufactured?

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Noam Unbound: Chomsky vs. Buckley

    One of the great debates in American history between two brilliant minds. To see the conclusion of the debate, click here.

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Noam Unbound: Concision

    As we've shown before, we love hearing Noam Chomsky's point of view. As a cultural observer and political thinker, his perspectives and insights are vital to US dialogue. So, we've decided to give him UE's bully pulpit for a week. Listen and enjoy.

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Crazy Game

      Life and love. It's all a crazy game. Don't sweat it too much. Just let yourself go and enjoy the ride.

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When the Models in the Fashion Show are Faceless, What's the Message?

      Product, product, product of course - but a "modelless" catwalk might also take the aspirational approach of an Abercrombie and Fitch one enlightened step further.  No longer "Imagine Yourself Like This" (as if you will ever be Gisele or one of those washboard Abercrombie torsos), but simply "Imagine YOURSELF".  Or, then again, it could just be a cheaper way to show the clothes.  You decide.

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Content Rewind

Marketers are talking nonstop about “content” these days: how it can help companies “be the media,” how it may be more credible than news, how it more closely connects readers and sellers, how it is the key to successful social media. Fine. All true. But is any of it new?

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What's Your Favorite Anesthetic?

      Sit back, let your brain slip into Alpha level and enjoy.

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Journalism? You Decide.

    A fair and balanced review of Fox News.

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The Problem with Broadcast News

    Any questions?

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Commercials America Doesn't See Week: Commercial #5

    A little musical number from George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Wham! Bam.  Thank you...fish face?

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Dear Nip/Tuck: I Hate New York

Dear “Nip/Tuck” producers:

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Commercials America Doesn't See Week: Commercial #4

    This man runs California. And he makes a mean cup of soup.

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Commercials America Doesn't See Week: Commercial #2

     Some of Nicolas Cage's finest work. Does anyone even know what he's endorsing?

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Commercials America Doesn't See Week: Commercial #1

      Think there would have been as many Hulkamaniacs if this commerical had aired in the US?

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Playin' Free

      Well, Jack White singing with Loretta Lynn. If that ain't cool, then tell me what is.

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The Language of Enthusiasm

      "When the apes descended from the trees, their hands became free." How did they choose to make an ode to joy?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode 13

And now, the Attention Deficit Theatre players take the stage for the season finale, “The Wheel.” While the play might only feel like it’s five minutes long, there’s a magic time machine involved and it’s really a nine month production. And you might need to sit on an inflatable donut for a few days afterward. Bonus.

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The Mouseless Future

      After seeing considerable interest in the possibility of Apple killing the mouse, we thought we'd share one company's vision of what the computer of the future might be like.

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More Addictive than Heroin

    A brief intro to the corporate news world. No flack here folks.

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Subversion

      Similar to the way we looked at the subtext of All-Bran's "subtle" ad, Quentin Tarantino analyzes a Jerry Bruckheimer "classic" and exposes the hidden meaning within.

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You Know Who You Are

      Sound familiar? You may have seen it on the Apple commercial, but that was just a brief introduction. Her name is Leslie Feist, and we hope you enjoy the whole song as much as your new nano.

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Ballet Colbert

      Never one to dance around the issues, America's favorite faux fascist busts his moves straight down the middle, and, of course, fair and balanced. Nation: gimme a beat!

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Vayner the Explainer

      Friend of UE and star of Wine Library TV, Gary Vaynerchuk, provides a little insight on a couple of topics other than wine.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode 12

Fire up the polka music and pour yourself a vile glass of rum and crème de menthe while the Unbound Edition Players present “Nixon vs. Kennedy.”

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Abstain Campaign

        4parents.gov has launched this new abstinence campaign. Do you think these ads will be effective?

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Not Quite James Joyce…or is it?

      What happens when you combine a performance artist, Wi-Fi, a text-to-speech translator, a Google hack, and search terms derived from a real-world setting? It might be nonsense, or it might be the Web’s version of Stephen Dedalus: The Human Browser.

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Begin to Hope

      Say it simply and make it real: we hope you like this. We do.

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Advertising As Content

    Would you watch commercials in your spare time? Firebrand, which launches October 22, is betting you will.

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A Connected World

      Can a film bring the world together? How about many films made by people all over the world? Pangea Day is an attempt to find out. The goal is "to help people see themselves in others through the power of film." So, visit their website and share your vision with the world.

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Give Girls What They Want

      Are billions wasted on marketing to girls? In their Adflip series, 3iYing, an "all girl creative agency," shows hundreds of girls flipping the page on ads that annoy, irk or anger them. Makes a strong argument for a new kind of engagement, doesn't it?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode 11

And now, the Unbound Edition Players, slightly flushed and smelling oddly of dryer sheets, present “Indian Summer.”   (curtain up)

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Internet Reporter Meets DEA Agent

    Citizen journalism shows its real potential here.  A rumor, a camera, a story we haven't gotten from the mainstream.  It's about a drug that debilitates you, making you a veritable mindless slave to whoever is telling you what to do. They call it the Zombie Drug, or Devi's Breath. And it's responsible for many crimes in Bogota. To see part two of the video, click here.

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Everpresent Everywhere

      As autumn has arrived and the cold slowly creeps in, it's always good to think about some warm love. Go out and lay and laugh in the sun while you still can!

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Still Work to be Done

        We've seen how giving can help those throughout the world. However, there's still much to be done right here at home. The spirit of the people of New Orleans is alive and well, but they can still use help.

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Survivors

      We've all heard about the hopeless situation in Darfur. In this video, we meet women of Darfur who refuse to give up hope, and their optimism is inspirational.

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Colbert, You Magnificent Bastard, You’ve Done it Again

Ah, our fascination with celebrity. I’m quite sure it’s responsible for my past post, Colbert as Case Study, being my most-viewed blog entry to date. And 24-hour cable news wouldn’t be in business these days without it. And without 24-hour cable news, our Nation’s hero, Stephen Colbert wouldn’t be on television. (Well, at least his alter ego wouldn’t take to the airwaves…um, I mean basic-cable waves).

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What a Difference a Water Buffalo Can Make

      In this short documentary entitled "4 Generations," we see the true power of giving, and how an act of kindness can change the world for one family.

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An Interdependent World

      Giving, it's the title of Clinton's new book, and it seems to be the mantra of his post-presidential life. What will your gift to the world be?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season One, Episode 10

After a brief, AMC-imposed hiatus, the Unbound Edition players return to the stage for “The Long Weekend.” If they seem a little sluggish, it’s because they’re weighed down by the chunky Chips Ahoy they turned to when there wasn’t a new episode to cover. They really feel for Peggy now.

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The Graduate

        In addition to proving his work stronger than 50 Cent's, Kanye's new album displays an artist coming into his own. And working with Zach Galifianakis shows he has a pretty good sense of humor too.

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I'm Not There

      The greatest of all time played by nine pretty damn good contemporaries. Also, is there anything Cate Blanchett can't do?

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My Second Life

      Think about how far the Internet has come from 1993 and consider this: HBO has just picked up a documentary filmed entirely in Second Life by a resident...and submitted it for Oscar consideration.

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Clearly Confident

      Clearasil is under fire for their new "may cause confidence" campaign. While it may push a few boundaries, it seems quite fresh, playful and relevant to us. The target audience is more than familiar with MILFs and Cougars - so why not let them know you are in on the joke? And it is just good, clear branding. Clearasil = Confidence. Nothing's more compelling to our beloved pimple-face youth. How you might use it? Up to you!

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A Series of Tubes

      As this 1993 video shows, it hasn't been that long since the "revolution" began. Think of the changes to media over the last 15 years. Now, think about the next 50.

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Movie Week: Getting Even #5

      I Hate Drake, and we bet you will too! Bullies suck. But we all know that the pen - and YouTube - is mightier than the sword. Video vigilantes rule!

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Be a TV Big Shot

It looks like a fun game -- and a really interesting way for BRAVO to gain consumer-viewer data and low-cost programming advice. We say, "let's play."

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Movie Week: Getting Even #4

      Falling Down. The classic. Sometimes you just need a good breakfast to get the day off right. See what false advertising can lead to? Hamburger-fueled vigilanteism!

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Movie Week: Getting Even #3

      American Gangster explores the complexity of one man's mission to get a piece of the American pie for his family. But can an illegal business be ethically run? Is the promise of America available to all, or must it be taken by force sometimes? Nothing is clear - or black and white - in this sweeping, cultural, historic vigilante approach to life.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season One, Episode Nine

With apologies for the production delay (an unfortunate case of the flu made an appearance backstage this weekend), the Unbound Edition Players at last take the stage to present “Shoot.”

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Movie Week: Getting Even #2

      Death Sentence, from the torture-porn folks of SAW infamy, explores a deep, lasting and personal motivation for rage: injustice. Violence with a noble purpose is still violence? Vigilantes are heroes? The Hatfield and McCoys for a modern age - with much more fire power.

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Movie Week: Getting Even #1

        The Brave One, starring Jodie Foster, is just one of several "vigilante" movies coming to the screen now. Why so many of them all at once? We're feeling a little worried about this emerging cultural narrative. National group therapy, anyone?

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Music Week: Amsterdam Revisited

    We'll end the week the way we started it. More Amsterdam! This time, Guster sings. Here's to hoping you're getting somewhere!

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Music Week: Tupac Shakur

    To some, he was a thug and a criminal. To most, he was the most gifted rapper and hip hop artist that ever lived. Either way, he will forever be remembered. And he died 11 years ago today.

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Music Week: See the World

      Sure, it's the poppiest song in the Gomez arsenal, and it probably doesn't represent the full breadth of their capabilities. But quit criticizing and just listen. It's good advice. See the world! Day to day where do you want to be?

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Music Week: 9/11

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode Eight

Pull up a chair, make sure there are no unsavory substances visible on the cushion, and join us for today’s presentation of “The Hobo Code.”

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Music Week: Time Is on Your Side

    In his typical light-hearted way, Coldplay's Chris Martin gives a bunch of good advice to start this video, but perhaps the best is within Amsterdam.

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Conchords Take Flight...Again

      We were very happy to learn that one of our favorites was renewed by HBO. It's nice to see a quirky, smart comedy get another chance.

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The Office Returns

      Find out what Michael and the gang did over the summer. How are we going to make it until September 27th?

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Carolina on My Mind

      Yesterday, we covered Miss South Carolina's explanation. Poor girl. Now, she's the world's evidence that Americans are dumb. Well, turns out Americans are not alone. The country that's always the snootiest to the US has its fair share of personnes stupides too.

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Whoopi Goldberg’s Racist Logic

Today, during her premiere on ABC’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg came to the defense of Michael Vick. Whether publicity stunt for ratings, genuinely held opinion, or spontaneous outpouring of stupidity, there’s a fundamental problem with Goldberg’s logic. It’s racist, at its core.

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Like Such As

    Poor Miss South Carolina. It was the clip seen round the world, and it had to be tough on her. Well, she could have disappeared, but instead, she braved the Today Show to try and explain herself. U.S. Americans, and even The Iraq, should at least, like such as, give her a little credit for that.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season One, Episode Seven

And now, at the halfway point in season one of “Mad Men,” the Unbound Edition Players present the completely bizarro-world episode, “Red in the Face.”

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Don't Hate The Media. Become The Media.

      Billy Vegas obviously listened to Jello Biafra and did something that could only be done on Internet. Using a heck of a speech by Boston Legal's James Spader and music from Sigur Ros, he created something rather powerful.

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See Every Ad Ever

    Hate advertising? Learn the industry's secrets from Slate's Seth Stevenson.

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Did the Media Drive Owen Wilson to a Suicide Bid?

Ten years after Princess Diana’s Death by Paparazzi, has anything changed? Not much, I say. Case in point: the nearly tragic case of actor Owen Wilson.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season One, Episode Six

The Unbound Edition players, joined by this week's special guest stars, now present "Babylon," also known as "The Episode That Went on for Eternity."

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Write Your Own History

      Wikipedia Scanner shows who's editing Wikipedia, and who's behind some edits may surprise you. Keith Olbermann and Kevin Poulsen, Senior Editor of Wired, discuss.

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What Dreams May Come

      Arcade Fire tells us that “sleeping in is giving in.” Our dreams don’t save us. They’re lies. So what are they really telling us? Live dammit. Live.

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See the Dragon

      As we’ve reported before, Microsoft seems to finally understand the need for intuitive, useful (and cool) design. With their new Photosynth product, Microsoft gives you the ability to see the world through the eyes of the collective. All of our contributions working together to create a vision of the world never before seen.

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Do You Have a Secret?

        We all carry secrets within us that yearn to be free. Well, Frank Warren and the team at PostSecret.com have created a space for those secrets to live. So, if you you need to get something off your chest, grab a postcard, write down what you need to let the world know and send it to Frank.

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Rethink Painting

      You'll never look at painting the same way again. With MS Paint, you've got 12 whole colors to choose from...and that's all you'll ever need.

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Five Maxims for a Successful Digital Content Strategy

{self}No longer is “we have a website” a sufficient response to the question “What’s your company’s digital content strategy?”{/self}

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode Five

Please take your seats for "5G." Now with 20 percent more sarcasm at the same great price.

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Your Bill. Delivered.

      Did you buy an iPhone? Congrats! Hope you’ve been lifting weights. Your bill is on the way. Another wonderful decision on the part of the new at&t.

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How Do I Love Thee?

      Death Cab for Cutie's answer: forever. And what's scary about forever, ultimately makes it beautiful. Forever's combination of pleasure and pain allows the sublime to occur.

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Facebook and the CIA

      Another video about another popular social network (and more ominous music). Does what happens in Facebook stay in Facebook?

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The Unauthorized History of MySpace

      Was MySpace set up just to spam you? New Monaco Media presents a very intriguing documentary on the history of MySpace (with very ominous music). To see the second part of the video, click here.

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Poison Me Once, Shame on China; Poison Me Twice, Shame on America.

It appears Baby Einstein isn’t the only company peddling products that may retard our children. On Tuesday, toy maker Mattel announced its second major recall in as many weeks.

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Mad Men, Literally

      Complete truth in advertising?  Now that's just nutty.  But is it effective?  Or possible?

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season One, Episode Four

The Unbound Edition players now present the off-off-off-around-the-corner-and-then-28-more-blocks-off Broadway production of “New Amsterdam.”

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A Better Mousetrap

      Give us more Gore! No, not him. Gore Vidal. Mr. Vidal delivers a scathing review of the state of media in the United States...and makes a plug for  "the real news" in the process. What do you think of his analysis?

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It Gives Us Chills

      Lush and soaring, Damien Rice's "Eskimo" is where we look when we're down. Who knew Irish music and Finnish vocals could make everything seem OK again? That's the magic of this song.

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One Red Paperclip

      Think you can trade a paperclip for a house? "No way," you say. Well, with the power of the Internet, anything is possible.

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The Wind Beneath My Wings

    Making the invisible visible - now that's a fine challenge for any writer or creative director. And it's one the folks at Epuron meet with intelligence and humor (otherwise known as "wit'). Make us laugh and think all at once, and we are both emotionally and intellectually engaged. Maybe the battle over wind energy off Nantucket Sound should be dealt with as smartly? And what would other "invisible" products - like insurance, for example - look like with such an approach? Here's to visual metaphor and great messaging. Plus, it gave us a chance to make a random Bette Midler reference, and who doesn't love that?! (Don't answer).

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode Three

Pop open your boxes of Jujubes and Sno-Caps and enjoy today's two-minute production of "Mad Men: The Marriage of Figaro."

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Subtlety

      What does Kellogg's All-Bran do? In this brilliantly subtle commercial (sarcasm alert), a construction worker hammers home the message.

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Ideas that Spread, Win

      Seth Godin, master marketer (and a man with some great PowerPoint advice), delivers a "remarkable" presentation. The man simply is an "otaku" when it comes to marketing.

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Michael and Mario

      When Michael Stipe tells Mario Batali that he's listening to Neutral Milk Hotel, well, we tend to think it's probably worth our time. While there's no "official" video for "King of Carrot Flowers," there are a growing number of user-generated tributes to this jangly bit of joy about young love and the many salvations it offers.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: "Mad Men," Season One, Episode Two

In preparation for tonight’s debut of "Mad Men" Episode 3: Marriage of Figaro, the Unbound Edition players proudly present the highlights of Episode 2: Ladies Room.

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What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?

      These kids are onto something. They seem to get advertising better than a lot of us. Don't give up on that novel everybody!

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Do I Put My Dog in This Fight?

You may not agree, but to me Michael Vick’s potential involvement (?!?) in dog fighting brings up more than animal rights; whether or not humans are more than…just animals; or the history of dog fighting and gladiators, although, they all are good topics to ponder as well. More important, it is about the question when enough is enough, and who ultimately makes that decision.

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Do You Have a Second Life?

      Many have still not heard of Second Life, and many discount it as a fad. However, Second Life may just be a preview of the Internet of the future, so it's best you learn a bit about it.

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Attention Deficit Theatre: “Mad Men,” Season One, Episode One

If you don’t have cable or an hour to spend watching AMC’s “Mad Men” each week, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve condensed the script to two minutes of key plot points, with added snarkiness as appropriate.

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Forget Paris

      In an age when much of "news" is nothing more than entertainment, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski makes a statement about what she will and will not talk about.

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Damn Liberals

      People have wondered silently for a while now: How does Fox reconcile it's conservative news with its liberal programming? Our good friends Lisa Simpson and Kent Brockman let us in on the secret!

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Wrapped Up In Books

      "Our aspirations are wrapped up in books." That pretty much sums it up in our world, and we sure do thank Scottish duo Belle & Sebastian for giving us a lush, playful soundtrack to which one might dork out, if one were so inclined.

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Prometeus Unbound

        Prometheus brought us fire. Using factual media occurances as its base (and a voice similar to Borat's), this video foretells a time when "Prometeus" brings us freedom. What if all the Internet predictions come true?

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Net Neutrality

      It's an issue most people don't understand. However, learning more about net neutrality is vital to everyone who enjoys the Internet because losing it would forever change the Web experience. SavetheInternet.com has helped save us once. Now, they're trying to educate the masses again, so we can all make net neutrality permanent.

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Scared of “Scarred” and Worried about Mitch

Growing up I was somewhat of a daredevil - or arguably just a little stupid.  Doing less-than-intelligent stunts on everything from skateboards, BMX bikes, go carts, mini bikes and eventually mountain bikes and motorcycles, put me in the hospital more times than I’d like to remember.  Oh, and there was a shopping cart incident (don’t ask).

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The Problem with the iPhone

    The reviews are in. Everyone loves the iPhone. There is only one issue that seems to come up again and again: the exlusive contract with at&t. It's a perfect illustration of what happens when a company chooses to be restricted rather than have open access. At the end of the day, it seems nobody really wants competition.   As much revolutionary change as the iPhone might bring to the market, this might be the biggest: opening up the mobile space to real competition.

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Democracy

    CNN and YouTube are reengaging everyday Americans in political debate. Tonight, in Charleston, South Carolina, the first CNN/YouTube debate takes place. Joe Citizen has asked his question. Tune in to CNN tonight to hear the answers.

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Meiko

      It's a noisy world. It's a loud world. So, today, we turn it all down so we can hear again. How refreshing to get a human voice, not produced "media." Oh, the sweet power of accoustic. And the pure wonder of real talent.

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Give Lil’ Bush Another Chance

No, not the lil’-minded leader of our great nation. We’ve given him enough chances. I’m talkin’ ‘bout “Lil’ Bush,” the animated series on Comedy Central.

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Arrested Intelligence

    Stephen Leacock noted that “Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.” Without giving too much credit to the masses, we finally seem to be catching on to the manipulative, profit-hungry deeds of advertising. Enter: human-like, transparent branding. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie—as though continuing Leacock’s conversation—commented on the topic more than a decade ago. Why didn’t we listen to them?

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The Procession

      Tom Rittenhouse, friend of UE, followed the copy guy's advice to Jerry Maguire and wrote and directed his first movie. We'd like to congratulate Tom and encourage anyone in the Atlanta area to go see the initial screening at The Plaza Theatre tonight at 9:30 p.m.

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It Starts with an Earthquake, Birds and Snakes...and Advertising?

        Sut Jhally has a unibrow (and possibly a crush on Jenny McCarthy), but he also has some very interesting thoughts on advertising and the end of the world. Propaganda or prophecy?

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Friday the 13th: Socially Distorted Edition

    Bad luck never sounded so good. So, today, don't lose the hand, scratch the 8 ball, or hang your head down and cry. Just sing along. Nothing distorted about that.

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The Way to Get "Sirius" About Going Green

I listened to a lot of the Live Earth concerts on Sirius satellite radio, which covered the entire event from Australia to New Jersey. Between performances, DJ’s promoted the new green channel in their lineup and offered “tips” – little things listeners could do as individuals to help mother earth.

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The Future of Online Video?

      It's something that's worried some for a while now. How much longer am I going to get my online video uninterrupted for free, especially from YouTube? Well, here's a first look at how that may play out.

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The Power of PowerPoint

      PowerPoint can be an invaluable tool when used properly. It can help people engage and learn in completely new ways. We've discussed it using Seth Godin's advice as a starting point on how to make it most effective, and now, comedian Don McMillan offers his insight.

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Shift Happens

      Are there even words to articulate the changes of the last few years? The last century? The last millennium? Listen to the music. And learn some things you probably did not know.

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Revolutionize and Reform

      Another major American brand with a new message. We've been encouraged to "Rethink American" by Saturn and to "Evolve" by Trojan, and now, Delta is calling themselves out, and in the process, calling all of us to action.

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Looking for America

      It is a beautiful country. And it is a beautiful song. America is so many things to so many different kinds of people. Go look for yours. Bet you'll find it!

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Call to Action

      America is the greatest country in the world. Number one! Number one! We take this statement as fact, and rarely give any second thought to it. Bill Maher lays out a "new rule" asking us to consider reevaluating these beliefs.

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The Land of The Free and The Home of The Brave

      Here's to you, America. Have a wonderful Fourth of July.

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The Cost

      On the day before we celebrate the birth of our nation, let us not forget the sacrifices so many have made for America. We can never thank them enough. Bill Moyers’ “The Cost of War” examines our current struggle, fully exposing the plight of those involved and the carelessness of those leading, while, on a deeper level, exposing the price of all war.

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iPhone Mania

        Did your life change this weekend? Based on what we’ve been reading, it should have. Something called the iPhone (heard about it?) was released on Friday, following the greatest merchandise related media blitz of the 21st century? As we start this Fourth of July week, let us celebrate the first truly profound American product entry in quite some time. Thousands waited in line to get their hands on one, but lucky man David Pogue did not have to, and he generously shared his thoughts about this new American creation.

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Choir to Michael Moore: Please Preach from Behind the Camera

Karl Marx said “Capital is reckless of the health or length of life of the laborer, unless under compulsion from society.” This is the premise of the noticeably slimmer Michael Moore’s latest exposé, Sicko, which pulls back the curtain on one of the most profitable (and, he argues, immoral) industries in America: health care.

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Pure J.O.Y.

      If there's anything we love more than a folksy-urban white chick doing an acoustic cover of Nelly's "Hot in Herre," it'd be a folksy-urban white chick doing that acoustic cover with a mashup of Oasis' "Wonderwall" at the end. Jenny Owen Youngs is pure joy. The audio from this Atlanta performance isn't great, but it's real. The track you can purchase from iTunes is worth 99 pennies for sure.

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Graduate to This

      Plastics. They're still the future. Only now, they are being made out of corn and soy starch, not petroleum.  The enterprising and enlightened thinkers at Cereplast are making all manner of plastic stuff, from salt and pepper shakers to food containers, out of resins that start with natural materials and can biodegrade right back into the earth.  The best news: big converters and suppliers are on board.

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Revolution, Televised

      CNN and YouTube are partnering to "put politics back in the hands of the people." That all sounds fine and good, but it also assumes "the people" have video cameras and broadband. YouTube is calling for folks with tools and skills to take to the streets, and film the questions friends and neighbors have for the candidates. A great idea for community groups, churches, groups of coworkers, rabble rousers, or those of us who have just spent far too long sitting in front of the screen. Get up, grab your camera and join CitizenTube. Peace.

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Squeaky Clean Marketing

    Your marketing's caught a virus...and that's a good thing. Everyone knows word of mouth is the ultimate form of marketing, and in today's digital age, information can be shared quicker and easier than ever before. vm-people, a company based in Berlin, Germany, shows just how powerful this can be.

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“Mind of Mencia” is Tiny

There are few people I despise as much as Dick Cheney, but Carlos Mencia makes the shortlist.

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Noted: Detour Ahead

      Talk about User Generated Content.  Moleskine, the long-loved favorite notebook of artists, poets, scribblers and scratchers, is staging its first Detour exhibits in London and New York, with other cities to come. The private worlds and open books of inspired and inspiring folks around the globe are on display, showing the rest of us how to take some steps, take some pictures, take some notes, take some time. Do so, and you'll get a completely personal memory book, a record of inspiration, a road map of an idea or two.  Seeing and curating life like this is where innovation starts.

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What’s a Little Castration with Pliers Among Friends?

Video Game maker Rockstar’s newest gorefest, Manhunt 2, got the axe this week by the British Board of Film Classification. The ban prohibits the game’s sale in the U.K. America’s Entertainment Software Rating Board followed suit, classifying the game Adults Only - a rating big boxes like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target refuse to stock. While Rockstar is no stranger to controversy (the Grand Theft Auto oeuvre is a perennial cause célèbre for parent and religious groups), they certainly weren’t expecting this level of backlash, and they’re racing to save what was sure to be a blockbuster. Is the content of this game really so much worse than past offerings?

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Behind the Rockumentary

I have a confession. In the late 80s when I was too young to know any better, I was a headbanger (Not really me, but you get the idea). Thank god I was only in the fifth grade, too young and naive to even realize Rob Halford of Judas Priest was gay, let alone old enough to have full say in my style of dress and haircut. Otherwise who knows, I may have been the only fifth grader that looked like this .

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Give My Gun Away

      It may not be uplifting, but Damien Rice's "9 Crimes" is a raw, spare, powerful and haunting cry to the obsessions of love and violence. It's also musically gorgeous. There's a reason he has a reputation for being perhaps the finest musician writing today. No crime in that.

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What Price Humility?

Hold me back. No, really. I need to be restrained after reading that NBC is forking out $1 million to Paris Hilton for the rights to her first post-prison interview.

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Reconsider This

        Alexis de Tocqueville said that "the greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults." America is strongest when we reevaluate. It seems that one member of the GM family finally got that message.

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Men Evolve. Advertising, Too.

      Trojan's controversial new ad, "Evolve," intrigues us on a couple of fronts, neither having to do with the great special effects nor the controversy itself. The spot works because it shows (rather than tells) the evolved thinking it advocates, and we like that. It also advances a compelling social agenda: a shift in national attitude toward sexual health, and away from a dialog shaped by scolding and secrecy. Finally, it leverages the social currency of other brands that are shaping the changing attitudes to both women and fun today. We can't help but see this as an engagement with Dove's "evolution" and "real beauty" spots, while the final lyric in the song evokes Red Bull's "wings" tag as plain as day. This is the launch of the modern condom company. It's about time.

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Confidence Man

      George? Ringo? John?  Nope, it's Paul again.  Paul Potts, to be exact.  This lovable, lump of a lad brought us to our feet and brought a tear to our eyes, too.  We could have waited until Friday for this musical offering, but this is anything but typical.  In fact, it's extraordinary in many ways, and we wanted to share it as soon as possible.  Tell the world to get ready. Paul Potts is on his way.

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Green Leadership

        It's called leadership. Ray Anderson, founder and former CEO of Interface, personifies it.    We're green with admiration.  Just watch.

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Movie Week: Go See It #5

      The U.S. vs. John Lennon: We know Lennon was a musical genius. This film shows he also understood the power of media. It kept him in the United States and helped him spread his message of peace around the world.

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Bob Barker Stayed in My Living Room for 35 Years

My dream of standing in Contestant’s Row and proudly declaring, at the top of my lungs, “ONE DOLLAR, BOB!” has officially died.

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Movie Week: Go See It #4

      The People Vs. Larry Flynt: Larry said it best, "If the First Amendment will protect a scumbag like me, then it'll protect all of you -- 'cause I'm the worst." Cheers to freedom!

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Movie Week: Go See It #3

    Thank You For Smoking: See spin at its worst...and its best. While it's scary to realize the power ATF lobbyists have, we also have to stand in awe of their sheer natural talent for keeping their products on the shelves and in our consciousness. Right or wrong, it's a skill.

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Movie Week: Go See It #2

    Idiocracy: The Age of Idiots is upon us. If we believe we're advancing technologically and becoming smarter every year, Mike Judge turns that theory on its head. He sees an eerily bleak vision of the future. A world where people communicate through a hybrid of "hillbilly, valley girl, inner city slang, and various grunts." Think we’re ruled by morons now? Just wait.

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Movie Week: Go See It #1

    The Corporation: Do you work for a company or a psychopath? This film can help you answer that question.

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Buureradio

No, the title isn't a new curse word. It's the Swiss German term for farmers’ radio.  Much has been said about the revival of seasonal produce, the rise of farmers’ markets and the convergence of urban and rural lifestyles.  But little has been done to celebrate the farmers, their lifestyles and the important role they play in society, except for Buureradio, a Swiss Internet radio station.

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Music and Poetry

      The poet George Oppen wrote, "Clarity, clarity, surely clarity is the most beautiful thing in the world." Oppen was referring to his poetry, and his dedication to lucidity. Well, the only poetry most people know today is lyrics. But so often, even when we find them beautiful, they may be anything but clear.

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Not a Mirage

    Geoff and Sindhu Lawton teach others how to transform seemingly devastated locations into fertile land. They attempt to prove that no area is so damaged that it can't become productive. Using permaculture as their guide, they relentlessly strive to make a positive change for the earth. In 2002, they went to the desert outside of Jordan to test their mettle.

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Sweet Success

    While the big players talk about hyperlocal media as if it were a code to crack, our friends at PlumTV have it figured out: the communities watching, not the television stations broadcasting, are the network. Follow the people, engage in direct and real conversations, and introduce newcomers to old neighbors. If the approach works for Plum in some of the most exclusive and private communities in the world (and it does!), why can't it work in every town? Maybe because local TV too often wants to look and sound "big city" instead of human and charmingly homemade?

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Beautifully Self-Conscious

      ABC Carpet and Home measures success not just by growth of the bottom line, but by shrinkage of negative environmental impact.  Does it work?  So far.  It's been enough to grow the company from a first-generation rug shop to a leader in both design and eco-influence. It all comes back to some basics Mom probably taught us: if you are gonna let it in your house, you better know where it came from.  True for all things we snuggle up with, people, pets and pillows, too!  These are ABC's worth learning and singing loud.

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Truth & Beauty

      Messy stuff, truth and beauty. Keats saw them as all-encompassing metaphors for each other ("'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' - that is all/Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know"). Turns out that's more question than answer, and the good minded folks at SEED have taken up the subject from both literary and scientific viewpoints. Some elegant muddiness in between -- call it irony or the work of metaphor itself -- turns out to be the elegant order of things that might be called the richness of life.

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The Surface of Things to Come

      Talk about drag and drop.  Microsoft seems finally to be back in the technology leadership business with the unveiling of Surface, a new software/hardware offering that takes "digital" both to the future and back to its origins: the human hand as the ultimate computing device, easily manipulating all of your integrated tech toys and tools as you always imagined possible.  Let's hope it's not just a bunch of hype.  (And while we're at it: nobody mention to Gates & Co. that Apple has delivered the power of unified software and hardware, and intuitive interfaces for a long time now.  Still, this round goes to the folks in Redmond!)

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Smart is the New Status

    It's a big idea, this small car.  Popular all over Europe, the Smart is finally coming to the US next year.  Safety cage, more interior room than you'd ever imagine, and design that stops you in your fuel-efficient tracks.  Crazy?  Nope, just a car that doesn't burn a ton of fuel to move a ton of unused space (and little ol' you).  Why does something just the right size seem radical?  Maybe because this is a car for people with bigger brains than egos? And in an intellectual economy, that's status worth honking about. (BTW: you can reserve one for just 99 bucks).

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Lies in Wait/The Weight of Lies

    Birds do it. Bees (wasps, actually) do it. We do it to ourselves. And, no surprise, politicians do it in spades. The truth is: deception is all around us, and among our primary survival mechanisms are the abilities to decode it, expose it and avoid its consequences. Our friends at SEED asked Chomsky and Trivers to discuss the linguistic and biological origins and impacts of deception. We say, those marketers among us have something to think about.

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On and On

      Whether it's surfing, singing or just plain chilling, Jack Johnson gets it. He knows that you don't need to add anything to relaxing. Just being is being fine.   Here's to hoping your old train breaks down this weekend. Have a great Memorial Day.

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The Break Up

    As we've said many times, the relationship between consumers and brands has changed. And it has many major corporate players begging:   "Don't take your love away from me Don't you leave my heart in misery If you go then I'll be blue 'Cause breaking up is hard to do"

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Revealed: The Truth About FOX

    People have been clamoring to break a big story for years now. There's been OUTFOXED. There's been accusations of sexual harrassment involving inappropriate loofah and falafel talk. But now, we have the news from the inside. Cheers to our whistleblowers, Homer and Lisa. May no one ever silence you.

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Linguistic Elasticity

      We love the art of stretching and combining words in inspiring (and sometimes ridiculous) new ways. Are we defined by our language, or does it define us? We think both. So, grab a cup of tea, sit back, and may Stephen Fry and a pre-“House” Hugh Laurie leave no metaphor unturned.   And long live Marjorie.

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We've Come a Long Way

    Or have we? On the 20th of May 1891, Thomas Edison debuted the prototype of Kinetoscope, which introduced the world to the possibility of moving pictures. You had to look through a small window and it could only be viewed by one person at a time, but it was a bellwether moment that indicated all the great things to come.   Surely, going forward, Edison would use this new device to show profound movies meant to move us and stir the soul...Right? Seems like, genius or not, we've always loved a good old goofy clip.

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The Jerk Jams

    We know he can walk like an Egyptian and is a wild and crazy guy, but did anyone know that Steve Martin could jam? "The Crow" is his creation, and we hope that you enjoy this little bluegrass number on this wonderful spring weekend.

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A Little Toad

      Litotes: understatement for rhetorical effect.   Litotes is also a comedic device used copiously in British satire (think Monty Python). However, it is not a word that would be often used to describe Christopher Hitchens. He's not understated, and he's not joking...but he is British! And he has a few choice words on the passing of Reverend Falwell.

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Mind the GAP

      Long known for a stunningly effective combination of wrinkles, bad timing, swing dancing and low returns, the GAP has launched its newest effort to recover the hearts and minds of those now interested in dressing as adults at work. Go after the kids. With the kids. Ever notice how two babies stare at each other in wonder? Apply that principle to GAP's 4 Kids by Kids line, and you understand what a winner this concept is. In related news, Kathie Lee Gifford has been named to the company's board of directors.

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Ward, Look What Beever's Done Now!

    Julian Beever, the "pavement Picasso," always entertains with his sidewalk drawings -- and always gives sponsoring marketers a good jolt of a start for a viral campaign. We also like that Beever reminds us of something else: you must look at things from the correct angle to get the real impact. Keep perspective, folks. Julian sure does! For those who don't know, nothing you are about to see is 3-D. It's all chalk drawings on the sidewalk.

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Colbert as Case Study

Stephen Colbert is a comic genius, and in my opinion (and his), one of today’s most relevant pop culture icons. Not only do I love his overall schtick and political satire, but Colbert’s delivery and improv skills demonstrate remarkable comedic talent. However, Colbert’s true mastery may be in his ability to engage a new type of audience: today’s digital culture.

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An Ecosystem of Websites

    We are inspired by big, bold, brave efforts. The Encyclopedia of Life is one of them, and maybe the mother (earth) of them all. It shows the power of the Web, the passion of engaged humans and the importance of documenting and sharing life. From EOL: "Comprehensive, collaborative, ever-growing, and personalized, the Encyclopedia of Life is an ecosystem of websites that makes all key information about life on Earth accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. Our goal is to create a constantly evolving encyclopedia that lives on the Internet, with contributions from scientists and amateurs alike. To transform the science of biology, and inspire a new generation of scientists, by aggregating all known data about every living species. And ultimately, to increase our collective understanding of life on Earth, and safeguard the richest possible spectrum of biodiversity." Yeh, we'll say it again: we're inspired.

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The Skinny on Social Responsibility

This week, Unilever announced a company-wide initiative to ban size zero models from appearing in advertising for any of its products. The company says it “believes in a healthy balanced diet and that both men and women have the right to feel comfortable with their bodies and not suffer from lack of self-esteem brought on by images of excessive slimness."

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The Human Network: No Wasteland

    The new Cisco "human network" ads are inspiring plenty of online chatter, not all of it positive.  Some claim to be confused, asking, "what are they selling?"  Others find the spots inspiring.  We like Cisco's staking out of a leadership agenda for what's next.  And we absolutely love the message in the music: starting with The Who's "Baba O'Riley" and moving to East-West mash-up, the point couldn't be clearer.  This "social media" stuff the kids are doing signals no "teenage wasteland," but the opening of new, global conversations, whether personal, artistic, academic or business in nature.  Rock on, Cisco.

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Choose Your Experience

  Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who are still in the dark when it comes to what RSS is all about. RSS can make your internet surfing/knowledge gathering experience SO much better -- both easier and more efficient. For marketing, media and branding professionals (and others simply interested in some curated news and views on these subjects), we here at Unbound Edition have taken the dirty work out of the equation. You can simply click on The Dog Eared Journal for all the sources you'll need.

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Web 2.0 in Action

    This is a timelapse of the first 12 hours of the Wikipedia article documenting the VT Massacre. Information was supplied by the Wikipedia community, and the video was promoted through YouTube. Two new media communities at work, covering a horrible tragedy.

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Form and Content are No Longer Bound Together

      In this response to yesterday's video, the full power of Web 2.0 is displayed. As we form communities and participate, we teach the machine and each other, and we become the web's power. This was the future. This IS now.

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Markets are Conversations

    Web 2.0 has gone from advanced programmer speak to ubiquity. Now, you must employ it to survive online...or at least to have a site that generates any traffic. Tune in tomorrow for Web 2.0's power displayed in an even more dynamic manner.

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Lovely Lady Humps Redux

    Keeping with the "Fridays are for Music" theme, here is a song that you would think couldn't be covered...at least not well or with any meaning. However, Alanis Morissette managed to create a music video that not only sounds decent, but also added depth to a song very few would ever describe as deep. (Though Chazz Michael Michaels is right that it is provacative.) In her "jagged" way, Ms. Morrissette not only provides us with some interesting social commentary, but she also pokes a little fun at herself in the process.

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Gonna Use My Style, Gonna Use My Sassy

Remember Sassy magazine? If you do, and you loved it as much as I did, let’s talk.

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Reputation on the Auction Block

Mr. Murdoch wants the take it up a notch and buy Dow Jones & Company and the world’s leading financial paper, the Wall Street Journal. Who can blame him, really. His portfolio of holdings could be more balanced, and the Journal certainly could benefit from his legendary approach to cost management.

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Funky Forest: The First Contact

    Wholphin is a DVD magazine created by McSweeney's, featuring rare and unseen short films. This particular film was recommended, and we thought we'd share this clip because, quite frankly, it happens to be the weirdest short film we've ever seen. That said, there's more to it than simply being weird for weird's sake. It's captivating in a way that words cannot truly capture. So, sit back and absorb a bit of what the New York Asian Film Festival calls "an invitation to join a dancing army of holy fools and travel through time and space to the super-elastic, thoroughly fantastic Planet of Piko Riko."

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Subliminal Tactics Hide in Plain Site

  Derren Brown is an English psychological illusionist and hypnotist. In this rather amazing video, he shows the power of subliminal cues in advertising. And his subjects just happen to be two advertising executives in Britain. We are constantly being influenced. Be aware.

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What's in a Name?

    Recently, a radio DJ posed the question, "Where would we be without the new AT&T?" So, what exactly did the the anti-trust laws and the largest telecommunications mergers in U.S. history accomplish over the last 25 years? Stephen Colbert offers that it was nothing more than a bunch of scribble and a hell of an expensive logo redesign.

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TV Land

    A machine with a doll face attempts to mirror the image presented on a television set, placing all importance on getting the imitation just right. A possible indictment of American culture, the world's culture, our time in general? What do you think?

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The Mouse that Roared

      Modest Mouse was formed in 1993 by Isaac Brock, Jeremiah Green, John Wickhart and Dann Gallucci. With albums like Sad Sappy Sucker, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About and The Lonesome Crowded West they resonated with and rocked the “indie” scene. However, with The Moon & Antarctica and Good News for People Who Love Bad News, they arrived firmly in the main stream. Now, with their sixth studio album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, they are firmly established as a mainstream success story—a band that stuck to its roots and beat the odds. And for all those alienated hard core “indie” fans, it would've been, could've been worse than you would ever know, the dashboard melted, but we still have Modest Mouse on the radio.

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Combover: The Movie

  You're balding. You don't want to be bald. You don't want to accept it. What do you do? You use your own hair and a comb, and you fight! There is an evolution to this process, and a Sundance documentary captures this phenomenon perfectly. Ah, the power of the video camera. An amazing thing.

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Waiting Makes it Juicy

  Before organics...before Whole Foods...before the "locally grown" movement...there was Alice Waters and her brilliant Chez Panisse in Berkeley. She taught us how to eat in-season, real food again. Odd that we had to be re-educated to one of our most animal states; even odder that it still seems a luxury to eat things when they are ready and ripe. Waters discusses the pleasures of waiting and of some really special peaches she loves. Juicy!

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Cadbury Conspiracy?

  Should Cadbury be concerned? At the very least, this video illustrates how easily a controversy can spread in today's media age. A "concerned" reader sent this footage in and was wondering if Cadbury had any plans to remedy their egg problem. So far, Cadbury has been eerily silent.

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Free Hugs Campaign

  Juan Mann had a mission to reach out and hug strangers to brighten up their lives. He called it the Free Hugs campaign. What happened when someone offered free hugs to strangers on the street? City police and officials tried to ban the campaign, but people came together and brought the campaign back. Then they posted it on YouTube. It became YouTube's Video of the Year.   In an age where we get much of our human interaction through computers and cell phones, this video is both refreshing and humorous.

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Prayer, Recovered

  We could never watch you suffer; we could never watch you fall. So, we offer this simple, soaring anthem -- a gem from 1989 that reminds us of an older and purer (and, yes, kinder and gentler) notion of prayer and community. The great irony: the band is called Texas, and we know now what crawled forth. The song means more today than ever. We hope it lifts your day and spirit as much as it does ours. Sing loud and testify!

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McSweet McSweeney's

    There are few things we love more than McSweeney's -- whether it be the brilliant quarterly concern, the Internet tendency or the store briefly documented in this clip.  These folks are so smart: genuine and precious eccentrics celebrating engaged minds and the curious connections they make.  It serves as a gentle, humane reminder that "mash up" is nothing new; the brain has sought and processed creative collision for a long, long time.  And where else can you take a writing class, read books and buy a new glass eye?  Step inside and peruse, use, excuse, recuse, amuse, bemuse yourself and others.  Choose: a world of McDonald's or of McSweeney's?  Only one nourishes.

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Propaganda Applied

  John Stauber is a self-proclaimed watchdog over the PR industry. He paints all PR efforts as evil and manipulative, disregarding programs that educate seniors about things like Medicare enrollment or vacationers about safety abroad. Are these programs paid for by drug companies or travel groups? Sure. Does that make them evil, even as they help with essential life issues? PR has been abused by unethhical companies, and indeed it has a complicated past. But it is not all evil all the time. At best, Stauber is a hypocrite. Notice the books he flashes in his innocent video -- they are written by him and the sales of them benefit him. Stauber uses the same techniques he so despises. Propagandists! They are everywhere.

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Digital Mashup, The Soundtrack

    We have a number of things we could say about this, among them reflections on the joys of digital culture, the idiocy of office politics and the unnerving power of incongruous sound and image. But we should shut up and just keep laughing. There's really no better point to make than this: Enjoy your day at the office.

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The Consumer as Product Tester

    We've all wondered: do those shock collars hurt dogs, or just give a little electrical reminder? One concerned -- and concerning -- family decided to answer the questions the company would not. Call it Fido's revenge.

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Another Use for YouTube

  Maybe you don’t know this, but YouTube has A LOT of music within its archives. And it gives you the ability to set up a playlist. So, if you don’t feel like watching the videos but you want to hear the music, it’s very simple to set up a playlist and let music play in the background. Think about the possibilities in this for emerging artists. This is as good, if not better, than MySpace. This must be the place.

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The video that sums up WLTV.

  Want to meet someone who gets it? Meet Gary Vaynerchuk. How do you take a simple site that sells wine and turn it into a sales machine that people not only go to to buy wine, but also to meet others, converse, learn and most importantly, visit every day? You utilize the power of Web 2.0 and tranparency.

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Freud, Opera and Smoking: The Early Days of PR

  This history of PR is well-documented, and this film, based on the book "The Father of Spin," tells the story succinctly.  The problematic question, of course, is whether the origins of an industry shape its forever.  How much of this early "propagandist" mindset still drives PR firms, or have they embraced the type of transparency they often advise corporations to exhibit today?

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The Politics of Irony

  The democratizing power of the Web shows itself plainly in this mashup of U2's anti-war anthem and George Bush's State of the Union address. One consumer voice, enabled by easily available technolgy, can undo (or at least challenge) White House spin and speechwriting.

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Ugobe's Pleo Robotic Dinosaur

  The Pleo "life form" dinosaur toy from Ugobe is impressive for its natural movements and purported ability to learn and develop "emotions" based on environmental inputs.  The greater feat, though, may be the marketing of the toy.  The company missed the key holiday sales season to perfect some key features -- and now must make aggressive sales goals off-season.  A heavy Internet and word-of-mouth strategy is underway.  Will it work?

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Microsoft iPod

  With millions upon millions of views, it's fair to call this a classic now.  The lesson remains true: leave room for the consumer to think, interpret and create meaning for themselves and they will love you.  Or be Microsoft (or most other big marketers) and overcommunicate your way into confusion worthy of laughter and lackluster sales.

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How to Kill a Brand

  A favorite song, a mixing board, some public statements from Sony, and a consumer with an opinion. Is it organic, or is it Microsoft?

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Madonna HM

  Smart, ironic, sexy, playful...self-reverential, self-referential and self-promotional.

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Crumbelievable?

  Simply put, these are The worst ad sell outs ever. See them all here.

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The 50 Greatest Local TV Commercials

The greatest? You be the judge.     See the rest of these ads here and see which one you think is the "greatest."

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Chris Anderson Talks about New Media

  An excellent explanation of where new media is currently and how it's change or die for media companies.

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What is Web 2.0?

  Michael Arrington got together with a number of startup CEOs and executives to video a discussion about Web 2.0.

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Steve Jobs' Keynote Address

This is the beginning of Steve Jobs' keynote address at the 2007 MacWorld Conference in San Francisco...     You can see the whole speech here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/mwsf07 It is worth watching the entire thing -- and yes, it does take almost 2 hours to do so. Jobs completely gets how HUMAN corporate efforts have to be ... from tone, to message to products. The style of presenation...the visuals...all of it works for the modern world and viewer. It is like watching Edison for our generation...a rare mind that also connects with everyday needs.

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WXVT in Greenville, MS Shows Us What Not to Air at 7a.m.

Did the producers actually think that morning show viewers wanted to watch this?  

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