Advertising still not learning

Street Signs

Kalle Lasn: Clearing the Mindscape

Adbusters interviews Kalle Lasn on the state of advertising, Subvertising and cosumer culture. Lasn, one of the founders of the non-profit, anti-consumerist Adbusters Media Foundation is also the author of “Culture Jam: How to Reverse America’s Suicidal Consumer Binge – And Why We Must,” and “Design Anarchy.”

full interview here.

Article 2

Andrew Sloat

Money

N.A.S.A.'s "Money" featuring David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, Z-Trip and the iconic artwork of Shepard Fairey.

You're Not Alone and It's Not So Bad

A fantastic video from Anthony Ferraro about getting laid off. Finally, a bit of optimism from the land of unemployment. If you haven't been to the land of unemployment recently you may wind up taking an unexpected trip there soon so, watch the video and realize you're not alone and it's not so bad.

Mad Skate

Tim Nolan of Poke and Marco Cigini of McCann Erickson have created a skate club for the Ad industry set and have dubbed it MAD SKATE, naturally. How's it work? Join the group on Facebook here. Each member will be asked to fork over a bit of cash to help rent a park such as the The Autumn Bowl in Greenpoint, Brooklyn or the Shield Skate Park in New Jersey. Any left over money will be donated to charity.

via Agency Spy

Graffiti 2.0

For the last couple of years, Italian graffiti artist, Flippo Minelli has made people acutely aware of the technology gap between 2.0 nations and the third world. Though the Internet has provided an extraordinary platform for the exchange of ideas, information and social exchange, it has broadened the gap between technological societies and those that remain "offline".

"The idealization connected with these experiences provokes a small-but-important detach of the perception of reality and what i want to do by writing the names of anything connected with the 2.0 life we are living in the slums of the third world is to point out the gap between the reality we still live in and the ephemeral world of technologies."

via Wooster Collective

Taxi Cafe

Vancouver--For a long time now there has been a shift in the marketing tactics of companies who are moving away from simply advertising their product or service in favor of aligning their brands with particular lifestyle choices (think Mac vs. PC). A couple of weeks ago we covered the opening of BK Studios here in Chicago in which Burger King has desperately attempted to buy themselves into a subculture with their burger-free art loft. Now comes word that advertising agency, Taxi is getting in on the act by opening Taxi Cafe. I know what you're thinking, "But I work at an Ad agency and we have a coffee bar..." except your coffee bar is most likely hidden away on the 16th floor and exists only to impress clients and serve slacking employees where as Taxi Cafe is situated at street level and serves not only to impresses clients (the cafe itself is decorated with successful Taxi ad campaigns) and serve the occasional employee (no word on the discounts yet) but Taxi Cafe is 100% open to the public (you know, that bizarre outside population of consumers, agencies are supposed to uh, be able to interact with?).

via Ad Pulp

Censorship

A couple of of days ago I was having a conversation with a friend about SEO and I started to wonder about the challenges facing companies and agencies while marketing their products online overseas. How does a company or agency reach an international online community when governments are filtering your message and is it irresponsible for agencies to find a way to subvert these filters in order to reach their target? The Advertising industry has a long history of pushing the envelop when it comes to public decency but what about political censorship? It's all well and good to run a human rights campaigns targeted at China here in the states in an English speaking magazine, everyone will applaud you, but what about actually using that "web-savvy" agencies are always patting themselves on the back for to actually reach your real target overseas.

Monday Encouragement

BOOOOOOM! has just launched a new project called Free Encouragement. Simply send your message of encouragement to encouragement@booooooom.com. and see it displayed here after Dec. 5th or just look through the dozens of already uploaded messages and start feeling better.

Minneapolis says moNO!

In a perfect example of how people are willing to sign anything, Agency Mono stomped around my old neighborhood in Minneapolis and soon to be Mono's new neighborhood, in an attempt to gather signatures to ban the agency from moving in. Sound confusing? Watch the video. See you at Christmas Mpls!

via Adgabber.

And to Think I Saw it on Sampsonia Street

The Making of Street With a View

When I first learned about Street With A View it reminded me of one of my Dad's favorite books, the Dr. Seuss classic, And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street in which a rather mundane street becomes the scene of an unbelievable impromptu series of events. In this real life Mulberry Street, the street is actually Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh and the medium is Google Street View.

Where's My Sign?

For someone who admits that they don't know how to use a computer, John McCain gets interactive with personalized "Joe the Plumber" signs available on his website. Simply fill in your name, occupation and email address and you receive a personal McCain Palin sign. I'm sorry but this is genius. It's easy, it's well designed and it illicits email address of possible voters. I filled mine out hoping I could hang it outside my door by the end of the day but it's been about an hour and no sign of my sign. Make yours here. Thanks Joe.

Via www.JohnMcCain.com

Al The Shoe Salesman Gets a Tax Cut

Joe The Plumber might not get a tax cut under the Obama plan but you know who does? Al The Shoe Salesman. How about you? Find out at Obama-Biden Tax Calculator.

Via Joe The Designer.

Bear Market

Aparently these guys were out in Washington D.C. last week. If anyone has any more information let me know, I think they're great.

[city of others] mini docs

[mini-doc] Nick & Nick from [city of others] on Vimeo.


[city of others]

Really digging the new mini docs from [city of others] currently running on vimeo. More specificlly the episodes dealing with small business owners giving insight into what they do and why they do it. Check them out here.

Green Trash

The Mottainai series of trash bags features images of teary-eyed penguins, seals and polar bears, which turn the neighborhood trash heap into a friendly reminder of the fragility of our planet. A portion of the profits go to the Green Belt Movement (a grassroots environmental NGO established by Kenyan political activist, environmentalist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai), which has planted millions of trees across Kenya to prevent soil erosion. Get yours here.

Thanks Tanaka!

via Pink Tentacle