Bad Whitney Houston tributes #FdAdFriday

This card was apparently produced before her death, and was just pulled from the shelves at Target:

Via Buzzfeed

This pill portrait, however, was posthumous:

Via TMZ

Vodka created by women, for women, who want to get girl drink drunk #FdAdFriday

Jezebel's headline, "Finally, a Feminine Vodka Specially Formulated to Get Your Vagina Drunk" may be more biting, but considering that making alcohol suppositories out of vodka-soaked tampons is already a thing now, it's a tiny bit misleading.

Little Black Dress Vodka is a line of flavoured and unflavoured vodkas branded especially for women, with patronizing copy like:

"There's nothing quite like a timeless classic, yet you're flattered by followers of your exceptional style. Sure, you've got your head on straight, but anyone who knows you knows you're always up for anything."

Although, considering it is written by women, I suppose "matronizing" would be more accurate.

I guess it's no worse than drinks that try too hard to be masculine.

But it's still silly. Do you think anyone will fall for it?

British GQ presents a bunch of male comedians and Oliva Wilde's breasts #FdAdFriday

I'm still waiting for the punchline.



Via Buzzfeed

Arby's embraces the sandwich on social media

I'm no fan of Arby's frighteningly-soft and salty roast beef now, but I loved it as a teenager.

What interests me about what they're doing these days is purely professional — it's how they are using the Buzzfeed viral-launching site to promote their new Reuben sandwich.

They start with branded soft-sell, but keep it minimal:

Note the "Sponsored Partner", meaning that they paid to stay on the front page of the "Latest Buzz" list (which is the section I always go to).

But then then change the conversation into one of the most popular topics among people who like to talk about nothing online: Sandwiches.

That doesn't look like any Reuben I've ever... wait a minute! That's their version!

But notice they talk about the sandwich in general, and if there's anything likely to cause debate, it's the proper origins of North American comfort foods.

They then leave their own menu and do a generic rundown of the Hoagie, the French Dip, the Club, the Sloppy Joe, the Philly Cheese Steak, the Monte Cristo, the BLT, the Po' Boy, and the Dagwood.

We call them "subs"

Man, I'm hungry.

They have another post on Buzzfeed called "Awesome Variations Of The Reuben Sandwich You Need To Try Right Now" which follows the same basic formula.

Do you think it will work? I have a feeling it will. The fast food chain has hit upon a good balance of obvious self-promotion and content which is anything but groundbreaking, but also sort of worth a browse—especially before lunch. And if the nearest Arby's just might be more convenient than the nearest real deli... well... they send you straight to a store locator on their Facebook page.

It's not shockingly innovative, but it is good, sensible, modern online marketing. I'm still not going to eat there, but it's much smarter marketing than their infamous SI Swimsuit ad.

Especially since this is not the area of the female anatomy that is generally compared to a roast beef sandwich...

Drap(eri)ed nudes

Remember when George wanted to drape himself in velvet?



Well, thanks to this German online curtain retailer, it looks like his dream could come true...

Those Europeans. They're so classy and shit when they use naked women in advertising.

Ads by  BBDO Proximity, Düsseldorf, Germany
Via Ads of The World

Remember when Canada was horribly racist?

Via Buzzfeed

This poster promoting the Canadian Patriotic Fund, a World War One fundraising effort to help support wives and dependents of Canadian soldiers, is pretty damn offensive by today's standards.

But, almost a century later, we still have a long way to go:

Violations of the basic human rights of Canada's Aboriginal people is still a "Priority Concern" for Amnesty International, and you don't have to look far to see examples of how our country's first populations are still treated like second class citizens.

Sad.

Gorilla Advertainment

If you're going to be advertised at on your own time, my feeling is that you should at least get something out of it.

This Converse-branded collaborative video between Gorillaz, André 3000 and James Murphy gives you interesting 3-D animation over a "live" background, zombies, freaks, aliens, and a bowl of ears. Are you not entertained?



Via Illegal Advertising