What Does Hooters Have to Do With Health Care Reform?

Image from source, Think Progress

Because it's kinda funny. . .

[Excerpt]

Chamber of Commerce using Hooters gift certificates to fight health care reform.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce — one of the Obama administration’s staunchest opponents — is using “incentivized” web ads to get people involved in their campaign to fight health care reform. The incentive? A $150 gift card for Hooters. TPM Muckraker reports that pop-up ads offer readers the gift cards in exchange for completing surveys, one of which is sponsored by the Chamber and urges people to sign up for free emails about “how to protect your family’s future and bring common sense solutions to the health-care debate”. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Do You Like A-Holes or B-Holes?

Honestly. First you've got the creepy Burger King turning up in men's beds and peering into windows, then you've got the Quizno's toaster oven sexually harassing "Scott," then Burger King again, with a suggestive "seven incher" sandwich. Now, Hardee's gets in on the act with "A-Holes." OK, yes, I think it's funny. Yes, I love it when the sanctimonious prudes get their oh-so-unsexy panties into a bunch. And yes, I'm surprised that Hardee's (also known as Carl's Jr.) has a commercial that I found funny. Their commercials usually really, really suck. And not in a good way. . .

Frivolity Break: Cadbury Eyebrow Kids

This is a freaky little commercial, with little relevance to the product. What these kids are doing isn't all that rare. I can do that with my eyebrows, after having practiced Mr. Spock's expressions endlessly as a kid. But what does it have to do with chocolate candy? I have no idea.

We used to ask "is it live, or is it Memorex?" Now, we can ask, "is it real, or is it CGI?"

Cadbury Eyebrows
by GlassAndAHalf

Frivolity Break: Cowboys Herding Cats

Ever heard the phrase, "as difficult as herding cats?" It applies to diverse groups of people; Democrats, gay people, and others I can't think of right now. Republicans are more lock-steppy, tending to fall in line. Others, like those mentioned, have their own ideas, and are more difficult to lead.

So how difficult would it really be to herd cats? This YouTube clip gave me a chuckle (and a literal LOL), trying to show just that. Sure, it's a commercial for some data company (EDS), but it is a very good (and funny) one. And yes, I'm aware it is a couple of weeks old, but I spend a lot of time online, and I've never seen it.

News of the Weird: Montauk Monster!

Image from source, Daily Intel

OK, first we had faceless aliens. They turned out to be a marketing gimmick. Now we have the mystery of the Montauk Monster! Could it be one too? Or have the bowels of hell opened? Where's Buffy the Vampire Slayer when you need her?

[Excerpt]

Investigating the Montauk Monster: The Story Deepens!

Yesterday, Gawker ran what appeared to be a photo of a bloated, leathery animal corpse — only it was like no animal anyone had seen before. A stout, hairless creature with a beak, claws, and the almond-shaped eyes familiar from renderings of space aliens, it looked, in short, like a monster. Hence the headline: "Dead Monster Washes Ashore in Montauk." The photo had come over e-mail to Anna Holmes, the managing editor at Jezebel, from an employee at Evolutionary Media Group, in Los Angeles; Holmes passed it on to Gawker. Because it came from a marketing company, Gawker surmised, "our guess is that it's viral marketing for something. . ."

Read more at: Daily Intel

Mystery of "Faceless Alien People" Revealed

Photo from source, Telegraph

I covered this story last week, and even took a stab at an explanation. I was part right, it was a "viral" advertising campaign, not for DC Comics' The Question--but for automaker, Lotus. Good job guys! You got some people talking.

[Excerpt]

'Faceless people' revealed as marketing stunt

. . .It appears the publicity stunt is part of a viral marketing campaign by manufacturers The Lotus Group, to drum up interest in its forthcoming new car, the Eagle. . .

Read more at: Telegraph

Faceless People: Connection to DC Comics' The Question?

First image from source, Visicage
Second image from source, Daily Mail
Third image from source, Wikipedia

A few days ago, I ran a piece about "faceless" people showing up at various public events. It's creepy and cool at the same time, and it prompted me to wonder if this was some sort of "viral" ad campaign for something.

Friend and contributor, Stupid Monkey Planet may have found a big clue. Below is an excerpt from a comics fan who dreamed up a way to dress as DC Comics hero, The Question. That hero dresses in a 40s style suit and fedora, and has no facial features. Could all of these faceless people be a marketing campaign for a Question TV series or movie? If they're not, could DC Comics sue for copyright infringement? Stay tuned!

[Excerpt]

Morgan Wessler's Question costume

If you should happen to glance over your shoulder at a comic book convention and see a faceless man in a fedora, don't jump to the conclusion that your comics have come to life: it's probably just Morgan Wessler. . .

Read more at: Vicsage.com

News of the Weird: Faceless "Aliens" in Crowd Scenes

Image from source, Daily Mail

I've always loved those advertising campaigns that trickle out slowly, giving you almost no information at first. You might see a billboard with nothing but a dot on it, followed a few days later by a couple more. Eventually the message is made clear. It's fun playing along.

These days, the same thing is accomplished with "viral videos" and the like. Something that attracts public attention for it's oddness, and then becomes known to be an advertisement, or a public awareness campaign. I have to wonder, if that is what this is all about. . .

[Excerpt]

Faceless 'aliens' spotted in crowd at Wimbledon

With the blankest of blank expressions on their faces, these mysterious figures have been popping up in the most unlikely of places.

The faceless mutants have a penchant for A-list celebrity bashes and have been spotted at Elton John's White tie ball and Harrods summer sale, opened by Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall. . .

Read more at: Daily Mail