Former Talking Heads star David Byrne has a new book, available to people who stay in hotels and motels across America - for free. His tome, The New Sins, has been distributed to cheap roadside hotels, where it will be placed in bedside drawers next to Gideon's Bible. Byrne admits he was surprised how easy it was to get the book placed in hotel rooms. He says, "You just ask them. You don't ask them to pay for it. …
Sugar No Longer Sweet
from Brandweek: PepsiCo revealed today that the company has enacted self-imposed advertising restrictions "in response to rising levels of obesity in the U.S. and Europe." Among other moves, PepsiCo will no longer place advertising for its flagship cola brand in outlets that directly reach children under 12. The Purchase, N.Y.-based company has also placed limits on the portion sizes of products such as Doritos sold …
Free Don’t Come For Free
from Promo Magazine: Direct mail promising "free" products could be outlawed under radical new European Union legislation, according to wire service reports. The move, which follows intense lobbying by consumers' groups, is set to be confirmed by the European Parliament (EP) next month, after months of deliberation by Brussels officials. Most likely, the EP would establish a general prohibition within its Unfair …
Letting The Actors Act
from Lewis Lazare: A new campaign for Sierra Mist from BBDO/New York that broke Sunday night on the Academy Awards telecast is refreshingly different for several reasons. For one thing, the campaign employs a different approach, using an ensemble of sketch comedians in a series of improvised commercials that are positioned as "sitcommercials." And it's great to note the work is -- for the most part -- intelligent in …
Will Blog For Tips
Jason Kottke is an A-list blogger who recently quit his day job to pursue blogging full time. His revenue model of choice is the Pay Pal tip jar. Given the enormous traffic to his site, it may work. According to Wired, Kottke is avoiding the ad-based revenue model because, as a one-man operation, there's no easy way to neatly separate editorial and advertising. "Advertising introduces a third party into the …
Point to Point Scores Some Points
Congrats to my buddy True and the rest of the gang at Point to Point Communications for their sweep of the Cleveland ADDY awards on Friday. Point to Point has assumed the mantle of Cleveland …
Black Is The New Black
from The Telegraph: If there is one woman in the world who can state with conviction that "black IS the new black" it is Miuccia Prada. She made that pronouncement after her stark and simple autumn/winter 2005/2006 collection at Milan Fashion week last night. No matter that she was wearing a white cotton shirt-dress with red high-heeled shoes at the time; perversity is part of Prada's charm. "Black is a very …