Artistic Energy Monitors – FlowerPod (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Designer Katrine Rafn Knudsen has come up with an artistic playful way to display your energy consumption and remind you to conserve power and reduce your carbon footprint via a computer program and a decorative piece combo.

The computer program monitors your usage and gives you advice on reducing …

Green Parking Spaces – The Santa Monica Civic Center Makes Own Energy

(TrendHunter.com) The Santa Monica Civic Center parking is the first parking space with LEED certified parking structure on the planet says ecofriend. LEED is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System which is the national standard by which a green building is judged. Buildings ar…

For ‘Gossip Girl,’ Modesty Is So Last Season


NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — The CW network really needs to succeed in tempting viewers back to watch the first new episodes of its flagship program "Gossip Girl." To that end, ads, online video promotions and outdoor billboards will feature characters from the program locked in passionate embraces, with the text message "OMFG" superimposed on top.

Erik Estrada’s glorious return to television

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Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder: What’s Erik Estrada doing these days? Turns out he’s appearing in this BooneOakley commercial for Food Lion’s Bloom stores. The former CHiPs star (he was Ponch, Larry Wilcox was John) complains in the spot that he entered an Erik Estrada look-alike contest and came in second. He could also complain that he only merits eight seconds of screen time in the 30-second spot. At least he can poke a little fun at himself. Unfortunately, it was me who won that same Erik Estrada look-alike contest. And I’ll wear the highway patrol uniform for as long as I feel like it—OK, human resources? Is Bloom really “a different kind of grocery story” that relieves everyday angst? Probably not, but its prices can’t be any worse than Whole Foods. And would it kill them to turn down the Whale Sounds and James Taylor?

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Artistic Eco Tableware – Origami Crockery (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Why settle for these ugly disposable plates when designer Oksana Bazanova offers you an artisticly cool and environment-friendly alternative?

The Origami Crockery come as flat sheets of waterproof paper that you can fold whenever you need to use.

When you have a big party, let each person fold his…

Manchester magazine relaunching next month

LONDON – Manchester celebrity and lifestyle title The Magazine is relaunching next month, with a new format and improved distribution.

Bruni in the Buff Goes for $91,000 at Auction

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A naked photo of Carla Bruni, the current First Lady of France, just sold at a Christie’s auction for about $91,000 after expectations it would raise $4K at most.

High Hurdles: Selling Ads In The Sports Pages

Louis Hau, Media Reporter for Forbes, explores an undervalued resource in the newspaper business–the proper monetization of which could be a big help to a struggling industry.

Here’s one of the most perplexing aspects of the newspaper business: Readers love the sports section, but advertisers couldn’t care less.

As the industry struggles to staunch the bloodletting in advertising revenue, the time has come for a second look. The chronically underperforming sports section stands out as an underexploited opportunity to generate dollars.

The picture isn’t pretty at the moment. A quick survey of some major U.S. dailies finds sports an advertising wasteland, save for the occasional sneaker retailer or tire store. Thursday’s New York Times had no advertising at all in its sports section. Okay, there were a couple microscopic car ads on page two. But still.

I’d love to hear from any media buyers in the audience on this topic. The Forbes piece speculates about an all male audience, and laziness on the papers’ part. But I’m not sure about all that. Obviously sports is monetized to no end on TV and online. Why not in the dailies?

Trent FM arena sponsorship deal

LONDON – Nottingham radio station Trent FM will sponsor Nottingham Arena for the next four years.

Freeconomics & Food 2 – Ben & Jerry Give Out Free Ice Cream

(TrendHunter.com) Ice cream company Ben and Jerry is turning 30 on April 29th and to celebrate, they are giving away free ice cream.

Simple, but nice. And it is good to know that big companies so somethings give you something for nothing just because its their birthday and they can.

They are even being extra nice …

La Poste strengthens UK presence with BTB acquistion

LONDON – French postal operator La Poste Group has taken another step in its entry to the UK market with the acquisition of fulfilment and mailing business BTB Mailflight.

GCap halts regional Xfm sell-off

LONDON – GCap Media is halting the previously announced sale of two of its regional Xfm stations – Xfm Scotland and Xfm Manchester – but is proceeding with the sale of Xfm South Wales.

PSP: Heroism

PSP: Heroism

Heroism, in small doses.

Advertising Agency: Euro RSCG, Buenos Aires, Argentina

PSP: Accuracy

PSP: Accuracy

Accuracy, in small doses.

Advertising Agency: Euro RSCG, Buenos Aires, Argentina

PSP: Adrenalin

PSP: Adrenalin

Adrenalin, in small doses.

Advertising Agency: Euro RSCG, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Epsilon appoints Maddison as first client services director

LONDON – Epsilon, the email marketing services business, has appointed loyalty programme Nectar’s relationship director Jon Maddison as its first UK client services director.

Experian creates product manufacturing group

LONDON – Experian’s integrated marketing division has launched a dedicated product manufacturing group to develop new technology as well as its existing database marketing software Elements.

American Maid Cafes – Role Play at Royal/T Cafe in LA (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Role playing “otaku” cafe’s are all the rage in Japan, and now America is set to have its first Maid Cafe with the Royal /T Cafe, which opens on 14 April in Culver City, Los Angeles.

Waitresses are dressed as maids who address you as “master” or “Lord”; bow down and kneel to stir your cream and sug…

G-Strings With Your Contact Info – If you dare

(TrendHunter.com) If you dare… is a G-string that dares you to wear it. You can order it customized with your own phone number, web site address, or any text you want.

The g-strings come in orders of three at a time with a total cost of €37,50 including shipping.

Assvertising Your Number – Che Magazine Ad (TREN…

Behold … in the Prairies, as Sinatra Croons, a Dick is Born

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Never trash a dude until you know a little something about where he comes from. With that said, watch a great American’s life unfold in storybook form and to the tune of “Young at Heart.”