Islamophobic ad featuring Hitler says "stop racism"

Oh, that's rich.

This is just the latest PR stunt by "The American Freedom Defense Initiative" a rabidly anti-Islam group that insists every single Muslim is a radical bent on genocide.

This ad, according to the Washington Post, features Adolf Hitler talking to Haj Amin al-Husseini, the grand mufti of Jerusalem who supported the Holocaust.

AFDI claim their ads are a response to "the vicious Jew-hating ads … unleashed on Washington DC Metro buses last month.” by American Muslims for Palestine:

The AMP ad, reminding Americans that some of their tax money goes to Israeli aid, it certainly politically charged. But it just doesn't seem quite as over-the-top as the response.

Perhaps all sides of religious conflicts should make an agreement not to judge each other by the acts of their worst zealots, or the bloodthirsty and weird writings of their ancestors. We can debate US foreign policy until we're red, white, and blue in the face, but the only sure way to lose the argument is to succumb to Godwin's Law.

Velveeta celebrates "That Guy"

You know the one. He works a mindless job at the mall, and doesn't give a shit. You... yeas YOU... can eat like you also don't give a shit:



And that's the big idea behind this new Velveeta Shells & Cheese campaign from W+K, Portland, ironically positioning the highly-processed comfort food as the go-to nosh for losers.

It could work. I've known plenty of guys like that.

They also have a campaign microsite, inviting fans to add to the list of those guys...

Tip via Toronto Egotist

F'd Ad Fridays: The suicide hotline site that seems to want you to do it

There's nothing funny about depression and self-harm. Nothing, that is, except the official web site of the United States' National Suicide Hotlines.

This was featured today on Cracked's list of 5 Official Websites You Won't Believe Are This Bad. Most were just poorly designed. This one, well...

It is very, very strange. And amazingly dark and depressing, considering people visiting it must be a heartbeat away from their last hope.

It also has well-meaning, but tragically misplaced, rhetorical questions throughout it.

Who on earth was responsible for approving this design and content? I won't ask "who designed it?" because if there's one thing the internet has taught us is that human weirdness is deeper and more diverse than any individual could ever fathom.

Believe me. I do not want to make fun of a suicide hotline. But maybe if a little constructive mockery can get through to the right people and get them to do something... anything... to put this site out of its...

You see what this site has done to me? I did not want to make that joke. 

No! Make it stop!!! I take it all back. This site does not look like it was designed by a teenage girl in 1996. It is a sensitive and appropriate handling of a very delicate topic that it no way should provoke ironic thoughts from cynical bloggers. Okay?

GAHHHH!

I thought I just did. Although I'd love to know where I could get one of those cool vintage phones.

This IS Flint after all...

Remember when Newcap Radio (owners of HOT 89.9) and Alphabet Creative pissed off the residents of Flint, Michigan with their self-promo campaign "This Ain't Flint"? It was supposed to rouse mid-recession Ottawans into realizing that they didn't have it as bad as the seemingly post-apocalyptic rust belt subject of Roger and Me. Instead, it just confused people.

A spokesperson for Flint Mayor Michael Brown stated, "I would say to the makers of the video 'This Ain't Flint' that that ain't Flint either," spokesman Bob Campbell said. "It is trying to make a point satirically, and it fails miserably."

Now, ironically, a Flint Mayoral candidate is painting an even worse portrait of his city in his own campaign ad:


(via Reddit)

I guess it's OK when they criticize themselves. But either way, poor Flinters just can't catch a break. At least they tried to cast against stereotype, with a white crook.

Justin Bieber: Living, loving and advertising without irony

"So, what if we took this brand, this preteen heart-throb brand called 'Bieber', and extended it to a starter perfume? Then we market it with the ultimate pubescent girl fantasy of Bieber entering the bedroom, taking the girl flying in the air, and kissing her on the neck?"

"Kissing her on the neck?"

"Then she rides him from behind—fully dressed! Yeah, yeah! It's chaste, but plays into their immature and non-threatening ideas about sex. Plus, the whole thing has a PG vampire feel. Like Twilight..."

"But with Bieber!!!"

"Exactomundo. Use the perfume, get a non-penetrative seduction from flying vampire Bieber."

"You don't think the kids will find it a little... much?"

"Bieber fans, man. Unironic as they come. At least the straight little girl ones. I don't think the cougars and gay dudes will buy this shit anyway."

"Brilliant! Let's shoot this fucker...."