Monday, September 29, 2008

It's a mad world


Such unnecessary violence is just sad. Over this past weekend, a suicide bomb attack in Damascus, the capital of my country Syria, killed 17 innocent people and left many injured. That is the deadliest attack in Syria since 1986.

Just because someone decided to kill as many as he can on his way to 'heaven'...

We live in such a mad world...



+ read more: 1 , 2, 3, 4
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Playing With Emotions


Even though shockvertising is being overused these days, I still like this ad for the Catalonian National Theatre which uses scare tactics to entice you to buy tickets and attend the shows. A visually disturbing image of a heart being played with is shown along the tagline, "Let us play with your emotions."
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Nice work!
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The ad was photographed by David Ruano for TBWA, Barcelona, with the creative team of Ramon Sala, Miquel Sales, and art director Fer Garcia.
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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Love/Hate by Steven Klein




Eyepatches seem to be the favorite fashion accessory these days. At least that's what Steven Klein seems to think. Following his extraordinary Future Couture shoot for Vogue Italia (see it here) which incorporates blinged eyepatches, Klein has went all out in the Love/Hate editorial for the October issue of W Magazine. The shoot features models Linda Evangelista and Tyson Ballo.

It almost makes me wish I have to wear an eyepatch...











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Friday, September 26, 2008

Music :: Deceiver


I first heard Chris Thile in some songs of his band Nickel Creek and his voice and amazing mandoline skills captured my interest. I was even more impressed when I checked out his 2004 solo album, Deceiver.

Deceiver is one of these albums that defy categories and generes. It is a mix of country, pop, rock, and folk. Chris Thile plays ALL 39 instruments on the album, which include violin, mandolin, mandola, bass guitar, electric guitar, and many percussion instruments.

Check out some of my favorites off the album.

SONGS

>> The Believer

>> Ready For Anything

>> On Ice

>> Somebody More Like You

>> I'm Nowhere And You're Everything
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The First Taste >> Never is a Promise


Fiona Apple's debut album, Tidal, came out back in 1996 just when I started to develop my own taste of music beyond the popular top 40. I was fresh out of highschool and it was during that time that I started listening to Tori Amos, Bjork and the alt rock scene.

It was two years later, sometime in 1998 when I was living in Jordan, that a friend and music lover (hola Tarek, wherever you ended up!) made me this mix tape (yeah it was when tapes where still used, I am THAT ancient) which contained a collection of brilliant songs. Two of the songs on that mix tape were from Apple's debut album, The First Taste, and Never is a Promise. And as corny as it might sound, I fell in love with Fiona Apple from the first taste.

Even though the songs are 12 years old, they are still my favorite Apple songs, the melody and lyrics are just brilliant. Give them a listen and let me know what you think.


SONGS

>> Fiona Apple - The First Taste

I lie in an early bed thinking late thoughts :: Waiting for the black to replace my blue :: I do not struggle in your web, because it was my aim to get caught :: But daddy longlegs, I feel that I'm finally growing weary of waiting to be consumed by you :: Give me the first taste :: Let it begin, heaven cannot wait forever :: Darling just start the chase :: I'll let you win, but you must make the endeavor

>> Fiona Apple - Never is a Promise

You'll never see the courage I know :: Its colors' richness won't appear within your view :: I'll never glow the way that you glow :: Your presence dominates the judgements made on you :: But as the scenery grows I see in different lights :: The shades and shadows undulate in my perception :: My feelings swell and stretch, I see from greater heights :: I understand what I am still too proud to mention, to you :: You'll say you understand, But you don't understand :: You'll say you'll never give up seeing eye to eye :: But never is a promise, and you can't afford to lie.
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PS3 :: Human Matroska Dolls



A pretty cool Sony Playstation 3 ad which communicates that you can change your identity as easily as going through Russian Matroska dolls.

A bit creepy to see humans as Russian dolls cut in half with the shells of the used 'characters' thrown around, but a pretty solid and cool idea.

The ad was created by TBWA Madrid with creative directors Juan Sánchez, Guillermo Ginés, Montse Pastor, art director Fran López, and Illustrator / Photographer Gonzalo Puertas.

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If you liked this, check out a SlideShow cluster of 15 Sony campaigns I created at Trend Hunter magazine.




And for more creative ads, check out this slide show of 21 hidden & surprising ads.




Finally, for the animal in you, check out this cluster of 40 Animalistic Ads.

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Michael Phelps is Dr. McSwimmy




Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps starred in a hilarious parody clip for the Jimmy Kimmel pre Emmy Awards show. The clip shows Michael Phelps as Dr/ McSwimmy, the newst addition to the Grey's Anatomy cast. It's damn funny. See the video below.




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Monday, September 22, 2008

Sarah Palin Glasses - The Political Fashion Phenomena



The Sarah Palin eyeglasses phenomena has me quite puzzled. Ever since Sarah Palin's glasses made their debut on her acceptance speech, the Kawasaki 704 glasses by Japanese designer Kazuo Kawasaki have been all the rage.

I understand the fascination and interest in Palin, she is after all the first ever republican female VP candidate who could become the VP and quite possibly the President of the United States. What surprises me is the insane amount of attention these glasses have garnered. How can we blame Palin for not having much political knowledge if all we talk about is her eyeglasses and hair style?


My frenemie at Trend Hunter Magazine, Going Like Sixty was one of the first people on the blogosphere to write about these Sarah Palin eyeglasses. His article has quickly penetrated the magazine's top 10 of all time and it even got the magazine mentioned on CNN and featured on Fox Business News.

So what about the much celebrated glasses? Well, they are a rimless design that comes in five colors (Gold, Silver, Gray, Brown, Dark Gray Blue) and sell for about $350. See the official site here.





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Sunday, September 21, 2008

James Bond Under Fire


Check out a very cool James Bond inspired fashion shoot titled "Under Fire" by photographer Bell Soto in Kult Magazine here
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The Honorable Daphne Guinness by Steven Klein


Wow. I haven't been so floored and fascinated by a fashion shoot for quite some time.
 
The brilliant Steven Klein shot this extraordinary editorial titled "The Honorable Guinness", in the "Future Couture" supplement of the latest issue of Vogue Italia.




The editorial features Daphne Guinness, the socialite and heiress of the Guinness family, in futuristic fashion (styled by Patty Wilson) and dramatic art direction. And let me tell you, she ain't no paris hilton. Miss Guiness held her own as the best of them.














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Think it makes you pretty?

Well, think again sweetie.


Ads by BBDO Moscow

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Saturday, September 20, 2008

21 Creatively Hidden and Surprising Ads


Check out this awesome slideshow of 21 Creatively Hidden and Surprising Ads that showcases the creativity of unique ad campaigns that catch you off guard and surprise you.

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Stupid Ads >> Get intimate with Stalin & Marx



So let's see what we have here. These Museum of Communism ads believe that they can entice you to visit the museum by showing you that you can ‘Get intimate with history.’

Well, if their idea of intimacy is watching Karl Marx clip his toe nails and peeking at Stalin all hot and bothered with two young females, then I am not sure I want to get THAT intimate with history...

The unfortunate campaign was created by EURO RSCG NEW EUROPE ad agency.



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Friday, September 19, 2008

Meeting Paris Hilton >> Hot Hot Sex


A song that calls Paris Hilton a "bitch" more than 25 times? Count me in!!! 

Even though the word almost sounds like "beat" in a few positions.

The band (CSS) even took a picture with Paris Hilton. At least we can't say she has no sense of humor...

I threw in their popular song (thanks to the Apple iPod Touch commercial), Music is My Hot Hot Sex.

SONGS 





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