The Daily Thread

On Tuesday, June 24, Orange, created a hip new distraction for anyone willing to name a balloon animal. The site allows viewers to have their own animal that travels along an imaginary online “race course”. The course consists of new websites that want public recognition. The viewer must move their animal either up or down to keep it rockin’ steady and accumulating miles. Each site the viewer’s animal travels across is equivalent to one “internet mile” and is added to their stats. An animal can receive “boosts of energy” from particular sites or if their friends/family give them at least 5 cheers. The viewer who has the most miles by Tuesday, June 31 wins a trip for 7 nights to a private, luxury villa in Ibiza.

At the Advertising Age Green Conference questions were raised about the carbon footprint of digital ads and websites. New systems can now calculate the amount of CO2 generated by the electric supply chain that supports the digital communications systems.

This will be CBS’ biggest move in becoming a major player in the online advertising world. It would add to the company one of the most highly trafficked collection of Web properties. CNET would make CBS one of the top 10 U.S. Web firms with 54 million monthly users.

In the past week there has been some major controversy regarding the Dove “real women” ads being retouched. However, there was a statement made from Unilever and Annie Leibovitz claiming that the Dove “real beauties” were not airbrushed, but were treated to eliminate dust from the film and provide “color correction”. The photo re-toucher, Pascal Dangin said his quote was taken out of context in an interview with The New Yorker Magazine.

Vera Wang has opened up her own wedding registry, a first in the designer market. VeraWangonWeddings.com will have a custom registry, runway trends, e-commerce, couples quizzes and wedding planning ideas. But the site is only a small section of her ever-growing empire. She also has a line in bedding, home goods and stationery. Her company is currently exploring expansion into furniture, decorative fabrics, rugs, lighting and even a Wang-branded line of paint, very Martha of her.

Nokia has asked Spike Lee to direct a feature film but there is a catch, all the footage will be supplied by hundreds of cellphone users sending in snippets under three themes starting with the concept of “birth”.
Spike and his assistance will then pick the best of the best and vote. Those clips chosen will be turned into a film, which will premier at Club Nokia in L.A.

The French based group, Product Of The Year
, has just introduced a U.S. division. They will be working with TNS Market Research to poll 100,000 consumers about which new products they like best. There will be 35 categories, which are based on what is happening in the marketplace. Winners will be announced January 2009.

The UK’s Office of Government Commerce unveiled their new logo with a major glitch. When you turn your head to the left you see a figure of a person making an undignified gesture. The government agency was so proud of their new logo they printed it on every office supply you can think of. Needless to say, they are keeping the logo.

After a disappointing attempt to become fashionable Wal-Mart has signed deals with California surfer brand, Op and Jones Apparel group’s junior jeans line, l.e.i. in hopes of making their clothing sales jump. Wal-mart has tried for years to break into a more trendy collection to compete against Target’s line but have had little success.

Philipe Starck’s new hotel, The SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills , is due to unveil during the Salone. However, here is a small peek of the lobby. The hotel is managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts with a shop run by Murray Moss.