Yesterday, Old Spice took the social media world by storm with....commercials! In one day, a team of creatives, tech geeks and writers created 87short comedic YouTube videos about Old Spice.The Old Spice Man featured in the latest ad campaign began responding to questions posted on social media networks with YouTube videos. It's a great example of offline and online efforts coming together and taking a campaign to the next level.Get the inside look at the production on Read Write Web. Check out the Old Spice YouTube, Facebook and Twitter pages to see the campaign in action.

Check out this creative idea for a patriotic cake from 17andbaking.com. It's perfect for the 4th of July. If you're ambitious enough to make it, note that it's best to bake the cake layers the day before and refrigerate overnight. It will be easier to cut, assemble and frost.  Enjoy!

http://17andbaking.com/2009/07/01/a-little-taste-of-independence/

I’m a big fan of e-books and my Kindle, but the iPad just made e-books even cooler. It's like the moving pictures and books from the Harry Potter movies. The latest Alice for iPad app is an interactive experience where you just don’t read it, but you can shake it, stir it and more to bring the story to life. This app is $9 in the App store and there’s a free, lite version too. Pretty good if you ask me, as I’ve paid more for hardcovers and story time in the past.

 

Today Apple unveiled the new iPad, but it looks like the Mad TV crew thought of it a couple year's ago.

 

Check out this interesting video where CEO Rob Katz of Vail Resorts talks about how they've decreased spending on long-lead media in favor of shorter-lead digital and social media efforts. As many of us know in the tourism industry, the consumer decision cycle for planning a getaway has practically become non-existent. People are often planning a trip within a week of the getaway and when it comes to snow, it's often based on the latest conditions. Vail Resorts shifted dollars from long-lead media to digital where they can be more responsive based on weekly, even daily, conditions. So, what do you think about their approach? How are you changing things up to respond to shorter trip planning cycles?

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1370868150/bctid52412902001

Check out even more commentary on the video at adage.com. http://adage.com/aboutdigital/article?article_id=140710

Visit Denver created a nice YouTube video showing how Tourism means more than visitors enjoying the state. Tourism means more jobs, taxes and a better quality of life. Tourism pays for Denver and Colorado, just like it pays in many other communities. Kudos Visit Denver on the nice video. And, thanks @billgeist for pointing it out.

This makes me happy. We’re happy, happy, happy. The emotional rollercoaster of Mad Men.

This video went viral earlier this year. Over a half million people watched it in less than 14 days. Sad, but true – the vendor client relationship has been tough during the economic downturn. Clients are working to get more for their reduced budgets.  Of course, you would never ask for these types of “savings” from your favorite restaurant, hair stylist or store. Some of my favorite lines:

“I don’t want you to work for free, it’s just a test…”

“I can cover the hard costs, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go.”

“This is not a challenge, it’s an opportunity.”

“Show us how you made it so we can do it on our own in house.”

The video was produced by Scofield Editorial, a production house in Indianapolis, and they’re using it as a new biz piece. Check out http://www.vendorclientvideo.com/.

So, what do you think? How do you respond to these type of requests from clients?

A must listen! Two voicemail messages from a guy who doesn’t know when to stop. Thanks for sharing Melodymaker!

http://melodymaker.posterous.com/the-reason-some-girls-stay-single-very-funny

There really is an app for everything….