PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) have released a new ‘public service announcement’ video which shows a split screen of two couples having sex. One man is identified as a meat-eater, the other is a vegan.
The premise: that vegans last longer:
The ad intends to warn of the dangers of eating foods high in cholesterol, such as meat, eggs and dairy products.
The ad has seemingly been deemed too raunchy for television, and it hasn’t been picked up for inclusion in the upcoming Super Bowl broadcast in the US.
“We did try to submit the ad last fall but we didn’t get a response from the executives at CBS,” a spokeswoman told The Huffington Post. PETA has since capitalised on the silence from CBS claiming the ad “left TV execs speechless”.
The ad was rejected for television broadcast, but the organisation posted it on YouTube on Monday. It’s since racked up over 600,000 views - at last count.
PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said in a statement: “Super Bowl 50 audiences will be missing out on comedy, sex appeal, and the lifesaving message that vegan meals can help clear clogged-up carnivores and get their blood pumping again.
“PETA’s edgy but crowd-pleasing TV spot shows that vegans may have a banana in their pyjama pocket, just to snack on later, but they’re also really pleased to see you.”
Have you seen this ad? It's probably the most moving ad I have EVER seen. I've been wanting to post it for weeks... it is nothing short of emotional, beautiful, and best of all: it's real. A real life story of how a person can change the course of their destiny, given the right set of opportunities. Watch, then read on for more of the back story:
It's part of a new start and makeover and name change for Western Sydney University (formerly University Of Western Sydney). I am a graduate of UWS, Nepean (the Werrington campus - in fact, my year and my degree [Bachelor of Arts, Applied Communication Studies] had the very FIRST lecture there, in 1990!). This ad moves and inspires me because the story is so 'triumph over adversity', and, in the area I live, there is a large Sudanese population, the very area Deng was nurtured in. How wonderful is his story! Says the site:
WELCOME TO WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY.
Here, we believe in a future that is unlimited for our students and the communities we are engaged with – both in Western Sydney and across the globe.
With a bold new vision and brand positioning, we are reaffirming our place as a world-class university with international reach, a reputation for academic excellence, and a track record in delivering impact-driven research.
From our unique geographical position in Australia's third largest and fastest growing economy, we are uniquely placed to help our students, staff and the communities we engage with, tap into a global perspective and unlimited opportunity.
In 2014, we were ranked among the top two per cent of universities in the world by the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Since then we have continued to strengthen our international profile for academic excellence and research standing. As an integral part of Western Sydney and the global community, we continue to focus on changing lives and absolute commitment to excellence.
Says the site about the HUGELY inspiringDeng Thiak Adut:
DEFENCE LAWYER
In 1985, the Sudanese government began destroying villages eventually leading to the rise of the People's Liberation Army. Two years later, six-year old Deng Thiak Adut was taken away from his family's banana farm in South Sudan and conscripted into the Army. After undergoing military training, several years of army service and witnessing numerous atrocities, Deng was still a boy when he was shot in the back while running through a village.
A further two years later, a chance meeting led to Deng reuniting with his brother who helped smuggle him out of the country by hiding him in a corn sack on the back of a truck. The two brothers befriended an Australian family and eventually arrived as refugees in 1998. After working at a local service station to learn English, Deng enrolled at TAFE and completed his Advanced Diploma in Accounting before deciding to study law. In 2005 he enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws at Western Sydney University and became the first person in his family to graduate with a law degree.
Deng now works as a lawyer in Blacktown, where he is determined to ensure that other Sudanese refugees have the legal advice and support they need before entering the court system.
By the way, the song is:
Jarryd James - Do You Remember (Official Video)
To read more case studies: westernsydney.edu.au/unlimited
"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Well, that's not really how a doctor delivers it, but I DO know that the doctor's office is the place where dreams are delivered, and nightmares start. My experience of doctors so far, in relation to the care of my late mother, have been fraught with tears and bad news. Sometimes exceptional, life changing, life saving news, but often the bad stuff.
In various incarnations (by phone, in an ultrasound place, at a geriatrician's office, at a medical centre, in a hospital) I have been told these bits of life altering news: - you're pregnant! - there's a heartbeat! - are you ready for the next bit of news: you're having twins! - you did so well today - you delivered twins! - your mother has, at best, three weeks to live - you have post natal depression - you have to see someone - the blood test results are good - your mother has turned a corner - your son has autism - your father in law has died - I am sorry, it's terminal
- you should probably call a priest - you should probably see someone for help And so, seeing this new ad on Australian TV made me cry. You may have seen shorter versions of it, and here is the whole 120 second spot. Called "RACGP campaign - The good GP never stops learning", it's emotional and lovely and true, and it's a journey well all through, at some stage or another in life:
Nonna Paola's new ad for the Sensis 'SKIP' app is hilarious. Not posted yet on social media except for the company's YouTube page (Nonna's son Greg let me know about it this morning during our phone chat about Nonna's red carpet coverage on Sunday - see that interview here), here is what goes down. Nonna plays assistant at a busy coffee shop, calling out people's names, while promoting this new app called 'SKIP.' You can imagine the fun that transpires. It's selfie and photo central, and in one instance, some people whose phone photo didn't quite a good shot, Nonna Paola says: "That was a rubbish phone." Calling out more names, she says: "Who's 'sexy'"? Looks like a cheeky bugger wanted to muck around a little with Nonna P. And when the barista isn't fast enough? "What are you doing? I'm waiting here for what?" When a fellow Italian lady asks, 'Is this your coffee shop' - "E' il tuo?" - Nonna replies: "Se era il mio era ricca!" ("If it were mine, I'd be rich!"). She ends with: "SKIP very good. SKIP the best. I love SKIP." Watch the whole very funny video here:
There is a new viral video from renewed jewellery brand Pandora that moved me - yes, it made me cry (darn it, I couldn't help it!).
Called 'All Women are Unique',the YouTube video is described as:
As a small experiment of women’s uniqueness and the special bond between a mother and child, we met up with 6 wonderful women, and asked them to let us blindfold their most precious loved ones. Their children!
How we did it: The children were guided towards the group of women, and using their senses and intuition asked to try to find the one they believed to be their mother. Anxiety, love and a bit of heartfelt tears filled the room as children from the age of 3-9 tried and succeed in finding the one and only they could call mum!
All women are unique in shape, personality and heart, and so is the beautiful connection and precious love we saw this day.
Celebrate the woman in your heart - visit: www.pandora.net (Music: “Staircase” by Dan Leighs, musync.com)
The blurb for the video is equally emotive:
Her scent, her touch, her smile. If we close our eyes, chances are we could recall every little detail of the first woman in our lives: Mum.
This Mother’s Day, PANDORA is celebrating that unique bond between mother and child with an emotional, life-affirming new short film. The film shows the answer to a single question: could children recognise their own mother without actually seeing her?
Six women and their children decided to put that to the test. No actors, no staging, no spin. One by one, each child was blindfolded and asked to pick their mother out of a group of women – using senses other than sight. Each mum waited anxiously, watching her child tentatively feel their way, carefully searching for something familiar in a room of strangers.
Here is the video - try not to shed a little tear:
My fave ad of the year is back and this time, it absolutely wins the internet. The ad agency and creative team behind this: absolute genius.
Watch + share this fabulous Australian advertising magnificence - the annual Australia Day lamb ad:
I can't decide which parts I love best. Seeing the brilliant Burke and Wills (Australian explorers - Google it, young 'uns) and their banter, hearing Richie Benaud say 'nope', a debate on whether gluten intolerance is real (I know it is), seeing Billy Birmingham getting a 'uninvite' from Richie. Oh. And ITA BUTTROSE publishing goddess and dementia crusader. That's all.
Ah, Apple. You did it. Moved me - and probably millions - with this fantastically nostalgic ad, currently playing on Australian TV, and worldwide. The blurb:
This holiday season, give the gifts of creativity, music, art, thoughtfulness, and generosity. A gift from Apple has the power to inspire in countless ways. http://www.apple.com/holiday/
Excellent, huh? Well played, Apple. And now, the story behind it, from real life musician Dana Williams:
Ads that make me laugh, stop and watch, LOL with my kids, or discuss. I watch a LOT of TV… it's my company while I write! And so, there's a very high likelihood I have see every ad screening on Australian TV at any one time. Really. And so, here are some of my current faves: Dinner time at my place (not really. At all):
Brian. Yep, I have one of those. And I'd be dancing like this woman, too:
Bonus: this ad. What… the hell! It's sensational. I hope it screens in Australia sometime soon:
And this ad. It's all such quick dialogue. And there's a hella lotta 'mate' happening:
Do you have a favourite ad? Feel free to comment and I will add it!
Outside of predominantly conservative pockets of Twitter and on Coke’s Facebook page, most commenters are supportive of the commercial, with many of the top comments lauding it.
