If you’ve noticed the blog appearing a bit dead lately, it’s because we’re currently in maintenance mode to clear up some virus issues. As a result of those issues, Firefox currently blocks the blog on normal security settings, and Google does not index us.

The virus basically infected our index.html files on our network, but on the bright side the virus can’t be spread by visiting the infected sites. So no worries there.

We’ve removed the virus as far as we can tell and have applied for reinstatement from Google. Once that happens and we get the “all clear” from our IT guy, we’ll reboot the blog and essentially relaunch. Those of you on the Creative Brief Newsletter will be informed once this happens. Everyone else, just check back in a couple weeks.

Mucho mucho apologies, and thanks for your patience!

Fuck it, it’s Friday. Why not post this? Dan would be proud anyways. Good work, MSI, this is how you do viral video. Via Today’s Big Thing. (Also worth noting, the marketing managers and account execs who approved this, I have the utmost respect for.)

Also worth checking out: the email saga of a guy whose girlfriend forgot that he was going to Europe for two weeks. God I love the Internet.

Peace.

This is probably not timely. In fact, I know for sure that it isn’t, and that Michelob began pushing their craft beer lineup years ago. But I noticed something at the store the other day that really caught my attention: they’re almost entirely done with a transformation into a giant microbrewery. Or at least I’m sure that’s what they want folks to think.

If this is the intent, then kudos for a large corporation being so committed to a new vision. This vision, apparently, involves moving away from their three most recognizeable brands, Michelob (now ‘Original Lager’), Michelob Light, and Michelob Ultra. I saw none of them at the grocery store. The shelves instead were populated by some of the beers you see above. Not an overnight shift by any means, but this is the first time that I’ve seen the craft beers without the main brands. Damn. I knew that the recent rise of microbreweries meant that the big guys would have to react somehow, but this is far and away beyond what I would have expected.

For what it’s worth, some of these beers aren’t too bad, either. The Amber Bock is especially reliable.

Cheers!

Just noticed that one of my favorite designers dropped a new site. iamalwayshungry, now on it’s seventh version, is now up and ready to be eyeballed. Nessim Higson is definitely one guy that takes exception to the generalization that agency and designer sites are rarely updated, this new edition contains a bunch of new work that, as usual, looks like no one else’s.

The site also, however, falls entirely into the cliche that agency and designer websites are less than intuitive to navigate. What saves Ness on this catch is that he’s aware of it. Flaunts it even, noting that perhaps all too often now we’re worried about standards and usability, especially with the onset of Web 3.0. IAAH takes a different tack: it’s all about the process, the evolution. More than anyone else I’ve seen, this portfolio is full of sketches as well as finished work, rejected versions, experiments, musings, etc. He’s always linked back to the previous versions, so one could spend a whole afternoon sifting back through a whole history. Good stuff. And I suppose I should be checking back soon, because it’s already noted that v7 is temporary, and the next big thing is gonna be coming.

I’m headed to Jamaica tomorrow for a wedding. Therefore, I’ll be away from the blog until Friday. In the meantime, I’ve asked our talented Art Director, Kevin Fitzgerald, to step in and maintain it until I get back.

Have fun toiling in the States, you soul-selling cogs of the machine.

Get your Monday on with a slightly overweight bearded guy in short jean shorts dancing all over the place to Beyonce’s hit single, “Single Ladies.”  I’m sure it’s inspired by Where The Hell is Matt, which featured a slightly overweight clean-shaven guy in a T-shirt and khaki shorts dancing all over the place. By Draftfcb Johannesburg, South Africa.

Simple, yet effective concept for the MPD’s new recruitment campaign. Provided pro-bono by Cramer-Krasselt, Milwaukee.

Pixar never ceases to amaze! Enjoy another wonderful Pixar short film. This one marks the directorial debut of their storyboard artist and animator Peter Sohn (who also provided the voice of Emile in Ratatouille - you know, the fat mouse).

Decide for yourself. The following is an LOLcat that’s been around for awhile.

This is a campaign by Publicis India that just came out for Kennel1, a fast-working dog laxative. Notice the careful attention paid to keeping the dogs at the reverse angle of the cat. Am I reading too much into this? Or is this the world’s first LOLcat-inspired (ripped off) ad campaign? Just like the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop, the world may never know (I take that back. This really really bored man with too much time on his hands found the answer).

This has been done before. But it’s a great concept for this particular client. This is the best of three executions by Colenso BBDO, Auckland.

Philips had a similar concept, also to great effect. Pointed out by the highly critical schmucks at Ads of the World.