Spam Email (WFOTD)

Gary Thuerk was the world’s first e-mail spammer. He wrote the first ever spam email which was sent out on May 3, 1978 to a network of government and university computers.

In total, 600 unwilling people received his email, which was publicizing open houses in Los Angeles and San Mateo. The reaction from the net community to the email was fiercely negative, but Thuerk’s spam did generate some sales. In fact, Thuerk estimates it led to $12 million in sales.

Since then, spam emails have grown in numbers, with 90% of all e-mails sent today considered as spam. Estimates suggest that as many as 200 billion spam messages are sent daily, and it’s all thanks to Gary Thuerk.

PETA Uses Tiger Woods For Sex

Tiger Woods’ sex scandal has just landed himself on a PETA billboard. Yes, that’s right, PETA.

The animal rights group will launch the ad, featuring Tiger Woods, on billboards in two weeks. The golfer’s photograph will bear the tagline, “Too Much Sex Can Be a Bad Thing”. Underneath the heading, it reads “…for little tigers too. Help keep your cats (and dogs) out of trouble: Always spay or neuter!”

The organization has not got Tiger’s blessing in publishing the ad nor it has a local advertiser to put up the billboard in. “It’s a fun, tongue-in-cheek approach. We hope these billboard companies will understand,” Virginia Fort who worked on the project said. The plan is to erect the ad in Windermere the soonest being in two weeks.

Link Via imwiddstupidd

Cristiano Ronaldo Sings… Badly

Here’s soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, singing a 19th century Cuban Bolero ballad called Amor Mío — translated in English as My Love — for a television advert for Portuguese bank Banco Espírito Santo.

Unfortunately for him, the recording got leaked onto the internet and now everyone knows he’s about as cheesy as he is wealthy, and as tone-deaf as, well, something that’s tone deaf.

Maybe stick to the soccer, Ronnie. You’re better at that.

HP Printer Dance

Tom Wrigglesworth and Matt Robinson made this awesome video in response to the D&AD Student Awards brief set by Hewlett Packard. The piece is called “invent”.

Extreme Anti-Smoking Advert

Never, ever, ever smoke again! Humanity is counting on you!

Link

100% Computer Generated Burger, Fries And Drink

This may look like a normal McDonalds advertisement, but watch up to 28 seconds in.

They always look better in the commercials, don’t they?

Burger King Forced To Apologize To Hindus

Burger King has been forced to apologize to Hindus after it showed an Indian goddess with a “forbidden” Whopper Burger.

The advert had a picture of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, about to eat a beef burger, stating “The snack is sacred.”

The company withdrew it’s adverts from it’s outlets in Spain after Hindus complained that it was a disgrace to their religion and issued an apology after Hindu leaders condemned the posters.

“We are apologising because it wasn’t our intent to offend anyone,” said spokesperson Denise T Wilson. “Burger King Corporation values and respects all of its guests as well as the communities we serve. This in-store advertisement was running to support only a local promotion for three restaurants in Spain and was not intended to offend anyone.
“Out of respect for the Hindu community, the limited-time advertisement has been removed from the restaurants,” she added.

This isn’t the first time Burger King has offended sections of society however. Earlier this year, the fast food chain offended Mexican officials with an advert for the “Texican Whopper” showing a dwarf dressed as a wrestler draped in the Mexican flag.

This has certainly brought a lot of attention to the company. Do you think that the Hindu advert was a genuine mistake or was it a Burger King publicity stunt? You Decide.

Vatican Radio Airs Commercials

For the first time in it’s 80 year history, Vatican Radio – the voice of the Roman Catholic Church is starting to air advertisements.

It seems now that the Vatican is also suffering from the economic downturns, however it’s radio advertisements could raise more than $300,000 over the next six months for the Church, with Enel, an Italian gas and electricity company, being to first company to run it’s commercials.

Vatican radio. transmits its programmes in 45 languages on FM and the internet with the aim of spreading the message of the Pope and the Church’s Christian teachings. Until now, it had been funded entirely by the Catholic Church at a cost of $40 million a year.

North Korea Beer Advert

North Korea has launched its first television advertisement for beer. It is meant to represent the “new look of Pyongyang,” and promises that the Taedonggang beer will help ease stress.

What did you think of the advert? Have you tried the Taedonggang beer? Let us know what you thought.

Personally, it reminds me of the Mr Sparkle advert from the Simpsons…Just sayin’.