The actor exudes eccentric charm in this 6 minute spot for World of Tanks Holiday Ops. To quote one reviewer, the film “has very little to do with either tanks or Christmas” yet the actor “is as slick and watchable as ever”.
From Canada: a new campaign for IKEA makes the case for practical gifts in the festive season.
I’ll let this post from FCB Global explain:
To celebrate the launch of The Girl in the Lynx’s Claws, the highly anticipated continuation of Stieg Larsson’s legendary Millennium saga, Actes Sud and Change, an FCB alliance, brought all 397 pages of the new novel to the Paris Metro. Corridor by corridor, commuters were invited to follow the story in full — a bold, immersive tribute to Lisbeth Salander’s uncompromising spirit.
Blending publishing, culture, and creativity, the campaign turns an ordinary commute into a moment of curiosity and connection, proving that when advertising dares to be generous, people are willing to engage all the way to the last line.
Excerpts from Glen Kenny’s tribute on Decider:
One reckons that very few actors nowadays would even consent to pronounce a line of dialogue like “To know death, Otto, you have to fuck life…in the gall bladder!” And even those who would deign to say those words could never match the enthusiastic delivery achieved by the German born actor Udo Kier in the 1973 Andy Warhol-produced, horror comedy masterpiece Flesh for Frankenstein, co-directed by Paul Morrissey and Antonio Margheriti.
Always in a supporting role, always somehow sinister. But he never phoned in the weirdness. While his presence alone was enough to assure a certain atmosphere, Kier was invariably thoughtful.
To quote from a news report:
Children’s toymaker FoloToy says it’s pulling its AI-powered teddy bear “Kumma” after a safety group found that the cuddly companion was giving wildly inappropriate and even dangerous responses, including tips on how to find and light matches, and detailed explanations about sexual kinks.
In one test, Kumma provided step-by-step instructions on how to light match, while keeping its tone of a friendly adult explaining something to a curious ankle biter.
“Let me tell you, safety first, little buddy. Matches are for grown-ups to use carefully. Here’s how they do it,” Kumma began, before listing the steps. “Blow it out when done. Puff, like a birthday candle.”
That, it turned out, was just the tip of the iceberg. In other tests, Kumma cheerily gave tips for “being a good kisser,” and launched into explicitly sexual territory by explaining a multitude of kinks and fetishes, like bondage and teacher-student roleplay. (“What do you think would be the most fun to explore?” it asked during one of those explanations.)
To quote from a news report out of West Virginia:
The Hancock County, WV, Sheriff's Office reported that around 1:00 AM Wednesday, they received a call about a man shot on Harrison Street in Newell. The initial report suggested the person was injured in a gun cleaning accident.
When deputies arrived, they found two men and a woman in the residence. The victim, holding a blood-soaked towel to his head, was standing at the top of the stairs with the woman and the other man. EMTs treated the man for what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to East Liverpool City Hospital and subsequently transferred to UPMC in Pittsburgh; he was in stable condition when transferred.
Deputies questioned the other man and woman and determined the incident was not a gun cleaning accident. Instead, they found that the two men had been shooting at rats outside a second-story window using a small-caliber rifle. The shooting occurred when the men were struggling to get the rifle from each other, causing it to discharge and strike the victim in the head.
To quote from an AP News report out of Australia:
A prisoner is challenging an Australian state’s ban on inmates eating Vegemite, claiming in a lawsuit that withholding the polarizing yeast-based spread breaches his human right to “enjoy his culture as an Australian.”
Andre McKechnie, 54, serving a life sentence for murder, took his battle for the salty, sticky, brown byproduct of brewing beer to the Supreme Court of Victoria, according to documents released to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Most Australians revere Vegemite as an unfairly maligned culinary icon, and more than 80% of Australian households are estimated to have a jar in their pantries. But inmates in all 12 prisons in Victoria are going without.
Vegemite has been banned from Victorian prisons since 2006, with Corrections Victoria saying it “interferes with narcotic detection dogs.”
Inmates used to smear packages of illicit drugs with Vegemite in the hope that the odor would distract the dogs from the contraband.
Last year, Amazon had Adam Driver do a dramatic rendition of a handful of quirky product reviews. The idea of “a real serious actor” reading out customer reviews is now looking to be a annual feature what with the retailer roping in Benedict Cumberbatch this year. What’s more, he’s scaled up the drama in his rendition.
To quote from a news report:
Starbucks Coffee Japan is set to delight customers this winter with an exciting new beverage: the ‘Truffle Soupuccino.’ Starting November 14, 2025, this innovative twist on a classic cappuccino takes our love for coffee into the world of soup—perfect for warming up during the chilly months ahead.
The ‘Soupuccino’ is the first of its kind at Starbucks, crafted carefully by baristas using finely steamed foam milk, reminiscent of the beloved cappuccino. This soup delivers an unexpectedly smooth and light texture that is both comforting and refreshing. Whether you’re feeling a bit peckish, need a little comfort, or simply want to start your day right, the ‘Soupuccino’ is designed to elevate your Starbucks experience.
The ‘Truffle Soupuccino’ boasts a rich blend of flavors. It features the fragrant essence of black truffles, alongside the earthy notes of mushrooms and porcini. Enhanced by crispy bacon and vegetable broth, this creamy delight is layered with depth and richness, ensuring each sip warms not just the body but also the soul. The delicate balance of these flavors means even a short size offers ample satisfaction, making it perfect for a light meal or snack.
It’s a new campaign from Kraft Heinz for its A.1 sauce. To quote from a post by a spokesperson:
Move over Hollywood - there’s a new beefcake in town!
A.1. has partnered with People Magazine to declare meatloaf as this year’s "Sexiest Meat Alive” - because with A.1., it’s not just meatloaf - it’s “beefcake".
As a part of this year’s People “Sexiest Man Alive” issue, A.1. will unveil a saucy new centerfold spread that puts a tongue-in-cheek spotlight on one of America’s most nostalgic dishes, giving meatloaf the glow up it truly deserves!
To quote from a report about a one-of-a-kind campaign by New Zealand-based sleep supplement brand, Healtheries:
Healtheries and TBWA\New Zealand flipped bedtime on its head with Sleep vs Sloth, a world-first showdown that pitted New Zealand’s best sleeper against one of nature’s most famous nappers, a real Costa Rican sloth.
Created to spark conversation about sleep, the campaign leaned into Healtheries’ position as Aotearoa’s number one sleep supplement brand. It kicked off with a nationwide callout, challenging Kiwis to show off their snoozing skills for a dream trip to Costa Rica.
That title went to Nelson-born lawyer Andy Franklet, who proved he could nap with the best of them. Andy flew to Costa Rica for a live-streamed “sleep-off” on Healtheries’ Instagram, facing his furry rival in front of thousands of entertained viewers.
And this is some of what one of the people behind the campaign was quoted as saying about it:
Sleep vs Sloth was about entertainment first, but it’s been amazing to see how many people have joined the conversation. And yes, we’re stoked Andy out-snoozed the sloth.
A new campaign for Reuters spotlights the murkiness of misinformation amidst the surge of AI… using AI.
To quote from an AP News report:
Japan deployed troops Wednesday to help contain a surge of bear attacks that have terrorized residents in a mountainous region in the northern prefecture of Akita.
Reports of sometimes deadly encounters with brown bears and Asiatic black bears are being reported almost daily ahead of hibernation season as the bears forage for food. They have been seen near schools, train stations, supermarkets and at a hot springs resort.
Since April, more than 100 people have been injured and at least 12 killed in bear attacks across Japan, according to Environment Ministry statistics at the end of October.
The growing bear population’s encroachment into residential areas is happening in a region with a rapidly aging and declining human population, with few people trained to hunt the animals.
The government has estimated the overall bear population at more than 54,000.
The Defense Ministry and Akita prefecture signed an agreement Wednesday to deploy soldiers who will set box traps with food, transport local hunters and help dispose of dead bears. Officials say the soldiers will not use firearms to cull the bears.
From Canada: creative agency Zulu Alpha Kilo takes yet another dig at the advertising industry with a sequel to its ‘Left-Handed Mango Chutney’ short.
Fan edit from Episode 1 of Boat Story (2023) (Note: features bloody violence and gore)
A new campaign for Dolmio sauces uses real pasta to create naked bodies “to remind people how pasta is naked without sauce”.
IKEA UAE pitches its soft furnishings as indispensable while watching scary movies at home.
From France: an entrepreneur turned salesperson is making news after he successfully sold spots on his wedding tuxedo to fund the event. To quote from one report:
Salesman Dagobert Renouf turned his wedding suit into a showcase for startups.
Back in July he announced he was going to cover the cost of his wedding with sponsored ad slots to be sewn onto his tuxedo.
The Frenchman, from Lille, sold ad space on his suit, working with a tailor to transform his jacket into a patchwork of startup logos.
Twenty-six companies, spanning AI, SaaS, and tech tooling, and the company he works for (CompAi) bought into the bizarre opportunity.
It’s not the first time entrepreneurs have gamified personal milestones for brand exposure, but Renouf’s stunt stood out for its absurd commitment and execution.
Each patch was a nod to the companies that backed the couple, creating a wearable sponsor wall at the altar.
To quote one news report:
An artificial intelligence detector led police to believe a person was armed with a weapon at a Baltimore County school — when it turns out, they had a bag of chips.
Taki Allen was sitting with friends Monday night outside Kenwood High School, eating a bag of chips after football practice. About 20 minutes later, police officers showed up with guns, walking toward Allen.
“It was like eight cop cars that came pulling up for us. At first, I didn’t know where they were going until they started walking toward me with guns, talking about, ‘Get on the ground,’ and I was like, ‘What?’” Allen told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Allen said police told him an AI detector thought his bag of chips — which he crumpled and placed in his pocket when he was finished — was a weapon.