Experiential Shoplifting Event Returns

To quote from a news report out of Japan:

Have you ever wanted to experience the thrill of shoplifting but hate the mundane side effects of being arrested and going to jail? If so, then “盗-TOH-” (meaning “steal” in Japanese), is the perfect event for you.

The unique experiential event where silence is literally golden is back for a second round. 盗-TOH- returns to Tokyo this March, challenging participants to take home products without making a single sound. From March 13 to 16, 2025, TBS Akasaka Blitz Studio will transform into a tension-filled “stealable market” with over 5,000 items up for grabs. The catch? One small noise and you’re immediately escorted out.

Originally conceived by TBS Radio show “脳盗” (Brain Theft) hosted by rapper TaiTan and Shuuhei Tamaki of Mono No Aware, the first 盗-TOH- event was a viral sensation last year. Approximately 1,000 participants lined up for up to four hours for the chance to experience this unusual concept.

The rules are simple yet nerve-wracking: enter the venue, select items you want to take home, and leave without making any sound. The venue is equipped with over 200 highly sensitive microphones that catch even the slightest noise. Make a sound, and your “theft” attempt is immediately terminated.

Each participant or group has just 60 seconds to complete their silent mission. The time constraint adds another layer of difficulty to an already challenging task — moving quickly without creating noise requires remarkable control and concentration.

Removal from WhatsApp group leads to murder

To quote from a news report out of Pakistan:

A man in Peshawar has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting the administrator of a community WhatsApp group, Mushtaq Ahmed who removed him from the chat. Police documents confirm that a suspect named Ashfaq has been arrested in connection with the crime.

According to Mushtaq’s brother, the dispute started when Mushtaq removed Ashfaq from the WhatsApp group after an argument. The two had agreed to meet and reconcile, but Ashfaq allegedly arrived armed and opened fire, fatally shooting Mushtaq. Police stated that Ashfaq acted out of anger over being removed from the group.

Thoughts & Prayers Toilet Paper

It’s an initiative by anti-gun-violence non-profit, Change The Ref — toilet paper that is printed with actual messages posted by American politicians, after mass shootings.

Excerpts from the website:

Thoughts & Prayers are unbelievably soft and feel like nothing when it matters most.

100% Recycled — Same shit, different day

Ultra Soft — Like a politician’s spine

Purchase our newest rolls printed with real posts from politicians after mass shootings. Wipe away streaks of inaction and flush their hollow gestures. Show Congress what they can do with their thoughts & prayers.

Link to video

Burger King’s ‘Infiltration Mission’

Excerpts from Tokyo Weekender’s coverage of a campaign by Burger King Japan to recruit ‘spies’:

Burger King Japan has launched an ambitious recruitment campaign called “Burger King潜入大作戦” (Infiltration Mission) to find 750 “spies” who will help evaluate their stores across the country. The campaign, announced on February 27, aims to identify areas for improvement as the fast food chain continues its rapid expansion throughout Japan.

According to BK Japan Holdings (headquartered in Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward), the company is seeking everyday customers to provide honest feedback on various aspects of their restaurant experience.

The application period runs through March 26, with recruitment taking place through a special website dedicated to the campaign. Interested food sleuths can apply to evaluate their preferred Burger King location, making this an opportunity for burger fans throughout Japan.

Selected participants will be tasked with visiting their assigned Burger King location three times to evaluate various aspects of the restaurant experience. During these undercover missions, the “spies” will assess customer service quality, overall cleanliness of the facilities, menu variety, and whether pricing is appropriate.

The sweet (or savory) part of this deal? Burger King will cover all food expenses for the three reconnaissance missions. Additionally, all applicants will receive a discount coupon for ¥200 off a Whopper with cheese set meal, regardless of whether they’re selected for the program. Those that complete their mission will also receive a special Burger King agent shirt so they can let everyone know that they’re an undercover spy (this will probably blow your cover though).

A promo code… to pay more

From France: ride-hailing service Heetch has come up with a cheeky way to tell customers how much they could save riding with them, compared to Uber.

Link to video

Don’t Call It Love

A new spot for YSL Beauty looks as glamorous as you’d expect but with moments of unsettling vibes that tie in to an unexpected message.

Link to video

IMDb introduces Kleenex Score

As explained by IMDb:

Great movies hit us right in the feels – one minute we’re fine, the next we’re ugly crying. But let’s be real, tearing up can get messy, and not having a tissue on hand can be a total disaster. So, we created The Kleenex^® Score on IMDb to help you prepare for your movie night.

IMDb also released ‘The Ultimate Weeper Watchlist’ — a list of 10 films “that earned top Kleenex Score ratings, making them guaranteed to bring on the waterworks”.

Almost there but…

Two spots for UK-based SMARTY Mobile — the latest in its ‘less malarkey’ campaign.

-Zig Zag
-Invite

Carried Away

From the Philippines: courier firm LBC Express finds a delightfully literal way to make its point.

Link to video

Town offers bounty for mosquitoes

To quote from a BBC report from two weeks ago:

Authorities in one of the Philippines' most densely-populated urban centres are offering a cash reward for mosquitoes in an attempt to stop the spread of dengue.

Carlito Cernal, village chief of Barangay Addition Hills in central Manila, announced the bounty of one peso (less than two US cents) for every five mosquitoes.

While news of the bounty has provoked scorn on social media, Mr Cernal has defended it as necessary for the community's health.

The move follows a recent spike in cases of dengue, which is spread by mosquitoes, in the Philippines.

The programme, which will run for at least a month, was started after two students in Mr Cernal's neighbourhood died from the disease.

The bounty applies to all mosquitoes - dead or alive - and their larvae, Mr Cernal added. Live mosquitoes will be exterminated using ultraviolet light.

A total of 21 people have already claimed their reward, bringing in a total of 700 mosquitoes and larvae so far, he told the BBC.

RIP Boris Spassky

From Garry Kasparov’s tribute:

His rise as a prodigy, conquest of the crown against the invincible Petrosian on the second attempt, and decades of elite play are too often lost in the shadow of his dramatic title loss to Bobby Fischer in 1972 and the circus Fischer turned it into. But Spassky always wanted to play, and he handled the situation with impressive dignity. While his chess justified the "universal" label that frequently follows his name, his aggressive gambiteering style produced countless masterpieces.

Link to AP Archive interview clip after his loss to Fischer in 1972

RIP Gene Hackman

From Peter Bradshaw’s tribute in The Guardian:

He was the character actor who was really a star; in fact the star of every scene he was in – that tough, wised-up, intelligent but unhandsome face perpetually on the verge of coolly unconcerned derision, or creased in a heartbreakingly fatherly, pained smile. He wasn’t gorgeous like Redford or dangerously sexy like Nicholson, or even puckish like Hoffman; Hackman was normal, but his normality was steroidally supercharged. His hair was of its age: frizzy, with evident male-pattern baldness. You really don’t get star haircuts like that any more.

A very short selection of scenes to treasure:

Mississippi Burning (1988)
   -Razor wielding scene
   -‘Wringing necks’ scene

The Firm (1993)
   -‘People grieve in different ways’

Get Shorty (1995)
   -‘Use your imagination’

Pepperoni pizza flavoured soda

It’s a limited edition offering from low sugar soda brand Perfy. And the way it’s being promoted is pretty much as bewildering as the idea itself.  To quote from the website:

Remember walking into your favorite pizzeria? Quarters for the arcade, infamous red plastic cups, bells ringing for your order, trading tickets for prizes. These moments weren't just about pizza—they were about family, friendship, and happiness.

We've captured that magic in every can. Where each slice is transformed into a lightly carbonated love letter to our childhood.

So go ahead. Sip, savor, and make new memories. After all, who says you can't DRINK MORE PIZZA?

Italian Adventure

From Brazil: a new spot for fintech bank Nubank’s premium Ultravioleta card gives you plenty of reasons to visit Italy.

Link to video

RIP Roberta Flack

Killing Me Softly With His Song

Ramen restaurant puts bounty on negative reviewers

To quote from a report out of Japan:

TOYOJIRO, a Jiro-style ramen restaurant in Kyoto ranked second on the city’s ramen database, has come under scrutiny for placing a bounty on customers’ heads simply because they left low-rated reviews. Sounds shocking, right? Let’s take a closer look at the events that led to such an extreme response.

It all began when two individuals dined at TOYOJIRO’s Kyoto-based outlet. After leaving, one of them posted a one-star review, criticizing the store’s customer service and the quality of the food. Up to this point, everything seemed normal—negative reviews are a common occurrence. However, what happened next was anything but ordinary.

The restaurant did not take the criticism lightly. In response to the review, they posted a threatening message: “If you write a stupid review, we’ll find you. We’ll beat you up.” They escalated further by publishing photos of the customers and offering a cash reward to anyone who could provide information on their whereabouts.

“I saw your post, and you seem a bit weird. We try not to treat people like you as customers, so it’s fine. But you should probably avoid eating out. Someday, someone like you will get screwed. I don’t care—just come directly, and I’ll deal with you. We run a planned business, so if you get in our way, we’ll get in the way of yours too,” the store wrote.

On their Instagram (@toyojiro.toyota), the restaurant posted a story offering a reward of 100,000 yen per reviewer to anyone who could provide their personal details, track them down, or take action against them. The shop made it clear that this “manhunt” would continue until both individuals returned to the restaurant, had another meal, and wrote a positive review with a photo.

Love is in the air…

But not quite in the way that you may imagine, in this 90 second spot for British Airways that ends up being less about love (or even British Airways for that matter).

Link to video

IKEA’s giveaway to responsive insomniacs

I’ll let this report explain:

“u up?”

That’s what IKEA [Canada] asked sleepy scrollers late on Friday night as they slid into their DMs (direct messages). The short and sweet message sent in the middle of the night surprised unsuspecting Canadians in a contextual social stunt to promote a dreamy deal on IKEA mattresses.

As the mattress space has become increasingly competitive, with challenger brands vying for audiences’ attention, IKEA went directly to those who need them most: sleepless Canadians – in the middle of the night.

Sliding into DMs between 10 pm ET and 5 am the next morning, Canadians who were still awake and playful enough to respond were surprised with a free mattress.

Face cream… inspired by salad dressing

To quote from a report out of UK:

After the iconic return of its beloved Creamy Salad Dressing to the sauce station, Nando’s is taking things to the next level with a bold and quirky launch: the Extra Creamy Face Cream. Steering from typical beauty products, Nando’s moisturiser is infused with the unique flavours of garlic and black pepper, giving your skin a zingy boost.

This innovative skincare creation is inspired from Nando’s famous Creamy Salad Dressing, turning it into a rejuvenating face cream – a fun concept with health benefits too. The garlic offers anti-ageing, anti-fungal, and skin-smoothing qualities – what’s not to love!

Gulf of whatever you like

I’ll let this Huffington Post report explain:

While Google and Apple’s mapping services have complied with President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” MapQuest is holding its ground.

The company ― which calls itself “the OG of online mapping” on BlueSky ― has refused to make the change. “Our maps are like grandma’s Thanksgiving recipes — once they’re printed, they’re not changing. The Gulf of Mexico stays put on MapQuest,” it announced last month.

And it’s now offering other critics a way to push back on Trump’s demand.

MapQuest last week introduced the “Gulf Map Generator,” which allows users to rename the body of water themselves.

The tool quickly got used for trolling Trump, with users rebranding it as the “Gulf of Obama,” the “Gulf of Joe Biden,” the “Gulf of Insecurity” and more.