Nick Hornby, Ben Folds & Poplamoose – What’s NOT to love? Here is a sweet little collaboration between The author and musicians with a fun and inspiring number that WILL make you think. (Thanks Andy!)

Here is a fun video from the makers of “The Story of Stuff,” that should be seen by everyone too. If you like Food Inc., this will just open your eyes to what is going on in the products we eat/use and how they can affect you AND those you love. The message is important, but the way it’s delivered is entertaining! C’mon, cute/fun drawings are the only way to really watch things like this as the topic is sensitive so this is a good way to break it down and understand it.

After watching this, visit safecosmetics.org and help get the word to your local representative. (It’s really easy and took me literally 2 min.) Legislation entitled, “Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010,” has been introduced in congress, but needs to be backed to get through. It includes ideas like having safety restrictions on what is used in cosmetics and more labeling on products you buy. (What? You don’t want to know that there are cancer-causing chemicals in the shampoo or make up you use all the time? Really? Then you might not want to watch this and continue to live your life in the dark.)

I finally saw the film Food Inc. last night and I realized just how important this film truly is. It had been on my radar for months and months and although I have been changing my eating habits for tbe better for quite some time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it. I admit I was a little scared and standoffish about the idea, but why should I hide from the truth? So I put it on and it confirmed my suspicions, and also gave me hope.

Knowledge is power.

This is a movie EVERYONE should see, bar none. It should be shown to families, passed around and talked about. It is not something to be fearful of (as that breeds ignorance,) but something that should be embraced. Don’t sit in the dark any longer, you can’t afford to.

Ready for something different? Here is a clever and fun video that was ultra low budget. When you have a great song, you can do pretty much anything around it. Like the fakest spaceships you’ve ever seen and papermache alien costumes worn by your friends. The band is Jaill from Milwaukee and they throw the best beach party ever.

What a terrible name for a band, but does that really matter when I love love love them? There is something charming about how this small group from Missouri attacks songs. SSLYBY writes in a way that is both earnest/honest and catchy like a rash. You should probably buy a bucket of ointment before listeing. (A BIG bucket.) Their third album came out yesterday entitled, “Let It Sway,” and if it is half as good as the first two, it’ll be golden. It was recorded in Madison with Chris Wallo of Death Cab for Cutie fame, and it means that people in the right places are taking notice. Here is a short video about them and the new offering. (You can thank me later.)

Man I love these Old Spice ads. There creative, funny and super clever. This is one of the boldest yet.

Apparently men are the target for beer commercials. (Really?) Of course I’m susceptible to their marketing schemes because I’m a man who likes both beer AND women. (crazy I know.) So this puts me directly in the crosshairs of every beer commercial out there. Even though like most beer ads, it’s chest-thumping-bravado and old-school-boys-club themes scream sexist, it does have it’s charms and is likable. (At least to beer-drinking-women-loving-men like me.)

I like this Kindle Ad from Amazon.com, (And I just found out that “Kindle” means group of kittens weirdly enough), don’t get me wrong, but I feel this could have been a little stronger. Of course criticism is EASY when you aren’t part of the project, I guess I wished they would have taken the Chemistry scene OR the police scene and elaborated on one of those for the whole commercial. I think it would have had MORE relavance in working with the song, (either segment), and been easier to digest as a consumer.

Really I guess I’m thinking this could have been split into two commercials here with the same beginning for each. Does this make sense? Does anyone else feel there might be too much going on in this (scene wise)? I’m a big proponent of “less is more” and simplicity and felt they just tried to cram too much in, but then again they are beautiful and creative. What are your thoughts?

I saw this and love the emotional impact and cool graphical nature of this piece. It’s self help + poetry + warm and fuzzy.

In this new digital world older media needs to catch up and NPR clearly knows this. See this tongue-in-cheek look at what they’re doing behind the scenes.