I'm Still Going to Eat Cheerios

A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Puppet
Mannequin American views and guidelines on marketing/PR trends, news from the world of puppets and ventriloquism, bits of humor and other interesting but useless information. I post every Tuesday and Friday.
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This is Creepy ... even to a Mannequin American

The Puppet Show, a new artistic project by photographers Winkler+Noah, includes 30 portraits of children from two to eight years old, transformed into mannequins by "subtle" retouching. Each print is available in a limited edition; signed, numbered and embossed. They also offer a hardback bound, 80 page book limited to 500 editions. Click here for more photos and info.  

I'm Still Going to Eat Cheerios

Apparently, when you say that your breakfast cereal is "clinically proven to lower cholesterol," the FDA takes an interest ... after a decade or so.

The Wall Street Journal's Health Blog writes about the FDA's warning letter to General Mills in regards to the packaging and advertising of Cheerios. A claim that your food can mitigate or prevent disease is enough to put your product on shaky legal ground, it turns out.

The company fired back with a statement (General Mills "look forward" to "discussing" the matter with the FDA) but makes what appears to be a solid point overall: It's got science to back up its very specific claim.

Here's what gripes me. The FDA goes after the claims of a highly popular cereal which the manufacturer says is backed by scientific proof ... and in the process the FDA damages that company's image and probably product sales. But the government allows products labeled "natural supplements" to make any outlandish claims about weight loss, sexual enhancement, depression relief, wrinkle removal, third arm growth, etc. without having to be backed by any type of legitimacy. And those bogus products are generally aimed specifically at, and take advantage of, people with real problems. But for some reason, that's okay.

Yeah, by all means let's go after Cheerios and leave Enzyte and Hydroxytone alone.

Employees Wear Only Body Paint for Ad

It's always interesting to see how other countries market things in ways that would probably raise the ire of pocketed groups in the U.S., and thus never be considered.

AIR New Zealand is running a commercial where airline crew members carry out their duties wearing nothing more than body paint.  Click here or on the photo to see it. In the TV commercial passengers are shown smiling knowingly and looking shocked at the body-painted staff, while a song appropriately titled "Under my skin," plays.

More than 90 Air New Zealand staff members are featured in the cheeky campaign, with 8 donning only body paint. Chief Executive Rob Fyfe also took part in the ad, (he's one of those loading luggage) and was crowned New Zealand's sexiest businessman as a result.

"I do love a man in uniform," one female passenger says to her companion as two body-painted crew members walk past. Body-painted "naughty parts" are blocked by beverage carts, luggage and camera angles, but the shocked and surprised look on the passengers' faces says it all.

Cute and harmless, but too much for U.S. audiences who too often play the "I'm offended" card and force advertisers to pull good ads.

I Think I'm in Love
A fellow-Harley rider sent Dale a photo of an interesting custom chopper. He thought I'd appreciate it because the design incorporates a "mannequin." He was right. I was very interested. But because Ms. Mannequin is not fully clothed and in a rather compromising position, I didn't think it would be appropriate to include the photo for all to see. For those who would like to view the chopper and possibly my future bride, click here.

Bank Ad Campaign


Colorado's 1stBank made a contemporary statement above Coors Field recently with a small plane towing a huge sign that reads: "This is the closest thing we have to a private jet." If they really want to generate some buzz maybe they should shower Coors Field with money.

The same bank is using billboards to promote small businesses ... owned by 1stBank customers. Clever. Good customer PR. And a good promotion for getting more small business customers.

Poignant and Effective Ads by Non-profit
The French Alzheimer's Association delivers a potent message in these frames. The text reads: "In France, 1 million people can't get hold of their memories." The photos are literally boarded up in various ways-people, places and experiences now inaccessible. The "walling off" visuals are powerfully ugly, adding to the mood of disorientation and malaise.

If your family has ever been touched by this malicious disease, you know that the most chilling and ironic of all is the mere presence of picture frames. They serve as sad reminders that something was there-something that held special significance and meaning but is now beyond reach. Via Ads of the World 

Attention-Getting Auto Sunscreen Ads

 Twin Hi-Way Drive-In in Robinson Township, Pa., creatively uses car-windshield sunscreens as an ad medium. Putting ads on sunscreens isn't a new concept, but this implementation is pretty cool. The life-size images of folks watching different types of movies were created for about $700 in production.

Movie-marquee-style copy invites patrons to "Take your emotions for a ride tonight." I like the dude laughing so hard he spits his drink all over the windshield.

Error on Last Friday's Blog
On my previous blog I mentioned the new Star Trek movie and then stupidly posted a photo of a poster advertising the Star Wars ride at Disney.  This proves two things: 1. I have a life so Star Wars and Star Trek are pretty much the same thing to me. 2. Even a Mannequin American can mess up some times.

Thanks for the many humorous emails pointing out my error.  Not one rude or obnoxious one in the bunch ... proving that I have nice readers with solid senses of humor.

And for the record, Lauren Brown was the first to point out the error.