The ad – that basically calls for war – will hit television airwaves “in New York and Washington DC beginning today, on Sunday political shows, and during weekend sporting events, with additional markets to follow next week, according to the group,” BuzzFeed reported.

“Talking isn’t working. It’s time to act before it’s too late,” the ad declares.

I’ve seen thousands of ads including the most bizar messages, but I’ve never seen an ad calling for war. It’s just crazy.

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GM spends about $40 million a year on Facebook marketing, according to the Wall Street Journal, about $10 million of which is for paid advertisements. It will continue to post relevant content about the company and its brands on GM’s Facebook pages.

In a statement GM said:

“In terms of Facebook specifically, while we currently do not plan to continue with advertising, we remain committed to an aggressive content strategy through all of our products and brands, as it continues to be a very effective tool for engaging with our customers.”

Although the timing of this message seems plain mean, GM’s statement does provide a clue for all brands that are active on Facebook or social media in general.

Social media is about ENGAGING people in your brand, not selling them a product. What companies need to realize that Facebook may not be the right social media platform for their particular campaign. I think GM is beginning to learn this.

However, Facebook, the ultimate provider of ‘share-ability’ has failed to meet the ROI expectations of a major brand owner like GM. And that’s something we should all think about carefully.

Although the ancient Olympics were rather different from the modern Games using the event as a political instrument survived and unfortunately evolved; sports is politics.

While a call for a boycott of this Summer’s Euro 2012 Football games hosted by Ukraine and Poland this is gathering momentum amongst European Leaders and opinion makers the 2012 Olympic Games hosted by the United Kingdom stayed relatively clear from anything to do with all politics and nothing sports.

That is until Argentina threw the first stone at the UK over their longstanding dispute concerning the claim on the Falkland Islands.

Argentina is attempting to politicise the London Olympics by using the event to highlight its claim to sovereignty of the Falklands. The Argentinean government has released a primetime television advert linking the Games to its demand to rule the South Atlantic islands. The provocative 90 second commercial, screened on the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the General Belgrano, features Olympic hopeful Fernando Zylberberg and is filmed in Port Stanley.

The 35-year-old Argentine hockey player is shown among classically English sights – the Globe Tavern pub, a red telephone box and the offices of the English-language Penguin News.

It finishes with the slogan: ‘To compete on English soil, we are training on Argentine soil.’

The ad was filmed without the permission of the Falklands authorities, who said it was ‘cheap and disrespectful propaganda’.

I agree. Sports is Sports and Politics is Politics, and this indeed is ‘cheap and disrespectful’. Not only to the Olympic Athletes but foremost to the soldiers that lost their lives in recent disputes over the Islands.

Here’s the propaganda movie:

The animation is produced by expert animation houses – BUF and Laundry! – who were joined by the famous music video director Melina Matsoukas, who has worked with a lot of great names in the modern music industry, such as Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Rihanna.

The animations are quite spectacular, but unfortunately Melina Matsoukas did a lot of copy-paste from her own previous work using the usual symbolism package that are the signature elements of todays entertainment industry.

Like the pyramids:

Svedka Pyramids

Beyonce performing in front of Pyramids

The popular butterfly symbolism

Svedka and the use of the Monarch butterfly symbolism

Lady Gaga and butterflies

The tank barrel phallus kinda thing

Svedka and the tank barrel phallus kinda thing

Rihanna and her tank barrel phallus kinda thing

SVEDKA_Grl allegedly got her moves for the videos by studying famous models Heidi Klum, Brooklyn Decker and Dita Von Teese. Well, apparently that’s not the only thing she got from studying ‘others’.

Like the martini glass shot:

Svedka in a martini glass

Dita von Teese practically build her fame occupying a martini glass

Paris Hilton did so too in 2008

Even worse, for Svedka that is, Dita von Teese is the official ambassador of Cointreau. And guess how the French liquor brand is using Dita von Teese for their branding? That’s right, Dita occupying a cocktail glass

Dita von Teese for Cointreau

For a brand that likes to promote itself as a futuristic brand, or a “#1 vodka in 2033″, and is trying hard to stay bold and innovative the videos are, although spectacular and enjoyable, lazy and cheap.

Despite Diana Pawlik, Vice President of Marketing for SVEDKA Vodka, saying:

“The spirit of these new TV spots truly captures the essence of SVEDKA_Grl as her fun, cheeky self. The result is colorful, provocative, outrageous, fun and cheeky – all the things the SVEDKA brand has come to embody since 2007.”

Yeah, yeah.. all true, but also all not so innovative or original. Not even the robot, who was used in an excellent video “Human” for Johnny Walker aired in 2006 (!)

Of course, there’s nothing wrong in using symbolism or elements from popular culture. Actually this could be a very smart thing to do. But for a brand the wants to be futuristic and innovative I would expect a whole lot more creativity and a video-director that isn’t using her own checklist approach.

Anyway, here are the two videos combined in one YT-movie.

The convergence of technology and our behavior, the transparency of our private life’s through social media, the blurring of what is real and fantasy, smart meters, the progress of neuro science and nano-technology to either enhance or restore human functions and capabilities, the advancement of food production technology, and much more could all on their own account greatly benefit human society and the planet we all share. And these are all elements, even the apparent sexualization of our society, needed to implement a technocracy. As our society becomes more complex by the day could we could benefit of such system. But as with all things it will come down to who operates and manages such society.

Smart meters are great and could help to reduce our energy consumption and allow for a fairer pricing. You only take what you need, and when you need more, you’ll pay more. Sounds great and it is, but the big question is; Who owns the data, and who operates the kill-switch? Cause if a smart meter (or smart grid) mean the energy companies will own your data and will be able to determine what utilities you’ll be using when, where and why, then it is not a good thing. Then our technocracy quickly becomes a dystopian society. One that is worse than George Orwell could imagine.

Same goes with data collection. We humans produce a tremendous amount of (digital) data each day, so it’s a great thing that we develop technology that is capable of filtering, storing, and analyzing all this data so we can easily benefit from it. But when this data is controlled and owned by organisations that operate without hardly any oversight than this same beneficial data collection becomes very, very dangerous. And it doesn’t matter whether the intention for collecting the data, or implementing advanced technology, all started with the best of intends. Once it gets corrupted by someone or something it will be used against us and it will be irreversible.

One such implementation that could easily turn against us is hidden in a bill that has recently passed the U.S. Senate. The SB 1813, or Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP 21), would make it mandatory for all new cars in the United States to include black box data recorders from the year 2015, and would (among many other provisions) permit the IRS to confiscate one’s passport on the suspicion of owing taxes. The bill is now scheduled for a vote in the House.

Section 31406 of the measure calls for “mandatory event data recorders” to be installed in new vehicles not later than 180 days after the bill’s enactment, and mandates penalties on individuals who fail to comply.

There has been a push to install black box devices for over a decade. And there’s no reason not to. The technology is available and a black box could help determine what happened in case of an accident or improve the driver’s safety. But again the big question is: Who owns the data, what data is stored and send to what organisation, and who has access to the data.

While the bill also indicates that the data would remain the property of the vehicle’s owner, the government does have the power to gain access to the black box under a variety of circumstances, including by court order, if the owner consents to make it available.

But there’s no rational or scientific need nor justification to equip tens of millions of vehicles on a perpetual basis with black boxes.

While denials abound there is good reason to believe that the promotion of universal black box installation in new vehicles has more to do with regulatory, enforcement, judicial, and corporate economic interests; all at the expense of vehicle owners who are forced to pay for and retain this form of self-surveillance.

There’s also no reason to object to safety research that involves the use of black boxes, as long as the participants are informed and willing and they are allowed to opt out of research project without negative consequences.

With this in mind the data box suddenly is part of the slippery slope to total surveillance of the transportation habits and whereabouts of Americans. And that would be a very bad thing. Irreversible bad that is. But a signature element of a technocracy nevertheless.

The Super Seven Incher

The marketing industry has introduced about any method to incorporate sex in advertising imaginable; from subliminal ‘sexual graphics’ to bikini clad models promoting bicycles or hamburgers. They’ve done, we’ve seen it.

Paris Hilton for Carl's Jr. Hamburgers

While the use of subliminal graphics didn’t really work out too well the use of scantly dressed women is still a favorite. But with the arrival of the social web, and the ever increasing struggle for ‘awareness’ and ‘publicity’ in our over consuming media culture it is increasingly difficult to stick a product into the consumer’s head.

How subtile..

Traditional advertising is hardly working anymore unless we’re able to add a ‘buzz’, make our message go ‘viral’, or spin a little ‘scandal’ like being banned from a TV-network or magazine. Unless you revert to the entertainment industry and use their new advertising platform; the starlet, the socialite, the ‘reality TV star’. The young celebs that are so hungry for attention that they are prepared to do almost anything to score a few headlines and backed by an industry that no longer is interested in talent but exploits living advertising platforms ready to sell your product at editorial pages. Who needs advertising pages when you can have a starlet promoting your product on the front page?

There are numerous brands that make use of these platforms one of which is Smartwater; a bottled water with some added ‘extra’s’. It was Smartwater who was aiming for a viral last year with the alleged Jennifer Aniston sex-tape. (see video below) The video managed to gain some ‘buzz’, but it hardly went viral.

Amber Heard for Smartwater

Nevertheless, ever since we see countless ‘talents’ strolling the streets billboarding their bottle of Smartwater. And especially for a society like the U.S. that adores their celebs and represents a bottled water market of 500 million sold bottles every week that’s a smart move and accomplishment.

But it doesn’t create a ‘buzz’. Neither does it go ‘viral’. And for a product that is one of the most unnecessary of the Western world, so much that it considers tap water as its biggest enemy, celeb billboarding alone, although very useful, won’t do.

Christina Perri for Smartwater

So, it’s no surprise Smartwater took their celeb billboarding one step further. This time it wasn’t Jennifer Aniston with an alleged ‘sex-tape’ that turned out to be anything but a ‘sex-tape’, but they hired Miley Cyrus and got her to deliver the ‘fantasy’ and the headlines and online buzz.

Miley Cyrus' product delivery for Smartwater for the prudent publisher

Miley set up the campaign in front of her Pilates studio where after her work out she quickly slipped in (or should I say ‘out’) a tiny black dress as a perfect prop to very publicly and openly slide into her convertible carrying her Smartwater bottle. The paparazzi did what they were expected to do and within 24 hours the Smartwater campaign was copied over countless websites and social networks. Mission accomplished.

Miley Cyrus' product delivery for Smartwater. Buzz and Viral shot

This wasn’t the first time Miley Cyrus used her naked assets to set up a campaign btw. She did the same format for Tesla Cars where she slipped out of her undies when the paparazzi arrived and slipped back into modesty when they left.

Miley Cyrus Tesla Roadster shoot

Miley Cyrus' product delivery for Tesla

And Miley isn’t the only ‘talent’ that uses ‘voyeurism’ to promote a product. We’ve seen it before, and we will see it again. The question only being; what will be the next line to cross? Sex-tapes start to backlash and up skirt photography is getting old too. So what’s next? Completely naked appearances? Well, we’re almost there.. Or do we grow up and stop buying into this type of marketing? Or what?

Here’s the Jennifer Aniston “sex-tape” ad for Smartwater:

Frederique Bel - Banned by Twitter

It’s no surprise the French kicked off in an attempt to add some ‘bite’ to the presidential candidate Francois Hollande, who is all but glamorous. It is French actress and comedian Frederique Bel who used her Histamatic talents to add a little ‘sexy fun’ to the ‘anti-glam’ image of Francois Hollande.

Frederique published a picture of herself naked with as a loin cloth a ballot with Francois Hollande’s name as a way to create the contrast with a candidate not especially sexy.

However, only a few hours after the picture was posted on Twitter, the service terminated the account for ‘indecent assault’.

With her Twitter account closed Frederique took her campaign and followers to Facebook and started a little political rally prompting a few of her followers to send in similar pictures.

Cool dude, nice stockings too but who are you voting for?

Well, it’s not because of the nude calendar featuring leading women from the Belgian (Flemish) world of politics, music, film, sports and music. But it is because there’s a terrible hypocrisy involved. One of the starlets appears to be the Belgian Secretary of Justice – Annemie Turtelboom. Of course, kudo’s to mrs Turtelboom for being brave to opt-in for this daring shoot.

However, let’s not forget that only a few weeks ago the home of an amateur photographer, who also happened to be a courthouse employee, was raided by the police, his computer equipment confiscated, a criminal investigation against him mounted and his courthouse job terminated. All because he organized an after closing hours photo shoot featuring naked female models in ‘his’ Court House. A photo shoot he had permission for, but failed to explain to his supervisors what he meant with ‘an artistic shoot’. The Court – including the Justice Department – considered the shoot an insult to the Belgian Court of Justice.

And now we have the Secretary of Justice Annemie Turtelboom, the political boss of that same Court House, featuring a calendar naked and we’re considered to compliment her for her guts?

I don’t think so. This is hypocrisy at its finest definition and more. This is ‘all are equal, but some are more equal than others’.

Flying surveillance cameras were considered science fiction in 1988. They are reality today.

But the drones are not used for continuous surveillance?!. No, not yet. But we’re getting there. Take for example the initiative of Belgian city Genk. Here an ignorant mayor gave his consent to the introduction of camera-mounted drones to be used by the local police force. Only for traffic surveillance, and perhaps for large events, but the copter will never be deployed for filming residents the Mayor Wim Dries utters. Sure, dude, we believe you.

An actual, modern unmanned drone mounted with a video camera.

The gadget is capable of taking razor-sharp images, see through fog, and is equipped with night-vision like infrared cameras. And the monsters are pretty cheap. They fly for 36,000 euro. Cameras included. The low costs for operating these little spies is perhaps one of the bigger concerns, cause it won’t take long for some desk jockey to figure out that deploying drones is much cheaper than deploying human LEO’s. When that happens it won’t take long for the fictional city of “They Live” to become real.

Or worse. Cause why not expand a little on the configuration? We have the technology, so let’s use it for the benefit and safety of our civilians. Why not add this awesome Japanese invention that is capable of matching a face against 36 million other faces in just one second in real time. That would be cool! Especially if we could layer it with all kind of data and info using augmented reality. If we could do that we can monitor a city from one central oversight control room while listening in and – if necessary – correct remotely through the IntelliStreets network. Awesome!

The quadrotors are deployed as from May 2012. Hail progress!!

The loot from the art-minded crime spree is intended to raise questions about what’s private, what’s public, and what makes art “art”.

The artists said they gathered their trove of stolen photographs after stumbling on users of a file sharing program who had misconfigured their profiles.

The pair copied the contents of about 100 people’s hard drives, downloading pictures, videos, and music which they arranged into a slide show. A projector flashes photographs of people’s smiling friends, their grinning lovers, their lazy pets, their unmade beds, boozy nights out, road trips, dances, landscapes, street scenes and more.

Some photos could easily have been pulled off Facebook. Others — shirtless men photographed in the bathroom mirror, women squeezing their breasts for the camera — probably weren’t intended for public consumption.

Smile.. you're now considered being 'art'

Franco said the stolen photographs weren’t intended to humiliate, describing the slideshow as a “celebration of daily life.”