I just signed-up to receive The FWA's monthly newsletter (sign up here). Their August issue just came out and it contains loads of goodies; site of the month, video of the month, viral of the month (I love Dexter), the best flash sites ever, interviews and even some cool wallpaper (pictured).

Here's a local (Toronto) spin on the Banksy identity story. CBC Radio's Q show interviewed Toronto-based Fauxreel (AKA Dan Bergeron) about his street art including the Vespa S campaign he did via Dentsu Canada. Listen to the podcast here. Read the article on Dan in Toronto Life, referred to in the interview, here. More of Dan's great work is posted on Fauxreel.ca.

Here's what's being called a comeback video for Grace Jones. If I were little, I think this video would give me nightmares. When she says she's a "man eating machine" I actually picture her at a table literally feasting on a man - with big silver cutlery. Yep, especially with the guttural sounds she makes at the end (watch it to the end, it's worth it). Scooped from Boards.

Synchronicity - I was just talking about the bird dance last night and here is the song in this viral. Shots says it's for Nando's chicken (yum). It's fun, weird and a bit gross (the guy with the sauce) all at once. It doesn't make me want Nando's chicken, but it made me talk about it. Found on Shots' Cut & Paste.

I personally do not have a lot of time to play on interactive sites like Pencil Rebel. But the five or six minutes I spent on it were really fun. Pencil Rebel is interactive and mixed media by Grzegorz Kozakiewicz. I found it on TheFWA. Check it out - if you can spare some time.

Here's the latest broadcast spot for Wrangler (yep the cowboy jeans are being made chic) via FFL Paris. View the print campaign here. Scooped from Boards and from AdLand. I expect to see a lot of Wranglers this weekend when I attend the Rockyford Rodeo in Alberta (trivia - some of Brokeback Mountain was shot there). I also like how this still flows into the next post.

Here's a beautiful spot for Infiniti's sponsorship of Cirque du Soleil. Double Lines is directed by Son's and Daughters Mark Zibert with visual effects by Crush. Agency is TBWA Toronto. Full credits are here.

Man-Sized Wreath is the follow-up follow-up to R.E.M.'s Hollow Man video, both of which were shot, directed and animated by Crush, Toronto. Read the story on how Crush hooked-up with Michael Stipe and R.E.M. here. Full credits, a selection of stills and production notes from Crush creative director Gary Thomas on Man-Sized Wreath are posted here.

BMW has created the world's largest hourglass at the Red Square in Moscow to showcase its new flagship: the BMW 7 Series. Videos of its creation and launch are posted here. More info is on thecoolhunter, where I scooped this story from.

Forsman & Bodenfors has created another great site for Ikea. Although it's all in Swedish, you don't need to understand the language to enjoy this entertaining & informative (product/price incorporation is great) site. I love the music by Dead Mono too. Check it out here. Check out their previous Ikea Bedroom site here.

Radiohead's House of Cards video premiered on Google this morning marking two firsts - the first time a music video has premiered on Google and the first time a video has been shot without cameras but with lasers and scanners. The concept to utilize this technology to shoot a video was conceived by Zoo Films director James Frost (also a CD at Blip Boutique), who directed the video. A press release is posted here and full credits and a selection of stills are posted here. Watch House of Cards, a making of video and interact with the technology used to create it on Google here.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary Converse has released a music video for My Drive-Thru featuring Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D., Santogold, and Julian Casablancas. The video was created by Converse with partners including Anomaly, Cornerstone and the directing and animation talents of Psyop. Converse's press release is posted here, an interview with Psyop directors Marie Hyon & Marco Spier along with a selection of stills is posted here and full credits are posted here.

This Ain't No Disco (it's where we work) is a portfolio of some of the best agency interiors in the world. Scooped from Computerlove.

This new Old Spice ad via Wieden+Kennedy, Portland starring Neil Patrick Harris is great. I love that it spoofs those terrible commercial with "real" doctors (the Spectro Gel doctor is by far the worst on TV) and that it has just the right amount of cheese. And what's not to love about Neil Patrick Harris?  He was Doogie Howser, he's hilarious in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, he's out of the closet and How I Met Your Mother is a great show. Feel the love?

Gosh I love PES. Their work is so much fun and I am a big fan of the playing with food spots (see my April 8 post here). Check out their latest, Western Spaghetti, which I scooped from Motionographer.

Andrew Simon, SVP/CD at DDB Canada, talks to Stimulant about why he loves Droga5's Net10 work (so good), what it takes to work for him, Pie Face and why creatives shouldn't take themselves too seriously. Watch the interview here.

Here's the latest from director Noam Murro for Orange. I Am is produced via Biscuit@Independent and Fallon, London.

Every Monday Yay! Monday! posts a collection of great things to look at. Among today's goodies are illustrations by Adolie Day, photography by Olivia Malone, the portfolio of Italian art director Ennio Franco and the works of graphic designer/illustrator Pablo Alfieri.

My friends over at Head Gear Animation have just completed a new teaser reel of their latest and greatest and have posted it on their site for your viewing pleasure. Check it out.

I've been meaning to post this video since Cannes - but I've been so busy catching up on my work (blah). I saw this at the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi New Director's Showcase and loved it. The song is Toe Jam by Brighton Port Authority featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. It's directed by Keith Schofield. It's so clever, entertaining and fun. Watch it if you have not seen it.

The Ricoh Americas Corporation has announced that it will be placing the first ever electronic billboard that will be 100% powered by natural resources (solar and wind power) in Times Square. The sign will be will be at 3 Times Square (7th Avenue and 42nd Street). Scooped from Agency Spy. Read the full story here.

Ever wanted to say "my ad can beat-up your ad"? This new site, The Ad Battle, does just that but not with blood and gore (sorry), but by votes. Upload your work and check it out. Or visit and vote for the ads you like. It's an entertaining time-waster.

Yes, another reality TV dance show. You don't have to watch the show, but you can take 30 seconds to check out the promo written and directed by Evan Silver (who is on staff at MTV on air promotions). If Jason from Friday the 13th could dance, and had a group of clones, he'd dance this way. Or is it more Michael Myers? Watch the promo for season one, directed by Clay Weiner, here.

It's Canada Day today - like the 4th of July in the USA but just red and white, not red, white and blue. I'll be going out shortly to celebrate, it's a bank holiday here, but first I wanted to post a tribute to all things Canadian, this spot for Molson Canadian beer (which I never drink, btw). Oddly, in my quick search (Creativity, boards & google) I could not find credits for this spot but there is a page on Wikipedia for it.