Wow, this is something you want to avoid at all costs.

See that big orange AT&T / Samsung ad? I mean, how could you miss it, really.
Most of the pages I go to on Wired.com has that flash ad that just shows up and covers a large section of the page. There is no close button or any other way to remove the ad; it even covers up the global navigation on the home page…  ultra-bad juju.

It is making some folks pretty peeved – read some of their verbatim comments below: they are talking boycotting both AT&T and Wired.
   

Can’t close advert with either firefox or internet explorer – better fix it wired
   
It’s pretty poor representation for your brand. Totally unusable.
   

AT&T
   
last time i visit wired for a while, whos with me on the boycott?
   

Boycott AT&T
   
Seriously, WTF? Wired should be able to do better than this crap.

Good thing Tony Soprano isn’t around anymore, or a boycott would be the least of their worries.

Our friends at Boing-Boing note the passing of Pamela Low, who created the flavored coating of Cap’n Crunch
cereal.

They also note a disturbing design trend…or is it something worse?

Here we have Original Cap’n Crunch:

This Cap’n keeps it real. He’s got his sails set, a fetching first mate, and plenty of supplies laid in for the journey. Note the heavy-lidded eyes. (Perhaps a port of call in Jamaica?)

Here’s 1970’s Full Color Cap’n:

Actually, it’s his French counterpart, Le Capitain Monsieur Crunch D’Bouche.
Eyes a little more open, but  no more girlfriend.
(Love, she is fickle.)

Now, let’s meet today’s Captain Crunch.

AIEEEEEEEEEEE!! Look, kids! It’s our friend "No Time To Sleep, The Illuminati Control Everything, Man!" Captain Crunch.

Can’t you just picture this meeting?

CLIENT:  "We need a vibrant Cap’n Crunch. A real go-getter. A  post 9/11 Cap’n Crunch, ready to defend our shipping lanes in the War-On-Terror ."

DESIGNER: "Sigh." (Dies a little inside.)

Would you let Captain Tweaker near your kids?

Perhaps he’s just stressed out about the competition:

We’re on to you, Chocula.

Spellingbee jerk – Click Here for more great videos and pictures!
Courtesy of Gawker comes a classic example of why we media train our PR clients. Although an argument could be made that CNN’s Kiran Chetry is the one who needs a little more training. After all, she let an thirteen-year-old homeschooler take control of an interview. Damn kids!

Update: Our friends at SFist have an update on the Bay Area champs’ home field activities as well. Of course, throwing out the first pitch is not nearly as entertaining as smacking down a CNN anchorbot.

Apparently Mortar is in the throes of an internal battle for space.  To counter Account Services’ imperialistic cubicle-grab, the Creative Department has established a bulkhead by welcoming three new talents to the team.  Thank GOD one of them has considerable experience battling the Dark Side, or else the fight may have been lost.

Interactive associate creative director Chris Inclenrock hails from Lucasfilm, where he was responsible for the development and art direction of all websites including starwars.com.  Most recently, he was the Director of Interactivity at Francis Ford Coppola presents, where he was perhaps best known for discovering the secret key to the private wine cellar and drinking his way through much of the famous director’s old and rare vintages. 

David Myatt, associate creative director, brings more than 15 years of experience in the creation and design of advertising and branding to the job.  Rumor has it that he can’t spell, but no matter—he’s an art director, and a darn good one.  A fine artist cursed with the brain of a marketer, David has worked for RBG Marketing, TMP Worldwide, and Austin Knight, and has solved the toughest of creative marketing problems for industry leaders like Time Warner, Geico, Nike and AT&T Wireless.

As for designer Michelle Kim—not only has she traveled the globe and then some, but the girl has one unbelievable portfolio.  She’s studied at RISD, Corcoran College of Art and Kenyon College, and holds a second degree in Anthropology from UVa.  Before discovering her true calling, she lived in Paris, taught Kindergarten in Seattle, and flew fighter kites in Bombay.  Oh yeah, did we tell you that she also spent considerable time studying with the Jedi masters?