Author Archives: MortarMark
June 11th, 2008

How would YOU revamp your favorite childhood cartoon character?

Apparently our beloved cartoon characters from the past… um… sixty years just aren’t connecting with modern kids. So a large-scale effort seems to be in the works to update old characters and sell them to picky Gen Z-ers. Take Strawberry Shortcake, for example:

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Old Strawberry Shortcake is on the left, New Strawberry Shortcake is on the right. Other makeovers in the works include the Care Bares, Mickey Mouse, and all of the Looney Toons.
I can’t wait to see what they do with Rainbow Bright. (She was already such a cutie.)

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I think the real question, however, remains: Why can’t the entertainment industry come up with new stuff ever?!?!?

Thanks to the New York Times for this one.

June 10th, 2008

Apocalyptic warning used to promote small-town tourism. Awesome.

Any time you can A) get a politician to do something vaguely creative or B) use the threat of an apocalypse in your message, you’re bound capture interest. (OK, I’m obsessed with apocalyptic stuff.) But the fact that the tourism board of Ocean City, Maryland managed to do both, and toss in some fun art direction at the same time, is worth blogging. Check it out:

One drawback: uuuh… we’ve got a billion years. I think I’ll kick back and enjoy the Pacific a little longer.

Oh and did you see those guys trying to surf on those tiny Atlantic waves?? How cute.

Thanks AdRants.

June 9th, 2008

Press Button, Receive Bacon.

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We defy you to take your eyes off of Pictures Of Walls.

June 5th, 2008

Break Like The Wind.

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Mortar’s own Renata, Ryan and Shauna are five days into AIDSLifecycle 2008 – a 545-mile bike ride from the Bay to L.A. to raise money and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Each rider raises at least $2,500 each; Team Mortar has raised even more than that.
Right now, our intrepid-if-sore-assed cyclists have just reported in from fabulous Lompoc, home of Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex.  And it’s Red Dress Day! (Coincidence? Perhaps.)
But enough from us. We’ll let Shauna tell you herself.

June 4th, 2008

World of Dorkcraft


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A character from World Of Advertising, a very clever spoof from Creative Beef.
Now if we can just train them to do our timesheets.

P.S. You’ll notice the copywriter is by far the hottest character. We’re just saying.