For those of us of a certain age, a good part of childhood was spent jumping our Schwinns and Huffys over anything we could: trash cans, little sisters, family pets – all of us chasing the legend that was- Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel, Jr.
Pour a little holiday eggnog on the ground this weekend for a true American classic and one man brand, for the King is dead at the young – but for him, surprisingly old – age of 69. He could teach us all a lesson in self-promotion, if not motorcycle safety.
Remember the Evel Knievel Stuntcycle?
The pinball machine? The AMF-era Harley XR750?

The Snake River @*#$ing Canyon?

For bonus points – how about the movie of his life – Viva Knievel? Or the rock opera?

It’s a sad day. But it brings back some happy memories.

R.I.P., Evel. The afterlife just got a lot more entertaining.
Evel Knievel 10/17/1938 – 11/30/2007

Montreal-based Brandfame is a product placement agency for YouTube and other online video sharing platforms, connecting makers of online videos with brands that want to be integrated. Advertisers can list products they’d like to have featured in videos, and search for upcoming videos by producers to find a match for their brand.

Check it out

From the "@(#$! I Wish I Had Thought Of That!" files comes this annual report for food company Podravka that has to be baked in an oven before it can be read.
Designed by Bruketa & Zinić of Croatia.

Brilliant.

A shout-out for the tip to our buds at Boing-Boing, who also bring us this interesting news item:

David Theiss, 21, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested for keeping a
pet toad with the intent of licking it to get high. The skin and venom
glands of Colorado River toads produce powerful hallucinogens called tryptamines. Theiss was released on bond, but the toad remains in police custody. From KBMC.com:

Most pet stores don’t sell the Colorado River toad because the venom can sicken humans and kill household animals.

"People used to do it all the time, but it got faded out awhile, but
came back as a fad. Not a smart one," animal expert Danny Snyder told
KMBC’s Dion Lim. "The toxins in it can kill a lot of stuff."

BART: "Dad, are you licking toads?"
HOMER: "I’m not not licking toads!"

Why are advertisers so scared of being self-deprecating?
It’s as if they think people wake up in the morning and say "Hey, Martha! The new (insert corporation here) ad is on! Come quick!"

News flash: People don’t do that. They hate ads, because most ads suck.

These do not.

Buckley’s, Mortar salutes you.