"Racist" Dove Ad: Intentional or Mistake?

Take a quick look and ask yourself if this ad is really racist. 

I DON'T. The message is clear to me. However, when I asked some friends they said it's racist. But after careful thought and repeated examination, they finally got the message. 

This Dove Ad has sparked controversy because of its utterly BAD and seemingly "intentional" layout. Who in their right mind would give a green light to this copy? Yes, I'm asking the ad company that put this out. I am dubious of the intention and strategy of the ad's creators and designers because I am pretty damn sure that they know with the way they put the ladies together and the text and graphics in the background they'll be confusing a lot minds and eyes therefore increasing publicity mileage. 

But then again, the ad is for Dove, a company that espouses beauty in diversity and the importance of inner beauty. Dove has a solid credibility and an impressive track record with its social/corporate responsibility endeavors. 

What do you think?      

Obama's Irish "My Humps" Moment

He may be the most powerful man in the world and the leader of the "free world" but President Obama and his mighty presidential car got defeated by an Irish speed bump.


Cue in Fergie and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas and their hit "My Humps!"

HEROINES

A Mother's Forgiveness: Friendship Between the Mother of a 9/11 Victim and the Mother of One of the Terrorists

Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi have a powerful friendship born of unthinkable loss. Rodriguez' son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001; el-Wafi's son Zacarias Moussaoui was convicted of a role in those attacks and is serving a life sentence. In hoping to find peace, these two moms have come to understand and respect one another.

Best Mum in the Village

She dresses like a regular mother in your neighborhood. She buys groceries in the supermarket and chitchats with friends on the street. She keeps her house nice and tidy at all times. She loves her children. 

This is the story of a mother whom social services claim has the mind of an eight-year old. She may not have the most posh child-proof house or apartment in the block but she makes great effort in ensuring her child's safety at all times. 

How do you fight for your children when you're a mother with learning disabilities and the social services and government agencies are keen on taking them away from you? 

     

Long-Weekend Round-Up

TODAY, Canada celebrates (with the exception of Quebec) Victoria Day, which is a federal Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday on or before the 24th of May in honor of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday. 

FUN NOT-SO-FACT FACT. Speaking of royals, did you know that Princess Cinderella and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were originally lovers. In fact, they had an offspring who was named "MOZARELLA"! Amazing isn't it?   

BLACKHOLE Discovered. WARNING: Don't try this at home or anywhere ALONE!

Short Film 'The Black Hole' from PHOTOPLAY FILMS on Vimeo.

HAND WASHING. In Amsterdam, Catholic officials including the head of the Salesian religious order have distanced themselves and condemned a Dutch Salesian priest's endorsement of pedophilia and his involvement with a group of pedophiles campaigning for the abolition of the Dutch Government's ban on adult-child sex. READ MORE...

BEST DRESSED FOR CHARITY. Remember this nice lady (pictured below) from the woods who was turned away by security and Royal Wedding officials at Westminster Abbey when she showed up with the best and most creative fascinator (according to the Fashion Police!) in the world? Well, she's back. She's now filing official complaint against eBay and the organizers of the auction of Princess Beatrice's antler-like hat when she lost the bidding, which she claimed was rigged from the very start.  

The newly-hired Lady Gaga costume creative consultant.  

OKAY, okay. In the more serious topic, Princess Beatrice's famous silk bow hat made history over the what-was-supposed-to-be-the-end-of-the-world weekend when it was auctioned off on eBay and reached a whopping $131,648 as the final and winning bid. As long as it's for charity and goodwill, BRING ON the craziness.  

HIV SCARE. In the Land Down Under, Australian Defence (Yes, that's how they spell it.) officials are worried that there may be an unknown number of Australian soldiers who might have been exposed to blood-borne diseases like hepatitis or HIV in what appears to be a breach of medical protocols at the Australian Military's main hospital unit in the Middle East. READ MORE...

END OF HISTORY. One of my favorite social thinkers and intellectuals, Francis Fukuyama has just launched a new book, "Origins of a Political Order."  I agree with him that "Americans are not very good in nation-building."

   

SINGAPOREAN DARK WATER. In what seemed to be an incident that mirrored a horror movie, residents of an apartment complex drank and cooked with corpse-tainted yellowish and foamy water for days until officials discovered that the body of an Indonesian female worker was dumped in the building's water tank. READ MORE...

APOCALYPSE DELAYED. As much as I can, I'd like to stay away from making fun of the rapture believers who flushed their bank accounts, traveled to the West Coast from the East Coast, and many more bucket list to-do's gone awry. Why? Well, ask me later. Anyway, as usual, the now famous Taiwanese animators who did the Tiger Woods incident animation came up with their interpretation of the apocalypse not-so-scary scare. It's sickly funny and outrageously entertaining!     

WHAT'S IN THE NAME? What would you do if your town is named "Crap"? "Hi, I'm from Crap, New York." Or, "I'm going to Crap for the long weekend." Doesn't sound good, right? This is the story of a small town in Australia called "Speed." But wait, there's nothing wrong with speed, right? I think so too. However, the townfolks have gone increasingly worried of the many over speeding incidents in their town's rural roads. So, they've banded together with one unifying aim: change their Town's danger-inviting name. What do you think should be the new name? I suggest "Where Else." Where do you live? Where Else. Where are you going? Where Else.     

Rename Speed 'The Town of Speed' from PHOTOPLAY FILMS on Vimeo.

I want to leave your day on a high note. Watch this empowering video about heroines around the world.

Trailer - Women Are Heroes - English Version from SOCIAL ANIMALS on Vimeo.

Think Differently

Tale of Twin Cities

IT IS FASCINATING to know how people love and know their home city. Locals know the best places to go to. Some people have lived there long enough to know what the locals know but short enough to be called a local. Some people are passing by,  smitten, charmed, and enchanted by a city but don't see themselves living in it. 

New York is frenetic and bursting with energy night and day. Toronto is the tamed and POLITE New York. London is sophisticated and expensive. Bangkok is crazy beautiful and addicting. Manila is jam packed and confused in identity--but I still love it. Shanghai is a theme park. Tokyo is steep in culture, timid, and crowded. New Delhi is a constant assault to my senses (in a very beautiful way!) and sanity--I love it too. Berlin is too "cold" and high-strung (but it changed me as a person!). I could go on and on about tales of cities but one thing is sure: there's no place that I don't like because each is unique and requires an individualized understanding and love. 

How much do you love your city? Or, how well do you know your city? 

Watch this video and let the residents of the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis tell you what they think and feel about their cities:

   

Why We're Here: Twin Cities from Seven and Sixty Productions on Vimeo.

Afternoon Tickler

PLANKING PRANK PROBLEM. On last Monday's Afternoon Tickler, I posted a video from an Australian news broadcast about the "planking" craze that has swept the Land Down Under. Now, Australian authorities are cautioning people especially teenagers to be careful and not to attempt crazy stunts that might harm or put them in great danger.

COURAGE. Legendary boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard has revealed that he was sexually molested by a coach in 1976. This guy is nothing short of remarkable and to have the courage to speak out about his dark past makes him the true man of the ring.

TERRIBLE JOKES.  In serious talk, Nazi and Hitler topics are almost always cautioned to the side of sensitivity and respect. I say "almost always" because when talking about Hitler, let's say within the walls of the academe or in the scholarly context, political and social scientists agree that Hitler was a "great" leader in respect to his political acumen. Hitler too was pure evil and the epitome of a misguided fool. 

That said, when Danish director Lars von Trier said that "I am a Nazi," while in jest and deadpan attitude, during the recent Cannes Film Festival press conference for his new film "Melancholia" starring Kirsten Dunst, people were abuzz and the incident resulted in Festival organizers declaring him persona non grata. Clearly, he didn't mean it and the language barrier (he delivered it in German) added to the confusion. More importantly, let's just stay away from making jokes about such serious matters that killed more than 6 million people and changed the course of world history.  

LIKE LIKE. A couple from Central Israel have named their new born daughter "Like." Cute as a Facebook button and really likable. This is another case of people liking their own posts or comments but in this case their offspring. 

For a parting afternoon tickle, here's a photo of what seems to be a very direct advertising:

Note: This photo actually reminds me of someone whom I asked if he washed his hands after taking a leak in the washroom, his reply was: "I didn't pee on my hands!" Enough said.