Get An Ugly Girlfriend!

We have another shocking advertising campaign on our hands. Quite a bit more shocking that Burger Kings's "7 Incher" advertising.

Bacardi has really received some heat for their new "Get an Ugly Girlfriend" campaign that ran in Israel. Bacardi Breezers suggest that all women need to do in order to be more attractive is to find an ugly girlfriend. Yes, seriously. Misogyny is pretty common in advertising, but usually in advertising aimed at men. These ads, aimed at women, showcase four different 'ugly girlfriends,' each serving as a sidekick to activities like pool parties, and trips to the mall.

Does insulting your customers prove effective for Bacardi? I sure hope not.

Humorous or Tacky?

Well, it seems that subtlety is dead.

Burger King just released their new print ad for their "BK Super Seven Incher." The small print at the bottom reads, "Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled with the NEW BK SUPER SEVEN INCHER. Yearn for more after you taste the mind-blowing burger that comes with a single beef patty, topped with American cheese, crispy onions and the A1 Thick and Hearty Steak Sauce."

So, my question is this: Are ads like these humorous or tacky? And regardless, are they effective? Are you craving the new burger now?

It does look pretty tasty....

Arlington Rap.

This is about 10 years too late, but I had to post this for anybody who hasn't seen this. This video is so hilarious and true! Down with brown flip flops!



Another video creation from Remy.

Has Justice Been Served?

Chris Brown has been sentenced with 180 days of hard labor and five years probation. In addition, Brown isn't to have any contact with Rihanna. Obviously. In the event both celebrities appear at a function, Brown is to remain a certain distance away from her.

Rihanna chose not to testify during this case, in which I am extremely disappointed about. Sure, I'd love to hear the details of this heart-breaking case, but mostly I feel she is sending the wrong message to her fans. I want to see Rihanna take a stand (literally) for domestic abuse instead of hiding behind the curtain of the law. This is an opportunity to really make a difference to women everywhere and she has barely spoken a word about it.

What do you think? Was Chris Brown's sentencing fair? Should Rihanna have testified? Is this even any of our business?

Jimmy Choo, Please!

My beloved H&M announced last week on their Twitter (God, I
love Twitter) that, get this, Jimmy Choo will create an autumn
line of shoes and bags for H&M. Holy ghost, that is amazing!

Fallen Princesses.

I am over-the-moon loving these photographs by Dina Goldstein

of fallen Disney princesses. It's sort of a 'what if there is no happily

ever after?' scenario. Amazing and so creative. See more pictures here.

Need to Get Away?

Northern Virginia Magazine is giving away a mini-vacay to Wisp Resort

valued at over $500. All you have to do is sign up. Easy peasy. Enter here.

Father's Day.

Father's Day is this Sunday! What are you going to get your pops

for the big day? I got my dad a signed copy of Emeril's newest grilling cookbook.

Emeril wrote "Bill, Happy Father's Bam Day! From, Emeril!" How cool, huh?

Picture taken by me at the book signing at Borders.

Another Reason Abercrombie Sucks.

A disabled student is suing Abercrombie for discrimination. Riam Dean, 22, who wears a prosthetic arm was asked to work in the stockroom because her arm did not fit into Abercrombie's image.

"After being told she had got the job she went along to an induction day where she was issued a 45-page handbook listing in minute detail the company's strict Look Policy. It stipulates that staff must represent a 'natural, classic American style' and instructs them on everything from how to wear their hair (clean and natural) to how long they should wear their nails (a quarter of an inch past the end of the finger). She was also given a uniform of jeans and a polo shirt, although the company handbook does state that sales associates can wear their own clothing as long as it is in 'Abercrombie style'. Miss Dean, who normally wears long-sleeved tops to disguise the join between her upper arm and artificial limb, says she was told to buy a plain white cardigan to wear over her uniform."

A few days into her new job, Dean was asked to take off her carigan. After explaining to the staff member that she had been given special permission to wear it, Dean was asked to leave the floor.

"I can't have you on the shop floor as you are breaking the Look Policy. Go to the stockroom immediately and I'll get someone to replace you."

Dean was asked whether she was okay with working in the stockroom until the winter uniforms arrived and that was where she drew the line. Dean is now seeking damages of £25,000.

I am just completely disgusted by this. I have never bought a single article of clothing from Abercrombie and I sure as hell am not going to now.

Thanks to Julian for the heads-up on this article.

Real World DC

Real World is coming to DC, dolls. In fact, the address is 2000 S Street NW, to be exact. Click here for pictures of the inside of the house. I just may have to pop into Halo nearby for some first-hand Real World drama.

Word on the street is that the Real Housewives is coming to DC as well. It's about time.

Special thanks to Franny-Fran for the heads-up.

Crêpes, s'il vous plait!

I am big fan of anything-French. Especially crepes. I love them sweet!

I love them savory! How delicious do crêpes with poulet aux champignons

(chicken in mushrooms) filling sound? The lovely thing about crepes is that you can

put just about anything in them. I think I may whip these up soon. Find the recipe here.

Worst Customer Service.

MSN did a recent survey about companies' customer service and Abercromie & Fitch came under the Top 10 list for worst customer service. I don't find this particularly surprising, but what I did find surprising is Abercrombie CEO, Mike Jeffries', response to their customer service approach.

"Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries conceded that he used sexual attraction to create an "emotional experience" and hires "good-looking people . . . to market to cool, good-looking people. Candidly, we go after the cool kids," Jeffries said. "A lot of people don't belong (in our clothes), and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

I'm sorry, but give me a break. I understand, to a point, using attractive sales-people. People want to shop where attractive people work. But to have the audacity to say that Abercrombie & Fitch is only for certain "cool kids" is outrageous. Last time I checked there was nothing special about Abercrombie & Fitch's clothing. Last time I checked there has never been an item in Abercrombie & Fitch featured in Vogue either. Why? Because it's generic. I may get some heat for this, but Abercrombie's clothing isn't particularly stylish. Sorry. Don't misunderstand me, I am not knocking anybody who chooses to wear Abercrombie but their clothing is nothing special at all. If you like their t-shirts and jeans then great. But, I sincerely doubt you are walking around in their clothes thinking you are exclusive and really, really cool because of it.

Thoughts?

Cocaine Use Highest in DC.

Turns out that my very own beloved backyard, D.C., has the highest rate of cocaine use in the country, according to the Washington City Paper.

This report, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is also reporting the D.C. is on the "top 5" list for marijuana and binge-drinking. Binge drinking, sure. Anybody who has ever spent a night in Adams Morgan and eaten Jumbo Slice among the drunken youths knows binge drinking is prevalent, but cocaine use? Wowza!

I'm sure there are plenty of rich politicos and socialites in D.C. who partake in hard drugs such as cocaine with their $100 bills, but this statistic is still a bit shocking to me! Is this surprising to you?

Oldies But Goodies.

I love old family photos. This picture is of my parents at a castle in Germany
called Schloss Hohenstein. Aren't they cute? Notice the bottle of wine.

White House Flickr.

Did you know that the White House has a Flickr account?

The account is used to document President Obama's term in office
with pictures. I really like how the Obama administration is utilizing new
technology like Flickr and Twitter to make the public feel closer to Obama.

Unemployed? Free Botox!

Northern Virginia Magazine's shopping blog, Swag, is reporting is that Reveal MedSpa in Pentagon Row in Arlington is giving away free botox to the first 50 unemployed individuals to hand over their resumes with proof of unemployment! This is all part of Reveal MedSpa's hopes to help unemployed women 'put their best face forward' and to help network with other women. For more information, check out their website.

So, if you know any unemployed mothers, aunts, or friends who have always wanted to try botox this is certainly the time! Botox treatments typically sell for between $300 and $500!

Leesburg Dealer Must Sell 40 Cars!

I stumbled upon this story on CNN.com and realized, whoa, it's based out of Leesburg. Ray O'Bryhim of Chrysler-Dodge in Leesburg, Virginia has less than a week to sell 40 cars.

"On June 9, his franchise to sell new Chryslers and Dodges will be terminated, along with those of almost 800 other Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealers nationwide. This comes as a result of Chrysler's announcement last month that they would shrink their dealer base in the United States. O'Bryhim cannot legally sell any new cars he has left after June 9 -- and because the manufacturer is in bankruptcy protection it isn't obligated to take them back."

So, in other words if you need a new car and Chryslers and Dodge do you just fine then check out this dealership in Leesburg in the next few days. I would imagine the deals are nuts.

Foursome?

“I love The Jonas Brothers, they’re very talented. I met

them once. I’d like to have a foursome with them.”

- The Princess of Pop, Lady GaGa