junk mail on blogs?

I've always found it very ironic when people in advertising complain about unsolicited mail, advice, sales and the like, but this is a new one for me. I have stated to receive junk mail on my blog in terms of linked false comments (as much as I would like to believe they are true). Does anyone know the origin of this kind of advertising?

Here are some of the comments I've received (strangely enough after posting an article about how advertising prevents smoking in teens):

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Okay, I've figured it out - the word verification option - as you can see below, some more annoying posts after I got rid of the other.

Sponsorship

Advertising dollars spent toward direct mail often ends up in landfills.
Advertising on the radio with a high frequency annoyance campaign will contribute to air pollution.
Advertising on outdoor billboards clutters the countryside.
But sponsorship creates opportunities:
The festival of lights.
The Indy.
Wimbeldon. Hockey. Science World.

And now...

Toronto-based TV production company Chokolat is looking for a Canadian broadcaster to pick up four-part half-hour series Full Ride. The series was sponsored by Nike and produced for ESPN. Full Ride follows six American high school football seniors through the recruitment process, from a camp attended by more than 200 college coaches and scouts to the final decision as to who will get a "full ride" scholarship.

"This is real human drama," explains Jeff Spriet, president of Chokolat and executive producer of the series. "We followed these kids from their hometowns and met their families, parents, high school coaches." Spriet explains that in the U.S., Full Ride debuted this month, and is slated to re-air 10 more times

Some interesting facts about Corporate Social Responsibility

92% of Canadians say the more socially responsible a company is, the more likely they are to purchase its products.

40% of Canadians punished a company last year by not buying its products or speaking critically about it because they felt it was not acting responsibly.

The simplicity of message

The visual metaphor is the fastest way to convey two pieces of information. The concept behind it is that it demonstrates the benefit of the product while showing the product itself. In a glance that information can be absorbed, making it perfect for outdoor signage, transit ads and billboards. But is there an emotional connection to the visual metaphor? Even though it can hold its own without words, does it still generate the same affect without the copy? Be it the most absorbant sponge, the thickest shake, or a warning not to try drugs in Thailand?

Study Ties French Fries To Breast Cancer Risk

Girls who eat lots of French fries during their pre-school years grow up to have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Their study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, categorizes the increased risk as "significant."

The study involved more than 2,000 female registered nurses, and found that those who regularly consumed French fries when they were young had a higher incidence of breast cancer than those who did not.

The authors said the study provides additional credence to the belief that early eating habits impact a woman’s health later in life.

The study examined the diets of the women when they were between the ages of three and five. Mothers of the subjects were questioned about the frequency of consumption of about 30 specific food items.

Upon reviewing the data, researchers say they found that for each additional serving of French fries per week when they were preschoolers women had a 27 percent increased risk of breast cancer later in life.

What’s the connection? Researchers say more study is needed, but that it’s unlikely potatoes are the culprit. Instead, they suggest that frying the potatoes in fat and trans-fatty acids might play a role.

product placement

With a trend towards TIVOs, HBO and DVDs of entire seasons, it is becoming easier than even to watch television uninterrupted by the 30 second ad. The result is a greater push towards product placement. Ideally, it is seemless, but sometimes it is glaringly obvious.

I watched Million Dollar Baby last night, and there were Coke machines, and ads for the Apprentice (both busses shown had the same 70 - strange really, for a show that looked like it was filmed in the 70's - when bus side advertising didn't exist). There was a obvious plug for Clorox (smells better) and not a cigarette to be seen.

It is what is inserted in films, and also what is not, that makes movies and HBO programming so interesting.

Gun control - most action movies make some kind of reference to gun control at some point. Whether this is pro or anti kind of comment depends upon NRA dollars/support, I am sure.

Cigarettes - in movies these days, smoking is either glorified or villified, but there is no in-between. I can see producers holding Phillip Morris at ransom, and alcohol companies - either ante up, or we will villify your product with the help of special interest groups.

Military - Shows either glorify the army or take a stab at it.

Religion - some pretty heavy religious themes coming up in movies these days - mercy killing (Million Dollar Baby), Suicide (Constantine), etc.

Maintaining the value system of the status quo, or subverting it - it depends upon how the producer of the movie knows how to hustle - the ideology that shows through is the one with the deepest financial commitment to the movie.

I would be very curious to see a brief given to a director about when and where and how a product can be shown.

I know for instance that BMW donated several cars to the Sopranos on the stipulation that no-one would be killed in a BMW, and no dead bodies would be put in the trunk.

In newer episodes there are comments about Nissan's triple safety philosophy regarding sensors in the seatbelts when Tony gives AJ an Xterra. As well, Tony drives an Escalade which saves his, and his passengers lives when he gets in a car accident.

Does anyone out there have information about creative/design briefs for directors?