There’s so much to admire in this. Where to begin? First off, the way it kicks against outdoor porn in the first few seconds, going from a wispy vocal song to hardcore thrash metal. Then you’ve got the wonderful mash-up, using (deep breath)… — animated cartoons — videogames — weather reports — documentary (hello Aron Ralston) — user-generated content — medical X-rays — allegory (Death chasing a runner) And finally… — a product demo. Plus what a wonderful script: “Mother Nature can be a real motherf… That’s why Columbia engineers everything we make from anything nature can throw at you.” Topped by the superb endline, which might have been written by a copywriter with 50 years’ experience or a dope-smoking 17-year-old on day release: Engineered for Whatever. (From Paddy Gilmore's newsletter)

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics is running an ad gently asking people to stop inviting census takers into their homes for coffee and meals.

interactive videos give viewer a chance to take action

The Redirect Method uses Adwords targeting tools and curated YouTube videos uploaded by people all around the world to confront online radicalization. It focuses on the slice of ISIS’ audience that is most susceptible to its messaging, and redirects them towards curated YouTube videos debunking ISIS recruiting themes. This open methodology was developed from interviews with ISIS defectors, respects users’ privacy and can be deployed to tackle other types of violent recruiting discourses online.

How long does it take to change someone's mind about your brand in a video ad? Should you rush to tell your story to avoid getting tuned out, or should you embrace a longer format to build a more captivating story? Google partnered with Mondelez International to find out. In fact, television ad research has established that 15-second TV ads are roughly 75% as effective as 30-second spots.1 And they're half the cost. This media pressure can lead brands to feel like everything needs to be faster, faster, faster. But, as this experiment showed, making ads shorter doesn't get them more attention—it may get them even less. With a great story, brands can take the time to create a connection and change a mind.