A group of Brooklyn teens this summer took to the streets of Bed-Stuy to count billboards and posters that promote alcohol in their neighborhood. The most frequently spotted ad? "A Spike Lee Collaboration" with Absolut Vodka. How shocking!

Do you watch various television shows? Then you'll be happy to know that thanks to "psychographics," marketing firms can determine your entire personality just by looking at your Tivo settings. For example: like Mad Men? You're a pinko Apple fanboy.

Bad comedians are always like, "What's up with Christmas advertising starting earlier every year?" Those bad comedians, as usual, are absolutely right. The start of Christmas advertising this year was way earlier than last year. You already missed it!

Alex Bogusky, the Burger King-shilling adman who retired from the industry this year in a fit of conscience, has launched his new venture, to save the world. Alex Bogusky, the new Ralph Nader? Hahahahaha.

Italian ice cream maker Antonio Federici has been ordered by Britain's Advertising Standards Authority to stop running an ad featuring two "sexualized" priests about to kiss "passionately." Last month the company ran ads featuring a pregnant nun (also banned).

We all know that Democrats love Starbucks and Hustler, while Republicans love Skoal and Soldier of Fortune. Or do they? A new study of the favorite brands of liberals and conservatives show some surprising agreements.

This Australian Calvin Klein billboard is being pulled after the Advertising Standards Bureau there ruled that it is "suggestive of violence and rape" and "demeaning to women," as well as men. Yea, well, so is the fashion industry. [via Adfreak]

Last month, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student Lauren Meyer was attacked for wearing an American Apparel "Legalize Gay" t-shirt. Now, AA's taken out a full-page ad (click to enlarge) decrying the violence. And, you know, selling some shirts. Synergy. [Queerty] UPDATED:

Since the recession hit and print started dying in earnest, magazines have been...let's say, loosening their standards on the editorial-advertising divide. Now, in a bid to maintain relevance, the American Society of Magazine Editors has updated its ethical guidelines. HMMMM.

The least popular buzzwords among advertisers: "glocal," "go viral," "on the same page," "out of the box." The most popular: "money."

Since kids these days are already bombarded by advertising at school graduation speeches and on their school math tests, why not just go ahead and wrap their school lockers in ads, too? Good, let's do that.

Bing's new partnership with Jay-Z raises the question: will teaming with a robotic corporate entity hurt Microsoft's street rep?

Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter, has described his company as a "globally meaningful... triumph of the human spirit." One other personal passion: flavored vodka for apple martinis, apparently. Stone doesn't just drink them — he's become a spokesman.

A "health clinic" in Estonia is drumming up business for its weight-loss services by having a larger girl marked "Before" and a slimmer girl marked "After" walk around handing out fliers. We're horribly embarrassed for all involved, ourselves included. [Adfreak]

This news story about advertising people at an advertising conference talking to each other in person about how much they talk to each other on Twitter is perhaps the least alluring news story of the day. This one is better.

Condé Nast has been carefully studying the use of its iPad apps, and hosted 70 marketing and media execs today in New York to present its findings, according to the Wall Street Journal.

At times of economic recession, even the big advertisers have to think twice on how to allocate their funds. Inside, a look at how brand names we all know may have to market their products if things go south.

AT&T is taking some of the money from your iPhone bill and using it to intercept your complaints to the federal government. How? By become the biggest advertiser on Google, that's how.

What sort of college woman would turn her body into a walking KFC advertisement by accepting $500 to wear sweatpants with "Double Down" emblazoned on the buttocks? An empowered one!

Magazine ad pages were up by 3.6% in the third quarter compared to a year ago. Mostly because car companies are buying ads again! That's good news. Fashion mags: doing well! Travel: not so well. And Maxim! Very bad.