Well now, our vandalartist friend Poster Boy has become embroiled in an edgy art world to-do! He's out doing authorized vandalmixes of MOMA posters. Uh, or is he? Yes he is. Is that bad?

When the good commercials disappear from TV, what are you left with? Unceasing Recession-themed ads. Like these! Cars, services, lottery tickets, infomercials—they all feel your pain! Over, and over, and over...

Snacks: are you purchasing a sufficient percentage of yours from the Frito-Lay brand? If you're a woman, the answer is probably no. But don't worry, ladies; neuromarketing targeting your hippocampus will change that soon.

Recycling last year's Black History Month stock photography to save a buck: that's the Wal-Mart way. Come on, evil corporations. Fake diversity is 'Wack, Yo,' as minorities say:

Professional designer and amateur writer of excruciating ad copy Kenneth Cole knows times are tough as leather. Maybe it's not fashion-able, but he's optimistic America will design a solution to sew up all these problems!

Here's what will happen to you if you join the Ukrainian army: you will ride on a tank and be chased by hot Ukrainian girls who will allow you to drink from their nectar pot.

• Despite the gloomy predictions last week, this year's Oscars did better than last year's telecast: Ratings were up 13% according to Nielsen. [THR]
• Condi Rice has signed a three-book deal with Crown worth $2.5 million. [AP]
• The parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday. [E&P]
• Some analysts are suggesting News Corp. shed its newspaper assets. [NYT]
• Conan's finale on Friday earned the show its best ratings in two years. [NYP]
• Ad guru Peter Arnell's rebranding work for Tropicana didn't work out as planned, and now the company says it will go back to its old packaging. [NYT]

This ad came on during the Oscars and we're still baffled. It starts with Tom Cruise and Jimmy Kimmel in a steamy, tumbling embrace in Cruise's bedroom. Then it gets weird.

You never know with Craigslist ads; the good offers are fake, and the outrageous ones are often real. It's not really unthinkable that an ad person would straightforwardly ask for a slutty personal assistant, right?

Fox News added an asterisk to this advertisement only to responsibly admit that its competitors have tiny penises:

Last week we totally harshed on NBC's 30 Rock for writing McDonald's McFlurry into its script in such a sellout-y way. But it was all natural, no ad money, just for fun, allegedly!

"I've never felt this connected to the rest of the world. It was a game-changing, moving experience."—Bob Jeffrey, CEO of huge ad agency JWT, on learning to use Twitter. Dude. [via Adfreak]

In your bracing Tuesday media column: rumors of Newsweek closing a bureau [UPDATE: or maybe more than one], Barbara Walters tells the truth, questions are wrestled with, and Flex sells:

What's one of the only consumer products with steadily rising sales in the midst of this financiapocalypse? "Clinical" strength deodorant! Because Americans are growing nervouser and nervouser. Also we're all suckers!

The Stimulus Package: Obama signs it tomorrow and oh my freaking god, the cable networks will totally talk about it. CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC each have their own promo; they grow increasingly insane:

Oh boy, this has instantly become our new favorite trend in advertising: Catvertising. It's advertising, on "trained" cats. The catch: fools, you cannot train a cat!

Way back in October, people were already saying that NBC's 30 Rock had exhausted its "Yes it's a product placement, but it's also a funny storyline!" justification. Oh, how wrong they were. Mmm, McFlurry!

The silver lining of this recession has been found: sex and liquor ads are now all over prime time! Even Fashion Week people are grovelling before lube companies for sponsorships! It's nice.

New deal at the New York Times: buy an ad, and they'll throw in a free feature story! We kid. But seriously, those fake Amish fireplace ads will save journalism one way or another. [NYT]

What's this, Tina Brown's internet project The Daily Beast is trying to get a business model? I thought it was all just for kicks! Nevertheless, the Beast is considering selling some "advertisements." While staying pure: