Getting off when the stock market crashes

Puma has a new iPhone application available as part of a new advertising campaign for the brand’s underwear line, Slate reported this week.

While it seems like everyone has their own iPhone app now, this app is noteworthy for its practicality: it reports the stock market progress while advertising Puma underpants. When the Dow Jones drops a few points, a model drops her sweatpants, revealing Puma underwear. When the stock market’s on the up, the pretty young lady (or man – users can choose the model) starts piling on apparel.

The racy ads are shown in tandem with a stock market ticker, so Wall Streeters can get their rocks off while losing millions. The overtly sexual ads take advantage of steamy content that couldn’t be advertised in more public places.

Manson contracts H1N1, continues to bore audiences

Marilyn Manson is a recent victim of swine flu, according to MTV. Manson also pre-empted any witty remarks commentators might attempt by posting on his Facebook page, “I know everyone will suggest that fucking a pig is how this disease was obtained.”

The shock-rocker was recently on tour, spreading H1N1 germs through Canada and the U.S.

Manson’s promoters, the Gillett Entertainment Group and Live Nation, have issued a press release denying his claim. His tour will continue, unfortunately.

Fascism vs. Socialism: The Chess Game

A 1909 etching, apparently depicting Hitler and Lenin battling each other at a game of chess, will be at auction at Mullock’s Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers in England. The etching, made by Emma Lowenstramm, is expected to get bids close to $100,000 US, despite claims that it misrepresents its content, Artinfo.net reported.

The depiction – Lenin with a full head of hair and Hitler appearing gentlemanly and intellectual – has drawn cries of fraud. In 1909, Hitler would have been 20 and living his pre-Führer hobo life, and Lenin would have had his familiar doorknob-bald head.

It’s quite a nice picture, otherwise: A battle of brains over a chessboard in a dimly lit room that romanticizes early 20th century intellectual life.

Shlocky novel prized by readers in China

A Chinese translation of Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown’s latest muddle of a novel is being released chapter by chapter by an online pirating source. In China, where the official translation of Brown’s The Lost Symbol won’t be released until 2010, Internet pirates are collaborating on translation of the work.

A website called Yeeyan facilitates web-users in working together to produce a translation of the book. According to PSFK.com, popular Western books are often translated this way, including the Harry Potter series.

The feat of large-scale translation like this demonstrates new ways that the Internet is being used for collaborative information sharing in ways that continually evolve.

Fine art contraceptives

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid is producing a line of prophylactics packaged in wrappers featuring famous images from the museum’s collection, the Guardian UK reports. The condoms will go on sale in the museum gift-shop, where visitors can collect a Rodin to keep in their wallet. One wrapper will feature British football superstar David Beckham, who is the subject of a recent video-art installation at the museum.

Published in Volume 64, Number 6 of The Uniter (October 8, 2009)