The Random Rambler

List of Google Adsense spam ads

// May 27th, 2009 // Comments // Media Miscue

If you’ve got a Middle East based website/blog/etc and use Google Adsense you may have noticed an increase in the number of spam/matchmaking/asian dating/arab dating/escort banners appearing on your site… probably not the first thing you want clients to see on your website.

It’s pretty easy to block these adverts, simply log on to your Google AdSense account, click on the AdSense Setup tab, select Competitive Ad Filter and paste in the URLs you’d like to block. Simple right? Not really… these websites have gotten smarter and have bought a number of domains (with minor variations in the domain name) so for every site you block a new one pops up the very next week. (more…)

My hump, my hump

// June 13th, 2007 // Comments // Media Miscue

…or lack of lady lumps in Miss Huzaifa’s case.

Here’s a print ad for Al Huzaifa Furniture that was published in a few newspapers and magazines.

‘Cheeky’ but nothing really offensive with that ad (the chair though is just plain wrong). However, officials disagreed and the campaign was pulled… well, almost. Here’s how it probably went down (it’s funnier if you read it with a thick accent).

Official 1: Okay, we have told the ad agency about this offence and have fined them heavily.

Official 2: Well done and what about the media?

Official 1: The papers and magazines have been alerted and will remove this advert from all new issues.

Official 2: Excellent! You’ve done well.

Official 1: There is one small problem… we have a unipole banner on Shk Zayed Road which cannot be taken down.

Official 2: Hmmm… Don’t worry, I have an idea.

Someone, somewhere got a ‘bum’ deal out of this!

Assistance?

// June 2nd, 2007 // Comments // Media Miscue

Beware the hyphen…

Nothing too exciting, the regular man-complains-to-paper, company-responds-to-paper, paper-helps-kiss-and-make-up article. Short version, passenger leaves messages for airline, never got called back, airline apologises for lack of response, recommends that passengers should email for quick assistance. Seems like good advice, however, on closer inspection

Looks like ‘no frills’ doesn’t quite extend to all departments in Al Jazeera Airways! Hmmm… suddenly their cabin crew annoucements start to make sense…

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and thank you for flying with us today. If there is anything we can do to make your journey more pleasurable, do let us know. Please ensure that you are in an upright position. In a few moments we’ll be screening a safety video…