Nivea for Men has apologized for an ad in Esquire magazine that critics called racially insensitive.

The company acknowledged that the ad was “inappropriate and offensive.”

The ad, which appeared only in the September issue of Esquire, showed a preppily dressed black man tossing away the severed head of a bearded, Afroed black man. The text read, “re-civilize yourself,” with the additional caption, “Look like you give a darn.”

They issued an apology on their Facebook page and have since pulled the ad from running. Check it out below… what do you think? Someone just have a bad judgement day?

Today, Starbucks is kicking off it’s expanded iTunes Pick of the Week program to include apps, iBooks, TV episodes and more.  Every week, new Pick of the Week cards will be available for a free iTunes store offering. This week  Shazam Encore is available, an app with the ability to identify a song, buy it, view videos, get lyrics and share with friends.

If you miss out on this featured app, stop in next week when EA and Firemint’s SPY mouse game will be available.

In an effort to promote its first New York flagship store, New Balance will launch Urban Dash, an iPhone app that requires consumers to hunt down virtual batons around the city.   The player that grabs the most batons and makes it to the flagship store in time will get the chance to win a free pair of NB NYC 574 shoes and a 14 karat gold baton valued at $20k! But beware, other players can grab your baton if they can get close enough.  The promotion runs August 11 through September 10, so lace up your sneaks and start grabbing those batons!

Introducing smile tagging… brought to you by none other than the Kraft Mac & Cheese smiling noodle. The brand launched a smile tagging page on Facebook earlier this week, that lets visitors download their “smile tagging” button. Once downloaded, it lives like an app on your bookmarks bar. When you come across something that makes you smile, click it - and it activates your webcam to take a picture of you smiling. That picture automatically gets posted to the brand’s Facebook smile tagging page. You can then share it from there.

Pretty cool Facebook integration… perhaps the new “like” button?! Get smiling, people!

For all you burrito lovers who frequent the Taco Bell drive-thru, now there’s a reason to eat in.  The fast food chain has recently signed a deal with IndoorDIRECT to install an in-store television network in 5,600 of its U.S. locations by 2015.  The programming is set to include interactive entertainment such as games, polls, iTunes songs and social marketing campaigns.  By enriching its Chalupa-craving consumers’ experience, Taco Bell hopes to convert these drive-thru consumers into in-restaurant diners.

New Coca Cola Billboard is made of plants that clean air pollution!

Take the new AxeSprayaway for a spin - it lets you remove anything that you think “stinks” on the web, from comments to pictures and even ads (at least until you hit refresh). Very simple to use, and kinda fun.

1.visit the website

2.Drag the can into your bookmarks bar

3.When you see something that “stinks” on any website, click the Axe Spray on your bookmark bar

4. SPRAY AWAY

I love all things running, and I also enjoy the occasional cold beer. So, when one of my favorite running websites partnered with a beer brand - I got excited. Check out Miller’s MGD 64 Run Challenge!

You create a team with your friends (max of 4 people), and from June 10 - August 17 you have to collectively run and log 64 miles within a consecutive 30 day period. At the end of the promotion a random drawing will pick the winning team for a chance to win $6,400. That can buy a lot of MGD64.

Pretty cool and smart integration for both brands - athletes who are always looking for ways to stay trim but still enjoy a cold one.

More importantly, who wants to join my team?!

McDonald’s Pick n Play, an interactive billboard campaign, allows consumers to play a digital ping pong game with the use of their smartphone’s touch screen.  Launched in Sweden, this game awards consumers with free McDonald’s menu items if they can last 30 seconds playing pong.

Pick n Play! (click for video)

Just now, First Lady Michelle Obama and members from the USDA unveiled the new “food icon” called “my plate”  that is replacing the Food Pyramid. This new icon is structured around the idea of simplicity - the plate is much easier to digest than the pyramid (no pun intended). It no longer asks Americans to measure out exact amounts of protein, carbs, etc., but rather it asks Americans to balance their plates by dividing up their plates into 5 different sized categories of vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy. (Take note that it asks Americans to eat more plants then ever before).

According to Obama, the reason for the new outlook on dietary needs is due to the increasing number of obese people in this country - especially children and people under the age of 30.  In order to tackle childhood obesity, Obama suggests that Americans not only implement “my plate” into their daily lives and be mindful of the food they eat, but also to exercise at least 60 minutes a day and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Much easier said then done. Eating healthier usually costs more money than eating junk foods and most obese people in this country come from poor neighborhoods.

I wouldn’t count on this “plate” to make much of a difference. Anyone agree/disagree?

Post by Mike Nussbaum.