Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things and other things from inside the intertubes.

Last week, APN NZ announced the arrival of the Herald Advertising Challenge, an initiative designed to showcase the opportunities for large scale, integrated campaigns across Herald media channels and get agencies thinking about the possibilities. And, along with the previously announced prize pool, which includes $250,000 of agency rate card media to bring the winning campaign to life and a trip for two members of the team to attend the Festival of Media Global 2014 in Rome, it has announced that teams will also be playing for the Andrew McNally Cup.

Given that Delta, Virgin and other airlines have started emulating Air New Zealand’s novel approach to safety videos, the original innovators have decided to take things to the next level by inviting the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models onto their planes. Update: Air New Zealand arranged the sponsorship and True developed the creative for the project.

With the proliferation of smartphones, the meaning of the word mobile has shifted from its humble origins as a means by which movement is made possible to something that implies wireless interconnectivity. But this summer, several brands have decided to wind back the clock and give the phrase ‘brand mobility’ a retro twist.

Right after warming our icy hearts with two poignant stories that were brought to life with eerie animations and haunting soundtracks, Chipotle has now released a trailer for its next ambitious advertising project: a satirical series comprising several 30-minute episodes.

In response to Russia’s continued condemnation of homosexuality as a mental illness, The Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion has released a public service announcement that presents the two-person luge in particularly risqué fashion. The customary back and forth movements associated with the sport are accompanied by a backing track of The Human League’s ‘Don’t you want me baby’. And then at the end of the 30-second ad, text saying “The games have always been a little gay. Let’s fight to keep it that way,” appears on the screen.

In anticipation of the Super Rugby hype that will begin to captivate the nation from 15 February, APN has rebranded its sports tipping and fantasy portal as the Dream Team. In addition to a new logo, the updated version will also feature a fresh design, in-game experiences, enhanced functionality and greater integration on the Herald website.

A confused Guy Williams is the punch line of a new TVC that Mediaworks Radio has launched to promote the line-up of The Edge. Shot as a pool party by Daniel Thorn and his team at Rubberneck productions, the 30-second video also features cameo performances by The Edge radio personalities Dominic Harvey, Steph Monks, Sharyn Casey, Jay-Jay Feeney, Clint Roberts, Megan Annear and Mike Puru. Updated with comments from Guy Williams.

Simone McCallum discusses her initial scepticism and eventual love of Facebook’s Paper app.

Cape Town-based ad agency King James has just launched a new Bells whisky advertisement that doesn’t just pull at the heart strings; it yanks at them, ferociously.

For the second year in a row the Church of Scientology has slipped an ad into the Super Bowl, and this year’s offering is impressively high on claims and equally low on explanations.

Pete and Andy Walker managed to entertain a big chunk of the nation with their cheeky quips and farm boy antics on the last season of The Block NZ. And they’re making hay while the sponsorship sun still shines by hitching themselves to Hirepool’s wagon.

Mobile marketing agency Mobile Embrace is set to enable another campaign that makes the most of banners on hand-held devices, this time with a trailer for the movie I Frankenstein.

Auckland-based Media Design School says a new collaboration in the US will provide a talent pool for blockbuster filmmakers and games studios in California. It’s launching Media Design School of Digital Arts at NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego.

In this series, we talk to Kiwi keyboard tappers that have managed to shift from the personal realm of blogging to create online media brands that are widely read (and in some cases profitable). In the third segment, we chat to David Farrar, the founder of Kiwiblog.

Having grown tired of the approach taken by conventional journalists, a group of self-professed philosophers has founded a new news media outlet that aims offer a different take on the issues that usually pervade tabloids. Part satire, part insightful, the stories published on the site reimagine seemingly meaningless events as moments of newsworthy importance.

Just over two months after taking the George Weston Foods account off DDB’s hands, Cloenso BBDO has now launched a slightly risqué campaign to get the Bürgen bread range noticed. Four outdoor billboards and four 15-second TVCs, all shot in a minimalist style by photographer Tim White, comprise the campaign, which encourages consumers of all ages to break their Bürgen virginity.

We’ll be seeing a lot more of the nation’s rugby stars in their tighty-whities now that Jockey has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the All Blacks and the All Blacks Sevens. Updated with comments from Jockey marketing manager Jane Lawry.