Morning Update: BBC creates Sprout Boy; Yahoo eyes Mayer’s future; Thai printer leaves out derogatory NY Times story
Creativity: An Unloved Sprout Meets Dr. Who, Luther and Sherlock in BBC Christmas Animation
Claymation versions of Dr. Who, Sherlock and Luther appear in this charming animated film from the BBC, which kicks off today as a trailer for its Christmas programming on flagship channel BBC One.
It’s the tale of ‘Sprout Boy’ an unloved Brussels sprout, a sort of vegetable ugly duckling who’s turned away everywhere he goes. A baker, woodcutter and toymaker give him short shrift. However, finally the welcoming BBC stars (who aso include Will.i.am, Graham Norton and Mary Berry) give him a place at their table. Dr. Who actor Peter Capaldi narrates in his distinctive gruff Scottish tones.
The Guardian: Yahoo board ‘weighing sale of core business and Marissa Mayer’s future’
The Yahoo board will weigh a sale of its core internet business when it meets this week, according to sources.
Its meeting comes amid a broader debate about the future of the company and that of high-profile chief executive Marissa Mayer.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the possible sale of the internet business late on Tuesday. People familiar with the matter told the newspaper the board was expected to also discuss during meetings from Wednesday to Friday whether to proceed with a plan to spin off more than $30bn (£20bn) in shares of Alibaba. The company could also pursue both options, the paper said.
AdWeek: Nick Offerman’s Yule Log for Lagavulin Is 45 Minutes of Silent, Uninterrupted Brilliance
Few performers could make staring into a camera for an extended period of time engaging, let alone feel like a treat.
But Nick Offerman’s love of Lagavulin whisky has been well documented. And now he’s filmed a Yule Log video for his favorite whisky brand, in which he sits in a fine leather chair next to a crackling fire, calmly staring into the camera for 45 minutes and moving only now and then.
And it’s delightful.
Campaign: EA Sports sponsors launch of The Lad Bible app, which tops Apple’s App Store
EA Sports, the sports video games company, has partnered with The Lad Bible as the publisher launched its first app.
In a deal brokered by Havas Media, EA Sports is also putting forward some prizes for a competition around the FIFA 16 football game in the run up to Christmas.
TheLADvent Calendar is designed as some festive fun for readers who can enter the competition every day from 10 December until Christmas Day.
Mumbrella Asia: New York Times story about Thailand’s ailing economy left blank by Bangkok printer
The printer of the international edition of the New York Times in Thailand have removed a story about the kingdom’s faltering economy.
A blank space was left after taking out the story, headlined ‘Thai economy and spirits are sagging’ on the front cover and page six of Tuesday’s edition, reports The Guardian.
The front page of today’s Asia edition of the International New York Times and the same edition printed in BangkokWhere the piece should have been, the NYT ran the words: “The article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand.”
No reason was given by the printer for deleting the article, which briefly mentioned the health and absence of public life of Thailand’s king.
