To paraphrase Don Draper: At last, a beautiful product placement Jaguar can truly own.

And own it they do when it comes to the latest music video for Lana Del Rey's new track "Burning Desire."

"I drive fast / Wind in my hair / I push you to the limits / Cause I just don't care," sings Del Rey. With her on a dark lonely stage and a Jaguar F-type on a sunny lonely highway, the video might be something Don Draper and team would have cooked up themselves.

It's been nearly a year since Jaguar was ambushed with its unflattering product placement on Mad Men, where Jaguar was party to prostitution and a failed suicide attempt. Jag's appearance in Del Rey's "Burning Desire" video is the latest step on the march to the upcoming debut of the branded film, "Desire," which the luxury automaker is commissioning from director Ridley Scott's production company.

Everything old is new again as auto companies from Mercedes to Dodge are embracing the exploding auto-branded content format... again. Continue reading...

In a bid to outdo last year's April Fool's Day jokes, a few April Foolin' Around branded fake gags today include:

• Richard Branson's next adventure, Virgin Volcanic, will take the intrepid billionaire to the center of the earth with Tom Hanks;

• in addition to really advanced search and Google TV Click, perennial prankster Google brings its self-driving car to NASCAR racing (above) and, below, announces Morse Code-based Gmail Tap (double your typing speed!) with LL Cool J, plus 8-bit Google Maps for the neglected Nintendo Entertainment System, and more:Continue reading...

Archie Comics celebrates gay marriage in new cover.

Bristol-Myers to buy Inhibitex for $2.5 billion.

CBS introduces all-new CBS This Morning show.

Cadillac unveils ATS small sedan as import-fighter at Detroit Auto Show, which signals a turnaround for the industry.

Chick-fil-A cuts calories in kids' meals.

CES loses clout as tech-industry platform.

Current TV and Keith Olbermann make up following election coverage dispute.

Denny's promotes healthier media options.

Disney marketing head MT Carney departs.

Dow sponsorship of London 2012 Olympics continues to raise hackles.Continue reading...

Tom Hanks made his name first TV buffoonery before becoming a Serious Dramatic actor and then producer and documentary producer.

His eldest son Colin appears to be following in those exact footsteps. Except, where Hanks Sr.'s documentary interest has leaned toward conventional Americana (World War 2, NASA), Hanks junior's is a different element of American culture.

Colin Hanks is looking to tell (and sell) the story of the rise and fall of Tower Records, the music retailer that closed its doors in 2006. And you can own a piece of it.Continue reading...

Verizon Wireless will refund $50 million to customers as "mystery" data charges investigated.

BP compensation fund czar Ken Feinberg was profiled on last night's 60 Minutes.

Delta refocuses on service after its acquisition of Northwest.

Diageo launches reality show on BET starring its Smirnoff vodka brand.

Facebook plans for rapid growth in India; COO Sheryl Sandberg is NYT-profiled and The Social Network tops at the weekend box office.

Fox News polarizing host Glenn Beck was also profiled in Sunday's New York Times magazine.

GE treats marketing as a critical function for the first time.Continue reading...