YAHOO! LAST MONTH UNVEILED what it called "the world's biggest brain," a two-story, purple, brain-shaped terrarium complete with firing synapses and lobes atop the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. The brain unveiling was the official kick-off of Yahoo!'s "Ask the Planet 2006" campaign to promote Yahoo! Answers, the search engine's social search Web site that was launched in December. The site lets users pose a question and potentially millions of Web users can take a shot at answering. The Times Square brain was up for three days and housed 22 "brainiacs," users of Yahoo! Answers who were chosen through an online submission process, to answer random questions from the general public, using their own knowledge and Yahoo! Answers. An online component of the "Ask the Planet" campaign runs through July 10, in which celebrities post a "question of the day" and users can respond. Former Vice President Al Gore and U2's Bono were among the notables whose questions have been featured. Users with the best answers to celebrity questions will be entered into a sweepstakes to win prizes including a Toyota Prius, free gasoline for a year and a trip for two. While OgilvyOne, the direct marketing agency, handled the advertising elements of the promotion, which included print ads in USA Today and radio spots, Yahoo's Buzz Marketing team handled the Times Square event.--Carol Krol

THE BOOZE WAS FLOWING and the business cards were flying last month at the first New York mixer thrown by paidcontent.org. In a relatively short period, paidcontent.org, the brainchild of publisher and editor Rafat Ali, has emerged as a must-read among digital media cognoscenti. Within three hours of announcing the New York mixer, the Web site had received more than 500 RSVPs. So it was packed to the gills at the W Hotel in Manhattan, as media bankers kibitzed, software vendors debated the latest trends in new media and everyone seemed to be looking for some sort of deal. The main event: a Q&A with Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of The New York Times, who shared some insight about the Times' digital strategy. Ali questioned Sulzberger about TimesSelect, which was launched last September and features bloglike stories written by the newspaper's various columnists. Sulzberger stressed that media companies should not underestimate blogs. "For a long time the Times was viewed as antithetical to blogs ... but in truth what we have found is that blogging is an increasingly important way to engage our audience-and that's our job." Sulzberger said TimesSelect represents $6 million in subscription revenue, with 500,000 registered users. He noted that 98% of the Times' daily content is available at no charge online. However, he suggested that the Times is considering premium fees for the online version of the Boston Globe , which is owned by the New York Times Co.--Matthew Schwartz

CHASE COMMERCIAL BANK created a buzz at the Indianapolis International Airport prior to the 2006 Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix race, which was held in Indianapolis on July 2. With thousands of fans descending on the airport for the race, Chase Commercial Bank positioned "drivers" in the baggage claim area, holding up signs with messages aimed at business execs, such as, "Mr. 'I'm ready to expand my business beyond the U.S.': Your bank is here" and "Mr. 'I need local expertise in dozens of local markets': Your bank is here." The "drivers" passed out collateral material to those who expressed an interest in Chase Commercial Bank. The buzz campaign was created by Bradley and Montgomery, Indianapolis.