Thanks to Apple and its superior design, marketing, advertising and, well, anything else to do with creating and selling a product, most other global communications brands have languished in a kind of brand-image purgatory. Sony is fighting back with this great campaign created by Saatchi Saatchi Sydney, helmed by art director Eron Broughton. The agency took Sony's earphones and literally mapped out the New York subway system, mimicking a traditional subway map. It's a simple idea but powerful in its execution, giving Sony a much-need dose of coolness. At last, other brands are thinking outside of the square. Now all Sony needs to do is apply that principle to its actual products. Innovate or die, guys. - Laura Demasi

The name Gary Ferndez (http://www.garyfernandez.net/) has started to appear often enough to warrant a closer look. Ferndez is a freelance illustrator and graphic artist based in Madrid, Spain, and currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His client list is impressive, ranging from advertising heavies DDB, McCann Erickson, JWT and Grey to superbrands such as Coca Cola, Nokia and Camel. His illustrations have appeared in numerous magazines and books.Ferndezs intricate, retro-esque illustrations marry a liquid stroke with a rigid tension, which in turn projects an underlying seething mood and latent danger. For some reason, Im thinking Dadaism and Salvador Dali mixed with the sixties London vibes and New Yorks retro fashion illustrations. At the same time, some of his work is almost whimsical and merry; evoking images from Cirque du Soleil and old European circus posters. Whatever you see, you are irresistibly drawn into his world.A fantastic recent example is his elaborate illustration book titled Introduction to Fantastic Girls, Future Landscapes the Most Beautiful Birds Ever Seen, available -- possibly -- on his site in limited quantities.Gary Ferndez is also the founder and creative lead of the T-shirt brand VelvetBanana (http://www.velvetbanana.net/). The name VelvetBanana draws its parts from The Velvet Underground and Andy Warhols banana cover for their first album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967).Ferndez started VelvetBanana in 2005 with the goal of redefining the Art Rock T-shirt by producing thematic collections. The themes capture certain moods, songs or bands. The latest, Collection #3, is described as having electrifying, abrasive, furious and hypnotic graphics full of energy although the photo book of the collection appears indoorsy and tame, with clean yet fashionably brooding models photographed against a pristine white background. The T-shirts are available at Urban Outfitters blog.urbanoutfitters.com (http://blog.urbanoutfitters.com/) among others .- Tuija Seipell

The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday it was opening an inquiry into "multiple security violations" by American Eagle at Chicago's O'Hare airport just a day after the airline complained a TSA inspector could have jeopardized the safety of their aircraft by grabbing a probe on the fuselage of several planes to hoist himself aboard.

Ilene Coffey's room at an Orlando hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 fee for a "short stay." When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. What's worse, she can't back out -- if she does, her credit card will be charged for the stay. Is there a way out of this mess?