By now you've probably read about the failed terrorist attack attempted on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

This close call has got a lot of people rethinking airport security, but some experts are wondering whether the powers that be might deter too many fliers with stricter policies and more tedious checkpoints. More Here...

As I was very sleepily riding the Subway this morning, I noticed a strange series of ads on the opposite side of the train. They were posters advertising something called the "Mighty Flavor Ball and Flavor Packets" (pictured above), a product designed to endow your taste buds with all the natural and artificial flavors we're used to without providing any nourishment.

My first thought was, "Jeez, people will sell anything." I mean, I mentioned I was sleepy, right?

As it turns out, the Might Flavor Ball is one of 15 products belonging to JetBlue's new Flyer's Collection, a fake line of items designed to "help you cope with the other guys," according to the Facebook page. Basically, all of this is an ad campaign—a very, very cool one.

The Flyer's Collection features a host of items poking fun at the airline's competitors, since the whole premise is that these are the items you need if you're not flying with JetBlue. There's a knee-compressor (to increase leg room), a sweater-suitcase (to get out of bogus baggage fees), an easy-listening collection featuring recordings of polite JetBlue employees (to block out snippy flight attendants), and many other entertaining options. I think my personal favorite is the Flight Eraser—a Men in Black-like device that will void your horrible travel experience from your consciousness.

Kind of like the Expense-a-Steak campaign we covered in October, JetBlue's Flyer's Collection, although fake, is operating as if real. JetBlue has been paying town car drivers to distribute "gift guides" for the holidays, since 80 percent of town car traffic is airport-related, as reported in BrandWeek. The airline even set up a parody store in New York's Meatpacking District next to an Apple Store, where people can browse all of the fake items. And on the Facebook page, all of the products have prices and mouseover hot spots for extra details.

In case I haven't made it clear, I love this campaign. It's hilarious and in-your-face, but at the same time very respectful, since JetBlue is making fun of the "other guys" as a group, not targeting one or two airlines in specific. It will be interesting to see whether this campaign, which runs through the end of the month, will benefit JetBlue's business.

Do you like ad campaigns like this, or are they too much? And, even if you do like an ad campaign, is it going to affect your airline choices?

Images via JetBlue Airways on Facebook

I've written a couple of posts about foolish spending habits lately, so maybe it's time I discuss something smart: product reviews.

Whenever I'm buying—or just drooling over—anything tech-related, I always read a lot of reviews. I usually start at CNET.com, because they offer comprehensive evaluations without any overall bias (Mac vs. PC, etc.). Wired has some good stuff, too.

Still, one type of review I almost never find helpful is the user-submitted review. I see these when browsing iPod accessories on Apple, ordering tights from the GAP, checking out restaurant listings, everything, and I want them to be helpful—they just never are. More Here...