Better than my favorite Super Bowl commercial?

Okay, I was a little disappointed with most of the ads that aired last night, especially considering it cost $2.5 million per 30 second spot (so you’d think they’d put a little more creativity and innovation into them). The Tebow ad wasn’t as controversial as everyone was making it out to be–at least, I had no problem with it. There were ads that were far more offensive: misogynist and just plain yuck, denigrating women and portraying men as emasculated by relationships/marriages. And what was with all the sans-pants action? Seriously … THIS is what you think 93 million people are like?

That said, my favorite Super Bowl ad was the simplest one, and also the most effective. Google’s simple storytelling underlined not only the power of understated simplicity but also the importance of story. And it didn’t turn off half the population. (And it’s not even as if Google needs the publicity! Maybe that’s why … many of the other advertisers were trying too hard.)

And then, this morning, I came across this, from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership in the UK. It’s beautiful, poignant, effective, simple. I wish more commercials eschewed the American tendency for making everything overblown.

I’m in love with Gemma Hayes

Yeah, in addition to Alicia Keys. So?

Here’s the lovely Gemma Hayes playing at Google Dublin this week:

Google and Censorship in China

The difference between a normal Google search and a censored search in China:

Links of the Day, January 13

News

Miscellaneous

Links of the Day, January 6

News

Politics

Miscellaneous

Don’t know how to use Google Wave?

Check out “The idiot’s guide to Google Wave.” Lord knows, I need it too.

Links of the Day, December 8

For those of you who missed the last couple Links, apologies–I was in New York City for the weekend. Pics to come soon.

News

Green

Miscellaneous

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