In the June 5th Wall Street Journal, a question is posed:

Does the Internet make you smarter or dumber?

The argument for the former is here, and the argument for the latter is here. Each article makes sense and contains some valid points. What do you think?

The simple answer to the WSJ’s question is: yes.

I like to properly digest Super Bowl ads. And here’s my review of this year’s batch: they were largely forgettable. Overall, most spots lacked strategic thought (advertainment arguments aside).

There were two that stood out, for me. Google’s “Parisian Love” and Snickers’ “Betty White.” Both felt on brand and had a clear strategy. And I believe creative execution of a solid strategy leads to better ad recall.

Let’s do a little experiment: four days later, what ads do you recall or like and why? Tell us.

There’s really only one day a year when people anticipate advertising—Super Bowl Sunday. That makes it a kind of television Mecca for adnerds.

So kids, it’s poll taking time: what’s your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

I love 2003′s Terry Tate: Office Linebacker spot for Reebok. “Hey Janice.”

There are lots of things that can make or break a television spot, and music is one of those things. It can set tone, create emotion, take the audience to exactly where you want to take them. And that’s what brands should do too: make people feel something.

So it’s poll-taking time: What are the current best ad/song combos? What are the worst?

The Ask.com jingle is immediately disqualified for being so bad that I kind of like it. I keep that bottled in a very secret place, where I keep things like my admiration for Justin Timberlake.