For one thing, no matter how aggressively I lean on the fast-forward button on my DVR, I still end up seeing bits of Bing spots. Can’t escape them. But as far as I can tell, the ads below aren’t scheduled to appear on TV at all.

Another hint: They star Dean Cain, who is best known for his work in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” And that show went off the air in 1997.

The ads come to us courtesy of Bradley & Montgomery, the Indianapolis shop that also made the much-buzzed about “Mojave” spots for Windows Vista last year. But I don’t think the buzz translated into many happy Vista users, and I don’t know that these new spots will prompt people to rethink their browser choice.

You know what, though? I don’t care. If I used a computer that ran Windows, I would totally download IE8 just to support the ad’s director: Bobcat Goldthwait.

Many of you may have a vague memory of Bobcat as the screamy comedian from the 80s who wasn’t Sam Kinison and who appeared in a bunch of “Police Academy” movies. But he’s also the writer, director and star of “Shakes the Clown,” which is awesome and dark and truthful and also really funny. Go watch it! Or download IE8.

Verizon (VZ) said Thursday night that “a number of Verizon Wireless employees have, without authorization, accessed and viewed President-Elect Barack Obama’s personal cell phone account.” Verizon says the phone is a “simple flip-phone,” and not a Berry, and that it has been inactive for several months. But the startling public admission should be enough to convince Obama, if he needed any more prompting, that he’s going to have to give up his prized gadget.

It may also prompt Verizon to rethink its long-running ad campaign where its customers are followed around by hordes of the mobile company’s employees.