Bertelsmann is looking for an investor to buy some or all of Scoyo, which it launched in Germany in January of this year and previewed in the U.S. in September, the company confirmed via email. It says that while it hunts for new money, it is keeping the German site up and running but has put development of the U.S. site on hold “as it will be a decision of the new investor how to deal with the US portal.”

I’ve been told that the company has invested as much as $30 million over two years into the project, but Bertelsmann declined to comment on that figure.

I’m not in the target market, and I’d be unable to use Scoyo even if I were, as it only runs on Windows machines. But here’s the way the U.S. site describes the service: It is “targeted to the supplemental and homeschool markets, [and] will deliver high-quality educational content for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade across a variety of subjects and disciplines.”

The beta is free, and the site was supposed to launch a subscription service next year.

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.

First, Microsoft tried ads starring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. Next it tried ads starring anonymous Windows fans.

Now, the next step? Why advertising starring anonymous Windows fans–created by anonymous Windows fans–of course.

MediaMemo likes the new batch, which are cobbled together from video clips that Windows users uploaded themselves.

But then again, MediaMemo has liked all of the ads that hotshot agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky has created for Microsoft (MSFT), and thinks that all of the blogosphere carping and cheering about the ads is a bit silly.

It’s also exactly what Crispin wanted us to do in the first place.

Anyway, see for yourself–and tell me what you think in the comments section (you’ll need to register to do so).

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