While reading articles online about the 50 Cent lawsuit against Taco Bell, I ran across this story on Gawker about Taco Bell and their love of hip hop or rather their love of the stereotype of it. One of the features on Taco Bell's website is an interactive game in their "Oustide the Bun" section called "Money Talks". The game is part of the promotions for their "Why Pay More" campaign. It's a game that allows you to create a rap name and then generate a rhyme. The "rappers" are these hokie figures whose heads have been replaced with coins and they are rapping about the low prices at Taco Bell. It's so ridiculous. And just the fact that they are using the phrase "Why Pay Mo'?". It feeds into the stereotype that the hip hop community is comprised of a bunch of illiterate, uneducated people with poor grammar.

It's ok to say "more" Taco Bell. In fact, it's ok to sell cheap tacos without having a gimic like rapping coins. I'm pretty sure $79 cent tacos sell themselves. Although, I'm not sure that I agree with Gawker that the ad is racist; I can certainly agree that it's offensive to the hip hop community.

According to reports by several media outlets, 50 cent is suing Taco Bell for allegedly using his endorsement without his permission. ABC News says that, 50 cents likeness was used as part of Taco Bells "Why Pay More" Campaign in a letter campaign that asks the rapper to change his name to "79 cent, 89 cent or 99 cent". The letter was sent to several members of the media and Mr. Cent says the letter was only sent to him after it had been disseminated to reporters.

Several reports say, the lawsuit accuses Taco Bell of "diluting the value of his good name". But Taco Bell is saying the letter made a good faith offer that was a "charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89, or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell," and in turn they would "have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice."

Some message boards were said to have received comments about 50 Cent "selling out" for Taco Bell. You'd think that a man that was shot nine times could pretty much endorse anything and not be seen as a sell out. How many bullets does one have to take before he's considered officially hardcore?

Since this position applies to roughly 90 percent of the recent layoffs we've seen (although, fewer have been reported in the last few days) have been account side, this job only seemed appropriate. Keep in mind Google has a lengthy application process that could leave you feeling dumber than ever. To learn more, click here.

Senior Account Executives drive revenue by selling Google's mobile solutions to top-tier advertisers. This is a high-energy job requiring persistent and persuasive interactions with clients, deep mobile and Internet expertise, proven sales skills, the ability to work collaboratively with internal sales teams, closing deals, strong communication skills and a broad base of mobile industry contacts. You think strategically, anticipate how decisions are made, and understand the details of individual campaigns, and you'll persistently explore and uncover the business needs of key clients. You'll also promote and manage senior-level relationships to ensure that your customers' needs and requirements are met. This means you'll take their feedback and serve as their advocate within Google while collaborating with other Google Sales teams to provide them with a comprehensive portfolio of options and customized solutions.

More after the jump.

It was brought to our attention that a photo shoot similar to that of Red Tettemer was done earlier this week. In fact, a lil' Washington Post video of the event was posted here, on WaPo.com. The difference between the two: WaPo's included a myriad of D.C. area ad-execs, whereas RT's only had its own addies.

See Red Tettemer's photo, here.

We're curious as to who had the idea first: the chicken or the older looking chicken. You decide which is which, and use the poll below to voice (erm, click) your vote.

Thanks Rebecca!

Oreo's is hoping to find the video that depicts the best story of an "Oreo and Milk Moment" by holding a contest via youtube called the "Oreo Global Moments" Contest. Contestants submit their videos and they are posted on Oreo's Channel on youtube where people can view them and vote for their fave. The grand prize (wait for it)... "Winner's video will be featured on the YouTube Home Page on or about August 26, 2008." How could Oreo afford to give away such a large prize?

If you are hoping for this once in a lifetime opportunity, check out the contest rules here and send in your video. August 11th is the last day to send in your entry. By the way, this is the second Oreo post for me this week. Oreo's has a serious marketing push going on right now.

Chris Ariens at TVNewser noticed today that Matt Lauer's image has popped up on an e-mail advertisement for PureAcaiBerry. Acai berry supplement can supposedly help you lose weight, but can it also prevent lawsuits from major media figures?

Here's hoping! The connection to NBC's Lauer comes from his annual travels during sweeps. This year, while in Brazil, he met with some locals who use the berry for all sorts of health reasons. One Web site claims it's "the viagra of the rainforest." We're not going to make the connection between the middle-aged Lauer and Acai's blood-pumping abilities.

This would be a great story, if it were true. Agency reps say, "they haven't heard anything about it." Furthermore, it's really, really out there.

If true, it would be a great piece because Mr. Erke joined the Chicago crew only in early May, taking the place of Mark Figliulo who went to TBWA/Chiat/Day to do the same. See that story here. It'd be one of the shortest tenures of any CCO this side of earth since God built the thing in seven days, and then retired.

But it's not true, so far as we know, and tracking that fact down ended up being a time-sink.

Back to the tipping matter — don't get me wrong, we love hearing from you anonymously. Really, we do. It's as safe way for you to let us know what's going on without risking reprisal.

However, bear in mind that we have no interest in outing our sources. So if you feel confident enough, get in touch in some other way that will allow us to do some simple follow-up. We promise not to get mad if your tip turns out to be rumor.

On that note, we want to keep you safe, secure and employed as long as possible. It's mutually beneficial, and keeps the site churning out what AdWeek, AdAge and a slurry of others can't — without being as salacious as some other blogs.

Did Deep Throat use an anon tips box? Hell naw!

So if you've got something you want to share, whatever it may be, help us make the story better by e-mailing (agencyspy@gmail.com) or using IM or Twitter (both are AgencySpy). Cheers.

We would like to make note of the Philadelphia-based agency, Red Tettemer, whose addies you see in the photo above. In an old-school-meets-throwback-meets-the-60s-are-the-new-black move, the shop has made-over their Web site in homage of years gone by. Uber swanky, I say.

Apparently, they change the homepage around every few months. Talk about staying fresh/schizophrenic (No harm intended for any schizophrenics reading this post). Their current iteration was my fav.

Hey RT, isn't smoking indoors illegal in Philly? Nevertheless, check out some of the other homepages they've done here(click lobby) .

And addies, don't forget that season 2 of Mad Men premieres sometime in the near future. This isn't TV Guide, find out the time somewhere else. It is on AMC, though.

Update: We asked shop reps a few questions about the homepage homage. Check them out, and the answers, after the jump.

But that's all we hear. Attempts to reach Mr. Diego Scotti, the 35 year-old head of global advertising for the only credit card I don't have (American Express) have gone unanswered, but with the recent onslaught of fantastic Amex work, we can't imaging why he'd want to part ways.

Did I mention he's also on the board of directors for the Advertising Club? Anyone with information can feel free to IM/Tweet me at AgencySpy or e-mail me at agencyspy@gmail.com.

Duff, who is also on the board of directors at the Advertiser's Club, and is set to take on a role within Publicis. Check out the video below, with McCarthy talking about "change."

Gizmodo reports that NEC, a Japanese tech company, has unveiled a product that will leave you and your fellow advertisers drooling. A camera mounted above a 50-inch display panel can instantly determine the age and sex of anyone standing in front of it. Then it displays content pertinent to said consumer.

Use that direct mailer you're working on to wipe your chin.

We first saw (a higher tech version of) this technology in the Tom Cruise flick, Minority Report. NEC's device doesn't scan eyeballs (as far as we know). But it does provide interested consumers a way to access the content being displayed. The user simply holds his/her cell phone up to the display, and a QR code instantly sends the phone a hyperlink to the given products.

See the Gizmodo story here.

Many people were up in arms when radio host Michael Savage made his inflammatory comments about autism on his July 16th broadcast. Savage made ramarks that "99% of children with Autism where kids with behavioral problems". And suggesting that the way to discpline these children was to tell them to, "Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot".

Probably most important of those that took offense was Aflac, who announced that they were pulling all of their advertising dollars. The show subsequently lost its syndication on several radio stations in the south. A move by Telesouth Communications, the company that syndicates the show to more than 350 stations, that comes immediately after Aflac pulled its money from the show. Savage, who is known for his controversial remarks may have gone too far. However, he refuses to apologize, despite the thought by many that an apology is the only way to save face. On a statement on his website he says the comments "were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label too many children or adults as "autistic"."

Savage plans to allow callers that wish to disagree with his remarks to do so by giving over his entire show on Monday for caller comments. But it may be too little too late. When one advertiser jumps ship, all others are sure to follow. Backing someone like Savage can become a real liability to advertisers.

A spy shared with us what may be the first hint at CP&B's campaign strategy for the $300 million Microsoft account (thanks Paco). Kudos to Ed Bott at ZDNet for making note of the "teaser."

Bott, a 20-year veteran tech writer, remarks of the above piece, "If this is going to be the overall message of Microsoft's much-vaunted new $300 million ad campaign, it might be money well spent. According to the folks at LiveSide, the first ads in the new campaign were previewed at Microsoft's employees-only Global Exchange conference last week to rave reviews. As Tim Anderson astutely noted the other day, 'Vista is now actually better than its reputation. That's a marketing issue.'

Yeah, and Oldsmobile thought it could change its image too.

I can't say I agree with Bott's analysis, as the copy reads more like a cop-out than a persuasive argument. But extrapolate the idea, and it actually serves Microsoft's situation fairly well.

Still, perception is reality. I wonder if there's a tiny Johnny Knoxville steering that ship.

Furthermore, is the ship a metaphor for the rough waters Microsoft is currently navigating, an homage to its entrepreneurial history or none of that at all? Either way, I'm no more intrigued to find out about Vista's apparent turn-around than any of my fellow Mac users. I will say my eyebrow is raised for whatever the 13,000 Microsoft employees were shown last week.

What do you think: Can Microsoft spin its image or does the teaser make it feel even older and less cool than it already is? Maybe you think it's a home-run. Let us know.

It's been a big week for BBDO Atlanta, which also won Erickson's Retirement — a $12 million deal that few will complain about.

But a group of like-minded businesses have formed the Green Marketing Coalition. The group aims to reduce waste created by DM through simple guidelines, like employing chlorine-free recycled paper, checking proofs via PDF rather than comps and tax breaks.

From The New York Times: "The guidelines suggest adhering to higher waste disposal standards and choosing vendors that are committed to recycling. There is also support for 'list hygiene' — that is, cleaning out direct-mail lists to remove the names of dead people and others unlikely to respond."

More after the jump.