Angry McCann Erickson ad agency executive Nina Disesa reminisced fondly to the press today about her former colleague Paul Tilley, who committed suicide late last week. She commended his wisdom and sense of humor. Kind words, and quite a contrast to her assessment of anti-Tilley bloggers as hateful, bitter losers. It's worth pointing out, amidst all the hubbub, that Disesa is currently flogging her book, "Seducing The Boys Club," about how to survive and thrive as a woman in a man's world. Its observations seem to have informed her blog-relations tactics. Below, some of Disesa's top "practical, outrageous, and even controversial maxims" for dealing with men—the dogs!

There's nothing that will tear your heart out quicker than seeing one of your immortal heroes decide to sell out. Hearing the "conscious" rapper KRS-ONE declaring "The revolution is basketball" in a Nike ad back in the 90's was a particularly dark day for me. But at least living people havethe free will to decide to sell out. An even more despicable practice is waiting until an icon is dead, then pimping their image out to the highest bidder. Some responsibility falls on whoever licensed their image for commercial use. Some of it falls on us, the consumers, for making these campaigns financially worthwhile. But most of it falls on the damn ad people who co-opt someone's cool without their attendant philosophy. And now that Gonzo extraordinaire Hunter Thompson has popped up in a Converse ad, it's time for some serious boycott action. Some things just aren't right. Right?

You probably suspected that advertising creatives included some bestiality fans. This ad campaign for the German magazine Deutsch [via Copyranter] could reinforce your suspicions. And the theme, it turns out, is not confined to the media space; sadly, it permeates advertising for consumer products, and even public service campaigns. Below, three examples of the indelicate use of animal love by the ad industry—the final one, the other half of Deutsch's two-page spread, is somewhat NSFW.

The February 2007 issue of Wired contained 67 pages of advertisements. The maker of this document — we hesitate to call it "art" — placed their logos in the exact same positions as they appear in the magazine. Get your signed copy for €50.

The controversy over what role (if any) ad bloggers played in ad exec Paul Tilley's suicide is rising up the ranks pretty fast. Earlier today Nina Disesa, the chairman of the New York flagship office of huge ad agency McCann Erickson, left a comment on the Agency Spy blog that calls bloggers hateful failures, and their commenters "losers." This prompted AdScam's George Parker, an actual ad industry guy who takes a backseat to no one in cussing out said industry, to scoff at her, and add that "I happen to think the vast majority of the work that comes out of McCann is shit." The most incredible aspects of this controversy are, 1. The fact that nobody knows why Tilley committed suicide has not prevented a major agency executive from speculating on the cause, and 2. A major agency executive could be so tone-deaf when it comes to the blogosphere. The whole thing is getting nastier by the minute, without any real new information. Disesa's full angry comment is copied below.

Do we really want to vote for the candidate who is the most popular with advertising industry types—the one they compliment as a person who "behaves like a well-defined brand?" Well, that candidate is Obama, so I guess the answer is yes for most of you Jesus-hating liberals [Ad Age]. The ad industry's luv for him has so far paid off in all those (free for Obama!) momentarily cute YouTube video mashups of the man interspersed with celebrities, music, or both (that's what ad people do on their free time to relax). But might this whole ad-love party be a backlash waiting to happen? Thoughts, to quote Alex Pareene, Obamafter therack jumpama.

Don't you hate it when The Man tries to keep you down? And The Man is like, you must go to one of these prestigious schools, you must be a lawyer/ doctor/ I-banker, you must drive a Benz/ Beamer/ Lexus. And you're like, "You're not in charge of my life! I'm my own person! I'm breaking free of this soulless cycle of consumption! By buying a marginally different brand of luxury car!" Take that, The System! Click to watch Audi's stirring, inspirational Oscar ad in full. It will set you free. To burn Audis when the Revolution comes.

Paul Tilley, executive creative director of the major ad agency DDB in Chicago, jumped to his death from a hotel window on Friday. He played a key role in many familiar ad campaigns, including "Dude, you're getting a Dell" and the "I'm Lovin' It" campaign for McDonald's. But Tilley was often criticized on industry blogs, and in the wake of his suicide, some people are calling those harsh criticisms a factor in his death. Others are arguing just as hard against that interpretation. Below, a selection of the negative comments on Agency Spy, a blog that had criticized Tilley's management skills recently (and offered "heartfelt condolences" on his death):

Spanish newspaper El Pais has a sweet idea for how to influence people to read the newspaper: digitally altered pictures of the World Trade Center tragedy! See, if you read El Pais, you'd know that some details have been changed in the photo of this horrible disaster [Copyranter]. Is that really the correct model of plane about to crash into the building, leaving us all scarred for life? Subscribing to El Pais would help you answer that. It's like the terrorist version of the "Spot Five Difference In These Pictures" thing on the comics page. How many differences can YOU pick out? Good, clean, tragic fun. Larger version of the ad, and the educational changes revealed, after the jump.

Parfums Givenchy, which means "Givenchy Perfumes" in American, has picked Justin Timberlake as the face of its new men's cologne [Off The Rack]. The company president said the poppity pop star "is a world recognized trendsetter who redefines modern elegance." Sure he is. A better thing for Justin to put his face on:

A new Tom Ford Menswear ad features a two-page spread [page one pictured] of some serious naked woman vs. clothed man violence. Angry advertising authority Copyranter argues that this is yet another piece of the designer's unfolding plot to destroy heterosexual men. But we're not so sure. As he notes, the ad appeared in Details, and the male model, what with his metrosexuality and niche beer selection, is clearly gay. So this is actually more of a symbol of Tom Ford's disdain for gay men who would try to pass as straight. That makes us feel much better. The second half of the ad, with the violent crotch-grab payoff, after the jump.

Nicole Paultre-Bell, the widow of Sean Bell—who was shot to death by the NYPD on his wedding night in 2006 while unarmed—is now starring in an ad campaign for Rocawear. With her two young children. On the eve of the trial of the cops who shot Sean Bell [NY Post]. Tacky, or uplifting? This one is almost too close to call. Photos of the full ads, below.

A scary question: Is widespread product placement—a phenomenon that's already here in television and movies—going to become ubiquitous in our beloved magazines, as well? The question was debated at the FOLIO Publishing Summit, currently underway at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami. In one of Doral's more than 40 meeting rooms, several panelists said that it's only a matter of time before product placement spreads. One suggested that the issue may not be sacred to most average readers, like those leafing through their favorite magazines as they relaxed in the Doral's European inspired spa. The debate will likely continue over dinner at Doral's Champions Bar and Grill, and may even spill over into a nightcap at the poolside Cascades Bar. But contentious as the product placement issue is, it's nothing that can't be discussed politely over 18 holes on one of Doral's five championship golf courses. Regardless, it is a question of policy that not just magazines, but all forms of media need to "work out"—perhaps they should try one of Doral's personalized fitness consultations, only $100 for an hour-long Specialty Session.

Richard Rapaport is VERY concerned about the rise of "snide advertising." It's eating a hole in our national soul! The ennui, the decline of sophistication, the "nanny-nanny boo-boo that passes for wit these days." Some might say that advertising never had a golden age of wit and sophistication, but Rapaport argues in a long Ad Age piece that the current trend is one that historians will look back on with disdain. Is our entire society becoming less civil, right down to the way we sell things to each other? It's an important issue. Below, Gawker chief Nick Denton's analysis of this controversial topic:

"Since 9/11, I've secretly measured the socioeconomic well-being of New York City by the advertising content and graphic design of the billboards on the Long Island Expressway between the Midtown Tunnel and the Greenpoint Avenue exit in Queens. I like seeing lots of billboards, and I want them to be filled with terrific ads." [Creativity Online]

Advertisers are figuring out that traditional TV ads are getting less and less effective as a way to reach all you hungry consumers. So many people have DVRs these days that ads are getting skipped more than ever before, and the Internet is cutting into TV as a medium (fa sho!). In a new study, 62% of advertisers said that TV continues to suck. But have no fear, because they are finding new and more devious ways to get their marketing messages into our brains. Online TV shows, video on demand, and even " set-top-box menus" are all in line to get more ads. Great! You cannot escape. SonyCokePepsiMcdonalds. [Broadcasting & Cable]

[UPDATE:] Hippie pop star Joss Stone has signed on to do ads for Cadbury Flake. The product is shaped like a rod, so it was quite natural that they've promoted it [Adrants] in the past by having a pretty woman wrap her supple lips around it and roll her eyes back into her head in simulated ecstasy. And then walk down the beach with a horse. The not-so-subtle message: Women and horses will happily give you a blow job in exchange for a Cadbury Flake. Get yours today! Full [classic] ad below.

As many do for the Super Bowl, I find the ads on American Idol more interesting than the show. It's among the priciest prime-time real estate around. Last year, ads cost $600,000 per 30-second spot. So it raised my eyebrows to see Apple purchasing multiple spots for the MacBook Air in tonight's broadcast. I counted two in just the last half-hour. Did Apple shell out more than $1 million for a couple of ads?

There's a new product in the wound-care field called Apligraf, which is running direct-to-consumer ads right now about its breakthrough new technology. Put it on a non-healing wound, and it heals faster. That's nice. But Apligraf is also the Most. Disgusting. New. Product. That has ever been launched. It has a secret: (in a Soylent Green scream) IT"S PEOPLE! APLIGRAF IS PEOPLE! And, my god, it gets even worse: