If there’s one thing I don’t think I’ll ever miss about the last few years, it’s the way hot shots used to talk about their “exit strategies.” There seems to be very little nobility in an “exit strategy.” It’s a kind of short hand for “I’ve got mine, and I’m high-tailing it outta here before they find out they’ve been suckered.” Well, the exit strategy has left the building.

I received a form letter last week from Time Inc. The purpose of the letter was to “remind” us of a “long-standing” policy of theirs regarding sequential liability. They don’t honor it. Instead they apply what they call “the joint and several liability of advertiser and agency for payment of invoices for advertising published in our Magazines and place on our websites.” Interesting on many levels.

It’s time for my annual made-up-statistics column, bringing together the best guesses of some of my compatriots, all in an effort to answer the question: “What if research studies weren’t all sponsored by sales departments?”

Boy, this pop-up/pop-under thing has gotten out of hand. Not only have there been more articles on the subject in OnlineSpin than there are articles on ClickZ about email, but the passions of those reading them have run high.

A few weeks ago, the hot debate issue was the GRPs and their role in online advertising. Unfortunately, this discussion got off track due to pop-ups. I am here to try and divert the subject back.

“They work.” That’s the response you’ll get from most online DR folks when you ask them to justify the onslaught of pop-up ads out there on the web. By that logic, I can use a bazooka to take out the housefly buzzing around my living room. Sure it works, but I can find plenty of other ways to get the job done without causing so much collateral damage.

It seems lately that everyone (including yours truly) has been having a great time venting his or her opinions about pop-ups. But really folks, there are other issues to deal with. One is the state of sales presentations. For those of you in sales, please take this constructively from a wizened media pro who has seen more presentations than…

General opinion about pop-up ads seems divided into two camps: Web users despise them and advertisers believe they comprise a necessary evil. But those advertisers and media outlets who grow to overly rely on pop-ups may be pointing themselves down one of those Darwinian dead ends.

Everyone seems to have a problem with pop-ups. People are starting to wonder if the problem they have with pop-ups is somehow demonstrative of a problem with the online advertising industry at large. Folks are thinking, hell, if I’m complaining about pop-ups; everyone else must be, too.

The events of September 11, 2001 will remain forever etched in my mind and the passage of time will never dim the emotions released as a result of the horrors of that day. I struggled this past week as to whether I should leave this space blank in honor of those that lost their lives or if I should share a personal reflection that came from that fateful morning. September 11th changed my perspective forever, and rather than discuss advertising I decided the most appropriate way for me to properly honor those lives would be to share a thought.