Cedar Run, PA 17727 - Back in early August, I wrote about the stunning and inexpensive availability of broadband access in Loreto, Baja, California Sur, Mexico. Filing this column as I am, via the one and only means available within 40 miles - a dial up 28.8 line, I'm reminded how the majority of Americans access our media, and about how myopic we in the business of interactive marketing and publishing can be at times. All these Web pages taking far longer to load than it takes me to write this sentence, with the static-only ads coming first and staying …

If you've been reading the online trade press and specifically the Online Spin these last two weeks, you are acutely aware of the move AOL made recently to eliminate the formal position of director of agency relations. I think that the brouhaha over the issue, though warranted, misses the larger point which AOL itself doesn't seem to understand.

You've heard me discuss the A.A.D.D of the average Internet user (Advertising Attention Deficit Disorder) and how it can affect your ability to put together a compelling and effective online media campaign, but what impact specifically does this have on the flight and lead time for a campaign?

Last week's column about AOL's recent move in the agency relations arena prompted quite a bit of feedback, both from readers and from AOL itself. Just before the Thanksgiving break, I had the opportunity to talk about the issue with AOL's executive vice president of interactive marketing Michael Barrett. Our main topic of discussion was the progress that AOL has made in working with agencies since the dot com boom, and what AOL will be doing going forward to continue that trend.

Welcome back from what I hope was a great holiday. If you are like me, you ate too much, watched a fair share of football, caught up on sleep, and kicked into high gear for the months to come. Well dear readers, you know I tend to be autobiographical in my weekly writings to you, so here's one for ya.

As many of you are most likely not reading this today, I wanted to take one moment to thank you all for your attention during the year and for reading our articles here in the Online Spin. I think I speak for all of us when I say that the Spin is a fun place for us to share our thoughts and ideas on our industry and receive critical feedback to help us evolve.

A lot has been written lately about AOL's elimination of its agency relations director position. A number of agencies have expressed concern publicly. A petition is even being circulated by Mass Transit Interactive president Jason Burnham to urge AOL to solidify its commitment to agencies. Wisely, AOL has commented that agency relationships are a critical part of everyone's job at AOL. But some agency folks aren't buying it.

Those of you who know me or follow my writing know that I often write about how to target younger marketers and how to protect kids online. Parents, teachers, and the school administration at large have been able to stop bullies in the schoolyard. However, there is a new breed of bullies and these folks can't do all that much to stop them. As a result, there's a new term out there called "cyber-bullying." It involves computers and digital devices.

Thanksgiving is the best holiday. Halloween is more fun. Christmas and Chanukah are more festive. But, Thanksgiving is designed to be the one that all peoples can agree on. Come this Thursday, I'll give thanks for many things having nothing to do with the business we're all in. And I'll give thanks that I don't have my usual column deadline (and many of you will sing praises). But, as pertains to this digital marketing world, I'll be most grateful for the following and more.

I don't know about y'all, but I've been swamped lately. Lots of new business requiring attention; plans that need to be delivered the day before you ever got the call requesting them; sales calls from reps I've not heard from in years. I don't want to be seen as complaining (not too much). It all bodes well and is a sure sign that things are picking up.