Are there any folks out there who just have a middle level interest, run a small business online and don't sound like they are spelling everything when discussing business applications? CRM, ROI, ERP, J2EE , XML and even SOAP are on tongues of corporate suits. Are rest of us lost and wandering aimlessly through InternetWorld, sponsored by AOL and wondering what those letters are for?

Is internet made up of either web services of interest only to corporate CTO's OR pointless chatter from little prepubescent girls to their best friend via AOL Instant Messenger?

The mainstream is missing here. That is clearly part of odd atmosphere at web conferences as vendors hawk their wares from fancy show booths . . . and to whom? To enterprise, stupid! (Someone should tell AOL that there were no prepubescent girls attending this show.)

Soon even those using AOL will be able to accomplish all this stuff without their browser telling them, "You've got mail!" Maybe they'll want a colorful graphic to click on, but AOL users may not have to be told, "Here's your latest bank statement!" or "You've got to pay your insurance premium!" or "It's time for Spot to get his rabies shots!"

AOL users understand that world is available online, even if that knowledge comes through their sign-on screen and clicking on little blue "Yes" button rather than simply visiting those web sites themselves to take care of business or look up things directly. I think it may be immediacy that works best for AOL, that you know you have an email because AOL 7.0 tells you that you do. The immediacy of AOL instant messenger (dubbed AIM) is what makes that service so compelling for their users.

To AOL users that may take offense at my comments, I must first ask them if they know that most of rest of world uses a local cable company or independent service provider to access web through something called a browser (software) and not through "New! AOL version 7.0" junkmail CD they receive weekly in their mailbox.

Oh, and they'll never make a movie around XML or EDI, even if they could get Meg Ryan to star in it. Maybe if they could make movie seats CRM compliant. Naaahhh. "You've got user analytics data!" Wouldn't work.

Comet Cursors http://download.cometsystems.com/no_nag/nonag.asp Stop seeing comet cursor nag screens.

CoreMetrics http://www.coremetrics.com/consumer_opt_out/ opt_out_options.html#optoutnow Opts out of ads served by Columbia House. Note that uRL above is on two lines and should be entered into browser as one line.

Doubleclick http://optout.doubleclick.net/cgi-bin/dclk/optout.pl One of largest and most obnoxious internet advertisers. This will stop Doubleclick from profiling your visits.

Engage http://www.engage.com/privacy/confirmoo_privacy.cfm Opt out of this companies profiling.

Fastclicks.com http://www.fastclick.net/v4/optout2.cgi?234 "Click to win" ads.

Hunger Site http://www.interpolls.com/privacy/optout/optout.cfm Removes their pop under ads.

Interpolis http://www.interpolls.com/privacy/optout/optout.cfm Movie ads.

L90 http://ads.admonitor.net/opt_out.cgi Another ad server.

Rain Forest Site http://www.therainforestsite.com urnOffPopUnders Removes their pop under ads.

WebSideStory http://webveil.com/linkout/vwr1.hitbox.com/privcenter/edit.html HitBox.com, StatMarket.com, Yep.com amd WebSideStory.com.

X10.Com http://www.x10.com/home/optout.cgi?DAY=3000&PAGE= http://www.x10.com/x10ads1.htm One of most hated advertisers on internet, with their intrusive popups and silly product. This link will stop popups for a long time. Note wrap on URL above.

Some Cautions

Remember that you must opt-out of each and every individual company or service. There is not a global, opt-out of everything magic button anywhere.

If you use more than one browser you must opt-out in each and every one. This is because browsers do not share cookies.

The opt-out only applies to computer on which you are on at time. If you move to another computer you must opt-out there also. (Unless you are using something called a roaming profile, which means cookies and things follow you around. This is common in business environments but not in home.)

The opt-out only applies to a single log on. This means if you opt-out under "Fred" and you then log out and log back under "Tom", you must out-out all over again.

Opt-out cookies do expire, generally within 5 years. So you must later remember to opt-out again.

If you clear your internet cache and ask that cookies also be erased (or you erase them with a cookie killing product) then you will lose your opt-out settings.

Further Information On Opting Out:

Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.htm Sharing Your Personal Information: It's Your Choice

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