I am hoping that this is some type of technical glitch and not a new display format, but figured I'd ask here to verfiy.

Within the past hour or so, I've noticed that the OP in every thread (as well as the first post on a page if the thread goes on to multiple pages) has a Google Ad inserted into it.

Like this ------------------->

In cases where the first post contains quoted text, the quoted text blocks-out all or part of the Ad.

Is this a new development or a glitch?

It is one thing to have the Ads come between posts in the thread, but quite another to have actually inside a post.