Now I am getting a blank space in place of the ads.
But
the
text
is
still
a
narrow
column.

I spoke too soon. That annoyance is back.

I'm still trying to figure out what you guys are talking about. I do notice a wide space of white at the right of the screen. And sometimes it's vaguely outlined with a fine line, and sometimes there is a tiny X in the top corner in a tiny box -- like I get on emails that aren't cleared -- instead of the pictures. Must be my spam blocker or pop-up blocker is removing these for me. All I have, as I said, is extra white space. And right now (when I'm posting a reply) there is a white margin at both sides of the screen. The ugly gold and orange header with the black blob is narrowed down as well, and the margins go all the way to the top.

Patrick, this is what I was getting for 5 minutes :)

Now, for all of us not worthy of attention of His Magesty Ad Blocker and Her Magest Pop Stopper it's an annoying Expedia color ad.

Patrick - The ads are appearing in that space you have to the right of the thread. So far I have seen them for Marriott and Luxury Link not Expedia.
I've also had one appear across the top as I tried to respond to a thread.

Just a suggestion. Some of you might want to try the newest version of the Firefox browser (1.03). Its much better than Internet Explorer, and it does block pop up ads.

Just go to www.mozilla.org

Its an easy download.

Tiff- I'm laughing and must respond to your post about that scary Balinese "dragon"-actually not a dragon at all, but a DEMON, and he/she has a name -"RANGDA." You know, you'll see it all over Bali in various Balinese cultural dances, particularly in the Barong dance! I'm also thinking you wouldn't want to come by my place, 'cause I actually have one of those demon masks above a doorway, not far from my elegant Venetian masks-there are those who do not fancy it at all, and have asked me to take it down, but there it stays-it acts as a guardian to keep out the evil spirits!

and Sandi-exactly my point. It's most assuredly a two-way benefit here.

These ads are very annoying. I've just sent an e-mail to the editors at Fodor's and suggest everyone do the same.

One of my pop-blockers, probably Ad-Aware (go to www.lavasoft.de for free download) has eliminated it (all but the white space), but it's still annoying to have had to confront it.
I say probably because the MSFT anti-spyware which I downloaded purportedly blocks stuff too.

I don't really have any objection to the ads per se, but it does have a very annoying effect on the posts which are now
s
t
r
e
t
c
h
e
d

o
u
t

down the page and consequently less easy to read.

Jim

I spoke (posted) too soon.
The advertisement must have a built-in pop-up UN-blocker, as the ads are now appearing again.
I wonder if Marriott marketing understands the concept of negative image advertising.
It's bad enough to have the ad; if it were passive I could at least ignore it.
But it's so damned aggressive, and in-your-face!!!!!

I feel left out. I'm getting no ads. My son must have done yet another good thing to my browser. I don't have Firefox (he uses it on his laptop) but he recommends it to keep out spyware and other what not.

Firefox may be part of the key; with Firefox I don't see it, when I use Explorer I do

Don't have the problem with Firefox. I've been using it for awhile now and recently updated to the latest version. While it doesn't work with every web site, it certainly eliminates problems like this one because it blocks a lot of things. IMHO it also is less likely to pick up viruses than Internet Explorer. Don't know why everyone doesn't try it since it is free.

I've got two computers, one with Norton Internet Security and one without it. The one with Norton (which has a pop-up stopper) doesn't get the ads, the other sees what you all see, and is it ever annoying! This is one time I wish I had no peripheral vision.

As bad as this is, take some consolation in the fact that it could be worse. The ads on Morningstar flash on and off in the same location, as you're trying to concentrate on a technical write-up, which, by the way, we are also paying for because we elected to get their "premium service"!

Norton Internet Security is expensive, but it's worth the price to get rid of this junk.

I <i>know</i> that is what is making the difference in my computers. Does anyone have a less expensive solution (other than &quot;deal with it&quot; that is :( ).

On the one hand, this forum is free...

On the other hand, makes me never, ever, want to use Expedia. But, then, I've found their &quot;web specials&quot;, which require prepayment with no cancellation, for hotels are, more often than not considerably higher, than ANY other means of booking.

I've noticed that the site seems a little slower and I have gotten a couple of those wierd error messages but no ads thank goodness. I think all my Norton stuff keeps the ads at bay, along with alot of other stuff.

I don't see it either...thankfully...but I thought the msg was all scrunched up on the left...now that explains why....I'm just grateful that my security level doesn't allow that ad to show...it sounds scary. :)

Related question.
Is Firefox 1.0.3 a little faster than the previous version?

I forgot that in addition to all the other belt-and-suspenders protection I have on here, I have Norton Inernet Security as well. Disabled it for just a minute and sure enough... I see what all of you are talking about.

For what it's worth...