It will happen every now and then-it must be a conspiracy!!! LOL!!!

Hi Ruth,

There is a solution:

use Firefox instead of IE.

During the install process it will ask if you want to transfer your IE favorites list;if you do this, they will appear in the FF Bookmarks list. The last piece of solution is to add a FF extension called AdBlock (you will see it to the right on the page below listed under Resources and Links). Once installed,just right click on any ad you don't want to see again.

Let me know if you need help.

Cheers,Bob in Ky.

Here is a link that might be useful: Firefox

Thanks Bob,

You the man!!!

Thanks Paribear :)

I also highly recommend the FF extension NoScript (available at the same link above). This takes care of many things that AdBlock overlooks.

Once installed, open a page like this forum, and you will see an "S" with the International stop symbol through it,located near the bottom of your screen in the task bar. Left click on that and you will see "Allow Gardenweb.com" when you visit this page. Click on that.However, you will see several other sites that you may not want to allow (hint,hint,wink wink,nod, nod :)

Cheers,Bob in Ky.

i have never heard of firefox! has it been around long? i always thought internet explorer was the only world.

Hi FTM,

It has been around a little over a year, I believe.They claim 80 downloads :)

You can read more about it in the Forbes article below.

It looks basically like Internet Explorer and works about the same way;very easy to use. I don't use IE anymore unless some rare site won't open with Firefox.

Cheers,Bob in Ky.

Here is a link that might be useful: Forbes article on Firefox

Bob - thanks for helping me. Ruth

I think IVillage is trying to drive people away. So far I have not experienced the squished pages but I do know that the pages load much slower now (I use a cable modem) and many times I don't have time to wait as I have other things to check on. That and the unauthorized imbedded links in our posts which I find extremely aggravating, have caused me to reconsider renewing my membership. Garden Web just isn't the same any more and I can put my money to better uses.

Penny

Thanks Ruth :)

I hope it works for you. Did it help distorted pages?

Penny, you (and everybody else) should really give Firefox a try (and those two extensions,Adblock and NoScript).

Cheers,

Bob in Ky.

Thanks Bob, I gave the info on Firefox to my DH. We really don't have a problem with the pop ups and some of the distorted pages etc. b/c of the firewall we use that has blockers built into it but we do have a problem occasionally with slow loading on this site only.

Penny

Bob - Thanks for all your help. You must never sleep! I am not seeing the distorted pages like I did yesterday. That FF extension No Script seems to have done the job. You're the best!

Penny - I agree it feels like the new owners of this forum are making it increasingly more irritating to use this forum. I do not in any way support the em-bedded adz either. I do however, remember as a newcomer how helpful everyone has been here. This being another example. It would be too sad, for other newcomers and hummingbirds, if people like you and Bob leave this forum. I miss Frank too. Now this thread will probably get pulled...

The squished up pages are driving me nuts, as well as the ads, and it is taking increasingly longer for things to come up - it is very cold here at night - in the 50's - hope that doesn't drive my two or three hummers away -

Cheers,

Ellery

Hi Ellery,

Try using Firefox (with Adblock and NoScript);that should take care of your problems.

Let me know if you (or anyone else) needs help. You can send me an email if you would rather do this privately.

Cheers,

Bob in Ky.