On occasion, I'll get a pop-up box to take a survey but not any ads. Don't have anything special, just Windows XP. Used to get them here but haven't for the past few months. As a long shot, it might have something to do with my switching to RealPlayer and deep-sixing Windows Media Player. I don't see the connection but that's when the annoying ads seemed to stop -- and at weather.com also. However, the ads are a very small price to pay for using GardenWeb for free. No one puts together a website like this and absorbs the high cost of operating it just for charity. This is a business and has to make money from advertisers to keep the website up. That's why TV also has commercials. I remember when cable TV first came around with the premise that you pay a monthly fee and they would eliminate commercials. Well, that worked for a while anyhow.

I got some dried lychees at Trader Joes the other day (along with some more rambutan!). The Lychees are very intensely flavored and are like a drier version of a raisin. Very chewy! I think that they would reconstitute well for cooking, baking or ice cream making. I am thinking about making some lychee infused vodka. I also found some dried and sweetened hibiscus flowers there and will use that to infuse vodka soon. Summer is around the corner.

I've bought and sold many things on Craigs List and have had no serious issues. That said, just like any other person to person transaction, do your research and check things out. If you are careful, you can get some great deals. The main "scam" for large items like this usually involve a few things: 1. A seller says, "There's a bunch of people before you but if you send me $50 via paypal, I'll hold it for you." Run for the hills if any seller asks for a deposit or partial payment. Pay in full when you pick up the item. 2. Stolen goods. Get the serial numbers from them and search for it online. Even a simple google of the serial number might produce some hits. Try one of several stolen item databases (link below) and local law enforcement. Some states/cities have online searches set up to report and search for stolen items via serial number. BTW, to protect yourself, it's a good idea to write down all of your serial numbers for expensive items and keep them in a locked safe or hidden somewhere. Make several copies and keep one off site. That way if you're ever robbed, you can report the items and possibly even recover them. At least you'll make it more difficult for the thief to sell the item. I started doing this with all of my photography equipment over 15 years ago. 3. Severely damaged, lemon return, or rebuilt items. Sometimes, items that were damaged due to fire or other severe circumstances can end up back in circulation. For instance, there's a fire and someone makes an insurance claim to get a range replaced. The old one goes to the junkyard where someone picks it up and gives it a new paint job and replaces a few obvious parts. Might look in decent condition but there may be unseen damage inside. To protect yourself, call the manufacturer and verify the person selling it is the registered owner and ask for a repair history on the item. Also, open the top and back if you can to see if there is any damage that is not obvious from the outside. 4. Fakes. Yep. They're out there. Back in the mid 90s there were people selling red knobs and wolf emblems to make a cheaper commercial range look like a wolf. Some might say a commercial range would be nice but realize that it may violate fire codes to install one in your home. In any case, if you buy something thinking it's a wolf, when it isn't, then you're being cheated. Best way around this is know your product. Research everything about it. That's what's great about the internet, you can get pictures and measurements and make sure you're buying what you think you're buying. Obviously also look at the serial number plate/tag to make sure model number matches. Doing research and knowing the product can go a long way in preventing these last two problems. For instance, if you know that a 2008 Wolf range has a certain knob layout or only certain color options, then you'll know immediately if it's a fake or if it's been repainted due to damage. Here is a link that might be useful: Slolen item database...

If I really had something like that I didn't need, (Which wouldn't happen cause I wouldn't have something like that anyway!) I'd be looking at soup kitchens to give it to. Why go to the trouble of posting an ad and fielding responses? Sally