Once and for all: How to stop the iVillage ad onslaught. First we need to understand how it's done: iVillage doesn't bother to try and buy ads directly from all the various companies that show up on the pages of GW. Instead they use large ad-service agencies like doubleclick, akamai and pointroll. You can visit some of these sites if you'd like to see who's behind the ads. http://www.akamai.com http://www.doubleclick.com/us http://pointroll.com This makes it easy to block out all or almost all of the ads very easily, just block the originating sites. Right now all the ads on GW come from: http://amch.questionmarket.com http://a820.g.akamai.net http://iv.doubleclick.net http://i.ivillage.com http://m.2mdn.net http://tste.ivillage.com http://img-cdn.mediaplex.com http://ads.vmirror.com http://cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com http://ads.pointroll.com The Universal Solution.This will work on Windows systems for all browsers; IE, FireFox and Netscape. The Windows operating system provides a system-level method to block specific IP addresses before they even get to the browser. To effect this solution you need to edit a Windows system file called hosts. This file is located in the directory: Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC Windows 2K: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC Windows 98: C:\WINDOWS Open the file in Notepad. Cut the following from this post and paste it to the end of the file. 127.0.0.1 amch.questionmarket.com 127.0.0.1 a820.g.akamai.net 127.0.0.1 iv.doubleclick.net 127.0.0.1 i.ivillage.com 127.0.0.1 m.2mdn.net 127.0.0.1 tste.ivillage.com 127.0.0.1 img-cdn.mediaplex.com 127.0.0.1 ads.vmirror.com 127.0.0.1 cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com 127.0.0.1 ads.pointroll.com Edit each entry so that there is a tab between the IP address 127.0.0.1 and the URLs. Save the file and you're finished. Close and re-open your browser and all the ads will be gone. Unfortunately, iVillage may in the future buy ads from a new source. In this event the new ad source will have to be added to the list. The IE solution.Most of the ads are placed using Java$cript. You can remove the more offensive ads in IE with the browser settings. You can't however remove them all. To improve GW using IE do the following: From the menu select Tools -> Internet Options -> Security and click on Custom Level. Scroll down to the end of the list and you'll see an entry for Scripting. Disable all the sub-entries. Now select the tab labeled Privacy. In the bottom of the box that appears check on the option to block pop-ups. I recommend you also click on the button Advanced and select the option to block Third-party Cookies. NOTE: By disabling Scripting you will also effect the way other websites behave. You may need to get used to switching scripting on and off as desired. That's why this is the least desirable of these various options. The FireFox solutionThis is an excellent choice -- it's the fastest...

Thank You Azinoh, shaboom, ravencajun, minnie and damccoy. Your information is very much appreciated. Minnie you asked me this question. not to steal the thread thirdfrt but what is your opinion on Bazooka? I've had that for centuries it seems TIA To be honest with you I am unfamiliar with the software Bazooka but, I did look it up to see what program you were talking about. I have never used Bazooka and so I am unable to give you an opinion on it. Sorry. Maybe there is someone here that is more knowledgeable about the program that can give you an opinion on it. not to steal the thread thirdfrt Minnie, I don't feel like you stole the thread at all, unfortunately I was not able to answer your question and anyone who is knowledgeable about Bazooka is more than welcome to answer your question on this thread, I don't mind at all. For those of you who mentioned Malwarebytes, Superantispyware and Spyware Blaster, I have them on this OS. I have had Spyware Blaster for quite awhile now and I downloaded the other two last year. I am very pleased with these programs and appreciate the help that was given to me so that I could download them. I use to have AdAware when it was a good program and thought I would take the chance with the current AdAware and I have become very disappointed with it. You are right it is not the same and that is why I want to remove it. I have given my son the links for the programs that you have recomended and for the removal of AdAware. It just seemed odd that we were both experiencing the same problem with our firewalls and like I said that was the only thing that we had in common on our computers. My sister and Nephew both had problems and they uninstalled AdAware and their computers started working correctly. About Irfanview, I think I will remove the old one rather than write over it and start fresh. I don't need anymore conflicts. One last thing I downloaded Auslogics and was surprised how well it did. My computer was really starting to act up and at first I didn't think I was going to be able to run a check disk. I messed with it and finally got it to work and after I ran the check disk I used the Auslogics Disk Defrag and my computer came back to life so to speak. "Smiles" Well I think I have covered everything, again thanks to all who responded to this thread. You have been very helpful and I sure do appreciate the help. thirdfrt!!!

Glad we were able to help Archie, nice work getting it cleaned off. Thank you Randy. I suspect all who offer assistance to those in trouble get as much satisfaction as I do when someone reports back that the problem has been solved. Probably 30 years ago I took a basic electricity course taught by an electrical engineer. One of the class asked him why he wasted his time teaching us as it was obvious it was not the money. He replied that he got as much satisfaction as we did we did. Because he worked in a narrow field and was afraid of getting rusty in areas outside his job. The class asked questions and he needed to have the answers. I feel that way about helping with computers, it keeps me on my toes and as I age I find my memory is not as good as it once was.

Bmorepanic, Thanks you for your help once again! Your design is good. I can see many excellent features in it. It reminds me of some of the two island designs we played around with, but with one bigger island. The flow between dining room and kitchen would be wonderful with your plan, which was one reason we resisted a peninsula for so long. However, I am now too happy with the L plus big island concept to let go of that idea. I am not bothered by the peninsula between kitchen and dining room (although shorter is better). I like the idea of having that block of the peninsula when I am entertaining and we are dining. I also really, like the idea of doing dishes in the peninsula spot more than against the wall (as you know I am not happy against a wall -- too jumpy for that -- wall spots are good for DH though). From the peninsula, I can chat with those at the dining room table, take in the fireplace, watch TV or look out (from a distance) at two large windows and a set of french doors). I can even see my younger kids on their climber in the backyard. When my teen son understood he could watch TV while he washed pots he suddenly was keen to do dishes -- priceless! Watching my neighbour on his deck out the side kitchen window does not have that much appeal. Also, by the time we do dishes it is often dark outside so you can't see anything out a window anyway. I see your issues with the DW around the corner. LOL about the bumps and leg jabs. I could see myself with some bloody legs, so, thanks to you, I am not going to place the second DW around the corner after reading your comments. I have it in the latest design (see below) as two DW together which allows a shorter peninsula than if we put one on each side of the sink. The reason for this is I would not want one DW right up against the corner which would block the storage above. I can imagine no time when we would be organized enough to be loading two DWs at the same time. I imagine one would be full running through a cycle or be in need of unloading, while the other was in receiving mode. So for me two side by side does work. I do appreciate the time you have taken to think through my kitchen with me! Below is the newest version. I think we might consider making use of a cart for distribution of groceries to their various corners, and even to help unload dishes to the glass cabinet. When entertaining, we could also clear the table with a cart. I realize that our DWs are not close to glass, bowls and small plates storage which will be in the glass cabinet. However, the benefit of having the dishes close to the snack zone is worth the hassle of unloading. Just can't have it all in a 20 foot long kitchen! We also plan to make use of a Kornerking drawer/lazy susan device in the corner for baking/cooking ingredients combined with a easy reach L cabinet in the upper corner area for food as well (not snack food). I went through a very long list of typical kitchen jobs and assigned each an area for completion so I can figure out what to store where (and hence make progress on the size of drawer, shelf, etc to incorporate). I was able to see that most of our kitchen tasks will not require too much walking and zones will not cross too much. If you see any other tweaks, please let me know? Carol