I'm not seeing the google ads - BUT... 

I have them "blocked" by an entry in my HOSTS file. (C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS on windows 98)
Anytime my pc hits a link to pages hosted by google ad services it get redirected to 127.0.0.1
This saves me bandwidth and visual clutter on all sorts of websites. I still can get to google.com for maps, searching etc without a problem.

---- Quote from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm  ----

The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists.

You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the connection(s) that supplies these little gems.

Example - the following entry 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net blocks all files supplied by that DoubleClick Server to the web page you are viewing. This also prevents the server from tracking your movements. Why? ... because in certain cases "Ad Servers" like Doubleclick (and many others) will try to open a separate connection on the webpage you are viewing. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


>>> xiaofanc@gmail.com 21 Aug 07 08:53:23 >>>
Firstly I seldom use piclist.com.

I was trying to use the PIClist.com archive to refer to the
old top-posting thread but unfortuantely it is very ugly with
so many Google ads. I have to use Nabble.com which I
do not quite like as well but at least it is usable.

I understand the situation and bandwidth costs money and
it is a good resource. So Google ads is fine. But IMHO, there
should be a limit.

Just compare these two.

http://www.nabble.com/-EE--Top-posting%2C-is-it-really-that-bad--tf615396.html#a1674849 

http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=time&id=piclist\2005\11\25\102528.txt 

Sorry to point out this...



-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist