Removing annoying ads

This post has been written for as a response to a Chowhound reader's request.

"can you all please fix this? It blocks the entire right column"

Solution from the user end can be achieved in this manner:

1. Download & install Firefox 3.0 browser (easy steps given once you click the green download button):
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

2. Launch Firefox and install Adblock plus extension by going to Tools> Addons or by going to the link(s) below:

Original installation instructions and Adblock Plus download location:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

Instructions with snapshots for Installing Adblock Plus:
http://blog.soliddocuments.com/2007/12/using-adblock-plus-in-firefox.html

3. Learn to configure Adblock plus to show ads on some pages and block it on others if you want to see google ads and other banner ads on some pages.



I just realized today (after so many years of my existence) that advertisements are by their very nature, tools to lower productivity. Think about it, if you are reading a magazine article, the ad page serves to distract you. A TV or radio commercial comes in the way of what you were watching or listening.

A 'contextual ad' from google or yahoo, serves to take your attention away from the web page (although on many occasions they also help you reach your goal, so that is a marked improvement). In this context sponsored links that show up when you search for something on google, are definitely a step ahead, because they are not distractors, but they are the end goals of the activity (i.e. search).