if you haven't noticed, i coughed up $15, to remove that banner. actually, i really like blogger. and now that i have done it, i'm glad to give them some money. i have been using their service for almost a year now. and i'd rather support them rather than see something i like go out of business. and it's only $15. there are other options (up to $100/year), but since i run my own domain, have limitless web space, and have grown accoustomed to posting with html tags, the facy features are really no use to me. so the cheapest option was just what i was looking for. i think i'll create an "about this blog" and write out what and why i post, and how they can start their own.