The pop-up ads that appear when you try to read my May 19 USAToday.com column are especially annoying. So I’ve put the column here as well.

Click here to read it.

If you’re reading this, I like to think you were actually able to read my May 29 column on MATRIX. If so, you have my profound thanks.

Thanks to the pop-up ads, that column was incredibly annoying to get to. First the ad (for The Day After Tomorrow) popped up at the opening page of the Tech section, then again — the same ad! — for my column. Readers had to wait for it to load before being able to click it closed.

Folks with older browsers, like my Dad, couldn’t even get to the column. (If you’re one of them, let me know. I’ll e-mail it to you.)

So you have my deep and sincere apologies for having to go through all that just to read a column. I’ve never seen more annoying online ads.

Update: You can read the column by clicking here.

Well, “Brood X” — the largest of the nation’s crop of cicadas — is coming out of the ground this year. Lots of places are already reporting hundreds of the red-eyed buggers covering trees and shrubs as they emerge from the ground.

We haven’t seen many by us, but here’s one guy who was crawling around the yard this morning. (Click for a larger image.)

I was shocked to find an ad offering “Dinner at Red Lobster on us!” at the top of the Al Jazeera Web site (see below and click for a larger image).

In fact, the company — “EatOutFreeToday.com” — is offering a choice of dinners at Applebees, Boston Market, Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, and TGI Fridays.

Me, I wouldn’t want to give my money to Al Jazeera. But that’s me.

ABC (and soon, everywhere): Passengers Tip Boat Trying to See Nudists.

“Boobs” is the word of the day.