Do have the NoScript or FlashGot extensions installed? http://software.informaction.com/catalog/

Yes, NoScript is installed but not FlashGot

I could understand checking for updates upon startup of Firefox but multiple times during a single launch? That seems a bit much. Almost as bad as apple checking their time every 30 seconds or so. ntpd goes to time.apple.com a LOT So what are the others for?

OCSP (Online Certificate Status Protocol) is for checking if certificates are valid.

Safe browsing is for checking for phishing sites and malware sites and updating the phishing protection database (urlclassifier3.sqlite)

Thank you for the clarification. It would have been helpful if the Firefox help screens had been able to explain this. Thanks again.

Well, that is all beautifull, but why does it keep calling that address when I CHOOSE NOT to use OCSP in the security preferences!!!???

Lil Snitch tells me that on occasion, at startup, Firefox wants to link to a strange name: If***prettygirls.com (the missing parts rhyme with duck)

The IP address associated with it is: 204.15.253.17 and the reverse DNS name shows as: 204.15.253.17.certified.net

Any thoughts on this one?