This is getting ridiculous.
I hate those so much. How can you tell exactly what that "close" button actually does?
True, I sent a mail at the news page to please stop use adds like that or I'd not come back. Hope it helps, maybe, I don't think so, who cares...
Are they using java or flash? Mozilla with the right extensions should take care of that. Doesn't excuse the method which is beyond absurd.