I run into those "issues" when someone decides that they want to use a particularly LONG word as the subject for a comment (say Arrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh...............). The site code can't wrap something like that nor can it truncate it (as coded) so it ends up "squishing" the center column. Other things that MIGHT squish the middle column would be anything else oversized in the left - that isn't correctly resized (images/adds/etc.) And, one thing that gets me periodically - is when people don't properly close some tags in their "teasers" for their stories (and occasionally stories).

The only think I know if we can do is just turn off screen elements so we can't even see them (You do this by going to "My Account" and then selecting the "Edit" tab. On this page, you can select a theme (as mentioned by others) as well as turn on/off various parts of the display through a series of check boxes. You'll have to play around with them, to get the layout you're happy with. One thing - please leave at least SOME of the adds - so Erin can get the revenue.

Other than that, not much any of us "users" can do to address the above issues. We have to wait for an author or an admin to "fix" them (or for them to scroll off the display).

Good Luck,
Anne

P.S. I didn't make the silly suggestion of getting a larger (wider) external monitor! (Though there are times I'd like one of those!