does anybody know of any free blogging sites that allow for total customization, don't add their own URL to the site, and don't have ads?

So... they would get what, exactly, from hosting your content? No money for them, no advertising for them, and no advertising revenue from your site.

Blogspot's ads are very small and unintrusive.

i know u said free..but why not get ur own site..hosting is like only 4$ a month....very cheap

I agree -- and I can get a better rate than $4 / month. ($3 / month but $7 for the domain)

Livejournal's popular (no ads, free, lots of fancy customizing); but why does the URL matter?

hmm..what host do you use?
i get 450mb space, 10gb bandwith, + unlimited everything else + great support

but yeah, livejournal is very good too
hmm i didnt know blogspot.com and blogger.com were the same, weird

http://www.sweethosting.net

1,000 MB space, 50 GB bandwidth + unlimited everything


Domain bought at http://www.godaddy.com


[edit]
Forgot to mention the cheapest plan is $3 / month, I bought the $6 / month plan.

sounds like a great deal, but i looked at the site..and the bottom links link to: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/3/about.htm
and
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/3/tos.htm
LOL
the source code also has a buch of stuff like that:
<script type="text/javascript" src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/3/milonic_src.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/My%20Webs/3/menu_data.js"></script>

it's not the best feeling when your webhost's website has that


aside: i emailed the admin just to let him know

Especially with tux plastered all over their site.

LMAO.

In January (or December) there was a contest to see whom could design the new layout for the site.

That's the layout that won.

(now I kinda wish I'd submitted an entry )

I've been with them for a little over a year with no surprise outages.