Is it just me or the internet has become slower ?

You could also do that on IE, you could turn Flash off by turning off ActiveX plugins, and it's faster but not as fast, and simple as OffByOne.
OffByOne still faster than FireFox with Flash off.

 

This is an issue only if you have internet on an oversubscribed shared network like Cable-TV.

Not an issue if server and client are on good networks and the intermediate servers are good quality also.

 

It's all those whippersnappers with their newfangled ipods I tell you!

 

I agree with kicking.I think it is because more sites are trying to shove more stuff in your face.I dont have a flash player installed but I wonder if they somehow hold things up while they try anyway.I look at the bar at the bottom of the browser,the one that shows secure/unsecure,and the amount of stuff that flickers through there seems excessive to me.