> just can't understand...  Something in the kernel config doesn't like
> chatting with these sites????  I don't know.  Help please.

Mmm ... as a wild guess, and assuming that 1.4.2 has this variable:

    # sysctl -w net.inet.tcp.rfc1323=0

If you don't see a change, then it will be time to get out tcpdump.
But perhaps someone else can comment on those particular sites, too.

Regards,

Giles