QXL or Quicksell? What does it stand for? Good question. It used to be pronounced Quicksell, but the public didn't catch on. So you can call it Queue Ex Ell.
Why are you blinking? I've been assailed by a sinus-inducing field of orange. "HOT! HOT! HOT!" shouts the headline. "MOSCOW: 2 nights - The Spy Game - Mastertour - Heathrow - 22 September - £141."
What does it all mean? QXL would like you to bid more than £141 for an autumn package trip to Moscow. This is an auction site for holidays and flights. The reserve price is reasonably low, but anyone can outbid you - if they do, QXL can send you an SMS message on your mobile to let you know - but if they don't, you may have a bargain. Before bidding, you have to entrust QXL with your credit card number and become a member.
Any notable bargains? Disappointingly few, but there are hundreds of deals on offer. And you may spot something that has gone unnoticed by everyone else, particularly since many offers attract no bids at all.
Will I get carried away? That depends on how susceptible you are. QXL relies on creating a sense of urgency among users. Once a bid is made, a legally-binding agreement is formed, so you can't change your mind.
Oddity of the week
Dominated by a cackling skull, DangerFinder warns you of the dangers lying in wait for travellers to Peru, Uganda, Algeria and similarly troubled locations. It's all rather perverse and about as sincere as the skeleton's warnings at the entrance to a ghost train, but as a corrective to the rose-tinted delusions of the tourist industry, it deserves a look.
• Nominate a travel oddity on the web by e-mailing: ros.taylor@theguardian.com
