Mozilla makes ISP call but shows local page

[Dougie Nisbet <dougie@tbird2.homelan>]

Whenever I start mozilla I get the local page:
 
  file:///usr/share/doc/mozilla/localstart.html

which is subtitled:

"This is a local page to avoid using the network on disconnected machines."

That's fine by me. I don't want to make an internet connection unless I've 
requested it.

However, output from tcpdump shows that an an internet connection is 
established, and the traffic is always something to do with the site 
alexa.com. 

10:31:24.327536 tbird2.homelan.35729 > msapache.alexa.com.www: F 317:317(0) 
ack 1822 win 8688 <nop,nop,timestamp 5030323 98723047> (DF)
10:31:24.327636 tbird2.homelan.35727 > xslt.alexa.com.www: F 1:1(0) ack 1 win 
8688 <nop,nop,timestamp 5030323 6397768> (DF)
10:31:26.724525 tbird2.homelan.35729 > msapache.alexa.com.www: F 317:317(0) 
ack 1822 win 8688 <nop,nop,timestamp 5030563 98723047> (DF)
10:31:26.824526 tbird2.homelan.35727 > xslt.alexa.com.www: F 1:1(0) ack 1 win 
8688 <nop,nop,timestamp 5030573 6397768> (DF)
10:31:31.524520 tbird2.homelan.35729 > msapache.alexa.com.www: F 317:317(0) 
ack 1822 win 8688 <nop,nop,timestamp 5031043 98723047> (DF)
10:31:31.824521 tbird2.homelan.35727 > xslt.alexa.com.www: F 1:1(0) ack 1 win 
8688 <nop,nop,timestamp 5031073 6397768> (DF)

I've had a look at www.alexa.com, and can't imagine why a connection should 
be established to it. Perhaps I've misconfigured my preferences in some way, 
but I can't see anything amiss.

Dougie