Housecleaning...again...

I don't know why I take such a delight in cleaning up my blog when I don't derive any satisfaction from any other kind of cleaning. But, every once in awhile, my blog just bugs me and I have to do something. Today was one of those days.

I just don't like blogs which are "too busy". I have no control of how other people set up their blogs but I prefer a spartan kind of arrangement. Too many columns, too many lists and, God forbid, music, and I just tune out (which is why I keep the sound off on my computer most of the time -- I only turn it on when I need it). Anyway, between all the blogs I follow and the different history sites which I love, there was just too much going on to suit me. I figure when your own blog bugs you, it's time to do something about it.

So, now, you can go to a separate post (look under "Go here for") which contains all of my lists. I don't know if old posts eventually disappear but, at the rate I'm going, it ought to be a long time before that happens -- and I have all my links tucked away somewhere else, anyway, just in case.

So, if there's something you are looking for that you can't find, just ask me. I might be able to find it.

Feeble-minded

And, no, I'm not talking about Adam Lambert and the effect he has on me...but give me time...this week is a doozy...

This is about MySpace and Facebook.

I don't get either one of them.

Okay, I get why they exist and how it's an easy way for people to stay in touch (I guess) but, quite frankly, I'm just not crazy about either of them. It just seems like a jumbled mass of stuff and that just drives me crazy. I guess I'm just used to having this blog and my forum where every single thing is just the way I want it. And, if I have something to say, I can just say it here or there.

Is that so wrong?

Okay, here's what really bugs me about MySpace and Facebook. It's all the "friending" stuff. Now, I understand the concept but there's something which doesn't set well with me about having to ask to be someone's friend -- or them asking to be one of my mine. But, yeah, I get it -- you wouldn't want just anybody to be your friend, right? But when you ask to be someone's friend and they never respond, does that mean they really, really don't like you?! Or, are they like me and are just now figuring out how the hell to use the thing?

Here's what else is weird -- on Facebook, I get conversations (or whatever you want to call them) that people who are my friends are having with their friends -- and, most of these "friends of friends", I don't even know -- so why do I want to read what they are saying to each other? It almost seems like eavesdropping -- and I'm thinking I need to be very careful in my responses because I can see, if you're not used to this kind of thing, how you might feel that you are responding to one person when, in actuality, you're writing to them and everybody else they know. I'm trying to figure out a way to make that stop but I guess it's impossible, since sharing seems to be what these things are all about. I think -- I'm not sure -- that I've set my account so that friends of people (who aren't also friends with me) can't read what I've written on that "wall" thing.

I have no idea what I just said.

And I'm rolling my eyes right now, in case you were wondering.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not against MySpace or Facebook -- they serve a purpose and, maybe, if I used them more, I'd understand that purpose better. But, for now, when you find me at either of those places, what you really get is me telling you to come here or to my forum.

However, if you friend me, I'll friend you.

I promise.

I think.

Beware the Liquidators

A lot of businesses are going out-of-business or closing stores -- if you are lured into any of these sales, be careful. Many of them promise 30% off (or more) but they are either selling the items at a percentage off the listed price or they've jacked up the price significantly. You may think you're getting a deal but you might not be, so pay attention.

One of my favorite stores has always been Goody's (mostly clothing, some jewelry & gifts). Goody's is a discount store -- not like T.J. Maxx or Ross but their prices have always been significantly lower than the list price -- many times I've seen the exact same thing in Goody's that I've seen in Macy's -- but the price is often $15 - $20 lower. However, now that the Goody's store here is closing, they are having a huge sale -- except the sale price is the percentage off the listed price, not the previously lower Goody's price -- and, if you're not careful, you may end up actually paying either more or the same than you would have before.

I've heard that Circuit City has raised their prices, then marked them down from the higher price -- so folks think they're getting a super deal. Of course, if folks aren't familiar with the pricing in particular stores, they may not realize what's happening.

I realize that these businesses are trying to cut their losses during these desperate times but it really doesn't leave me with much goodwill toward these stores. I am not saying that all stores are doing this but it's worth noting that some definitely are.

As an aside, you also have to watch percentage off coupons -- even for stores not going out-of-business. For instance, I frequently use a coupon at Borders -- but, in small print, the coupon often says "25% of the list price". For books, this usually doesn't make much difference because the list price is usually the price but, for some reason, the price marked on DVDs is usually lower than the list price -- however, the percentage will be taken off the list price, not the lower price. This same thing happens on websites like Deep Discount -- they're usual prices are really great but when they have a sale, the discount is almost always off the list price -- so, while it may still be cheaper than what you might find elsewhere, it'll be more than you think if you're trying to subtract the percentage off from the already discounted prices.

Jeez...I don't know if I've made one iota of sense -- so I'll just leave you with this -- watch out!

Check Your Links

Apparently, the old EZboard link -- which took folks directly to my (or any transferred to Yuku) message board -- has now stopped working. I found this out when I could no longer reach my board (or my Jason Flemyng board) through my navigation bar, which contained the old addy. Of course, not being a computer whiz, I had to wait for hubby to get home to solve the problem -- which simply meant disposing of the old link and adding the new. The link to my forum (above) was also "broken" and has now been fixed. So, if your old bookmark contains the EZboard address, you need to get rid of that one and add the Yuku one (if it already says "yuku" somewhere in the addy, you're good to go). It looks to me like this was something which should have had a "heads up" but maybe it doesn't work like that. I have no idea. Live and learn. Well, live anyway. Sometimes I don't think I'm learning a damn thing.