What is a Sneeze Page?

To answer that question, I went searching and landed on the site for a previous year's challenge.

Sneeze pages are simply collections of related posts from back in the archives of a blog. They can be themed: all Health-related posts, or Holiday, or Crafts, or Political News; whatever theme or themes are relative to a blog. 'Best of' a particular year or month is another choice - although how you determine which posts were best is up to you.

Another idea would be collecting and sharing links to your posts that get tons and tons of comments - the most popular / hottest posts on your blog. If they've been getting attention long after the initial publishing date, they're probably still interesting to readers. And it's a good way to keep people on your blog.

Lastly, if you write a series - like the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge - putting links to the entire series on one blog page would virtually guarantee reader attention. For me, I'm much more likely to read all of a series if I don't have to go chasing all over someone's blog to find the pieces. How about you?

My Topic Cloud

On my blog, because I like doing things the easy way, I use a topic cloud. It lists all of the topics about which I blog. The larger the type-face, the more posts on that subject. Once the cloud is set up, I don't have to do anything but post; the topics automatically update for me.

I also don't seriously limit the number of entries on any of the pages. The main index, as well as the topic and monthly pages, holds 100 posts - covering at least 3 months, depending upon how chatty I am in any given month.

If you find, while you're visiting here, that you'd like to be able to see more, let me know. I'd be happy to see what I can do about updating links to deeper archives.

Since 1992, fifty-two journalists have been murdered in the former Soviet Union; eighteen of those deaths are still unsolved. And that doesn't begin to approach the number of journalists who are routinely beaten, jailed, harassed, and threatened for exposing crimes and corruption in the political and military leadership of the pseudo-democratic country.

Politkovskaya was arrested by Russian military forces in Chechnya, subjected to a mock trial and torture, and later poisoned on her way to Belan. She survived and continued to report on the wars. One can only assume that it was desperation to silence her voice that led to the brutal shooting, in the elevator of her apartment building, five years ago.

Please, on this sad day, share her story and don't let the world forget what happened to her and continues to happen to journalists who speak out against Russia.

Internal vs. External Links

Links are links are links - Right? Wrong!

If your links are sending visitors to another page on your site or blog, that's an Internal Link. If you're sending them out into the 'Net somewhere, that's an External Link. How you send them there is important.

I'll use my site as an example, since that's the one I know.

Internal

All of the product images on my site link to the order page for that item. I don't need special coding for these links. When the links open, they open in the same tab or window and overwrite the page that was already open. A simple click on the navigation menu, or the back button, takes visitors back to the page they came from.

It's all good.

External

There are links all over my site and blog that lead away from my pages. I have relationships with other merchants, support causes, and have great blogging friends that, obviously, live elsewhere on the 'Net. While I love to share those sites with my visitors, I don't want to lose my visitors because they clicked on one of those links.

Therefore, I code any links that will jump off my site with target="_blank" . What that does is important. It allows my visitors to visit those other sites -- in a new window or tab, keeping the window or tab with my site open.

They can surf the other pages to their heart's content and, when they're done, the page that they started from - on my site - is still there for them. All they have to do is close the other tab.

The Point

I adopted this method for coding links when I was applying for awards for my site. Internal links must open in same window; external links must open in new window. It's a requirement of every award program I've seen, and just good practice.

This is where I get frustrated with sites I visit. I was looking at a page, just the other day, with a list they had compiled of sites on macrame. I wanted to look at each site they had listed, meaning I would go back and forth between the directory page and the macrame pages.

Except for one problem: When I clicked on a link in the directory, it opened the macrame site on the same tab; obliterating the link to the directory. It took several back-steps to get back to the original page. That didn't work for my purposes and made it a far less useful source.

If each of those links had been coded to open in a new window, it would have been perfect.

Frankly, we all want to keep our visitors on our sites. We want them to love our words, buy our products, and have such a great time visiting with us that they send everyone they know our way.

We send them to pages on our sites and blogs that we hope they will love. We also share great sites and blogs that we have found in our travels. And this is where we can run into trouble.

Think about your links on your blog or site. Are they keeping your visitors linked to you? Or bouncing them away into the ether?

Which is the better way? For you? and for them?

Tribute

The film fest begins (if you have LMN) with Tribute, published in 2008 and filmed in 2009. I remember, from the synopsis, that I have read an excerpt of this one. (Off to the bookstore for me.)

From myLifetime.com:

Cilla McGowan is a former child star who has found more satisfying work restoring old houses. In search of a normal life, Cilla buys her grandmother’s farmhouse in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to rescue it from ruin. Her hope for serenity is soon eclipsed by haunting dreams of her famous grandmother, who died of a supposed overdose in the house more than 30 years ago. Cilla soon forges a romantic relationship with Ford Sawyer, her handsome new neighbor, who ultimately comforts and protects her when her dark dreams and family secrets spiral into a real-life nightmare.

Blue Smoke

Next in the line-up (if you get LMN), Blue Smoke was published in 2005 and became a Lifetime movie in 2007. It gets a lot of TV time and, although not my favorite novel-turned-movie, is pretty well done.

I'm actually in the process of revisiting Baltmore and the Hale family. Let me tell you, if you haven't read it (yet), Ms. Roberts packs a lot of action into this one volume.

From myLifetime.com:

The blaze that destroyed her family's pizzeria changed the life of young Reena Hale, forcing her family to start over from scratch. But the fire's brutal beauty and destructive power would seduce her into learning to understand and master its terrible force, leading her to become a fire investigator herself. This line of work proves to be exciting, but also has a dangerous side -- and she soon finds herself caught in a hotbed of trouble!

Carolina Moon

The third movie of the day (first for me) is Carolina Moon. Published in 2001 and filmed in 2007, this is one of Ms. Roberts delicious visits to the South - you can almost smell the magnolias.

I haven't read this one in a very long time, so I'm excited about revisiting the chills and thrills. (If Lifetime keeps this up, I'll be spending a lot more shopping-time at the bookstore.)

From myLifetime.com:

Tory Bodeen returns to her hometown in South Carolina, a place that holds violent memories of her childhood friend Hope Lavelle's murder. Coming back revives Tory's psychic visions of what happened that fateful night, and she becomes determined to unearth the truth, enlisting the help of Hope's hunky older brother. However, the murderer has been waiting all these years for her return -- and it may be someone closer to her than she realizes!

Carnal Innocence

Last in the line-up and published almost 20 years ago, Carnal Innocence is the newest Nora Roberts novel-become-movie. And this is its Lifetime premiere. This may have been, I'll have to check, Ms. Roberts' first trip south of the Mason-Dixon. Happily, it wasn't her last.

I haven't read this one in, at least, a dozen years. How wonderful it will be to 'see' everyone, again. (Just one more trip to the bookstore to replace my copy of this great story.)

From myLifetime.com:

After suffering a professional setback, world-renowned violinist Caroline Waverly decides to head to Innocence, Mississippi, where she spent summers as a child, for some peace and solitude away from the spotlight. Shortly after arriving, Caroline meets the arrogant but charming Tucker Longstreet, a member of one of the town’s most prominent families, who is quickly smitten by her. But Caroline’s dreams for tranquility turn into a nightmare when she discovers the body of a young woman, the possible victim of a serial killer whom the authorities suspect may be Tucker. Caroline soon discovers that even in a town called Innocence, secrets have no place to hide.

Enjoy! I intend to have a great time - just need the popcorn and my favorite afghan!

Source: Merriam-Webster

With that said, I have a serious bone to pick with the ads for a new movie: Gnomeo & Juliet . In English, the G in gnome is silent. Therefore, were it an actual word, Gnomeo   would be pronounced: [nō · mē · ōh].

Wait! Hold that "Well, duh!?" for a second.

Each time the commercial voiceovers mention this movie's title character, his name is pronounced with a hard G-sound: [Guh · nō · mē · ōh]. Even the animated gnomes have more sense.

Why does the ad matter?

If you are a parent, you understand how much children 'learn' from television. The bright colors and loud music grab their attention. Sheer repetition pounds those messages into their malleable brains.

You also know that your youngsters will, in short order, be begging to see: [Guh · nō · mē · ōh]. That it will take weeks to correct their speech, because Mom and Dad simply are not as riveting as dancing gnomes and happy music.

You'd think a Disney production would show a little more responsibility. Or maybe I'm just being persnickety again.

And, being a frugal sort, would really rather not have to buy one.

Frankly, I don't need another device. The laptop works just fine for most everything I do. (If it would just mop floors and clean toilets, I'd be in heaven.) So, it seems that getting software for the PC makes the most sense. Especially if I can find a free, reliable download.

Does anyone know anything about the free software, like Microsoft Reader or Mobipocket Reader that's out there? Do you use an eReader and, if so, which one? More importantly, what have you tried that didn't work?

Feel free to fill up the comments with your knowledge, wisdom, advice, and recommendations. I can use all the help I can get.

But then, Ed went, for me, a step too far. His idea of helping was to provide arms to the Libyan 'freedom fighters' - an idea that I cannot ever  see as a wise one.

The problem, as I see it, in arming one side of a conflict lies not in the conflict - but in the outcome. If the 'right' side wins, what will they become, with the power of their new control? Will they be better - or much, much worse - than the regime that they have risen to replace?

And - always a possibility - what if this 'right' side loses their war for freedom? How swift and vicious will the winning side's retaliation be - and against whom?

As I sit here, thinking these thoughts, I wonder if I am simply a coward. Or if I am right.

There are a lot of pros and cons floating through the Webverse related to this potential merger. As a consumer, I can't say that I'm finding too many pros. Let me amend that - as an urban  consumer, there aren't many positives for me in this melding of companies.

So, I'll start with:

The Negatives

Increased Cost

Any time corporate mergers thin the options for consumers, there is little incentive for providers to be financially competitive. When you're the only game in town, people either pay what you charge or do without your products and services. Great for companies- and shareholders; crappy for consumers.

Currently, T-Mobile has the best rates (that we've been able to find) in the industry. Periodically, we check; just to make sure that we're not getting hosed. We're not. (I doubt that that will be true if the merger goes through.)

Decreased Innovation

Again, if you're the only game in town, why waste potential profits by creating/acquiring the latest and greatest products for your industry? It's simpler, and cheaper, to just barely stay ahead of the competition. And, if you're AT&T, you probably have a lock on most of the infrastructure. (Although, to be honest, my experience comes from the days of divestiture and landline service.)

Again, T-Mobile phones are some of the best out there - with the exception of those phones that are not made available to them.

Customer Service

If customers have nowhere else to go, do CSRs really have to be nice? Probably not. Will they, anyway? Probably not.

One of the reasons that we have stayed - for 7 years - with T-Mobile is customer service. When Deutsche Telekom came in, things got a little iffy; but it's still possible to find someone who knows what they're doing and - critically - cares about doing it. I have serious doubts that this will continue under the AT&T umbrella.

The Positives

Shareholders will make bundles; AT&T will make bundles; Deutsche Telekom will make bundles. (It's all goood.)

It is possible that T-Mobile USA and AT&T Merger Means Faster and More Widespread Broadband - or not. And I quote "AT&T is committing to build out to nearly every part of the U.S. within six years." I am so ... impressed ... by the organizations that are jumping on this bandwagon.

But, you know? I could be wrong. Still angry; but wrong.

We'll see what happens - if the merger goes through - and my service ... changes.

Of course, not everyone feels the need to rewrite music that has inspired generation after generation of Americans. And - hey - quite a few of those Americans can even remember all of the words. For example:

This video, from a Super Bowl several years ago, combines choirs from all branches of the military. It made me tear up.

I have to admit, of all the renditions I've heard, Carrie Underwood consistently just sings the song.

And, just because I love precocious kids:

I didn't start out that way, though; few of us do. In my teens, I threw a few choice words at my brother occasionally. When Mom heard one particularly creative rant, I learned cursing wasn't as cool as I thought.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Nevit Dilmen

Little Pitchers with Big Ears

When my children were young, their father and I agreed to "No swearing in front of the kids." We knew that no matter what you try to teach them, kids inevitably pick up the one word even you wouldn't say in front of grandma. And repeat it until your ears bleed.

Of course, in those days, television programs weren't filled with half-naked people spewing profanities. It was pretty easy to limit their exposure. Firm rules took care of any ... interesting phrases ... that wandered home with them.

To this day, my kids don't often swear in front of me. It's kind of sweet.

'Construct'ing a Potty Mouth

In the late 80s, I met (and later married) a loud, rowdy, journeyman carpenter. I was a paper-pushing, brutally-shy, bean-counter-in-training. We couldn't have been more different; in the beginning.

It was from this man that I learned swearing a proverbial blue streak is not a sign of ignorance or stupidity. He was extremely intelligent, but it had become habit to curse, rather than take the time and energy to find a different word. Before long, I'd 'caught' that lazy habit.

After almost 10 years, I'm still fighting it. But it gets easier and it helps when I hear Mark tell someone, proudly, "Oh, she almost never swears."

Changes

Granted it is easy, over time, to develop bad habits. (The good ones aren't so easy; darn it.) As an individual or, I guess, even as a society.

We see and hear things every day from television, movies, the neighbors, our kids that eventually sound or look 'normal'. The shock value is diminished with nearly constant exposure. Or so the experts claim.

I'm not saying (I don't have the right) that people should clean up their language. That all manner of media need to wash out their proverbial mouths with soap. That maybe it's time to look at what we tolerate and ask ourselves why.

Okay, I am suggesting that last one.

Sharing

As for the sharing widget, locked on the lower left side, that took a little more digging. Apparently, if you don't use the proper term in the search engines, you don't get anything even approaching what you want. I was just about to give up, when I found this little goodie. The boxes are larger than I wanted, but (so far) I haven't quite figured out how to shrink them down. Any suggestions / advice would be most welcome.

'To the Top' Button

I think, however, that my favorite addition is one of the simplest.

Under the share widget is a smallish up-arrow. Clicking on the arrow will take you to the top of any page. Since I have been known to get just a little long-winded, it makes me happy that my readers are no longer stuck manually working their way to the beginning of my long pages and posts.

Opinions?

I'd love to know what you think - good or bad. Did you use the toolbar? Do you know how to shrink the widget share boxes?

From where I sit, it all comes down to rights. And realistic expectations.

Authors

An author has every right to throw words on pages and pay to have them bound together in something resembling a book. That's what we like to call freedom of speech. Even if that speech is spurious and specious; claiming a value and honesty that doesn't stand up to closer inspection.

However, the expectation that anyone has the right to sell (or demand that others sell) those bound musings wherever and whenever they please is a different story. Especially, when one is musing about a subject that is, to put it mildly, polarizing. In other words, Christopher Hitchens or Edmund Cooper have every right to write what they choose; expecting a shelf at the local Christian book store is unrealistic.

Businesses

Amazon, or any business, has the legal right to choose what it will and will not offer for sale. "We reserve the right to refuse service ... " in action. That business also has a basic right to not support or give the appearance of supporting illegal activities. Or, they can throw up their hands and cry "We are not the morality police."

Businesses also know that they aren't going to please all of the people all of the time. If they take controversial positions or offer products that offend, they should expect people to complain or refuse to patronize their store. If they don't see that, they are deluding themselves.

Consumers

Then, there's the public. We, as consumers, have the right to purchase what we want, without prejudice or judgement. (I must add - within the limits of the law.) At the same time, we have the right to not be assaulted by personally objectionable material while trying to find a gift for our grandchild or spouse - from a mainstream business.

Therein lies the problem. What I consider objectionable may not coincide with my neighbor's opinion. And vice versa. To exaggerate, just a bit, that is how censorship begins - and, frequently, snowballs into out-of-control loss of basic rights. Expecting everyone to kowtow to my beliefs (or yours) is unrealistic.

Bottom Line

It is, to say the least, quite a balancing act.

Everyone has the right to live their life as they see fit, as long as they don't keep anyone else from exercising that exact same right. And as long as their lifestyle choices harm no one. No one has to eat broccoli, just because I like it; and you'll never get me to touch organ meat - never.

I can practice religious or atheistic beliefs; eat lots (and lots) of meat or nothing with a face; sing the praises of heavy metal or opera. I can be a technophile or a Luddite. Someone - I promise - will disagree with whatever position I take. Strongly and vocally, in all likelihood.

But, and this is where the balance tilts away from individual liberties, when a behavior or lifestyle or belief system (or personal choice) is, by its very nature, guaranteed to cause emotional or physical harm to another living being - it is not a protected freedom. No one has the right to rape another person or beat them or lock them in a basement for years on end. Or burn down their home or steal their car or intentionally cause them harm.

Nor, in my humble opinion, do they have the right to support or glorify such behavior. I would expect the same hue and cry over something titled "How to Beat Your Spouse, Discreetly" or "Arson For Fun and Profit: What To Do When the Neighbors Won't Move". But, hey that's just me: a non-religious, steak-loving, opera-neutral geek.

David Cassidy & DUI

The basic story is: David Cassidy arrested for DUI, swears he wasn't drunk. Okay, that's pretty much what everyone who has ever been pulled over for erratic driving swears. "Honesht, offisher. {hic}"

Of course, the fact that he blew a 0.139 and 0.141 (not sure about the order of the two tests) would seem to indicate more than "a glass of wine with lunch and a pain pill a few hours later." Then there's the half-empty bottle of bourbon in the back seat. Coincidence?

Keith Olbermann & Campaign Donations

This one is a tad trickier: Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC for contributing money to three Democratic candidates. My initial reaction was - "So, what?!" His money; his choices.

But, this is where it gets tricky. NBC has a policy that employees cannot work on or contribute to political campaigns, without express permission from the news division president. I doubt this is a new policy, although the story I read didn't say. That means, Olbermann broke the rules.

Did he err so grievously that indefinite suspension, without pay, is a balanced response? NBC didn't react when Joe Scarborough donated to a Republican candidate in 2006. Or at least they didn't react publicly. They may have privately slapped his wrist; who knows?

Seems excessive, to me. Although (see? that 'tricky' thing again), as Keith makes a habit of pointing fingers, perhaps he should be more careful to keep his own hands clean. Thoughts?

Homeowners & Fed Tax Credit

Remember that tax credit the government offered to first-time home buyers, starting in 2008? Well, Surprise! the Feds want it back! Not all of it, mind you; and not all at once.

However, if you took advantage of the credit in 2008, pony up kiddos! Starting with 2010 tax returns, due in April 2011, people who bought their first house that year have to start giving the money back. Oh, the government is giving you 15 years to pay it back; but pay it back - you must.

The law was changed for 2009 and 2010, so - unless you sell your house or move out - you shouldn't have to return the credit for those years. (Check the IRS website for complete details.) Once again - if the politicos are giving something with one hand, they've probably already figured out how to take it away with the other.

Toys & Product Recalls

Always good advice, the CPSC reminds shoppers to check the product recall notices before scooping up great deals on toys. With the troubling economy, more and more people turn to thrift shops and online auction sites for savings on holiday shopping. There's where the potential problems arise.

While it is illegal to sell or resell recalled products, that doesn't mean they can't be found in second-hand stores or on personal web pages and sell-your-stuff-here sites like Craigslist or eBay. That bargain is no bargain if it's defective or dangerous.

Me & Psychology

One last, "Huh?!" for the day. How - exactly - does one get on a mailing list for a university? I know, someone somewhere bought a list. But seriously, this one is a huge disconnect:

Today, I received (by snail mail) an information package from Argosy University - to my real name, not my business or any of the 'nicks' I use all over the web. If that weren't weird enough, and it almost was, the information was on their Doctor of Psychology program. Again, seriously?!

I could probably see it, if they wanted me to sign up for therapy. (Unraveling the whys and wherefores of my second marriage alone would take years.) But, I'm pretty sure encouraging the inmates to sign up to run the asylum can't ever end well - for anyone.

And, with that said, have a great weekend. Stay safe and stay sane.