The walk back will not be pleasant.

I've noticed recently that I've been unconsciously typing "e-mail" instead of "email," like I (ostentatiously) used to do, in all of my writings and correspondences. This seems to have carried over from my decision to use the hyphen in some online college application, I believe (in the hindsight of a drunken, reincarnated hamster), in an effort to appear more professional (and since "e-mail" is the official, standard spelling after all, contrary to the popularization of the non-hyphenated version).

An excerpt from Wiktionary explaining this confusion:

The spellings e-mail and email are both in common use. The use of “email” is now more widespread, likely due to one less character and thus making it easier to write or type, and is becoming a standardized usage for most businesses and Internet users. In general, the hyphenated form is more likely to be considered proper by those who follow strict grammatical rules; however, as a recently coined word, it remains an unsettled matter at this point.

So, e-mail. It's automatic now. Unfortunately I won't be seeing much of the real kind, being the unpopular hoagie that I am.

And I know it's the name of a sandwich.

Barack Obama's inauguration is tomorrow. Who wants a federal holiday?

Some of you may have heard about the insane Web hosting deal that I recently snagged. Although DreamHost seems reputable, is well-recommended, and effectually seduced me with their Year-End Blowout Sale, I've heard enough negative reviews to give me pause. Also, as I head to college next year and will be wanting to conserve as much moolah as possible, their pricing (apart from this year's awesome $0.77/month) still leaves something to be desired.

So, what to do? Unless I manage to pull off another mind-blowing discount, I'll most likely pack up shop and move elsewhere. To that end, after much exploring and sifting through reviews, I've compiled a list of what I believe to be worthy, wallet-friendly alternatives, freely available for your viewing pleaure. However, as I have not test-driven these services personally (with the exception of Awardspace), please research these hosts yourself and read the appropriate documentation — terms of service, privacy policies, etc. This list is provided solely for informational purposes, and readers are advised to compare prospective hosts before committing to any purchase.

Below I have highlighted the various hosts, organized alphabetically, as well as pricing, basic features (disk space, bandwidth, domain names, etc.), promotions (if applicable), and additional notes about their terms of service or other aspects of their plans. Ratings are gauged based on the features offered, affordability, and the quality and organization of their Web site.

Several free Web hosting plans for the super-frugal are also included at the bottom, as well as additional Web hosting resources. Feel free to drop a line if you find an error or would like to recommend another Web hosting provider. And may the Force be with you in your Web hosting search.

Continue reading »

W00t! My beloved blog is now working properly (and running sexy fast) again, all thanks to some snazzy database rejuvenation/trimming and esoteric WordPress optimization. Herr Database is now a lean, mean (but unfortunately not green) machine. Congratulate me. Yes.

In other news, I discovered today (whilst on my seasonal crawl for good Web hosting deals) that the much acclaimed, WordPress-endorsed Web hosting provider DreamHost was holding a Year-End Blowout Sale — sign up before midnight on Dec. 30, 2008, and receive one year of Web hosting for $0.77 USD per month, with a lifetime of unlimited storage and bandwidth! ("That's a $119.40 value for just $9.24.") Add to that their 97-day money-back guarantee and the free domain, and I was immediately sold!

My only regret is that I hadn't discovered and blogged about this promotion sooner. Awwwwwwwww, dudes… think about the lovely deals you could've nabbed! Well, I guess it wouldn't really matter, since readership is so low… but imagine if you were a bit more loyal. It hurts, doesn't it? To have such a golden opportunity slip through your fingers? HAHAHAHAHA WELL IT SUCKS FOR YOU, SUCKERS. FOR ONCE IT PAYS TO READ MY BLOG!!

*prolonged, gratuitous maniacal laugh is unexpectedly curtailed by a hacking cough*

Well, if you're quick, the offer ends in about two hours. If you're too late (as the proverbial death screamer would helpfully intone), watch these videos. They'll cheer you up.

Also see the interviews with Jon Bon Jovi (the American rock musician) and Zack Braff (the television actor).

Yes, my munificence truly has no equal. I love you too.

Update (12/31/08): THE SALE IS STILL ON, GUYS!!! It appears that Dreamhost is extending the sale — the deadline is today, Dec. 31! There's only about 40 minutes remaining in my time zone, but since DreamHost is based in California (I think), you should all have… 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Well… what are you looking at? Get going!

I'm sure this will be a heartbreak to no one, but posting and commenting to this blog does not work right now (this entry is an edit of an existing draft, which is the reason why I'm able to post it). I scoured the help forums at my Web host's site, and it appears that the problem is that I've exceeded my database quota. Now, I'm awaiting a response from the support staff, but in the meantime, I'm contemplating the alternatives. Upgrade to a paid account… or move elsewhere? I would prefer the former over migrating to a different host, but Awardspace's performance of late has been somewhat sketchy… and I am experiencing downtime much more frequently.

Hmmm… what to do?

Anyway, I do have Part 2 of my underground/indie reviews saved in draft form, so if the matter isn't resolved soon, I might publish it just for the sake of updating. For those saps who actually read my blog — kudos to you. You might just not be able to reply to anything even if you wanted to.

Oh yes, and happy New Year.

Local and national television networks have been running "Election Day" specials all evening. Though I sadly succumbed to election fatigue a long time ago (the primaries were just way too long), I shall be awaiting the results as anxiously as anyone else come tomorrow.

Here's a good place for updates. CNN and Yahoo have their own news feeds and dynamically updated electoral maps, too. Also, don't forget Twitter's insane second-by-second commentary tomorrow.

Anyway, if Obama wins, I think school should be suspended as a… celebratory occasion. For about five weeks, mind you.

Addendum: Oh yeah! For those of you who don't watch Saturday Night Live or missed the latest episodes, here's some classic political sketches that I picked out for your viewing pleasure. My personal favorite's the Palin rap, though I detest the candidate in real life.

• Clinton Halloween Party — The Clintons throw a costume party for the Democrats. The only live appearance of Barack Obama on the show so far.
• Weekend Update: Blackness Scale — Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton analyze Barack Obama's "blackness."
• Presidential Debate — A parody on the first presidential debate (I think). Simultaneously the funniest and creepiest debate sketch.
• Weekend Update Thursday: Debate Open 10/9 — Parody on the second "town hall" debate. I like this one, too.
• Governor Palin Cold Open — Sarah Palin impersonator Tina Fey and the real Sarah Palin cross paths.
• Weekend Update: Palin Rap — Weekend Update anchor Amy Poehler takes over Sarah Palin's planned rap skit. Beware: Eskimos and moose costumes (meese?) abound.

If you somehow can't access the videos, they're also posted on YouTube under similar names. Let me know if you can't get to them.

Sigh… the SNL McCain is so much cooler than the real one.