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.