Come Monday...Looking For Sites To See

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about,  websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time.  Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.”  This is subject to change, however.  In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while.  For rants promote change, and change can be good—right?  Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

I have been asked several times just how I find all of the sites for my [Sites To See] series.  Even though I was always quite willing to give an answer at the time since I work really hard at appearing to be a wonderful person, I am now willing to spill all of the beans (so to speak).

First of all, I do not believe that I actually “find” any of them.  For the old adage about even a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while is incomplete.   For in the same way as nuts are placed in front of blind squirrels, sites are placed where I can see them.  (I will leave just who may be in charge of nut-placement for you to constipate on at your convenience.)

Of course, it helps to also be given a talent for lurking in the shadows.  For that is usually the only way really ugly guys can get dates with relatively sober girls, and despite the fact that I have always had to  beat ‘em off with a stick, it is good to know that there is little I am incapable of.

Yeah, I was being quite humble there.  For the truth is that there is nothing I am incapable of.

I am sorry.  I do not mean to make you feel like there is no way that you could ever find a good site to see on your own.  Life can be rather daunting, I know, but if you will just follow my instructions to the letter, you will always be much better off.

Back when I was first given the idea in February of 2008, the Sites To See series started off as Five For Friday, and most of the sites came from what could be found on [Blog Catalog].  Sadly, the powers that be at Blog Catalog decided to shake things up 3-4 years ago, and it became quite a challenge to find much of anything I wanted to there.  So, I stopped making regular visits, and I suppose it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to cut all ties with Blog Catalog before they decide to make even more drastic changes.

The next happy hunting ground was [Entrecard], which was a lot of fun while it lasted.  The fun stopped for me after they hinted at monetizing the points that one could accumulate from dropping and then failed to deliver in an extremely ugly fashion.

[Adgitize] came next, and it did not take long before I became just as disillusioned with it.  Considering the fact that both Entrecard and Adgitize are now defunct, maybe I wasn’t being as hard to please as some thought.

Anyway, I have been shown since that the real treasure trove of sites well worth seeing can be found on individual blogrolls and following lists—especially on high quality sites.  For birds of a feather really do tend to flock together.

Aside from stalking around in the owner profiles of sites I am considering for inclusion, it has been brought to my attention that checking out the profiles of those who leave comments can sometimes lead to some rather interesting discoveries (sometimes not).

Now, in regards to what makes the grade, I really am incredibly fair.  For as is explained in the Sites To See disclaimer at the top of each edition, I am looking for what may be found to be interesting in one way or another, and even disgusting sites can sometimes be considered interesting when enough adult beverages are consumed (sometimes not).

When it comes to order of placement, I have a system that goes by when a site is found, and each section is listed in alphabetical order.  This is the way sites are also listed in each edition.

Alas, if all was as it should be, it would normally take around six months from the first time I see a site to when it is actually included in a Sites To See, but all has not been as it should be since lightning took out our previous computer [last June].  For one of the files that I failed to make a back-up of was the one that held the order of the sites waiting to be seen, and adding all the more to the grief I endure for your viewing pleasure, dropping those who have not seen fit to get rid of the [awful] word verification spam detection thingy has forced me to basically start from scratch.  So, newly discovered sites are often mixed in with those that have been on the list for months.

Oh, and that should help with what gives with the images I include for each site.  For I look for something that catches my attention when I first visit a site.  Therefore, the image may be from an older article.

Since I use the same image from when a site was in a Sites To See when it comes time for it to be included in a A Sunday Drive, you can count on it being from a fairly old article.  For it usually takes around a year before that time comes, which follows the previous order for sites that are still fairly active (at least one post in the preceding three months).  Although, the time in between should be getting shorter with sites that have the word verification thingy engaged no longer being included.

Oh yeah, that word verification monstrosity has become the bane of my online existence.  For checking to see if an owner has it engaged takes a lot of time that I do not have to spare, and there are times when I wonder if you-all are worth all of the trouble.  Then my wife gives me another concussive head-slap, and I endeavor to persevere some more.

Please Also Visit:

[FishHawk Droppings]

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[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]