If you're new here, I just want to say how much I appreciate your dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!

Well, I’m doin’ it. Yep, I’m taking the plunge. Risking it all. Going for broke. (Sheesh, how many of these clichés can we put in here before the Metaphor Police come and arrest me, anyway?) I know it’s probably of no real importance to you, faithful reader, but what the hey, we bloggers occasionally have to struggle to come up with something to blog about, so why not this?

What I’m talking about is making some changes to the MZM site (sound of screeching tires followed by prolonged car crash). Oh, don’t panic, I’m just referring to the look, not the content, silly (and I’m talking about ME panicking, not you). Besides, you may or may not have already noticed a few changes to the sidebar of late.

For instance, the blogroll was moved down to the bottom to make room for more active content at the top. This includes the “Throw me a bone” section with links to every possible feed and reader you could possibly want, plus the “subscribe by email” and Technorati link. (And, by the way – why NOT throw me a bone and make me a “fave”? C’mon, I asked nicely

After having recently read all two wildly positive reviews of the new GoogleReader, I thought I’d give it a trial shot. (Up to now Bloglines, with all its quirks, was my reader of choice.) After only one day I like it better, but I’ll give it a week before letting you know how it’s going. There are some nice features, though – adding additional feeds is particularly easy, for instance.

One additional feature of GoogleReader (and most other readers too) is the ability to create a ‘blog’ of articles I think are worth sharing. As I find worthwhile posts, I can easily flag them for inclusion in a blog that even has its own feed. What’s really cool about Google’s is the new widget just above the blogroll that displays the latest items I consider worth your time to visit. Nice feature, Google!

One BIG change coming up may or may not even be noticeable, I’m not sure yet. The Zone started back in prehistorical times (June ’06) when the old Blogger was the rule. After the New Blogger rolled out, MZM was converted (meaning its place in Heaven is assured)… well, almost. By that I mean I haven’t finished the template updates because, well, I’m almost ashamed to say it, but it means I actually have to get my hands under the hood and do some work!

Unfortunately, when I make the switch, all that nice, shiny “glitter” I’ve labored to add over the last six months will disappear. “Not a problem,” Blogger assures me, “it can all be added back”. Uh-huh, OK, maybe. That’s not the point – I have to add each item back manually. Yuk! Ah well, once done, the new template provides more flexibility (they say), so it will be worth it.

So anyway, don’t be surprised if you see things looking a tad different. Not to worry. ‘Course, if you see a bright flash, followed by an ominous mushroom-shaped cloud on the horizon… well, that was probably me.

So… Onward, through the fog! Darn the torpedoes; full speed ahead! More coal, you fool, more coal! [… as the continuous string of metaphors eventually fades into the distance]…

You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!