poeticdream is no longer using livejournal. She started using it before I did, back in 2001. She has almost 3000 posts (I have slightly less than half that number, despite having had mine almost as long). She's writing in a paper journal now, as she often has. Why? SUP, since they have bought Livejournal have reversed previous SixApart and LJ practices and business decisions. Notably in the case of basic users (which were ad-free), SUP recently switched these accounts to sponsored overnight with no notice. Now, from the company which once promised to remain ad-free forever, you have the option of either liking ads with your journal, or paying for the privilege of your creative content remaining ad-free.

Sorry guys, but you're going to have to throw in a lot more added benefit than just "no ads" for me to want to pay to have a journal. I'm seriously giving thought to hosting my journal on private webspace. I don't know if i'm retro chic enough to revert to paper like Robin.

just for everybody's information, Magic Eraser (by Mr. Clean) is the bomb diggity. it is totally the shit. i don't know how it works (probably some dry compound (containing ammonia? because it says not to mix with chlorine bleach) or basic compound in the little memory foam sponges), but it truly is like magic. it cleans marks and organic matter off of walls and finished wood; i don't know what else it does but i'm sure there's more. good stuff. after use it looks a bit beat up, and a milky whitish liquid oozes out, but if those are the only cons, i'll take ten!

EDIT: I just found out what Magic Eraser is. damn. that is some nifty nifty stuff. sometimes it seems like the only fundamental discoveries are in materials science. not true, i know, but sometimes oversimplifications are useful for proving points (and yes, i know that flies in the face of my logic and critical thinking training, but—holy tangent, batman!... anyhow...)

also, tide to go pens (little bleach sticks) rule for getting food and other small, fresh stains out of clothes. trust me, i'm a clumsy man.