The Friday Forum - July 18

We have a banner crop of mosquitoes this year. I can't walk outside my door without watching my bare skin for the first landing, which occurs within seconds. They are flying in my front door when I open it. I'm not safe anywhere! I can't and don't want to wear DEET around the house, so what am I going to do? Do you think those yellow sticky strips that one can buy for flies work for mosquitoes? Help! They are eating me, and I don't want West Nile. I have enough problems. I don't want them eating my furry kids either.

You just wouldn't believe what I've been through with computer hardware and software in the last week. Last Sunday, I thought my computer was virus-free. It wasn't. I discovered I still had a second "family" of malware living with me. I've spent all week running about 10 programs designed to root out malware - all, I thought, successfully. I still don't know whether the Medfos family has left the premises. The Medfos malware redirects you when you click on a link.

I want to assure you that Best Things in Beauty is not affected. It runs on Google Blogger services, and what's happening on my computer cannot affect the blog. If you have received a dangerous page notice when you have clicked on a BTiB link, it means your computer is also infected by this ubiquitous malware. I know one reader has commented that she is getting a dangerous site message when she clicks on BTiB. It means her own computer is affected by a redirect virus - probably the same one. It's trying to take her someplace else.

On top of all that (and the time I've spent on full system scans), this week my Verizon MiFi jetpack died. The battery on the 1.5-year-old device went kaput. I was told the batteries last five years. Right. So, I had to make an unexpected trip to the Verizon store at the mall during rush hour to buy a new jetpack. Just over a hundred dollars later, I left with one that works - which reminds me, I must send in the rebate coupon. What a pain! Why don't companies give you instant rebates? I know the answer. They count on busy people skippping the process so they can make more money.

That's how my week went. How was yours? Is it as hot where you live as it is in the DC area? Today, our temperature is supposed to be in the high '90's with high humidity. I'm glad I'll be inside.

I've been trying to get information about Le Métier de Beauté's V.I.P. program for you - as I promised I would do. Despite several attempts, and several promises of the information over a two-week period, so far I've received nothing. So, my opinion stands. I wouldn't spend about $350 on a promise. I'm sure Le Métier de Beauté has the best intentions, but if they cannot describe their program in detail, they won't get my money.

I'm not doing the greatest job keeping up with the blog. I'm sorry. I've only been able to write one feature/day, so I'm not meeting my own standards. I've also fallen behind on comment responses, so I offer my apologies - but little else right now. I hope to get in a better rhythm, expecially when the fall colors start to arrive.

It's time for the Friday Forum. I love this part of our week. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

I wasn't able to post a giveaway contest this week. Did you notice? I'll be back to form on Sunday.

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