What the hell is going on?

It seems like half the people on my blogroll are either "taking time off from blogging" or have disappeared altogether.

On break:

Isis, Stationary Queen, Tacit1, Brooke, Glitzy,

Disappeared

Jason's Joint, FruitLoops (bonanza), Joann (Yoikes and away), Gray City Manifesto,
La Chat Noir, Sparrow, Totoro, vadergirl

Then there are those who just don't visit SLAA anymore like they used to, Darth, Arethusa, Vicki, Jo, Mrs. M, Texas Biscuit, Bella,

What gives?

And now, for something completely different:

This gives a whole new meaning to the simile "you move like you have a firecracker up your ass."