diff --git a/blogthon.cgi b/blogthon.cgi
index 8488393..8501a16 100755
--- a/blogthon.cgi
+++ b/blogthon.cgi
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ else:
 
 print '        <div class="sidebar">'
 
-if staticpages:
+if staticpages == "True":
 	staticpages = []
 	staticpages_list  = glob.glob(staticpages_dir + '*')
 	staticpages_list.sort()
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ if staticpages:
 		title = re.sub('\w+?\/\d+?-', '', staticpage)
 		link = re.sub('\w+?\/', '', staticpage)
 		print '                &nbsp;<a href="?s=' + link + '">' + title + '</a>&nbsp;<br />'
-	if monthlist: print '                <br />'
+	if monthlist == "True": print '                <br />'
 	print '            </div>'
 
-if monthlist:
+if monthlist == "True":
 	olddate = ""
 	print '            <div class="sidebarentry">'
 	print '                <small>months</small><br />'
@@ -95,10 +95,10 @@ if monthlist:
 		if not olddate == date:
 			print '                &nbsp;<a href="?m=' + date + '">' + date_display + '</a>&nbsp;<br />'
 		olddate = date
-	if linklist: print '                <br />'
+	if linklist == "True": print '                <br />'
 	print '            </div>'
 
-if linklist:
+if linklist == "True":
 	content = open("linklist", "r")
 	print '            <div class="sidebarentry">'
 	print '                <small>links</small><br />'