Windows 7: Shortcuts to websites not working using firefox.

I had shortcuts to a couple of translation websites on my desk top that were working just fine. Suddenly the shortcut icon for the site disappeared and a vlc symbol has shown up AND the name of the file now has "URL" added to the end of it. They no longer work, and I cannot make new ones using the "drag and drop" the small icon to the left of the address bar to make new ones like I used to be able to do. Old shortcuts from a long time ago work, just not the last 3 made in the last several months. They did work, up until about 2 days ago, tho'. These were made with firefox. I can still make new ones with IE9 but they only open in IE9. Anyone know what happened to the firefox/Mozilla system? Is there something I am missing here? Attached is screen shot of IE shortcuts on left and a couple of dead Mozilla/firefox ones on the right (babelfish and translate free).

Update: I did manage to get a "shortcut" of sorts onto the desktop by "save page as" and saving the webpage to the desktop. This, however, puts TWO things on the desktop, a folder symbol and an icon for the webpage. You cannot delete or move one without moving or deleting the other. So while this functions as a "shortcut" it is not a real one and also clutters up the desktop further with the essentially useless tag along file. Want a real shortcut solution.