As per the request of one of the DanceNet readers, here are copies of the past ramblings of the DanceNet Webmaster. The opinions expressed here are those of the DanceNet webmaster only.

• December 7, 2003:
  I've commented before about the various free services provided by some Internet providers which involve having advertisements included with email or webpage service. For non-vendor-specific services, like a public email announcement, this might make sense since the ads pay for a service that would otherwise go unfunded and not be available.

  However, when the entity using the free services is a business, an organization that's dedicated to making a profit, the use of free email and/or free webpages seems penny-wise and pound-foolish.

  When a business tries to get its message out, it wants its own message to be visible and not someone else's. When using a service like Yahoo Groups or GeoCities, ads will be included in the business' message and there really isn't any control over what advertisement will show up with your email or webpage; sometimes those ads will cover up the very information that the user wants the reader to see! Some businesses might and should feel embarassed if some undesired advertisement showed up with their announcements and caused their readers to associate their business with that particular advertisement.

  However, the important issue is how the readers perceive the business. If a (dance) business can't afford to pay for an ad-free webpage or they have to use a free email announcement service that includes ads, then the business ends up looking either "cheap" or "unsuccessful". It reminds me of the real estate agents who drove their clients around in nice cars; they wanted their clients to think that the agent is successful and know what they're doing. Dance businesses should think in the same way. Don't allow another business to distract from the message you're trying to get out.

  There was an item that came through this week about a specific dance this weekend and at the top of the message was a large graphic image advertising anti-snoring aids. I wouldn't want people to get the subliminal message that my dance event put people to sleep. :^)

  ---

  Last week I wrote

  "Oh my God! I just realized that this website has been around for exactly 7 years now."

  So Connecticut dancer and teacher Nora Venne took a moment to write in...

  "It is with much appreciation from the locals as well as from visitors to the area for your efforts. I was just talking to some dancers that are in the area from Hawaii. They got their info from havetodance. I know that I'm spoiled because when I go somewhere I have to dig around for info in several places rather than having a comprehensive site to visit. You do a superb job and are a terrific asset to the dance community."

  Thanks, Nora. It's always nice to feel appreciated. (and it's always fun to see who reads this Soapbox every week! :-) )

• December 14, 2003:
  It's nice to see some people get into the mood of the season. I was at the Best Buy store in Watertown and as I was walking through the aisles, some store employee was returning items to the shelves and singing "We are Santa's Elves"...

  ---

  A piece of advice to drivers in the Northeast? If the road you're on is one lane each way and the road has been choked up with snow because they didn't plow all the way to the curb, it *probably* a bad idea to park on that street.

  It's probably even worse to double-park there.

• December 21, 2003:
  nothing this week.

• December 28, 2003:
  Near the end of the third installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King, I heard the most memorable line of the movie:

  "Man, this movie is never going to end!"

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