Links in general

["James Purchase" <jpurch@interlog.com>]

The subject of the "commercial links" has gotten me thinking about the links
given in the Resources section in general. I have fielded a number of
queries from people who have personal web pages and who wanted me to include
a link to their site in our Resources section. Most got turned down, and
most will _continue_ to get turned down.

When I drew up the set of links in the first place, I reviewed my personal
set of "Favourites" - sites which I have bookmarked in my browser. I spend a
lot of time online and have many subdirectories in my "Favourites" folder.
When deciding whether or not to include a site, I used a number of very
subjective criteria:

1. How much ORIGINAL material is on the site? Many (most) personal web sites
are merely vanity pieces which contain little which is original or
innovative. Those who DID have something original on their site got more
consideration.

2. How approporiate is the material on the site to the subject of our event?
Aquascaping can encompass many aspects, from simple "how-to" thru to habitat
research. If a site could be of value to someone designing an aquascape, I
gave it more consideration.

3. How innovative and interesting is the site, as a destination? Most of the
"eye candy" sites slipped in under this one..... they are really creative
and simply "fun" places to cyber-visit.

4. My own personal bias. I am the first one to admit that I can be an
opinionated S.O.B. The sites which are listed are those that I like..... I
started the project, I wrote the Proposal, I drew up the list of sites.....
I make no apologies for having drawn up the list of links that I did.

Should anyone with a web site which I have not featured on our Resources
section feel slighted, I'm sorry..... I'm always willing to review a new
site and consider alterations but our "Resources Section" is meant as a
starting point for newbies and not meant as a place for every Tom, Dick and
Harry to get publicity for their HTML efforts. If that leaves anyone out,
that's just the way things are. I'm sure that Erik has more than enough to
do than to be constantly updating hyperlinks.

James


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