I have a longer post to make but will do so after some more thought on this and a nap as I am ill today and really need some rest. It was important for me to say the following; though I implore you to wait for my more detailed follow up on the pending upgrades before you turn this thread upside down, for my brain is not functioning at 100% today, heck, I'm not even sure I'm at 50% right now.

Maggie,

The short version is, I agree. And I have recognized your (collectively) patience and leeway in which I am grateful for, for both that it took this long for this message to come and the polite way in which it was conveyed. Thank you (collectively and personally, and to anyone willing to contribute more than just a complaint)*.

(You can stop reading there, if you like, as the rest is just waxing and justifications... and of course in conclusion of all the waxing, the small point of what I'm actually going to do about it.)

I did expect it and did wait for it to explain this, though it would seem, at this moment, that I am unable to find an articulate reason why. I am resisting the philosophical waxing I tend to do, only because I am not sure the amount of consternation I feel about ads on mudcat causes me is within normal, healthy reason. Plus, I may be delirious at the moment due to a cascading failure starting with sinus pressure and ending in sleeplessness, with a medicine-I-will-never-take-again in the middle. Living hell sandwich, I'll call it. Crap, like a finger in the dam, while plugging the waxing, the digressing has sprung a leek. (yep delirium has set in)

I want you to know that I spend a lot of time thinking about ads, and I can go on and on about them and justify any decision I make, (even stoned on over-the-counter-but-regulated-cold-medicine-that-I-swear-is-just-amphetamines). I've made up my mind with a confident-I-am-doing-the-right-thing peace, in opposite directions, flip-flopping several times over the last 10 years. I think too much, we know this, but I feel this is a heavy concept for lots of reasons (that I just deleted because it's getting crazy waxy)* OK, focus...

When I'm done fiddling (a month, give or take 3 weeks), most* of the ads you see will not be seen by logged-in members and/or folks who opt out of ads. I haven't decided exactly HOW I'll do it yet, which is the reason it isn't done yet and haven't communicated what I'm up to till now. Still debating the mechanics of it, but the end goal is to give users as much control as I can handle, in manners that are at least aesthetically acceptable to my tastes, and technically possible and sensible. I have big ideas for the future of mudcat, just as I did on day 1, and I adhere to that strategy because it has led us here, the halfway point*. Yep, after 15 years I've only been able to get us half way to my original goal. The other half is going to be just what you've always wanted. All of it.

To keep this short(er) I'll just explain only that the end goal is to have a pile of data and a completely free interface to that data. I'll simply build the tools in which you can customize your own mudcat experience. My job, in the end will be reduced to storing the data, safely and securely as can be achieved today, while keeping up with the increasingly speedy approach of tomorrows, and building you the infrastructure of choice. In the end, it'll all be your choice, just as it is now, seemingly my burden to bear.*

To stay focused in this thread, which I hope we do, I'll conclude by saying that as far as paying for the site, I am excited to report that I believe that the patience you have shown with the ads thus far has yielded me the information I needed to monetize the site such that registered members need not see *most of* the ads.

I say most of simply (to cover me bum) because 1) some ads provide a service to you and to me (such as the amazon ads on the songs page)*, 2) we will continue to explore new and exciting opportunities such as perhaps sponsored* or hosted* new features like... say... image posting or mp3 uploads and perhaps streaming radio or whatever they'll (I'll) think of next*, and 3) maybe they (the ideal advertisers*, the dead ringers for our demographic will finally come into the 21st century and get with the technology that is available to manage such a campaign.*

I work with the principle that many musicians do and that is: if the music you are practicing is good, there'll never be a noise complaint.

However, I do get complaints because of shite like the IEv9 error that is new as of their forced upgrade on you. They changed and the error started, Mudcat didn't change to cause this error. Rant continues in the other thread (and I'm pretty hot over this issue, so comments should stay focused, and in the proper place)** declaring Chartbeat as safe

A nice segway rant to the points of new membership...*

*...coming soon to a permathread near this one (give or take 3 weeks)

Also starred the items which will no doubt be debated endlessly to no consensus.

** I've got a delete button and a mind full of bad ideas on this point.