"Britannica.com is contacting you because our editors have selected your site as one of the best on the Internet when reviewed for quality, accuracy of content, presentation and usability. As a result, we would like to offer you the opportunity to join in the launch of our new link exchange program. This program will give you and other top quality sites the opportunity to add a Britannica search box to your site and thereby provide your users with direct access to Britannica’s award-winning content, including the trusted and authoritative Encyclopedia Britannica."
What a crock o' crap! What link exchange? Have you seen a link to my little web pages at Britanica's site. I think not. In fact go ahead and try entering "Scottie's Wee Home Page" or "Featuring some Mac Know-How" in the search field below and I think you'll find that the fine folk at Britannica haven't even indexed this site.
Furthermore the darn "award" is green. It's sort of like a bronze or copper award that's oxidized a bit or perhaps a banana award that isn't quite ripe yet.
You'd think we'd get better from Britannica. I guess we shouldn't be suprised, they're not even owned by the British anymore, just a bunch of encyclopedia salesmen. I'm almost embarrassed for the poor feebs. Almost.
Here's their whole letter if you're interested:
Dear Webmaster:
Britannica.com is contacting you because our editors have selected your site as one of the best on the Internet when reviewed for quality, accuracy of content, presentation and usability. As a result, we would like to offer you the opportunity to join in the launch of our new link exchange program. This program will give you and other top quality sites the opportunity to add a Britannica search box to your site and thereby provide your users with direct access to Britannica’s awarding-winning content, including the trusted and authoritative Encyclopaedia Britannica. The search box will be accompanied by an award, which will tell visitors to your site that Britannica editors have rated one of the most valuable and reliable on the Internet, in the company of an elite group of Web sites. You can choose to use the search box, the award or both. Most importantly, because each will open another browser window, your users will never have to leave your site to access Britannica content. The following URL will lead you to the necessary tools to add the Britannica links to your search box: http://britannica.com/awards/awards.htm. We know quality is always difficult to accomplish and maintain. Congratulations on being a selected member of the Britannica Internet Guide. We look forward to our growing association in the future. If you have any further questions, please contact us at link@us.britannica.com.
Regards, The Staff at Britannica.com
Last Updated on Mon, Apr 13, 2009.