FEBRUARY 2003 issue of the SSQQ Newsletter. 
It is written by Rick Archer. 


FEBRUARY SCHEDULE OF SSQQ DANCE CLASSES. 
Classes begin the week of Sunday, February 02.
http://www.ssqq.com/ssqq/schedule.htm

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FEBRUARY 2003 SCHEDULE

February 2003 has many excellent classes, but for the most part they are "follow-ups" to courses that started in January. For example there are quite a few Intermediate level classes that follow last month's start-up classes 

Sunday at 4:30 has Intermediate Lindy Hop with Gloria. 
Sunday at 4:30 has Intermediate Whip/WCS with Rick and Charlene. 

At 7 pm on Sundays Judy begins her Intermediate Western Waltz classes. Waltz is of course the classic Western dance of Romance, but trickier to learn than people realize.

Intermediate Nite Club Twostep will be taught on Wednesdays by Anita Williams. Anita is taking over the Nite Club series from the legendary teacher Susie Merrill. Susie will be missed for sure, but Anita is a pretty good teacher in her own right.

Not all classes of note are Intermediate. Slow Dance and Romance returns to the schedule as one of our most popular courses. Taught by Jill on Mondays, you learn the Lost Art of Formal Dance. Foxtrot, the Walking Slow Dance, and the Rhythm-Switch Slow Dance are invaluable to know at certain special times... 

Zoot Suit Riot 7 on Mondays is being taught for the first time. It is a completely new Level. Judy is going to dig deep for some really tough Swing moves. 

Martian Whip began a new era in January 2003. With the December departure of Joanne Spuck to a new job in Los Angeles and the retirement of SSQQ 'Institutions' Ted Jones & Margie Saibara, Martian Whip doesn't quite look the same. Rick Archer is now joined by UCWDC WCS World Champion Anita Williams on Thursdays. Guess what? Martian Whip is still tough. Another big change in January saw Brian White and Kimberly Smith take Rick's spot on Fridays. Guess what? The Friday class was VERY popular. Students have commented that they were bored of simply 'reviewing' what they had learned on Thursday and enjoy a different challenge each night. SSQQ Martian Whip remains the only program in the city where a student gets two excellent 2-hour classes for the price of one. And of course SSQQ always features Whip/WCS Practice Night right after class for students to stay and do their difficult dance homework. 

In January SSQQ's toughest Western Swing class, Death Valley, returned on Fridays with a passion. Taught by Rick Archer, the class had an enthusiastic well-balanced group of 30 people who overcame our toughest challenges every week, then stayed for the big Friday night Western dance afterwards at the studio. Friday DV II will be just as much fun in February. 

Saturdays in February marks the start of Advanced Salsa Mambo Level 2. Let's face it: Judy's Advanced Salsa classes are so popular that the classes are ridiculously crowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As a result we decided to take some pressure off by creating a third Advanced Salsa class on Saturdays. Expect Adv Salsa to become a regular addition to Saturdays from now on.

And Cumbia returns to the schedule after a 4-month break on Saturdays at 4:30 taught by Luis Castillo.
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SSQQ DANCE PARTIES IN FEBRUARY

THE SSQQ RED AND WHITE VALENTINE'S SWING PARTY 
Saturday, February 08, 9 pm - Midnight. 
http://www.ssqq.com/ssqq/party03.htm

SLOW DANCING - Jill (couples only) 
CINDERELLA'S WALTZ - Judy 
SWEETHEART SWING PTNS - Lise 
ADV SALSA - Linda 
CAROLINA SHAG - Gloria 
SWING/JITTERBUG ACROBATICS - Paul (couples only)

Music Swing in Room 1, Latin and requests in Room 4
Wear Red and White and Dance All Night!
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BACK IN THE SADDLE WESTERN PARTY
Saturday, February 22, 9pm - Midnight
http://www.ssqq.com/ssqq/party04.htm

CRASH COURSES 7 - 9 pm

BEG TEXAS TWOSTEP - Kathleen
BEG WESTERN SWING - Ann 
BEG WESTERN CHA CHA - Brian 
ANITA'S FAVORITE HIJACK PTNS - Anita 
LINDA'S FAV GHOST TOWN PTNS - Linda 
BEG WEST COAST SWING - Jorge

Music: Western and Waltz in Room 1, Whip/WCS in Room 4, Swing music in Room 6

This year we are adding a new feature: Every Friday Night and for the Western Saturday parties (4th Saturday of each month) Room 6 will have non-stop Swing music. 

Over the Holidays thanks to Neal Pellis and Maureen Brunetti, we hooked up one of our computers to an amp and added some speakers. 

When there is a DJ on duty, be sure to ask for your favorite songs to be added to the playlist!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ANITA WILLIAMS FOR WINNING THE UCWDC WEST COAST SWING ADVANCED FEMALE PRO-AM COMPETITION. 

At the same competition that Heartbeat won their Team Championship, SSQQ Martian Whip Instructor Anita Williams took first place in her division. Not bad, Swamp Fox!!  

(Editor's Note: By the way, be sure to ask Anita for some pointers on how men pee in the forest. She has some fascinating ideas!!)
..................

THE SSQQ CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

Judy Archer asked me to thank all the many people who contributed toys this past Holiday season. On Saturday, December 21, Judy and Bill Yeaple picked up all the toys and took them to the Star of Hope Shelter. 

Judy said she was overwhelmed by the incredible level of gratitude. Judy said it is one thing to read about people who are having it tough, but to see how little they really have and to see how much they need the help of other people more fortunate themselves to make a Christmas for their children is touching and painful at the same time. 

Judy said she deeply appreciated the help of all the people who took the time to bring a gift to the studio. And let me tell you something - Judy doesn't BS. That isn't her style. If Judy said the people at the Star of Hope Shelter were incredibly grateful, then you can be assured your efforts helped make some unknown person's Christmas a happier one. 

Thank you. 
………………………….

DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD. DOOR WAREHOUSE GOES OUT OF BUSINESS!!
BUT THEY STILL TOW CARS!!!!

On Monday, December 2, I received the following email:

Mr. Archer, My Name is Stuart Showers. My mother had the unfortunate circumstance of doing business with the company just across the street from you. That is to say that she paid for a new front door from the doorwarehouse and never received it. I write to you because I am trying to locate your nemesis. By searching Mr. Loshacks name on the web I came across the problem that you have run into with him and thought that it might be helpful to me. If you know of any other way to get into contact with this man I would appreciate it. I cannot take a legal stance without the whereabouts of said.
Thank you for your time and consideration, Stuart Showers 

By chance Judy Archer was the studio that day. She went outside to take a look and confirmed what the email said - The Door Werewolf House definitely appeared to have gone belly up.  You cannot imagine my satisfaction to see they had bit the dust. Good riddance.

Last year the jerks who work there approved the car towing of at least a dozen ssqq students. (Story of towing I, Story of towing II)

Unfortunately our problems with this building are not over. I received this email on Friday, January 31: 

Rick,

I see that you are writing an article about the Door Warehouse out of business. Please continue to warn dancers that they are still towing away cars, even though out of business. I assumed, since the business was shut down, that it was safe to park there and had my car towed away just two Fridays ago. It costs me $110 in ransom to retrieve it from the car-nappers.
Don Babb

(Editor's Note: There is a very cruel man named Don January who owns that building. My guess is he is behind the towing problems. All I can say is avoid parking on the premises).

Here is a story about the Door Werewolf House from the local Bellaire Newspaper:

A Closed Door at the Door Warehouse 
Reprinted from the Village News/Southwest News 
December 17, 2002 
Written by Michelle Leigh Smith 

On the outside, the Door Warehouse at 4801 Bissonnet, looks fairly upscale, located near Charlie’s Hamburgers and a hair salon. Of late, the doors have been locked and the owner has been there only sporadically. 

A disturbance there Thursday morning from an unhappy customer brought Bellaire Police to the scene. 

“The people at the Door Warehouse told the officer they’ve filed for bankruptcy,” said Assistant Police Chief Byron Holloway. (side note: Chief Holloway is the officer who assists SSQQ with our annual Halloween Party)

Recently, Bellaire City Hall and Bellaire Police have had calls from customers saying they’ve put down large deposits on doors and now cannot reach anyone at Door Warehouse.

Tillie Weidemann, City of Bellaire receptionist, said, “I’ve been getting calls for about a month. A man called and said they never did come and do the job. He said he had put down 50%, $2,000.” 

Code Inspector Chris Magisano had also had many calls. “One man called and asked if he should report the problem to the police or file a civil complaint. I told him he was free to do either.” 

On her rounds through Bellaire, on Tuesday afternoon she noticed some activity around the Door Warehouse location. “Since we had received so many complaints, I stopped and checked to see if I could find anyone there,” Magisano said. 

That is when she got to the bottom of it. 

“The owner, Joel Loshak, was there,” Magisano said. “He was talking to a gentleman and there were some other people there who looked like they were removing some of his inventory. I had met him before when he moved to this current location. He had contacted me about his limitations on signage and the rules on signs. I think he was genuinely concerned about following the code and adhering to the Bellaire law. His business had already been in Bellaire for about ten years and I never heard anything negative about him until this stuff came up. He had always been so nice and so interested in doing things the Bellaire way. It was hard for me to imagine that anything incorrect was going on. I just though maybe there were some personal circumstances that were causing problems.” 

“I asked, ‘Can you tell me what’s going on because we’ve had a lot of your customers calling us,” she said. “We don’t have any information and we don’t do any consumer advocacy here, so we don’t have a means of addressing it.” 

Loshak replied, “Just tell me if they call there , they will be contacted by my attorney’s office.” 

“He seemed sorry about what had happened,” Magisano said. “He did not seem defensive. He was very nice. He said two family deaths had caused him to be away from the business and in his absence, there had been some problems.” 

Door Warehouse sold doors, windows, and screens. Customers say they have put down deposits as large as $2,000 – 50% of the $4,000 door they were purchasing and have nothing to show their outgoing expenditure. 

The Better Business Bureau compiled report confirms the Door Warehouse has an unsatisfactory record with the bureau due to unanswered complaints. The BBB has processed 9 complaints in the last 36 months including refund and exchange issues, delivery issues, sales issues, contract and customer service issues. Three were closed as unresolved, three were closed as resolved, two are closed with no response from the company. 

In the BBB report, it says that the number of complaints filed against the company may not be as important as the kind of complaints filed. BBB reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. 

Assistant Bellaire Police Chief Byron Holloway said, “We’ve had some people call and say they had some things on order and can’t reach anyone there. People are getting frustrated and trying to find out what’s going on with the business. We tell them it’s not a police matter – it’s a civil matter. It all gets back to a contractual agreement. Usually these things are civil matters and seldom rise to a criminal status. It is what the man promised to deliver or not.” 

………………………….

COMPLAINT OF THE MONTH: JEANNIE FINN HAS THE LAST WORD

In last month's Newsletter I suggested that former staff member Jeannie Finn did not depart the ssqq staff in a particularly graceful way. 

From the January Newsletter:  
"Jeannie Finn chose an odd way to retire. She had someone tell me she quit. Oh well. Not everyone leaves in style. I do appreciate the many Friday nights where she helped as a Western Assistant." 

I agree it wasn't the nicest thing to say. However I also felt it was the truth. As you might guess, I was quite taken aback by the following email: 

12-22-02
Letter from Roy Dandan to Rick Archer

Apology Necessary!!

Today I write to you with a great sense of disappointment on behalf of a very dear friend of mine.

In your Newsletter, you stated the following about Ms. Jeannie Finn:

Jeannie Finn chose an odd way to retire. She had someone tell me she quit. Oh well. Not everyone leaves in style. I do appreciate the many Friday nights where she helped as a Western Assistant. 

I emphasize: "Oh well. Not everyone leaves in style."

Such words are extremely unprofessional, disrespectful, and hurtful. They border very closely on the legal terms slanderous and defamatory. The personal hurt, pain and suffering and mental anguish that you caused Ms. Finn is undeserved. I strongly suggest that in the future you seek the advise (or proof read) of an attorney before you publish such statements about your own team members. Meanwhile, you should be very fortunate if Ms. Finn does not on her own seek the advise of counsel for suing you for damages for slander/defamation of character and for pain and suffering and mental anguish. Your statements are ill advised. Your attack on her character is groundless and shows a lack of appreciation to the very people that MAKE your business those that keep your bills paid; without whom you don t stand a chance to survive financially.

Ms Finn was a volunteer at your place of business for 4 years (EMPHASIZE 4 years). She has no obligation to personally inform you of her retirement. Her communication with your paid staff members regarding her intentions to retire is a valid implied notice to you. You see legally, your staff members are your agents; their knowledge is imputed to you. In other words, if you are the janitor at Dell, your notice of intent to terminate employment with Dell Corporation does not have to be communicated to Michael Dell himself. Furthermore, I believe a 6-week advance notice was beyond the norm in your industry regarding notice of intent to terminate employment. The above discussion however followed your own use of the word retire as though Ms Finn was at your employ. Ms Finn was never your employee she was a volunteer. She owed you no more than a courtesy communication to ANY of your agents (paid employees). Such communication was definitely made and was well known among the circle of your staff and customers/guests. Here I recommend that you get more involved with your staff and ascertain more clearly and closely the affairs of your business. While working as a volunteer for you, Ms. Finn took her responsibilities at your place of business very seriously and very proudly. She was very well liked and respected for what she did. Her attitude and actions in class and outside class were clearly a reflection of her pride and joy in what she did.

If for any reason you don't think that such work ethics and personal character is of any relevance to your business, then you should consider the number of referrals and return business that are directly attributable to Ms. Finn s hard work and volunteer effort. Speaking from my own personal experience and having lived in Houston for almost 9 years, the only reason that I considered going to your place of business was because of Ms. Finn's free advertising and good word for your business. The circle of influence in her profession and my profession span in the hundreds and your own statements are not only damaging to her person and her reputation, but to your own business as well. Consider how other readers of YOUR newsletter will look at YOU having seen your respect you afforded to one of your own (a measly volunteer in your place of business) who is doing you a favor without pay and she did so for 4 years (emphasis on 4 years). Mr. Archer, I strongly suggest that you re-evaluate your appreciation to your staff AND your VOLUNTEERS. I encourage you to re-state your slanderous and defamatory statement in a light that is favorable and truly reflective of who Jeannie Finn is and was to your business. 

Certainly while an apology does not relieve you of a potential legal civil action liability, it would certainly mitigate your damages if and once determined (Please consult your counsel on this matter for advice). I will be looking forward to reading any further statements regarding this matter.

Meanwhile, you owe Ms. Finn a personal apology. She did not deserve what you did to hurt her.
A very upset friend of Ms. Finn,
Roy Dandan

.................

12-21-02
Letter from Jeannie Finn to Rick Archer

Rick,

It is very unfortunate that I had not had the opportunity to read your newsletter before sending my e-mail letting you know that I needed a break from my responsibilities (funny I should call them that, for much of my recollection, I was always there on a volunteer basis). After several rather uncomfortable encounters Friday night it was brought to my attention how you chose to say good-by to me and show how you really think of the time I have dedicated to you and your paid staff. It was not until this morning that I finally read the infamous Rick Archer Newsletter only to find out how much attention you have really paid to my actions over the past four years.

As far back as I can remember, I feel that I have always taken great care to come to you first with any issues I may have with my situation at SSQQ. Much to my dismay, one instance of a very busy schedule and unfortunate circumstances in my personal/professional life caused me to be a couple of days behind in acting in a "classy" fashion according to you. I'm terribly sorry for my gross error in getting to you just as soon as I possibly could and apologize for allowing my personal issues get in the way of your business. The last I heard it was customary to give 2 weeks notice before leaving a professional job. I'm not clear what the guidelines are for a volunteer position but I guess the standards are much higher. I gave Wil a heads up a full month and a half in advance and I informed you two weeks before the next batch of classes begins. Wil had no idea that I had not contacted you sooner and he was certainly not sent as my messenger. I am a grown woman and can take care of my business myself just as he was trying to do when he spoke with you about Krista.

My stepping away from the studio was a very difficult decision to make. It was not a decision I made lightly. As I've mentioned to you before, I began taking classes at SSQQ only one month after my moving to Houston and have spent up to three nights a week there. Needless to say I have made some very dear friends and have had some wonderful times over the past four years. I hesitate to say this for fear of burning bridges permanently but I'm afraid if I don't, your words will forever ring. After all, you said your piece, now I should get the same opportunity. I feel it was very unprofessional of you to have printed and distributed your words in the fashion you chose. In effect, you have caused countless individuals to question my integrity and have aired your dirty laundry in a public forum. Fortunately for me, I know without a doubt that the two individuals that I helped in class the most, really valued and appreciated my time and effort these past years. I know that there are many students that I have made a favorable connection with and I am proud of the work that I did for you. I have no regrets there. I have appreciated all the work of your other staff members and the friendships I found at the Studio will always be cherished. I am regretting being so "classless" and I am deeply angered for your lack of respect for me and your inability to search out the full story before you print your hurtful, damaging words. 

I have highly recommended the Studio to my contacts in the outside world and have brought you a fair amount of business over the past years. However, as long as my integrity is in question, I don't feel I would be able to talk about me experience at SSQQ in quite the same light. I certainly will live with the embarrassment of being "classless" to any colleagues that I have referred to your studio should they check the website and read your Newsletter. The term slander does come to mind. You see the worker ants are rarely individually acknowledged (nor do they expect to be) by the Queen however, they are in no doubt critical to the daily operations of the nest. Kill your worker ants, kill the nest.

I wish you the best in the future.
Jeannie Finn

...........

12-30-02
Letter from Rick Archer to Jeannie Finn, CC to Roy Dandan

Jeannie, I have just returned to town from a week's trip or I would have responded sooner.
I understand why you feel I have not handled your situation fairly. I have also received a strong complaint from your associate Roy Dandan. He deeply resented that I wrote you did not resign in style. He suggested what I said was slander. Judging from the tone of your most recent email, you are dissatisfied as well. 

After four years of contributions at the studio, you definitely deserve a complete explanation of the events that led to what I wrote in the Newsletter. Let's review what happened from my side.

On Friday, December 13, Wil Coulbourn stopped me as I walked by him in Room 1 on my way to the DJ booth. He wanted to ask me if Krista Johnson could take your place. I asked him what had happened to Jeannie. He told me that you had quit. I stopped in my tracks. In 25 years, I had never had someone leave without the courtesy of telling me ahead of time. Wil had gone to the trouble of finding someone to replace you and wanted to check it out with me. Now he realized he had been put in the awkward position of also having to break the bad news of your departure. I never did quite find out whether you had asked him to tell me or whether he filled me in by accident. 

I do know Wil was taken aback by the clueless expression on my face. He said it was his understanding you had already emailed me. We were both caught off guard. I asked him for an explanation of why you had decided to leave. 

Wil was clearly embarrassed to discover he was delivering the news. Due to the awkwardness of the situation, Wil hesitated at first, but then pressed forward. The only reason he gave for your departure was a vague reference that you had decided 'to do other things'. I got the impression there was more to the story, but Wil looked so uncomfortable I decided he didn't deserve to be grilled and left it at that.
Wil then introduced me to Krista who had been standing next to him watching the exchange. Krista's presence was a major reason why I didn't see any point in asking Wil more questions. He asked me if I minded if Krista took your place. I said I trusted his judgment and gave my okay. 

There was no hostility in Wil's voice and no meanness towards you. He wasn't angry towards you in the least. At the same time Wil's demeanor and body language gave me the distinct impression that you were out the door and gone. I don't think he expected to see you again any time soon. From the impression Wil gave me, in his mind you were gone and Krista had taken your place effective immediately. 

That is the sum total of the exchange from my point of view.

Five days passed. I did not hear from you. I concluded that I wasn't going to get a letter from you. After all, it takes one minute to send an email. 

I said that you did not resign in style. I agree those are harsh words, but as it stood when I wrote the Newsletter unfortunately they were justified. Let me point out how other people leave their positions at the studio. 

For starters as you know I have had eight people resign in the past couple months. Every one of them but you either told me face to face or emailed me of their decision. Most of them gave me one to two months notice in advance so I could look for a replacement. For that matter I have had many people resign over the years. A couple of them quit in anger, but the vast majority simply had a change in their life - new boyfriend/girlfriend, new job, moving to another city, pregnant, illness in the family or personal health problems, getting married, and so on. They all had an explanation of some sort that made sense and whenever possible gave me plenty of warning. 

Jeannie, you handled it differently. Or should I say you didn't handle it at all. 

I sent out the December/January Newsletter on Wednesday night, December 18. The article on the Staff changes was the last story I wrote. As it stood at 6 pm on Wednesday, you had the odd distinction of being the first and only person ever to leave the Staff without telling me. It was only an accident that Wil clued me in ahead of time. This is simply not the way professional people announce their departure after a four year tenure. 

On the surface, it appeared you had quit without bothering to tell me. I had every right to assume you were bitter about something and wouldn't even take the time to explain what the problem was. 

When I finally received your resignation email the day after I sent out the Newsletter, I immediately regretted what I had written. However at the same time I felt by your inaction you were largely responsible for creating the impressions I acted upon. I am sorry that the impression I was originally given turned out to be incorrect, but the lack of communication that created the situation wasn't my fault.

I apologize that I have hurt your feelings. 

I will print this apology in the upcoming Newsletter and clear the air. Since I have no desire to have the last word, I invite you to say whatever you wish.

(Editor's Note: Ms. Finn and Mr. Dandan did not send any further communications.)

…………………………..

AM I THE ONLY PERSON WHO THINKS PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH  IS MOVING TO WAR TOO FAST??
January 21, 2003 Houston Chronicle Headline War Plans Met by French Resistance
January 22, 2003 Houston Chronicle Headline Impatient Bush Fires Back at Reluctant Coalition Allies
I don't trust Saddam Hussein. I also believe my government when it says they have evidence of weapons of mass destruction. But I don't think we have any business bombing and attacking Iraq without presenting this evidence first.  The world hates the United States enough as it is. Unilaterally attacking a relatively helpless nation isn't going to win us any friends. And I am fairly certain starting a war without presenting the evidence will guarantee a sneak attack on our soil somewhere in the future.   Back in the 70s I worked for the Harris County Child Welfare department. I investigated child abuse and child neglect. Occasionally I would go into horrible homes and see helpless small children with abusive, cruel fathers who would beat them practically without any reason. I could see the children were terrified and in great danger. I would report the situation to my supervisor and recommend getting those children out of the home.  Time and time again my supervisor would remind me of the rules.  First the parent has to be warned. Then the children have to badly beaten before I had the legal authority to go in and remove the children. I would protest and say the children might be killed or severely hurt. My supervisor would agree with me, but remind me the law says we cannot remove the children unless there is an incident.  Now in the case of 9/11, we had the incident. In the eyes of the world we were justified in taking some very strong actions in Afghanistan.  How are we going to justify going to war against a country that has not attacked us and has not shown to have the alleged weapons of mass destruction?  Our country is said to represent the moral high ground.   The United Nations was created to work for world peace. I say let the inspectors continue to search for the evidence. Until then our hands are tied.  A man far more eloquent than I is Leonard Pitts, a columnist for the Miami Herald. Here is what he had to say:
Posted on Mon, Jan. 27, 2003  Written by Leonard Pitts Miami Herald U.S. arrogance taints stand on Iraq When the French call you arrogant, it's sort of like Michael Jackson calling you eccentric. Your first response is to marvel at the pot's audacity in criticizing the kettle's color scheme. France is, after all, the nation where condescension was born. The problem is, they just may have a point. Certainly, the remarks that occasioned last week's angry response from French leaders weren't exactly a model of American decorum. It seems Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was asked at a news conference on Wednesday about European resistance to military action against Iraq. Rumsfeld said, ``You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east and there are a lot of new members.'' Martine Aubry, France's former labor minister, was the one who called that comment arrogant. She told a radio audience that Rumsfeld's dismissive remarks show that the United States means to ''govern the world.'' Actually, what they show is that the Bush administration still has a tin ear where Iraq is concerned. Remember, it was also Rumsfeld who argued recently that failure to find evidence Iraq is stockpiling weapons of mass destruction could, in itself, be evidence Iraq is stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Not that I don't take the secretary's point. He's saying we know the Iraqis have these weapons, so any failure to find them can only mean they've been hidden. The question is, how do we know? It would be nice if we the people had just some of Washington's certainty. At the very least, I wish more of our traditional allies -- yes, ''old Europe'' -- had it. It's a wish that's apparently shared by many people. American support for an Iraqi war is, according to pollsters, conditioned on international support for it. The consensus seems to be that we'd be a lot more comfortable with war if our allies vouched for its necessity. We are, in a word, skeptical. That skepticism is only sharpened by the transparent dichotomy in our treatment of North Korea, another recalcitrant member of the fabled axis of evil. We've played the drums of war for Saddam Hussein, but for Kim Jong Il we offer repeated choruses of ``give peace a chance.'' Yes, the fact that the North Koreans are believed to possess nuclear arms explains that dichotomy -- makes it prudent. But watching these crises unfold side by side still points up a certain unattractive flexibility of principle which does little to ameliorate skepticism. Can America go to war lacking the support of its people and some of its key allies? Yes. But that would be dangerous and ill advised, risking upheaval at home and moral authority abroad. I don't think the Bush administration fully appreciates this or anything else beyond its lust for war. War, should it need to be said, is a terrible thing. It kills soldiers and children, innocents and innocence. It debases the human spirit. However, contrary to what many of those who marched in Washington and elsewhere this month would argue, there are times when that horror is necessary, even moral. A nation has the right -- the obligation -- to defend itself from aggression. Were there clear and convincing evidence that we are at that point, we could consider this a settled matter. But any such evidence that may exist has not been -- possibly cannot be -- released for public consumption. So the case for war -- for preemptively striking a sovereign nation -- rests largely on the willingness of American allies to vouch for American accusations. In which case, it might be wise to offer those allies something other than stubborn unilateralism and, yes, a certain get-off-my-planet-by-sundown arrogance. The administration keeps insisting on the necessity of war. It seems to expect that the American people and a dubious world should take it at its word. And with every passing day that becomes a little more difficult to do. .................................

HALF-PRICE RETURNS TO ON-LINE REGISTRATION

January 31, 2003

I just registered for Ghost Town 6 online. I noticed that the "Repeat" option had returned, and that everyone's dance class history was listed for their account. I have taken Ghost Town classes 1 - 5 but noticed my history only included Ghost Town classes 3 - 5. What happened to the first and second Ghost Town classes I took in September and October 2002? I would like to repeat these classes eventually, and if possible, I would like to receive credit for having taken them before. Would it please be possible to check my history again? Please let me know what I need to do in order to help rectify this situation. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Thank you, GG

SSQQ has recently added the “Repeat” Function to our On-Line Registration process. Theoretically if you have taken a class in the last year or so, we have a record of it. When you go to register for a class you have previously taken, the software looks at your account History and automatically permits you to re-take it at half-price. 

The system is not perfect though. Unfortunately many records were lost in the past year due to hundreds of duplicate accounts. For example my friend Art Williams had 4 different accounts under Art Williams, Arthur Williams, Arthur Williams Jr, and Will Arthur. His “History” was spread out all over our database. One misspelling created a new account. For example, Rhondalyn Baker was also found under Rhonwyn Baker. 

When you register On-Line, the second screen gives your History of classes. If you see something missing, you can contact our Registrar, Susan Schroeder, at onlineregistration@ssqq.com

If your On-Line History is incorrect, don't forget you can still register for a Repeat class using Walk-In Registration whenever you wish. 

SSQQ SLOW DANCE AND ROMANCE - 4 Couples announced their engagement in January!!

Wayne Brodd AND Carol Jones ANNOUNCE THEIR ENGAGEMENT

On Friday, February 24, Wayne Brodd came over and nervously whispered he planned to ask Carol Jones to marry him right before Break. I congratulated him and asked if there was anything I could do to help. Wayne said he just wanted to warn me ahead of time. I guess if someone passed out I would know what to do. 

To my great regret, I wasn't the teacher. It was Brian White and Kimberly Smith's Martian Whip class. Every bone in my body wanted to be in the room to watch, but the professionalism in me forced me to go and teach Death Valley like I was supposed to. 

When Marla Gorzynski entered my class just before Break to tell me Bryan Spivey the Hall Monitor needed me, I assumed she was there to tell me about the engagement. I promptly blurted out all the information to the class. Marla frowned and said she had just come from that class and no one had gotten engaged. Huh??  Now I was worried. 

Marla said Bryan needed me; there was a cameraman at the door!!  Now I was confused.  First I told MG to take over the class, then I got everyone to promise they wouldn't go to Brian White's class and let the cat out of the bag (like I just did), and then I went to see about Bryan Spivey's mysterious cameraman.  This was turning into a weird night.

When I found Bryan, to my consternation there really was a cameraman named Ray. He introduced himself as being a reporter from the brand new Channel 24 Cable Station that does round-the-clock programming on Houston news. He asked if he could do a story on ssqq and film the classes. He seemed nice enough so I gave him permission. Just that second Marla popped back in to tell me Wayne had just proposed to Carol!

With his finely honed instincts for news reporting, Ray made a beeline for the story. Carol was in the midst of shock and the next thing she knew she was on camera being interviewed!!  Wayne of course was being interviewed too, but both people were clearly overwhelmed to be on camera at such a delicate moment. 

After the interview was over, Wayne made a beeline for me. He wanted to know how I had arranged to have a reporter there so fast!!  I swore up and down I didn't know a thing about Ray's visit, but I am not sure Wayne believed me. The coincidence was phenomenal.  

While Ray roamed all over the studio taking footage, I stayed in Room 2 to ask Gary Richardson how the proposal had gone. Gary said that Brian White was in on it. Brian said they were about to take a break and did anyone have any questions?  

At this point Wayne raised his hand and said he had a question.  He took Carol and put her in Hammerlock position, which I thought was clever since it is effortless to get a woman's attention in this peculiar spot. Wayne started yapping about this move and that when suddenly he looked at Carol and said, "Will you be my dance partner for the rest of my life?" 

To say Carol was caught off guard would be the understatement of the year. She was flabbergasted!!  Her face turned bright red as Wayne got out the ring. She was smiling to be sure, but stared at Wayne as if she thought she were dreaming. Finally Rey Velasquez blurted out the question that was on everyone's mind, "Well, was that a 'yes' or a 'no'??" 

I think Wayne owes Rey a favor. That question seemed to snap Carol back to consciousness. She smiled and said definitely 'yes' and everyone applauded. It was quite a moment. 

As for the other Ray, he had fun too. He filmed Bryan Spivey and Kimberly Smith dancing WCS. He went from room to room taking footage and asking questions. I suppose we will see the damage soon enough. 

Congratulations to Wayne and Carol!
.........................

SSQQ INSTRUCTOR KATHLEEN LABOUNTY GETS ENGAGED TO MARK ORYHON.

Kathleen Labounty is my beautiful and wonderfully bright assistant on Wednesdays. Last week she emailed her regrets that she wouldn't be able to help me because her fiancι had made other plans for them. Fiancι?  So I emailed Kathleen back and got this answer: 

"Yes, fiancι.  Mark ordered an engagement ring a couple days before Christmas, but it won’t arrive until mid-February.  We won’t get married until summer 2004, though, which is between my bachelor’s and master’s degrees."

Kathleen was so matter-of-fact, la-di-da, that I nearly missed the fact that this lovely young lady is engaged. Kathleen is my SECOND Wednesday assistant named Kathleen to get engaged.  Obviously any woman determined to get married should ask to be my Wednesday assistant... which reminds me that Russ Ann Kale just started helping me on Wednesdays this week. If she changes her name to 'Kathleen', she is as good as married.

Congratulations to Kathleen and Mark!
......................

SSQQ INSTRUCTOR PATTY O IS ENGAGED TO DAVID. 

Of all my instructors who have to get engaged, Patty Or is the only one that makes me slightly sad because I enjoy calling her Patty-O so much. I find it VERY INTERESTING that Patty O deliberately did not list David's last name because I bet it doesn't start with O!!  Furthermore I doubt that Kathleen Labounty will trade her fiancι Mark Oryhon for David just to make me happy. People take these engagements pretty seriously from what I hear. 

I asked Patty O to tell me something about her engagement and here is what she said:

"The fiancι's name is David, he’s an IT guy.  He had inquired if dancing lessons is required for the marriage; I said, not as a hobby but definitely for the wedding.  So, he will grace us with his presence at the studio some time soon."

Well, that is smart of Patty to get David into a dance class before the wedding. Based on my experience the chances of getting him to take lessons AFTER the wedding are slim nil and none. I have never met David, but I suppose Patty O will warn David that the moment I meet him I intend to ask him for some identification so I can check out his last name. 

Hmm. Maybe Patty will consider hyphenating her last name. Remind me to ask her!

Congratulations to Patty O and to David!
.....................

SSQQ INSTRUCTOR VICKIE BERNARD IS ENGAGED TO JOHN SMITH

Are any of you starting to detect a kind of 'cut and paste' pattern going on here??  You know, 'ssqq instructor blank blank is engaged to blank blank'. 

Yes, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the easiest way on earth to get engaged is to become an ssqq instructor. And to think how stupid I am to actually pay these women!!  They should be paying me!  It is almost guaranteed that if a pretty girl joins my staff someone's bound to ask her to marry them. After all, you only hear about the women who say 'yes'.  There may be a bunch of 'NOs' we never even hear about. 

However I am pretty sure Vickie Bernard didn't hesitate too long when John asked her to marry him. This couple met at ssqq and has been going together for about a year. I like John a lot because he is smart, attentive, and always willing to help Vickie with any chore at the studio.  

Congratulations to Vickie and John. I am very happy for both of you!!
.....................

(Editor's Note: Four engagements in one month. It looks like the legendary ssqq marriage factory is heating up again! You bachelors better watch out!)
......................

LONELY IN ALASKA
Contributed by Chris Holmes

Sam had been in business for 25 years and is finally sick of the stress. He quits his job and buys 50 acres in Alaska as far from humanity as possible. He sees the postman once a week and gets groceries once a month. Otherwise it's total peace and quiet. After six months or so of almost total isolation, someone knocks on his door.

He opens it and there is a big, bearded man standing there.

"Name's Lars ...Your neighbor from forty miles away.... Having a Christmas party Tuesday ... Thought you might like to come. About 5 pm..."

"Great," says Sam, "after six months out here I'm ready to meet some local folks. Thank you."

As Lars is leaving, he stops. "Gotta warn you...There's gonna be some drinkin'."

"Not a problem... after 25 years in business, I can drink with the best of 'em."

Just as he starts to leave, Lars stops again. "More'n' likely gonna be some fightin' too."

Sam says, "Well, I get along with people. I'm not worried. I'll be there. Thanks again."

Once again Lars turns from the door. "I've seen some wild sex at these parties, too."

"Now that's really not a problem," says Sam. "I've been all alone for six months!  I'll definitely be there. By the way, what should I bring?"

Lars stops in the door again and says, "Whatever you want, just gonna be the two of us".
.........................

THE FEBRUARY JOKE PICTURE OF THE MONTH - THE SIGN PAINTER
submitted by Chris Holmes 

This month's picture tells the story of a sign painter who attracts a huge crowd. How? By drawing the nude picture of a voluptuous woman out in plain sight. 

http://www.ssqq.com/ssqq/jokepicture.htm
……………………

THE SSQQ FEBRUARY JOKE PAGE IS READY! 
We have several classic jokes ready for you to read on our January Joke Page. 
http://www.ssqq.com/ssqq/jokes.htm
Here is one of my favorites:

FEBRUARY CS 11: The Phone Company Interview
Submitted by Pat Roberts

A phone company put an ad in the paper in order to recruit workers. The next day, two groups of workers show up - a crew of five men and a crew of five blonde women.

Due to EEO regulations, t he company cannot decide who to give the job to, so to be fair they give the two groups a test. The company boss says, "Each crew will receive a telephone pole that must be installed into the ground. Whoever is able to hammer it in first will get the job."

Both groups agree that this is a fair test, so off they go in the Company trucks with the long telephone poles sticking out the back. A few hours pass, and finally, at 1:00, the male crew returns. "Yes!" they shout. "We came back first, so we get the job!!"

"Good work, men," says the boss, "However, we must wait until the other crew comes back to make sure that the reason they're delayed is not because of traffic or the truck breaking down."

"Fine, no problem," say the men. An hour passes, two hours pass, three hours. Finally, at 4:30, the Blonde crew arrives. All the women's faces are flushed and they are breathing hard. They have obviously been working hard. 

"What happened to you? What took so long?" asks the boss incredulously.

"What do you mean, 'what took so long'?? We worked our butts off. Do we get the job?"

"YOU get the job? No way! The men were back here THREE HOURS ago!"

"Well, of course they were," say the blondes. "But they cheated !! They only put the stupid pole in halfway!!"
…………………………

THE SSQQ FEBRUARY BLUE SIDE JOKES ARE READY! 

(Editor's Note: The Blue Side Jokes are one of the great undiscovered secrets of the SSQQ web site. Anyone who is on the SSQQ Registration List is welcome to have access. All you need to do to subscribe is email me from the email address you use to register for classes and request it. dance@ssqq.com
Here is one of my favorites: 

February BS 15: Bondage and Discipline
Submitted by Gary Richardson

One day Mom was cleaning junior's room. Deep in the closet under a pile of dirty clothes she found an S+M magazine. On the cover was a picture of a partially naked man on his knees in bondage with a hooded dominatrix towering over him holding a whip. She let out a stunned gasp.

This was highly upsetting for her. She hid the magazine and cried most of the afternoon until the boy's father got home. She found the magazine and showed it to him.

She watched him carefully as he looked at it. She saw his eyes grow huge with astonishment. He shook his head, then handed it back to her with out a word. They just stared at each other.

She finally asked him, " Well, what should we do about this?"

Dad looked at her and said, "Well, I don't think you should spank him."
…………………………….

FRACTURED VALENTINES CARDS
Contributed by Leroy Ginzel

Love may be beautiful, 
love may be bliss 
but I only slept with you, 
because I was pissed. 

I thought that I could love no other 
Until, that is, I met your brother 

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. 
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty 
and so is your head. 

Of loving beauty you float with grace 
If only you could hide your face 

Kind, intelligent, loving and hot 
This describes everything you are not 

I want to feel your sweet embrace 
But don't take that paper bag off of your face 

I love your smile, your face, and your eyes,
Damn, I'm too good at telling lies! 

My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life 

I see your face when I am dreaming 
That's why I always wake up screaming 

My love, you take my breath away 
What have you stepped in to smell this way 

My feelings for you no words can tell 
Except for maybe "go to hell" 

What inspired these amorous rhymes?
Two parts vodka, one part lime

(Editor's Note: 
why do I hold these rhymes so dear
when their negative message is so clear
love may be like a fiery comet
but valentines schmaltz always makes me vomit.)
………………………………

VOCABULARY WORD OF THE MONTH WITH JANE DOWNS - SECERN

secern \Sih SURN\, v. t., secerns, secerned, secerning (L. secernere, to secrete)

1. To separate; to distinguish. 
2. (Physiol.) To secrete; as, mucus secerned in the nose. 

Example: I was finally able to secern between the two different formulas. Eureka! ……………………………
............................................

PAYING ATTENTION
Contributed by Leroy Ginzel

First-year students at Medical School were receiving their first anatomy class with a real dead human body. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet. The professor started the class by telling them, "In medicine, it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor: the first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the human body." For an example the professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the butt of the corpse, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth. "Go ahead and do the same thing," he told his students. 

The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes, but eventually took turns sticking a finger in the butt of the dead body and sucking on it. 

When everyone finished, the professor looked at them and told them, "The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention." 
………………………..

AT&T REVISITED

Anyone who reads the ssqq newsletter knows I think AT&T is the worst corporation in America. Not only does this company incessantly bombard people with unwanted phone calls to sell their services, it doesn't pay one bit of attention to consumer rights.  I documented my woes with AT&T in the two previous Newsletters. 
(Read previous AT&T Story)

And I have discovered I am not the only person who has trouble with AT&T. Below is a letter from Aisha Currie. Her story sounds very familiar to me. 

12-21-02

Lucky you! 

It took me almost a year to quit being billed for AT&T service I did not ask for. And I had to put up with a collection service, too. The customer service area was actually a call center somewhere in Florida. When I asked for a supervisor I was told none were there that day but one would call back (they never did). I wrote letters to the PUC and attached copies of each of the bills. There was NO address anywhere to send a letter of complaint to AT&T anywhere and their call center for customer service (or lack thereof) refused to give me an address, too. Fortunately, the PUC did send me an address for them.

I sent a letter and copies of bills and a copy of the letter to the PUC to the headquarters of AT&T, addressed to their president and CEO. No reply. But at least the bills stopped coming and the collection agency quit calling.

Almost 2 years after the first bill that came after cancelling service I received a $25 calling card from AT&T with a letter (generic) of apology. To resolve the long distance problem at my house, I only use my cell phone for long distance. And I make sure to tell my tale of woe regarding AT&T to anyone who is even THINKING of taking their service. In short, I agree with you - AT&T is the worst.

Aisha Currie

..................................

HAVING A BAD DAY??
Contributed by Chris Holmes

So you are feeling down and out. No energy. No fun. Bored out of your wits. It could be worse, you know.

A couple years back there was a case at the Sacred Heart hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where a patient died in the same Intensive Care bed same time same for three straight weeks. Each Sunday morning at about 11 a.m. in the Critical Care unit three different men died regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery as to why the deaths occurred around 11 a.m. on Sundays. So a state-wide team of experts which included several parapsychologists was assembled to investigate the cause of the incidents. Nothing was uncovered. 

There was no other choice but to wait till next Sunday morning. Fortunately they took the precaution of having no patient.

A few minutes before 11 a.m., all doctors and nurses nervously wait outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits.

Just when the clock struck 11... Rayford Johnson, the part-time Sunday sweeper hired several weeks ago, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so that he could use the vacuum cleaner.

No matter how tough it is, it could be worse, right? 

The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. In some cases volunteers worked with veterinarians for several months to save the injured animals and nurse them back to health. One day at a special ceremony, two seals who were among the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view of several hundred people involved in the rescue operation, a killer whale ate them both.

Still feeling sorry for yourself? 

A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

To add insult to injury, the Walkman was broken beyond repair as well, a fact that irritated him a great deal as he sat in the ER room waiting for his arm to be mended.

Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn, Germany. Suddenly, all two thousand pigs broke loose and escaped through a broken fence, stampeding madly. The two hopeless protesters were trampled to death.

But wait. It could be worse. 

Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.

If he hadn't been having such a bad day, maybe he would have paid better attention to what he was doing. 

………………………….

MORE STAFF CHANGES IN JANUARY - TED AND MARGIE RETIRE, SHARON CRAWFORD STAYS

Lost in the shuffle of Susie Merrill's well-publicized farewell, I lost two dear friends when Ted Jones and Margie Saibara decided on the spur of the moment that it was time for them to hang it up as well. 

On Thursday, January 9, Anita Williams and I were practicing our patterns to teach for that night's Martian Whip class. Anita was understandably nervous because it was her first night to take Joanne Spuck's position. 

Ted and Margie sat down next to me and said that they had decided to retire.  Ted had been mulling it over for some time, but had not really made up his mind until they began to drive over for class that night.

Ted and Margie listed about a half dozen reasons why they had decided to go - none of which was terribly earthshaking - but I believe the real reason was that they felt a class like Martian Whip didn't need 4 instructors. Sadly, they were correct. It was the same reason the Rockets recently traded their valuable player Kenny Thomas - they had three men equally talented to play a position that needed a starter and a sub. It wasn't fair to the third man to sit on the bench, so the Rockets traded him to a team that needed help at that position. 

Over the past month I have missed Ted and Margie terribly. They have been my friends for nearly 18 years. Both are just wonderful people. I am sure I will see them again. 

Sharon Crawford went back and forth in her mind and decided what she really needed was a break. So Sharon un-retired, but left for a two month break to recharge her batteries. Look for her to return to begin her much-anticipated Western Waltz program in April.  In the meantime, if you want to read a neat story about a wonderful lady, check out the Legend of Sharon Crawford in our 'Adventures of a Dance Teacher' series. 

And Andrew Wupper will be retiring soon. Andrew has a burgeoning law career and increasing demands on his time. Be sure to wish him well during his final month teaching in February. 

Not all the news is bad. I am pleased to announce several of the openings created by the mass instructor exodus in December have been filled. 

Susan Schroeder starts 2003 as the new ssqq Registrar. Susan is married to David Schroeder, the man who programmed our sophisticated registration system. Fortunately for ssqq students and unfortunately for David, Susan has made it her mission to ferret out every inconsistency she can find in our On-Line Registration system. David has been seen mumbling on several occasions. You can reach her with a question at onlineregistration@ssqq.com

Please give a warm welcome to Charlene Tees who will be teaching Whip/WCS with me on Sundays and with Ben on Thursdays.  Charlene taught for ssqq briefly in the 90s and has taught Whip extensively for Gilbert Huron. She may be new to the modern generation of ssqq, but she is an excellent veteran teacher. She and her husband Doug are very close friends with Sharon Crawford. 

Welcome back to Amanda Keiser who will take Susie's spot on Wednesdays. Amanda is no stranger to SSQQ. She taught here for many years and decided to take a sabbatical at the end of September. Ironically it was Susie who took Amanda's place and now Amanda is getting her old spot back. 

Welcome on board to Michele Yeiter and Darius Johnson who will become Salsa Assistants in Judy Archer's Salsa program. They are taking Rachel Yancey and Anastasia Miller's place. 

Super Astros fan Luis Castillo will be teaching Cumbia this month on Saturdays. He taught it back in October, but didn't get any credit. This time I would like to say he did a great job and I am glad he is back teaching it again!

Finally congratulations to Randy Winfrey and Melissa Gauthier who have been promoted from their 'Volunteer' position to take Anita's place in the Sunday Western program.  I especially enjoy watching Melissa push Randy around the floor while she practices her Twostep. Randy is easily more than twice Melissa's size!
………………………………

CANCUN GETAWAY
APRIL 10-13
IN A WORD - CANCELED. 
………………………………….


AND THAT'S A WRAP FOR THIS ISSUE (AND DON'T FORGET TO GO TO THE WEB SITE FOR THE COMPLETE NEWSLETTER!!)

As you can see, the SSQQ Newsletter is mostly written by people just like you who send stuff in. If you have any comments, suggestions, requests, complaints, jokes, pictures or poetry to share, please send it to me, Rick Archer, at ssqq@houston.rr.com
And thanks for reading all the way to the bottom! …. I might add I do have reason to believe some of you simply scroll to the bottom to look for any little surprises I hide down here. ;-) Anyhow, thanks to all for making it this far!

Rick Archer
SSQQ Dance Studio
4803 Bissonnet
Email: ssqq@houston.rr.com 
Web: www.ssqq.com
Phone: 713-861-1906