What have you done MSNBC? Your news site used to be one of the most pleasant to use, but now things are different. Today you unveiled your “new and improved” design, which in my opinion is a usability nightmare. Too much scrolling, clicking, digging to find what I need. I’m guessing you must have used the same designer who put together FoxNews.com. And what’s with the truly hideous rainbow title banner at the top?
Why do US news sites suck so bad? Why haven’t any of them truly figured out how to design a visually pleasing, easily navigable design? CNN.com’s recent design update is a step in the right direction, but it’s far from being good at this point. I think the US news sites need to look to the BBC or Google News for guidance.
One major suggestion for “the big three” of American online news services, tone down the ads a bit. When one-third or more of your page is dedicated to giant, moving, flash based ads it gets a little busy. When I can’t easily tell the difference between an ad and a story, you’ve got a major usability problem.
Currently playing in iTunes: Don’t Fear the Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult Acoustic Cover) by Him
I have to laugh every time I see one of those Home Depot commercials. You know the ones where some extremely friendly, very knowledgeable and helpful associate helps the customer. Maybe it’s just every Home Depot I’ve been to, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
To me, most Home Depot associates don’t seem very friendly, almost like they’d rather light themselves on fire than stop to answer a question. And rarely do I find someone knowledgeable about their products. I find more help myself online.
I always thought there was something illegal about false advertising. Oh well, I guess it doesn’t apply to Home Depot.
I’m not exactly sure why anyone would care that Walmart’s video download site doesn’t support Macs. It’s Walmart, the most evil retail corporation on the planet. I would certainly hope that no self-respecting Mac user would ever spend a penny there.
Now Netflix’s download service not supporting a Mac, that’s another story.
So once again Bush and the Bigot Bunch headed to defeat in trying to pass the anti-gay marriage amendment. What amazes me is how he so transparently pulls out this issue whenever he’s in trouble and the sheepish right-wing conservative Christians fall in line and they don’t see how they’re simply being used in Bush’s game. I could only imagine what Jesus would say about that if he walked the earth today.
Personally I have a simple solution to the problem. The government should get out of the marriage business. The government has no place administering a religious institiution. Instead replace it completely with civil unions. These unions would be nothing more than a contract between two people, any two people, who choose to enter into a legaly binding contract to support each other. Let the churches have their sacrament back.
So I wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day! Boy it’s been a while since I’ve posted on here, but it’s always easy to forget when life gets busy.
Let’s see what have I been up to. Took my finals for my first 2 classes, got A’s in the classes. Yay me! Work has been extra busy lately with all the new responsibilities I have because of my project. I had the flu. My first summer class started this week, it’s a super-accelerated 5-week course that is kicking my butt, my 2 other summer classes don’t start until the middle of June.
I also want to wish Ryan a happy birthday!
I noticed yesterday that people that walk around with those stupid bluetooth headsets on annoy the hell out of me. Why do you need them in, are you really that important? I mean there were people even wearing them while they were eating. I’ve decided that I will just refuse to acknowledge anyone who tries to talk to me while wearing one of those things. 
Is it just me or does anyone else think the recent change of heart about Libya has way more to do with oil than anything else?
Am I like the only person left alive who thinks MySpace is worthless? What is everyone’s obsession with it? I seriously fail to see the point of it other than a conduit for spam and bloated internet social networking.
I was thoroughly unimpressed with Bush’s State of the Union address this evening. Again he was more focused on the poorly performing war on terror and illegal wiretapping than on anything substantive. It was the same old rhetoric we’ve heard from his speeches the last four years. Where is his vision, where is the leadership? It’s apparently his plan to continue his failed policies that have gotten him some of the worst approval ratings of any president.
Of course the Democrats completely screwed up their response. I completely agree with The New Republic on their assesment:
True, the selection of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to deliver the rebuttal to tonight’s State of the Union address probably wasn’t a brilliant move. As the liberal blogosphere has already noted, selecting a man who’s held his current office for all of two weeks seems a bit, well, unwise. Even Republicans must be starting to get frustrated that Democrats continue to be so feckless.
What were they thinking of choosing this guy? He hasn’t been in office long enough to prove he can do anything yet. He lacked charisma and energy to me. He may have been clearer in his message, but I certainly didn’t feel inspired after hearing it.
Maybe some day the Democrats will get a clue and capitalize on a situation that should have voters running to them in droves.
While driving on the highway the other day I just really couldn’t help but think how ugly billboards are. I think the world would be a much better place if they were outlawed.
This Christmas Adam and I went down to be with his family in Virginia. His family is very warm and caring, some may call that “southern charm”, I just call it good people. While we were there we decided to meet up with Jeremiah who was also home for the holidays and have some lunch.
On our way to eat we passed the the factory that was in the process of being expanded for the Thomas Road Baptist Church. I’m not quite sure why Jerry Falwell needs a factory for a church, but it’s his money. I just wonder what he’s keeping in that silo?
