Karlo.Org - Weblog

As a result of the war, I've been looking at a much wider variety of news web sites than usual. Far and away, the most innovative page design I've seen is at the International Herald Tribune's web site. Check out this article: "IHT: U.S. takes on elite guard"... in particular, they've successfully incorporated a multi-column format into a single page, avoided the need for scrolling (a relatively difficult and imprecise interaction in window interfaces) and yet allows users to change to other traditional layouts if they desire. Try the buttons at the lower right of the screen. Also, the page structure, design and advertising are incorporated really well into an integrated package. I wish the New York Times (which own the IHT) had this nice a page design.

Posted by at 11:51 PM | Permalink

Feed your war news addiction with a near real-time compilation of breaking reports at The Command Post - A Warblog Collective

I love it because it saves me looking at multiple sites, or waiting for one to post the latest update. Plus, most of the minute-by-minute news is really only worth a sentence or two, but the news sites generally feel compelled to write a 300 word-story for each new tidbit.

My only criticism? A bit too much news from Fox television, for my taste, combined with somewhat of a hawkish lean; but you'd expect that from folks following every battle action so closely.

Posted by at 8:53 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (3)

Here are my Oscar picks: favorite and least favorite... they're based on the votes of 40-odd friends compiled by Lee Clontz's web site.

Posted by at 6:40 PM | Permalink

Two simple, intelligent and cost effective uses of technology to ensure public safety: the Kuwaiti government is sending war-related alerts to its population via text (SMS) messages on their cell phones, and Israel has the "silent channel", a radio station that is continually mute until urgent information is being broadcast, allowing residents to leave their radio on but silent while they sleep or work, while still ready to receive alerts.

As one of the most technologically sophisticated nations on earth, why hasn't the US started implementing things like this? I live in New York... if there was an attack, would someone have the sense to send text SMS broadcasts to the cell phones nearly everyone here carries as a way to quickly spread disaster information?

(Interestingly, the Israeli "silent channel" was institute during the first Gulf War, when it was discovered that much of the country was afraid to go to sleep for fear of missing warnings of an imminent attack.)

Posted by at 3:20 PM | Permalink

Today's network news catchphrase seems to be "preparing the battlefield." I guess if we're going to do "surgical strikes" (1991 lingo), then we first need to prepare the operating theatre. Still, it seems like a very removed replacement term for "blowing the crap out of things high on our list." Does anyone else think the military shows are increasingly sounding like FoodTV? Will Tommy Franks be punctuating his bomb damage assessments (BDAs) with the occasional "bam"???

Posted by at 4:46 PM | Permalink

Looking at MSNBC this morning, they've got the "war timer" up now. Seems that it's become mandatory to put up a countdown timer on the overlay any time anyone gives any kind of deadline. Is it really necessary to track exactly how many minutes remain? Is the first missile really going to launch when the timer reaches zero? No. If Saddam steps down at hour 48, minute 2, will we still attack? In international diplomacy, should there really be "buzzer beaters" to avoiding war?

Posted by at 9:25 AM | Permalink

Sony's released the T610, a replacement for their previous flagship T68i. The T610 is well overdue, and it's got most of the "standard" high-end features we're seeing in new phones: a built-in camera, high resolution screen, joystick control, Bluetooth, etc. It's also got a fairly nice, clean design, which will appeal to the "soap bar" crowd. Not sure yet on the exact size, but it looks to be one of the best for a phone with a fairly large color screen. Figure they'll come in at the standard $400 price point then fade down in to the more consumer levels.

Posted by at 10:14 AM | Permalink

The Morning News did a great piece last year on New York jargon that I ran into recently. If you don't relate to it, you probably don't live in New York. I know I personally hit at least two of these issues every day.

Metrotard (noun): A person in front of you at the subway turnstile who can't figure out how to swipe his or her subway pass. Also: A person who tries to use a Metrocard to withdraw money from an ATM.

Posted by at 12:32 PM | Permalink