I was bouncing around dropping some Entrecards this morning and ran into a few things that I absolutely hate to see on the web. New designers should be taught to avoid these practices in web design 101. I know I’m not alone here so any newbie bloggers out there please take heed to these, “what I consider”, horrible design flaws.
Music On A Page That Automatically Starts
This was as annoying back in the day when people would embed wavs into their cheesy pages as it is today. This is also a problem with many Myspace pages. I don’t want to listen to your music. I don’t like your music…well that’s not fair, but I would much rather have the option to listen to your music than have it thrust onto me. See my XSPF player link to the right. I like to share with my readers to, but I’m not forcing anyone to check out my superior musical tastes…(tongue in cheek)
Video Ads That Automatically Start
I’m afraid that these are becoming more and more popular. These are the tiny video ads that start once loaded without anyone clicking on them. If you have these on your page I will not come back to your site. I don’t feel I am alone here. So if you wanted to make some extra cash with some fancy looking video ads like this I think you’re doing more harm than good.
Full Page Pop Over Ads
I don’t know who decided this would scheme would work, but unfortunately these to are showing up more and more. I’ve noticed a couple today while bouncing from my Entrecard rss feed. These are those full page ads, usually white, with a, “skip this ad”, option at the top of the page. I’m more apt to skip your web site and never come back. These didn’t work when they were pop up ads and they don’t work now.
In Summation
I’m not opposed to web site ads. My site is monetized, but is what I consider un-intrusive or at least less intrusive. These are just in my opinion horrible design practices. I will immediately hit my back button or close my browser when you push media like this into my eyes and ears.
Again I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. There’s a reason why Tivo is so popular. No one wants to watch the commercials. What makes you think that I wont immediately leave your page when you try to push your commercials on me?
In Michigan, since October 2003, there’s been a diabolical little law in place called the, Michigan Driver’s Responsibility Law. This devious program was put into effect to supposedly tax unsafe drivers for negligent or dangerous driving conduct. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but I’m seeing it more as a grab for cash in a state that really can’t afford it. I’m currently struggling through bureaucracy and red tape to get my license reinstated due to this, “what I consider”, unfair law.
My Story
In early 2006 I was stopped for running a red light. I would like to argue, but my bad and I took the ticket. This was a problem for someone like me at the time. I was barely making enough money to exist. I had been laid off from my job as a web designer and had been on unemployment for the better part of 4 months when this happened.
As luck would have it my insurance lapsed by 1 sorry week when I was popped. Luckily about a month later I landed a new job and was able to catch up on bills. Well since my insurance lapsed I was hit with the Driver’s Responsibility Law. I was charged $200 which I paid and figured I had made up for my negligence.
I should have read the fine print. The act states that the offender will be charged $200 for 2 years = $400 owed. I’ve since moved about 4 blocks from where I used to live when I was ticketed. I put in a change of address form and had no problems getting bills from my insurance company, for my car payment, for utilities and income tax documents, yet I never once received a letter from the Department of Treasury or Secretary of State stating I owed any more money or that my license was even suspended. By the way I didn’t even know who I owed this money to until I went into the Secretary of State.
The Secretary Of State Doesn’t Have to Tell You When Your License is Suspended
My license was suspended for the better part of 2007. I had no idea and wasn’t contacted by anyone, including the Secretary of State saying my license was suspended. To my knowledge, and I’ve looked, there’s no place online to find this out and no one but the cops will tell you when, and if you are in violation.
I Was Supposed to Be Arrested
On February 21, 2008 I was pulled over again for running a red light. I know I’m a dumb ass. I was lost and not paying enough attention to the traffic lights. Again my bad, but imagine my surprise when the officer came up to my car window and told me my license was suspended and that they should by all rights take me into jail. I asked why and how long it was suspended and they didn’t have any info to provide me.
I’m Not the Only One Effected by This
When I went to court there were at least 8 other people that were there for a pre-trial for the same offense as me. We were all processed and given arraignment dates. When I went to the lobby I asked the clerk if there was any temporary license I could get as I have to drive to work everyday. She told me I had to be tried before anything like that would be issued.
When I came back a month later I was the last person called up as I didn’t have an attorney. All they wanted was my money so I figured why spend more. In retrospect I wish I would have at least gotten a phone consultation as an attorney would have told me I could pay my fine at any time. Imagine my frustration when i found this out. Grrrr.
About the Last Trip I Took to the Secretary Of State
I went in last week to pay to have my license reinstated. The Ogor behind the counter told me I couldn’t pay the reinstatement fee until I paid the Department of Treasury. She gave me a sheet of paper that had 3 offices I could visit to pay for Michigan Driver’s Responsibility farce. The closest one being in Detroit. Mind you I am now 2 days in the hole at work for fixing this ticket. That’s 2 days of vacation time I had to take off in order to get right with the state. She also told me it would take up to 5 weeks if I paid by phone not to come back until June 2 as the funds would not be cleared until then.
Name Me One Other Business That Works This Way
So I called the Treasury Department and paid by phone and was told that the funds would be cleared by the following Wedensday. Again I don’t know why all this takes so long to clear. I can pay any other bill by credit card and have it clear immediately, but for some reason I couldn’t pay the bill to have my license reinstated.
This stretches out the amount of time I need to drive with a suspended license. A license I didn’t know was suspended. A suspension that would get me arrested if I was pulled over. A fee I could have taken care of at any possible time over the past year had I’d known it were even on my record!
I have a job… I have the means..??
So Riddle Me This
These questions appear in no specific order, but are something to think about given our current state of affairs.
Why would Michigan keep a law in place like this when our unemployment rate is 7.1% while the national average is around 5.2%?
Why in a state where we’re contemplating extending the unemployment benefits by 6 weeks would anyone think this is a good idea to keep this on the books?
In 2006 there were 750 homes that were foreclosed on in Michigan. This year alone the number has sky rocketed to over a staggering 7500 foreclosures. How many of these people could afford another hit to the wallet?
Why is our government trying to hit us when we’re down? WE’RE IN A RECESSION! People are lucky to be working. Why do I have to feel like a criminal when I get in my car to go by milk? I work…I pay taxes..I contribute to society.
Our founding forefathers are banging and clawing at the lining of their coffins as I type this.
Michigan Politician Responsibility Law
Sign the Petition to Have The Michigan Drivers Responsibility Law Repealed
Sign up here. This law is unjust and unfair. Speak your voice! Make a difference!
Here are a few ways to see how your site is doing with the major search engines. Specifically, this post will show you how to find indexed pages & backlinks in the top 3 search engines Google, Yahoo and MSN.
Indexed Pages And Backlinks in Google
Google makes this very easy. Simply pull up Google in a browser and enter the code below with the web site you want to evaluate. With Google you have the option to not only search for backlinks (links:) and pages (site:), but also web sites that are similar in content to your own (related:).
Pages Indexed in Google
site:www.natebal.com
Back Links in Google
link:www.natebal.com
Related Web Sites
related:www.natebal.com
Indexed Pages And Backlinks in Yahoo
This is a little different when using Yahoo. They have a different tracking system called SiteExplorer where you can actually set up web sites in a control panel to be followed by Yahoo. To access this data you can set up an account for tracking or replace the url in the string below with your own address.
Pages Indexed in Yahoo
Backlinks in Yahoo
Indexed Pages And Backlinks in MSN
MSN is set up like Google. I wish they were all this way, but the lines below will give you the results you’re looking for in MSN.
Having troubles opening Office 2007 files? Your version of Word doesn’t seem to know what to do with .docx file? Being an IT guy I keep running into this issue as people start upgrading their Office Suites.
The Issue:
“Microsoft introduced the .docx file format in its new Office and Word applications and wants it to replace the commonly used doc format. The problem with the change from doc to docx is that many users are still working with prior versions of Word or no Microsoft product at all and face the problem that they can’t load the docx file because it is not supported in their application.”
Here are some pics from the last few days along with a super cool new feature which I’ll be reviewing soon called Map My Ride. It’s a neat online application that can import GPX files from your GPS and trace your biking or hiking routes.
It will tell you mileage, elevation, calculate calories burned and even let you mark your own points of interest such as places to get water, rest, eat, etc. You also have the option to create your own route by hand (see below).
My new tires which I’m completely thrilled with. ThanksSquidoo!
Thorns from this weekend which I was less than thrilled with.
I was bouncing around the net trying to find some easy, “Copy and Paste”, code to add Sociable type functionality to my Blogger blog and had little luck locating code that actually did what it said it would. So I set to the task of writing something that would.
Below is some simple code you can copy and paste into your Blogger template to add the following group of social networks to your Blogger web sites.
Socialize this post
Step by step directions
1. Access your Blogger dashboard and click on the layout tab. Select the, “Edit HTML“, sub tab.
2. Make sure, “Expand Widget Templates“, is selected. You can also revert to your defaulted widget template by clicking the revert button on the bottom.
3. Look for the following strip of code in your template.
4. Past the code below after this tag and hit preview.
Screen shots from my latest obsession Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. Set in modern times utilizing technology used today by our armed forces this game is hard to stop playing. It’s unfortunately short, but once won cheats and arcade levels become a menu option. There are also new maps in the works as well.
