Random Image | Sprinkler
It’s not that I think random sprinklers that barely work are interesting, it’s the fact that they have been running straight for 3 4 days that intrigues me.
Good use of water.
npr.org Redesign
The new design for npr.org is now live. I think this is a great improvement from the old site and incorporates a lot of great User Experience and design features.
Most of all it is clean and simple and not cluttered up with unimportant elements. Even though the site is nice, it is a lot like other news sites and follows the same structure. It is a good update for NPR but isn’t anything ground-breaking, but, does it need to be? I think the content of the site is what makes this site stand out.
On the new site, it will be easier to combine listening and reading, to follow breaking news, to comment on our work and share it, and easier to find programming from your NPR station.
Some of the features that they set out to accomplished worked out very well. For instance, the simplified navigation and the three major sections prominently displayed on the home page (News, Arts & Life, and Music). It also has a latest news section that gets “timely” updates.
For a complete walk through and list of the new features, go to http://www.npr.org/services/new_site/.
Montana Backroads
For the past couple of months I have noticed a billboard that I think is brillant. Why is it brillant? Because it is simple, engaging, and to the point, plus, you get the message driving by at 65 mph, okay 75 mph. This billboard is Montana’s Backroads.
I unfortunetaly don’t have an image of the billboard but it is as simple as a beautiful image of the back county with the text, “backroadsmontana.com” on it. That is it. Far to often, companies think they have to cram so much information on a billboard to get their message across when in reality, the opposite is true. The message of this billboard goes beyond the url, although, you know exactly what they want you to do–type in backroadsmontana.com and visit the site (which is also beautiful). The message is left open to inturpretation, escape, explore, having fun, see nature, what ever it turns out to be. Regardless of what you get from it, you want to visit the site.
As I also mentioned, the website is also beautiful, you go there and instantly know you are in the right spot. There is plenty of information and it is organized very well. There are also videos and maps you can download for the different areas.
The firm that did the marketing and design, and also convinced the Montana Office of Tourism to do this, gets an “A” from me. I hope it is successful for them and when you are out driving, try to notice the billboards and check out the website, www.backroadsmontana.com.
Random Image | TV in the Parking Lot
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review
Yesterday I had the chance to go to a private screening of Harry Potter, The Half Blooded Prince, compliments of Digicert.
As a big Harry Potter fan my overall thought is it was good and you wont be disappointed, but hopefully you have read the book. Of course they had to cut out a lot of scenes but I had to question some of the scenes they decided to cut. The overall tone of the movie was very light and even humorous. Knowing that the series gets progressely darker in its tone, this movie didn’t come across that way. The movie seemed to be a setup for the next movie and it was more about telling enough of the story to lead into the next one.
I expected the movie to have more action and move along a little quicker, but it didn’t. There was a lot of focus on the love interests between Harry and Jenny and Ron and Hermione, which could have been downplayed a little and filled in with more of the action scenes and the big plots of the story.
The special effects were amazing and it is always fun to see the books come to life. The overall acting of the characters was great, a little overacting by Ron’s character Rupert Grint, but I think that was more from the scenes they showed of him.
Was this the best Harry Potter movie yet? No, but I think the movie was good and is worth seeing on the big screen.
Immigration Day
Awhile ago I participated in an online video discussion about the economy and the recession called Purple States that included one person from every state. They were to give their advice to the new president. I was asked to represent Utah. As we video taped ourselves talking about these issues, one of the questions they wanted us to answer was about immigration. Although I don’t have strong issues either for or against immigration my main thought on topic is, obey the law.
As today is immigration day, being postponed from its original day, there is a new video from Purple States that highlights each persons response to the immigration issue. Unfortunately, I wasn’t highlighted, probably since I didn’t have strong opinions either way, but it is very interesting to hear everyone’s view. Check it out and let us know what you think.