site updates
Coupla things you'll notice have changed round here:
First, reader Bruce suggested the new visuals for the "recent screenings" listing over in the righthand column, and his idea is fabulous. Instead of a thumbs-up/thumbs-down -- which I was never really happy with cuz it smacks so much of Roger Ebert, and I don't want to be likened to Ebert -- you'll now see a red light, yellow light, or green light, corresponding to "avoid avoid avoid," "worth catching on DVD, but don't pay multiplex prices for it unless you're a huge fan of someone in it," and "worth paying multiplex prices for." Thanks for the suggestion, Bruce.
Second, I've opened up commenting to everyone. The very low level of micropatron commenting suggests that micropatrons simply aren't interested in this as a feature of their micropatronage, so let's see if opening it up to everyone generates some more conversation. I reserve the right to delete idiotic or abusive comments.
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comments
posted by Greg R (May 8, 2006 1:34 AM)
I like the globe idea but I'm not so keen on the current graphics for them. Your site is very light and crisp, and those globes are so heavy.
I whipped up an example and threw it on image shack:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3628/alternateglobes5fu.jpg
Feel free to use it if you like.
posted by MaryAnn Johanson (May 8, 2006 10:44 AM)
Those are nice. Can you do up a red one too?
posted by Squashua (May 8, 2006 10:45 AM)
Another idea to cut down on wrap-around text would be to abbreviate. I know you want to keep your (review), etc in the names for the RSS crowd, but instead of (review) and (now closed) you can use (r) and (x) or possibly set a different or new RSS attribute: <type_of_post>review</type_of_post>
posted by gsharp (May 8, 2006 7:00 PM)
I like the lights that Greg R made up, however I think they should be a little smaller. This way they are proportional to the size of the text.
You should also change your "Line of Sucktitude" to incorporate the light theme.
posted by MaryAnn Johanson (May 9, 2006 2:13 PM)
Good idea on the line of suckitude -- I'll figure something out for that.
posted by Jerry Colvin (May 9, 2006 4:17 PM)
I don't know why the hatred for Ebert, but you were right to remove the thumbs-up/down because that rating system for movies was trademarked by Siskel and Ebert.
posted by MaryAnn Johanson (May 10, 2006 3:30 PM)
You know, I was gonna say I don't hate Ebert, but trademarking something that Roman emperors were using 2000 years ago is super sucky.
But still: I don't hate Ebert. I just don't want to BE him.
posted by Greg R (May 12, 2006 11:13 PM)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2831/newglobes6xk.jpg
Sorry I meant to post this sooner but for some reason the comments weren't displaying correctly for me. (No clue why...clearly they are working correctly now.) I see you've already made a red version. I also created a 60% smaller version just for kicks. I can't say that I prefer one over the other.
posted by MaryAnn Johanson (May 13, 2006 10:12 AM)
Thanks, Greg, but I'm gonna stick with the bigger stoplights -- I like how they stand out, and I don't think they overwhelm.