I have customized Phoenix 0.5 to squash all Flash and most ad images. Combined with the builtin pop-up killer, and the run animation only once option it lowers the irritation factor enormously.I use Internet Explorer as needed for Flash stuff and Movable Type posts (because of the URL button and iespell). When these new ads show up, I'll just add a few more rules.

I just wish the usability of the Phoenix site was a better. It's easier to find nightly builds than it is to find the stable releases.

Posted by: Chad Lundgren on February 4, 2003 07:54 PM

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Just about a year ago, I attended a publishing party for Randy Cohen (the New York Times writer of the "The Ethicist" column, available in their Sunday magazine section) — I was invited because his book drew heavily on Samuel Johnson quotations he'd taken from my "did I say 'excellent'?" Samuel Johnson web site, and I was mentioned in the acknowledgements. (Did I also mention that I happen to be a very good, personal friend of the Great Cham? No? Good. It'd be a lie.)

Anyway, at that time there had been an article on the NY Times' view of the Internet site and the corporate philosophy about whether or not it needed to generate a profit on its own. I had some conversations with a couple people there about the economics of the internet. The idea at that point for the NY Times was that it didn't need to show its own profit, its activites were seen to support the profit line of the print edition and other enterprises. (Anyone know how to close the "namedrop" tag in html? Is it less than-sign-slash-namedrop-greater-than-sign?)

Well, lookee here, I guess that idea isn't panning out. I have two things to say about this:

• One, I told them a number of times, I'd gladly send them a check for $100 a year, because as a NYC resident it was worth that much to me easily. I will make the same offer again if I don't have to see all the ads.
  
• Two, with Opera, you can turn off all images easily with a toggle in the toolbar. And with other software you can screen out ads.
  

I'm glad the Times has learned more about the economics of the Internet. Just don't make me see ads!

Posted by: Frank on February 4, 2003 07:58 PM

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Print-like would not be so bad IF that also means the ads are static.

Better yet is a lighter mix of text, links, forms, and small graphics.

I regularly notice and sometimes even read print advertisements, which are generally more informative and useful than online advertisements.

Yet I do not hold my newspaper next to the television while trying to read, especially if the television is blinking full of obnoxious colors. ;-)

Posted by: sean on February 4, 2003 11:31 PM

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