December 15, 1999

Clearly this is a terrible picture of me but the reason I am including it anyway is because over my shoulder, you can see the boxes containing Christmas presents!! I have been getting boxes almost every day. I know some people don't like shopping online because of the lack of instant gratification, but I think it's almost more fun when you start getting little packages in the mail. Who doesn't like to get packages in the mail? Even though I ordered it, so I know what's in them, it's still cool.

I'm going out tonight to meet some friends from school, and I have some stuff I want to finish before I leave, so this will be a short entry. I have some ideas saved up for later, though, so hopefully this will be the only short entry for a while. I finally got started researching that 15 page paper I have to write, and there was a lot more information than I had previously thought, which is a good thing. I'm going to write about how site design and usability factors into online buying. Like, if a site is poorly designed, and you can't find what you want, will you still buy from them? Also, how does a site like Amazon facilitate both finding a specific item quickly, as well as random browsing? And how much clutter on the front page is too much? Obviously, as with physical stores, sites want to show off the goods on the front page whenever possible, but when does too much on the front page become overwhelming to the user? Another factor is trust -- how does site design imply that the site is trustworthy? Are you more likely to buy from a site that looks more professional and clean?

Anyway, these are all issues that are currently evolving, but there have been studies done and the like. It all started when I saw a statistic saying that a large percentage of people will put something into their shopping cart or basket while shopping online, but then never make it all the way to the checkout, and how site design can feed into that. I don't think I'll have any trouble making fifteen pages since I just got two big paragraphs off the top of my head, and that was just asking questions and not answering them. But if you have any thoughts about this matter, feel free to send them to me. Or if you have seen any articles or studies and want to send me a URL, that's cool too. Not that I'm asking my readers to do my research for me or anything -- even if no one sends in a link, I've got enough research! Keep it real! (That's the new "Peace out" by the way).

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How freaking awesome was Buffy last night? Xeney linked to a cool interview with Joss Whedon about it.

In further journal exploits, Stee pointed out that you can get $25 worth of free vitamins at Vitamins.com. Get buying!

MTV: The next Microsoft?

Not to be mean, but would the ghost of Mama Cass really turn on the Stairmaster? And if she did, maybe she wants Dan Akroyd to take the hint.

B'nai B'rith feels that SNL's Hanukah parody was over the line.

You may remember me talking about Jim's friend Justin moving to San Diego. Well, he got a job at the Helen Woodward Animal Center! Hooray!