Web Secret #24: Very Bad Websites

Just as you can learn from visiting the very best websites, you can learn a lot from visiting the very worst.

Conveniently for all interested parties, there is a web site that collects and ranks the absolute turkeys of web design, web navigation and web content. I am talking, of course, about the fabulously edifying and entertaining "Web Pages That Suck".

The great thing about this website, is that not only do they rank the worst of the worst on a yearly basis, but they accompany their selections with witty commentary.

You too can explore such atrocities as:
Tally-Ho Uniforms & Accessories - one of the top 10 worst websites of 2007
Yvette's - a rising contender for the worst of 2008
Burlington Ufo and Paranormal Research and Education Center ("This is so godawful that it ruptures the very fabric of space and time")

Remember my August 22, 2008 post, Web Secret: Ten Commandments of Website Design? This is what happens when you simultaneously violate all ten commandments.

Bonus Secret: Wondering if your web site sucks? Then read their "Checklist 1 - 149 Mortal Sins That Will Send Your Site to Web Design Hell", and wonder no more.

Web Secret #23 - TED

Imagine if, whenever you wanted to, you could listen to a relatively brief, (no more than 18 minute), presentation given by one of the greatest and most entertaining minds in the world.

You would be inspired.

You would be enlightened.

You would be clicking on the TED website.


TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).

The TED website makes the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for FREE. More than 200 talks from their archive are now available, with more added each week. Better yet, these videos can be freely shared and reposted.

Want to experience the power and exhilaration of TED?

Here are three of my favorite presentations to get you started:

Robert Lang folds way-new origami

Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight

Einstein the Parrot: Talking and squawking.

Economy got you down? Sick of politics? Turn off the telly and click on TED. One of the nicest gifts you can give to yourself.

Web Secret #22 - blogtalkradio

Ever fantasize about having your own radio show? Ever hoped someone would interview you about your amazing Equine Therapy practice? Or wanted to publicly acknowledge the 10th anniverary of your successful EAP business? Or wanted to try your hand at being the host of your own call in psychotherapy program a la Dr. Ruth?

Fantasize no more, check out blogtalkradio.com.

BlogTalkRadio is the social radio network that allows users to connect quickly and directly with their audience. Using an ordinary telephone and computer, hosts can create FREE, live, call-in talk shows with unlimited participants that are automatically archived and made available as podcasts. No software download is required!

Web Secret #21 - yousendit

Most people are really bad about backing up their important computer based documents, photos, music files, etc. This means most people are only one computer crash away from losing all of their STUFF!

Friends, I count myself among you. I get really lazy about backing up my files despite the fact that I can:

1. back them up on a remote server
   
2. back them up on any one of the 15 different pocket USB drives I own
   
3. back them up on my really nifty personal paperback book sized portable hard drive.
   

So in a pinch, what do you do when you're about to leave for a two week vacation and your 18 year old nephew is housesitting and he's a gamer and the odds are good that he is going to crash your computer and destroy the file containing the 300 photos you took at your 25th high school reunion?

You e-mail 'em!

That's right - cyberspace is safer than your home.

Aah - but 300 photos - that's a huge file. How are you going to send something that huge, quickly and safely?

HELLO yousendit.com

yousendit is a digital delivery company serving businesses and individuals on the Web. Their innovative service enables users to send, receive and track HUGE files, on-demand.

Best of all they offer both a FREE TRIAL and a FREE SERVICE option.

What's great is you can:

1. e-mail your 300 photos to another computer
   
2. send the e-mail and once you have properly backed up the photos, delete it - you no longer need the insurance.
   

email back up - it's a good thing.