"The common use of "flash intros" to corporate websites has never made much sense. Generally, they're a pain, and even for the few folks who want to watch them, after seeing it once, why should they ever want to go back again? Yet, for some reason, web designers love them, and somehow keep convincing corporations to use them. However, a usability expert studying these things now says that " the skip intro button is the most used button on the Internet." While you can quibble over the hyperbole, it does make sense to question why so many firms keep using these types of entryways, when it clearly keeps people from the content they actually want -- such as how to buy your product. (via TechDirt)

101    
102     // These are in order of decreasing likelihood; this will change in time.
103     dojo.hostenv._XMLHTTP_PROGIDS = ['Msxml2.XMLHTTP', 'Microsoft.XMLHTTP', 'Msxml2.XMLHTTP.4.0'];
104    
105     dojo.hostenv.getXmlhttpObject = function(){
106         var http = null;
107             var last_e = null;
108             try{ http = new XMLHttpRequest(); }catch(e){}
109         if(!http){
110                     for(var i=0; i<3; ++i){
111                             var progid = dojo.hostenv._XMLHTTP_PROGIDS[i];
112                             try{
113                                     http = new ActiveXObject(progid);
114                             }catch(e){
115                                     last_e = e;
116                             }
117    
118                             if(http){
119                                     dojo.hostenv._XMLHTTP_PROGIDS = [progid];  // so faster next time
120                                     break;
121                             }
122                     }
123    
124                     /*if(http && !http.toString) {
125                             http.toString = function() { "[object XMLHttpRequest]"; }
126                     }*/
127             }
128    
129             if(!http){
130                     return dojo.raise("XMLHTTP not available", last_e);
131             }
132    
133             return http;
134     }
135    

It really was just three weeks ago that the news came out that Verizon agreed to settle a class action suit brought against the company for being too aggressive in blocking spam. Apparently, what the lawyers agreed to hasn't filtered back to those in charge of handling the spam filters (perhaps it was caught in their own spam filter), as the company is now being accused of turning on (oh yes, once again) an overly aggressive spam filter leading to many problems for users not getting important, legitimate, emails. It's great that Verizon wants to curb spam for its users -- but being overly aggressive without any way to opt-out or check the filter is clearly problematic for people who expect to be able to get all of their legitimate emails. Update: Verizon is now claiming that this was simply a glitch with their spam filters -- and it's now been fixed. However, anyone from Yahoo, America Online, MSN, Google, Roadrunner and a few other ISPs who tried to email someone with a Verizon.net email address over the past few days might want to try to resend that message. (via TechDirt)

1. The announcer points out very quickly after they hooked up the chains that they are unexpectedly heavier than they thought and it might cause problems for Blaine being able to come up for air or some such nonsense. First of all, any preparation for this kind of thing would have gone through about 100 trials beforehand. No way this would come up as a surprise and no way the announcer would key into it within seconds of putting the chains on.

2. Just seconds before "trouble" starts, the announcer just happens to mention that if we see bubbles that will indicate a problem. The announcer again says, "we're watching for bubbles".

3. Seconds after watching for bubbles their is a convenient black-out of the broadcast while the announcer is announcing there is trouble, there are bubbles, blah blah blah.

4. Why do the divers have to make a dramatic rescue anyway? He used a breathing device for days under there. Why not throw that on his face instead of going through the whole routine of getting him free of the chains. Or, you would think they would have a nice release valve at the bottom that would drain the water in a few seconds in case of an emergency. But having divers jump in and struggle makes things that much more interesting.