Via: Shorpy

Forget about the two remaining democrats for now – let’s ask the all important question – who has the better splash? The splash page is what you see when you first reach a Web site. In both cases, the primary goal is to get you on the mailing list. The good news is that they both drop a cookie so you never see the page again.Let’s start with the splash pages. Both use traditional colors – red, white, and blue. Let’s workshop the splash pages:

Hillary Clinton’s splash page

Info
Requires first name, last name, email and zip code. They obviously want to know who you are and where you live. Important for getting the word out. Once the form is complete, you are redirected to the homepage.

Tagline
“Help make history” – Somewhat confusing. Does it refer to the history that will be made because it’s a first for a woman nominee? If so, that message is really more about Clinton. You can help HER make history. This tag line appeals to some but not all.

Design
Traditional non flashy design displaying Hillary’s three quarter photo. Generally photos that are shot under the chin looking up are a no no. The face does point in towards the message and that works well. The logo “Hillary for President” is confusing as it also shares this tag line “Help Make History.” There are no styles attached to the form. The GIANT submit button is a bit overkill. It’s red. It doesn’t need to be bigger than the logo.

Overall
The design is very traditional and old school.

Barack Obama’s splash page

Info
Only requires an email and zip code. This tells me the Obama camp understands the internet much better. You can add your email and zip and still remain anonymous. In all fairness, Obama uses a rather large button as well. However, Obama’s says “Learn More” which may encourage a click. Also, unlike Clinton’s splash page, you are first taken to a “Thanks for joining the movement” page then redirected to the homepage. Good feedback for the user.

Tagline”
Change we can believe in” – Obama’s tag line appeals to all. Everybody can get behind this type of inspirational message.

Design
The overall design is pleasing to the eye. The bold use of blue works well and helps to frame the message. There is a clear distinction between the logo “Obama 08″ and the inspirational tag line “Change we can believe in.” The black and white photo of Obama and his family is tastefully done. The vignette also allows the photo to breathe and bathe in the whitespace.

Overall
The design is more web 2.0 and much cleaner.I give this round to Obama. Simply on design alone.

Today, in the United States, it’s Martin Luther King Jr. day. A day or remembrance and reflection on a man whose words are as powerful today as the day he spoke them. One year after King’s famous “I have a dream” speech [28 August 1963], he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 1964. This is an excerpt from his acceptance speech:

Therefore, I must ask why this prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting struggle; to a movement which has not won the very peace and brotherhood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize.

Interesting that King graciously accepts the Nobel Peace Prize and at the same time asks why the prize is awarded to a struggle which has yet won the peace and brotherhood which is what the Nobel Prize is all about in the first place. King makes a strong point without disparaging the very award he is given. He merely wants the audience to understand that the movement is ongoing until peace + brotherhood is achieved.

I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today’s motor bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men. I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. “And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.” I still believe that We Shall overcome!

“I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up.” This unto itself is a powerful and relevant statement for our time. Self-centered can be good or bad. It just depends on the focus. I like the positive spin he puts on self-centered. As if to say we can take that self-centered energy and focus it on something positive for all of humanity rather than the opposite. So it is on this day I reflect on King’s words and see so much relevance for today. Like all great leaders and prophets, Martin Luther King life was taken on April 4, 1968 by an assassin’s bullet in Memphis, Tennessee. He was only 39 years old.

Here is a mashup, from an earlier post, of King’s famous “Drum Major Speech.” I took the speech and added music and a female backing voice:

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After finishing a healthy lunch today, I had a craving for a Starbucks Venti Chai Latte. Driving up to Starbucks, I noticed an unusual excess of cars in the parking lot. So I began circling the Starbucks. Patiently I searched for a spot. Driving around, and around, and around the building. So many times that I started counting. Twelve, thirteen, fourteen… ah ha… a spot. Should I be concerned that it’s about three blocks away from the building? Hell, no, I need my Venti Chai Latte.

I walk right up to the counter and the nice girl behind the register greets me. She asks me what I want and I reply “I’ll take a Venti Chai Latte please”. Of course I’m still fuming over my parking lot escapade. I’m thinking to myself “What kind of Jackhole circles the building fourteen times for a stinking cup of tea”? Oh, that would be me. So the nice little girl behind the counter asks me my name. (Starbucks likes to write your name on the cup so they can call you by name when your drink is ready.) The girl asks me my name again and I reply “JACKHOLE”! She asks me if Jackhole is my real name. I said “It is today”. “I drove around looking for a spot fourteen times”. Another girl looks at me and says “Was that you in the green truck”?. “Yeah”, I replied. “That was me”… the JACKHOLE”.

My attention get diverted for a second while another girl holding a sampler assortment of coffee offers me one. I grab one and think about it for a second and say “Did you say this was coffee”? She replies “Yes”. Not wanting coffee, I put it back on the tray. She grabs it and turns around to throw it in the garbage. I said “Oh, that’s the PC thing to do”. “Toss it out”. “You wouldn’t want to offend anybody now would you”. The register girl shouts “No way JACKHOLE!” I think that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in a Starbucks or any other coffee shop for that matter.

When my Venti Chai Latte is finally ready. The kid yells out “Hey JACKHOLE !” “Your VENTI CHAI LATTE is ready JACKHOLE !”. The other Starbuckers behind the counter say “BYE JACKHOLE!”. “See you tomorrow, JACKHOLE !”