web sites

Welcome to another installment of The Grouse's semi-annual lambasting of poor practices on the Web. When I compiled my first list of all things online and terrible six months ago, I thought I'd been fairly comprehensive. CAPTCHAs, tooltip ads, bottomless dropdown menus and audio ads were among the archaic and ill-conceived online "experiences" thrown on the fire. But just six months later, I find myself with a host of new grievances to air.

Every issue has two sides and at ProCon.org they offer the pros and cons to each. From politics to prostitution to the death penalty, the non-partisan nonprofit organization has invited experts to offer their unbiased, differing, opinions on controversial issues since 2004. The latest topic on the forum? Drug use in sports.

Despite the economic flogging we’re trying our best not to think about, most of us don’t bat an eye when shelling out that monthly 50-plus bucks for Internet access. I guess that’s a testament to how deeply integrated into our lives the Web has become in just the last few years. Between my home Internet service from Time Warner and my data plan from Verizon Wireless, I’m paying about $80 per month to get online. If I travel, I pay T-Mobile et al. another toll to browse in the airport terminal and then I usually end up paying someone else for Internet access once I’m in my hotel room. When all is said and done, I cough up $100 or more per month to get online.

I don’t know about you, but that seems like a lot of bread these days.