Use of text attributes on Mercury Center

I sent the letter below to the San Jose Mercury News web designer. There was no reply. I sent it again on November 18, 1997 (with the addition of the bit about unpaddable space). Since then, Mercury Center has been totally redesigned. The new movies service is great although for some reason they retain the old bad format, too.

To: APoon@SJMercury.com
From: Dave_@_Yost.com
Subject: Use of text attributes on Mercury Center
Date: 26 April 1997 [revised 14 Nov 1997]

I've just started using Mercury Center. Generally, I like your graphics a lot, but I'd like to see you improve your use of text to aid skimming and locating information. This involves three changes to your current practice:

 

Below are some examples:

http://cgi.sjmercury.com/ent/docs/show22.htm

Before:

MOUNTAIN VIEW

CENTURY CINEMA 16 * 1500 Shoreline Blvd, 415-960-0970) 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag 11:45, 2:05, 4:30, 7, 9:15. Anaconda noon, 12:45, 2:15, 3, 4:30, 5:15, 6:45, 7:30, 9, 9:45. The Devil's Own 11:40, 2:05, 4:40, 7:20, 9:45. The Empire Strikes Back 5:15, 7:55, 10:30. Grosse Pointe Blank 11:50, 2:30, 4:45, 7:45, 10:15. Jungle 2 Jungle 4:55. Liar Liar 11:45, 12:30, 2, 2:45, 4:15, 5, 6:30, 7:15, 8:55, 9:40. Murder at 1600 11:40, 12:35, 2:15, 3:05, 4:45, 5:30, 7:20, 8, 10, 10:20. Return of the Jedi 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 10. The Saint 11:30, 1:15, 2:10, 4, 4:50, 6:50, 7:45, 9:30, 10:25. Selena 11:30, 2:20, 5:05, 7:50, 10:25. Sling Blade 7:25, 10:30. That Old Feeling 12:25, 2:50, 5:10, 7:35, 9:55.

PALO ALTO

AQUARIUS * Downtown Palo Alto just off University Ave., 415-327-3240) Kissed 7:20, 9:15. Waiting for Guffman 7, 9.

PALO ALTO SQUARE * Corner of Page Mill and El Camino, 415-493-1160) Chasing Amy 7:30, 9:50. The English Patient 8.

STANFORD THEATER 221 University Ave., 415-324-3700). Call theater for schedule.O ALTO SQUARE * Corner of Page Mill and El Camino, 415-493-1160) Chasing Amy 7:30, 9:50. The English Patient 8.

________________________________________

After:

Mountain View

Century Cinema 16 * 1500 Shoreline Blvd, 415-960-0970) 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag 11:45, 2:05, 4:30, 7, 9:15. Anaconda noon, 12:45, 2:15, 3, 4:30, 5:15, 6:45, 7:30, 9, 9:45. The Devil's Own 11:40, 2:05, 4:40, 7:20, 9:45. The Empire Strikes Back 5:15, 7:55, 10:30. Grosse Pointe Blank 11:50, 2:30, 4:45, 7:45, 10:15. Jungle 2 Jungle 4:55. Liar Liar 11:45, 12:30, 2, 2:45, 4:15, 5, 6:30, 7:15, 8:55, 9:40. Murder at 1600 11:40, 12:35, 2:15, 3:05, 4:45, 5:30, 7:20, 8, 10, 10:20. Return of the Jedi 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 10. The Saint 11:30, 1:15, 2:10, 4, 4:50, 6:50, 7:45, 9:30, 10:25. Selena 11:30, 2:20, 5:05, 7:50, 10:25. Sling Blade 7:25, 10:30. That Old Feeling 12:25, 2:50, 5:10, 7:35, 9:55.

Palo Alto

Aquarius * Downtown Palo Alto just off University Ave., 415-327-3240) Kissed 7:20, 9:15. Waiting for Guffman 7, 9.

Palo Alto Square * Corner of Page Mill and El Camino, 415-493-1160) Chasing Amy 7:30, 9:50. The English Patient 8.

http://www.sjmercury.com/living/docs/events26.htm

Before:

Seminar: 1:30-4:30 p.m. today, Fireside Room, Recreation Department, 700 Alma St., Menlo Park. Topic: Buying and Selling Real Estate on the Peninsula: Learn From the Experts. Sponsored by Taylor Properties, Stanford Mortgage, Valley Title Co. and Real Estate Inspection Group. Free. (415) 322-4433.

Workshop: 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Glendale Federal Bank, 200 W. Taylor St., San Jose. Topic: You Can Have the Home of Your Dreams, Even if You Think You Can't. Learn how to qualify for reduced loan fees, first-time home buyer with 5 percent down, and no application or appraisal fees. Free. (408) 286-1497.

Seminar: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 3, Security Pacific Real Estate Office, 155 Riviera Drive, Suite E, Walnut Creek. Topic: Rights, Wrongs and Expectations: How to Approach the Board, Who's the Villain, by Beth Grimm. $15. (510) 674-1500.

________________________________________

After:

Seminar: 1:30-4:30 p.m. today, Fireside Room, Recreation Department, 700 Alma St., Menlo Park. Topic: Buying and Selling Real Estate on the Peninsula: Learn From the Experts. Sponsored by Taylor Properties, Stanford Mortgage, Valley Title Co. and Real Estate Inspection Group. Free. (415) 322-4433.

Workshop: 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Glendale Federal Bank, 200 W. Taylor St., San Jose. Topic: You Can Have the Home of Your Dreams, Even if You Think You Can't. Learn how to qualify for reduced loan fees, first-time home buyer with 5 percent down, and no application or appraisal fees. Free. (408) 286-1497.

Seminar: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 3, Security Pacific Real Estate Office, 155 Riviera Drive, Suite E, Walnut Creek. Topic: Rights, Wrongs and Expectations: How to Approach the Board, Who's the Villain, by Beth Grimm. $15. (510) 674-1500.

http://www.sjmercury.com/business/fraud042497.htm

Before:

Corporations move to
head off state suits
Investors seek redress denied in federal courts

April 24: Final legislation on patents pending

Published: April 25, 1997

BY HOWARD MINTZ
Mercury News Staff Writer

The battle between the high-tech industry and trial lawyers over securities fraud laws is like weeds infesting a lawn -- it just keeps coming back.

Only last November, Silicon Valley leaders were basking in the afterglow of the crushing defeat of Proposition 211, which would have loosened California securities laws to make it easier for investors to sue companies in state courts.

Coupled with 1995 congressional restrictions on federal securities cases, the election victory seemed to signal an end to the boom in shareholder lawsuits.

But plaintiffs' lawyers, led by San Diego's William Lerach, are nothing if not resilient. Their continuing stream of lawsuits -- filed mostly in the state courts to evade the reach of the 1995 pro-business federal reforms -- produced a new two-front battle over the future of securities litigation.

The California Supreme Court jumped into the political fight in late March by taking up an issue that may decide whether the fraud suits can be filed in state court. In a rare legal maneuver, the Supreme Court grabbed the issue before any of the state's intermediate appellate courts had a chance to rule -- prompting speculation that the justices want to resolve the matter before state judges are inundated with securities cases.

The Supreme Court's decision is particularly critical in Santa Clara County, where the valley's courts are absorbing many of the lawsuits filed previously in the federal system. In fact, it was a Santa Clara County lawsuit against Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. that attracted the Supreme Court's attention.

At the same time, a business coalition led by the high-tech industry is lobbying Congress to get federal legislation that would slam the door on the right to bring securities fraud suits in state courts. The lobbying effort includes an April 10 letter to Congress signed by 181 high-tech companies, many of them Silicon Valley heavyweights such as Intel Corp. and Apple.

``Even if the Supreme Court decides the (Diamond Multimedia) case the way we'd want, that would by no means solve our problem,'' said Washington, D.C., lawyer Mark Gitenstein, who represents the American Electronics Association and Software Publishers Association in the congressional lobbying effort. ``The only real final solution is going to be to create a mechanism whereby these cases can only be brought in the federal courts.''

etc.

____________________________________________

After:

Corporations move to
head off state suits
Investors seek redress denied in federal courts

April 24: Final legislation on patents pending

Published: April 25, 1997

BY HOWARD MINTZ
Mercury News Staff Writer

The battle between the high-tech industry and trial lawyers over securities fraud laws is like weeds infesting a lawn -- it just keeps coming back.

Only last November, Silicon Valley leaders were basking in the afterglow of the crushing defeat of Proposition 211, which would have loosened California securities laws to make it easier for investors to sue companies in state courts.

Coupled with 1995 congressional restrictions on federal securities cases, the election victory seemed to signal an end to the boom in shareholder lawsuits.

But plaintiffs' lawyers, led by San Diego's William Lerach, are nothing if not resilient. Their continuing stream of lawsuits -- filed mostly in the state courts to evade the reach of the 1995 pro-business federal reforms -- produced a new two-front battle over the future of securities litigation.

The California Supreme Court jumped into the political fight in late March by taking up an issue that may decide whether the fraud suits can be filed in state court. In a rare legal maneuver, the Supreme Court grabbed the issue before any of the state's intermediate appellate courts had a chance to rule -- prompting speculation that the justices want to resolve the matter before state judges are inundated with securities cases.

The Supreme Court's decision is particularly critical in Santa Clara County, where the valley's courts are absorbing many of the lawsuits filed previously in the federal system. In fact, it was a Santa Clara County lawsuit against Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. that attracted the Supreme Court's attention.

At the same time, a business coalition led by the high-tech industry is lobbying Congress to get federal legislation that would slam the door on the right to bring securities fraud suits in state courts. The lobbying effort includes an April 10 letter to Congress signed by 181 high-tech companies, many of them Silicon Valley heavyweights such as Intel Corp. and Apple.

``Even if the Supreme Court decides the (Diamond Multimedia) case the way we'd want, that would by no means solve our problem,'' said Washington, D.C., lawyer Mark Gitenstein, who represents the American Electronics Association and Software Publishers Association in the congressional lobbying effort. ``The only real final solution is going to be to create a mechanism whereby these cases can only be brought in the federal courts.''

etc.

Some people may object to having emboldened words throughout body text. There should be an HTML "bold for skimming" tag, and the user should be able to easily turn on and off the rendering such text as bold.

http://Yost.com/information-design/DY-Merc-Text.html - this page
1997-04-26 Created
1997-12-10 Modified
1999-10-10 Modified cosmetically
Part of Dave Yost's web site - Please if you link to or cite this page