Il Corriere della sera web Critique

Il Corriere della sera is one of the most popular journal in Italy.

 

 

First impression

 

 

The homepage is cluttered with too much information and often my eyes didn’t which direction to go in.

 

According to Jessett.com, one in twelve people may not be able to use web site due to some form of color blindness. Jessett suggests avoiding red and blue.

On the “Il corriere della sera” the main colours are red and blue. 

 

Jakob’s rules add that the banner masthead should be in the extreme left hand corner. On this website is in the centre.

 

On the other hand there is an archive which according to Jakob Nilsen’s guideline it’s very useful to the readers.

 

Speaking with my colleagues/classmate we agree that the flash news are significant part of the web site but the space for them is very small.

 

According with web credibility  restriction as problems with print must not to be placed on users. “Il Corriere della sera” does not have any print facilities. Further more in the web there is not the section “about us”.

 

 

Writing

 

There is not an introduction on the Il Corriere della Sera. Headlines are consistent but there is no lead in every article. Content is pretty much consistent but visually poor.

 

Some of written piece are informative but words are not easy to understand.

According to Jacob Nielsen’ rules familiar words spring to mind when users create their search queries. If your writing favours made-up terms over legacy words, users won’t find your site

 

 

The majority of my classmate noticed that most of the paragraphs are really long. Certainly Il corriere della Sera is not following the F – patter of Jacob Nielsen rules. 

 

Me and my Italian colleagues also made a point that the paragraph contains some invaluable details.

 

In addiction we underline that there is no consistent punctuation anywhere on the site.

 

 

Statistics are not visible in any articles. Also there are only a few hyperlinks visible.  

 

Many articles begin with value judgments instead of the standard “inverted pyramid” route.

 

Jacob’s rules suggest to use a predefined narrative.  Websites must support the user’s personal story by condensing and combining vast stores of information into something that specifically meets the user’s immediate needs. Thus, instead of an author-driven narrative, Web content becomes a user-driven narrative. In the website that I have chosen is the other way round.

 

Content

 

I counted 26 contents. The most important are the news and political issue that is showed in the home page. Music and Fashion content are not visible at all in the web.

Jakob Nielsen also underlines that use of English (American or British) is necessary for any website to succeed. There is any English or American in the Il Corriere della sera website. On the other hand it is visible a Chinese section of the web journal.

Some of Web 2.0 essential (dynamic contents) like video and multimedia are in the site in the left corner. Close to the videos users can listen four different radios: Radio Gazza, RMC ( Radio Monte Carlo) Radio 105, which is really well known, and Virgin Radio.

 

According to my collegues the radio’s icons are no so visible

The option to find blogs is not easy. They are under Opinion section.  Further more RSS feed are completely absent.

 

User can not make comment but political news. That means that there is not interface or feedback.

 

The unique particularity of the site are interactive games as sudoku and crosswords. 

 

Navigation

 

 

Navigation menus have to be intuitive, precise and easy-to-use. It’s important to make sure that your visitors will find they way around the site structure – however complex the latter might be smashing magazine has reported.

 

According to Web Developer’s Journal, there are 3 basic rules to get a good navigation.

 

1. Tell people exactly what is available on your site.
2. Help them get to the parts they want quickly.
3. Make it easy to request additional information

 

Also Web Developer’s Journal points out that most of the web site need to have the following link:

 

       - About the Company

       - Our Products and Services

      - How to Contact Us

Il Corriere della Sera obey to the first basic rule. Every user can find in the home page the main stories regularly updating.

The second principles is the tricky one for the web. Visitors have to scroll up all the articles if, for example, they want to read a local news.

It’s a matter of fact that the web journal does not add any other information a part what is written.  

There is no clue if a reader wants to contact the web. No web letter at all!

Once again Jacob’s rules has not been followed.

 

Conclusion

The web should be more organized especially regarding the home page. Il Corriere della Sera need to add comments. This could improve the feedbacks. I believe it’s very important to get the opinion of your readers. Web journalist can not lose them!

Background of Thriller Live

At the beginning of Jackson

 

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on 29^th of August 1958 in Gary Indiana, (a suburb of Chicago) to a working-class family. He was the 7^th of nine children.

 

He started his career in 1964 as a founder member and the lead singer of Jackson 5, made up with Jackie (born Sigmund ), Tito (born Toriano), Jeremy and Marlon.  As a child in the 1960s and 70s he was the dominant voice and youngest member of the Jackson Five, a pop group that included five brothers.

 

The start of Michael career

 

The Jackson’s brother trained hard under the watchful eye of Joseph, going on to win talent shows and do gigs around their hometown. They were eventually brought to the attention of Motown, and successfully auditioned in 1964.

 

Significantly, they signed a contract for Motow and moved from the little village to California.

 

During the years with Motown tenure, the Jackson 5 was one of the biggest pop-music phenomenon of the 1970s.

 

The musical group was the first act in recorded history to have their first four major label singles (“I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll be there”) reached the top America charts. The Jackson 5 shot to fame across America and around the world.

 

Several later singles, among “Mama’s Pearl”, “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Dancing Machine” were top 5 hits and number one hits on R&B single charts.

 

They finished their contract with Motown in early 1976 and switched to Epic records that same year (without Jermaine but adding Randy as a permanent member.) Their last album with Motown was released in 1975, “Moving Violation”.

The Jackson move to Epic

The Jackson stayed with Motow till 1975, wanting more freedom they move on and signed up a contract with Epic. The group was also forced to discard the name “Jackson 5” which Motown fought over, and became known as “The Jackson” under the new label.

According to the Book of Hit Singles they had their last hit in the UK as the Jackson 5 in 1973 (Skywriter) on Tamla Motown and their first hit as The Jacksons in 1977 (Enjoy yourself) on Epic.

Jermaine, who was by that time married to Motown founder Berry Gordy’s daughter, Hazel, chose to remain with Motown, saying that he stayed out of loyalty, because Motown had believed in the group.

Michael solo career

Michael began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred as the “King of Pop” in subsequent years, five of his solo have become some of the word’s best selling record: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1991) and History (1995).

The Jackson 5 has reunited on stage on various occasions. First was at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever show in 1983, where Michael did the famous Billie Jean moonwalk. Then was the Victory tour in 1984. Most recently was the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration – The Solo Years on September 7 and 10, 2001.

What does the future hold? We’ll all stay tuned!

Click here to read the article

Background of Swiss approved Heroine prescription

In Switzerland

 

According to Wikipedia, in 1994 Switzerland began a trial heroin about a program for users that had failed multiple withdrawal orograms.

 

The aim of this program is to mantain health of users  in order to avoid mediacal problem stemming from illict street heroine and reducinig drug related crimes.

 

  

This trail involved 340 users, although enrollment was later expanded to 1000 based on the apparent success of the program. In fact participants are allowed to inject heroin in specially designed pharmacies for 15 Swiss Francs per dose.

 

It’s good to understand that the trail were based only on time limited executive ordinance.

 

A referendum in November 2008 showed that 68% of swiss voters approved the proposal of introducing heroin prescription into federal law.

 

 

Heroine History

 

 

 

 

Heroin was originally manufactured in 1978 by C.R. Alder Wight, an English chemist employed at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London.

 

 

 

From 1898  to 1910 heroin was advertised as a non-addictive morphine substitute and cough medicine for children.

 

Heroine Regulation around the word.

 

In Canada heroin is controlled substane under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Every person who seeks or obtains heroin without a previous authoruzation is  guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment.

 

In Hong Kong, heroin is regulated under Schedule 1 Chapter 134 titled Danderous Drugs Ordinance. It can be given by pharmacists under prescriptio. Anyone whosupplies heroin without prescription can be fine $ 10000 (HKD). 

 

 

According to the British National Formulary (BNF) edition 50, diamorphine hydrochloride may be used in the treatment of acute pain, myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary oedema, and chronic pain. The treatment of chronic non-malignant pain must be supervised by a specialist. The BNF notes that all opioid analgesics cause dependence and tolerance but that this is “no deterrent in the control of pain in terminal illness”. When used in the palliative care of cancer patients, heroin is often injected using a syringe driver.

 

 

BACKGROUND: Racism is no longer in the air

Video-clips inspired by Nazism ideology were censored on youtube.

Neo Nazism origin

The term neo-Nazism refers to post War-Word II political movements, social movements and ideologies seeking to revive Nazism, or same variant that echoes core aspects of Nazism such as racial or ethnic nationalism. Neo-Nazis rarely use the word neo-Nazi to describe themselves, often opting for labels such as National Socialist, Nationalist or related terms. Around Europe This Kind of movements became very popular at the beginning of 90.

The continuing propagation of Nazi ideology in recent times has relied heavily on music. Rock music has been the neo-Nazi movement’s most direct means of enlisting and developing its youth support.

The music sounds much like other heavy metal, thrash and grunge, but the lyrics are venomous. The dominant themes are violent attacks, race war, white supremacy, Nordic and Teutonic mythology and the pure hatred of all non-Caucasians, especially blacks and Jews.

The emergence of the internet has been central to the proliferation of Nazi music, via direct order CDs, music videos and related merchandise such as T-shirts and posters. Links to record companies and bands make up a significant part of neo-Nazi and skinhead websites. One can view extensive CD catalogues (including CD covers), video footage, band biographies, song lyrics and hear samples of recordings. Orders are made via credit cards and received via fax, e-mail or post.

Youtube

YouTube was created in February 2005. The company is based in California and uses Adolbe Flash Videos technology to display a wide variety of user – generated video content including music videos. It is the phenomenon whereby video clips, often produced by individuals acting on their own.

Every month, YouTube receives an average of 20 million visitors, who watch 100 million video clips a day. There are 65,000 new videos posted every day. Most of the videos are frivolous, produced by and for teenagers. But some are serious. Same clips spread anti social behaviour and videos relating to violent activities through politic propaganda.

99 Fosse

The band emerges out of skinhead groups and plays in generally makeshift venues to audiences of mostly young males with shaved heads, tattoos, tight jeans and big boots; raising their arms in the Nazi salute and chanting the slogans of white Aryan supremacy. They have not a web site or a music label. Their album Zycon B was released in clandestinely.

Anti-legal music

In the Italian Constitution is prohibited the expression of pro-Nazi, racist or anti-Semitic views. Thanks to law 2005/93 known as law MANCINO, will be faced a minimum of 3 years in jail who promotes ideas regarding race discrimination.

In many other countries as Germany, France and Belgium has explicit law against Nazism and Fascist behaviors.

Conclusion

Through internet sites all over the world, the nazi- songs business is flourishing to the tune of millions of dollars annually. And so the bands play on.

To read the original article click here

Thriller is coming Live

The new musical titled Thriller Live is coming on January 2^nd  till April, the official web site of Michael Jackson said.

According to  Broadway Word the musical is about childhood and the start of Michael Jackson carrier from his early days as the young front man of the Jackson 5 in the 1970s, through to his 1991 album Dangerous  

Critics predicted that it promises to be spectacular, high octane show. 

 

The three boys who will share the role are Layton Williams and Sterling Williams, who have both previously appeared in West End musicals, playbill news has revealed.

 

The trios

 

Layton Williams, who was the first black Billy Eliot, Sterling Williams, who recently played young Simba in The Lion King and newcomer Kieran Alleyne will be on stage performing the Peter Pan first steps in the music and show business, London Official Theatre has reported.

 

Speaking to whats on stage , 13-year old Layton said: “It’s a big relief that I don’t have to return to normality after finishing as Billy (Elliot). I’m a huge fan of Michael Jackson so I can’t wait to get started.”

Williams and the other boys performed a section of Jackson 5 smash hit as “I Want You Back”, “I’ll Be There,” “Earth Song,” “Blame It on the Boogie,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and, of course, the title song from best-selling albums including Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory.

that the trios of youngsters are joined by an older actor who will play the star at the time of his 1982 album Thriller. The rest of Jackson’s hits in the show are performed by singers who appear as themselves, including Denise Pearson from 1980s British group Five Star London Guide online has said.  

 

Choreographer

Has reported in his web site Gary Lloyd who has previously worked with artists including Leona Lewis, Will Young, Robbie Williams, Kelly Clarkson and Girls Aloud, will be the director and the choreographer of Thriller – Live.

“I grew up on Michael Jackson and he was the ultimate inspiration for anybody wanting to go into this industry,” said Lloyd to official london tretre.  He added: “So to be offered the opportunity to actually put all of that work together with my own work involved as well is like a dream come true. We’re all extremely excited that we’re opening in the West End because we’ve worked really hard putting the show on tour and we think that more people need to see it.”

He also told that the King of Pop himself is not involved in the production, but Jackson had “embraced” the show in its earlier incarnation as a touring production.

The best Jackson

In the musical is going to show only Jacko’s best songs and his public life on stage. His trouble private life is not in the show. Thriller Live will portray his first steps on the music business and the beginning of his icon as Pop Star around the word.

Click here to read a backgroung

 

Swiss approve prescription heroin

According with BBC news website, the Swiss voted to allow drug stores to prescribe heroin to help chronic addicts kick the deadly habit.

“Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is designed to help severely dependent heroin users who have fallen through the net provided by other treatment options,” the Federal Department of Home Affairs said on its website.

Magnus Arrival, a Swiss student in West Minster University said: ” If I were in my country I would vote for the proposal because I think that government needs to take care on people who couldn’t give up with heroine”.  He added: “I believe that numbers of new addicts are falling with medicalised heroin ”.

Karoline Strauss, a German Westmister student who used to live in Swiss for ten years said: ” Yes I agree with the new law”.  She adds: ” I am against every kind of drugs, but on the other hand I think that this treatment can help people without hope”.

An anonymous reader, made a comment about the article on the website Members 5 .  He writes : “In Liverpool, during the early 1990s, Dr John Marks used a special Home Office licence to prescribe heroin to addicts. Police reported a 96% reduction in acquisitive crime among a group of addict patients. Deaths from locally acquired HIV infection and drug-related overdoses fell to zero. But, under intense pressure from the government, the project was closed down. In its 10 years’ work, not one of its patients had died. In the first two years after it was closed, 41 died. Regards,N. “

Opponents of heroin prescription, like Sabine Geissbuhler of the association Parents Against Drugs, said that attitude is exactly what is wrong, timeonline has reported.  During the referendum campaign she declared: “I have four children, and I would never, never, put them into a heroin prescription programme. What kind of freedom is that? I’d rather they were dead.”

There were turned debates around this controversial treatment.

Legalised heroine program  is now a reality with overwhelming approval from Swiss voters who simultaneously rejected the decriminalization of marijuana has reported by Red Orbit.

Racist is no longer in the air

 Those who thought that on Youtube, anything could be broadcast, were wrong. Videos of 99 Fosse (99 tombs) an Italian neo- nazi inspiration band have been darkened, Il Corriere della Sera has reported.  

According to La Repubblica their songs were judged as an exaltation of the Jews’ extermination which is the main theme of the band. 

 

Another inopportune detail revailed by the Italian journal has been the  author’s nick name that has loaded the videos: “Karl Gebhardt.”.

 

Historically Gebhardt was the physician of Heinrich Himmler, minister of the interior during the third Reich known for having conducted experiments in the female concentration camp of Ravensbrück, using as guinea-pigs Polish and Russian prisoners. 

 

Explicit lyrics

 

The incriminated songs are contained in the album covertly published and entitled Zyclon B, or rather the poison used in the gas rooms.

On Rossoschocking are written all 99 Fosse’s lyrics. The titles and the music are those of very famous Italian songs but their texts has been readjusted to emphasise the themes of anti-Semitic issues. 

  

As said by Political Live , particularly clicked was the song entitled “Anna is no longer here” that uses the melody and strongly twists the text of a romantic Italian song (Laura is no longer here) in Nazi key.

 

The reference is obviously to Anna Frank, the girl who wrote a diary about her dramatic story. She was forced to run away from the Nazi retaliations and then died in a concentration camp.

Some of these songs contain explicit lyrics inciting people to attack Jews and immigrants.

The Italian political have firmly condemned youtube to have given access to racist contents that incite violence Il Corriere has learnt.

An international view

Nazi songs surely are not a fact that concerns only Italy.

A few day ago the Germany’s Supreme administrative court, quoted by DW WORD.DE ruled that a neo-Nazi rock group that spread racial hatred was a criminal organization.

According to Freemuse two men were arrested in Denmark on 27th August 2008 for allegedly recordings that have been deemed illegal because of their extremist content. 

  

In the United Kingdom there is an association called TWAFA (Tyne and Wear Anti Fascist Association) which signals musical texts inspired to the ideology promoted by Hitler. The Anti Nazi League continues to run a campaign against racism in music with this slogan: Love Music Hate Racism

 To Read the background to this story by click here