Thursday, December 22, 2005

Several people have pointed out the "interactive feature" on NYTimes.com covering the New York City transit strike , which I failed to mention in my post here yesterday. It's a Google mash-up map -- see Adrian Holovaty's earlier item -- offering "tales of the strike" from readers. Perhaps the reason I ignored it earlier is because I was looking for something with some utility, like ride-share postings on Craigslist. NYTimes.com offers a "tell me your story" kind of feature -- clever and interactive, but not especially helpful in a strike.

A few quick observations:

• I like the "pop-up bubble" effect. I thought the Times had set off reader comments in a different type face, to make clear that the words weren't the Times talking, but I was wrong. That would be a good idea. ("Typewriter," perhaps?)
• It's interesting that the Times turned to an outside design company to produce it.
• A scan this morning showed no comments -- not even one -- from Long Island. None from Stamford. And only a handful from New Jersey. I suppose those people have the LIRR, Metro North, and PATH trains, but aren't they affected and don't they want to comment, too? What does that dearth mean?
• Robert F. Corrado from Bayside, Queens (click on the comment box under the "Great Neck Plaza" wording, on the northeast area in Queens), wrote: "If Al Qaeda couldn't stop New York, what makes the TWU think they can? I'm usually sympathetic to union causes and the hard-working men and women of New York, but to strike during Christmas week is disgraceful." Now that's a comment that could have (and might have -- I haven't checked) shown up in The Grey Lady itself.

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