Crisis

These economic times pose a great threat. The mortgage won't pay itself. College tuition is not cheap. The budget is tight and you are understaffed. I'm sure your list is long.

In spite of the doom and gloom, I'm rethinking a few things.

• The water I use for my lawn is cleaner than most of the drinking water in Rwanda.
• I don't share a toilet with my neighbors because my village burned down.
• I have one or two computers in the house.

Crisis helps me adjust perspectives. Perhaps it's time to be grateful for what we have instead of what we don't have.

Logout for designers

Ever walk towards a restaurant's kitchen because you knew it to be the restroom?

OK, maybe it's just me.

When my toddler easily spots a restroom, the restaurant experience seems so much better. I am no longer "that guy" walking into the kitchen. No more potty dance.

Next time you're required authentication (username/password), try and locate the "logout" or "sign off" link. Logging out is a critical security step. If you don't, your security could be in jeopardy.

Make sure users know how to exit the scene. Actions should be intuitive.

So why is the "logout" link so hard to find?

Picking up sticks

Traffic came to a halt today. A policeman stopped the opposite lane to pick up branches in the middle of the road. I'm sure he had other heroic acts to do, but he did us all a favor. That's admirable.

Eight years ago on this day, I had a choice to be in class or attend an event at the World Trade Center. Annoyed, I stayed in class instead and missed the event. About an hour later, tragedy struck.

First plane, then the second.

I'm grateful I stayed in class. To be honest, I don't remember what kind of event I missed. What I do remember is being in class.

At the time, class was boring. Usually is right? Being in class did not resonate as adventurous or heroic. I would say the same about picking up sticks.

If you're stuck doing the mundane, keep at it. Do not write off where you are from where you intend to be. It's what the heroes of the NYPD, FDNY, the community of NYC, and the United States of America displayed on and after 9-11. Day in and day out, people fought through the ruble. We kept picking up sticks even when others scorned and preached our demise. We got through that day as a country, not as a party.

These were the ordinary. They were the brave. It's the reason we support our troops. It's what unites donkeys and elephants. It's why I choose not to blame the economy. We got through 9-11.

That's what I remember which is why I won't forget.

Land of Make Believe

As a kid, the highlights of my summers were always The Land of Make Believe. It's only a few minutes away from the Delaware Water Gap. Trains, spinning dinosaur rides (I don't do these well), airplanes, Medieval plays, and Santa (yes, even in the summer) - you get em' all.

So for the first time, I took my son.

While eluding Pirates, screams of men and women immediately caught my attention. I hesitated. The sounds of angry waters plunged their cries deep into the dark. It beckoned to me. I knew it was time. My toddler and I had a date with destiny. Bag the pirates. It was time for water slides.

Flash back decades ago, I remember frustrated looks on dads' faces forced to swim in a pool two feet deep. It's as if they were given spatulas to work on their cars. It's the look dads give Christmas morning when they get that gift. "Hey thanks. You got me argyle socks." There were always more moms than dads at the Land of Make Believe.

I'll go out on a limb here and say water slides were a good move for the park. I saw lots of men with their children scrambling to reach the top of the slides and disappear down the pipes. Kudos to the Land of Make Believe. I will come back next year.

Now, please do the same for your website. Perhaps even your events or group meetings. Save some advertising dollars. First, give us a good experience. We'll be sure to tell someone about it.