• by April 28, 2005

The highly anticipated overhaul of Yahoo! News debuted sporting a tidy, more streamlined look and new features. The redesigned site includes the Internet giant's YQ search technology that enables readers to access search results related to specific phrases or names in stories. This is accomplished without ever leaving the page - pretty nifty.

The redesigned site also enables users to add RSS feeds to personalize their news consumption. If the RSS provider isn't a Yahoo! partner, users are directed away from Yahoo! News. Other new features include the ability to send stories to friends via instant messaging.

But what we really like is the new "Odd News Section." We love it! It's genius and allows Yahoo! to keep some of its friendly, quirky edge. We wonder whether this is the work of Neil Budde, the former head of the Wall Street Journal Online, who now heads Yahoo!'s news operation.

For example, the "Odd News Section" on the front page of Yahoo! News lists news sources such as "Reuters Oddly Enough" and "AP Strange News." Having worked for the Associated Press once upon a time, we remember all the weird and unusual news events that accumulated around the country. We loved those stories. They sparkled with wit and imagery; they were also great to pass along to friends and family.

Last night, in the "Odd News Section," the following Reuters headline appeared: "Well, Here's Your Trouble Right Here, Sir..." What was the trouble exactly? The story was about doctors finding 50 maggots in the ears of an 84-year-old Thai man after he visited the hospital complaining of an itch.

We'll keep our eyes fixed on Yahoo! News, and definitely on the "Odd News Section" which may become a cult favorite.