What's really pretentious is the Web design technique that comes in two variations -- and I used Variation #1: "The Animated GIF on a Black Background." When the animation stops, you can either click on the image (mine's a textual image -- it can be a graphical image) to go to the "real" home page or if you don't click, the <META> "refresh" command automatically takes the viewer to the next page. Variation #2 is the same, but it's just a regular image or imagemap, not an animated GIF. I've removed all the links and the "refresh" command so the page doesn't lead anywhere.

A lot of Web sites are using this animated GIF technique on their front page, including some people who are really good designers. I'm not sure who originally created this technique, (probably Wired Magazine -- they've introduced a lot of great graphic techniques) but Wired is in a league of its own and has a dispensation to use any technique no matter how sucky. You and I don't have this luxury. Try to create a more interesting and informational front page.