Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A news site where you can find the news!

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  • Thom James,

    Maybe this will make me start using an RSS feed reader. Suggestions?

    I recently made the switch to using RSS feeds and a reader and find it much better than what I've been doing for years, which is regularly visiting some web sites. I use NetNewsWire, but that might be mac only.

    Sage is a good feedreader plugin if you're a Firefox user.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2007 • 63 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    That's it, I'm barricading Molesworth Street.

    I believe its traditional to set fire to things as well. Maybe a protest BBQ?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I haven't seen anyone on my street get their pony. And now no fucking pie!

    No-one I know has got any of the promised cheese yet either. Where's my cheese!?!!11!1!??/?!1!?

    See, I wasn't depressed after the election, because although I knew it was coming, it hadn't become real yet.

    Audrey Young didn't know it was coming, you see. She took Bill English at his word when he said there would be pies and ponies for everyone.

    Mmmm, cheese pies.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Hutchings,

    recently made the switch to using RSS feeds and a reader and find it much better than what I've been doing for years, which is regularly visiting some web sites. I use NetNewsWire, but that might be mac only.

    I use Firefox, and put the RSS feeds on the toolbar as live bookmarks.

    This means you can check them at your leisure and see what has been added before actually going to the page to check the item.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I believe its traditional to set fire to things as well. Maybe a protest BBQ?

    Marshmallows! Parliamentary Order Papers! Ministerial Limos! Burn!

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I believe its traditional to set fire to things as well.

    Rioting, let me show you it. Should you need any inspiration.

    Isn't it too early to riot on the streets yet? I thought this was supposed to come after the "Great Cheese March' of 2009?

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Just for shits'n'giggles I ran the TVNZ site through lynx (a text-based browser), and it's actually very usable. So kudos to the designers for making something that looks like it'll probably be very accessible to the visually-impaired. I'll have to have a look at home tonight and see how it looks on a browser that's got no Flash plugin available. Will report back.
    One of the things I really like about PAS is that it's light-weight and makes very few assumptions about what my browser will support. It looks the same and works the same on Windows, Mac, Linux and FreeBSD, across various browsers. That's my test of a good site. I can use it completely without having to have anything extra installed, which is something I wish could be said about a wider range of sites. Nothing puts me off quite as fast as a site that I can't use because there's no consideration given to non-Flash browsers.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Could we burn effigies of John Key and Rodney Hide, too? Bags not supplying the yellow jacket, though.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    I/S highlights abuse of urgency by the National government, then shoots at foot by saying that no comparable abuse took place in the previous Labour government. The Labour government undertook urgency to pass legislation immediately prior to the election, this was an unjustifiable abuse for party political ends as there were no impending deadlines that could not be met by a post-election government.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • David Brem,

    Nothing puts me off quite as fast as a site that I can't use because there's no consideration given to non-Flash browsers.

    Tee-hee. Go check out AIM Proximity's site then? I was keen to see some of the other web design projects they've worked on but all I get from my work PC is: "You need to upgrade your Flash Player. If you're seeing this, it's because you haven't got the right version of the Flash Player installed."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    I/S highlights abuse of urgency by the National government, then shoots at foot by saying that no comparable abuse took place in the previous Labour government. The Labour government undertook urgency to pass legislation immediately prior to the election, this was an unjustifiable abuse for party political ends as there were no impending deadlines that could not be met by a post-election government.

    As I said: go away, read 15 years of Hansard, and come back when you have an informed opinion.

    Those bills got select committee hearings. Using urgency to get bills through their final sages before a break - or an election - isn't an abuse. Using urgency to ram serious policy through without a select committee through is.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Isn't it too early to riot on the streets yet?

    Yes. But its never too early to toast marshmellows.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    I saw this on the COGS site:

    The Grants Online website and web-based grant application will not work correctly in some browsers, including Firefox and Mac-based operating systems. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

    So, online open Government is available only to IE users on Windows.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Could we burn effigies of John Key and Rodney Hide, too?

    If you feel like it; it's a free country. Just remember to bring a fire extinguisher in case ti gets out of hand.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Yesterday there was a chicken on my drive (once it got over the fence past the gate the dogs got it real quick, scratch one chicken)

    Those chickens need a to learn a bit from pukekos. But I'm impressed, a chicken! Closest I've come to that (in an urban setting) was coming across a rooster in the botanic gardens. The dog didn't get it.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Just remember to bring a fire extinguisher in case ti gets out of hand.

    Don't get this guy

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Not withstanding that I agree mostly with Idiot/Savant about select committees and so-on, I do think that using urgency in the dying hours is a bad thing.

    Using urgency to get bills through their final sages before a break - or an election - isn't an abuse.

    A minor abuse. But nothing much to get indignant about. There are other reasons why they're not so good however.

    Bills strongly opposed by the opposition before an election passed in this way are likely to get repealed if the government changes, and will be continued if reelected. It can be useful however if the new Government decides it does not have the time or energy to undo all the changes, particularly minor ones.

    It was also an inditement on the Labour Government's inability to get most of that legislation passed earlier, particularly the ETS. We've been talking about emissions reductions instruments since the early 1990s...

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    So, online open Government is available only to IE users on Windows.

    Well, it looks OK in FF and Safari on this Mac. But it's possible there's stuff buried further into the site that doesn't work other than in IE. Which in 2008 is completely inexcusable. It was only barely excusable in 2001, and now that IE is the subject of a rapidly-shrinking share of the browser market it's just thoroughly ridiculous.

    My favourite anti-portability application is the Java (yes, that cross-platform Java) app that IBM ship for administering their blade servers. It'll only work in some versions of Windows (XP and 2K3, nothing earlier) under IE. One's left wondering why they didn't just build an ActiveX control and make the lack of portability blatantly obvious.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    The designers at AIM proximity come highly touted

    I've always wondered whether AIM Proximity was a particularly good name for a communications outfit.

    AIM=We're going to try
    Proximity=to get close or next to

    So their name tells me that they're going to try and get close to their targets but not that they're going to achieve them. Doesn't fill me with confidence.

    [Their Wgtn offices are across the road from where I work, so I see that name every day...]

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    I believe its traditional to set fire to things as well. Maybe a protest BBQ?

    I'll bring some beer.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Yep. And if I recall correctly, for people earning around that mark, and who don't have children (ie aren't getting WFF), you get a whole $10!

    You'd have to save up for 3 weeks to buy a packet of Wrigleys. And at least a year to get a 1kg block of cheese.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    [Their Wgtn offices are across the road from where I work, so I see that name every day...]

    They're round the corner from Atech = 'without technology', a computer shop.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Okay, according to this article, I'll be getting nearly $47 if National stick to their policy.

    "* Workers on $44,000 will receive $46.54 with the independent earner rebate - but only $31.54 if they already receive government assistance."

    But notice how that varies from the impression created by the intro:
    "National will deliver tax cuts worth $47 a week to workers on the average wage of $45,000 - most delivered in April 2009."

    ...which I bet is how a lot of those who voted for National remember it.

    And notice how much of a difference it makes if you earn just $4k less:
    "* People earning up to $40,000 will have an extra $10 a week provided they don't receive any extra income from the government, such as Working for Families."

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    an all leave, on a random Tuesday.

    When you next take a holiday or work trip overseas, check the box for "leaving permanently". This will boost the net migration and make the Nats look bad.

    How much effect this has depends if they reconcile arrival and departure forms. I bet they don't.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    Thanks Matthew -- good points. I'll ask Tom Cotter today about how the new site meets the government web guidelines.

    TVNZ, as an SOE, is not required but is encouraged to adhere to the (now) Web Standards

    The Radio New Zealand site has demonstrated that you can run an attractive site while still making it as accessible as possible.

    RNZ get the web, or at leat Richard Hulse does. His work there has been inspirational in terms of the right way to do rich media.

    [Disclaimer: I edited the original Govt Web Guidelines in 2001 and managed them till 2005, but no longer have any connection]

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

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