PM Announces Senator Alston as Minister for Information Economy

[Richard Welykochy]

Jan Whitaker wrote:

> For the same reasons it happens in most government departments on most
> things.  The pollie is the figurehead for the message [sometimes actually
> understanding the implications of the policy for which he/she is
> speaking], the advisor/staffer takes the lead for the output of the
> message and hires someone else to do the creation.

Is this not "outsourcing"?
Isn't the outsource contractor bound by contract to adhere to
guidelines specified by his client?
I wonder who failed to supply such guidelines to the outsourcer ;-)


> [see Jeff K's page for an
> example of all that http://www.premier.vic.gov.au

Ha! V.good example. My observations on that marketing exercise:

1. frames only: non-frames browsers are politely told to rack off

2. font size (-1) is WAY too small for most of us to read on largish
   screens. Also specified as "Arial" face ... so much for non Wintel
   platforms! This shows ignorance of the open system that is the
internet.

3. the "script" is broken in Netscape - try View Source

> But you knew that already, didn't you?  My second question is: how do we
> begin to change that?  

Approaches like the above to creating Web pages are now rampant
on the 'net. I guess its time to once again bow down to the pressures
of the marketplace and admit that the Internet is fast becoming
the realm of short-sighted, Wintel-oriented, market/promotion-driven
miscreants who understand little if anything about open systems and
cross-platform compatibility. Perhaps Jan's question is too late ...
v. difficult to change a culture of narrow-minded and result-driven
Web developers who could give a toss about or even understand the
subtleties of the 'intent' of HTML (or even HTTP for that matter: viz.
the cookie debate).


Regards to the list,
Richard Welykochy

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