Propegating this moronic information is just plain stupid.
The alaert system is just plain stupid, a way to keep us in fear and under control. There is NO ACTION a citizen or anyone else can take in response to these "alerts". They are solely for the purpose of fear.
First responders should get detailed information about specific threat information or planned attacks.
It's morbid that one would want to see this blatent fearmongering propeganda on your computer screen all day long.
This extension has prompted me to start developing the "Countdown to Armageddon" extension. My extension will show the estimated number of days before the earth will be no more.
I have stated numerous times before...this extension was not meant for the general public, rather agencies and companies responsible for public safety that have a need to know the current threat level.
If you have read my other posts, you would see that I agree with the overwhelming majority of people....the system is a joke, made worse by the media. However, whether you, or anyone else cares to admit, or believe, there are people and agencies out there who have a need for this information.
I do have to disagree that the threat level system itslef is propeganda or promotes 'fear mongering'. I feel that the attention given to these changes by the media do far more to instill fear than a simple change of color.
The threat level system is no more propoganda than the emergency broadcast system, it offers the public some guidlines to follow when certain criteria are met. Only with the threat level system, those criteria do not seem to be clearly defined or understood.
Problem is, no matter how many times you explain your stance on this issue - people are still going to explain to you how "worthless" your extension is.
The kind of people that will comment on your site to complain about the extension are the same people that won't read your previous posts to determine your position on the issue.
Just installed the exstension works great. I work in the power industry in a power control center and the threat level has meaning to me. Most folks don't understand there are real changes that take place behind the scenes when that threat level changes. Oh well, let em think what they want, I appriciate your work.
Boyzoid.. I admire how you don't let your detractors get you down (at least visibly!). My first, and currently only, extensions were Linkification and WindowsUpdate. Check out the WindowsUpdate comments page on update.mozilla.org for some similar comments.
It's too bad both have become more of a political argument thread than a true rating on your extension. Anyway, I'm posting here because you'll probably notice this more. In your .xul file, you're placing your image after "foxytunes-statusbar-panel", but not everyone uses foxytunes. This isn't causing any errors, as Firefox must have a default place for statusbar insertions. But that's not to say it won't cause errors in the future.
Other than this, great first extension, and it's good to see I'm not the only one dealing with the zealots on both sides =)
'A List Apart' is one of the main CSS resources I use.
Thanx for your input. There should be an update which incorporates a lot of the constructive critisisms, I will include your suggesytion as well. The 'Foxytunes' is from when I was testing the extension on my end....I forgot to change it.
I do not understand why people are so intimidated by news and information. This is-whether you like it or not, legitimate news and people will make decisions that will affect you based on this information. For example, if the indicator changes color I may expect more traffic delays, longer lines at airports, etc. Just because you don't agree with the idea doesn't mean you can pretend it doesn't exist and try to make a flight 5 minutes before departure!
So, yeah, the threat level actaully does have an impact on what they do at the airport. For example, I know that, when we go into orange, they're gonna be looking under cars as you drive in, so there will be an extra 15 or so minute delay there, and probably another 10 to 15 minutes at the security checkpoint.
Anyway, it appears to have stopped working today, but I don't know why offhand. You might want to look into that.
id like to see a way to add other pictures.. i have colected a few web pages on HST andwas thinking of modding the extention to display this ina popup menu...
i am learning how to do extentions.. i still dont understand them yet(im a php programmer my self)
but id like to see(i may make this mod) 1: ability to use other pictures(i have the nice pics from one of the sites that tells you the level and the text of level) 2: multible urls on the subject including what to do on each level, and what each level is(depending on current level displayed and full listing of) 3: options page to be able to change all this at will.. maybe checkboxes...
i like this extion i think its neet... i dont see it as a fear thing i see it as one day ill see it moved to LOW or NONE...awaiting a day of peace. i just would like to see that someday in my life.. altho i dont belive i will.. i see the levels as a caution and not fear level.
I just installed your extension and think that it's clever and well done. I really don't know a thing about programming, though, so I'm likely just blindly praising. I'm also impressed with the clean lines of your entire website.
I read through the comments above. The one rant going so far over the top was just plain weird. Regardless of political attitude, the HS threat level is news. I do agree with Nunjo, though, that the so-called threat level is more a political tool than a trustworthy assessment of any real danger. Unlike Nunjo, I also recognize that changes in the threat level (dependable assessment or not) cause significant changes in the operations of a great many agencies.
So, when are you coming out with an extension to show the status of the Doomsday Clock (maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)? It's presently at about 7 minutes to midnight.
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18 comments
I'd be interested in seeing that reference on slashdot. Can you point me to it?
Doug
The alaert system is just plain stupid, a way to keep us in fear and under control. There is NO ACTION a citizen or anyone else can take in response to these "alerts". They are solely for the purpose of fear.
First responders should get detailed information about specific threat information or planned attacks.
It's morbid that one would want to see this blatent fearmongering propeganda on your computer screen all day long.
I have stated numerous times before...this extension was not meant for the general public, rather agencies and companies responsible for public safety that have a need to know the current threat level.
If you have read my other posts, you would see that I agree with the overwhelming majority of people....the system is a joke, made worse by the media. However, whether you, or anyone else cares to admit, or believe, there are people and agencies out there who have a need for this information.
I do have to disagree that the threat level system itslef is propeganda or promotes 'fear mongering'. I feel that the attention given to these changes by the media do far more to instill fear than a simple change of color.
The threat level system is no more propoganda than the emergency broadcast system, it offers the public some guidlines to follow when certain criteria are met. Only with the threat level system, those criteria do not seem to be clearly defined or understood.
Problem is, no matter how many times you explain your stance on this issue - people are still going to explain to you how "worthless" your extension is.
The kind of people that will comment on your site to complain about the extension are the same people that won't read your previous posts to determine your position on the issue.
That being said, continue the good work.
It's too bad both have become more of a political argument thread than a true rating on your extension. Anyway, I'm posting here because you'll probably notice this more. In your .xul file, you're placing your image after "foxytunes-statusbar-panel", but not everyone uses foxytunes. This isn't causing any errors, as Firefox must have a default place for statusbar insertions. But that's not to say it won't cause errors in the future.
Other than this, great first extension, and it's good to see I'm not the only one dealing with the zealots on both sides =)
'A List Apart' is one of the main CSS resources I use.
Thanx for your input. There should be an update which incorporates a lot of the constructive critisisms, I will include your suggesytion as well. The 'Foxytunes' is from when I was testing the extension on my end....I forgot to change it.
Anyway, it appears to have stopped working today, but I don't know why offhand. You might want to look into that.
i have colected a few web pages on HST andwas thinking of modding the extention to display this ina popup menu...
i am learning how to do extentions..
i still dont understand them yet(im a php programmer my self)
but id like to see(i may make this mod)
1: ability to use other pictures(i have the nice pics from one of the sites that tells you the level and the text of level)
2: multible urls on the subject
including what to do on each level, and what each level is(depending on current level displayed and full listing of)
3: options page to be able to change all this at will..
maybe checkboxes...
i like this extion i think its neet...
i dont see it as a fear thing i see it as one day ill see it moved to LOW or NONE...awaiting a day of peace.
i just would like to see that someday in my life..
altho i dont belive i will..
i see the levels as a caution and not fear level.
welp thats my 2 cents
Pern
aka Johnny
I just installed your extension and think that it's clever and well done. I really don't know a thing about programming, though, so I'm likely just blindly praising. I'm also impressed with the clean lines of your entire website.
I read through the comments above. The one rant going so far over the top was just plain weird. Regardless of political attitude, the HS threat level is news. I do agree with Nunjo, though, that the so-called threat level is more a political tool than a trustworthy assessment of any real danger. Unlike Nunjo, I also recognize that changes in the threat level (dependable assessment or not) cause significant changes in the operations of a great many agencies.
So, when are you coming out with an extension to show the status of the Doomsday Clock (maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)? It's presently at about 7 minutes to midnight.
Lune Keltkar