Ten Most Violated Homepage Design Guidelines (Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox), just so you can make sure to do ALL ten! So many places make the Homepages (public and internal) hard to use, it is just easier to count how badly they are doing it.
Voxilla has A user's guide to the VoIP revolution, if it isn't being Slash'ed at the moment.
And I would agree that 2004 is the year where VOIP enters mainstream awareness and practical use for business and the public. (and 2005 will be the year of VOW [Voice Over Wireless, trademark pending]). The tipping point for me was this Globe and Mail article :: BCE wants to use VoIP to compete with itself and this one :: Bell, Microsoft team on broadband TV mentioning IPTV. BCE (Ma' Bell ) has to get serious about VOIP because it will allow Rogers to compete for LOCAL telephone service. BCE has to do this or find Rogers providing new services based on VOIP (like : each teenager with separate phones), plus figure out how to do IPTV to compete with Rogers on their field. It will be interesting to see if all this can be done on the current infrastructure or will this lead to (finally) upgrading of the "Last Mile" and fiber (at least) to the curb if not into the house. In this case the "Last Mile" is for both the Telecoms POTs (Plain Old Telephone System) and the Cable system's Cable cable. At last local competition at the local level! The only worry would be regulators getting in and unduly ly slowing the process. Add this to the tends afoot for wide screen HDTV (see This) :: ie 50' TV's <700USD by the end of 2005 and trends in PRV like Tivo, the converging of computers and home entertainment is well under way to changing the Home.Via the The Globe and Mail, between 37,000 and 100,000 people marched on New Years Day demanding full democray for Hong Kong, as set out for in Hong Kong's mini-constitution.
This is the biggest rally since a mass protest in July that threw the government into crisis by denouncing a proposed anti-subversion bill. Another step in the right direction, following district council elections in November (2003) which had increased turn-out and more seats for The Democratic Party (and setting the stage for elections to the more powerful Legislative Council next year, with could weaken government control of the legislature even though only half the seats are elected.)HK star Anita Mui, 40, dies of cancer
HONG KONG : Canto-pop diva Anita Mui, who suffered from cancer of the womb, died early Tuesday morning. She was 40.
According to reports, Mui had earlier slipped into a coma and needed respiratory treatment to help her breathe. Her death was announced by her friends from the Hong Kong entertainment circle, who had rushed to the hospital upon hearing that her condition had worsened.
Earlier this month, there had been speculation that Mui had liver failure, but her manager denied the report.
The singer first confirmed that she was suffering from cancer of the womb at a news conference in September. But she said her condition was stable. She even held a concert in Hong Kong last month. However, earlier this month, she missed an appearance in Singapore, triggering reports that her condition has worsened.
via : channelnewsasia
Far too young....Anita was born Oct 10 1963, making her one day older than me. She started in 1987's Yin ji kau (a well known HK ghost story, know in english as "Rouge") with Leslie Cheung who died April 1st 2003. Her sister Ann Mui passed away in 2000 from cancer.
Updated : CNN is now reporting on the story. And in Tuesday mornings Toronto Star (they of the ugly long url's) reported on her death, above the fold!.
BWG and Flying Chair are now reporting on her passing.
I found on China Daily a photo series of Anita.
Here is here List of Films.
Anita Mui's funeral has been scheduled for January 12.
