Comments on: Not just for the insane.

Not just for the insane.

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:26:20 -0800

By: orthogonality

orthogonality — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:40:39 -0800

What makes this even more intertesting is how it works; it's powered by http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/:

backstage.bbc.co.uk is for individual developers and designers to build things using BBC content and anyone who has an idea for how to use BBC content in new ways. It is not for big corporates to play around with. backstage.bbc.co.uk is for non-commercial use by the little people.

Even better,

You will own the copyright in any prototype you develop and send to the BBC for publication on the Backstage website. If we like it and want to use it other than in association with the Backstage website then we would have to come to an agreement with you first.

At the same time the New York Times is restricting online access to paid subscribers, the Beeb's approach looks like the real "web 2.0".

By: allen.spaulding

allen.spaulding — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:43:34 -0800

Somehow these articles were considered to reflect a very good mood: Health aid 'is failing the poor' Anger as rapist wins £5,000 aid I feel great now!

By: dsword

dsword — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:50:28 -0800

I noticed that, too, allen. Maybe this site is designed for the wealthy rapists among us?

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 03:57:51 -0800

Great page title.

By: Dag Maggot

Dag Maggot — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:00:07 -0800

What a fantastic idea. I agree Ortho, (I can call you Ortho, right?) this is real Web 2.0 stuff. Now, if only it could detect my mood - and show me the bad stuff when I'm looking particularly cheery, just to level me off.

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:03:49 -0800

"A militia leader accused of ordering the killing of nine UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year has been arrested." This was all the way at the bottom, classified as the worst of all the news. I don't know how they classify the news but obviously the method doesn't work. (Unless you think that the arrest of a man accused of killing of nine UN peacekeepers is bad news somehow, of course. YMMV.)

By: NinjaPirate

NinjaPirate — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:07:41 -0800

Furthermore: Ancient drought 'changed history' (prompting ancient humans to leave Africa in search of water, afterwards spreading across the globe) is bad news. Which, actually, is probably true. Good work.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:12:55 -0800

Dang, I've been wanting to do this idea forever. Danged procrastination.

By: grouse

grouse — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:25:11 -0800

Web 2.0 appearing anywhere in an article should automatically make it "bad." Worse than murder.

By: keijo

keijo — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:52:43 -0800

Wow, bloody interesting application but is it of any use? Is Web 2.0 of any use?

By: ursus_comiter

ursus_comiter — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 05:19:53 -0800

Where's the schadenfreude section?

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 05:37:13 -0800

"ipod" being called word of the year is good?

By: anthill

anthill — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 06:56:34 -0800

I want the "denial" section.

By: Dormant Gorilla

Dormant Gorilla — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 06:58:48 -0800

I want the "denial" section. Why? We've already got the whole WSJ...

By: easternblot

easternblot — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 07:25:24 -0800

A lot of the "good" ones are completely neutral to me, whereas I was really excited about some of the neutral news (new mammal discovered!!!) And why is the worst news of murder suspects being arrested? Isn't that relatively good, considering the circumstances?

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 07:43:25 -0800

easternblot, I'd guess the algorithm works by scanning for keywords or key phrases, so it's not exactly failsafe.

By: Balisong

Balisong — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 07:45:05 -0800

NEWSFILTER!

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 07:49:43 -0800

Correct Balisong, it does indeed filter news.

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 10:40:36 -0800

"ipod" being called word of the year is good? I thought it was "podcast."

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 10:56:55 -0800

Yes, you're right, I mis-typed.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 12:01:20 -0800

I think I'll wait for web 2.1, or maybe just the service pack.