[Lnc-business] Request for Update on LP.org
Caryn Ann Harlos
carynannharlos at gmail.com
Thu Nov 3 23:49:49 EDT 2016
I also will ask that the "secret" portions be separate as I do not agree to
keep an entire report secret. That is not in the best interest of our
members.
--
*In Liberty,*
*Caryn Ann Harlos*
Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
<http://www.lpcolorado.org/>
Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
<http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org/>
On Thu, Nov 3, 2016 at 9:46 PM, Starchild <sfdreamer at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> Thank you for your explanation of your revised savings estimate. Although
> the technical details on that don't mean much to me, the information may be
> useful to some reading this.
>
> After some searching, I found where to clear the cache on my phone and did
> that, as well as deleting the browser history (the browser I'm using is
> MetroWEB, if that matters), but upon loading the LP.org page afterward it
> did not seem to make any difference – the text boxes under the "Latest
> News" and "Libertarians in the News" headings still appear as very narrow
> columns displayed side by side so that only a couple letters of text appear
> on each line, rendering them effectively illegible. Please let me know if
> you have any other ideas about tests or adjustments you'd like me to try.
>
> Regarding your promised report, I urge you to list separately any issues
> you really think must be kept secret, so that we can confidently share the
> bulk of the information where I'm sure that is not a concern with our
> membership (in another message you wrote, "Once I finish the report I will
> gladly share it provided that the LNC DOES agree to keep it confidential").
> We need to minimize the amount of secrecy in our operations, and if the LNC
> does opt to maintain secrecy on something in a particular case, that should
> be as a result of a vote of the body, not a decision that is imposed on us
> by volunteers or contractors.
>
> Love & Liberty,
> ((( starchild )))
> At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
> (415) 625-FREE
> @StarchildSF
>
>
>
> On Nov 3, 2016, at 6:20 PM, Kevin Ludlow wrote:
>
> Starchild,
>
> Thanks for your response.
>
>
>> Black humor aside, I regret to say that even the problem with the home
>> page that I identified as a high priority issue with the new website in the
>> list of problems I was able to find immediately after the rollout appears
>> to remain uncorrected. I just pulled up LP.org on my phone again
>> (Android, version 4.3 if it matters) and am still seeing the same issue
>> (see boldfaced item in recopied Oct. 25 message at bottom of this email).
>>
>
> There was a bug whereby the boxes were displaying across the entire page.
> This resulted in someone internally attempting to tweak the CSS. We code
> was updated sometime last week and distributed across our servers in the
> server pool. I don't know if perhaps your phone is caching the old
> version, though it shouldn't be. I will say that it fixed it on my iPhone
> and we've indeed tested it with other Androids without seeing that. I
> don't know how to clear your cache on the phone, but would you mind trying
> that if you know how?
>
> I'd also note that there is a difference between bugs and things that
> people want. For example, it may be desired to write "Party of Principle"
> (or whatnot) on the website, but its exclusion is certainly not a bug. I
> just want to be clear about that as it does make it difficult to
> communicate when people are telling me there are bugs and then it's a
> preference. The visual aspect from your phone IS a bug, though as noted,
> it should be resolved. Incidentally, and somewhat to my surprise, the
> Android Browser has accounted for a mere 0.29% of ALL of our traffic since
> we launched. Not that it doesn't count, but in terms of prioritization, if
> it turns out to be a bug and not a caching issue, I hope you can
> immediately understand why it would have less priority. This is simply the
> nature of organizing development cycles. It's very utilitarian, I suppose.
>
>
>> If the revised time estimate below from Wes is correct, and getting
>> most of the bugs out is going to be a matter of weeks
>>
>
> Again, this is where the language comes in. The wide boxes you mentioned
> was the only bug we were aware of and fixed it. 95% of the work I've been
> doing on the site has to do with fixing the infrastructure. All of this is
> entirely invisible to you and is for disaster-recovery, basic backups,
> availability of servers, and etc. The fact that content may not have been
> copied over yet is not a bug. I mention it only because THAT is what is
> taking time for staff to catch up on and I know they've been working very
> hard on it among other things.
>
>
>> and that his advice ought to have been heeded. Surely we could have
>> upped the promotion of our presidential candidate by adding some additional
>> images and stories to the home page before the election without overhauling
>> the entire site?
>>
>
> Again, I respectfully disagree with the sentiment. It's a matter of
> opinion no doubt, but we differ here.
>
>
>> On a more positive note (I think), I see that Kevin writes, "Our
>> infrastructure has been spread over 6 different services (we require just
>> 1) and on my current estimate has been costing us over $10,000 / year in
>> unnecessary expenses." That's up from his Oct. 25 estimate of around $6000
>>
>
> Yes. Again, this is still an estimate, but there are reasons for the
> adjustment. For one, there were a few other services we are running that I
> was not aware of that can all be condensed into our new AWS
> infrastructure. None of these are huge MRCs, but they do add up over 12
> months. The bigger thing, and something you'll have detailed in my report,
> has to do with AWS billing servers hourly instead of daily or monthly.
>
> We are currently running 5 servers in AWS. The DEV server will be
> shutdown automatically unless it needs to be used. The EXT server (for
> lpedia and such) must remain up 100% of the time. There are three PROD
> servers running in a pool that serve lp.org. Two of these three will be
> shutdown each night from around 12am EST until about 7am EST. We can get
> more specific in time, but that's my estimate for now. Instead of being
> billed 72 hours per day for our PROD machines, we will be billed 58 hours
> per day. This is something we cannot do on Rackspace.
>
> Cutting out Rackspace, Softlayer, GoDaddy, and Network Solutions paired
> with shutting down our servers during low-traffic hours of operation is
> where the new estimate comes from. Admittedly it will take some time to
> get all of that accomplished. I have noted that as I am not being paid, I
> will not be keeping up the hours that I have been. It's entirely
> unreasonable. Still, in time we will have all of these services condensed
> and should save roughly what I am estimating. It will be significant
> either way.
>
> ~k
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Nov 3, 2016, at 3:15 PM, Wes Benedict wrote:
>>
>> The website has come a long way, but we have a lot of work yet to do on
>> it. I have personally instructed various staff members to focus on certain
>> things in front of others. While getting bylaws up and new LNC photos is a
>> priority, it may still be a while before we get those up. Again, I have
>> told staff there are higher priorities in the short run.
>>
>> things that have displayed poorly on the home page are a higher priority
>> for now. For example, below is taken from an email I sent to staff on some
>> things we had to do for the home page.
>>
>>
>> <jhdombdmkmemceac.png>
>>
>> If I inaccurately promised some things in a few days, I revise that
>> estimate to a few weeks.
>>
>> We are making progress. But again, especially while we were having some
>> issues with files and images appearing and then disappearing, I have told
>> staff to focus on certain other things.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Wes Benedict, Executive Director
>> Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
>> 1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314(202) 333-0008 ext. 232, wes.benedict at lp.orgfacebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
>> Join the Libertarian Party at: http://lp.org/membership
>>
>> On 11/3/2016 6:05 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
>>
>> Hello, I am following up on the several things I was assured would be
>> resolved shortly (likely a few days) that remain unresolved.
>>
>> First, the minutes archives is not yet restored. These are required by
>> the Bylaws, and I must object once again that we have a
>> non-Bylaws-complaint page up.
>>
>> Second, the LNC members photos have partially disappeared. I have been
>> getting a ton of publicity for the LPCO in CO and when the news there is
>> looking up my credentials, they see an LP.org LNC page that is
>> incomplete.l
>>
>> I waited well past the few days discussed to followup.
>>
>> Yes the election is coming up but our Bylaws are our Bylaws and having an
>> incomplete page looks bad when people are looking us up.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Oct 25, 2016, at 9:53 AM, Starchild wrote:
>>
>> Yesterday, I'm told, the launch of the new and improved LP.org website
>> took place. And on the whole, at a quick look, I'd say it *is* an
>> improvement. Both appearance-wise and organizationally, I like the new
>> site. I wouldn't call the difference earth-shattering, but my initial
>> impression is generally positive.
>>
>> There are however a number of issues that have come to my attention which
>> could use fixing, some more serious than others:
>>
>> *• While the site looks good on the web, it looks terrible on my phone!
>> The "Latest News" boxes show up as long, narrow, unreadable columns of type
>> with a couple letters on each line. Considering how many people access
>> websites on mobile devices, fixing this should be a high priority.*
>>
>> • I don't see either the "Party of Principle" or "Minimum Government,
>> Maximum Freedom" slogans shown anywhere (a search for key terms doesn't
>> turn them up). Nor do I see the Nolan Chart except buried in a link. Each
>> of these ought to be listed prominently, imho. The brief introduction
>> statement when you click on "Libertarian Party" at the top of the main page
>> is rather weak ("The Libertarian Party (LP) is your representative in
>> American politics. We are the only political organization which respects
>> you as a unique and responsible individual.")
>>
>> • The more detailed description of the party has a conservative leaning.
>> Under "The Libertarian Option" (at http://libparty.zocalodesi
>> gn.com/about/ , a URL that like that of many pages should also be fixed
>> so that it doesn't include the web design company's website), it reads:
>>
>> Consider voting Libertarian or joining the Libertarian Party because…
>>
>> - We seek to substantially reduce the size and intrusiveness of
>> government and cut and eliminate taxes at every opportunity.
>> - We believe that peaceful, honest people should be able to offer
>> their goods and services to willing consumers without inappropriate
>> interference from government.
>> - We believe that peaceful, honest people should decide for
>> themselves how to live their lives, without fear of criminal or civil
>> penalties.
>> - We believe that government’s only responsibility, if any, should be
>> protecting people from force and fraud.
>>
>> The first two points above appeal more to conservatives or people on the
>> right (economic freedoms), while the second two points are more neutral in
>> terms of left/right appeal. There is no balancing appeal to people on the
>> left by explicitly mentioning things like a non-interventionist foreign
>> policy or civil liberties such as ending Prohibition and reining in police
>> abuse.
>>
>> • The URL for the candidate page has changed (hat tip to Thomas Knapp),
>> and entering the former URL (http://www.lp.org/2016-libert
>> arian-party-candidates) apparently now results in a page error rather
>> than connecting people to the new page (https://www.lp.org/2016-candi
>> dates/).
>>
>> • If the information about how to subscribe to the LNC email list as a
>> non-LNC member got ported over, I cannot find it. I would suggest listing
>> this both on the LNC leadership page, and on the LNC meeting archives page.
>>
>> • The LNC page only lists email addresses. Previously at least a couple
>> LNC members' listings included phone number and/or other info such as
>> Twitter address, but now those listings are gone and only email addresses
>> are listed. I would personally like my phone number and Twitter handle
>> listed, and encourage my colleagues to request their phone numbers likewise
>> be listed, so that our members can readily reach us directly as well as in
>> writing.
>>
>> • Where email addresses are listed on the website (for candidates, LNC
>> members, staff, college chapter reps., etc.), they are spelled out. That's
>> unfortunately asking to get us spammed by web-crawling bots that harvest
>> email addresses. I recommend changing this so that addresses are listed in
>> a less literal format such as Nick.Sarwark[at]LP.org
>>
>> • The page https://www.lp.org/_2016/ mentions Johnson and Weld being our
>> presidential and VP candidates, but the photo next to the text is *not* a
>> photo of Johnson and Weld, but of Johnson and a woman I'm guessing is his
>> girlfriend (which is fine, but should be labeled as such so as not to give
>> visitors the impression that the images reflect the text).
>>
>> • Our bylaws are referred to in the info at the bottom of each page as
>> "LNC Bylaws" rather than "Libertarian Party Bylaws"
>>
>> • A number of people (staff, LNC members) are missing photos. To whom can
>> we send photos of these individuals, if we have them, as well as our
>> contact info updates for the LNC page?
>>
>> I realize the site has just been updated; hopefully some of the above
>> issues are being addressed even as I type this message. And on the bright
>> side, the new "candidate pledges" section listing candidates who've signed
>> each pledge is a nice addition, along with the listing by name and state of
>> life members, candidates, and elected officials, not to mention the
>> attractive photos from the convention scattered throughout the site. I like
>> that the membership and donation forms are single-page, and that the FAQ
>> page addresses arguments against participating in the system at all. And I
>> love the "Help Us Grow" page (http://libparty.zocalodesign.
>> com/how-to-help/) and the addition of a "worldwide" link in addition to
>> the state affiliates and campus organizations! But I would suggest that
>> link directly to a list of the libertarian parties around the world, with
>> that page then containing a link to and information about the International
>> Alliance of Libertarian Parties. Right now it immediately leads offsite to
>> the IALP page, which is a little confusing.
>>
>> That's my feedback at this time. If staff would acknowledge receipt of
>> this message and keep us appraised of the progress in addressing the
>> above-mentioned issues, that would be great.
>>
>> Love & Liberty,
>> ((( starchild )))
>> At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
>> (415) 625-FREE
>> @StarchildSF
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Lnc-business mailing list
>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> ========================================================
> Kevin Ludlow
> 512-773-3968
> http://www.kevinludlow.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
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>
>
--
*In Liberty,*
*Caryn Ann Harlos*
Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
<http://www.lpcolorado.org>
Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
<http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
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