Whirlpool - FAQs, Links and Resources

-	Whirlpool FAQ
	Maintained by Simon Wright.
Outline
1	Introduction
1.1	What is Whirlpool?
1.2	Who runs this site?
1.3	Who made this site?
1.5	Tell me more about Simon Wright
1.6	My washing machine makes an odd noise if I run it on high spin. Where can I get it fixed?
2	History
2.1	When was Whirlpool first opened?
2.2	Why was Whirlpool first opened?
2.3	Why is this site called Whirlpool?
2.4	When did the first consumer Broadband service start in Australia?
2.5	Design History
2.5.1	Introduction
2.5.2	The original (1998)
2.5.3	Swirls & Curls (1998)
2.5.4	Gold Slash (1999)
2.5.5	Sand & Pepper (1999)
2.5.6	Oceans (2000)
2.5.7	Son of Oceans (2001)
2.5.9	The revision with no name (2002)
2.5.10	Current site (2003-present)
3	Forums
3.1	When were the Whirlpool Forums first opened?
3.2	What forum package does the site use?
3.3	How do I format my replies in the forums?
3.4	Moderation
3.4.1	Who are the moderators?
3.4.2	What can the moderators do?
3.4.3	Why does it seem like this forum is heavily moderated?
3.5	More information
3.5.1	Forum FAQ
3.5.2	Forum Rules
4	Other junk
4.2	Is there an XML newsfeed available?
4.3	Is there a newsfeed service for my program?
4.4	Is there a Netscape 6.x / Mozilla sidebar feed?
4.5	What happened to the FTP listings?
4.6	Am I allowed to spam the forums with a link to my really cool site?
4.7	Can I help? I think I've got what it takes?
4.8	Is there a search feature for the news area?
4.9	Can I link to your site? Do you have a button I can use?
4.10	Which browsers are actively supported by Whirlpool?
5	Got a question?
5.1	My question wasn't asked, but I think it should be.
Contents
1	Introduction
1.1	What is Whirlpool?
	Whirlpool.net.au is a fully independent community website devoted to keeping the public informed about the state of broadband in Australia. Since its inception in 1998, it has become a premier destination for broadband Internet subscribers. As well as its rich source of broadband news and information, Whirlpool boasts one of Australia's largest technology-related online communities.
1.2	Who runs this site?
	The site is run as a team. Developer / Contributing Editor - Simon Wright News Editor - Phil Sweeney Phil handles editorial team management and news assignment. Please contact Phil as your first point of call about any concerns you may have regarding Whirlpool editorial policy. To view a full, up-to-the-moment, list of site moderators, ISP representatives who contribute to Broadband Choice, and other users online now, click here.
1.3	Who made this site?
	Whirlpool is the creation of Simon Wright. Unlike many other sites that are slapped together with prefabricated components; almost every facet of Whirlpool was purpose-built from the ground up using the powerful ColdFusion language. The HTML code, stylesheets, javascripts and ColdFusion code were custom made for this site. As I'm sure you can tell, this attention to detail was well worth the effort. The site is running with ColdFusion MX Professional, with a MySQL database.
1.5	Tell me more about Simon Wright
	Since joining BigPond Cable in February 1998, Simon Wright has helped to keep broadband enthusiasts — and more recently the wider community — informed about the state of high-speed internet access in Australia. Simon currently works as a web and mobile applications developer.
1.6	My washing machine makes an odd noise if I run it on high spin. Where can I get it fixed?
	This website is about broadband in Australia and does not need regular servicing, and whilst it often breaks down unexpectedly, you cannot make a warranty claim. But seriously, you're thinking of the other Whirlpool, the white goods company. You can call them on 1300 363 344 for customer service, or 1300 361 166 for service and parts, or visit them at www.whirlpool.com.au.
2	History
2.1	When was Whirlpool first opened?
	Whirlpool was first opened in 1998, as a short list of useful links relevant for Big Pond Cable users. It steadily grew into a common destination for cable users, and got much media notoriety in its later days. Whirlpool was shut down on 10 January 2000 in protest of new charges put in place by Big Pond Cable. Four months later, Whirlpool reopened under the same management, but now catering to all broadband users.
2.2	Why was Whirlpool first opened?
	When the fast but limited Big Pond Cable was first introduced in 1997, the cost of data transfer to the internet was very high -- $65 per month for 100 MB. But there were no charges between users, making internal user communication a lucrative idea. Because of this, a strong community naturally formed around the financial boundary that separated users from the internet. Users were quick to set up internet servers on their home computers, for online gaming, file transfer, or self-hosted web sites. Whirlpool was conceived as a catch-all solution for services I thought were missing from the community. As the site grew, it evolved into something resembling the 'slashdot' model, but with a stronger focus on the community, to journalism and reporting.
2.3	Why is this site called Whirlpool?
	The name 'Whirlpool' was picked way back in 1998, fitting neatly into the "big pond" paradigm. A whirlpool could represent turbulent waters in a big pond, perhaps where all the relevant stuff gets sucked into a central vortex... The name no longer carries the relevance it once did, but I've grown attached to it.
2.4	When did the first consumer Broadband service start in Australia?
	The first consumer Broadband service was Big Pond Cable, which quietly opened its doors to the public in mid 1997.
2.5	Design History
2.5.1	Introduction
	Whirlpool's appealing visuals has always been a trademark of the site, even though the actual design has changed dramatically over the years. In this section we'll see some of the many faces Whirlpool has worn.
2.5.2	The original (1998)
	This design was the original face of Whirlpool, back when the site was just a handful of pages, some links and a survey. The site's original name was the Big Pond Cable Whirlpool. It was located at: http://users.bigpond.net.au/move/bpc/
2.5.3	Swirls & Curls (1998)
	When it became apparent that up-to-date news & information was needed, the site was redesigned to suit the "weblog" format -- a style at the time only recently pioneered by Slashdot. The colour scheme used here -- blue and orange -- was intended to reflect the blue and orange of the Big Pond Cable & Telstra logos. You will notice that every design since then has used these colours, albeit in different shades and hues. Unfortunately, the page's design was lost over time -- all bar a small thumbnail of the site. Using this thumbnail and my soft human brain, I have created a mockup of the page. While some parts are clearly wrong (the fonts, for example) it nonetheless captures the spirit of the design. This design originally had a blue background, which was later changed to peach as illustrated here.
2.5.4	Gold Slash (1999)
	This design was only used for a few weeks before being replaced. When I look back, I don't think it deserved such a quick death. It's one of my favourite appearances -- it still seems fresh and clean. Perhaps it's because its colour scheme and smooth lines appeals to my tastes. Or perhaps because unlike the others, its short lifespan meant it never grew old and tired in my mind.
2.5.5	Sand & Pepper (1999)
	This design was made when Whirlpool was moving from its original home on Big Pond's free web space to my Macintosh server connected with Big Pond Advance. This design was used right up until December 1999, when the site was turned black in protest over unfair changes in pricing policy. The changes were later made redundant when Telstra introduced the Freedom plan to compete with Optus@Home.
2.5.6	Oceans (2000)
	After a short 4 month hiatus (from 10 January to 10 May), Whirlpool returned with a new domain name (whirlpool.net.au), a new design, a new logo, and most importantly a new focus: the entire broadband industry.
2.5.7	Son of Oceans (2001)
	Nine months after Oceans was first exposed, it bore a child: Son of Oceans. The changes offered numerous advantages: a more efficient layout, an improved logo, a sharper finish and better browser compatibility. Broadband Choice was also released, which originally sported a completely independent look and feel.
2.5.9	The revision with no name (2002)
	This major revision seeded many significant improvements to Whirlpool's structure, navigation and usability. These changes characterise Whirlpool's transition into the important broadband hub it is today. Broadband Choice picked up Whirlpool's branding, and was integrated into the core structure.
2.5.10	Current site (2003-present)
	The current appearance of Whirlpool. This design introduces a smoother wave motif onto each page, and establishes a colour-based scheme to differentiate each site. Broadband Choice is the big winner with this update, with a sporty new exterior and some major new features.
3	Forums
3.1	When were the Whirlpool Forums first opened?
	The forums were established in september of 2001.
3.2	What forum package does the site use?
	The Whirlpool Forums were written by Simon Wright in ColdFusion. All requests for licensing the code I have written will be turned down. Quite simply, the system wasn't designed for portability, and requires a lot of manual work to maintain. Mind you, I'm easily swayed by sufficiently large amounts of money... :)
3.3	How do I format my replies in the forums?
	To do basic formatting, you can use this subset of HTML: `<a href=""> <b> <i> <small> <tt> <sup> <sub> <strike>` For those who aren't interested in learning a bit of HTML, the forum has an easier way of doing formatting, called Whirlcode. It's a very simple command set which offers elaborate styling. For example: if you want to make a string of text blue for example, just stick it between `["` and `"]` -- that's all you need to do! You can see the full list of Whirlcode commands on this help screen which you can conveniently pop-up up by clicking the appropriate ? symbol on the reply entry page. If you want to do bullets, numbering and indenting, and have an advanced knowledge of HTML, you can turn off the "Auto <BR>" checkbox and take advantage of this extended HTML command set (though note you must format paragraphs manually): `<br> <p> <div> <ol> <ul> <li> <blockquote>`
3.4	Moderation
3.4.1	Who are the moderators?
	A full list of moderators is available from the Users Currently Online page. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-user-online.cfm Users with one dot next to their name can moderate in a limited set of forums; moderators with two dots have forum-wide moderation powers.
3.4.2	What can the moderators do?
	Move a thread to a different forum. Remove (but not delete) entire threads. They can also view and restore all removed threads. Modify a thread's title; Close threads to stop any further discussion; Make a thread "sticky" so it's always at the top. Hide (but not delete) individual replies. They can also view and restore hidden replies. If a reply has been edited, a moderator can see the original version(s). Moderators can not edit replies in any way.
3.4.3	Why does it seem like this forum is heavily moderated?
	My goal when designing the moderation interface was to ensure operational transparency. The reason this forum seems like a heavily moderated environment is because most moderator actions are publicly exposed. For example: If a reply is removed... Whirlpool forums: Reply is replaced with a deletion message. The content remains in the database for scrutiny by other moderators and the original author. "Other" forums: Reply is deleted without a trace. In most cases, the deletion will go unnoticed by the majority of users, and there is no opportunity for other moderators to disagree or to repeal the action. If a reply is edited... Whirlpool forums: Replies can not be edited by moderators. Instead, the moderator can hide the reply and request that the offending passages be edited by the original author. "Other" forums: Replies can be edited by privileged moderators. At best, this may cause confusion; at worst, it may be deceptive. Depending on how the forum is configured, moderators can edit posts without any indication that a modification occured. If a thread is removed... Whirlpool forums: Thread is replaced with a deletion message. The content remains in the database. "Other" forums: Thread can either be moved into a private area, or deleted without trace. In most cases, the deletion will go unnoticed by the majority of users, and sometimes even by other moderators. The Advantages: Users are aware when posts and threads are deleted. Other moderators can inspect what was deleted. Moderators use more caution knowing their actions are visible. Moderators can undo any changes. Users can feel safe knowing their words can't be tampered with. Complaints sent to me can be investigated easily. In summary, while it does seem like a lot of moderation occurs here, it's actually less than what happens on other forums. Here, moderation occurs out in the open, where actions can be scrutinised. Elsewhere, moderation is done covertly, with the majority of users oblivious to deletions and modifications.
3.5	More information
3.5.1	Forum FAQ
	There is a Forum FAQ available here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=WP_ForumFAQ
3.5.2	Forum Rules
	Rules outlining acceptable discussion available here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=WP_ForumRules
4	Other junk
4.2	Is there an XML newsfeed available?
	Yes. There is an XML newsfeed available at this address: http://whirlpool.net.au/whirlpool.xml There is also an RSS/RDF newsfeed here: http://whirlpool.net.au/whirlpool.rdf And there's an ATOM newsfeed here: http://whirlpool.net.au/whirlpool.atom Because these are static files (updated every 15 minutes), you may set your program/system to grab them as often as you like. If one of the above files doesn't suit your needs, you're welcome to request an alternative newsfeed format, but you'll need to supply an example for me to follow.
4.3	Is there a newsfeed service for my program?
	Yes. There is a Klip newsfeed available at this address: http://whirlpool.net.au/whirlpool.klip There is also a LiveJournal syndication point available: http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=whirlpool_syn Currently, Klip and LJ are the only program-specific formats Whirlpool support. If you would like to see another format or system supported, please supply me with implementation details and I'll have a go at it.
4.4	Is there a Netscape 6.x / Mozilla sidebar feed?
	Not officially, but I do have a developmental concept here: http://whirlpool.net.au/client/sidebar/
4.5	What happened to the FTP listings?
	One of Whirlpool's original major attractions was its up-to-date list of user services, particularly public FTP's and game/chat servers. This listing was only relevant when Telstra BigPond did not charge for intra-customer traffic, which they now do.
4.6	Am I allowed to spam the forums with a link to my really cool site?
	Topical discussion should be on-topic; I don't mind if you've got a relevant link and post it at most once or twice. Any off-topic replies and/or links may be moderated at my whim. Any replies spammed to multiple threads may be moderated at my whim.
4.7	Can I help? I think I've got what it takes?
	At the moment, Whirlpool has got enough people helping out. If you think you can contribute to Whirlpool, you're always welcome to ask, but please don't be disappointed when I say "sorry, we don't need any help".
4.8	Is there a search feature for the news area?
	Yes. http://whirlpool.net.au/article-past.cfm
4.9	Can I link to your site? Do you have a button I can use?
	Absolutely. Try one of these: 468x60, 122x64, 88x31, 60x60.
4.10	Which browsers are actively supported by Whirlpool?
	Any browser that conforms to the HTML 4 standard should work fine with Whirlpool. The developers of this site use Mozilla 2.0 as the primary testing platform, and might occasionally check things in Internet Explorer. If you're using a current version of Mozilla, Safari, Opera or Internet Explorer, you're encouraged to provide feedback in the forums about coding bugs. If you're using some other browser, or an old version, you're welcome to post feedback... but we probably won't care.
5	Got a question?
5.1	My question wasn't asked, but I think it should be.
	If you have a question about the forums, please post a message in the feedback area, or otherwise email me. If you have a question about broadband, please take advantage of our very popular forums and post a message in the appropriate area. If there is something amiss with this FAQ, or if you think there's something missing from it, just click the suggestion button to the left, and ask your question. The FAQ Monster will thank you for your insight, write a detailed response and add it to this FAQ. Maybe. At least he doesn't bite.