Over a month ago I was asked to submit an article for Standards NZ official magazine. That is an offline publication but it was released this week. Here is the article I submitted, it appears alongside a piece by Brett Roberts of Microsoft:

Don Christie of the NZOSS Discusses why he is Against the OOXML Standard

The Standards NZ press release announcing its recent decision to vote against Microsoft's proposed OOXML standard states what has been obvious to technical experts across the world:

One of our members has pointed out that there is a Government Web Standards Wiki up and running. From the about page we have "The intent of this wiki is to provide a collaborative website where anyone who is interested in the New Zealand Government Web Standards and Recommendations and Web Standards compliance can share knowledge and make suggestions on the future development of the Standards."

We know that a lot of work has already been done in this area by NZOSS members in Wellington especially so here is a chance to contribute on line as well if you wish.

You'll need to email the SSC to request an account and details of that process are available here.

I am tired, but was composing an article on the OOXML fall out. Groklaw got there first, because PJ is tireless. She says:

"Anyone, then, from this day forward who is naive enough to believe a single word from Microsoft needs to see a doctor right away. That is the single most important positive result from this OOXML process, as far as I'm concerned. Now we know.

And here it is, just for completeness.

I can see why it took two days to write... it's one of the most neutral, watertight press releases I have seen. Even when they do digress into an area of possible contention (i.e. what the standard is allegedly for) they point the origin of the claim directly back at the originating party.

Well, I wish them all the best with that one. I'm sure they'll be very happy together.

That's according to Reuters anyway... The Internet is of course leakier than a leaky thing and information is starting to pop up all over the place. The Register, for example, is running "ISO puts OOXML announcement on ice" as a headline with a link through to a pdf it claims is the official result. If true, it makes for an interesting read.

Hot off the wires we have this.

‘Standards New Zealand has confirmed its negative vote for the adoption of the OOXML specification as an ISO/IEC international Standard’, says Debbie Chin, Chief Executive, Standards New Zealand.

I have had more interest in the story about the attacks on Matthew Holloway's credibility than I imagined. Whilst it is a bit of a side show in the debate about whether OOXML should become an ISO standard it seems worth following up. This will (hopefully) be the last word from me on the subject. We will not be taking the issue any further.

Via Andy Updegrove we see this story about the Opening Address by the Minister of Public Service and Administration, South Africa, Ms. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi at the third Idlelo African Conference on FOSS and the Digital Commons. Andy calls it a Ray of Light. The address comments on Open Standards and Software Patents amongst other things and is worth a read. There is also a video feed here.

Yoon Kit over on openmalaysiablog appears to be having some challenges. A few days ago he blogged on about a PIKOM meeting and on Friday we have post about the SIRIM Technical Committee meeting. Have a browse through the rest of the links on that site and make up your own minds.

The March 2008 edition of the IEC e-Tech newsletter offers the above headline with the content here.

A very funny read as absolutely no mention of the contention around the bulk ballot is made...