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chrislightfoot a few times. If you've missed it, I'd posit a guess that if you're British, you've been to a site he helped build, possibly without even knowing it. It was announced today on his weblog that he passed away last month. This was followed up by tributes from his two main employers, Tom Steinberg of MySociety and Phil Booth of No2ID.net. If your friends list or feed aggregator has as much overlap with mine as is likely, you've seen many links and tributes already. Here's another.So, how do I know you've been to a site he built? Easy. How about the Downing Street petitions website (credit)? If you haven't been there, even to simply trawl around, or look at the news story du jure, then you've missed a trick. What about WriteToThem.com , the site that allows you to contact your elected representatives for free online, after a simple postcode search? It's how I first contacted Adrian, and I was very impressed. HearFromYourMP.com has been less of a success, but is still a damn fine idea. PledgeBank? Simply awesome, one of my favourite ideas for a site, and I'm signed up to a few and a couple ongoing relevent pledges, Refuse being the one that first got my attention. And then there's Downing Street Says (
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number10says), breaking the lobby correspondent secrecy wide open.But not only was he am innovative and engaged site builder, without whom many of the more innovative online democracy projects may not have been possible, but he was also a top blogger, with a fine analytical streak. Here's a series of articles debunking the loons at the Association of British Drivers. Those links were via Tim at
bloggerheads, and he has many more in a fitting tribute.As for memes? Political Survey 2005 was one of the better at the last election (mine from then and one I just did); looks like I've moved half a point into the centre, not that that makes a difference really. As for why he was a blogger's blogger? He paid attention to referrals and commented on my post taking issue with his axes labelling; nice to know we were both right, for different reasons.
Normally, I cut a post of this length. Not this one. I'm a humanist, I don't believe in an afterlife, I believe that all that matters is your legacy, what you've left behind you, what you've achieved, how you'll be remembered. In Chris's case, he did more in 28 years than I'm likely to achieve in my life. He'll be missed. If the comments on the memorial post on his blog read like a who's who of British blogging, the tributes below the cut are indicative of his influence.
Chicken Yoghurt » Chris Lightfoot
The Virtual Stoa » Blog Archive » In Memoriam
Crooked Timber » » Chris Lightfoot is dead
The Devil's Kitchen: Chris Lightfoot is dead
Quaequam Blog! » Blog Archive » Chris Lightfoot 1978-2007
Nosemonkey / Europhobia » Blog Archive » Chris Lightfoot
RIP Chris Lightfoot | Backword: Dave Weeden’s weblog
Tom Watson MP » Blog Archive » Chris Lightfoot
Google Blog Search: "chris lightfoot"
Introspection
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Comments
That's no age at all, is it?
No cause of death has been listed, but still, not good at all.
Tis certainly a reinforcement that there's no time to waste.
Your death looks like he's picking his nose
The not wanting to waste too much time was part of my reason for moving up here; in Devon, nothing ever really happens, at least in a proper city you can get involved in stuff.
They make Ambrosia creamed rice in Devon! That's SOMETHING that happens... ;)