Is Katherine Harris an IEEE member?

An IEEE working group has been quietly trying to build something called a "Standard Upper Ontology," which, as far as I can tell, is a sort of meta-data index to an even larger glossary of meta terms (You can read more on the the working group's home page).

As Joshua Allen notes, however, the fate of this proposed standard "is turning into a replay of the last presidential elections." He points to this message from Working Group Chairman Jim Schoening on the group's e-mail list:

The Standards Association previously declared this vote failed (because they said it required a majority of all votes cast, not a majority of YES vs. NO.). I followed their directive and declared that it had failed. I then appealed through proper channels and the appeal won, so I declared the vote HAD passed. The SA has now directed that their original position must be followed, regardless of the appeal. To me this is a clear violation of the appeals process and the fundamental principle of Due Process, required of all ANSI accredited Standards Developing Organizations. I don't see how this directive can stand up to further appeals.

To which Lowell Johnson, chairman of the group's Standards Activities Board replies:

I have been directed by the SA to tell you that the SA considers their position to stand. That means, you must announce this to your group, and proceed as if that original motion had failed.

I have also been directed to replace you as WG chair if you refuse.

Naturally, this all didn't come out of a vacuum - the debate's been going on for months.

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