Posted on 09/08/2005 4:11:52 PM PDT by postaldave
THE NOW very much criticised US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stopped Mac and Linux victims of hurricane Katrina from applying for relief. The agency, which is already in hot water for its lack-lustre rescue efforts in New Orleans, has created a web-based service that only works for users of Windows and IE6.
So far only Mac users that have Opera, which can make an attempt to show that it is an IE6 machine, are able to access the claims service.
According to online magazine Ars Technica, relief workers are frustrated at being tied to Windows by FEMA's online services.
They have to spend precious aid money on Windows OS licenses as they set up terminals to help thousands of hurricane victims initiate the claims process.
They are complaining that Windows XP workstations take ages to set up, patch and configure, when they could do the whole thing a lot quicker on Linux.
Some hardware, which has been donated to the cause, will not run Windows XP.
At the suggestion of writer Michelle Malkin last Friday, I have cobbled together a blogsite called Texas Clearinghouse for Katrina Aid to serve as a clearinghouse for refugee efforts in Texas.
Texas is getting more refugees than any other state -- that's fine, we'll take them all -- but we need help providing them with food, clothing, medicine, and shelter. We need help taking care of their pets, too.
If you are a refugee, you can information that will help you find relief. If you want to donate or volunteer, you can find someone who needs you. Believe me, there are a lot of organizations who need your help.
Right now the site mostly covers Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas but I'm adding more every night. My wife was down at Reunion Arena in Dallas Tuesday handing out care packages and spiritually ministering to the refugees as a representative of her employer. She says that the situation is tragic and that there's a lot of work to be done. There are so many children who don't know where their parents are or even if their parents are still alive.
There are a lot of churches and other organizations in Texas that need help in dealing with the problem and I would appreciate it if you would get the word out.
Many thanks,
Michael McCullough
Stingray blogsite
I think if I were looking for disaster relief, and the site that was allowing me to access it was I.E. only I'd just download I.E. and use it, rather than bitch about it lol. It can be removed from your computer you know?
What would be modded to troll on /. is now "news".
Only by Hysteric Leftists and their tame lapdogs in the Dinosaur Media. Could it be that this is set up 1st because the VAST majority of people use this system and the more limited user have to wait their turn? This is for RECOVERY NOT Rescue. To freak out because the RECOVERY WEBSITE is not perfect is just another example of the Hysteric Left grasping at any straw to keep the focus on the Fed 3rd Responders and totally ignore the incompetence and criminal negligence at the State and Local levels.
And be inconvenienced? Perish the thought.
I know plenty of Linux users that would be offended by this article. It makes them out to be techno-tards, and they're anything but that.
It's Bush's fault
duh, it's always bush's fault.(/sarcasm)
golden eagle in under 25 post?
Well, this should bring out all the anti-Microsoft hatemongers. I am always entertained by these threads. Let the flames begin!
Let me clarify my post. I'm not insinuating the poster of the story is a troll, I'm saying the story itself is a lame attempt to fuel an OS flamefest. That's all. And I say that as a linux user.
Microsoft Relief Effort 2005
*shudder*
many here feel that a government endorsed monopoly and the refusal of fema to serve none microsoft ie6 users just plain wrong.
granted many on this site couldn't care less but those who read this thread find tech politics very important.
Safari can pretend to be IE for Windows as well.
how do they pretend, is there an option button to give out the wrong browsers info?
pretty good chance the victims computers don't work anymore anyway and they would have to apply on another available computer so thats about as lame as blaming it on President Bush
Smart Successful Businessmen all use Microsoft Windows.
Most script kiddies, Volvo liberals and PETA Fairies and their fuzzy-buddies in the ASPCA use Linux and macs.
Nyah - Nyah - Nyah! to paraphrase what the mac/linux crowd always says on this subject ....
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