“The good news: If you’ve survived Hurricane Katrina, the government will let you register for help online. The bad news: But only if the computer you’re using is running Windows,” Gary Krakow reports for MSNBC.
“Yes, it turns out that to make a claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance Center, your Web browser must be Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 6 or higher and you must have JavaScript enabled. It even says so right on the page itself. One problem: IE6 isn’t available for Macintosh or Linux computers,” Krakow reports. “The safest way for non-Windows users to register for assistance is to call FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or for the hearing/speech impaired at TTY: 1-800-462-7585. FEMA says the phone lines are staffed 24/7.”
Full article here.
Ars Technica reports that this IE-only situation “has become a considerable problem for relief workers, who are attempting to setup as many kiosks as possible for refugees. Workers on the ground have told Ars Technica that they would prefer to avoid setting up Windows XP workstations because they take longer to setup, and even longer to properly patch and configure for use. You may recall that in an experiment performed last year, a Windows XP SP1 box put on the Internet was compromised in 4 minutes flat. While Service Pack 2 and recent updates undoubtedly improve XP’s defenses, techs are wary of using the OS in this situation.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: More short-sighted Windows-only bullshit from the U.S government. Don’t bug FEMA right now, they’ve got enough problems. Complain to your congressperson and/or your senator:
Contacting Congressperson: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Contacting Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
[UPDATE 9/7, 9:24am ET: added Ars text and link.]
Related articles:
Donate to The American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief fund to help Hurricane Katrina victims – September 03, 2005
World Wide Web Consortium objects to US Copyright Office’s Internet Explorer-only browser plan – August 25, 2005
U.S. Copyright Office: Use only the world’s most insecure browser to secure your copyright – August 17, 2005
U.S. Copyright Office: is it okay if our new website only works with Internet Explorer? – August 11, 2005
Survey identifies strong demand for Macintosh and Firefox web conferencing support – August 11, 2005
Using Apple’s Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger’s included fax capabiltes – July 22, 2005
Security report shows Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was unsafe for all but seven days of 2004 – March 22, 2005
Penn State’s IT Services recommends dumping Microsoft Internet Explorer immediately – December 09, 2004
Security expert: Don’t use Microsoft Windows, Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer – December 09, 2004
German Federal Office for Information Security: Internet users should ditch Internet Explorer – September 13, 2004
Web Standards Project: Abandon Microsoft Internet Explorer and ‘Browse Happy’ – August 25, 2004
Security expert: Microsoft Internet Explorer ‘just cannot be trusted, use alternate browser’ – July 02, 2004
Security firm warns of new Internet Explorer flaw, advises ‘use a different browser’ – July 01, 2004
Microsoft axes Internet Explorer for Mac – June 13, 2003
Kool,
Bush is not the reason for the mess. FYI: if you knew anything about modern communications, you’d also know that Bush’s ranch is as good as being in Washington DC, but probably much safer.
You look foolish and uninformed by trying to blame President Bush.
The reason for the mess is:
• a first time try of a new system combined with a massive storm that hit a particularly weak and poor area
• the previous failure of the state to spend the money on an adequate levee system even after being warned repeatedly and loudly
• the abject poor that the Democrats have conditioned to be solely dependent on the government to the point where they cannot take care of themselves in exchange for votes.
Reality – save your breath.
You are trying to have a rational and common sense conversation with someone who is not capable of either rational thinking or a common sense approach to the worlds problems (I am talking about Kool and any other Liberal).
They are only concerned with one thing – tearing down Bush and using every means possible. They are OBSESSED with this concept.
Bush could walk on water and the Left would spin it as he was to stupid to learn how to swim.
Bush says to Brown: “You’re doing a great job!” and I am the foolish one for calling out the stupidity in that?!
The reason for the mess is:
• a first time try of a new system combined with a massive storm that hit a particularly weak and poor area
–> Those setting up that new system were apparently not very well equipped to do that! Very poor excuse!
• the previous failure of the state to spend the money on an adequate levee system even after being warned repeatedly and loudly
–> See my quote above! Read it this time!
• the abject poor that the Democrats have conditioned to be solely dependent on the government to the point where they cannot take care of themselves in exchange for votes.
–> BullShit! Helping people out of poverty is much more effective (and fair) than to keep them down and don’t give them any chance. (That’s the Republican way.) No money no chance! The Republicans only care about the rich, not the poor. Did you hear that comment from Barbara Bush! Be ashamed!!
I am angry at Bush because he is not thinking about people, he is thinking about photo ops. You’ll discover it yourself once you start living a life in which you actually share things! Sharing multiplies. I am so sick of this me me me attitude everywhere. Yuck!!!
SENATOR JOHN GLENN SAID:
Things that make you think a little……..
1. There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during the month of January….. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in
the month of January. That’s just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of Iraq.
2. When some claim President Bush shouldn’t have started this war, state the following ..
FDR led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.
Truman finished that war and started one in Korea, North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,334 per year.
John F. Kennedy. started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam Nam never attacked us. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year.
Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent, Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden’s head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
3. In the 3 years since terrorists attacked us President Bush as liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.
The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but…It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to
take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.
We’ve been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm
billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick killing a woman.
Wait, there’s more………………….
Some people still don’t understand why military personnel do what they for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it’s also a good example of one man’s explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living. This is a typical, though sad, example of what
some who have never served think of our military.
JOHN GLENN ON THE SENATE FLOOR Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13
Senator Howard Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: “How can you run for Senate when you’ve never held a real job?”
Senator Glenn: “I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps., served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions I was in the space program. It wasn’t my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank.
I ask you to go with me ! … as I went the other day… to a veteran’s hospital and look at those men – with their mangled
bodies – in the eye, and tell THEM they didn’t hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee… and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their Dads didn’t hold a job.
You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I’d like to remember, and you watch those waving flags. You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn’t have a job?
I’ll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum; you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were some men – SOME MEN – who held REAL jobs. And they required a dedication to a purpose – and a love of country and a dedication to duty that was more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible.
I HAVE held a job, Howard! What about you?”
For those who don’t remember – During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA!!!!!!!
If you can read this, thank a teacher…. If you are reading it in
English, thank a Veteran.
To Andrew, Jake, Jim, MacDude, Reality is a bitch:
Wow, where do you guys get your news from? Listen, we left on Saturday, the 27th. The mayor was all over the newspapers and TV telling us to get out, in orderly fashion, following the state evacuation plan.
If you look at a map, you can see there aren’t a lot of ways to get almost a million people out, that’s why they have the ‘contraflow’ system, which means in-bound lanes on 10 and 55 are turned around, all lanes across Pontchartrain for outbound traffic. (works fairly well–same procedure with Ivan last time)
Lowlying areas are supposed to be given a chance to get out first, and that’s why reason Nagin issued the official mandatory evacuation first thing Sunday morning, following the state’s procedure to wait until 30 hours before landfall for the order. Don’t fall for the political spin on this you’re getting from some TV commentator or another. Nagin told us all to take this one VERY seriously, plan on leaving no ifs ands or buts on Saturday.
Also on Saturday (Aug. 27) Gov. Blanco officially asked FEMA and Bush to declare an emergency for the state, and to mobilize and send help. I’ve cut and pasted a part of her letter to Bush and FEMA she sent on Saturday:
“Pursuant to 44 CFR § 206.35, I have determined that this incident is of
such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the
capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that
supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect
property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a
disaster. “
You people with your lies and distortion of what actually happened disgust me. My family is alive, but our house and everything we owned is under water. The people who couldn’t leave included lots of lowlife criminals, and Mary Landrieu said many times she was disgusted with that kind. But most of the people stranded didn’t have cars or enough money, and a lot of people who would never leave, and sick and elderly. And sadly, thousands of them have drowned, many because of the delays in the mobilization of rescue and relief from FEMA and the National Guard.
Stop blaming us! Our mayor, the governor, Sen. Landrieu asked loudly and clearly every minute of every day once the levees broke Monday for help in evacuation and rescue. Why did it take until Friday to get ANYTHING from FEMA?
Listen, I’m not expecting much personally from President Bush, I frankly think we’d be better off if he stayed away. But he appointed that clown Brown, and apologizes for him instead of firing him, and his budgets are the ones that have cut Corps of Engineers funding for levee construction and improvement by 80-90% (And yes, it’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, not the poor parishes–those comments about the parishes using levee funds for gambling are outrageous right-wing propaganda).
You five (Andrew, Jim, Jake, MacDude, Reality is a bitch) should refrain from posting more regurgitated propaganda and instead inform yourself from non-partisan REAL news sources.
And back to the topic–yes, FEMA locking me out from applying online is a cruel joke on top of everything else. Of course we can just borrow someone else’s computer or call the 800 number and sit on hold, so we’re not crying about that. It’s just so symbolic of the pitiful and inadequate federal government.
“The U.S. and its citizenry have a long tradition of helping others out that has nothing to do with ego or invasion. “
True. But it has an equally long tradition of invading small countries, assassinating heads of state, financing ethnocides, etc. So to all of you one-track minds, two things:
1. See the good and the bad in everything, not just whatever side pleases you. That means the US is to be seen for BOTH its greatness and its crimes. Or any other country, for that matter.
2. You should thank your good star for using a Mac, since you hardly deserve it.
Also Chris, SG, Marty, Wally:
Four more of you with crippled brains and hearts. I doubt you all are capable of changing, but please don’t pollute these forums with your idiotic distortions and lies. Not enough space to detail how wrong all of your ‘facts’ are, just read the Times-Picayune’s archives, or any set of actual news articles.
Hint: blogs are not reliable sources of news!
As far as looting: Sen. Landrieu was talking about people without food and no fresh water foraging provisions at empty, abandoned food markets. You all are falling for more right wing racist spin to get worked up about that and calling it opportunistic looting.
Stealing Nike’s and electronics? Despicable. Desperate and hungry and the market has bottled water and bread? I’ll call that understandable foraging, and so did our Senator.
Robynola…I hope things are getting better fast for you and your loved ones. Another piece of unbelievably stupid news I read was that calling the FEMA 800 # only manages to have the forms sent to your PRIMARY RESIDENCE which, for many of you, is UNDER WATER.
Can you confirm this? If it is true, it is the ULTIMATE insult.
Best of luck to you!
Democrat liberals are scum! Keep looking for hand outs you losers. Why the F*CK did your wonderful governor and mayor not bus the dregs of society out prior to this disaster????????? That must be Bush’s fault too. Give me a break. We all know what happened here and it is no way Bush’s fault. It’s the fault of incompetent local leaders and lazy people who feed off society. This is what happens when you raise people to not educate themselves or take care of themselves.
Antoine:
You don’t know me, you don’t know much about how the world really works, and you have no good reason to offer up these half-thoughts.
I hope you get to have an enlightening education someday, but until then you’re not much to talk to. Good luck.
Liberals=Terrorist
Liberals=Looters from Society
Road Wimp = Terrorist Commie Scum!
Muck = United Hatist using aim for Bin hit Saddam guidance system. Enjoy the next hurricanes, they won’t miss the target.
Well as a Kitrina escapee, I’m sitting in a coffee house, trying to apply for aid with FEMA, but can’t because my Mac isn’t good enough for some stupid reason.
The phones here are, at the moment, totally worthless, and the internet was the last hope I had of getting answers to my questions.
Since FEMA has a MS only policy, now, I have to wait. Although I THINK my house fared ok(better than others for sure), I KNOW that my business is underwater… a recording studio with three Macs and more hard drives than I care to count.
FEMA, from what I can tell, from the initial response to my inability to apply for aid on my Mac is a total worthless MESS.
Mr. Road Warrior,
We are all curious about what country you come from?
I have heard that one before. It’s not curiosity as I have discovered it is bait. I tell and it just gives you an opportunity to bash a country.
I could be wrong but pro American = anti world