09-17-2005, 12:33 AM
The blame goes to more than just people "directly" involved with this whole ordeal - it goes to those indirectly involved, as well, something no one here (or much of anywhere else, for that matter) seems aware of.
One such example is explained thusly:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story...6105216639
Another example is of how hurricane victims are unable to receive aid, find loved ones, etc., all because FEMA will not accept any other browser but IE. Elaboration below.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story...1305273070
It's things like this that make me love my state (although there are a wealth of things that make me hate it, not the least of which is the heavy liberal standing :P). MA was one of the few to stand up to Microsoft during the initial anti-trust / monoploy case, and it was one of the ONLY ones to continue the pursuit (and still does to this very day!) long after the DoJ crumpled. In case you don't know the background, MA is fighting for open standards for document presentation, focusing on an open standard XML, rather than MS's proprietary XML standard. This, of course, has MS in an uproar, spouting no end of nonsense (it truly is ridiculous) - but that is all beside the point.
I bring you these links and stories to raise awareness of other, just-as-critical issues plaguing our country today that Katrina has helped illuminate but that the press, and the majority of the world, still does not consider. I'm not going to bore you all with preachings about Linux (I'm not a Linux zealot; I AM a tremendous supporter of open standards and OSS), etc., but I think it would be detrimental to let this issue go unnoticed any longer - an issue that affects and permeates through every facet of our lives, from the cars we drive to the stores we shop in. It goes beyond simply software (proprietary and otherwise). Because of this, I feel it's important enough to toss into this thread, especially given the relevance it holds with this latest tragedy.
One such example is explained thusly:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story...6105216639
Another example is of how hurricane victims are unable to receive aid, find loved ones, etc., all because FEMA will not accept any other browser but IE. Elaboration below.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story...1305273070
It's things like this that make me love my state (although there are a wealth of things that make me hate it, not the least of which is the heavy liberal standing :P). MA was one of the few to stand up to Microsoft during the initial anti-trust / monoploy case, and it was one of the ONLY ones to continue the pursuit (and still does to this very day!) long after the DoJ crumpled. In case you don't know the background, MA is fighting for open standards for document presentation, focusing on an open standard XML, rather than MS's proprietary XML standard. This, of course, has MS in an uproar, spouting no end of nonsense (it truly is ridiculous) - but that is all beside the point.
I bring you these links and stories to raise awareness of other, just-as-critical issues plaguing our country today that Katrina has helped illuminate but that the press, and the majority of the world, still does not consider. I'm not going to bore you all with preachings about Linux (I'm not a Linux zealot; I AM a tremendous supporter of open standards and OSS), etc., but I think it would be detrimental to let this issue go unnoticed any longer - an issue that affects and permeates through every facet of our lives, from the cars we drive to the stores we shop in. It goes beyond simply software (proprietary and otherwise). Because of this, I feel it's important enough to toss into this thread, especially given the relevance it holds with this latest tragedy.
Roland *The Gunslinger*