Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Ham radio volunteers help re-establish communications after Katrina. The American Red Cross and several federal agencies are turning to ham radio operators for help in re-establishing communications in parts of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi ravaged last week by Hurricane Katrina. [Computerworld News] Point your browser at The American Radio Relay League and click the Getting Started quick link.  Do it now before you really need it. 12:03:51 PM    comment []

Firefighters Stuck in Ga. Awaiting Orders (AP). AP - Hundreds of firefighters who volunteered to help rescue victims of Hurricane Katrina have instead been playing cards, taking classes on FEMA's history and lounging at an Atlanta airport hotel for days while they await orders. [Yahoo! News: U.S. National] What concerns me about this whole situation is what will happen next time.  People only have to be told to sit and wait before they throw up their hands and say to heck with it.  Call me when you need me, but do not expect me to jump.  Volunteers are getting harder and harder to find (at least the trained ones) because they spend more time sitting than they do working.  When there are time issues involved, such as they can only take a week and they spend six of those days sitting, it makes it very tough to get them back out again.  Something else for FEMA to remember. 11:43:47 AM    comment []

Evacuees Strain States' Social Programs (AP). Yahoo! News: U.S. National] I might have mentioned that the localities do not have the resources or cash to help their own folks, let alone all of their new guests.  And they are not likely to get any help from the Federal Government anytime soon. 11:13:22 AM    comment []

Calif. Lawmakers Pass Gay Marriage Bill (AP). AP - Gay rights supporters cheered loudly from the gallery as California lawmakers became the first in the country to approve a bill allowing same-sex marriages. But their celebration may be short-lived. [Yahoo! News: U.S. National] It is ironic that people seem to be hung up on the marriage part of the equal rights under the law for domestic partners.  This is about the rights of one half of a couple to make the decisions for the other half if one of them is unable to make those decisions.  Let's try and keep our eye on the ball here.  Whether or not you approve of people living together, regardless of sexual orientation, is your personal business.  But to not expect them to have the same benefits that you and your spouse have in unconscionable. 8:03:23 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 David Lane.