September 2005 Archives

I recieved a comment to one of my previous Katrina posts that I'd like to address. Let's start with what Barkley had to say:

"Do you still want to emigrate to the US, even after Katrina? the Dutch would have weathered that storm and had everything prepared for the fix-up...the US is a "make it on your own or die" type of place, but this time it's a little too harsh for me"

Now, I'm sure mistakes where made and the images of people on rooftops, waiting days to get help made me mad as well. But to say that the Dutch (or anybody else) would have done a better job? I seriously doubt it. Here's why...

Finally a post not about Google but actually one related to moving the US :)

In a news release issued September 20, 2005, the US Department of State announced that registration for the 2007 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will begin at noon on October 5, 2005. Persons seeking to enter the lottery program must register online through the designated website during the registration period, noon October 5, 2005 through noon December 4, 2005.

In response to demand, DOS says it has tripled the number of servers hosting the registration website this year.

In addition, persons submitting entries to the 2007 lottery will receive a notice of receipt now containing their name, date of birth, country of chargeability, and a time/date stamp when information has been properly registered.

I know, I risk turning this in a Google weblog but this sounds interesting... Google is looking for a Product Manager, GoogleTV.

Reuter just put out an article that shows that the rumours are through. Google will introduce wifi access, probably free (advert based).

Google WiFi Privacy Policy
Google Secure Access FAQ

Google declines to comment.

A short update on the NYC Subway Pervert story. He's arrested. For some reason flickr removed the picture from their site.

Though there has not been an official request for help from the American government yet, the Netherlands is dispatching a frigate to deliver relief supplies to the stricken area, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said.

Frigate Hr.Ms. Van Amstel will depart shortly from the Netherlands Antilles and can be in position to offer assistance in four or five days. So it could have been there Saturday already.... but hey, better late than never!

The Netherlands also offered the US authorities the services of a dike inspection team to help combat the flooding in New Orleans.

"Long Beach halfway down from the tracks is trashed. Obliterated."

Machpi updated his blog and posted some 'after' pictures. His story and the pictures are a very disturbing first hand report from what happend in Long Beach.

"The coast to a couple hundred yards inland is absolutely smashed. Who knows how many people are still buried in the rubble."

"The street parallel to Woodward.. ...has a 200 yard barge sitting on it and where a house used to be."

I started writing this yesterday, but then decided to give our Dutch Government an extra day. But now I'm really wondering why there is so little help offered to the US after the tragedy of hurricane Katrina. We had our biggest flood in 1953. Only a day after the flood the US (among many other countries) offered their help. But now, 2005, it's already been 3 days and all that was offered was a 'dike inspection team'.... how about money, food, water, pumps, tents etc etc.

A lot of people in The Netherlands seem to argue that, first of all, the US is a rich country and therefore should take care of itself. Second they say as long as the US spends billions on a war they don't deserve our help. I strongly disagree with that. When the Dutch recieved Marshal plan help, we where fighting a Colonial war in Indonesia at the same time. That was our biggest, most expensive and probalby wrongest war ever. But that did not stop the US from helping us financially. That might in some part have been out of self interest. Probably a combination of that and the Golden Rule. And that's what we should do. We should offer help, just like we would help to be offered when we need it.

If you want, donate some money to the American Red Cross now.