TAU lectures, BG Airport departures/arrivals, Kupat Holim lab results -- Linux

[Stan Goodman]

There was some discussion here not long ago about the tendency of Israeli 
website owners to ignore issues of access by users of non-Microsoft 
browsers, and there seemed then to be a feeling that "something ought to 
be done about it". That feeling seems to have dissipated, although the 
problem remains (and promises to get worse).

To challenge the indifference of web designers to the problem seems a lost 
cause, as many of them have "learned" (I use the term loosely) to code in 
inexpensive Microsoft-sponsored courses which exist largely for the 
purpose of indoctrinating their students in the belief that 
MS "enhancements" are the best or only way to code web pages; they are 
not knowledgeable enough to understand arguments to the contrary. Owners 
of websites are also not a productive target for persuasion, e.g. because 
they feel that if they are reaching 90% of their clients, they have done 
as well as they ever can do, which really is not an illogical business 
decision.

On the other hand, all the organizations listed in the Subject line above 
are quasi-governmental agencies, and therefore have a responsibility to 
serve any member of the public who is equipped with standard apparatus, 
without regard to specific proprietary gear. They are all subject to the 
oversight of the State Comptroller, and I submit that the State 
Comptroller is the office that should be approached with the complaint 
and argument that these agencies are delinquent in their responsibility, 
given that e.g. Firefox is compliant with standards, whereas Internet 
Explorer (although universally favored by the ignoramuses who code the 
websites in question) is not.

If this makes sense to others, and if there is still interest in 
rectifying this long-time problem, I propose that a proper complaint be 
lodged with the Comptroller, who is bound to respond within a length of 
time set by law (I think it is three months). I think that this letter 
should be be drafted by a committee representing IGLU and signed by the 
largest possible number of  members. 

The problem is not going to go away by itself.

-- 
Stan Goodman
Qiryat Tiv'on
Israel