Slashdot Mirror

https://support.catholiccharit...
https://www.habitat.org/cd/giv...

I am sure there are more, but those are off the top of my head.

Not the AC, but I don't understand this pessimism, there are good charities that work to help poor people out there.

Or, go to a building material recycler where you can find solid doors, pre-hung.

I know, I know. But even be it as it is - that billionaires are going to make billions regardless of what normal people think it right or wrong (don't forget that these people are billionaires because of both their desire to be so, as well as the general population's desire to buy into whatever they're selling - don't think that there aren't millions of idiots out there just waiting to use facebook to look like they have a life worth living) there can still be good that becomes of it. Had there not been a facebook, there would have been no gathering of billions of advertizing dollars to then shift a very small amount to a charity.

I don't know man, I'm just trying to stay positive. My own life sucks to a certain extent, but there are others who have it waay worse than I. I'm not able to pitch in any money to help them, but I'm glad to see that some, even if they're lying asshole shitheads, are. No matter how small it is to Zuckerberg, it's a lot to those in need.

I'm from Alabama. After hurricane Katrina, there was an organization that helped a lot. They're world-wide and basically do the same thing that Silicon Valley Community Foundation does. I know for a fact that they're helping, because I was a part of it. It's simply not fair to the charities to say that they're not helping. It's pointless to argue whether or not 100% of the money that's donated goes to the people in need. Currently, humans aren't as nice to each other as they could be, and that manifests in all areas of life. Do you not feel that your employer could pay you and all other employees more?

Volunteer construction? Yeah, there's an app^h^h^h organization for that.
http://www.habitat.org/

I think a better option would be to take the lawyer that handled the case, probably on contingency, and have him swing a hammer for 40 hrs on a Habitat for Humanity project; OMG missing Golf for 5 days, that's cruel and inhuman!

Yet another hammer in the coffin for the nuts who want to deny reality.

For the record, Lexington Habitat for Humanity is recognized for being one of the most energy efficient home builders in the state, known for its ability to build in infill lots while still maintaining the architectural character of historic neighborhoods, our ability to reduce waste and increase recycling of materials on the job site, and always building to exceed the current building code requirements. And the mortage on a three bedroom, super energy efficient home (0% interest, 15 year forgivable loan) is around $300/month.

Criticizing a do-gooder on the basis that the critic would prefer to use the do-gooder's resources in a different way is fundamentally flawed. That way lies paralysis and doing nothing. It's just a complicated way of saying "be reasonable--do things my way."

It's like criticizing the space program on the basis that it would be better to use the same resources to fight poverty in the U.S. That point is arguably true, but it's silly, because if we didn't have a space program the political reality is that those resources would not be used to fight poverty.

The altruistic impulse is not fungible. If you say to Negroponte "we don't want your laptops," he's not going to say, "Great, I'll just fold up the Media Lab and send all its funds to Oxfam."

I've faced this problem in deciding how to make personal charitable donations. How can one decide when there are so many worthy causes? How can one justify donating to the American Cancer Society when perhaps the American Heart Association would be a better use of resources? Is it frivolous to donate to the EFF instead of sending that money to UNICEF? The only answer is: these are the charities I donate to, you donate to whatever charities you wish.

Just more proof that you can always find problems with things that you want to find problems with. Oddly enough, if it weren't for the existance of F/OSS, this individual might not have had the opportunity to attack the work of people who volunteer their time and effort to creating software that helps others work easier. So, if you think about it, F/OSS added to the poster's quality of life, in an odd, twisted sort of way.
.
In fact, it may have even saved many such people's lives, because they might otherwise find entertainment standing outside a Habitat for Humanity site, complaining about the "shoddy" work on the new house, until they end up with a claw hammer stuck in their skull :)

For the Nth time: in response to all the inevitable "far cheaper than NASA" posts; this is not an orbital launch - it just goes up to the edge of space, then straight down again.
 
...to sum it all up, this is just going to be a VERY expensive amusement park ride. Even though I'm usually all for technological advances such as this... but maybe just because it's the Christmas season or something... right now I can't help but wonder about stuff like how many Habitat for Humanity houses could be built instead with the money that people will be paying for a short ride to the edge of space.

American Red Cross

Provides a full spectrum of services to disaster victims, including shelter, medical care, food, clean water and assisting with cleanup efforts.

http://www.redcross.org/

https://www2.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

Salvation Army:

Providing hot meals to displaced disaster victims and emergency personnel working to aid those devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm

https://secure5.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/do nate?openform&projectid=USN-hurricane05

United Way

Identifying serious needs of devastated communities and helping not only with front-line disaster relief but with long-term recovery.

http://national.unitedway.org/

https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/hurricane-katri na/donate/

America's Second Harvest

Transports food to victims and secures additional warehouse space to assist member food banks in resuming and maintaining operations.

http://www.secondharvest.org/default.asp

https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?i event=67898

Feed the Children

Mobilizing and distributing supplies in hurricane devastated areas.

http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pag ename=usw_hurricane_katrina

https://secure2.convio.net/ftc/site/Donation?ACTIO N=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=2661

Habitat for Humanity

Helping disaster victims rebuild piece by piece and house by house.

http://www.habitat.org/

https://www.habitat.org/donation/generaldonation/d efault.aspx?media=habitat&lander=MP&sourcecode=10w 39&tg=katrina&keyword=homepage_08302005

American Red Cross

Provides a full spectrum of services to disaster victims, including shelter, medical care, food, clean water and assisting with cleanup efforts.

http://www.redcross.org/

https://www2.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

Salvation Army:

Providing hot meals to displaced disaster victims and emergency personnel working to aid those devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm

https://secure5.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/do nate?openform&projectid=USN-hurricane05

United Way

Identifying serious needs of devastated communities and helping not only with front-line disaster relief but with long-term recovery.

http://national.unitedway.org/

https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/hurricane-katri na/donate/

America's Second Harvest

Transports food to victims and secures additional warehouse space to assist member food banks in resuming and maintaining operations.

http://www.secondharvest.org/default.asp

https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?i event=67898

Feed the Children

Mobilizing and distributing supplies in hurricane devastated areas.

http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pag ename=usw_hurricane_katrina

https://secure2.convio.net/ftc/site/Donation?ACTIO N=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=2661

Habitat for Humanity

Helping disaster victims rebuild piece by piece and house by house.

http://www.habitat.org/

https://www.habitat.org/donation/generaldonation/d efault.aspx?media=habitat&lander=MP&sourcecode=10w 39&tg=katrina&keyword=homepage_08302005

The fastest-built Habitat for Humanity home in the world was raised on Dec.17 2002 in just 3 hours, 26 minutes and 34 seconds.

from habitat for humanity

There are some large companies around here that do this sort of Halloween thing; however, it's not just the kids of the employees who are invited in. They bring in special ed classes to trick-or-treat, and throw them a big party, give them 1-on-1 attention, and even send them off with a few company-store items that they can use in their classroom--all for free. The kids (and teachers and parents) love it, of course.

The employees really enjoy it because they not only get to goof around and (optionally) dress silly on a workday afternoon, but they know that they are doing something special and meaningful for somebody else; it's not just one more odious team-building exercise. The companies are behind it because it's a very healthy way for teams to come together, it's on-site so there is little cash or lost-hours cost involved, and it's pretty good publicity.

This sort of public-service, everybody-wins activity is just really great, and I can't recommend it enough. (Or commend those companies enough.) One company had a Habitat for Humanity party and helped build a home for someone in need. A company I used to work for had a competition at Thanksgiving to see which floor could bring in the most food for the community food pantry (with surprisingly little unauthorized movement of cans from one floor to another).

There are lots and lots of opportunities for these sorts of things in each city, and there is always something for every size of organization. (If you don't know where to start looking, try asking your local principal or your local office of the United Way.) I'd encourage you to find one that fits your community and corporate culture and make it one of your annual events.

How many of you have helped out at a Homeless shelter or soup kitchen? Donated clothes/etc to the Salvation Army? Helped the Big Brothers or Big Sisters? Helped out Habitat for Humanity? Or thousands of other things one can do to help their fellow humans? I have, and the look on peoples faces when I help them with no selfish intentions is worth 1,000's to me. I just recently helped a co-worker setup a new computer. I saved her a lot of money by building a new computer and using some of her old parts. I gave her a spare 20GB HDD and a video card. I refused payment. Why? Because I wanted to help. Not because I wanted money. She still thanked me and gave me 4 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. That meant more to me then her handing me an impersonal check.

I have a 2 1/2 year old girl, should I start to charge her for my time, since "time is money"? Of course not, I would not trade my time with my little angel for any amount of money.

Now, I can think of thousands of ways to make money in a world where the majority of software is free. I think a balance can be met between free software and pay software. What I do not want to accept is proprietary software. I am a developer for a fortune 500 that does a few billion a year in sales and non of it comes from selling software. This company and hundreds of thousands of other companies in the world need software developed in-house. That requires hiring programmers to build custom applications. Most purchased software are too generic for companies and those companies want to tweak those apps, build extensions or develop complimenting applications. Most companies do not want to fit their business to sofware and instead want software to fit their business. So there will always be a strong need for sofware developers. The only issue that could hurt software developers is not Open Source, but out sourcing.

One other point, why do closed minded people like Clemens Vasters still think that you cannot sell Open Source software? MySQL, JBoss, Red Hat, SuSE, Ximian and others are doing it. What is required for a company to make money with Open Source is a for that company to trully add value. In a world where most of the software is Open Source, companies will once again have to innovate and create value. And that scares a lot of people.

Carter may or may not have been a failure as President (I am not giving an opinion) but he has definitly been a success since then, raising a lot of awareness about Habitat for Humanity. Read more if you are interrested.

not a pratical/scientific one. In a sense, by putting a man in space a government is saying "look at what our technical infrastructure can do." Nothing more.

This was the original reason behind the apollo program and winning the space race. Once NASA accomplished this, NASA was left with the difficult job of justifying itself, and arguably the reason why they have not had a sense of direction.

Many will not like this post with responses like;

1) We need to send a man to mars --
This would take a huge amount of money by anyone's standards. Once there, what does he do?? Plant another flag and take soil samples?? A robot could do this much cheaper. Before spending all that money on a mars mission maybe Dubya should give that prescription drug beneffit to the seniors that he promised.

2) We need man in space to mine exotic minerals from asteroids --
The fact is that it will always be economically cheaper to find those minerals on earth, no matter what. It would be cheaper to send a man to the bottom of the ocean to mine it there if need be. But why send a man to do a dangerous job when a robot can do it cheaper and more efficiently in the first place??

3) We need man in space to establish the new frontier where people can go to live --
Again, it will always be cheaper to find places on earth for people to live than to shuttle them (and all the supplies they need) to outer space. Right now it's taking 1.5 billion dollars to maintain a couple people on the international space station. If this was meant to be, how much is it going to cost to shuttle a 100 million of their fellow Americans to orbit?? To say that it will be cheaper in the future is to ignore the obvious. NASA isn't asking for less money to do their job, they're asking for more money. As it is, there is no way for them to replace the aging shuttles that like to blow up every few years. Maybe it will be cheaper in the (very) distant future, but in the history of the space program the cost has never gone down to send a few people to orbit. Maybe they could use atomic rockets. We can only imagine the fun when something goes wrong there, not to mention all the radiation spewed into the enviroment. Fusion power remains a dream occasionally energized by lasers in buildings the size of small cities for a blink of an eye.

I bet all that money that would be spent on new and improved space planes to replace the shuttles could buy vast tracts of homes built by Habitat for Humanity for people to live in. Maybe thay could take a few dollars that they were going to spend on new spacesuits and spend it on saving the enviroment we have.

Everybody has lots of ways to conquer the laws of physics to get man into space. But nobody has a way to conquer the laws of economics.

Fine with me. So long as you also provide the list to Habitat for Humanity

If helping yourself isn't motivating enough, volunteer with your local Habitat for Humanity and help someone else.

If you insist on playing through your wife's vacation...try your local strip clup. The games are *much* more realistic! Look at those bezier's on HER!"

Call me an optimist, but I think the Save Farscape [savefarscape.com] campaign has the ability to bring this thing back.

No, they don't. It doesn't have a prayer. Practical matters prevent it- Producers, directors, crew, actors/actresses all go their separate ways.

Second, let's not forget that the ONLY reason TV shows exist is to SELL ADVERTISING. When the advertisers go "hey, this show is only watched by a bunch of nerds, everyone else thinks it's stupid, sorry, we'll advertise with someone else", guess what? It gets dropped. Why do you think the VAST majority of TV shows are NEVER -continued- on another network?

Are you seriously blinded to the point that you think a science fiction show that FAILED on a -network dEDICATED to science fiction- will have even a prayer?

The concept of donating money to 'save' a TV show, which is at best entertainment, at worst a device invented PURELY to make money. It disgusts me that people are so loaded with money that they prioritize a MONEY MAKING DEVICE over helping the homeless, feeding starving children, curing various diseases, etc. Try getting off your fucking couch and building a house with all your new-found spare time, instead of popping pimples waiting for the browser to load the "people who can't let go" webboard.

I guarantee you'll feel better, meet some cool people, and be healthier to boot.

I did hang up one of the posters [watchfarscape.com] on my door.

Sad that people will protest a TV show but not a war and the continuous stripping of their personal freedom and rights.

Baa baa, little sheep.

Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
from this.

The local chapters have never cared what religion I was (or wasn't); they were just glad to have someone who can swing a hammer.

And it's opt-in; they don't blind-call folk asking for diddly.

Non-sectarian charities (say, Habitat for Humanity) are fine

You should take a look at this.

There's more than enough injustice in real life, and you're wasting your time whining about this?!?!

• Amnesty International
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Oxfam International
• Doctors Without Borders
• Habitat for Humanity International

It sounds all fine and good to manage the construction of your own home, and even buy the lumber and whatever else you need. But you'd better have some carprentry experience before you do so.

Habitat for Humanity can give you experience and knowledge while doing something good for people that could use something good in their lives...

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor -- sweat equity -- into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

Some Dads are not entirely self-centered. Go figure. Some Dads are even (gasp!) socially aware. If your Pop fits the profile, try a gift in his name to one of these: Habitat for Humanity Save the Afghan Children RAWA The Heifer Project Southern Poverty Law Center Adopt a Solar Family in Guatemala Palestinian Red Crescent Maen David Adom

And, even better yet... go throw $300 at a PS2 now, so you can throw another $100-150 for hardware when the network capability is available? After all, Sony is the most benevolent of companies, feeding the hungry and healing the sick. Downright charitable. Sheesh.

The console industry defined itself from its inception as an arena for hard-core capitalist corporations to milk maximum revenue from content providers and customers. Microsoft deserves a place in that wonderful market segment as much as any other.

If you want to exercise some philosophical consistency, remove Windows and Microsoft Office from every machine you own and/or use (no, you don't deserve to use stolen M$ software just because you disagree with their criminal business practices) and feel comfortable owning both a PS2 and an Xbox. If you want to gripe indirectly about the way a relatively free capitalist economy works, try making a difference for a change.

Habitat is a great organization to work for: it benefits folks both in the US and abroad, both at a basic social service level (you get a roof over your head) and at a more long-term, community-building level. I've worked with them at the local affiliate level in a non-technical job, but they often have tech jobs available to assist with their infrastructure. Most of those jobs are located at their headquarters in Georgia, but the occasional international posting comes through. Check out Habitat's HR Page for details.

Closer to home is an opportunity to work for your living with an amazing organizaion. While not strictly volunteering, it would definitly be a paycut. Habitat for Humanity does more to promote cross cultural peace than any other organization that I know of. Nothing breaks down barriers more than providing decent living arrangements for total strangers. The Job Opportunities page currently lists these current technical positions:

• 
  
• Youth Programs Coordinator
  PS 1415
  This position is responsible for assisting the Youth Programs Officer in supporting Habitat for Humanity affiliates and campus chapters in developing age-appropriate activities for youth ages 5-16. It involves developing resources and publications related to youth programs, facilitating workshops at Habitat regional conferences, responding to inquiries related to youth, and contributing to HFHI publications. The qualified applicant must have excellent writing and public speaking skills, be self-directed, Microsoft Office familiarity, strong interpersonal skills, experience with the programmatic aspect of a community service organization, and a Bachelorfs degree in a related field.
  
  Reconstruction Volunteers*
  Facilities Management
  Basic Volunteer
  Under the direction of the Property Manager, work with other volunteers in fixing, restoring, and furnishing HFHI housing to the accepted standard set by Operations. Repair corporate buildings as needed. Responsibilities and duties include: understanding safety precautions and utilizing them at all times; repairing broken plumbing fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens; painting houses, both interior and exterior; repairing/installing floors, walls, windows, hanging doors, and mirrors; light construction duties; and working independently to identify or replace defective mechanical equipment. The qualified applicant should have six months of related maintenance or construction experience, have the ability to work with various tools, both power and hand-held, be able to complete assigned duties in a timely manner, be able to work well with others and able to lift 75 lbs regularly.
  
  *At this time, the Americus/Sumter County Affiliate is no longer in need of Construction Volunteers, until further notice. However, we are very much in need of Reconstruction Volunteers.
  
  Application Technician - Habitrak
  PS #184
  Basic Volunteer Position
  This position is responsible for supporting Affiliate information systems that are sanctioned and distributed by HFHI, e.g., Habitrak and International Mortgage Tracking System. This position provides customer service and technical support for all HFHI Affiliates using these products. As well, this position receives questions and requests via phone and e-mail and responds in appropriate manner; tracks problems and recommends temporary workarounds and long-term fixes; works with customers, Program and Project managers to analyze information needs and existing systems; assists in design, implementation and enhancement of new and existing programs; documents all problems, resolutions and procedures per HFHI guidelines; assists in customer training; and maintains and enhances good customer relations. The position is also responsible for participating in the specifications and scheduling of product enhancements, testing and implementation. This position exercises a leadership role in promoting awareness of Affiliate information product needs. Relevant experience in software development, programming, or as a systems/business analyst; expertise in MS Office products, MS Visual Basic, MS Access; and customer service, training experience, and technical proficiency in SQL or major RDBMS preferred. This position performs other related duties as assigned. The qualified applicant will have strong analytical and technical skills and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. As well, the qualified applicant would have a Bachelorfs degree from an accredited institution. A degree in Business or Computer Science preferred. Qualifying experience may be substituted for the Education requirement on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two (2) years.
  
  
• #0974 Client Server Analyst Programmer
  Posting Period 11/09/01 - 12/15/01
  Projected hire date 01/07/02 or before
  Position located in Americus, GA.
  This position functions as the primary application support for the International Mortgage Tracking System (IMTS). IMTS is an automated business management application for HFH international affiliates written in Visual Basic using current market tools such as Crystal Reports; ensures efficient information processing, data integrity, and delivery of useful accurate information to the users; Visual Basic programming and development along with clear communication with both technical and business personnel are the key duties for this position along with demonstrating sound knowledge of business processes and systems support requirements. Must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience with at least ten semester hours in any combination of Business, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Management Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field and three years relevant work experience. Must also have three years experience in information technologies; practical working knowledge of IBM PC computers, MS Office products, and MS NT workstation; programming and systems analysis experience; business analysis and RDBMS experience; practical working experience with MS Access, FileMaker Pro, Crystal Reports, SQL server, Visual Basic and ASP.
  ($31,450)
  
  
• And of course they can always use vulunteers at your local field office. Look them up in your phone book and offer your services.
  
  

I think this also underscores the point that many organizations need your help and have a hard time recruiting people at reduced pay. Check out your favorite organization and see what sort of technical positions they have posted. If you want to gain more than a paycheck out of your work, then they may be able to use you.

Here are some other opportunities offered through the United nations:

United Nations Information Technology Services. From thier website: In his Millennium Report, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance for developing countries to benefit from the opportunities emerging from the digital revolution. He proposed the creation of a global volunteer programme aimed at bridging the digital divide between industrialized and developing countries. UNITeS, the United Nations Information Technology Service, is an initiative that channels the creative energies, skills and solidarity of volunteers around the world to collaborate with people in the South to improve their capacity to make practical use of information and communications technologies (ICT). In key fields like health, education, income generation, gender equity, environment or humanitarian aid, volunteers working under the UNITeS programme are striving to bridge the digital divide, one person at a time. The United Nations Volunteers programme is coordinating this new, UN ICT volunteer initiative.

The United Nations Volunteers offer opportunities locally and abroad.

Closer to home is an opportunity to work for your living with an amazing organizaion. While not strictly volunteering, it would definitly be a paycut. Habitat for Humanity does more to promote cross cultural peace than any other organization that I know of. Nothing breaks down barriers more than providing decent living arrangements for total strangers. The Job Opportunities page currently lists these current technical positions:

• 
  
• Youth Programs Coordinator
  PS 1415
  This position is responsible for assisting the Youth Programs Officer in supporting Habitat for Humanity affiliates and campus chapters in developing age-appropriate activities for youth ages 5-16. It involves developing resources and publications related to youth programs, facilitating workshops at Habitat regional conferences, responding to inquiries related to youth, and contributing to HFHI publications. The qualified applicant must have excellent writing and public speaking skills, be self-directed, Microsoft Office familiarity, strong interpersonal skills, experience with the programmatic aspect of a community service organization, and a Bachelorfs degree in a related field.
  
  Reconstruction Volunteers*
  Facilities Management
  Basic Volunteer
  Under the direction of the Property Manager, work with other volunteers in fixing, restoring, and furnishing HFHI housing to the accepted standard set by Operations. Repair corporate buildings as needed. Responsibilities and duties include: understanding safety precautions and utilizing them at all times; repairing broken plumbing fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens; painting houses, both interior and exterior; repairing/installing floors, walls, windows, hanging doors, and mirrors; light construction duties; and working independently to identify or replace defective mechanical equipment. The qualified applicant should have six months of related maintenance or construction experience, have the ability to work with various tools, both power and hand-held, be able to complete assigned duties in a timely manner, be able to work well with others and able to lift 75 lbs regularly.
  
  *At this time, the Americus/Sumter County Affiliate is no longer in need of Construction Volunteers, until further notice. However, we are very much in need of Reconstruction Volunteers.
  
  Application Technician - Habitrak
  PS #184
  Basic Volunteer Position
  This position is responsible for supporting Affiliate information systems that are sanctioned and distributed by HFHI, e.g., Habitrak and International Mortgage Tracking System. This position provides customer service and technical support for all HFHI Affiliates using these products. As well, this position receives questions and requests via phone and e-mail and responds in appropriate manner; tracks problems and recommends temporary workarounds and long-term fixes; works with customers, Program and Project managers to analyze information needs and existing systems; assists in design, implementation and enhancement of new and existing programs; documents all problems, resolutions and procedures per HFHI guidelines; assists in customer training; and maintains and enhances good customer relations. The position is also responsible for participating in the specifications and scheduling of product enhancements, testing and implementation. This position exercises a leadership role in promoting awareness of Affiliate information product needs. Relevant experience in software development, programming, or as a systems/business analyst; expertise in MS Office products, MS Visual Basic, MS Access; and customer service, training experience, and technical proficiency in SQL or major RDBMS preferred. This position performs other related duties as assigned. The qualified applicant will have strong analytical and technical skills and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. As well, the qualified applicant would have a Bachelorfs degree from an accredited institution. A degree in Business or Computer Science preferred. Qualifying experience may be substituted for the Education requirement on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two (2) years.
  
  
• #0974 Client Server Analyst Programmer
  Posting Period 11/09/01 - 12/15/01
  Projected hire date 01/07/02 or before
  Position located in Americus, GA.
  This position functions as the primary application support for the International Mortgage Tracking System (IMTS). IMTS is an automated business management application for HFH international affiliates written in Visual Basic using current market tools such as Crystal Reports; ensures efficient information processing, data integrity, and delivery of useful accurate information to the users; Visual Basic programming and development along with clear communication with both technical and business personnel are the key duties for this position along with demonstrating sound knowledge of business processes and systems support requirements. Must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience with at least ten semester hours in any combination of Business, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Management Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field and three years relevant work experience. Must also have three years experience in information technologies; practical working knowledge of IBM PC computers, MS Office products, and MS NT workstation; programming and systems analysis experience; business analysis and RDBMS experience; practical working experience with MS Access, FileMaker Pro, Crystal Reports, SQL server, Visual Basic and ASP.
  ($31,450)
  
  
• And of course they can always use vulunteers at your local field office. Look them up in your phone book and offer your services.
  
  

I think this also underscores the point that many organizations need your help and have a hard time recruiting people at reduced pay. Check out your favorite organization and see what sort of technical positions they have posted. If you want to gain more than a paycheck out of your work, then they may be able to use you.

Here are some other opportunities offered through the United nations:

United Nations Information Technology Services. From thier website: In his Millennium Report, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance for developing countries to benefit from the opportunities emerging from the digital revolution. He proposed the creation of a global volunteer programme aimed at bridging the digital divide between industrialized and developing countries. UNITeS, the United Nations Information Technology Service, is an initiative that channels the creative energies, skills and solidarity of volunteers around the world to collaborate with people in the South to improve their capacity to make practical use of information and communications technologies (ICT). In key fields like health, education, income generation, gender equity, environment or humanitarian aid, volunteers working under the UNITeS programme are striving to bridge the digital divide, one person at a time. The United Nations Volunteers programme is coordinating this new, UN ICT volunteer initiative.

The United Nations Volunteers offer opportunities locally and abroad.

If you're really serious about helping Habitat For Humanity, find the local affiliate closest to you, and call them to offer your help in migrating away from Windows. I'd bet that they need people who'd to come in and do the work, not just talk about it...

Habitat for Humanity is considering the free Linux operating system. But because Microsoft is so dominant, it will be difficult for firms to switch. Windows runs 92% of PCs. Its Office software has better than a 90% market share, Gartner says.

You're on the money with that one. Some things that most (all?) countries in sub-Saharan Africa could use:

• A stable government.
• A stable legal system. Without either of these, you will not be able to have:
• A stable business environment / stable economy. Even with "the foundations of law and democracy" this is difficult to achieve: look at Japan over the last 10 years, and Argentina/Brazil/Mexico over the last 2-5.
• Rid the government of corruption. This helps towards fixing the above.
• Allow the populace to educate, shelter, and feed themselves. This means anything from a handout to a "hand up", depending on which charity/NGO/whatever you are talking to. It doesn't really matter how it gets done as long as it all gets done (education is the big one for the long term, but it can't happen without the other two). None of this can take place in an environment in which the average Joe lives in fear of a) roving bands of thugs and b) government troops.
• Effective measures to prevent the spread of disease. AIDS is a big fear right now. Many children die daily of African sleeping sickness. Malaria is another huge killer. Malaria and one other disease which leads to blindness (blanking on the name right now) are preventable with drugs.
• Note that I haven't mentioned an IT infrastructure yet.
• Electricity? Yeah, right. Lagos, Nigeria will be the world's 3rd largest city by 2015, behind Tokyo and Bombay. The city is growing rapidly and none of the infrastructure can handle it. It is a big deal that certain companies in the city will be provided with 22h/day electricity at some point in the near future! You can't have an IT infrastructure on 22h/day of electricity (and don't expect 22h/day of "uninterrupted" service).
• Don't bother joining the geekcorps if you want to help Africa. Instead get involved with HFH, The Grameen Foundation, The Heifer Project, or any of a number of other fundamental-infrastructure-building organizations. I'm sure geekcorps does great things, but their efforts seem better directed at "second tier" nations that already have basic infrastructure laid and are ready to make the leap into the 20th (yes) century.

First, let me say that LS has his heart in the right place. Giving back to the community, at least in my mind, is a responsibility.

Folks such as myself believe that computers are a necessity. I don't believe that I could live anything approaching a happy live without email.

That said, not a mile from my home is a place where people who regularly go without food sleep. I drive by that homeless shelter every day on the way to work.

The lives of those who visit the homeless shelter can not be improved by programming or high speed internet access.

The kids who go to several of the high schools in my district can't pass elementary level math and science tests. These kids have don't need perl lessons, they need basic, how-do-I-balance-my-checkbook math.

I highly recommend each person find a meaningful cause. Mine is Habitat for Humanity. It is my choice because at the end of the day, I can see progress. I once did a Thanksgiving at a soup kitchen. It was depressing. I knew that tomorrow the same people would be here. All I had to show for the day was empty bowls. I didn't fix a problem, I was helping a person get though one day.

After a day with Habitat, there are walls. Next week, there will be a roof. A few months and there's a house and a family. Years from now, I can drive by that house and point it out to my kid as something I did to make the world a better place.

With soup or even a nice piece of code, what have I left for the next generation to see? Little, I believe.

On the selfish side of the street, Habitat also gives me the opportunity to get some exercise. That's something I wouldn't get if I were using my computer skills for a charitable organization. Also, in a couple years, I plan to build my own house. Having worked with Habitat, I've learned skills that will save me money down the road. My working with Habitat has been very symbiotic.

Everyone should get out there and give back to the community. But, before you pigeonhole yourself into thinking your only skill is computer-related, ask yourself if there is anything else you can provide to the community that might be better utilized. I think you'll find hard labor benefits the community more than any computer project you can hack together (probably on company time {grin}).

InitZero

However, if you're not the type to get off your ass (:-), Habitat for Humanity folks say that it's always easy to get people to show up for the glamorous parts of building a house - there's other hard boring work to be done preparing for it, and there's a lot of need for money. Send them a check, or Donate Online using credit cards.

However, if you're not the type to get off your ass (:-), Habitat for Humanity folks say that it's always easy to get people to show up for the glamorous parts of building a house - there's other hard boring work to be done preparing for it, and there's a lot of need for money. Send them a check, or Donate Online using credit cards.

Anal Correction Mode on.

Habitat for Humanity is not plural.

Anal Correction Mode off.

I have volunteered for Habitat near where I live, and they tend to build housing for those who cannot afford it, I'm not sure if they do repair work (although they do buy abandoned buildings from the gov't and fix them). I believe there is some income restriction to be elegible to buy it, but if you can it is a good deal. (If you call a required 400 hours of working on Habitat jobs good... I do.) Low cost housing, with no interest.

I would encurage everybody to volunteer to help out. Quit banging on a keyboard for a few hours, bang on nails instead.

Some anonymous coward said:

Your average charity doesn't compete with for-profit ventures. You don't see a brick layers charity going around to construction sites and submitting zero cost bids in competition with local contractors.

Methinks someone hasn't heard of a little nonprofit organisation called Habitat for Humanity.

Basically--for those who might be unaware--Habitat for Humanity builds houses for poor people under what is literally a "free housing" model. Essentially, if you qualify (you essentially have to be unable to afford other housing and be willing to contribute to helping build the house) they will set you up with loans for the supplies only and they will build one a house.

In return, the people have to help out at construction projects that Habitat for Humanity does for other people...but it works well in the end. People who otherwise couldn't afford decent housing get good houses, and they work to help other folks get good houses.

There are other groups, such as Mennonite groups, that do similar things for homeless families or who work with Habitat for Humanity in helping to build houses. And while they're still paying for supplies, a lot of companies donate supplies (yes, even companies that also sell to for-profit contractors) too so sometimes people can get houses close to free.

In a way, this is similar to how GPL'd software works. Basically the main stuff that is paid for is support (akin to "buying supplies" if not exactly an analogy); people get together and build stuff for the good of the community, and if you want to use GPL'd code you agree to "help out the community" and release your code under GPL too. (Just like how Habitat for Humanity "partner families" get houses built for them, but they have to help in building it and/or help in building other houses.) If you don't want to use GPL'd code and want to keep your code to yourself there are alternatives (just like if you're poor, you can choose not to get a house through HFH and instead live with relatives or in "section 8" housing or in a shelter).

Needless to say, many people use GPL'd software for the same reason a lot of poor folks get houses through Habitat for Humanity instead of living in section-8 housing or with relatives. GPL software (and free/libre software in general) is generally more reliable and solidly built than proprietary software because you've got a crew working on it-- for instance, we all know how much faster security bugs in Linux tend to be fixed than in Win95. (Yes, this is still directly comparable to housing. HFH houses have actually been raised in the span of a day or two, and are solidly built--one learns to do one's own homefixing stuff and one knows where everything is. Most houses done by contractors tend to take far longer. Most section-8 housing is [to put it delicately] in a state of disrepair to begin with, often has folks living there who are causing more damage, and things tend not to get fixed at all.)

(And yes, I realise I've just compared certain Microsoft operating systems to the projects. You may please put down the sharp objects. Now. :)

ObRMS--it's also rather interesting, in light of RMS's now-infamous "Jesus Quote", to learn that HFH is actually an offbranch of a Christian ministry (one that Jimmy Carter was involved in, if memory serves). Basically they're doing it cause they feel "Well, Jesus'd have done the same thing". One doesn't have to be Christian to volunteer time or supplies to them, though. (Just thought it'd be interesting to point that out...and yes, I support Habitat for Humanity, and I also happen to not be a practicing Christian. I think they're among the few folks I've met who do in fact "get it", though.)