The Finch Formerly Known As Gold

28 March 2008

Natural mail enhancement

This Daily Kos diary quotes this story:

[Rep. Darrell] Issa [R-CA] stated unequivocally that [White House CIO Theresa] Payton’s testimony confirmed that the missing communications were not the result of deliberate malfeasance by the White House or negligence by the administration's technology staff, but simply a computer glitch that ensued when the White House wanted to phase out an archaic email program.

In an exchange with Payton, Issa characterized Lotus Notes as "wagon-wheel" technology.

"I wouldn't want to do business with somebody still using Lotus Notes or still using wooden wagon wheels," Issa responded. "If I understand correctly, though, certainly I checked with the House of Representatives, we can no longer support it for members who want to stay on it."

The Kos diarist (markthshark) comments:

Now, for middle-aged computer geeks, comparing Lotus Notes to "wagon wheel" technology is analogous to comparing a brand spanking new Dell XPS 630 Desktop to a 1970's era Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor).

The excuse is laughable. (to be kind)

I'll grant him that the excuse is indeed laughable, but as a middle-aged computer geek who is forced to use Lotus Notes at work, I can assure you, I'd much rather deal with wagon wheels: at least you can see them move once in a while.

Posted at 8:30 PM to PEBKAC


To be fair, she should have said "wagon wheel with pneumatic tyre" technology. Then the Kossacks wouldn't have been able to split her hairs.

Posted by: Tam at 9:02 PM on 28 March 2008

Can "thshark" really say for sure that congressional offices weren't still using the PET when Lotus Notes came out?

Posted by: McGehee at 12:34 PM on 29 March 2008

Chalk up the FAA as another user of Wagon Wheel mail technology. As backwards as that program is to deal with, one thing I can say is that we rarely have any type of e-mail virus problems; the software is so backwards that it simply doesn't know what to do with the attachments. :)

Posted by: Flack at 8:52 AM on 30 March 2008

If this whole mail fiasco ends up in court, it should be interesting, since the federal courts all use Lotus Notes....

Posted by: Kirk at 8:45 AM on 31 March 2008