White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie" • Hacker News Board

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#11

Post by socratees » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 10:04 PM UTC

leviathant wrote: post #10

socratees wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just posted this on the other thread. It is in the University of Maryland system, it is not "University of Maryland". "University of Maryland University College" is not "University of Maryland".

And look_lookatme posted the following nugget as a reply to a post similar to yours. Quoting verbatim: From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Of_Maryland "However, in 1997 the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation allowing the University of Maryland, College Park to be known simply as the University of Maryland, recognizing the campus' role as the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland…

That's just plain dishonesty. He should have mentioned the campus clearly on his resume. Dvorak screwed himself pretty badly. I wish Dvorak searched for the degree at UM University College rather than UM College Park.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#12

Post by plinkplonk » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 10:12 PM UTC

socratees wrote: post #9

riffic wrote: post #3

John C. Dvorak has been on my list of "journalists who not to take totally seriously" for a long time.

I just posted this on the other thread. It is in the University of Maryland system, it is not "University of Maryland". "University of Maryland University College" is not "University of Maryland".

" just posted this on the other thread, but UMUC is a Distance Learning (online) school."

So if I understand this correctly Mr.Kundra got his MS (IT) via correspondence? Or did he really have to attend classes and lectures and so on perhaps in a lower quality campus than what is generally understood by the unqualified "University of Maryland" phrase?

(This is an honest question. I have no dog in the fight. I am just trying to understand)

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#13

Post by rbanffy » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 10:18 PM UTC

bilbo0s wrote: post #7

This is gonna get ugly quick. By even responding to the report, instead of relying on its network of bloggers, the White House has just unleashed every mainstream political journalist in the country on this guy's history. Now everything will be examined, Creostar, the DC web sites, how a guy with no budget management experience is chosen to over see billions in government contracts. I hope, now that they have gone on…

I'll get some popcorn, sit back and watch.

This is going to be seriously interesting.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#14

Post by socratees » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 10:24 PM UTC

plinkplonk wrote: post #12

socratees wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just posted this on the other thread. It is in the University of Maryland system, it is not "University of Maryland". "University of Maryland University College" is not "University of Maryland".

" just posted this on the other thread, but UMUC is a Distance Learning (online) school." So if I understand this correctly Mr.Kundra got his MS (IT) via correspondence? Or did he really have to attend classes and lectures and so on perhaps in a lower quality campus than what is generally understood by the unqualified "University of Maryland" phrase? (This is an honest question. I have no dog in the fight. I am just…

Not sure how true it is - http://www.worldwidelearn.com/umuc/index.php & https://www.umuc.edu/leads/contact.shtml tells you about the quality of education.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#15

Post by plinkplonk » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 10:26 PM UTC

socratees wrote: post #14

plinkplonk wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" just posted this on the other thread, but UMUC is a Distance Learning (online) school." So if I understand this correctly Mr.Kundra got his MS (IT) via correspondence? Or did he really have to attend classes and lectures and so on perhaps in a lower quality campus than what is generally understood by the unqualified "University of Maryland" phrase? (This is an honest question. I have no dog in the fight. I am just…

Not sure how true it is - http://www.worldwidelearn.com/umuc/index.php & https://www.umuc.edu/leads/contact.shtml tells you about the quality of education.

"University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is the world's largest provider of online education, as well as one of the 11 degree-granting institutions in the University System of Maryland.

For over 50 years, UMUC has fulfilled its principal mission: to provide adult learners with access to high-quality education opportunities. Today, more than 70,000 men and women worldwide are pursuing their education and career goals at UMUC. Last year, UMUC had more than 97,000 enrollments in its online courses."

From the UMUC site.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#16

Post by teej » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 11:07 PM UTC

plinkplonk wrote: post #12

socratees wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just posted this on the other thread. It is in the University of Maryland system, it is not "University of Maryland". "University of Maryland University College" is not "University of Maryland".

" just posted this on the other thread, but UMUC is a Distance Learning (online) school." So if I understand this correctly Mr.Kundra got his MS (IT) via correspondence? Or did he really have to attend classes and lectures and so on perhaps in a lower quality campus than what is generally understood by the unqualified "University of Maryland" phrase? (This is an honest question. I have no dog in the fight. I am just…

The naming conventions of the schools make it a little confusing. I've lived in Maryland my entire life; hopefully I can bring some clarity.

UMUC (University of Maryland, University College) is the place Kundra attended for his Masters. While UMUC offers online courses, it is primarily a brick & mortar accredited college targeted at working adults. They advertise heavily for working professionals looking to get graduate degrees. UMUC is not competitive on a national level.

UMCP (University of Maryland, College Park aka "University of Maryland") is where Kundra did his undergrad. UMCP is a competitive & prestigious college on undergrad and post-grad levels. They are particularly known for their math, science, and engineering. There are many notable people who have attended UMCP, including Sergey Brin of Google. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Maryland,...

There are many other schools in the "University of Maryland" system which use the name. When someone says simple "University of Maryland", they are typically referring to UMCP. Most of the other colleges are referred to by their four-letter abbreviation.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#17

Post by look_lookatme » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 11:07 PM UTC

Why go through Om Malik on this? Why not contact Dvorak directly? Why not use that awesome, expensive whitehouse.gov to interact with us directly? Why say Dvorak is lying? Do you honestly thing he is fabricating things or really doesn't believe what he has written?

Ugh. So many failures of communication at so many levels with this shitshow.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#18

Post by tptacek » Wed, Aug 12, 2009, 11:46 PM UTC

teej wrote: post #16

plinkplonk wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" just posted this on the other thread, but UMUC is a Distance Learning (online) school." So if I understand this correctly Mr.Kundra got his MS (IT) via correspondence? Or did he really have to attend classes and lectures and so on perhaps in a lower quality campus than what is generally understood by the unqualified "University of Maryland" phrase? (This is an honest question. I have no dog in the fight. I am just…

The naming conventions of the schools make it a little confusing. I've lived in Maryland my entire life; hopefully I can bring some clarity. UMUC (University of Maryland, University College) is the place Kundra attended for his Masters. While UMUC offers online courses, it is primarily a brick & mortar accredited college targeted at working adults. They advertise heavily for working professionals looking to get gradu…

MIS is also a bit of a vocational/industry degree anyways; not surprising to see someone pick up an MIS at a second-tier, extra-flexible, extra-inexpensive venue.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#19

Post by teilo » Thu, Aug 13, 2009, 1:59 AM UTC

tvon wrote: post #6

teilo wrote: post #5

John C. Dvorak vs. the White House spin doctors. Sit back and watch the mud slingers and the muck rakers do battle, and just have fun, because it doesn't matter who wins.

Are you high?

No, actually, I'm quite serious. Dvorak is a hack. Has been a long time. But the White House retort is worth about the same. A big battle for what, exactly? Dvorak won't even put a scratch in Kundra's reputation. And the White House, for their part, will put whatever blah-blah spin on it they wish, just like they always do. It's PR management, and you are kidding yourself if you think it is anything else.

In other words: A whole lot of to-do about absolutely nothing, that doesn't matter in the slightest.

Re: White House calls Dvorak's report "a lie"

#20

Post by spolsky » Thu, Aug 13, 2009, 2:48 AM UTC

Jeez, you guys. Dvorak is just promoting his podcast, "No Agenda." If you've never listened to it, it's the most bizarre combination of kooky conspiracy theories from former MTV VJ Adam Curry, mostly of the "9-11 never actually happened" variety, and typical right-wing radio yammering about how Obama is selling the country down the tubes. I get the feeling neither of them really believes a thing they're saying (they refer to themselves as "crankpot" (Adam) and "buzzkill" (Dvorak)) but they have hit upon a formula that attracts a lot of listeners so they're running with it.