70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement • Hacker News Board

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#61

Post by MadWombat » Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 9:55 PM UTC

j_baker wrote: post #41

MadWombat wrote: post #11

Well, there is a link to a thread on a webhostingtalk.com, where some people are discussing the issue. After reading the original posting by the blog service provider and some of the replies, here are some basic lessons to be learned from this. 1. A lot of people have no clue as to the legal process 2. It pays REALLY well to have external backups 3. It might be a good idea to use encrypted volumes to store sensitive…

For #7, I'm pretty sure there would be a way if it was a national security concern.

Doesn't it sort of defeat the purpose? If nobody can anonymously shutdown a web site but the NSA, then every time web site is shut down anonymously, it probably IS NSA.

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#62

Post by jeromec » Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 10:56 PM UTC

anamax wrote: post #59

jeromec wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't matter what he says in a speech. I disagree. Words have both immediate and historical significance and impact, whether by a dictator like Hitler or a president like John F. Kennedy. What matters is what he says via executive orders, policy, and executive branch action. I agree. Oh really? Feel free to cite any of his scholarly writings. "Mar 28, 2008 ... Barack Obama is correct in saying he is a constituti…

>> Oh really? Feel free to cite any of his scholarly writings. > "Mar 28, 2008 ... Barack Obama is correct in saying he is a constitutional law professor." source: FactCheck.org ( http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/was_barack_obama_reall... ) The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other. I'…

The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other.

You're kidding, right? Him being a scholar is an even easier proof than him being a questionable professor -- which the link I listed at FactCheck.org also asserts is true.

Oxford Dictionary (First Definition):

scholar (schol·ar): a specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities; a distinguished academic

From the UC Law School statement at FactCheck.org:

"Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track ... Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers have high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined."

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#63

Post by jeromec » Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 11:22 PM UTC

anamax wrote: post #60

jeromec wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't matter what he says in a speech. I disagree. Words have both immediate and historical significance and impact, whether by a dictator like Hitler or a president like John F. Kennedy. What matters is what he says via executive orders, policy, and executive branch action. I agree. Oh really? Feel free to cite any of his scholarly writings. "Mar 28, 2008 ... Barack Obama is correct in saying he is a constituti…

>> It doesn't matter what he says in a speech. > I disagree. Words have both immediate and historical significance and impact, whether by a dictator like Hitler or a president like John F. Kennedy. Both Kennedy and Hitler followed up on their words. Their words were significant because of their actions. With Obama, at least on these issues, the words and actions are very different.

Both Kennedy and Hitler followed up on their words. Their words were significant because of their actions.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated more than a year before his first term as president was up. But thankfully his words live on as in this quote which was posted recently here on HN (and is currently the top comment in the thread!) by another member here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1528441

The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it. Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its arbitrary restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. --JFK

If speeches don't matter as you say, why did the HN member bother to post this? And why is it the top voted comment in the thread?

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#64

Post by anamax » Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 4:06 AM UTC

jeromec wrote: post #62

anamax wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Oh really? Feel free to cite any of his scholarly writings. > "Mar 28, 2008 ... Barack Obama is correct in saying he is a constitutional law professor." source: FactCheck.org ( http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/was_barack_obama_reall... ) The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other. I'…

The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other. You're kidding, right? Him being a scholar is an even easier proof than him being a questionable professor -- which the link I listed at FactCheck.org also asserts is true. Oxford Dictionary (First Definition): scholar (schol·ar): a specialist in a…

>>The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other.

>You're kidding, right?

Not at all. I have reasonably high standards for scholars.

For example, even though the degree is "Juris Doctor", I don't call lawyers "Dr.". (However, I will call them "Esquire".)

Meanwhile, you'd call a 6th grade history teacher a "scholar" if they teach some constitution....

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#65

Post by anamax » Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 4:10 AM UTC

jeromec wrote: post #63

anamax wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> It doesn't matter what he says in a speech. > I disagree. Words have both immediate and historical significance and impact, whether by a dictator like Hitler or a president like John F. Kennedy. Both Kennedy and Hitler followed up on their words. Their words were significant because of their actions. With Obama, at least on these issues, the words and actions are very different.

Both Kennedy and Hitler followed up on their words. Their words were significant because of their actions. John F. Kennedy was assassinated more than a year before his first term as president was up. But thankfully his words live on as in this quote which was posted recently here on HN (and is currently the top comment in the thread!) by another member here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1528441 The very word "…

> If speeches don't matter as you say, why did the HN member bother to post this?

You'll have to ask the poster.

> And why is it the top voted comment in the thread?

Wowsers, now that's an argument....

As someone said in ancient times, "this is usenet, not something important".

On second thought, I'll venture a guess as to why it was posted - it sounded nice and the poster agreed with it. As to its impact on the real world....

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#66

Post by jeromec » Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 5:46 AM UTC

anamax wrote: post #64

jeromec wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other. You're kidding, right? Him being a scholar is an even easier proof than him being a questionable professor -- which the link I listed at FactCheck.org also asserts is true. Oxford Dictionary (First Definition): scholar (schol·ar): a specialist in a…

>>The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other. >You're kidding, right? Not at all. I have reasonably high standards for scholars. For example, even though the degree is "Juris Doctor", I don't call lawyers "Dr.". (However, I will call them "Esquire".) Meanwhile, you'd call a 6th grade history…

Not at all. I have reasonably high standards for scholars.

This is not about you. It's about the definition in the dictionary. It has as a primary entry for scholar "a distinguished academic".

The definition for "professor" from Wikipedia:

The meaning of the word professor (Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of high rank[1]) varies by country. In most English-speaking countries it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair ... etc.

I don't know how you equate "Senior Lecturers regarded as professors" by a university to a 6th grade history teacher who may also be the school gym teacher filling in. That's stretching things a bit.

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#67

Post by jeromec » Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 5:47 AM UTC

anamax wrote: post #65

jeromec wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both Kennedy and Hitler followed up on their words. Their words were significant because of their actions. John F. Kennedy was assassinated more than a year before his first term as president was up. But thankfully his words live on as in this quote which was posted recently here on HN (and is currently the top comment in the thread!) by another member here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1528441 The very word "…

> If speeches don't matter as you say, why did the HN member bother to post this? You'll have to ask the poster. > And why is it the top voted comment in the thread? Wowsers, now that's an argument.... As someone said in ancient times, "this is usenet, not something important". On second thought, I'll venture a guess as to why it was posted - it sounded nice and the poster agreed with it. As to its impact on the real…

No comment.

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#68

Post by anamax » Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 6:32 PM UTC

jeromec wrote: post #66

anamax wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>The claim was that he was a constitutional law scholar, not that he was a professor. While there are overlaps between the two groups, neither one is a subset of the other. >You're kidding, right? Not at all. I have reasonably high standards for scholars. For example, even though the degree is "Juris Doctor", I don't call lawyers "Dr.". (However, I will call them "Esquire".) Meanwhile, you'd call a 6th grade history…

Not at all. I have reasonably high standards for scholars. This is not about you. It's about the definition in the dictionary. It has as a primary entry for scholar "a distinguished academic". The definition for "professor" from Wikipedia: The meaning of the word professor (Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of high rank[1]) varies by country. In most English-speaki…

> In most English-speaking countries it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair

Which Obama didn't....

In general, real professors have publications. Heck, so do real academic doctors. Honorary and "we're giving him an appointment to curry favor" ones don't.

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#69

Post by jeromec » Tue, Jul 20, 2010, 8:03 PM UTC

anamax wrote: post #68

jeromec wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not at all. I have reasonably high standards for scholars. This is not about you. It's about the definition in the dictionary. It has as a primary entry for scholar "a distinguished academic". The definition for "professor" from Wikipedia: The meaning of the word professor (Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of high rank[1]) varies by country. In most English-speaki…

> In most English-speaking countries it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair Which Obama didn't.... In general, real professors have publications. Heck, so do real academic doctors. Honorary and "we're giving him an appointment to curry favor" ones don't.

Bottom line:

Point 1: You had a problem with me referring to President Obama as a scholar. Regardless of your semantic arguments, dictionaries also define scholar as simply a student or learned person.

Point 2: The university statement clarifies how and why Obama was regarded as a professor -- and not just an "honorary" one.

Point 3: Most academic doctors or professors with publications do not go on to become the President of the United States. Have you ever stopped to think maybe he was busy in service of the public as well as his family?

Honestly, the original point was about the contrast in perspective, as far as the Constitution is concerned, between Obama and Bush. I really don't see what you are challenging.

Re: 70,000 Blogs Shut Down by U.S. Law Enforcement

#70

Post by anamax » Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 5:58 AM UTC

jeromec wrote: post #69

anamax wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In most English-speaking countries it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair Which Obama didn't.... In general, real professors have publications. Heck, so do real academic doctors. Honorary and "we're giving him an appointment to curry favor" ones don't.

Bottom line: Point 1: You had a problem with me referring to President Obama as a scholar. Regardless of your semantic arguments, dictionaries also define scholar as simply a student or learned person. Point 2: The university statement clarifies how and why Obama was regarded as a professor -- and not just an "honorary" one. Point 3: Most academic doctors or professors with publications do not go on to become the Pre…

> Most academic doctors or professors with publications do not go on to become the President of the United States.

Irrelevant. Becoming president doesn't imply that he's anything else.

Or, do you want to argue that he's an astronaut too? He didn't ever go into space, but that's just because he had better things to do.

> Have you ever stopped to think maybe he was busy in service of the public as well as his family?

It doesn't matter why he doesn't have scholarly output. If he doesn't....

FWIW, almost every other editor of the Harvard Law Review managed to crank out a paper or two during their tenure.

> Honestly, the original point was about the contrast in perspective, as far as the Constitution is concerned, between Obama and Bush. I really don't see what you are challenging.

You seem to think that teaching a class tells us something important. Without scholarly output, we know nothing about what he did. (I'm a lecturer at a major university....)