Huh? An intelligence officer is exactly the type of person who wouldn't "appear to be in a position where his continued employment with the government would be an issue" while actually still being a government employee. Who's to say that he isn't still working with the NSA?
I'm far from a routine skeptic but c'mon ... This post sounds like a PR message.
Well, theoretically he could still be an intelligence officer. Claiming to be a former NSA employee who got out to start up a mayonnaise company is a frankly strange and unusually high-profile cover to work under. Maybe someone can order some mayo from him and tell us if he's legit.
That's what I was thinking - he is a fake and is using NSA to get you to his Mayonnaise. Honestly, those declassified numbers at the bottom of his post do sound made up.
That being said, I have a question: Here in Canada, I can send an email transfer of funds from my bank account to my contacts by simply logging into my bank online and specifying the email address of the recipient. Does this type of system exist in the US?
Chase Quickpay works like this. While it is limited to another Chase customer (I believe), I don't need to know their account number, just their email and I can send them money directly. The other person can then login to their account to claim the Quickpay and the money is transferred immediately. The transaction is free, and I am notified when the money has been accepted.
Agreed. Once this comes to Canada, it'll kill Interac Email Money transfers (of which my plan only allows two free per month, and is not nearly this simple).
I think OP meant the opposite. This is cool, but the incumbents in Canada have already done it, and it's more trustworthy (it happens on your bank's website) and 'good enough'. Even if the tech-savvy switch to Square, the average bank-user will prefer to use INTERAC. At best this could pressure banks into giving away more free INTERAC transfers with their paid accounts.
Hi! I will still retain the API in Mashape. That is for the developers that do not want the hassle to deploy it in their own servers. On the other hand, the open source code is for devs to check out the algo, hopefully improve and contribute to TextTeaser. If they want to use it and deploy it on their own, they are free to do so. :)
You are absolutely correct - I have no idea what ETV was like in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. Was it less government controlled during the Derg? Or is this post-1991 era?
Fair question. ETV was certainly more controlled during the Derg regime since it was an openly totalitarian government. That's not to say that this current regime doesn't have a tight grip on ETV although it sounds like you're already well aware of that.
1) Why are they adamant they they use an "open source cms"?
2) What is the primary use of the website? I don't imagine that "one of the larger financial services companies in the US" would leave the restructuring of the website design to one individual. Is this simply an internal site to serve one function of the business?
3) I'd lean away from the Github idea for now. Financial institutions are typically last in line to try and lead others in that regard.
1. Why are they or why am I? I won't be pushing any certain CMS. As long as the right tool is used for the job. Management is against open source for the stated reasons.
2. Website is informational as well as used for typical financial services. Go to any top financial institution, whether banking, insurance, or investment to get an idea. Obviously my coding will have to go through many channels, but I also realize that before I even get started I could help modernize their workflow. It would be kind of radical but I don't see any reason why the workflow couldn't match that of the more interesting tech companies.
3. Right, I totally get that. Maybe there's nothing to be gained in this regard, but I want to be creative in giving back to the community if it's even possible. I see startups like Simple Banking and their use of Github and I don't see any reason why the same couldn't be done in larger companies with the lead and support of the development teams.
So, from my understanding, you're actually tasked with re-working their internet site as opposed to their intranet site. This is obviously a bigger undertaking than I had understood. I've worked with banks and insurance companies that have had teams and teams of people working on intranet sites hence my amazement that they'd leave such a task to an individual.
Having said that, especially considering it's a financial institution (i.e. you're standing between people and their $$$), I would highly recommend you select a tried and tested CMS that multiple internal people have extensive knowledge of. The fact that it's "open source" should probably not play a big part in your decision making.
I get what you're saying. When I initially met with the department manager, he was excited about the potential of what we could do to make the website more progressive. He sees what other competing companies do and realizes that if this company wants to stay in its position atop, it needs to jump the gun on staying with the times.
I think it would be an important and interesting step to see a financial institute actually encourage and stand by the decision to help out the development community. The best analogy I can offer is when Comcast started using Twitter to directly talk to people. It was inconceivable that a large, faceless corporation would do this and now it's mainstream. In a similar regard, it would be amazing to see more large enterprises wanting to reach out to the development community and give back in a public way.
They will ultimately choose a proprietary, mature CMS platform. I'm crossing my fingers it's not .NET since it's pretty much a nightmare for front end developers. But, hopefully we can find a balance that allows an agile approach to development but also gives us the flexibility to use forward-thinking technologies to improve the workflow.
Unfortunately, this comment will probably get filtered to the bottom but this has to be said:
Since the story of Aaron's passing, this site has been home to a lynch-mob asking for Ortiz's head on a plate. I wish I knew enough about federal prosecutions to say whether or not this one was far different from the norm - hell, I wish I knew enough about depression and suicide to say whether or not the prosecution was the primary reason for this sad turn of events - but, regardless, the users HN have been relentless ... almost as if they wished harm on Carmen Ortiz.
I'm pointing that out for a reason. Bullying and outright harassment come in many forms. The end result of these actions are at times not the result that anyone truly intended even if they imply it with their words/actions. You can't on one hand accuse the feds of being overly aggressive while simultaneously doing the same to Ortiz and her family.
Let the law and the current investigations run their course before there are more unwanted consequences of this tragedy.
I suspect that nearly all of the people on HN would be happy if Ms. Ortiz simply resigned.
The worst-case for Ms. Ortiz, post-resignation, is that she gives up short-term gubernatorial aspirations and quits to take a $1,500,000-$2,000,000 a year gig as a partner at a large Boston law firm advising on white collar criminal defense.
This is not exactly a horrible fate. In fact, most people would consider trying to bring that about the opposite of "wish[ing] harm on Carmen Ortiz."
The problem is, some people here on HN have been very aggressive in their attacks over the past few weeks - far worse than simply saying "she should resign".
In addition to that, I've seen people sulk and get visibly agitated for long periods of time after poor performance reviews at work. Now, compound that by thousands in the public doing that - and then some. Think about the effect that has on someone's mental well-being.
Threats of violence or physical harm, if any were posted, are wrong and beyond the pale.
But some of the comments you criticized above are far tamer than much of what passes for discourse in American politics nowadays:
"Someone needs to be held accountable. Ortiz is someone."
"Carmen Ortiz needs to go. She's a publicity hound"
"Someone needs to be held accountable. Ortiz is someone."
Nothing wrong with saying any of those things. If you have a high-profile position in the U.S. government (Ortiz was confirmed by the Senate), you should expect scrutiny if you screw up. If Ortiz wants to restore her "mental well-being," one option would be to resign and take that lucrative law firm gig. That she has not done so suggests she assumes she can weather this storm and criticism of her will eventually die down. HN readers have the right to challenge that assumption.
If calling for resignation or a firing is bullying, then democracy is dead.
Next, the power she wields is magnitudes greater than an on line "lynch mob". There for the words like bullying cant apply. She is not a lonesome hacker. She is a very powerful person who can destroy lives.
My problem is that focusing on this person misses the entire point, which is that the system allows, no, encourages this sort of thing.
In short, even if she is fired and marched out at gun point, others will just do the exact same thing, over and over again.
> Since the story of Aaron's passing, this site has been home to a lynch-mob asking for Ortiz's head on a plate.
I've said it before, I'll say it again.
Generally when people draw comparisons to a certain European government in the early 20th century, others freak out, trotting out old usenet quotes and declaring that the person has "lost" the argument for making such offensively hyperbolic comparisons.
Why then does this same community seem so accepting of comparisons between calls for resignation of a government official, and the practice of barbaric humiliating murder without trial of underprivileged minorities?
So, clearly you're someone who doesn't use any hyperboles in his
day-to-day life ... Anyway, here's just a sample of the comments about Ortiz here on HN:
"Great to see Ortiz's office crash and burn"
"Carmen Ortiz needs to go. She's a publicity hound"
"Do not google "site:nl 2 girls 1 cup". Should you so google, do not click. You have been warned. But I should add, even if you so click, the result is less obscene than Carmen Ortiz!"
"This woman has ZERO principle or sense of morality"
"Someone needs to be held accountable. Ortiz is someone."
"Ortiz is obviously disgusting"
"It's unfortunate that by demonizing Ortiz, we play right into the hands of those who appointed her"
"I support the demonization of Ortiz purely on the level of revenge."
Forget same ballpark, those are not even in the same fucking sport as lynching.
Being mad and wanting someone to be fired are not even reprehensible in the slightest. In any other profession if you fuck up, that's just what you would expect, but apparently some of you people think anyone working for the government is an untouchable perfect angel who must never be insulted nor fired.
What are you talking about?? You know what, I make a conscience effort not to engage in serious dialog with people who need to use swear words to make their point like a 14 year old on a schoolyard - especially those that ramble on about "the government". Relax, this is not about Uncle Sam.
What am I talking about? Your assertions of an " eye for an eye" reaction and lynch mobs are offensive and absurd. Actually offensive, not "offensive" like a mildly taboo word.
The "Ortiz is someone" quote may have been a paraphrase made as part of a complaint about some comments going too far.
You might also want to mention how many comments urged restraint in response to the most over-the-top attacks. Your sample is definitely not a random sample, but a curated set of some of the most excessive comments.
I upvoted you. I agree that a lynch-mob has formed around calling for Ortiz's blood. I'm not sure if this is good or bad.
It's bad for exactly the reasons you say.
It's good for the same reasons that they came down so harshly on Aaron--to make an example. The thing is, she represents the old guard--the old "I'm not good with computers but boy am I afraid of them" lobby. There is real money behind the internet now, and one of the perks of that is you get to demand representation and power. Just as Aaron made the mistake of getting into politics, so has Ortiz. Some examples need to be set that if the government expects us to bail them out in the future, they need to stop trying to put the best of us in jail.
Fair point but although it's tempting to go an eye-for-an-eye with Ortiz (and the federal government) after learning of Aaron's fate, I'm just not in a position to judge her actions. This is not my "holier than thou" moment, it's just that these situations are often far more complicated than a 500 word opinion piece on a blog.
Someone doxxed her right here on HN and suggested it would be a shame if people were to do something bad with that information. There's far worse than can happen as a result of this mob than losing her job.
No, it really is not. The two are wildly out of proportion.
You can simplify any crime imaginable and any punishment imaginable to declare the combination of the two "an eye for an eye", as you have just done here, does not make such a declaration legitimate.
Someone just down-voted this?! Really? I mean, really!? I post a polite, well-constructed, and well-reasoned opinion that's different from 99% of the opinions out there and instead of responding in a similar fashion, the best you could do is flag my comment? Very cowardly.
You said "Unfortunately, this comment will probably get filtered to the bottom but this has to be said:" and then when it actually happened you flip out? I wasn't one of the ones to downvote you, but after seeing your reaction, I would have to say you most definitely deserved it. Also, allow me to point you to the HN guidelines that specifically frown on these particular behaviors:
Resist complaining about being downmodded. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading.
Please don't bait other users by inviting them to downmod you.
Getting filtered down to the bottom is not actually just a result of getting down-voted. Having a lack of activity (from people essentially ignoring your message) is actually the other reason why comments slowly trickle down to the bottom - and the one I suspected would happen as often does when people write-off your opinion.
As for your point about the "don't complain about being downmodded" - fair enough, and I'm sure I'll earn a few more downvotes thanks to your due-diligence :)
At the same time, once in a while, you have to stand for something in your life. I made a serious point about a serious topic and some coward came along and decided to "down-vote" instead of having some dialog about it. I may lose digital karma but at least my conscience is clear for defending something I believe in.
I down voted you, because I don't believe that folks want anything more than for Ortiz to resign. And you started the post talking about down voting, then you got upset when you got down voted.
I agree with you there :) To be fair though, after seeing 2 weeks of posts on HN focused on demonizing an individual, I felt I needed to say something.
You really can't take downvotes on Hacker News so seriously. Heck, sometimes a downvote is just someone trying to scroll on their touchscreen and accidentally triggering the oversized hitbox for the downvote button (touchscreen browsers sometimes seem to expand the touchable area that will activate a link beyond the physical pixels occupied by that link).
As for your opinion, consider the possibility that you're overreacting to a few overreactions by emphasizing those comments that went too far and ignoring the ones that showed moderation.
From the little I've read about him, Raganwald seems like a rather smart guy so I'm fairly certain that he's well aware of the effect that various economic forces have on the decisions that people make in regards to employment/etc...
Having said that, Raganwald is essentially advocating for people to consider using their knowledge and effort on more noble causes than adding features to a website to get more clicks and make more money.
I'm far from a routine skeptic but c'mon ... This post sounds like a PR message.