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I think that's very cynical. The mere fact that there are so many stories about it on the front-page and that the stories are getting so many votes & comments

I think that's very cynical. The mere fact that there are so many stories about it on the front-page and that the stories are getting so many votes & comments is a good enough proxy about the 'informed' populus. Obama probably did not get much sleep last night - and he prollly won't get much sleep this weekend. As much as I like him and supported his candidacy twice - this is an impeachable offense. I doubt the pressure will subside easily though.

Spearchucker 13y ago
While I disagree about your view of the impact on Obama (most political issues are hot for only a very, very short time), I think even mentioning the impact it has on him is immaterial. The impact on us should be primary. Personally? I've been on the wrong end of this trend for some time - from having my cellphone imaged at Ben Gurion to having my finger prints taken at Sea-Tac - both for no higher offense than deigning to visit a foreign country. These things piss me off to the point where I'm writing a distributed database that securely syncs data between desktop, tablet and phone. It includes a form builder for flexibility, and multiple sync servers so that if one goes down (or is taken down), another steps in and continues. We have skills. They give us the power to do things to change (or even just challenge) the status quo. And yet we're ok with patting ourselves on the back because Obama won't sleep for a night? I think the real issue here is our belief system. Beliefs define values, which form the basis of our morals, on which we in turn base our ethics. While we believe what the US administration is doing is ethically and maybe even morally wrong, it doesn't challenge our values (the government provides public safety[1]) or beliefs (the US is the greatest nation on earth [2] - and by extension so are we, individually), so we let it slide. [1] At what cost? [2] Depending on your values, it isn't. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML3qYHWRIZk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML3qYHWRIZk
- pekk 13y ago
  If I am trying to avoid sensitive information being imaged from my cell phone, why would I be syncing sensitive information from other devices to that phone? It seems to me that a simpler way is to have a different phone (e.g. a dumb phone) for your trip through Ben Gurion.
  - Spearchucker 13y ago
    First and foremost, because I need that information wherever I happen to be. Second, because it's a sync scenario I can delete everything while going through immigration/customs, and re-sync when through, and lastly, if I lose my phone, it's all encrypted.
- marcamillion 13y ago
  I hear you on the being monitored thing. I am not a US citizen, but I lived there for 7 years. Being an immigrant was no fun. Every time I traveled it was 10 toes, 10 fingers being scanned, picture taken - as a matter of course. I don't even have an Arabic sounding name or fit any of the "terrorist" stereotypes that they probably look for - don't get me wrong, I am not saying they should, just saying that it's not as if that is the case. My name is Marc, and I am from Jamaica. Not many red flags there - as far as I could see. My Driver's license had a big red 'temporary' going across the bottom, and I had to renew it every year. Needless to say, it was quite horrible. It wasn't always like that for my entire stay, just in the last 3 - 4 years. So I feel your pain. As a matter of fact, it's the 1 major reason I wouldn't move to the Valley. As much as I love HN, YC, the tech scene - it's not worth it. And now they are encroaching on the freedom of citizens. I feel your pain.

Spearchucker 13y ago

While I disagree about your view of the impact on Obama (most political issues are hot for only a very, very short time), I think even mentioning the impact it has on him is immaterial. The impact on us should be primary. Personally? I've been on the wrong end of this trend for some time - from having my cellphone imaged at Ben Gurion to having my finger prints taken at Sea-Tac - both for no higher offense than deigning to visit a foreign country. These things piss me off to the point where I'm writing a distributed database that securely syncs data between desktop, tablet and phone. It includes a form builder for flexibility, and multiple sync servers so that if one goes down (or is taken down), another steps in and continues. We have skills. They give us the power to do things to change (or even just challenge) the status quo. And yet we're ok with patting ourselves on the back because Obama won't sleep for a night? I think the real issue here is our belief system. Beliefs define values, which form the basis of our morals, on which we in turn base our ethics. While we believe what the US administration is doing is ethically and maybe even morally wrong, it doesn't challenge our values (the government provides public safety[1]) or beliefs (the US is the greatest nation on earth [2] - and by extension so are we, individually), so we let it slide. [1] At what cost? [2] Depending on your values, it isn't. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML3qYHWRIZk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML3qYHWRIZk

pekk 13y ago
If I am trying to avoid sensitive information being imaged from my cell phone, why would I be syncing sensitive information from other devices to that phone? It seems to me that a simpler way is to have a different phone (e.g. a dumb phone) for your trip through Ben Gurion.
- Spearchucker 13y ago
  First and foremost, because I need that information wherever I happen to be. Second, because it's a sync scenario I can delete everything while going through immigration/customs, and re-sync when through, and lastly, if I lose my phone, it's all encrypted.
marcamillion 13y ago
I hear you on the being monitored thing. I am not a US citizen, but I lived there for 7 years. Being an immigrant was no fun. Every time I traveled it was 10 toes, 10 fingers being scanned, picture taken - as a matter of course. I don't even have an Arabic sounding name or fit any of the "terrorist" stereotypes that they probably look for - don't get me wrong, I am not saying they should, just saying that it's not as if that is the case. My name is Marc, and I am from Jamaica. Not many red flags there - as far as I could see. My Driver's license had a big red 'temporary' going across the bottom, and I had to renew it every year. Needless to say, it was quite horrible. It wasn't always like that for my entire stay, just in the last 3 - 4 years. So I feel your pain. As a matter of fact, it's the 1 major reason I wouldn't move to the Valley. As much as I love HN, YC, the tech scene - it's not worth it. And now they are encroaching on the freedom of citizens. I feel your pain.