What is Digg?91 Comments
- gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -0/+34You guys are all being very generous and all, but issuing a pardon involves the victim admitting to a sense of guilt (which is precisely why some people reject pardons). A wiser thing to do would be to write to the governor and encourage some sort of judicial coercion during the appeal process in order to get the thing thrown out. Public figures (and overall public attention) help a lot when it comes to pushing the judicial view in a certain direction. Just look at Russia.
- XISUPERMANIX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+32Sometimes I wonder how the ***** these politicians graduated high school.
- superpixel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+30this really is nuts. aggressive legal stupidity at its worst, and completely without regard to logic. yes, Justice must be blind-- but not stupid. if your tires are defective and they cause you to crash into a building are you the driver held liable? no. you had a reasonable expectation that the tires would work as intended. same with computers. Pity the DA and rest of CT's govt can't grasp basic computing concepts. Although I'm sure their home PC's are malware free, RIGHT?
This is insane. - sergiopereira, on 10/12/2007, -2/+32Digg this, folks. This is just insane and insulting.
- geodescent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+29I wish there was a law that made it a crime to pass-the-buck on responsibility.
- VaporBro, on 10/26/2007, -2/+31@hilldu:
...? Deserves to go to jail? Please shut the hell up and run into my fist. Thank you. - Pfhreak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23jimbojim,
Julie Amero was a substitute teacher using the regular teacher's computer. It was an old Windows 98 machine, and the school had allowed the license on the antivirus to lapse. She didn't look at any porn and is now facing up to 40 years in prison.
Just to back up gcnaddict: accepting a pardon does indeed represent an admission of guilt. - vern01, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Even the article says do NOT contact the Gov. to contact the board of pardons and paroles
QUOTE
"In the State of Connecticut, the Governor does not have the authority to grant a pardon as this authority is given to the Board of Pardon and Paroles, if you have any questions regarding the pardon process in the State of Connecticut, I would suggest you contact this agency directly at (203) 805-6605."
Connecticut Board of Pardon and Parole
(203) 805-6605 - zephc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Oh, sweet irony.
- TheRealToma, on 10/12/2007, -5/+22Wont somebody please think of the children!?
I bet the majority of the class just said "Cool."
Also...
"Later on, prosecutors would ask why she hadn't just thrown a coat or a sweater over monitor. On that day Amero hadn't worn either."
Lets humor this.. If she took off her top to cover the monitor, would that be protecting the children from porn, or exposing them to softcore porn?
Yet another reason not to run Windows :) - djjinksy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18terrible, terrible. spread the word people.
- schmons, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16It's because they graduated in the 50's.
- SabbathXXL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16That was remarkable. I love the ignorance displayed here.
- coltrane68, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Unfortunately, Governor Rell is ineffectual at best, and simple at worst. As a Connecticut resident, I have no faith that she has the capacity to understand how absurd the State's position is on this issue.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14This county's stupidity is on par with Boston and their terrorism scare. These are our elected officials? Honestly where do I apply for those positions? *runs and looks*
- CraigJ, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11OK, but only because you told me not to.
- Speed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10She was under strict orders not to turn the computers off. It's possible she thought that turning off the monitor turned off the computer.
- worthawholebean, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10She hasn't exactly done much (except for campaign and public finance reform) in her tenure as governor so far an dI don't really expect she'll act on this.
- SabbathXXL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I love the "impairing the morals of a child" part because everybody knows that a kid watching porn is the most unspeakable and downright despicable thing known to man. Surely her students will now become sex fiends and offenders. Those kids must be in such emotional distress over this. How dare her for not making sure the networking adviser installed proper security. How dare her.
- TheIguana, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10This is fracking despicable, what kind of idiot is the district attorney in Connecticut? And why the hell has the judge in the case refuse to admit the defenses technical evidence. I just cannot believe this utter *****.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10This is happening in my hometown. This is the town of Benedict Arnold, of racists chasing away the founder of Dartmouth College for teaching Indians how to read, of closing down every institute of higher learning because they didn't pay taxes. We are the place where Indians (and one of the tribes is a fake one) have more power than anyone else. This place is backwards...
If they give her any jail time at all my opinion of this town will sink even lower. - Speed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I might be wrong, having siables history a long time ago, but last I checked, browser history doesn't say whether the link was typed in or clicked onto (or popped up)
- el_taco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9umm.. it wasn't her computer.
- stisev, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9dugg! Happy to help out!
Let's rally the TWIT army! - kualla, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10SHE'S GUILTY.... guilty for using a computer with windows 98 on it! Regardless of the OS she used though, the porn pop-ups(or adult images) most likely could have still happened, it is the schools IT departments fault for not installing filters. Adult material should be blocked well before it ever reaches any teachers computers, it should be stopped at the routers/switches/hubs/etc.
- bcreavis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8One of us should figure out how to give the governor non-malicious malware (I guess "non-malicious" and "malware" are a bit contradictory, but you get my point) to do the same thing to him as what happened to Julie. That might sway his position a smidgen.
*goes off to investigate*
All in all, this is really a sad story. I feel very bad for the poor woman.
Dugg. - pixelpowered, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Well I am playing WOW, intoxicated, and angry looking at this news article that I expected to disappear months ago after seeing it. Now I will spend the 5min (plus comment time) to compile a notification to the governor asking what I can do for this unfortunate person as an IT professional. I work for a disreputably noted company in the Northwest that works with Microsoft, Sun Micro systems, Dell, HP, etc. I have seen this happen to WinXP (SP2+) systems fail horridly to this this the top and lowest security features enabled. Hearing this story makes me want to find the DA's IP and do unspeakable things to his legacy ports, only for a passing moment though. Instead I plan to see if I can influence the gov like a respected citizen. Do not ask for a pardon, that is silly and not respectful of what the law can endorse. Simply state facts that any knowledgeable person using the Windows family product + Internet knows: 1. Win98 (even SE ed) is no longer supported by Microsoft themselves, even in 2004 when this incident happened. 2. Even with a firewall, anti-virus, anti-spy ware, anti - anything else you can think of, is ineffective in Win98 (lets dream you could load all of those things too) with the noted back doors to its ports. 3. Ask the Jury or the ignorant DA to stop "Spam" in a nanosecond on a Win98 system.
Enough of stating the obvious, email the gov with understanding and not hate.... before I level my shaman. - drilldown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+75 Minutes of my night to be exact.
I've said before, put one goddamn technically literate person on that jury. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Letter sent.
This is the first time I've ever sent a letter to a government official because of an online plea. The circumstances surrounding everything I've read about this case leads me to believe that this woman has been unjustly convicted.
The governor's email address is: Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us - wiremonkeymommy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5this is so horribly wrong and those in our legal system are so inexcusably ignorant, people's lives are at stake, wtf?!? Her case needs all the attention it deserves in tech circles (and beyond) until she's freed.
/the irony here is that if she was on a jury, she could have been easily been persuaded to convict some hapless computer user such as herself, she knows so little - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Broomett, you have a notable talent for getting dugg down, I really can't remember the last time I've seen you above my viewing threshold. My hat's off to you sir, you have apparently drawn your line in the sand.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5She's a substitute. You don't need to know squat to be a substitute. I live in this area, and I know people who have subbed for extra cash. In a district 2 towns over, the pay is $11/hr. I'm sure it's no different in Norwich.
Given the requirements to be a substitute (the ability to read and speak in English) in this area, your comment makes about as much sense as saying "why didn't a burger flipper know not to turn the monitor off?" - BillDoE, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Dugg and sent to Kieth Olbermann. Maybe some of the people can make the next Worse Person list ;)
- wiremonkeymommy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5@Reverend99
RTFA - CraigJ, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Maybe the DA hired Ted Stevens as an expert witess?
- spiritd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Man! This is so unfair. I hope to see the day when the government finally begins to get a grasp on the internet.
Ridiculous. - Phisolo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Here is the leter I wrote, feel free to use it in any way shape or form:
I am writing to express my dismay at the lack of understanding shown in the case of Julie Amero. I am a computer and network consultant. I see the problems faced by this teacher on a daily basis. This is not something that the average computer user knows how to deal with, much less an untrained substitute teacher who was working on an unfamiliar computer.
Poor computer and network maintenance is at fault in this case. Julie Amero cannot be held accountable for poor network and computer security. Her job was to teach children, not to be the school's computer expert. Julie Amero was a substitute teacher using the regular teacher's computer. She had no prior contact with the computer in question. It was an old Windows 98 machine, and the school had allowed the license on the antivirus to lapse. She did not have the technical training to know how to deal with a computer that was malfunctioning at this level.
According to the federal law, CIPA, the school and school district are mandated to prevent what happened. This law even provides the funding for this technology via a program called E-Rate.
From the FCC's website:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html
"The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress in December 2000 to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers." "[The] Internet safety policy must include technology protection measures to block or filter Internet access to pictures that: (a) are obscene, (b) are child pornography, or (c) are harmful to minors, for computers that are accessed by minors." "Schools and libraries... are required to adopt and implement a policy addressing: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; (c) unauthorized access, including so-called “hacking,” and other unlawful activities by minorson-linee; (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (e) restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them."
There was inadequate expertise at this trial, and there was inadequate maintenance by the school, the school district, and/or the teacher who's computer she was using.
This poor woman's life is going to be ruined because she was placed into an environment that she had no control over and was improperly trained to deal with the consequences.
Yes the things that these children were exposed to was lamentable, and every effort should be taken to prevent this from happening again. The facts of the matter are that these efforts were not taken prior to Julie Amero entering this classroom. This is not her fault. She could not have known what would happen. The school district should have had network controls in place that deal with this issue. - Agret, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"typed in" just means they showup when you hit the drop down box. If malware had redirected where she went when she typed a URL maybe IE has just saved the follow address in the url history rather than what she actually typed. Seeing how i've not had spyware nor used IE in a number of years (gee, funny how that works out) I can't say for sure though. Anyone care to comment?
- Pseudorious, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2A pardon is NOT the way to go as the posters above have indicated. She would admit guilt and be stigmatized.
The appeals process is the correct avenue and she would most likely win. If we wish to write, it should be to whomever chose to prosecute this case initially and would fight the appeal. - Nuknuk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2There are a lot of people that need to be punished in this case..certainly not Julie Amero. She is the victim. Her life wont be the same after this. Why would this thing happen at this time and age. Lots of incompetence and arrogance involve here.
- nxusername, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Here is the letter I wrote:
Dear Chairman Gregory Everett and Governor M. Jodi Rell,
As an information technology expert I feel compelled to write you in the matter of the case of Julie Amero. I can speak to the fact of how easily a computer can become infected with a virus that would cause adult images to begin appearing on a computer. A simple typo in the Internet Explorer address bar can set of a chain of events that would easily cause this situation.
The real people at fault here are either the Norwich Connecticut School District system administrators for having improper security to prevent this type of virus and/or Microsoft for creating a product with so many easily exploitable security vulnerabilities. It will be a tragedy if Julie Amero is the one who suffers for this.
Please consider issuing a pardon to Julie Amero. Thank you for your time. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Here's mine. Tell me if it needs anything changed. Also, should I send this to all involved (as CC or BCC)? Should I send it using my SN or personal e-mail address?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, I'd like to say that your police investigate simple matters as well as those in any other state. This is sad, and it is the major reason why so many people are exonerated each year. Flimsy cases built on a lack of evidence somehow boggle the impressionable idiots chosen for jury duty. I propose juries are composed of experts in the field of the evidence and events, but that is for another letter.
As a web designer - I've been doing it since high school and have been interviewing for a position in the field lately, as I left my job in hardware - I find the guilty verdict given (given, since it was not based on facts) to Julie Amero deplorable. If anyone should be convicted it should be those responsible for the actions of the IT department. Their failure to install and update adequate anti-malware and anti-viral programs as well as regularly run tests and update the hosts file is the reason pornographic pop-ups appeared. This type of computer hijacking is even common knowledge to the general public, since computers are more prevalent today then they were over 10 years ago. Why the computer forensic department of the police department didn't check for malware during the case is beyond me. I am willing to say that they did check, but the state attorney wanted a conviction so they either ignored it or removed it, as it is quite easy to remove with free programs or, if you have the knowledge, editing the computer's registry file (which you can do with a program as well, one being Hijack This!).
And, hey, those kids probably look at porn at home all of the time, but we can't prove that. So I guess with the excellent team of state attorneys in your state we can convict them of "impairing the morals of a child" with themselves as both the victim and the perpetrator, as is the style in current times when dealing with those under the age of 18 who experience sexuality (strange, since they in general have been experiencing sexuality since 12 because of, you know, puberty). Your state's action of punishing a victim, and don't make a mistake by saying Ms. Amero isn't a victim at the hands of computer criminals, is deplorable.
I would suggest that you make sure this woman gets an appeal, and that the case is dropped upon appeal. I will be investigating whether the ACLU has been aiding this person. If a conviction sticks I'm sure a nice punitive damage decision will come in a civil lawsuit. But it really isn't as if the state was using that money to actually investigate the evidence during a criminal trial. - stisev, on 10/12/2007, -8/+9Come on, people. Digg this and spread the word! Contact the governor! His email is : Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us
- Aves, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I haven't seen any mainstream coverage of this story. You can use this link to submit a story idea to NPR.
Maybe with enough coverage something will change here.
http://www.npr.org/about/pitch/story.html - pixelpowered, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Formido,
I like your observation about the digg community. If you have read my comments (even in the heat of passion) you could consider my perception bias in knowing how the interface she was using and what she was prosecuted with make little, to no logical sense. I usually try to keep an open mind myself when people lie to me in my face on how the type of content managed to get onto their PC.
Reading the facts from the logs created from the computer leads me to believe it was out of her control, but in the original teachers (and the schools technology departments budget) control. Alright lets also consider the role for a moment of Julie's reaction to the content that occurred. Do guilty or scared people go for help to remedy a situation out of their control? Maybe to you if something like this turning off the monitor would be the quickest way to solve this. My job allows me to meet a lot of people from all sorts of avenues of life. I can confirm there are 40+ year old people that don't even know to turn on/off a computer. Julie's testimony was of a person that did not know how to operate the terminal and also of a person in panic that obviously she didn't want the children to look at such content.
With also the comments of user phisolo you can see even in accordance with the law which I emailed to the gov that it is not just a one-side viewpoint, its a landslide. When other stories spawn that take the same scrutiny I hope you will be there to question it to along with me. - twertyto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Bad idea, Posting your letter means others might copy and paste this for their own letter. You letter won't be taken as seriously if several are found to be the same.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1While i agree on your point, I can, may and will add a personal touch after I have it reviewed by like-minded peers who are knowledgeable of the subject. I appreciate your concern, but I think the flood of well-written letters may make people take notice. People send form letters all of the time. Have you ever been accepted to college?
- dave2112, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1On the plus side, at least she's better than Rowland......
- KyferEz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Here's my letter:
It is unacceptable that an innocent person has once again been railroaded by the prosecution in the USA, the supposed land of the free.
It is NOT HER FAULT that spyware/adware caused pornographic material to appear on a PC she was told to LEAVE LOGGED ON. It is not her fault she knows nothing about the security of a PC or that she panicked when the popups continued out of her control. It is however the fault of the school system for having out-of-date virus protection, firewall, and operating systems in use. This just as easily could have happened to the regular teacher. In my opinion, the state and the school board should be liable for damages against Ms. Amero because this unfortunate incident, which was out of her control, was blown out of proportion and has ruined her career. As a parent, I am appalled that Ms. Amero is being used as a SCAPEGOAT; the fault lies entirely at the feet of the school system's inadequate security.
I urge you to grant Ms. Amero a pardon. Your state is being shamed by the online community as we openly see how our legal system is failing and an innocent person is paying the price as a scapegoat. You don't even have any real expert witness on the PC (a Cop, even if well versed in PC security, has at the very least a conflict of interest posing as an expert witness). Please consult an independent 3rd party, or if too busy to devote any real time to the railroading of Ms. Amero, read this article by a Harvard expert: http://www.benedelman.org/news/062206-1.html
I hope the legal system will do right by Ms. Amero - our legal system needs to restore some of it's integrity and pardoning Ms. Amero will certainly be a step in the right direction.
I already sent it before seeing the comment about how a pardon is an admission of guilt... Oh well, my other points should stand out. -
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