At long last I’ve upgraded and tweaked and have a mostly functional new blog to unveil. But I am not running Vista or IE 7, so I’m kinda curious as to whether it holds up or not. If you are running either of those, please let me know if anything garish happens.
The new site offers up some new features. Paged comments for one. But also the ability to edit your comments within 15 minutes. These features come at a price. My anonymous making IP address hack will not work on the new site. Let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions post them here.
Please try out the comments on the new site, and keep in mind that the databases are not synced.
If I’m not anonymous, I’m outta here!
I don’t get it??
#2- #1 is referring to the fact that posters’ IP address identities will be revealed to Turfie on the new site, and perhaps to all.
Mornin, Turf. I’ve come here faithfully to read updates on the postings by West Rocks teachers. They absolutely break my heart. It is astounding how our city is powerless to do anything about the bullying that takes place in our schools and that dysfunctional individuals who lack leadership skills press on as inept administrators. Isn’t the board moved by the amount of fear behind these postings with regard to IP addresses? How can it be that this continues to go on in a day when evaluations have been tweaked and ongoing? Is this what happens when teachers’ input, as a very necessary part of the evaluation process, is suppressed? The direct impact of this distress evidenced here falls ultimately on the children in our school system and there is no denying that. Anyone who is in business knows how affecting middle management can be. If productivity is impacted, the obstruction is removed. When in GOD’S name is the board going to realize that motivated teachers translate to motivated students? We can beat kids over the head with literacy programs, new textbooks, and test data, and there won’t be a lick of improvement if they aren’t encouraged to learn by teachers who are encouraged to teach in a supportive, caring environment. Climate, people. Climate is everything. Alright, then. Let’s see what Cambridge translates to. I would think they will pick all of this up since their focus is morale and building climate. If the teachers were on a short leash during the visit, they surely took note of that. Cambridge prides itself on a team approach that empowers staff. We shall see. Oh, yes, Turfie… I forgot. Any chance this hysteria can be quelled about IP addresses? What can you do or say to ensure these posters a safe format?
Turf, who cares if you can see an IP address if IT’S ONLY YOU who can see it. I know your not going to do anything “wrong” with it. Hpoefully, you can stop the smart a$$es from their postings that attack others, or at least it’ll curtail their gutter verbage.
Looks good to me Turfie! Like #5 said, it’s only you seeing the IP, so it’s all good with me.
Hiya Watchdog. I would hope that the board starts asking questions about West Rocks. In regards to the IP question, I spent some time working on the code yesterday to remove them but the new features kinda of need them. It’s a dilemma because I don’t like the idea of having them.
But, no one else can see them. They are not revealed anywhere on the site. Most residential Internet services provide dynamic IP addresses, so overtime an IP number can change. Mine for example, have changed 4 times since I moved to my new HQ.
For those concerned about having an IP stored, I suggest using an anonymous web site, like http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html.
I won’t be posting any more if IP addresses are visible, even if it’s only to Turfie. The primary reason that a lot of people feel comfortable expressing themselves here is because they don’t fear retribution as a result.
Regardless of Turfie’s motives, she is a current member of a Norwalk government body and as such answers to the City of Norwalk. What happens if someone in City govt. pressures her to reveal the identity of someone who posts something that is unkind or critical to them? Can she absolutely guarantee that if a lawsuit is brought against her as a result, she won’t reveal any identities?
I tend to agree with #8, anonymity is what made this blog the place to REALLY see and hear what people think.
It might now just become another place where a few just repeat what is in the “Hour or Advocate.”
In the past year I have seen some really deep anger and some really deep praise. If the praise remains the anger goes away, this blog will become a “Plain Vanilla” FORUM
As TG said in #7, you can always use a service like anonymouse.com to mask your identity. That is how I reached the page I’m entering this from, and you will see that when you click the links to go to different topics, even that is protected by anonymouse.com
Of course, you could always just post under your own name
There are millions of products on the market to mask your identity. Here is one for $14.95.
https://www.steganos.com/us/products/home-office/internet-anonym-vpn/overview
I use one of the IP addresses in this list.
http://www.proxylist.blogspot.com
ROFLMAOProxies are more than enough protection for yourct. Do you want the ultimate protection?
I bought a program at Best Buy by SmithMicro called Anonymizer for twenty bucks that hides your IP. Comes with a $10 rebate.
A link to the website.
Web sites can track who you are and where you’ve been by your IP address. Anonymous Surfing keeps your PC’s IP address unlisted to protect your identity!
http://www.smithmicro.com/default.tpl?group=product_full&sku=ASURFWCD
Why are people so worried about this? Do you really think that Turfie is going to track down your IP, and call you out on the blog?
Come on people, give it a rest! Atleast there are a few people out there who aren’t afraid to put there name out there.
who cares, say something bad the AG office can get you for, well thats your problem. I assume the pressure is there somewhere to stem the false and libel lies purported by some out here. It didn’t change the outcome of the election it showed most don’t care where Norwalk goes with our leadership in some cases.
I think the point was the site is growing , software and archives all are important to a site like this. The site is growing its great but with that changes usually come, Whatever Turfgrrl does she has my blessings, whatever she has to do my thanks as well. She alone showed blogging is in another realm and will only become better here in Norwalk. I’m sure The Hour and the new owners of the The Advocate are also some of the top readers, why not the news of yesterday today and tommorrow is usaully here less the editing and the good ole boys club click when it comes to finding out whats going on in Norwalk.
Now if we only could get the comics I’d cancel both papers.
By the way, some people complain about this blog, especially when posters mention them by name. This blog is pretty tame compared to those who post on articles in some newspapers. There are lots rougher assessments (not to mention crazy people) writing harsh, brutal stuff in other arenas. I don’t approve of that. Turffie can’t control what other people post, she just puts up her opinion or writes what is in the news. the comments are expressed, by us and are mostly within the bounds of appropriate.
This is a pretty even handed blog.
I am someone very familiar with libel and slander law. People should not mind the identification of the proxies. In the famous Sullivan vs. New York Times decision the courts set a very high bar for libel. It created a two fold standard: 1) it has to be false, and 2) stated in bad faith. 98% of the postings on this blog are very factual and truthful with plenty of citations and attributions. I doubt that people will go after bloggers for stating their truthful and well intentioned opinions. If they do, they better be ready to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and detective fees. For now colleagues, stick to the good old truth and back it up with the facts that have characterized this block. As judge Brandeis once stated “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” Keep posting!
http://agahran.typepad.com/sej2006/2006/10/responsible_blo.html
A plain English discussion about defamation, libel, slander and copyright. Interesting issues.
Get your finger out of your nose! Hiding your online identity is as easy as pie.
Andrew is a stitch. Don’t underestimate turfgrrl’s sneakiness. Just Kidding
I’m using Osama Bin Laden’s proxy. Top that one!
West Rocks Middle School
http://www.yourct.com/newzee/2007/11/25/norwalk-new-boe-post/
I like the new look. No problems reported. I don’t mind whether Turffie sees my IP or not. I don’t want it visible to on my posts. I don’t see that happening on the new site.
Post Here Or New Site?
LegalMind, 98%????? Talk to the current and former WRMS staff. They know the facts.
Turf, #22 is on to us. GRAB ALL THE INFO AND RUN! I’LL SEE YOU AT OUR MEET UP UP POINT!
#8 That’s as crazy as saying Yahoo is responsible for monitoring their own blogs. Turfgrrl owns this blog. The fact remains that challenging the posts on this blog will only reveal the truth behind the posts.
#21 They want you to shut your pie hole so to speak.
Watchdog Do you think Mahatma Gandhi would be God’s name if he grew up during the Roman empire? Few acknowledge India support of Germany and fewer acknowledge similarities within our own government officials. Let the sunshine laws shine bright on the participants of corruption and free those from their bondage of silence. Sadly we Americans run from such conflict out of fear of legality when the law rightly and fully protects such freedoms. A disheartening side of American society is the disinterest in the welfare of the people who serve our community at the hands of those who abuse them.
For those of you speculating on Turf’s motives, why would she tell us about the the change in anonymity? Turf, whatever you do is fine by me.
#31 I second that.
legal mind well said, and yes it was Louis who said that.
Andrew: ruh roh, soon they’ll be tracking the Mystery Machine.
Wal-Mart sells Defender-Pro 15 in 1 Anonymous Surf.
http://www.defender-pro.com/private_surf.php
23. I’m using Osama Bin Laden’s proxy. Top that one!
—————-
Great, now Homeland Security is on to us.
When calling overseas be sure to say “I hate homeland security” between the time delayed silence and the connection. ha
Here in South Norwalk the locals prefer Homieland Security. Works better that way for them…
GhostSurf is another software program.
GhostSurf has a free 15 day trial. It is the oldest most well known anonymous Internet program. PC Magazine Editors’ Choice. Yada, yada, yada.
http://www.tenebril.com/downloads
We had a great blog going until people got paranoid about the identification of their IPs. Is a system so corrupt and evil that can through us into this? Are a couple of school administrators so dreadful that they are capable to silence us. Please, keep the facts coming. This blog is one of the best things for those of us who care about education. Let’s expose the evil for what it is.
You wonder why we’re paranoid? Read this:
US intelligence official: You get privacy when your definition matches ours
By Ken Fisher | Published: November 11, 2007 – 04:30PM CT
Donald Kerr, a top intelligence official with the US government, says that citizens need to change their definition of privacy to match the government’s definition, the AP reports. Appointed Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in 2005, Kerr is now the principal deputy director of national intelligence. Kerr is one of many in the intelligence community who finds Americans’ views on privacy to be antiquated and unreasonable.
Government has another chance to assert “state secrets” in AT&T case
Telcos seek wiretapping immunity as legal pressure mounts
FBI using cell phone microphones to eavesdrop
ACLU’s legal challenge to NSA wiretapping rebuffed
Kerr echoes the view that privacy is not synonymous with anonymity. Americans who want to see anonymity at the center of privacy policies need to give up this notion, he says. “Too often, privacy has been equated with anonymity; and it’s an idea that is deeply rooted in American culture… but in our interconnected and wireless world, anonymity – or the appearance of anonymity – is quickly becoming a thing of the past,” Kerr said according to a PDF transcript of his comments.
Americans need to shift their definition of privacy to center instead on the proper maintenance and protection of personal data by government and business entities. Kerr said that “privacy, I would offer, is a system of laws, rules, and customs with an infrastructure of Inspectors General, oversight committees, and privacy boards on which our intelligence community commitment is based and measured. And it is that framework that we need to grow and nourish and adjust as our cultures change.”
Kerr also tackled the “common thinking that, in order to have more safety, you get less privacy.” Kerr argues that “you need to have both… You can be perfectly safe in a prison; but you certainly aren’t free. And you can be perfectly free in an anarchist society; but you certainly aren’t safe.”
The problem, according to Kerr’s line of thought, isn’t that government and businesses may have intricately detailed information about citizens, or that they might be actively working to collect such data as part of an extensive program of electronic surveillance. The concerns, Kerr says, should be focused on how such data is safeguarded and how Americans view the importance of that data.
Kerr’s comments come at a time when the US government is trying to address objections over the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act. In particular, the question is whether or not telecommunications companies deserve immunity for their involvement in illegal wiretapping beginning in 2001. Kerr seems to be saying, hey guys, what they did isn’t bad at all, you should be impressed how secret it all was, really.
Proponents of increased surveillance, like Kerr, have high estimations of the government’s ability to safeguard sensitive data, though the sentiment is not shared by all. It’s hard to have too much confidence when the FBI is busy losing laptops and the nature of such programs appears to be one involving little oversight from independent branches of government.
It’s cliché, but Benjamin Franklin long ago warned against rhetoric that demands trading individual rights for corporate security. Asking Americans to greenlight extensive, unchecked electronic surveillance by changing their very definition of privacy is a prime example of such rhetoric.
Kurt Opsahl, a senior staff lawyer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said “It’s just another ‘trust us, we’re the government’” argument.
The new winner for the longest post.
The software posted is more than adequate. Pick your country. Travel to a different country for each post. The software makes it idiot proof.
Want double protection? Use a proxy software product on top of an online CGI proxy. A foreign proxy on top of a foreign proxy is impossible to track. Period.
There are some extremely advanced proxies for serious hacking. You don’t need them for this website.
Stop the conspiracy theories for the love of Gandhi.
Let the focus go back on Corda and Moore. We need to move ourselves to confront them with their deeds.