funsec mailing list archives
RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention
From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 20:53:53 -0500
The attached email to the writer of the story, the two profs, and the head of the Umass Dartmouth library should smoke out the truth. Richard From: Richard M. Smith [mailto:rms () computerbytesman com] Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 8:51 PM To: anicodemus () s-t com Cc: rbontbriand () umassd edu; bwilliams () umassd edu; asmith () umassd edu; lzieper () umassd edu; 'Richard M. Smith' Subject: Re: Agents' visit chills UMass Dartmouth senior Hi Aaron, Re: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm Slashdot picked up your story here: http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/12/17/2115239.shtml?tid=103&tid=158&tid=146&t id=219 However, after reading your story, I'm wonder if the DHS visit was some kind of hoax. For example, what exactly are "agents of the Department of Homeland Security"? Also what did the UMass Dartmouth library have to say about the allegation that they are cooperating with DHS by reporting on students who check out books on a DHS "watch list". Thanks, Richard M. Smith http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com -----Original Message----- From: Fergie [mailto:fergdawg () netzero net] Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 8:32 PM To: rms () computerbytesman com Cc: funsec () linuxbox org Subject: RE: [funsec] 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Good questions, all. We'll see -- the truth usually emerges in the end. ;-) - ferg -- "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com> wrote: I saw this Slashdot post and article also. The visit actually struck me as some sort of hoax. The only source for the story is the unnamed student. Some aspects of the story struck me as pretty odd. For example, I wonder what "DHS agents" are. And why didn't the writer check with the Umass library for their side of the story? Also does the UMass library system really require SSN's for checking out books between libraries? Richard -----Original Message----- From: funsec-bounces () linuxbox org [mailto:funsec-bounces () linuxbox org] On Behalf Of Fergie Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 6:44 PM To: funsec () linuxbox org Subject: [funsec] 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention ...and people wonder why the Patriot Act is dangerous? Thanks to a post over on Slashdot which alerted me to this article. Aaron Nicodemus writes on SouthCoastToday.com: [snip] A senior at UMass Dartmouth was visited by federal agents two months ago, after he requested a copy of Mao Tse-Tung's tome on Communism called "The Little Red Book." Two history professors at UMass Dartmouth, Brian Glyn Williams and Robert Pontbriand, said the student told them he requested the book through the UMass Dartmouth library's interlibrary loan program. The student, who was completing a research paper on Communism for Professor Pontbriand's class on fascism and totalitarianism, filled out a form for the request, leaving his name, address, phone number and Social Security number. He was later visited at his parents' home in New Bedford by two agents of the Department of Homeland Security, the professors said. The professors said the student was told by the agents that the book is on a "watch list," and that his background, which included significant time abroad, triggered them to investigate the student further. [snip] http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm - ferg {snip] _______________________________________________ Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.
Current thread:
- 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Fergie (Dec 17)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Richard M. Smith (Dec 17)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Fergie (Dec 17)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Richard M. Smith (Dec 17)
- Re: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Troy Solo (Dec 18)
- Re: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Paul Schmehl (Dec 18)
- Re: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Dude VanWinkle (Dec 18)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Richard M. Smith (Dec 17)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Jason Geffner (Dec 18)
- Re: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Troy Solo (Dec 18)
- Re: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Dude VanWinkle (Dec 18)
- Re: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Troy Solo (Dec 18)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Henderson, Dennis K. (Dec 19)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Richard M. Smith (Dec 19)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Nick FitzGerald (Dec 20)
- Re[2]: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Pierre Vandevenne (Dec 20)
- RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention Richard M. Smith (Dec 19)