Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!uunet!pcserver2!ddsw1!learn From: learn@ddsw1.MCS.COM (William Vajk) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Amendments Message-ID: <1991May01.055436.24745@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Date: 1 May 91 05:54:36 GMT References: <1487@gargoyle.uchicago.edu> <1991Apr26.014049.7403@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Organization: Dares No Organization Like Dis Organization Lines: 39 In article <1991Apr26.014049.7403@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Sameer Parekh writes: > Could you please summarize your pumpkin reference for us ignorami? > Thanks. Stated quite briefly there was a sensational spy case in the early 1950's involving a gentleman by name of Alger Hiss. Documents were left in a pumpkin in a field which was used as a mailbox between supplier of info and the paying agency. Given the similarity in the repositorial use of the pumpkin in question and ripco (as example instant) I think the translation into modern understandings regarding criminal misuse rather appropriate. This theme could be very nicely expanded into parallel set of circumstances depicting the criminality of the ripco bbs just as surely as the pumpkin. How far are we from a true zero tolerance ? They don't seize an offending glove compartment or trunk, they seize an entire automobile, boat, or airplane. When will they stop simply seizing the computer(s) and begin to take the house it is in ? If a link could have been made, even by stretching the known truth (presumptions are, according to some published statements by prosecutors, on the side of Law Enforcement) would the FBI today have sought a seizure warrant against the entire farm in the earlier case ? Thanks for the question. It isn't a question of 'ignorami' but more likely one of longevity. I don't know how many are active in this forum who can actually recall the case of the 'pumpkin papers' while it was receiving serious attention daily in the press. For those of us who can, it is a compelling parallel, given the importance the case had in its own timeframe. If there's an interest, I'll research the N. Y. Times Index and post appropriate reference dates and pages here. Bill Vajk