Just in case, anyone missed this yesterday, I thought I'd renominate AT&T & Netscape for the: *** 1995 CHRISTMAS NET SCROOGE *** *** AWARD *** (T-shirt sales coming soon, to a website near you ...) ------------ Alice here ... Back on Tue, 19 Dec 1995, I wrote:

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Can anyone tell me whether Ian Goldberg and David Wagner got their $25,000 from Netscape for finding the HUGE security flaws in Netscape's existing product line??

I can't remember whether they got anything or not ...

That would be no (well, except for the nifty T-shirt from Sameer; Thanks!).

Not anything?? That's shameful ... where on earth are the values in America, today?

Everyone should ask this question. AT&T can sign-on to a two-page ad, calling on Congress to balance the budget -- to cut off veterans, and cut-off women with dependent children just before Christmas. It can sign on to this, but it can't bother to even offer a scholarship to the students who helped make its fortunes. It would rather leave the impression that it freeloads off of other's efforts. It's shameful.

AT&T and Netscape have jointly made a small fortune distributing this product, and yet NEITHER company feels that the software engineers who "voluntarily" made a difference -- a couple of students -- deserve even a wooden nickel for the ideas which were used.

It's absolutely shameful. But then, I guess that AT&T and Netscape have no shame at all.

They just steal "intellectual property" from students, and don't even pay a token amount.

And people wonder what's wrong with America?

Luckily for those of us who don't live in the United States, we can perhaps look at that country and truly wonder what is going on over there, and what is wrong with America? Where are the values amongst ALL Americans, not just Netscape and AT&T? What are the role models that all the leaders -- business, sports, and political leaders -- show to the national youth. Here is all I've seen (as a foreigner), over the last while: Enid Greene Waldholtz blubbering in a news conference about how she as a congress person certainly COULDN'T be expected to resign after winning her election with stolen money. Blubbering for five hours straight (except when she had to stop to turn a page, I mean) ... She certainly said that "leadership" is all about playing "victim". Poor little Enid. (And even worse, she was _defended_ by Susan Molinari.) Bob Dole, deciding to go to Bosnia. The former WW II veteran willingly jeopardizing the lives of American boys -- boys who have put their lives on the line in a _volunteer_ armed force -- all for a lousy political photo-op. The chance to say ... "hey look at me, I'm here in Bosnia." Someone who's willing to overrule the Pentagon's own most diplomatic advice on how complex an operation this actually is. And then there is AT&T. A company who's Chairman can publish a letter which calls on Congress to cut off checks to mothers with dependent children and war veterans days before Christmas, all while stealing and freeloading off of the work of some students. Scrooge ... take heart. Here's Holiday wish #1. Enid do the right thing ... resign. Say the "right thing" and say that your child -- the future and the delayed gratification that the future brings -- is much more important than your own personal PRESENT political aspirations. Here's Holiday wish #2. Bob, lots of people worked their asses off to make sure that the American fighter pilot, and the two French fighter pilots could be rescued from Bosnia. If you want to go and get some photo-ops, go to Germany or Italy, and give one hell of a vote of support to the boys that are there -- a support which could just as easily have been given and should be given in Congress. A _real_ strong unfettered commitment. And here's Holiday wish #3. AT&T. Do the right thing. Reward those people who help make you a fortune. Stand tall as an example, rather than as an embarrassment to the nation. You've ignored this for so long now, that you've almost dug your own grave. But you still have a chance to save face. Have the courage to take the chance when it's offered. Simply say that the proposal to reward David Wagner and Ian Goldberg -- some holiday mad money and scholarships -- was lost in committee, and approval processes -- but it WAS in the works, and it was recommended and can now be announced just before Christmas, as a rightful reward. Some holiday cheer. Will people think it's a cynical attempt at manipulation? Yep. But it's a darned site better than the alternatives -- especially when you look at possible future outcomes. Trust me, this is far better than calling for veterans and single mothers with children to be cut-off just before the holidays. Perhaps, Enid, Bob, and AT&T will all learn when to use offense and when to use defense. They might also learn that the best offense is a good defense. They might even begin to look at what "courage" truly is, and of how difficult it can be for anyone to do the "right thing", especially when they think that they're surrounded by minefields. Even when the "right thing" is in your own best interest, you not only have to be shown the right path to take, but you have to have the motivation and courage to make the move and take action. Enid, Bob, and AT&T, take note. Hopefully for the holidays, everyone finds the courage to neutralize some portion of the vulnerability spectrum they've placed themselves in.

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- Ian "There's a reason people talk about `starving grad students'..."

Alice de 'nonymous ... <an455120@anon.penet.fi> ...just another one of those... P.S. This post is in the public domain. C. S. U. M. O. C. L. U. N. E.