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Is SNMP really this bad? He seems to consider only what’s widely deployed, not what’s possible with SNMPv3.

William Saletan points out in Slate that “the government’s stated reasons for choosing military detention rather than civilian prosecution [of Padilla] directly contradict its rationale for releasing the story.”

Habeas Corpus The “Habeas Corpus Act” was passed in the reign of Charles II., and defined a provision of similar character in Magna Charta, to which also it added certain details. The Act provides:

1. That any man taken to prison can insist that the person who charges him with crime shall bring him bodily before a judge, and state the why and wherefore of his detention. As soon as this is done, the judge is to decide whether or not the accused is to be admitted to bail. [No one, therefore, can be imprisoned on mere suspicion, and no one can be left in prison any indefinite time at the caprice of the powers that be. Imprisonment, in fact, must be either for punishment after conviction, or for safe custody till the time of trial.]
2. It provides that every person accused of crime shall have the question of his guilt decided by a jury of twelve men, and not by a Government agent or nominee.
3. No prisoner can be tried a second time on the same charge.
4. Every prisoner may insist on being examined within twenty days of his arrest, and tried by jury the next session.
5. No defendant is to be sent to prison beyond the seas, either within or without the British dominions.

The exact meaning of the words Habeas Corpus is this: “You are to produce the body.” That is, You, the accuser, are to bring before the judge the body of the accused, that he may be tried and receive the award of the court, and you (the accused) are to abide by the award of the judge.

Suspension of Habeas Corpus. When the Habeas Corpus Act is suspended, the Crown can imprison persons on suspicion, without giving any reason for so doing; the person so arrested cannot insist on being brought before a judge to decide whether or not he can be admitted to bail; it is not needful to try the prisoner at the following assize; and the prisoner may be confined in any prison the Crown chooses to select for the purpose.

habeas corpus - 1465, from L., lit. “(you should) have the person,” in phrase habeas corpus ad subjiciendum “produce or have the person to be subjected to (examination),” opening words of writs in 14c. Anglo-Fr. documents to require a person to be brought before a court or judge, especially to determine if that person is being legally detained. From habeas, second pers. sing. pres. subjunctive of habere “to have, to hold” + corpus “person,” lit. “body.”

More generally, habeas refers to appealing to a higher power when an injustice has been done.

Some quotes from Rob Harley:

“The good Christian should beware of mathematicians and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and confine man in the bonds of hell.”
- St. Augustine

Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.
- Niccolo Machiavelli, “The Prince”, Chapter VI

Buttercup: We’ll never survive.
Westley: Nonsense, you’re only saying that because no one ever has.
- The Princess Bride

The California anti-spam law doesn’t violate the “dormant commerce” clause of the Constitution. Subtle stuff. Tom Paine complains about the complete lack of Congressional action.

Deersoft launches SpamAssassin Pro. I came up with the name, and I highly recommend the software.