[guiambros]

This has been discussed many times, but as you've just joined, here's a PSA:

On-Topic: Anything that good hackers would find interesting. That includes more than hacking and startups. If you had to reduce it to a sentence, the answer might be: anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity. [1]

Lou Reed was an amazing musician, and someone that promoted intellectual curiosity [2], hence the 20+ points. (too bad one of the mods seems to disagree, hence it was flagged to now show up at the front page anymore).

[1] http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFy4kRLCJBU&t=20

[rcfox]

If you're going to quote something, make sure that it doesn't directly contradict your position:

"If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."

[Samuel_Michon]

So we probably shouldn’t discuss NSA surveillance ever again here on HN, right?

Lou Reed spoke on technology at SXSW. He was an audio purist. He made a video mocking the GOP. I think he qualified as an influential geek and deserves a black band on the title bar of HN.

[DanBC]

> So we probably shouldn’t discuss NSA surveillance ever again here on HN, right?

I CAN ONLY DREAM.

[Samuel_Michon]

Sure, keep working on point 4 of your S:N Improvement Program.

[DanBC]

http://imgur.com/ab50rmB

[Samuel_Michon]

Upvoted. (As if you needed more of those.)

[bostonpete]

As far as I can tell, the only things considered off topic on HN are (1) submissions whose title don't match the headline of the linked page, and (2) puns.

[csense]

> puns

Did you hear about the latest research that shows adding a delayed version of a signal to itself [1] enhances the security of many existing encryption and anonymity protocols by adding an additional layer? Some people are considering adding it to the next version of popular Internet privacy software [2]. I don't understand how it works, though, so maybe I should:

Ask HN: Why comb in a Tor?

(Obviously I made this up just to set up the punch line. Or should I say, PUNch line?)

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comb_filter

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network)

[guiambros]

> (too bad one of the mods seems to disagree...)

This is back on the front page - and at the #1 - so my last mention doesn't make sense anymore.