"PACER normally carries an eight cents per page fee, however, by accessing from one of the seventeen libraries, users may search and download data for free."
And:
"The two accounts were responsible for downloading more than eighteen million pages with an approximate value of $1.5 million."
~18MM pages at $0.08/page ~= $1.5 million
So downloading a document is stealing printing fees from the courts, apparently.
My personal favorite part of the file so far:
"The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts reported that the PACER system was being inundated with requests. One request was being made every three seconds."
I actually applied for a programming job with the Federal Courts in San Antonio about a decade ago when I was desperate for work. Cattle-call interview with ~100 easy questions, then they'd call you back that afternoon for a panel interview if you did well. I was criticized for dressing "too casual", despite wearing $400 worth of new clothes I couldn't afford. Apparently, suits are needed for programming, which also involves crawling around courtrooms installing equipment. Got the job offer a few days later for $55K/year. I mentioned that the newspaper ad said the position paid $78K, and politely attempted to negotiate. Five minutes later, I got an email saying they were rescinding the offer. Classy folks.
Thanks! Very happily employed now at a former startup that I also interviewed with back then. Decided not to go with them at the time because their 5-year plan was to sell the company within a year and move on to something else. They got bought out, I found another job, and when I got sick of that, got an interview here through a friend, and wished I'd started 6 years sooner.
Somewhat back on topic, since my current company was built on RSS initially, I doubt I'd even have this job without Aaron Swartz.
Comments
From the file:
"PACER normally carries an eight cents per page fee, however, by accessing from one of the seventeen libraries, users may search and download data for free."
And:
"The two accounts were responsible for downloading more than eighteen million pages with an approximate value of $1.5 million."
~18MM pages at $0.08/page ~= $1.5 million
So downloading a document is stealing printing fees from the courts, apparently.
My personal favorite part of the file so far:
"The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts reported that the PACER system was being inundated with requests. One request was being made every three seconds."
I actually applied for a programming job with the Federal Courts in San Antonio about a decade ago when I was desperate for work. Cattle-call interview with ~100 easy questions, then they'd call you back that afternoon for a panel interview if you did well. I was criticized for dressing "too casual", despite wearing $400 worth of new clothes I couldn't afford. Apparently, suits are needed for programming, which also involves crawling around courtrooms installing equipment. Got the job offer a few days later for $55K/year. I mentioned that the newspaper ad said the position paid $78K, and politely attempted to negotiate. Five minutes later, I got an email saying they were rescinding the offer. Classy folks.
I hope you're happily employed now!
Posting your experience with the Federal Courts is helpful, thanks.
Thanks! Very happily employed now at a former startup that I also interviewed with back then. Decided not to go with them at the time because their 5-year plan was to sell the company within a year and move on to something else. They got bought out, I found another job, and when I got sick of that, got an interview here through a friend, and wished I'd started 6 years sooner.
Somewhat back on topic, since my current company was built on RSS initially, I doubt I'd even have this job without Aaron Swartz.