Having said all that, I really don't want to put a downer on the Academia
site because it seems like a excellent and unique idea. The site is very
well done. I am sure that the people who are working on it find it really
exciting want to see it go places. I just have a problem with the way it
was put out.
@Richard Price. Where do you want go with this project? What value-added
services do you want create on it?
2008/10/2 David Kane <[log in to unmask]>
> Here is the start of a thread that I found at:
> http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=89651It is an advert for a Flash
> developer for this company.
>
>
> Academia.edu, currently in beta, is a San Francisco-based social networking
> site for academics. The founders are from Oxford and Stanford. Academia.edu
> has raised venture funding from some of the leading investors in Europe:
>
> - Saul Klein (the 'Ron Conway' of Europe)
> - Brent Hoberman (founder of Lastminute.com which was acquired for $1bn)
> - Oxford University
> - NewMedia Spark (UK VC firm)
> - Hugo Burge and David Soskin (founders of Cheapflights.com)
>
> We're planning a really cool Flash application for Academia.edu. Version 1
> of the app should take approximately a month. We're looking to hire a Flash
> developer to code the app. Initially we are looking to hire on a contract
> basis, but if things go well (we hope they will), we'd want to make an offer
> for a permanent position.
>
> Candidates must:
>
> - Have CS background or equivalent experience
> - Have 1 year+ Flash experience
> - Be passionate about developing great products
>
> Academia.edu is in Rails - you'll need to be able to handle the
> interactions between Rails and Flash. We'd prefer it if you were in San
> Francisco, as we can then discuss the app in person, but we'll definitely
> consider candidates outside of San Francisco. We want to work with the best
> people, wherever they are.
>
> If you could be interested in building a cool Flash application, send
> Richard an email at richard -at- academia.edu
>
> The reply comes:
>
>
> QUESTIONER: how did you manage to bend the .edu registration rules?
> per http://www.educause.edu/edudomain/eligibility.asp : "Only
> postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited by an agency
> on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized
> Accrediting Agencies (see recognized accrediting bodies) may obtain an
> Internet name in the .edu domain."
> I am aware that "[a]ll institutions holding names as of October 29, 2001 in
> the .edu domain will be allowed to keep them without regard to institutional
> eligibility requirements at this time." but am sure that this would not
> cover the sale of an .edu domain to a startup company not engaged in
> education per se.
> Care to clarify?
>
>
> ACADEMIA ANSWERS: Sure - our company registered the domain before 2001 (in
> 1999).
>
>
>
> QUESTIONER: This cannot be true since your company Academia Inc. was not
> incorporated until 11/14/2006.
> reply
>
> ACADEMIA ANSWERS: Our organization registered the domain in '99 and
> incorporated in '06.
> reply
>
> --
>
> I feel little put out as I gave up my personal details on the assumption
> that this was some kind of academic project (as suggested by the .edu domain
> name), rather than a commercial venture. Why would a business want to
> launch under a .edu domain?
>
> I would rather that the Academia corporation had been more direct about its
> intention in its email to this list. Instead of laying out the deal, the
> author of the email starts out by laying out his academic credentials. He
> says that he launched the website. This is a true statement, but he may not
> have built it. Perhaps a Flash 'Rock Star' on $80k, (with stock options)
> did. He has also sent this email from his Oxford University email address.
> Oxford University is a powerful and trusted brand. What are we to think?
> Is it assumed that we do not think?
>
>
>
> David.
>
>
> --
> David Kane
> Systems Librarian
> Waterford Institute of Technology
> http://library.wit.ie/
> T: ++353.51302838
> M: ++353.876693212
>
--
David Kane
Systems Librarian
Waterford Institute of Technology
http://library.wit.ie/
T: ++353.51302838
M: ++353.876693212
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