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World News See Page 6 an Edition of the Friday, Jan SEC: Community_Broadsheet DT: 01-24-2014 ZN: Irvine ED: 1 PG #: 1PG: Cover BY: nbatalis TI: 01-23-2014 19:16 CLR: CMYK IRVINE WRESTLERS WIN KEY MATCH The Vaqueros top Woodbridge and move closer IRVINE to another league title. WORLD NEWS SEE PAGE 6 AN EDITION OF THE FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2014 OCREGISTER.COM/IRVINE VOTING UP FOR INTERNET FREEDOM Reddit co-founder discusses challenges as he encourages ideas of UCI students. WHAT IS REDDIT? A social website that al- lows users to post and BY JOSEPH PIMENTEL | STAFF WRITER share content that can then be voted up or down hree months after launching Reddit in 2005, co-foun- by others. ders Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman were flown Tin to meet with executives at Yahoo’s headquarters in Sunnyvale. It was a big deal for the two, who were recent University of Virginia graduates and had spent most of their senior year building a website they envisioned would be “the front page of the Internet.” At that meeting, Ohanian re- REDDIT NUMBERS calls, he and his partner were FOR 2013 discussing Reddit with a Yahoo executive before 56 billion they were interrupted. Page views “He just cuts us off, 731 million and says, ‘Just stop,’ ” Unique visitors Ohanian recalls. “He says, ‘How much traf- 15 minutes Average duration of time a user fic do you guys spent on the website have, any- way?’ ” 40.8 million People posted on the site SEE REDDIT 404.6 million People commented PAGE 4 6.7 billion Votes tallied on favorite or least favorite Reddits $240 million Estimated worth by Forbes Reddit co-founder Alexis Oha- nian speaks in Donald Bren Hall at UC Irvine on Wednesday, shar- ing his ideas about the Internet and entrepreneurship. PHOTO: SAM GANGWER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER; LOGO: COURTESY OF REDDIT Irvine-based firm says damage House in need of from hackers running in billions BY IAN WHEELER code to identify the group that repairs? City can help STAFF WRITER created or modified it. Hackers Hacker groups from around based in Russia, China and the BY LAUREN JOW pairs, such as leaking roofs or STAFF WRITER the world caused billions of dol- Middle East were behind several faulty plumbing or wiring. lars of economic damage in 2013, notable attacks last year, the Low-income homeowners who Repairs estimated at more according to a report released study said. need to make critical repairs on than $5,000 (or for homeowners Wednesday by Irvine-based Deadeye Jackal, also known as their home can get financial aid who have already received a CrowdStrike. the Syrian Electronic Army, a na- from the city of Irvine. grant) are eligible for deferred The provider of computer secu- tionalistic hacker group in Syria, The city’s Residential Rehabil- loans up to $25,000. rity technology and services last targeted the social network ac- itation Program offers 3 percent To be eligible for aid, you must: year tracked at least 50 hacker counts of major media organiza- interest-deferred loans and emer- ● Live in an owner-occupied, sin- groups involved in a spectrum of tions in 2013. gency grants for repairs related gle-family home in Irvine. (The computer-to-computer espion- The group was responsible for to health and safety, building code home can be attached, detached age. Government, defense and taking over the Twitter account of and accessibility. or manufactured.) telecommunications entities took The Associated Press, the report Repairs estimated at $5,000 or ● Earn less than 80 percent of the the brunt of the attacks, accord- said, falsely tweeting that the less are eligible for emergency area median income for Orange ing to the study. White House had been attacked grants, as long as the homeowner County. In its studies, CrowdStrike and President Barack Obama was hasn’t previously received a Information: Amy Mullay at looks for patterns, time stamps grant. Grants will only be given 949-724-7454 or amullay and calling cards in computer SEE HACKERS ● PAGE 4 SHUTTERSTOCK.COM for emergency code-related re- @cityofirvine.org. SEC: Community_Broadsheet DT: 01-24-2014 ZN: Irvine ED: 1 PG #: 4PG: PageK BY: nbatalis TI: 01-23-2014 19:18 CLR: CMYK 4 IRVINE WORLD NEWS FROM PAGE 1 FRIDAY,JAN. 24, 2014 Alexis Ohanian bio ● Age 30 ● Graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in history and business and a minor in German ● Along with Steve Huffman, co-founded Reddit in 2005 ● Sold Reddit to Conde Nast for $20 million in 2006 SAM GANGWER, ● Has invested in about 70 other STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER startups and created Reddit co-founder Alexis his own businesses Ohanian speaks to a stand- such as Breadpig and ing-room-only crowd at UC Hipmunk Irvine on Wednesday. ● A member of Reddit’s board of directors ● Named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list twice, once in 2010 and another in 2012 ● Armenian American ● Lives in New York ● During high school, he worked as a dishwasher and cook at Pizza Hut. ● Former avid classic World of Warcraft player PHOTOS: SAM GANGWER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ● Chose waffles over studying for the Law School Members of a standing-room-only crowd listen to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as he speaks about his book, Admission Test during his sophomore year at college “Without Their Permission: How the 21st Century Will Be Made, Not Managed,” at UC Irvine on Wednesday. ● Big fan of mascots REDDIT: Co-founder offers advice FROM PAGE 1 “We just launched,” Oha- nian responded to the Ya- hoo executive, whom he would not identify. “It’s growing week over week. We have about 10,000 us- ers.” Upon hearing the num- ber, the executive sneered at the two young entrepre- JOSEPH PIMENTEL, STAFF neurs. From left, Walt Nguyen, Jocelyn Khuu and Jasmin “‘You guys are just a Guevarra, shown at UC Irvine, are avid Reddit users. rounding error compared to Yahoo. What are you guys even doing here?” the executive asked. UCI STUDENTS, ALUM “We thought it was a weird Yahoo hazing ritual,” Audience members at UC Irvine on Wednesday laugh as Ohanian discusses his life and CHAT ABOUT REDDIT Ohanian said, recalling the his entrepreneurial journey. He is in the midst of a 77-college campus tour. incident to a standing- BY JOSEPH PIMENTEL room-only crowd at UC Ir- out Their Permission: How But Reddit also has a reflection of humanity STAFF WRITER vine on Wednesday. the 21st Century Will Be gained notoriety for its con- and represents the best and Being anonymous is one of the features many us- But that slight served a Made, Not Managed.” troversial subReddits, or worst of people. Stoller also ers like about Reddit. purpose. It has motivated The book focuses on as- forums. Reddit users are is a social network media Unlike other social networking sites such as Face- Ohanian and Huffman to piring entrepreneurs who mostly anonymous, allow- expert. book, in which users create a profile with their real succeed since. are planning to use the In- ing them to hide behind a “Reddit is like a giant art name, Reddit allows users to create pseudonyms and “The first thing I did ternet as the platform for user name – such as de- gallery, where it has every- remain anonymous to post whatever they like, how- when I got back to my desk, their business venture, he stroyswag, jobe and your- thing you can imagine,” ever distasteful or enjoyable. I put this on my wall, ‘You said. basicgeek – to post topics Stoller said. “It has things On Facebook, users might give a second thought are a rounding error’ be- “This is the book that I and express views that of- that’ll make you cringe, before posting on a thread, but users on Reddit have cause I wanted to know ev- wish I had had before I got ten stretch the boundaries that’ll make you smile and a lot more freedom to engage in unfiltered conversa- ery single morning who we started in my entrepreneu- of freedom of speech, even cry. It’s all interpretable by tions. were proving wrong,” Oha- rial journey,” Ohanian told as practiced on freewheel- the community, and that is But what if Reddit changed its settings? How nian said. the Irvine World News af- ing online sites. the beauty of it.” would Redditors react to using their real names An email to Yahoo media terward. “I want to spread For example, the former “The Internet is not a bad when posting on threads? relations to confirm the sto- these ideas. I want to be a subReddit “Jailbait” place inherently,” he added. We asked a few Redditors their opinions. ry was not immediately re- catalyst for people to get showed photos of underage “It’s what people do with it Waiting in line Wednesday to meet Alexis Oha- turned. started in what they want girls in provocative poses. that sometimes is the cause nian, the co-founder of Reddit, were UC Irvine stu- About 16 months later, to do.” Though the photos were le- and the issue.” dents Jasmin Guevarra, 21, and Jocelyn Khuu, 21. Ohanian and Huffman sold Reddit is a social website gal, many critics said the Ohanian, who still serves Walt Nguyen, a 23-year-old who graduated from UC Reddit to publishing giant that allows users to post site promoted child pornog- as a member of Reddit’s Irvine last year, also stood in line with them. The Conde Nast Publications their thoughts or content raphy. The controversy led board of directors, said the three are all avid Reddit users and comment on the for an undisclosed price.
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