TresSugar

Oklahoma Prepares to Put Abortion Details Online

TresSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Starting Nov. 1, any woman who has an abortion in Oklahoma will have to fill out an extensive questionnaire that will subsequently be posted online. Supporters of the law say that the information will help healthcare officials reduce the number of abortions. They also reason that the answers must be posted online so academic researchers can access the data.

As you can imagine, the logic behind these assumed advantages, along with the entire premise of posting extensive information about individual abortions online, is flawed for various reasons. Here are a few:

Even though the questionnaire does not ask for name or address, the first eight questions alone most likely would be enough to identify a woman in a town of 200 or less.
The data will not be suitable for academic research because of the way it is collected. Since a woman could fill out a questionnaire each time she sees a doctor about seeking an abortion, her data could appear to represent more than one patient.
The questionnaire contains loaded language, such as: "Was there an infant born alive as a result of the abortion?"

Luckily, those opposed to the questionnaire and database have filed a lawsuit that will hopefully prevent the dubious law from going into force. What do you make of all this?

Front Page: UK Papers Accused of Spying on Famous People

TresSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:50 -0700

British police are investigating the tabloid News of the World and other papers for allegedly paying private investigators to obtain private phone numbers, bank statements, and voice mail messages from top celebrities and politicians. - AP
Violence erupted across Iran, as Iranians held a new wave of demonstrations. Baton-wielding police officers broke up the protests. - BBC News
Last week, US jobless claims dropped to the lowest since the beginning of last year, signaling that layoffs may be slowing. - New York Times
A new study shows that obesity is hitting California's economy. - LA Times
The Feds have busted a huge dog-fighting ring, rescuing about 350 dogs. - CNN

Airport Security: They Get to See You Naked!

TresSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Did you think taking off your belt, shoes, and sometimes dignity at airport security was the end of it? Think again. It turns out that due to a newish technology, airport security can basically see images of you naked.

Privacy advocates are attempting to stop the US Department of Homeland Security from using whole-body imaging, a technology that is being used now in 19 airports and which displays a blurry but distinctly naked image of a passenger's body with the face blurred out.

The machines "detect both metallic and nonmetallic threat items to keep passengers safe," according to a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, and some say the machines speed up the otherwise annoying and time-consuming process of metal detectors or pat-downs. To find out what privacy advocates are up in arms about, and to watch a demo of whole body imaging in a video, read more

Privacy advocates, from the ACLU to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, say that although the person working the machine never sees the image, and the person looking at the image never sees the passenger (they're in a remote location), there are larger concerns.

Where are the legal disclosures? What if TSA changes their policies down the road? The computer doesn't store the images, but what if that changes later? The machines are being used now in some courthouses in the US, and opponents claim that it's only a matter of time they show up in mundane spaces like malls.

According to one ACLU lawyer, "A choice between being groped and being stripped, I don't think we should pretend those are the only choices. People shouldn't be humiliated by their government."

Has surveillance gotten out of hand? Do you feel safer, or think technologies like whole-body imaging are worth it?

America's Most Famous Family Keeps Paparazzi at Bay

TresSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Photos of the Obama family are often too cute to handle.

Other than a few grainy images, like the paparazzi shots of Obama shirtless in Hawaii, almost every picture we see coming from the first family has a photo-shoot finish. That's on purpose.

The LA Times points out that the glimpses into the Obamas' everyday life are not spontaneous. It's all strategic.

Think of it as Operation Access Hollywood - the Obamas figure that if they willingly give the public a peek inside their world, they'll get popularity and privacy in return.

Releasing exclusive and "private" photos diminishes the value of a paparazzi shot, and lets the Obamas manage their image. And if the Obamas grant exclusive interviews to gossip magazines, outlets will avoid publishing unauthorized images, lest they be cut off!

While critics might think the president is exploiting his family for popularity, I can't argue with the plan if it helps keep Sasha and Malia's lives free from too much disruption. And like I said - the pics are cute, people!

To see some more well-coordinated pics of the Obamas, read more.

View 10 Photos ›

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Handle This: You Caught Him Reading Your Journal

DearSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0700

If you were put in a situation like this, how would you handle it?

You recently lost your job and as a result, you've been pretty down and out. Thankfully you have a very supportive and loving live-in boyfriend, but truth be told, you've been craving your alone time. You have found solace in your journal, something you never had time for before, and it's really helping you sort through your feelings. Your boyfriend has noticed that you've been pulling back a little and has responded by being extra clingy, which in turn only irritates you.

The other night, while having dinner at home, your boyfriend made a strange comment - it sounded like he was privy to your personal thoughts only written in your journal. When you asked him point blank if he had read it, he nodded and quietly said yes. As you stormed out of the kitchen, he said that he was left with no other choice since you hadn't been willing to open up to him. You understand that he was just trying to help you during this rough patch, but you're furious - he betrayed your trust and went behind your back. You're going through enough as it is, so how would you handle it?

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Where Do You Stand? We-Mail

DearSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:00:00 -0800

I'm sure you've all heard of we-mail by now, but if you're unfamiliar with the term, it's simply a shared email address couples use in lieu of individual ones. While the idea is kind of cute, it makes it almost impossible to have a confidential conversation with someone besides your significant other. Sure, it's great for making plans, paying bills, and coordinating work events, but I'd take privacy over convenience any day of the week.

We-mail seems to be catching on fast, so tell me, where do you stand on sharing an email address with your significant other?

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Lighten Up! Jon Stewart Analyzes Bill O'Reilly's Right to Privacy

LibertySugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:56 -0800

Last night Jon Stewart pondered how Bill O'Reilly - a staunch supporter of the constitutional right to privacy - could be outraged over paparazzi stalking celebrities, but have no trouble intimidating his political foes with cameraman ambushes.

Jon mashed up some Factor footage, but also let unedited clips do the work for him. In case you're wondering, an American's right to privacy is less than Bill O'Reilly's need to know.

Dear Poll: Has Anyone Ever Read Your Diary?

DearSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:00:00 -0800

I'm a big proponent of journaling, but let's face it, keeping a diary was a lot easier as a teen, or pre-teen even, than it is now. When emotions run rampant or you simply need a way to clear your head, writing it all down in a diary can be great solace. A journal will always be an incredibly private possession, so if it were to get into the wrong person's hands, trouble and embarrassment could easily ensue. I think we all know better now, but ladies, tell me, has anyone ever read your diary before?

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Relationship Protocol: Do You Prefer Telephone Privacy?

DearSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0800

When in a relationship, most people tell their significant other everything, even the stuff they're not supposed to, but there's something to be said about having a private conversation without your man sitting right there next to you. Since every relationship is different, tell me, do you prefer to talk to your friends and family in private or in front of your honey so he can be a part of the conversation too?

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Where Do You Stand? Forwarding Emails

DearSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Email seems to be the most popular mode of communication these days. And when you're trying to plan something or relay a message, it's sometimes easier to just forward someone's email instead of retyping it, but that could easily lead to trouble. Since the Internet has a life of its own, you can never be too careful with your personal conversations or private information. So where do you stand when it comes to forwarding emails without permission? Is it something you do without thinking twice? Have you done it before and had it blow up in your face? Or has someone forwarded an email of yours that wasn't meant for anyone else's eyes?

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