TresSugar

Dear Poll: Do You Use Backup Birth Control?

DearSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:00:00 -0800

We all know by now that no form of birth control is 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. If you use your method properly though, your chance of an accidental pregnancy decreases, although that one percent is just too risky for some.

After reading the comments from yesterday's quiz on vaginal contraceptive film, I noticed that some of you use it as backup to the pill. Yes, it's smart to be extra cautious if you're not ready to be a mother, but I'm curious to see just how many of you use a backup method while on hormonal contraception. So ladies, tell me . . .

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You Asked: I'm Scared Every Day

DearSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

My father is a firefighter, and I grew up with the mentality that I needed to tell my dad I loved him every single time he went to work. When my parents divorced things changed, and since I no longer live with him or my mom, I don't get nervous every time he goes to work anymore. However, my brother just graduated from the police academy in Cleveland. He's posted in an absolutely terrible neighborhood, where people get shot on a daily basis, there's not a window without bars to be seen, and 8-year-olds are selling drugs.

I'm terrified. I get these images that he's going to get shot, or worse. He has a really bad temper, and I'm afraid he's going to get himself in trouble. Now, with my brother starting his police work, I'm starting to freak out about my dad again too. Both of their jobs are dangerous, and I think I am actually more scared for them than they are! How can I learn to deal with this fear and cope with their life-threatening jobs?

- Terrified Teresa

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Terrified Teresa,

I certainly applaud the men in your life for taking on such difficult but important duties, but I'm sure I'd be a worried mess if I were in your position too. Being scared is normal, but letting it overwhelm you will only make you a stress case, and certainly won't serve to protect your brother or your father. But of course ending such worries is much easier said than done.

I would recommend reaching out to a support group for family members of firefighters and police officers, which many counties do have. Just articulating your fears to other people might help you shoulder the burden. Also, get into the habit of reminding yourself, as often as you need to, that worrying isn't going to help. Instead, channel your energy into connecting with them as much as possible and letting them know that you're always thinking about them.

There is no easy answer, and I'm sure this is something that will always be in the back of your mind, but there are certain things in this life we have no control over. It is possible to be both realistic and hopeful at the same time; focus on achieving that balance.

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The How-To Lounge: Getting Ready For a Vacation

DearSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you’re lucky enough to have taken a trip recently, then you know how dizzying travel can be. I know, it’s supposed to be relaxing and carefree, but getting out the door and to your destination can be a huge hassle. To see my tips for how to make getting ready for your next vacation a breeze, just read more.

As soon as you know where you’re going and when, start considering everything that you’ll need. You might have to purchase new items, like a new camera or a bathing suit - and we know both of those can take months of deliberation.
Similarly, don’t wait until the night before or (gasp!) the day of to start packing. I’m not suggesting you have your suitcase zipped a week in advance, but I think it’s important to give yourself a few days to start coming up with a list of necessities. You don’t want to be doing laundry in the middle of the night or rushing out to a 24-hour drugstore for some mini shampoo.
Do your best to avoid overpacking once you get going. With travel the way it is these days, it’s much smarter to pack on the light side. If you take the time to plan your outfits so that you can mix and match, it won't be as difficult to keep the number of items limited.
Try cleaning up your home before you leave. It takes extra time and it's probably the last thing you feel like doing, but there’s nothing like coming home to a tidy house when you’ve been away.
Finally, don’t forget the real important stuff like your cell phone charger, laptop, camera, reading material, iPod, etc. These are the things that will keep you from going crazy if your flight is delayed.

Vacations should always be about having a good time, but once you're off your home turf, it's important to be safe - make sure someone knows where you are at all times, and be wary when befriending strangers.

Source

Handle This: Followed Home

DearSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Walking home from a friend’s house late on a Thursday night, you notice a man hovering about a block behind you. He seems to be minding his own business, so you try not to worry and instead, focus on getting home quickly. However in just a few minutes he’s only 20 feet behind you.

Of course there’s no way to be sure that he’s following you, but your gut tells you something is wrong. You’re a minute away from your house, so how would you handle this?

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Crimes of Carelessness

GiggleSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:00:00 -0700

The mock safety vid below was made to look and sound like a real 1950s PSA, but it's really the work of Weird Al Yankovic- no surprise there. His "exclusive" interviews with high-profile celebs are always the product of excerpts extracted from other, more legit, interviews. They're totally fake, but always funny. The same applies here. Al reassembled clips from old educational films and made his own masterpiece to teach adults and children a very valuable lesson - ~~safety~~ humor comes first . . .

Are Taser Parties Too Much?

DearSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:00:02 -0700

As women, it's important that we think about safety, particularly those of us who live in cities. A lot of women I know carry pepper spray in their purses, while others go so far as to take self-defense classes. But I was a little shocked when I heard about Shieldher, a company offering "Taser parties" - sort of like Tupperware parties, except at these home gatherings, women learn about and shop for Taser-brand stun guns.

Founded by an Arizona entrepreneur named Dana Shafman, Shieldher sells Taser C2 models ($350 each), which are not considered firearms but which are prohibited for citizen use in many states. The Tasers use laser pointers to aim and can stop an attacker from up to 15 feet away. For details on the Taser parties, read more

Though the company mostly sells Tasers - some complete with leopard-print cases! - on its website, it has also started offering Taser parties in certain US cities, and by the end of 2008, Shieldher wants to have parties being thrown in more than 30 states. Oh, and in case you're wondering, no alcohol is served at the parties!

Would you attend a Taser party? Do you own a Taser or some other kind of self-defense tool?

Source

Dear Poll: Have You Ever Had a Stalker?

DearSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:00:00 -0800

I feel like we hear about a new celebrity being stalked on a weekly basis. Of course, the paparazzi fuel the fire, exposing celebrities' personal lives to the masses, but the stalkers we hear about in the news take things to a different, very scary level: following them, hiding out in their backyards, digging through their trash, even breaking and entering their homes.

I have been lucky enough to have never been stalked myself, but I know many women who have, so even if it were on a much smaller scale than these celebrities, what I want to know is: Have you ever been stalked?

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Bicycle Safety Sam is an Attention Wh*re

GiggleSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:00:00 -0700

The following are the ending credits of a bicycle safety video for children. I don't know who Sam is, but I know he's got a helmet and he ain't afraid to wear it on his way home, bike or no bike. He also has a funny way of making an exit. This is just unnecessary, is it not?

The How-To Lounge: Protecting Your Passwords

DearSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:00:00 -0700

In the digital age in which we live, it's important to keep every bit of personal information on all your electronic equipment protected. But with so many passwords to manage, it can be tricky to keep everything straight, so here are some helpful tips.

Click here to read more

According to PC Magazine, the average person has up to 6 different passwords
The most popular passwords are the word itself, password, ABC, 123, letmein, animal names, birthdays, and family members names, which are way too obvious, so think outside the box so your passwords won't get cracked
When creating a password, aim for caps as well as lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The more characters you have, the harder it will be for a predator to get a hold of your personal information. Don't pick a word that someone can easily figure out - for instance, if you're a swimmer, do not use POOL, or SWIM as your password
Although it might seem safe and smart to use the same password for every application, don't be fooled - it is actually not safe at all. If someone cracks one password, chances are they will attempt to use the same one on other systems, which can get you into big trouble
It is recommended to change your password every 90-120 days. Since it can be hard to keep track of these every changing passwords, find a safe place to keep them written down (not in your work notebook or under your keyboard!)

Be safe out there everyone and keep your computers and BlackBerries safe!

Source

Office of No Spell Check

GiggleSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0700

This is an STD-Free Campus:For your safety and the safety of others, everyone must subject their nether regions to bureaucratic scrutiny before the start of the semester. Report to the Office of Pubic Safety for all the hairy details. Thank you.

Thanks, College Humor!