The easiest way to expose your deepest secrets is to post it on facebook – and it happens everyday. I’m not just talking about that embarrassing weakness for romantic comedies that you can’t help but list in your interests. Time after time, stories emerge of extramarital affairs, a stripping job one had 10 years ago, and transsexual operations that become exposed on social-networking sites. Most of the time it’s our fault for telling the world via computer and internet. So what is it about mediated communication that allows us to open in ways we wouldn’t dare word of mouth?
Even criminal investigations have been cracked wide open because of admittance to crimes on status updates. An article from the Electronic Frontier Foundation uncovered ways the government is tracking people online. One way comes from the Office of Fraud Detection and National Security, which use social networking sites to investigate citizen petitions. Someone might lie about being married in order to gain citizenship, but would tell a complete stranger on facebook the truth. A 2008 memo from FDNS explained, “Narcissistic tendencies in many people fuels a need to have a large group of ‘friends’ link to their pages and many of these people accept cyberfriends that they don’t even know. This provides an excellent vantage point for FDNS to observe the daily life of beneficiaries and petitioners who are suspected of fraudulent activities.”
A story in Reuters today announced that Microsoft and Facebook are teaming up to provide Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, with “likes” from facebook users to tailor search results to individual users. On the surface this seems harmless, but digging deeper we must realize that social-networking sites OWN our information that we give them.
So what can we do - delete Facebook from our lives? I’m not suggesting that exactly. Social-networking is still a great way to keep in touch with friends that have moved away, or you don’t see often – all the reasons that made it so attractive to begin with. I want raise public awareness that these situations are real. Your personal information is the most valuable possession you have. A possession that can be easily compromised from the mysterious friend request of John Smith from nowhere Kansas (otherwise known as Uncle Sam).
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Decision January 9th: Obama vs. Clooney
I try to avoid headlines that feature entertainer’s names. Most of the time it pertains to gossip or publicity. Any positive news usually stems from empty promises or charitable pipedreams, but every once in a while an exception will surface and turn the heads of some of our most influential and powerful leaders. George Clooney recently returned from war-ravaged Sudan and met with president Obama at the White House. His goal is to urge the U.S. and international community to use diplomacy and prevent violence before a January 9 election that could lead to a new civil war.
Clooney is one of the few entertainers that I respect enough to pay attention too, particularly his philanthropy. Since 2006, he has been in and out of Sudan lending a hand wherever he can, and returning to the U.S. to spread his message to whoever will listen. His message this time is important. The upcoming election is an independence referendum that will split the country between the north and south if passed. "At a time that is one of the most politicized times ever, this is something that everyone agrees on: If there's some way to get ahead of this and stop it before it happens, we better," Clooney said following his meeting with the president.
This is easier said than done. We have to keep in mind that peace talks won’t stop violence between people who are set on violence. A 21-year civil war in Sudan just ended 5 years ago, so it won’t take much to refuel that fire. I’m sure Obama wants to avoid military intervention at all costs. Military resources are becoming increasingly depleted due to a 9-year war in the Middle East. Not to mention, with such instability in the area, a foreign military presence will only invoke more conflicts, rather than prevent them.
So what about diplomacy? White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama underscored U.S. efforts to ensure that the referendum be held on time and that all parties involved refrain from violence. However, Obama said in the meeting that the ultimate responsibility for Sudan's future rests with its political leaders. That’s just a fancy way of saying; “I’ll be rooting for you on the sidelines.” Somebody is going to have to make the first move, but it won’t be the U.S.
So as of now, Clooney prays upon deaf ears. The president and his administration are all well aware of the situation but too heavily invested in other conflicts, both foreign and abroad, to take on this one. We as a public have been bombarded with “Save Darfur” ad campaigns that raise awareness, but fail to foster enough support that will make any significant progress. Even as I write this I’m sitting in front three TV screens showing CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. Almost every second of coverage has been dedicated to the Chilean miner rescue. Not that the rescue isn’t worthy of coverage, but I’ve been here for several hours.
Clooney is one of the few entertainers that I respect enough to pay attention too, particularly his philanthropy. Since 2006, he has been in and out of Sudan lending a hand wherever he can, and returning to the U.S. to spread his message to whoever will listen. His message this time is important. The upcoming election is an independence referendum that will split the country between the north and south if passed. "At a time that is one of the most politicized times ever, this is something that everyone agrees on: If there's some way to get ahead of this and stop it before it happens, we better," Clooney said following his meeting with the president.
This is easier said than done. We have to keep in mind that peace talks won’t stop violence between people who are set on violence. A 21-year civil war in Sudan just ended 5 years ago, so it won’t take much to refuel that fire. I’m sure Obama wants to avoid military intervention at all costs. Military resources are becoming increasingly depleted due to a 9-year war in the Middle East. Not to mention, with such instability in the area, a foreign military presence will only invoke more conflicts, rather than prevent them.
So what about diplomacy? White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama underscored U.S. efforts to ensure that the referendum be held on time and that all parties involved refrain from violence. However, Obama said in the meeting that the ultimate responsibility for Sudan's future rests with its political leaders. That’s just a fancy way of saying; “I’ll be rooting for you on the sidelines.” Somebody is going to have to make the first move, but it won’t be the U.S.
So as of now, Clooney prays upon deaf ears. The president and his administration are all well aware of the situation but too heavily invested in other conflicts, both foreign and abroad, to take on this one. We as a public have been bombarded with “Save Darfur” ad campaigns that raise awareness, but fail to foster enough support that will make any significant progress. Even as I write this I’m sitting in front three TV screens showing CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. Almost every second of coverage has been dedicated to the Chilean miner rescue. Not that the rescue isn’t worthy of coverage, but I’ve been here for several hours.
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