By MICHAEL LIEDTKEAP Technology WriterSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google Inc. has been vacuuming up fragments of people’s online activities broadcast over public Wi-Fi networks for the past four years, a breach of Web etiquette likely to raise more privacy worries about the Internet search leader.Even Google was troubled by its behavior, and issued a public apology Friday. The company said it only recently discovered the problem in response to an inquiry from German regulators.“Maintaining people’s trust is crucial to everything we do, and in this case we fell short,” Alan Eustace, Google’s top engineering executive, wrote in a blog post.Google characterized its collection of snippets from e-mails and Web surfing done on public Wi-Fi networks as a mistake, and said it has taken steps to avoid a recurrence. About 600 gigabytes of data was taken off of the Wi-Fi networks in more than 30 countries, including the U.S. Google plans to delete it all as soon as it gains clearance from government authorities.None of the information has appeared in Google’s search engine or other services, according to Eustace.Nevertheless, Google’s decision to hold on to the Wi-Fi data until it hears back from regulators shows the company realizes it could face legal repercussions. At the very least, company officials concede that snooping on Wi-Fi networks, however inadvertent, crossed an ethical line.“We are acutely aware that we failed badly here,” Eustace wrote.Google’s contrition may not be enough to allay growing concerns about whether the company can be trusted with the vast storehouse of personal information that it has gathered through its search engine, e-mail and other services.Fears that Google is morphing into a real-life version of “Big Brother” has spurred previous privacy complaints, as well as pleas for more stringent regulation of the company.Consumer Watchdog, a group that has become one of Google’s most outspoken critics, renewed its call for a regulatory crackdown Friday.“Once again, Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy,” said Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson. “Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar.”The Wi-Fi data was sucked up while Google expanded a mapping feature called “Street View” that also has pressed privacy hot buttons. Street View provides photographs of neighborhoods taken by Google cameras that have sometimes captured people doing things they didn’t want to be seen doing, or in places where they didn’t want to be seen.As it set out to photograph neighborhoods around the world, Google equipped its vehicles with antenna as well as cameras so it could create a database with the names of Wi-Fi networks and the coding of Wi-Fi routers.What Google didn’t know, Eustace said, is that some experimental software was being used in the Street View project, and that programming picked up the Web surfing on publicly accessible Wi-Fi networks if the company’s vehicles were within range of the signal.Google only gathered small bits of information because its vehicles were on the move and its tracking equipment switched channels five times a second.The incident has prompted Google to abandon its effort to collect Wi-Fi network data. In an apparent show of its commitment to privacy, Google also said it will introduce a new option next week that will allow its users to encrypt searches on its Web site as an added protection against unauthorized snooping.
SECRETS CORNER: Life after a ‘horn’
CAN A COUPLE ever regain that trust after one of the partners has cheated? That was the question we asked readers last week.
Well, to be precise, we asked: Can a relationship ever be fixed once an affair has taken place; and if so how? Well the reactions were mixed and some were along gender lines.
But what do the experts say?
Commit to a solution
First of all, don’t expect a quick fix. Infidelity impacts on the basic fundamentals of your commitment to one another, your sense of trust, safety and familiarity. We encourage couples to commit to therapy every week for a while. There is also the consideration of the couple making an adultery contract that states the adulterer’s promise not to cheat again and to cut off all contact with the affair.
One successful technique is for the adulterer to regularly assure the betrayed partner that there has been no contact with the affair and if the affair tries to contact him or her, they must announce it and report that they did not accept the call or call back.
This helps to increase the trust in the relationship. Another key part of rebuilding that trust involves letting their partner know what their schedule is and avoiding having long periods of unaccounted-for time.
Check your anger
The victim of the affair is often plagued with thoughts of the betrayal. He or she will think about times their spouse may have lied, will visualise the details of the adulterous sexual encounters and may obsess about many lies they have been told.
Feelings of depression, lack of self-worth and extreme anger at the adulterer are also common. It is important to allow the victim to vent his or her anger, but in a controlled, time-limited way. While there may be sufficient remorse over his or her behaviour, it nevertheless becomes very difficult for the adulterer to feel invested in the marriage, and its healing, if they are being constantly bashed for their past behaviour.
I often advise couples to allow ten minutes a day for venting. The victim can yell, scream, throw emotional darts, but only for a short period of time and then must stop. The betrayed spouse should be able to ask questions in order to move on, and the adulterer must answer them, but it’s important to avoid giving the gory sexual details, no matter how much the victimised spouse asks. It will not help with sexual healing later on.
Address the root of the problem
When we see couples after an affair, it almost always becomes evident that the infidelity was about much more than seeking sex. It is also common for the spouse having the affair to feel unremorseful, and for the victimised spouse to feel that it wasn’t his or her fault either.
Neither partner wants to take responsibility. But in order for healing to begin, each partner must explore the personal issues that may have inspired the infidelity. Sometimes it’s inspired by low self-esteem, or is a symptom of a larger midlife crisis where the adulterer is questioning everything in his or her life, including work, marriage and their place in the community.
Other times there is a family history of infidelity, where having an affair was actually a “learned behaviour” and was condoned or encouraged. Once there is some clarity about what issues each partner has brought to the table, you can start working on yourselves and the relationship.
Now here are some of the responses from online readers:
• This can be achieved with a lot of prayer and trust .The latter does not come easy. It is for the individual who committed the infidelity (in the case of married persons) to show that they are committed to the relationship and is working on change. We forgive but we cannot forget. Therefore the slightest notion that the person is “up to no good “again could make you press the warning button.
The person “wronged” should also try to making the relationship stronger. Remember it is two of you in it together .Therefore as soon as something happen it is not wise to remind the person all the time of what they did before.
I believe that the person who “stepped out” should sever ALL Ties with that person with whom they went. At least this shows you are serious . It is unfair and unreasonable to think that your partner will ever feel confident knowing you still hold them as your friend . You must remember it was your affair with them that caused the break up.
So if a relationship is to be truly fixed how can your girlfriend or wife feel good and want to really work on it if they look in Face Book per say and see the said woman that you were involved with as one of your good friends . We both must want it and work towards it for the relationship to go get better .we must be as transparent as possible in our doings .Gabrielle
• After an affair a relationship can never be fixed because it always in the back of their minds. Bajan Baltimore, MD
• President Obama said: “Yes we can”. Why the hell not? A little pain wouldn’t hurt! Optimistic
• Relationships can be mended after an affair only if the two people really still love each other. The only thing I don’t like is when they don’t truly forgive each other and they keep throwing the mistake in one another face all the time. SNLHIf
• I have an affair as I usually do, and got found out I expect to be forgiven because I am a man, if the woman have an affair she should not be forgiven because women should only have one man at a time. A relationship would never survive if my woman cheat because I simply will never accept any other man eating out my plate. Student A
•Some relationships can be fixed after an affair but it will not be easy, only if the parties involved are determined to fix it, one must take into consideration the content of the affair. It may be difficult living with the knowledge knowing what happen and can still lead to problems. The best solution would be to go separate ways. MC
I CONFESS: Women share similar tales
The following are edited responses to the May 1 confession, Molested By My Mum’s Man:
I KNOW THE feeling you are going through as the same thing happened to me. I was molested. I told my grandmother about it, and she did not believe it because it was my aunt’s husband who did it.
It has been over 25 years, and to this day I remember it as if it just happened. My aunt and her husband are still married. After I became an adult I learned to forgive him, because holding the hate in my heart for him did not feel good.
I figured anyone who could do this to a child had to be a sick person who needs help. I prayed that some day someone would believe me. As the saying goes, put your troubles to God and leave it and He will handle them for you.
About three years ago, I went to my aunt’s house for a visit. I was standing on her porch, and her husband told me that he was sorry for what he did to me, and asked for forgiveness. I told him I had forgiven him a long time ago. Take your problems to God and he will see you through.
So to sit and have so much hate for your mother is not going to make it any better. I am sure your life is much better now, so it is time to forgive her and move on. I wish you the best.
I FEEL YOUR PAIN, and I understand why you are still hurting as some years ago I also felt the same way. I, too, was molested by an uncle. I was eight years old and those memories are as fresh as yesterday, even though I am now 46.
There are some memories that always stay with a person, despite whatever else you do or achieve in life.What I am thankful for is that even though I had such a bad experience, I was able to get married and raise two beautiful daughters.
When I separated and divorced, my girls were eight and ten years old, respectively. I always told them not to be afraid of letting me know anything, and that includes telling me if any male member of my relatives ever attempted touching them.
For that reason, too, I never took a male friend in my life. I just wanted to protect them until they were old enough to look out for themselves. If you do happen to have children, you will protectively hover over them the same way, knowing what you went through.
The only catch, though, is that after locking myself off for my kids all those years, I find it very difficult now to even think about getting a mate, even though the girls encourage me to find someone to settle down with. Don’t allow that to happen to you.
Move on, but be alert and protective of your own kids. Above all, do not ignore any such allegations they may make.
Mum’s the word
A COMBINATION of fabulous local talent and respect paid to Barbados’ mothers, made the 10th annual Mum, This One’s For You concert a memorable occasion at the Plantation Garden Theatre on Sunday.The brainchild of Desmond Weekes of Draytons Two fame, the show has grown in stature over the years and the packed, animated Plantation crowd was testimony to the prestige with which it is held.Tribute was paid to eleven mothers representing each parish, and in a special touch to the proceedings, mothers who have had to care for differently able children were also recognised.Those honoured were Shirley Cadogan (St Lucy); Mildred Norville (St George); Violet Griffith (St Michael); Daphne Mahon (St Andrew); Vivian Cumberbatch (St Joseph); Cora Callender (Christ Church); Mavis Lynch (St Thomas); Grace Mullins (St John); Levrette Jackman (St Peter); Aletha Marshall (St James); and Marcelle Rudder-Clarke (St Philip). Mothers recognised for parenting differently able children were Clara Straker, Janice Broome, Avril Wilkinson and Ometa Marshall.Other accolades for the evening went to educator Sybil Leacock and Senate president Branford Taitt who copped the Loyal Daughter and Loyal Son awards respectively. Perhaps the most apt comment came from Leacock about the importance and timeliness of the show, and giving recognition where it is due, when she said: “I appreciate you giving me my roses while I can smell them.”Patrons were treated to excellent musical fare during the evening, ranging from the precocious talent of six-year-old drummer Simeon Maynard to the timeless quality of Lord Radio.Maynard, a member of the Israel Lovell Foundation, endeared himself to the crowd with his energetic drumming and a charming stage presence.Radio, who, with his Bimshire Boys contributed immeasurably to the promotion of Barbados over five decades, was in fine voice during the rendition of his classic, Yours Sincerely.Alexandra School’s Kareem Agard is a special talent with a big voice in a small frame. His renditions of Shattered and The Greatest Love Of All were two of the highlights of the night.Dance was a significant part of the evening’s entertainment with Keisha Cordieu and Kamar Beckles of the Jahbulani Dance Club, the Act Now Generation, Ace Dance Centre and a troupe from the Israel Lovell Foundation displaying their prowess to African and Latin American rhythms.One sour note for the night was the uncouth chattering and derisive cheering directed toward Mike Sealy’s performance by a section of idiots with an obvious dislike for jazz stylings. But, Sealy handled it like a true professional.Among the others performing on the night were Cherish Breedy, John King, Fudd Straker, Mac Fingal, Dwayne Husbands, Corey Hunte, Cassius Clay, Mike Thompson, The Draytons Two, Anderson Lynch and Cassandra Crawford.Emcee for the occasion was the inimitable Carl Alf Padmore.
Risque revelations
CAPSTONE THESIS presented the audience at the Errol Barrow Centre For Creative Imagination with two striking theatrical pieces, two dance performances and one dance and film experiment. Janelle Mitchell, Cretia Lewis, Geneal St Clair, Gina Mayers and Alicia Payne presented their dissertation “performances” in their respective disciplines. This was the final presentation towards their Bachelors in Fine Arts.The two theatrical pieces presented by Mitchell and St Clair dealt a little surprisingly with similar themes. In both pieces we were asked “to touch it, smell it, taste it”, extending the theatrical context into physical theatre. The use of personal testimony in a very intimate dramatic manner was a reminder of Vagina Monologues. Mitchell explored the theme of feminist issues that brought physical and emotional pain, while St Clair focused on other aspects of fe-male sexuality, which brought another kind of pain – the agony of non-acceptance. In Metamorphosis, written, directed and acted by Mitchell, we were taken on a journey from the pangs of pain of labour to the exploiting labours of sex workers; from menstruation to the hurt of hysterectomy. St Clair urged us not to judge a person based on their sexual orientation but on their ability to contribute to society. Toni-Ann Johnson’s riveting performance would convince even the hard-nosed anti-gay activists to change their perspective. The directorial choices certainly answered the needs of the pieces. In Fe-Male the setting of the bar with images on screen reflecting the issues raised in the drama added significantly to the presentation. These two directors must be commended for their tenacity and courage in taking up the challenge of dealing with topics that are taboo in our society. The dance piece Ramajay, choreographed by Cretia Lewis, gave us an insight into the characters of Trinidad’s Carnival. We were introduced to the battling Blue Devils, the clowns, the midnight robber, the sailor men and more. The griot took us through this educational journey, filling the moments with intimate communication as we were introduced to each character. The storyteller was so endearing, one wanted to hear more of the narrative. Gina Mayers’ piece was reflective and introspective. Through dance, we were presented with a world that was preoccupied with the tensions of modern society. The use of the cellphone that stopped/prevented interaction among people was a sharp dance comment. The story was clearly expressed. The young woman is molested by a man and has a son – and the resulting pain was creatively played out in the movement and the mood. There were two worlds represented by the panes/pains of light. The shadow created a path. The collage of style and music illustrated the different generations.The music used complemented each genre of dance and the concept of preoccupation was an effective through-line for the dance.Alicia Payne gave us a docu-dance. The questions raised in the interviews about the journey of the drum were answered in the dance. We were presented with a range of cultural trials and conflicts that make up the Barbadian identity. The struggles of definition – “who are we?” – were answered in the authentic indigenous energy found in the Landship.
Shaggy-licious!
A BOOMBASTIC man rocked Pigeon Island last Sunday and most would agree it was fantastic.Headliner Shaggy took to the main stage at the 19th St Lucia Jazz Festival around 11:45 p.m. and it was a musical cruise on the beachfront venue for the next hour or so.Fresh from a tour of Portugal, Shaggy teased with his suggestive movements, sweet talk and hits from through the years, along with some covers in between.With the assistance of Rayvon, the Jamaican-born artiste showed how a party was done in New York, Jamaica and St Lucia. For the last, the band played some soca rhythms.Shaggy sang hits such as Bona Fide Girl, a snippet of Oh Carolina, Angel, Strength Of A Woman, Summertime and It Wasn’t Me, during which he offered some advice to all the players on Pigeon Island. By the time Shaggy took to the stage, fans were ready for some real action thanks to stimulating earlier performances from Dobet Gnahore of the Congo, the tremendously talented Esparanza Spalding and the “Men of Soul” in particular.Gnahore was a photographer’s delight and an engaging performer to watch. The Grammy winner for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for her song Pearl, was full of expression and passion as she tantalised her audience with rhythms that touched the very root of the soul. Singing in her native French, she captivated with her commanding presence, sexy accent and antics.A tiny, 25-year-old American singer with two bass guitars bridged the gap between Gnahore and Men of Soul. Esperanza Spalding was refreshing with her original jazz compositions and she showcased her tremendous talent on vocals and bass. She has a sweet tone and impressed with her original pieces.She was joined by singer Tracey Hamblin and they made some captivating harmonies.Phil Perry, Howard Hewitt, Freddie Jackson and Jeffrey Osbourne who call themselves the Men of Soul serenaded patrons with love songs from way back.All the soul men added their special touch to Osbourne’s “woo woo woo” but it was St Lucia’s Teddyson John that put an indelible stamp on it – with a Caribbean remix.Maxi Priest, who was in Barbados a few weeks ago for Reggae On The Hill, preceded Shaggy and delivered a similar set to what Bajan fans heard. He was again joined by his son Marvin and Beniton The Menace.British Virgin Island native Quito and The Edge did well to open the show and they were followed by Carl Gustave, who is of St Lucian descent.
Men of Steel, Rae of rapture
REGGAE LEGENDS Steel Pulse had fans jamming until close to midnight at the 19th St Lucia Jazz Festival on Saturday night.The evergreen music had fans shouting for more as lead singer David Hinds and the rest of the band, took them down memory lane with hit after hit.Favourites such as Rally, Chant The Summer Day, Stepping Up, Rebel Red Eye Blues and Pan Africa Unite, which was sung for the people of Haiti, had people singing by rote or just soaking up the hypnotic vibes.Patrons were so caught up in the rapture, that when the band wanted to end their set around 11:35 p.m., the shouts for more quickly became a chant.Members of Steel Pulse soon responded to the call, and returned for another 15 minutes or so to do Leggo Beast and Go Barrack.As become custom, the day got underway with a line-up of local acts, which included Ronald “Boo” Hinkson. He shared the spotlight with emerging talent Tempest, which he and some others have been grooming.American singer Tracey Hamblin also appeared with Hinkson and his friends and left the females in the audience with a serious message in the song titled I Ain’t No Longer User Friendly.Corinne Bailey Rae, who made an historic debut on the British scene as a singer/songwriter in 2006, took Pigeon Island patrons through a range of emotions with her soul searching and sometimes melancholic pieces.Her hit songs Put Your Records On, Till It Happens To You and I Don’t Wonder Why were done along with covers I Only Have Eyes For You and Doris Day’s Que Sera Sera, which brought her set to a close.
Ne-Yo adds St. Lucia to number of things he loves
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING singer Ne-yo has been bitten by the jazz bug and is enchanted with the beauty of St Lucia.Ne-yo, who was performing on a jazz stage for the first time, said he was happy to be in St Lucia and performing before the thousands of people who thronged Pigeon Island.Though he was only in St Lucia for a few days, he fell in love with a number of things.“I love the water. I love the people; everybody is really hospitable. I had fun,” he told members of the Press after closing the show at the 19th St Lucia Jazz Festival Friday night.He said he was surprised at the response from the massive crowd and that they knew all his songs.“I like shows where I don’t have to sing . . . . [Where] I can just turn the mic to the crowd,” he said.Since his music is influenced by his experiences and life, do not be surprised if some aspect of the country finds its way into one of his upcoming releases.“I don’t doubt it,” he said, when asked if St Lucia would influence his work in the future. India.arie’s work was influenced by her experience in St Lucia years ago as well. Her song God Is Real speaks about her exploits in the clear waters around East Winds Inn, where she swam and snorkled.Ne-Yo is going to be cutting down on gigs in order to focus on finishing his fourth album, and he has promised fans the usual quality songs and music. He will be releasing two first singles Beautiful Monster and One In A Million. As evidenced by his offerings in St Lucia, which encompassed works he had done for other people, Ne-yo is a songwriter of note as well. Following on a collaboration with Rihanna that was recorded here a few years ago, Ne-yo wrote two songs on her new album Rated R.He said the local songbird was a good friend of his, and they would “definitely” be doing some more work together.With regard to working with other artistes in the Caribbean, he said he was down to record with anyone who wanted to make quality music.He attributed patrons’ familiarity with the music to the Rihanna/Barbados connection in part.“I know that Barbados is a hop, skip and a jump from here, and I figured you guys would be familiar to the music,” he said.Ne-yo was performing on the eve of Mother’s Day, and his mum was in the crowd. He said she was his greatest musical influence.“I probably wouldn’t be doing this if it was not for my mum. My mum was the kind that everything she did was to music. Whether it was cleaning the house, cooking or whatever the case may be, there was always a soundtrack to it. “My love and appreciation for music come directly from her. So, if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” he revealed.
RIGHT OF CENTRE: Use social media to push tourism
THERE ARE so many more things we could be doing that I doubt this publication has sufficient room to articulate, so I will try to focus on one small area.We really have to spend the available resources, which are substantial, in a more cost-effective and creative way. And it’s long past time that it becomes the norm that we carefully monitor each and every programme or initiative, to ensure that the best return on investment is achieved.I am told that somewhere around 60 per cent of the Barbados Tourism Authority’s marketing budget for the last financial year was spent on e-commerce.After viewing a short video produced by a company based in Atlanta for one of the small hotels in Grenada that recently participated in the re-Discover The Caribbean Show, I asked the firm to make two presentations to targeted tourism partners at our event.Over 160 hotels and other tourism partners on Barbados were invited to attend one of the free presentations.As a consumer and a potential visitor to a new destination looking for somewhere to stay, I would want to be persuaded in the most alluring way by pictures, words or moving film that my vacation investment was being spent in the best possible way.As an hotelier, I also am fully aware that every direct booking we attract is giving us the highest revenue option. No travel agency commission or tour operator discount is deducted from guests paying published rack rates.Therefore by investing some of that rate differential in creative marketing solutions, we can – individually or nationally – gradually reduce the reliance on sources of business that cannot be easily controlled.There has been much interest and discussion related to the new national tourism website – www.visitbarbados.org – some positive, some not!The video elements on the site, using locally well-know Barbadian personalities to endorse the destination, are beautifully filmed. But why limit them to the website?According to published statistics, 98.9 million viewers watched 5.9 billion United States videos in December 2008 alone on YouTube.Of course, I don’t have a team of eight with a budget of millions working on the website, but it seems we are missing out on far too many opportunities.A compilation of these video endorsements could easily be placed on YouTube, which would almost instantly improve the potential destination audience reach. We should also be using these mass media outlets more to highlight reasons for coming to Barbados, our attractions, activities, dining experiences, golf courses, polo, motorsports and so on.Readers who have any difficultly following my logic, please search for “Island Routes”, a Five Star Diamond video on YouTube filmed for Sandals Ocho Rios.High-definition professional filming of events and posting them to social websites would provide additional enticement for people to travel to Barbados, and be an investment for the future.In an economic downturn it would be absolute folly to stop spending on marketing. Conversely, it would be just as reckless not to spend smarter.
LEFT OF CENTRE:Need for enabling environment
Whilst we acknowledge and laud Government’s backing for the sector through increased financial support to the Barbados Tourism Authority and price support for the industry that has been allocated to us through the Tourism Industry Relief Fund (TIRF), the raw fact is that at the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA), we define support in a more holistic manner than perhaps Government does.Yes, these inputs are necessary at this time, but the entire environment in which we operate needs to be thoroughly analysed and when we do that analysis, our Government is certainly found wanting.The reality is that whilst for many years industry practitioners have argued for a more favourable operating environment in the form of reductions in input cost to the sector, found primarily in the duties and taxes imposed, such reductions are not the be-all and end-all of Government support.These are precarious and uncertain times and even these reductions will not suffice. These inputs go to the heart of the industry and affect the overall long-term viability of this vital sector, particularly the accommodation component.They also influence in great measure investor attractiveness and affect investor confidence, but there is certainly much more to the Government support than even what is implied and exhibited in actions of this kind.It is our opinion that never has there been a more propitious time for Government to demonstrate their fullest commitment to the long-term sustainability of tourism in Barbados than the present.Tourism in our country is overdue for a substantial overhaul; what better time to do so than in a period of downturn?Now is the time that we need to put into action our vision for development for the next two to three decades.A vision and a plan that must be led by Government, but one in which the private sector plays a significant role. Government must set the tone and demonstrate the political will to radically alter the way business is done in the public sector.There is a pressing need to create a business environment that is more congenial to facilitating investment, a true investor-friendly climate that limits red tape and places the investor and potential investor at the centre of the action where tourism development is concerned.This new National Tourism Policy direction must inform the creation of a national tourism strategic plan that is focused on setting achievable targets for growth and development and driven of course by the allocation of the necessary resource base.The areas that should be targeted in this novel approach include our total human resource component, the economic performance of the industry, the enabling environment in which we operate, and our overall product base.If as a country we are able to accomplish this, we should emerge from the present crisis better prepared to take our place in the world of travel and tourism and certainly more equipped to handle future external shocks.If Government can do these things in short measure, then we can truly say that they are doing all they can to support the sector at this time.