While this article focuses mainly on the phenomenon of ex-lovers monitoring their former lover’s behavior via Twitter, the article — and concerns raised by a young female client –  prompts me to talk about the importance of protecting your Internet Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality.

In a past contract position, I advised physicians, medical clinics, and their staff on privacy, security, and confidentiality. Needless to say, this is a BIG issue because these people are RESPONSIBLE for YOUR medical information. You probably don’t want certain people (lawyers) or organizations (insurance companies) to know, for example that y0u suffer from, say, Bipolar Disorder (like I do).

If I wasn’t paranoid about privacy, security, and confidentiality before I did this work (for 2 years); I sure was after I did it.

Protecting Your Privacy On the Internet

Privacy is about keeping information about you out of the hands (and eyes) of others who you deem should not be privy to that information. It can be things like your birth date or your marital status, your bank balance: basically whatever information you don’t want others to know about you.

So, what can and SHOULD you do to protect your online privacy.

Carefully read the Privacy policies of web MEMBERSHIP sites. If you can’t understand them, find someone who can! THINK carefully about your Privacy Settings.

For example, on Facebook I’ve set my Privacy Settings very tight: I only allow Friends to see photos, videos, and certain parts of my Profile. I’m also careful to NEVER post photos of my family, especially my children  (even though they are over 30) and wife.

Be very careful of any GOOGLE service you use! Even though Google aggregates data, they also ARCHIVE it FOREVER! Do you want some disgruntled ex-Googler spilling the beans about all the naughty web sites you visited; especially if you are running for public office.

DO NOT post your home address ANYWHERE on the Internet. I am constantly appalled at the number of women who list their home address on their website. NO NO NO!

In under 30 seconds I can Google Map your home address, zoom in and see your house, yard, and the cars parked near it. And, if  ‘Street View’ is available, I can see the front of houses near you and cars parked on your street.

Do you want some nut case knowing where you live?

RENT a PO Box or use a business street address — or just don’t list your address. Especially if you have children, protect them from weirdos by keeping your home address private!

Keeping Personal Information Confidential on the Internet

What is confidential information. It is information about you that bad guys could utilize to ’steal your identity’. If someone knows your birthdate, social security number, and things like your debit card PIN number, then they can steal your identity.

Identity theft is BIG business these days! Trust me: A friend had his ID stolen. It is a major pain in the butt and costly to restore your identity. The best way to prevent ID theft is to be careful about the information you share.

So, on Facebook and on other social media sites like MySpace, Biznik, LinkeIn, and LiveJournal, seriously think about NOT listing your birthday. Or, at least set your Privacy so only Friends can see your full birthday.

Never ever give anyone your Social Security number! NEVER!

Use memorable PIN numbers but DO NOT use your birth date or any  part of it. In fact, here in Canada if you use numbers from your birth date for your PIN number, the banks will NOT guarantee protection of  your account from theft.

By all means DO shop online. Consider though, doing as I have done and get a credit card with a very low credit limit and use it for online purchases.

Security On the Internet

Security is about the physical and technology based things you do to protect your data.

It includes:

- Making sure your data is BACKED UP. I once worked with a physician who lost ALL his patient BILLING data during the changeover to a new EMR software package! Not happy was he! I back up my file changes daily and my full system every 6 months.

- Making sure no one can steal your laptop or the data on it. I recently bought a Lenovo ThinkPad that has a built-in  finger print reader. Yes, that’s a bit over the top — but I am paranoid.

- Consider NOT storing data on your laptop hard drives. If you cross into the US, the INS and Homeland Security people can COPY your hard drive. So, be careful what’s on it. OH, and they can also copy any thumb drives you are carrying. Consider storing any data you need to access online, e.g. use Google Docs to give you access to your data anywhere in the world. Finally, the border ‘cuties’ can sieze your laptop, camera, and PDA! It’s a scary  world folks!

- Ensure no one can access your office based computer. Sometimes it’s just enough to ensure they can’t login. So, for example, I have my PC secured with a user ID and password.

- If you use an in home WiFi network, make sure it’s secured. There are 5 or 6 unsecured home networks within a block of my house. I know because when I had my IT guy set up our home network — and secure it — he found them!

Sounds like a lot to do!

It’s NOT … take a few minutes everyday to make sure THE BAD GUYS don’t get U or YOUR KIDS!

I believe each of us has something important to say. And, I know that many of you are still yearning to write THE BOOK. You know the one. The one that’s going to catapult you and your business to fame!

But, if you’re like me you’ve picked at it; written a bit; and then lost focus or enthusiasm.

BUT, there’s a way out!

My friend, colleague, and Blogging Mentor Andy Wibbels is once again offering his hands-on, hold-your-feet-to-the-fire, get the damn book written in 45 days!

YES, it’s time for Andy’s Write a Book in 45 Days!

Impossible you say? Not true.

Dr. Susan Reid, who attended Andy’s seminar last spring, cranked out a draft of her book “Discovering Your Inner Samurai”, which was published last year, received National Finalist Best Book awards, and lead to her becoming a regular columnist at the American Express Forum

I’m joining Andy so he and the other participants can keep my feet to the fire and help me write a sloppy first draft of my memoir Beyond the Pain: My Journey from Trauma to Recovery.

The Genre Busters Podcast!

I’ll be featuring the Usual Suspects: writers, artists, authors, photographers, and other Eclectic professionals.

My first guest will be the very lovely Shannon Cherry of Be Heard Solutions. Shannon is a PR Guru, Mompreneur, Blogger, and the mother to a set of loverly twins! She will be sharing her wisdom on the following topics:

• Why Solopreneurs need to master the ‘black art’ of PR,
• The inside secrets to becoming a successful PR consultant (if anyone is crazy enuf to pursue PR work as a career), and
• How she manages a very busy PR business and still finds lots of time to enjoy and parent her precocious 2-year olds!

DATE: Wednesday, January 22nd

To obtain call-in details and register for this informative and fun program, send a blank email to gb-interest@aweber.com

Remember when you leapt out of bed in the mornings. Remember when you couldn’t wait to get to work on your work. Remember when you were filled with ideas, energy, and joy.

Has your work lost its zing? Are you confused about why you got into business in the first place? Do you want to just pack it in?

What if you could reconnect with your Purpose? What if you could find new meaning in what you do? And, what if you could Rediscover Your Passion?

You can!

Please join me for:

TOPIC: “Rediscover Your Passion Teleclinic”

WHEN: Tuesday, January 15th

TIME: 3 pm Mountain, 2 pm Pacific, 4 pm Central, 5 pm Eastern, 6 pm Atlantic, 6:30 pm Newfoundlant

DURATION: 90 minutes

COST: FREE!!

To register for this hands-on, learning event. Send a blank email to cdi-interest@aweber.com

ONLY 100 spots available!

Judge for yourself: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/69422/

Nestled between the pizza flyer and a catalogue was a letter from my good friend Lockwood.

I thought, “Oh great. Lock has sent his Christmas missive early.”

I eagerly ripped open the envelope and took out the paper — and then stopped smiling. The first words I read were, “It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Lockwood Lyon.”

I froze in place. Gob smacked!

Read some more.

And then the sadness, grief hit. And, for the next 15 minutes I sobbed uncontrollably. My cat was upset by my crying. I had to boot her into the basement so I could read a bit, cry a lot, read a bit, and cry some more.

FUCK!

I last spoke with Lock last Christmas. It was my ritual to call him near year end to check in and see how he was doing. Last time I called he was doing well. Though in a wheelchair he was full of energy and ideas. He was delighted that he had shed 100 pounds and was feeling great.

Shortly after talking with him I received a Christmas card from him that was so neat I kept it on top of my monitor. Then a few weeks ago I took it down. Hmm! I can’t remember when exactly. But, it was, I believe, shortly after his death October 5th.

I miss him so, so much.

His obituary describes him as a contrarian. I prefer eclectic: He loved clowns and clowning. He enjoyed magic and taught his 4 sons card tricks. He read widely — histories, philosophy, and the classics. In his later years he took up rug braiding and developed a new method of monitoring caloric intake — and lost 100 lbs.

I met Lock when I was, like him, a student in the MSOD program at Pepperdine. He was 63! I 39! I loved him like a father. I think in me he saw another son… maybe. In our Memory Book he wrote this, “Lyle, thank you for your kindness and special friendship. This has been a great experience. Let’s agree to keep in close touch.”

In the end we spoke once a year. But, after the first5 years or so years went by without conversation or sporadic letters.

I am so glad I made the effort I did to keep in touch.

LOCK, I miss your jokes, your shy smile, your great big heart, and your warmth.

Rest in Peace my dear one!

My dad just turned 86 and is doing very well.

A Chinese Herbalist recently told me I have strong genes.

So, my dream goal is to live to at least 100.

What about you?

Find out if you have what it takes here at the The Life Expectancy Calculator

If you are struggling with your thoughts around this issue…. there is help at hand.

My good friend Mona Grayson, a gifted facilitator of Byron Katie’s "The Work" is holding a FREE Inquiry Call.

Here’s the  information.

Hi Lyle~    

If you’ve watched the news during the last 24 hours, you’ve heard  about the shooting at Virginia Tech and the 30+ people who were killed on the college campus.      

While no one can change the events of what happened yesterday, what we can do is work toward understanding our own suffering and pain that comes from our thoughts about what’s happened. 

We can do that by questioning our stories and beliefs about the Virginia Tech shooting. Would you like to join me for some inquiry?       

Free Teleclass: Inquiry on the Virginia Tech Shooting

Whether you’ve been doing inquiry for a while, or don’t have any experience with it all, everyone one is welcome. I’ll be facilitating people live on the call so that we can find understanding and clarity.      

Here are the Details… 

I’ll be holding this special call twice this week, so please come to the one that fits best with your schedule.      

Free Call #1 -  TONIGHT (April 17th)

Topic: Inquiry on the Virginia Tech School Shooting      

Date: Tuesday, April 17th

Time: 6:00 pm Pacific (7 Mountain, 8 Central, 9 Eastern) Other time zones.

Length: About an hour      

Phone: (218) 486-1300
          
Access   code: 413498

Free Call #2 – Friday (April 20th)      

Topic: Inquiry on the Virginia Tech School Shooting

Date: Friday, April 20th      

Time: 2 pm Pacific (3 Mountain, 4 Central, 5 Eastern) Other time zones.

Length: About an hour      

Phone: (218) 486-1300
          
Access   code: 413498

Begin to Notice Your Stories      

To prepare for the call, turn on the news for a few minutes and write down your thoughts about the events at Virginia Tech. Then share your thoughts with me here so that we can address them on the call.

There’s no need to register - just use the information above to dial in at the appropriate time where you live.      

Please Share the Support

Do you know someone else who might find this call about the Virginia Tech shooting helpful?

Together we can bring more peace into the world as we question our thoughts one at a time.

Love,