Off the News

Privacy on the Web is an illusion

Whatever anyone thinks of Aiea High School student Cory DeGuzman's prank, it speaks volumes about how invincible teens feel on the Web.

He was suspended for having friends autograph his nude rear end and then, with a buddy's help, posting a picture of it on Facebook.

"It was just for memories and stuff," he protested, "just between me and my friends on Facebook."

But as many parents and prospective employers will attest, very little on Facebook is exclusive to you and your friends.

A mandatory class on the realities of the online world might be in order here.

Don't stress out about stress rank

Relax. For the third straight year, Hawaii has been recognized as the least stressed state, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

The ratings are based on more than 350,000 interviews conducted last year.

Asked whether they felt stress a lot of the day, 30.2 percent of Hawaii residents said yes.

Asked if they were "thriving," 65.5 percent answered positively. Asked to rate their positive feelings about their lives on a scale of one to 10, Hawaii residents averaged 7.5 "at this time" and expected 8.2 percent "five years from now."

In each category, islanders were easily the the most positive.