Chan's Personal Blog

Pepper spray failed to deter Ingrid Marie Rivera, who beat 29 rivals to become the island's 2008 Miss Universe contestant.

Pageant organizers said they hope to catch and expose whoever was responsible for dousing Rivera's evening gowns with pepper spray and spiking her makeup, causing her to break out in hives.

Police said Monday they have also opened an investigation into the attacks on the beauty queen.

Rivera was composed while appearing before cameras and judges throughout the competition. But once backstage, she had to strip off her clothes and apply ice bags to her face and body, which swelled and broke out in hives twice.

"We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves," said pageant spokesman Harold Rosario. "But the second time, we knew it couldn't have been a coincidence."

Rivera's clothing and makeup later tested positive for pepper spray.

Someone also stole Rivera's bag containing her gowns, makeup and credit cards. And a bomb threat forced pageant officials to postpone the last day of competition on Thursday, said Magali Febles, director of the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant.

Here's a demo of Facebook Beacon Ads.

If a Facebook user who is logged into their Facebook account purchases movie tickets on Fandango, for example, a small box will appear on the bottom of the purchase confirmation page that says "Fandango is sending this to your Facebook profile." Users can opt out by clicking a box that says "No Thanks," but if nothing is done, the box will eventually disappear, and the information is sent to Facebook. When that user clicks over to Facebook, they will receive another note that says "Fandango is sending a story to your profile." There is also the option to click a box below that note that says "Don't show me this again."

MoveOn claims that the notices on the purchase page and Facebook are placed in such a way that the average consumer will probably miss them. "If you don't see those two boxes, you 'agree' to have your private information made public for hundreds, or thousands of Facebook 'friends' to see." [...]

Facebook has not clearly communicated how Beacon works, and its opt-out functions are exhaustive and poorly labeled, MoveOn said. The group is encouraging users to sign a petition that says Facebook "should not tell my friends what I buy on other sites – or let companies use my name to endorse their products – without my explicit permission."

"A lot of us love Facebook—but they need to take privacy seriously," MoveOn said in a Facebook group it titled "Petition: Facebook, stop invading my privacy!"

"Facebook says its users can 'opt out' of having their private purchases reported to all their friends. But that option is easily missed," according to MoveOn. "And even if you do 'opt out' for purchases on one site, it doesn't apply to purchases on another site—you have to keep opting out over and over again."

MoveOn called for Facebook to institute an "opt in" policy for Beacon.

B.C.'s New Democrats have approved a plan to ensure more women and minorities run for the party in the next election.

Delegates to the party's annual convention in Vancouver, passed the controversial plan on Saturday.

The resolution says when an NDP MLA does not seek re-election, the riding must choose a female candidate.

Of the remaining riding nominations, 30 per cent will be designated for women and 10 per cent for under-represented groups such as visible minorities, gays and lesbians.

NDP leader Carole James and most senior members of the party were in favour of the resolution. "This resolution is not about excluding people; it's about including people," James said.

But there were rumblings of discontent from some of the rank and file during an emotional debate that exposed divisions in the party. Some fear the move is reverse discrimination and will bring a loss of local autonomy.

"As a party we should be supporting the best candidates regardless of gender visibility or preference," said one delegate. Another added: " It's discriminating — just as it was discriminating to choose white males always."

Students overwhelmingly rejected a motion to ban the military from recruiting in the Student Union Building at the UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) annual general meeting on Oct. 25.

According to UVSS records, 525 students packed the SUB’s Michèle Pujol Room to attend the meeting. The meeting started half an hour late as students waited in line to sign in and receive voting cards.

Roughly 25 people voted in favour of the ban. Had the motion passed, the Canadian Forces wouldn’t have been able to recruit at the annual UVic Career Fair in January because it is held in the SUB.

George Robinson, former UVSS chairperson candidate, spoke against the ban. “For students that wish to protest the war, this is the wrong way to do it,” said Robinson. “By banning any organization that we may disagree with, we are acting against the very purpose of this university.”

Student Serina Zapf agreed. “I’m a human rights activist. I totally understand the issues in Afghanistan. I know about the torture. I hear about these things. I campaign on them,” she said. “That being said, as a human rights activist I believe in a dialogue of voices … I’m excited that our UVSS has a voice and is speaking on issues. But at the same time, I don’t think they need to protest for me.”