Want a job? Give Bozeman your Facebook, Google passwords

If you’re planning to apply for a job with the city of Bozeman, Mont., be prepared to hand over much more than your references and resume.

The Rocky Mountain city instructs all job applicants to divulge their user names and passwords for “any Internet-based chat rooms, social clubs or forums, to include, but not limited to: Facebook, Google, Yahoo, YouTube.com, MySpace, etc.”

“Before we offer people employment in a public trust position, we have a responsibility to do a thorough background check,” Chuck Winn, Bozeman’s assistant city manager, said in an interview on Thursday. “This is just a component of a thorough background check.”

“Shame on us if there was information out there available about a person who applied for a job who was a child molester or had some sort of information out there on the Internet that kind of showed those propensities and we didn’t look for it, we didn’t ask, and we hired that person,” Winn said. “In many ways we would have let the public down.”

After local news reports highlighted the requirement on Wednesday, a firestorm of sorts has erupted online: irate e-mail messages have jammed mailboxes in City Hall, snarky Twitter.com comments have poked fun at a place once awarded the sobriquet of “All-America City,” and a poll indicates 98 percent of respondents believe the city’s policy amounts to an “invasion of privacy.”

In addition to the usual requests for a home address and Social Security number, Bozeman’s one-page background check form asks for the account information for “current personal or business Web sites, Web pages or memberships.” It assures applicants that any information received “is confidential.”

… An attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group based in San Francisco, questioned Bozeman’s decision to ask for user names and passwords.

“I think its indefensibly invasive and likely illegal as a violation of the First Amendment rights of job applicants,” said EFF attorney Kevin Bankston. “Essentially, they’re conditioning your application for employment on your waiving your First Amendment rights…and risking the security of your information by requiring you to share your password with them.. Where does it stop? How about a photocopy of your diary?”

via Want a job? Give Bozeman your Facebook, Google passwords | Politics and Law – CNET News.

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Tinnitus: Tinnitus Lipoflavonoid

I’m still having a loud high pitched hiss in both ears, but mostly in the right. The doctors are not very upbeat about the possibility of any improvement, ever. But if there is a fix, I’m going to find it. For one, the sound is driving me nuts. One thing the Nurse Practitioner mentioned today when I asked about nutritional options was Lipoflavonoid. She has had six people try it and it didn’t help any of them, but she said if it works, it should work in about 3 months after taking it twice per day. So, here are some notes on the stuff:

Lipoflavonoid is just a combination of vitamins such as eriodictyol glycoside, bioflavonoids, vitamin B6 and B12, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, choline, inositol, and pantothenic acid. … – allexperts

Lipoflavonoid is a proprietary over-the-counter nutritional product created in 1961 by DSE Healthcare Solutions for the treatment of Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s disease is characterized by ear fullness, vertigo, nausea and a low-pitched roaring tinnitus. Lipoflavonoid is currently manufactured and marketed by Numark Laboratories of Edison, NJ, a subsidiary of DSE Healthcare. Much of the marketing effort for Lipoflavonoid is directed toward those people who experience tinnitus. – tf

I started using lipo-flavonoid about a week ago. I don’t know if I’m getting used to this high pitched ringing sound or the lipo-flavonoid is helping. The intensity of my tinnitus seems to be less…(even at night). Anyone with any

lipo-flavonoid experience?
Posted on 05/10/07, 02:05 pm – ds

Tinnitus, also known as ringing ears, is defined as the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head where no external source is present. It is caused by various medical conditions, including cochlear damage due to noise, stress, sinus problems, allergies, Meniere’s Disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, and circulatory problems such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and malformation of the capillaries.

Although it usually comes as a ringing noise, it may also come either as a buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling, hissing, humming, or rushing noise.

How are tinnitus, lipoflavonoid, and overall ear health associated with one another?

Lipoflavonoid is a formula composed of certain vitamins such as eriodictyol glycoside, vitamin B12, vitamin C, niacin, and choline, among others. And these vitamins have something to do with ringing in the ears in one way or another.

Eriodictyol glycoside, for instance, can act as an antihistamine. Histamine induction is known to produce the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease, which, as mentioned, is one of the causes of the unwanted sound. Thus, the formula provides relief to the sufferers of the disease. Also, the formula contains vitamin B12, hence, it is also helpful for those who experience th unwanted sound due to vitamin B12 deficiency.

More importantly, the vitamins that the formula contains improve circulation in the inner ear. Improvement in the circulation in the inner ear makes the microscopic hair cells responsible for transmitting electrical impulses of sound to the brain stay flexible and the fluids within the ear canals flow better. Furthermore, the vitamins that it contains promote overall ear health, thus helping in the reduction of ringing in the ears.

There are also other remedies for tinnitus other than lipoflavonoid. These include homeopathic remedies, herbal preparations, and techniques like acupressure, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, reflexology and relaxation.

Although supplements and remedies have been made available, make sure that not to take the natural treatments for granted. Avoid substances that trigger the unwanted sound such as salty foods, chocolates, coffee, soda, and alcohol. Have a proper and regular exercise and get enough sleep at night. Also, avoid going to very noisy places. But, if going to these places is inevitable, wear ear protection devices such as earplugs or special earmuffs.

via Tinnitus: Tinnitus Lipoflavonoid.

Ototoxic medications are those that are toxic to the cochlea or vestibular (balance) structures in the ear. These medications have the potential to cause hearing loss, tinnitus and/or dysequilibrium such as dizziness and vertigo….

The signs of ototoxicity, in order of frequency, are:
1 – Development of tinnitus in one or both ears.
2 – Intensification of existing tinnitus or the appearance of a new sound.
3 – Fullness or pressure in the ears other than being caused by infection.
4 – Awareness of hearing loss in an unaffected ear or the progression of an existing loss.
5 – Development of vertigo or a spinning sensation usually aggravated by motion which may or may not be accompanied by nausea.“ – tf