Let me open by stating, I am not a terrorist, it's official and you can all relax now, Homeland Security says so.
We have all been the victim of incorrect information in a computer, but when you take a government department, multiple databases from other government departments and private industry, munge it all together, who knows what you will end up with. But I bet it's not right...I present my case your honor:
About a year ago, I notice that I started having problems getting on flights. Couldn't use the automated booths any more, couldn't check in on-line etc. After a couple of flights of this I asked one of the airline staff "Why?" and he said "Oh...your on the Homeland Security Watchlist...have a great flight!".
I made a couple of calls and was directed to the DHS TRIP Web Site, filled in the on-line TRIP form, sent digital scans of my various ID's, Passports, Licenses etc. and waited. The problems on the flights still occurred, some even had to make phone calls to let me fly.
After about 3 months, a letter appears in the mail, "sorry you didn't sign the form please start over"...interesting...it was a WEB BASED FORM. Next step, I found the form you normally mail, filled it out (on-screen), printed it, signed it, scanned it and e-mailed it back to them with the other documents.
Another 4 months pass, a letter appears in the mail, "sorry your form was illegible please start over"...but it was typed?...I gave up, resigned to a more irritating travel process at the airports.
Then, just a few days ago, and almost a full year after the first problems, a new letter. "We have reviewed your information and found that some of the data we used warranted an update. We are sorry for the inconvenience".
There apparently was a data issue, compounded with government inefficiency and incompetence. I wish I knew what was in their database about me, perhaps I'll file a Freedom if Information request...but I may be dead by the time I get a response.
On a separate topic, but still data related. I bought a product called "Neat Receipts" in the airport last week. It's a little software application and a small scanner that scans and reads store receipts. It also does business cards and stores the users information. Very neat piece of technology, pretty darned accurate too. If you are on the road a lot and you need to document expenses and such, get this it will save you a mountain of time.
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