Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

Genealogists are Losing Access to SSDI, Mostly Due to Misinformation

In the past two years, I have been writing about the misplaced threats to one of genealogists' major resources of information: the Social Security Death Index, or SSDI. For background information, see my earlier articles: Commentary About Social Security Numbers in the SSDI at http://goo.gl/AmRmW, Another Bogus Report Concerning one Cause of Identity Theft at http://goo.gl/RdHQI, and The Easy Way to Commit Identity Theft at http://goo.gl/xEvK7.

This valuable resource performs several functions. For genealogists, it provides birth information about ancestors who died in the last third of the twentieth century or even in the twenty-first. For credit card companies, banks, credit reporting agencies, loan companies, and others, the listing of Social Security Numbers in the monthly updates provides valuable information that prevents identity theft. By publishing those numbers widely, the Social Security Administrations is saying, "Don't give credit to anyone using one of these Social Security Numbers as it is attempted fraud!"

Now, mis-guided politicians, urged on by news media who obviously don't understand the fraud prevention benefits of the SSDI, are attempting to block publishing and distribution of this valuable data. These people believe that blocking publication will reduce identity theft. However, a simple consideration of the facts will show the opposite to be true.

The Personal Computer is Dead or Is It?

The following article has nothing to do with genealogy or history. However, I might suggest that all owners of computers should read this and the article written by Jonathan Zittrain.

Harvard Law School Professor Jonathan Zittrain is the faculty co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He is also a professor of law at the Harvard Kennedy School, and professor of computer science at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In his duties, he spends a lot of time looking at computer trends. Zittrain is the author of the 2008 book “The Future of the Internet—And How To Stop It.”

Zittrain has written an article in the Nov. 30 edition of the Technology Review entitled, "The Personal Computer is Dead." I agree with his premise, although I disagree with his conclusions.

Why I Went Paperless

The term "paperless office" was first mentioned in a 1975 Business Week article entitled, "The Office of the Future." At a time when personal computers and the Internet were still embryonic, experts foresaw PCs on every desktop that could talk to each other by network. Over the years, the term "paperless office" became a joke as new computer owners discovered they could create more paper than ever before. Millions of people did just that: they used their new-found productivity enhancement tools to perpetuate old, inefficient habits.

Genealogists were not immune. Indeed, genealogy has always been a personal interest that attracts paper. We make notes, we create photocopies, and we purchase books. We quickly adopted the personal computer as it extends our research efforts further and faster than ever before. So how did we use our new computers? To create more paper!

Millions of genealogists started reading messages in newsgroups, searching databases online, and using search engines to find obscure references to our elusive ancestors. Once we found new information, we reverted back to old habits: we printed it. Those with organizational skills then indexed and filed the printouts.

I was always rather good at printing, but not so good at filing and indexing. Over time, I ended up with stacks and stacks of paper, typically not organized in any discernible manner. Over the years, I upgraded my printers more often than the computers. I went through a series of dot-matrix, then inkjet, then laser printers. Each new printer could produce more paper than ever before and at faster speeds as well.

Of course, I still could never find anything.

The Easy Way to Commit Identity Theft

Politicians and bureaucrats often try to lock up records of interest to genealogists, claiming such actions are preventing identity theft. A closer examination of the facts, however, often reveals that such actions are futile. Locking up records typically keeps out the legitimate users while the thieves contine to operate unimpeded.

A recent example has been reported on Ars Technica about two New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicle employees who have been accused of selling personal information they routinely had access to. The New Jersey prosecutor's office claims (at http://www.mercercountyprosecutor.com/press/Motor%20Vehicle.pdf)  their investigation "uncovered that two employees of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission were providing the names, addresses, dates of birth and social security numbers of unsuspecting residents that they obtained through their employment." They were charging as little as $200 per identity.

Another Bogus Report Concerning one Cause of Identity Theft

Note: This article contains personal opinions.

Sometimes I think news reporters don't stop to think. A perfect example is shown in an article by Alessandra Da Pra in the Seminole Heights (Florida) Patch. The article describes a case of tax fraud in which the thieves reportedly found Social Security Numbers on Ancestry.com and other web sites and used those numbers to file tax returns for the deceased individuals, claiming refunds. The refunds were to be sent to "new" mailing addresses for the deceased taxpayers, typically vacant homes or innocent bystanders’ homes, where the crooks intercepted the mail. Refunds were also sent via direct deposit into fraudulent bank accounts.

The article at http://goo.gl/BB6JG insinuates that the publication of Social Security Numbers is the underlying cause of the identity theft. I have a one word response to this article:

[Expletive deleted by editor]!

Why You Perhaps Should Not Retire at Age 65

Consider the changes in retirement between you and your grandparents. When the national retirement age of 65 was established for the Social Security Act in 1935 (over 75 years ago!), the average American lifespan was 61.7 years. The age of 65 was chosen at that time because it was beyond the average life expectancy for Americans. While there certainly were exceptions, most Americans of 1935 aged 65 or more were in poor physical condition and were unable to earn a living. In fact, the average 65-year-old American of those days was... DEAD!

Again, I am talking about averages. We all know of exceptions, but financial planning by the actuaries at the Social Security Administration is based on averages.

NOTE: Actuaries are the individuals who determine the rate of accidents, sickness, death and other events, according to probabilities that are based on statistical records. Actuaries then use trend information to predict future averages.

Today, we still think of retirement age as 65, but the average lifespan of Americans is now 78 years — 16 years more than it was when Social Security started. The impact is enormous.

Windows is Dying… and so are Macintosh and Linux

Writing in ZDnet.com, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has an interesting article. Well, it was interesting to me, and I suspect anyone else interested in the future of computing will enjoy reading it also. Vaughan-Nichols points out that the number of Windows XP computers has now slipped to slightly under 50% of all installed personal computers. Windows Vista remains steady at 10% and Windows 7 has edged up slightly to about 28% of the market. The small remaining percentages comprise Macintosh OS X plus a tiny handful of people who use Linux.

So which of these operating systems will dominate in the future? Vaughan-Nichols predicts that none of them will be the marketplace leader. Instead, he believes that all versions of Windows, Macintosh, and Linux will slowly lose ground. Vaughan-Nichols writes, "It’s the tablet and smartphone users who are really pointing the way to the end-user operating system future."

The Time to Digitize Historic Items is NOW

WARNING: This article contains personal opinions.

Many of us read some sad news this week: arsonists set fire to the Isanti County (Minnesota) Historical Society building on Friday. The fire destroyed most everything in the building, including church records, school yearbooks, family histories, wartime scrapbooks, cemetery records, plat maps from the 1800s, military uniforms, and even sewing machines. You can read more at http://goo.gl/uwaVI.

Apparently, the society never made copies of the materials, and most of the collection is lost forever. Many of the treasures were one-of-a-kind items and cannot be replaced. Future historians, genealogists, and others all lose as a result of this tragedy.

Sadly, such losses are not unusual, whether by deliberate arson or accidental fires or flood or burst water pipes or storm damage or even occasional leaky roofs. All these disasters cause some of our most valued treasures to be lost forever. With a little bit of planning, the worst of these tragedies could be averted or at least minimized.

I Have a Complaint Concerning Many Genealogists

I published this article three years ago. However, the same issues have raised their ugly heads again several times in recent weeks so I am going to republish the article. I have changed the wording slightly on a few sentences to reflect my latest thoughts, but it is close to the original article.

One thing has changed in the past three years: Ancestry.com is now a sponsor of this newsletter. However, this article reflected my views before the company became a sponsor and my views haven't changed since.

Warning: This article contains personal opinions.

I have a complaint that may upset some people, including some who read this newsletter. I will probably lose some readers because of this article, but I don't care. Like many of my readers, I feel so strongly about this issue that I just have to speak out – hold the sugar coating.

Some people are so shortsighted that they manage to ignore certain facts that are blatantly obvious to others.

What is an Indirect Descendant?

Over and over, I hear or read the phrase, "He is a direct descendant of..." OK, if someone is described as a "direct descendant," doesn't that indicate that there is also an "indirect descendant?" If so, what is an "indirect descendant?" I don't think there is any such thing.

Actually, it seems to me that the phrase "direct descendant" is redundant.

Why Are We Trying to Protect "Personal Information?"

Legislators keep trying close access to information that has always been public, under claims of "protecting personal privacy" or "protecting against identity theft." Of course, this impacts genealogists who want to learn more about their ancestors. If my recent experience is any example, there isn't much chance of exposing anyone's personal information.

I recently was asked to submit to a background check so that I could be trusted to have access to clients' computers that contain financial information. I am about to perform some systems work on these multi-user computers. The clients insist on credit checks and background checks for everyone with access to their systems. The report looks for criminal records and also looks for anyone with debt problems who might be tempted to steal. I feel that I have nothing to hide so I readily agreed to the investigation. A few days later, I received a copy of the background "report" that was also sent to the clients.

A Comment about eBook Readers

I own an Apple iPad, which is an excellent ebook reader. I also have Amazon's Kindle free software and Barnes & Nobles' Nook free software installed on the iPad, so I can purchase books from Apple's Online Store, or from Amazon, or from Barnes & Noble. Early yesterday evening, I read an interesting online article about a topic I have been following recently (not genealogy-related) and the bio on the article stated that the author also had recently written a book about the same topic. I wanted to read more so I searched online to see if I could order his book.

The author's own web site sells the book for $14.95. Several online book stores sell the same book for $12.95, give or take a little. Amazon.com sells the book for $9.95. Most of the stores wanted additional money for postage. HOWEVER, the Apple iPad Book Store sells the electronic version of the same book for 99¢. No postage, immediate delivery.

Is It Unverified Data and Will It Always be Unverified?

Warning: this article contains personal opinions.

I have been fascinated with the comments posted on this newsletter in the past few days concerning "unverified information on the Internet" and comments about linking to family trees without verification. I agree with some of the comments and disagree with some others. I thought I would add my two cents' worth.

First of all, I believe in verification of every bit of information I obtain. I don't care if a fact came from the Internet, from a book, or even from an original record. I still want to verify every bit of information I read. (Most original records are correct but you will even find occasional errors in original records.) I always look to see who reported the information or who wrote the book I am reading. Even if I recognize the author as being a leading genealogy expert, I still want to verify the claim independently. I don't believe anyone!

So you think I would be against unsourced, unverified information on the Internet? Wrong!

Christopher Columbus - The Reality

On October 11 we in the United States celebrate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Italian immigrants and their descendants in the U.S. consider Columbus to be a great hero. Others disagree. After examining history books for a bit, I wonder why we have a national holiday celebrating this explorer, thief, and murderer.

In the United States, Columbus Day became a Federal holiday in 1934. In 1892, the four hundredth anniversary, the celebration was taught in rituals and speeches of patriotism. In some states, such as Hawaii and Nevada, it is not a legal holiday. In Berkeley, California, October 11 is celebrated as "Indigenous People's Day" and in South Dakota it is known as "Native American Day".

Your Privacy Online

Caution: This article contains personal opinions.

A newsletter reader posted a comment at the end of my recent article about PeopleSmart.com. I feel so strongly about this reader's concerns and about my reply that I decided to repeat both in this separate article that you are reading now.

As a reminder, PeopleSmart.com is an online service that "mines public records as well as social networking profiles in order to build an online directory of people. An online phonebook that compiles information from across the Web, including cellphone numbers, e-mail addresses and social networking profiles." As I wrote in the earlier article, this "is bound to raise privacy red flags."

You can read the original article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2010/09/peoplesmartcom-the-ultimate-online-phonebook.html

Craig Kilby wrote a comment that I think should be required reading for everyone who uses online services:

If I read this correctly, this thing mines all sorts of personal data taken from my computer and Facebook sites, among other sources. I don't feel at all comfortable with this, and I am not sure I am comfortable with your promotion of it. Can you please elaborate?

My response:

Exactly. You SHOULD be uncomfortable.

Suggestion: Cemeteries Should Have Signs Saying "No Dig Zone"

Warning: The following article contains personal opinions.

I frequently read about the destruction of cemeteries and ancient burial grounds. Time and again, uncaring or unknowledgeable individuals attack cemeteries with bulldozers, paving equipment, or other heavy equipment.

This week I published a story about a graveyard in eastern Kentucky that was bulldozed. In past months, I have published articles about cemeteries that were paved in order to create a parking lot, as well as another one that was leveled in order to build a new Wal-Mart store. Perhaps the most outrageous story was when an amusement park in Maine deliberately destroyed the final resting place of several veterans of the Civil War as well as some probable veterans of the American Revolution in order to build a new water slide.

Carlisle Castle Records Office to Close for "Big Move"

The records office at Carlisle Castle in Carlisle, Cumbria, England will close at the end of next month. More than a million historical documents will be moved to a new £8.2m archival centre at Petteril Bank.

The new facility, known as the Cumbria Archives Centre, will open to the public in January 2011.

Predictions Best Forgotten

Caution: This article contains personal opinions.

Once upon a time, Microsoft said that Windows Vista would transform life as we knew it. I don't know about you, but my life hasn't been transformed. If Vista transformed your life, please let me know how that happened.

Microsoft also said that Vista would transform the way people worked and played, and address the “needs and aspirations” of people worldwide. Now Microsoft can't even get people to upgrade from XP to Vista: many PC manufacturers sell PCs with Vista installed and then also offer voluntary "downgrades" to XP, due to customer demand. So much for the "aspirations of people worldwide."

Microsoft isn't the only company to have its predictions turn into pixie dust. Circuit City said firing its most experienced salespeople would save the company. Have you been to a Circuit City store lately? Right. They aren't there any more. So much for saving the company.

Get an E-mail Receipt for Every Purchase

NOTE: This article has absolutely nothing to do with genealogy. However, I think some readers may find it useful.

I exchanged e-mail messages this week with a newsletter reader. The first message started off as a comment on the recent "Automatic Home Library Software for Windows, Macintosh and iPhone" article but soon drifted off into one topic only briefly mentioned in that article: how to transcribe data from printed receipts into a computer-readable format.

The article mentioned scanning ISBN barcodes from books so as to avoid the tedious task of entering title/author/publisher/ISBN/date every time when creating a card catalog of the books you own. The program described in the article will scan each book's barcode and  retrieve all the related information from online databases, and automatically entering that information into the program's database.

That's a great use of barcode scanning. but there are many more uses as well. Some of them can save even more time. My correspondent wrote, "If the developers of cash registers would program to include printing 2-3 codes of info on each receipt, Total $, Date, and perhaps a store ID."

I agree. Scanning of information on printed receipts could be a great time-saver, especially if that information was to be entered into a checkbook program, an income tax program, or similar applications. In fact, I do scan my receipts into an income tax program every year.

HOWEVER, I think there is an even better solution, and it is available today. I don't even need a scanner.

Lessons Learned about Digitization

The recent tragic news from Germany and Italy points out just how fragile our world is. Documents, works of art, architecture, and more from throughout the centuries can be wiped out within seconds by earthquakes, fires, building collapses, wars, and other calamities. The loss to scholars, historians, genealogists, and others is incalculable. Luckily, we now have the technology and the ability to preserve multiple copies of all these priceless objects for future generations.