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Not Just Security - Accuracy
Among his alleged crimes: child molestation and rape.
Calderon tried to protest his innocence.
He told his captors that his Social Security number and birth certificate had been stolen nine years before. He told them that they could look up his file.
He had reported the theft to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Station in Norwalk, Calif., 15 miles up Interstate 5.
He asked the Anaheim Police Department to check his fingerprints. Instead, his hands were put in cuffs.
He was taken to a back room. The file that got checked was ... his wallet. Sure, his driver's license listed him as three inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter than the man described on the arrest warrant. But he was Hispanic, and he had the right name and birth date.
Calderon spent the next week in jail—for crimes he didn't commit.
How did he end up in this mess?
A Fry's manager, Tyra Fizel, had requested a background check when Calderon was being hired. The criminal warrants came in a report provided by The Screening Network, a service of ChoicePoint, the $1 billion-a-year data broker based in Alpharetta, Ga. When she saw the felony charges, she called the police.
But no one—not Fizel, not Fry's, not the police—stopped to ask if the data ChoicePoint supplied was accurate. If they had, they might have found out that he was, indeed, an innocent man. Calderon's identity theft report, which he made in Norwalk, Calif., in 1993, wasn't connected with the criminal files that were created in his name.
ChoicePoint, since its Feb. 15 admission that it was fooled into selling personal information on 35,000 Californians to fake businesses set up by Nigerian criminals—and its admission two days later that it really sold information on 145,000 people—has become the poster child for problems in keeping corporate data secure.
Several class-action lawsuits have been filed in the wake of the February security snafu, both by ChoicePoint shareholders and by people whose information ChoicePoint may have sold.
Government bodies—from Congress, to the Federal Trade Commission, to a group of state attorneys general—are in the midst of investigating ChoicePoint for violation of laws regarding the security of information held about consumers by for-profit companies.
Story Guide:
Blur: The Importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security, But Accuracy 'Serious' Errors Are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records 'Full of Inaccuracies' Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way to Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
Not Just Security — Accuracy
But, as the Calderon case shows, data security isn't necessarily ChoicePoint's only challenge.
The other shoe that has yet to drop is the accuracy of the information it is supplying. The accuracy of the files inside the information repositories of ChoicePoint and America's other data brokers is critical to decision-making by companies that increasingly rely on automated rules that act on electronic flows of unseen information to make decisions in a fraction of a second, in great volume.
ChoicePoint's list of clients totals 50,000 businesses and has included such well-known names as General Electric, Home Depot, IBM, Boston Market, the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"The private sector and, increasingly, government rely on the data provided by ChoicePoint to determine whether Americans get home loans, are hired for jobs, obtain insurance, pass background checks and qualify for government contracts," said Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a public interest group, in prepared testimony on ChoicePoint before a March 15 meeting of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
About three-quarters of ChoicePoint's business involves distributing information under federal and state regulations, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which states: "Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report, it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates."
Yet ChoicePoint has faced at least a half-dozen suits over the accuracy of its reports, filed by persons as disparate as an assembly line worker retired from General Electric to a marketing professional applying for a job at IBM. In at least one case, a court ordered ChoicePoint to pay more than a quarter-million dollars to a Kentucky woman because the company erroneously reported that she had a number of claims against her insurance carrier—leaving her unable to afford insurance.
But that's a small number, from ChoicePoint's view. "Obviously, from time to time, we are subject to litigation," says Doug Curling, ChoicePoint's president and chief operating officer. "However, we work very hard. And our track record would show we are very successful at making sure the information product that we deliver to our customer is accurate."
ChoicePoint has said that incorrect information is produced less than once in every 1,000 of the 7.3 million background checks it performs each year. Even at less than one-tenth of 1%, however, that leaves close to 6,000 errors.
And ChoicePoint doesn't really know how accurate the records in its systems are. When asked how ChoicePoint gauges accuracy, Curling said the company only counts errors "associated with a dispute." That means individuals must find or obtain a copy of a ChoicePoint report, be their own fact-checkers on the reports, try to bring the errors to the attention of the company and then follow up to make sure the errors are actually corrected, permanently.
When Curling was asked what percentage of the data stored in its systems was accurate, he called the line of questioning "hostile." The premise, he maintained, is "so broad you know it can't be accurately answered."
But by ChoicePoint's own admission, it does not check nor feel it is responsible for the accuracy of the estimated 17 billion files it has collected and stored. It assumes only that the facts it acquires are accurate when they arrive. "We do not verify the factual basis of a record, but instead rely on the assertions of our data sources that created the record," wrote James Lee, the company's chief marketing officer, in an e-mail to Baseline.
Story Guide:
Blur: The importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security — Accuracy. "Serious" Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records "Full of Inccuracies" Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
"Serious" Errors are Common
Not only is information going unchecked by ChoicePoint, but the way the company aggregates data and then distributes it can introduce errors, such as mismatching profiles of different individuals with their insurance or criminal histories. As might have happened with the two Calderons.
There appear to be no generally accepted statistics on data accuracy rates among data brokers such as ChoicePoint, which deals in insurance claims history, court documents and other public records. However, there are statistics on the closely related field of credit reporting, in which companies such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion operate. ChoicePoint, in fact, was spun off from Equifax in 1997.
A 2004 study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that 54% of all credit agency reports contain errors. Twenty-five percent of these errors were considered "serious," meaning the reports include erroneous listings of delinquencies, accounts in collection, bankruptcies and other information that could result in a denial of credit.
Similarly, a 2003 Government Accountability Office report, citing statistics from the Consumer Federation of America, found that 78% of credit-agency files omitted account information, 82% had inaccuracies regarding revolving accounts or collections, and 96% had bad credit-limit information.
Yet every company wrestles with data accuracy. The fact is, America's vast panoply of databases are riddled with errors, according to data quality experts such as Ted Friedman, a vice president at research company Gartner, and Larry English, president of Information Impact, a consulting company that specializes in data quality.
Indeed, data quality problems extend to just about every corner of corporate America:
- 80% of medical bills have multiple errors, from typos to erroneous charges, according to the Medical Billing Advocates of America.
- 60% of all retail invoices contain data errors, such as incorrect products, quantities and weights, according to management consultancy A.T. Kearney.
- 20% of U.S. mail and commercial package deliveries were returned because of incorrect names or addresses, according to business and information-technology executives polled by Forrester Research in 2004.
- 10% to 15% of all direct mail is undeliverable because the addresses are bad, according to the Direct Marketing Association.
In fact, a Gartner report last year said that more than 25% of the critical data in Fortune 1,000 databases is inaccurate or incomplete. This includes faulty inventory descriptions, bad product codes and product descriptions, erroneous financial data, inaccurate supplier information and incorrect employee data.
"If someone says their data is always accurate, they're lying," says Dana Rafiee, the U.S. director of Destiny Corp., an international business and technology consulting company. The accuracy of information, he points out, "is a major issue in every organization."
The cost of all this bad data? The Data Warehouse Institute, a business intelligence and data analysis industry consortium, estimates errors are costing U.S. businesses about $600 billion a year. The fallout? Everything from redoing a job that went astray because of bad data, to misdirected shipments due to faulty addresses, to the cost of correcting errors in a database.
Poor data collection and analysis can even spoil a presidential election, a situation that continues to shadow ChoicePoint nearly five years later.
To get ready for the 2000 election, the state of Florida contracted with data broker Database Technologies (DBT) to clean its voter registration list of convicted felons, people registered to vote in more than one county and the names of people who had died. But because of the way Florida defined the search criteria, DBT warned the review would be overly inclusive. As a result, according to various reports, DBT's housecleaning didn't just net felons, for instance; it picked up people whose names were similar to those of felons. DBT officials said voting officials were supposed to check the list. It's still unclear how many voters were prevented from casting ballots in Florida, a state George W. Bush carried by a little more than 500 votes.
ChoicePoint acquired Database Technologies in May 2000, just a few days after DBT turned in its "cleaned" file to Florida officials.
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Not Just Security — Accuracy. "Serious" Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records "Full of Inccuracies" Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
Data Customers Pay the Costs
These errors may be just a start, as the amount of data kept on individuals rises exponentially and new forms of complex data, like medical scans, get added to the record. Some 11 exabytes of new information are expected to be generated this year, most of it stored by magnetic means. This is the equivalent of 80,000 libraries holding as many books as the Library of Congress. And the amount of information being produced—and that needs to be kept accurate—is doubling every three years, according to a study by the University of California at Berkeley.
Data accuracy "is going to be a bigger problem than data security," says Larissa Moss, a data management consultant with the Cutter Consortium and a former information quality assurance manager for Security Pacific National Bank, now part of Bank of America.
The problem is fundamental: Few organizations really know how much of their data is accurate, and few have the necessary tools for validating the information they have or for cleaning it up. And even fewer have the staff in place to find, isolate and correct inaccurate information, English says.
Companies without proper information management and control, according to English, are already spending 10% or more of their operating revenue on fixing problems that stem from bad data: The incomplete specification that messes up a manufacturing run, a bad address that sent a package to the wrong place, an inaccurate bill or invoice that requires the intervention of a clerk. The work has to be done again, and the wrong data has to be found and fixed. Then there are the fines or penalties from a late shipment or missed deadline. And costs grow if the problem isn't easily identified and corrected—and, of course, many aren't.
English simply calls it the "cost of failure as a result of poor-quality information."
Those problems, however, pale in comparison to what he sees as an even bigger consequence of bad data—a loss of customer confidence or trust.
"The real cost," English points out, "is in alienation of the customer."
While companies realize that an incorrect bank statement or extra charges on a bill may send a customer into the arms of a competitor, English says they also need to understand that customers care about the little details, too. Barbra Streisand once pulled an account from a bank that misspelled her first name, he contends.
ChoicePoint has not reported any alienation from its corporate customers because of its data accuracy problems. Fry's, for instance, is still a ChoicePoint customer. Deutsche Bank in an April assessment of the company, however, said ChoicePoint might lose customers over the security breach.
ChoicePoint began life as a public company in 1997 when Equifax spun off its insurance services unit and related businesses. ChoicePoint would collect information on individuals for the insurance industry and check past claims, credit reports and other information to analyze individuals' insurance risk. Since then, it has acquired more than 60 companies that specialize in information ranging from drug testing to employee screening to DNA analysis. Along the way, it has collected, according to EPIC, Social Security numbers, property and vehicle information, addresses, and other bits of sensitive information. The company has data on more than 220 million U.S. citizens—about four of five Americans.
ChoicePoint information has been used to help families find missing children, law enforcement track down criminals, and insurance companies offer quick policy approvals.
But all companies find it problematic to keep data accurate and secure. The task at ChoicePoint and other data brokers is magnified by the billions of records they handle and the effect on individuals' lives that incorrect information can have, according to Randy Bean, managing partner of NewVantage Partners, an information-technology consultancy that works with large companies including Fidelity and Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Bean, who was also the general manager of business-to-business database marketing at Harte-Hanks Data Technologies and held information-technology planning positions at Bank of Boston, says data brokers and credit agencies, compared to other companies, have a greater responsibility to ensure the information they distribute is accurate.
"There needs to be the greatest sensitivity involved because people very willingly share their information with these organizations, be it when they make retail purchases or open bank accounts or medical records—whatever the case may be," he says. "And the organizations that capture that data ... ultimately must have responsibility for how that data is used and where it goes."
Story Guide:
Blur: The importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security — Accuracy. "Serious" Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records "Full of Inccuracies" Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters
ChoicePoint strenuously guards details of its information gathering and processing procedures. Baseline's understanding of how the company works is based on court filings, company statements, and interviews with industry experts and company executives.
ChoicePoint feeds its huge databases with streams of data tapes and compact discs from insurance firms, marketing companies and other commercial sources, as well as public records such as court documents and licenses. Insurance companies, for example, then use ChoicePoint's data stores to check the claims history of policy applicants.
But little of the data in its vast repositories is verified by ChoicePoint, which mostly aggregates files and generates reports from its files without checking the information in those files for duplication, omissions or inaccuracies. "Very little, if anything" is checked, according to an industry expert with 20 years of experience in the kind of data brokering and data processing business done by ChoicePoint who asked not to be named.
Files, this industry expert says, can contain misspelled names, out-of-date addresses, faulty insurance claims or any number of other inaccuracies.
Most of their systems are "fire and forget," he says, meaning that ChoicePoint simply loads data from outside sources into its system and moves on to the next task.
ChoicePoint will check these files for anomalies. For example, if an insurance company that regularly sends ChoicePoint updated files with a small percentage of changes—say, less than half a percent—suddenly sends ChoicePoint a tape with more than 1% of the data changed, ChoicePoint will spot the jump. The company will then ask why the new file doesn't match historical patterns.
But the company does not check any of the information on these tapes and CDs.
"Almost all of the information we hold is information we acquired from a source," Curling says. For instance, he explains, "We buy [data] directly from the state. Is that accurate or not? Well, in our case, accuracy there would be dominated by the fact that we got it directly from the source. And we applied that in an electronic form to a file."
In effect, the company says it's responsible for making sure the data gets loaded into its systems correctly. And it counts on the data suppliers, such as the insurers or the states, to provide accurate data.
"ChoicePoint has exhibited the attitude, 'Oh, we just need to pass on this information. We're not responsible for whether it's accurate,'" says Evan Hendricks, editor and publisher of the Washington-based newsletter Privacy Times.
In addition to receiving data, ChoicePoint also goes out and gets data that it needs to build reports on individuals.
The company says it has electronic gateways into some databases, such as some state motor vehicle department files. With these gateways, the company can electronically collect driver names, license numbers and car registrations. ChoicePoint often pays agencies for their data—about $500 million a year to state motor vehicle departments alone.
Don McGuffey, the company's senior vice president for data acquisition and strategy, told the California State Senate Banking Committee on March 30: "We get updates from the various states' agencies regularly and rely upon the state agency to give us all the information and the complete information."
ChoicePoint also says it employs an army of researchers to verify information on, say, an employment form. They travel around the country, pen or PDA in hand, and stop by courthouses to write down data from bankruptcies, judgments, licensing sanctions and other proceedings. According to published statements by CEO Derek Smith, ChoicePoint collects up to 40,000 records manually a day through this network of employees and contractors.
The workers fax or e-mail the documents to ChoicePoint. Later, ChoicePoint checks their work.
"We will audit them periodically throughout the year, not only by randomly collecting individual records that they would have developed and returned to us; we would also require them to physically send in copies of documents periodically so a separate team of people could review the actual hard copies of documents in the courthouse versus what was actually entered and delivered back to us," McGuffey says.
And ChoicePoint does say it puts the data it collects through what's known as a data cleansing process. The company uses Firstlogic's Information Quality Suite software, which can drill through files looking for inconsistencies and, in some cases, can fix problems automatically. The software, for instance, will check a name and address against a U.S. Postal Service file. The software can also determine that data on "Smith, Sam" in one file also applies to "Samuel Smith" in another if there is other matching information, such as an address, so that the two files can be consolidated.
But no product will catch every inconsistency. Or typos. Or other input errors, according to English.
In addition, much of what the researchers gather comes from court documents and other public records and can contain wrong names and addresses, duplications and omissions.
Story Guide:
Blur: The importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security — Accuracy. "Serious" Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records "Full of Inccuracies" Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
"Records "Full of Inccuracies"
"We know that the public record is full of inaccuracies," says Marty Abrams, a former vice president of information policy and privacy at Experian who now heads the information policy group at Hunton & Williams, a business law firm that represent companies such as Bank of America and GE.
Many errors happen for the simplest of reasons. Say, for example, a government worker transposed two digits of Sam Smith's Social Security number. Four digits written as 1, 2, 3 and 4 on a property deed may get entered on an electronic form as 1, 2, 4, 3. From that moment on, whenever the data broker collected information on Sam Smith, it could pull data using both Social Security numbers. And if there were a person with the 1243 number who had declared bankruptcy, that information could be pulled into a report the data broker compiled on Sam Smith.
ChoicePoint's privacy policy notes that it will "follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy" of the information in Screening Network reports. However, according to the Subscriber Agreement the company requires people to sign before they use the service, ChoicePoint demands to be released from any liability for accuracy if the information is provided by third parties. " ... ChoicePoint cannot be either an insurer or a guarantor of the accuracy of the information reported ... " the agreement reads.
Inaccurate data is, if nothing else, persistent. Abel Obabueki found this out the hard way.
In 1999, IBM offered Obabueki an $85,000 marketing job, contingent on a pre-employment screening. Obabueki had pled no contest to a misdemeanor a few years earlier. After a successful probation period, the charges were dismissed and his record cleared.
IBM had Obabueki fill out a pre-screening questionnaire, with the instructions to reveal criminal convictions but omit arrests without convictions, and convictions or incarcerations "for which a record has been sealed or expunged." Obabueki correctly answered that he had no convictions.
IBM hired ChoicePoint to do the background check on Obabueki and instructed ChoicePoint to report only current and pending criminal charges. ChoicePoint, however, told IBM Obabueki had a conviction.
IBM rescinded its offer to Obabueki.
Obabueki explained what happened to IBM and sent the computer company a copy of the court order dismissing the charges against him. ChoicePoint later acknowledged its error, according to Obabueki's lawyers, and issued a revised report that listed Obabueki's criminal record as "clear."
IBM, however, did not re-offer the job to Obabueki, who sued ChoicePoint and IBM for Fair Credit Reporting Act violations. A U.S. federal court in New York heard the case.
IBM was eventually dismissed from the suit, but Obabueki won a jury verdict against ChoicePoint; the verdict found that the data merchant had not maintained strict procedures to ensure the information it reported was complete, up to date and accurate. ChoicePoint was told to pay Obabueki $450,000 for lost wages and mental distress.
The court, however, took it upon itself to dismiss the case, saying, among other things, that Obabueki had "cured" the data problem by sending IBM the court order that had dismissed the charges. His $450,000 award was erased.
Obabueki and his lawyers appealed the judge's decision and, when the appeal was denied, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court, however, refused to hear the case.
"There is no dispute in this case that ChoicePoint failed to follow adequate procedures to verify the information it obtained and reported, that it failed to determine that the conviction had been vacated, and that, had it followed its legal obligations and its agreement with IBM, it would have accurately reported that petitioner had no convictions," stated the petition filed to the Supreme Court by Obabueki's lawyers, Gregory Antollino and Erik Jaffe.
Antollino says he thinks ChoicePoint hired a third party to gather data, and that the firm had an old file on Obabueki that it never updated before sending the file to ChoicePoint.
ChoicePoint's only comment on the case came in an e-mail from the company's chief marketing officer, James Lee: "ChoicePoint won this case at the Appellate Court, which overturned a trial verdict against ChoicePoint."
In addition to human error, the way ChoicePoint's computer systems handle data may cause inaccuracies.
ChoicePoint has hundreds of databases—many are Oracle systems running on Hewlett-Packard Unix servers. This includes two databases—one for property insurance and the other for auto—that make up its Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), which stores 200 million insurance records.
If there is an error in a file, ChoicePoint—if it is aware of the mistake—can work to fix it. However, in many cases, data suppliers often send in new tapes and CDs with updates. The data is loaded when it comes in and the old data is purged. If an error in a file isn't corrected at the source, the erroneous data will be reloaded into ChoicePoint's systems. "They just simply replace data each month," says the 20-year data expert. "The data loading techniques are not sophisticated."
Data experts are aware of how these systems work. "It's a weird cycle," says Bruce Schneier, the founder of Counterpane Internet Security, a security software and consulting firm.
That cycling seems to be the culprit in the case of Mary Boris, a Kentucky woman who discovered in February 2000 that she had lost her homeowner's insurance. Boris had filed four insurance claims for water damage, but ChoicePoint's CLUE database was reporting them to her insurer as four claims for fire damage plus an "extended loss" claim.
Boris called the insurance company, ChoicePoint and the Kentucky Department of Insurance and got her report corrected. Months later, however, the bad data reappeared. ChoicePoint now reported she had made nine claims—four for water damage, four for fire and one for extended loss.
Boris filed suit, and ChoicePoint disclaimed all responsibility, saying it was the insurer's job to ensure that the coding on the claim reports was accurate. For 11 months after the suit was filed, the bad data remained on Boris' claims report, according to court records, until it was kicked out of ChoicePoint's computer because it had expired.
U.S. District Court Judge John G. Heyburn II, in awarding $350,000 damages to Boris, noted that ChoicePoint showed "a complete lack of sympathy" for her problems. The judge also said the company never explained the "computer glitches" that apparently caused her problem. "To this day, the Court is still unclear what procedures, if any, ChoicePoint uses to ensure the accuracy of its mass circulated reports," he wrote. The case was later settled out of court.
ChoicePoint's only comment on the case came in the e-mail from chief marketing officer Lee: "The parties to this case entered [in]to a confidential settlement agreement."
California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has been trying to regulate the quality of data used by insurers since 2003, when his office saw consumer complaints against insurers rise to more 100 a month. His latest effort is a bill that would force insurers to rely on "complete information"—not just historical databases like CLUE—when making underwriting decisions that go against consumers.
The insurance industry opposes Garamendi. "Only three changes are made per 10,000 files," says Dan Dunmoyer, president of the Personal Insurance Federation in Sacramento, Calif. "We get six complaints and three are justified. To us, three out of 10,000 is not a big number."
Story Guide:
Blur: The Importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security — Accuracy. "Serious" Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records "Full of Inccuracies" Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
Crap In, Crap Out
Another issue with CLUE is the way the service pulls information from its data stores.
According to ChoicePoint's Curling, a typical request from an insurance company might be to find out about a driver, the driving records and claims histories of any other people living at the driver's address, and to verify that the vehicles in the driver's household realistically match the number listed by the driver on his or her policy application.
A query from an insurance company might start with a name and state—say, Sam Smith and California.
ChoicePoint will pull data from the state's motor vehicles department, which will provide information on all drivers at an address. It will also pull car registrations. It will then dig into CLUE to get the claims histories.
But you have to be careful when you cull any database, say English, Navesink Consulting president Tom Redman and other data experts. There may be a lot of Sam Smiths. Many might be living in the same area and be about the same age. And the query might return files under "Sam Smith" and "Samuel Smith."
"So when you marry this data up, you have to interpret who this person is," the 20-year data expert explains.
Not only that, but if one of the Sam Smiths' driver's license numbers or Social Security numbers was put incorrectly into the system and wound up matching someone else's number—even if that person's name isn't Sam Smith—that information could be melded into the report, too.
This may be what happened to Robert Burkhead, a retired GE assembly line worker.
In 1998, Burkhead was buying a car in Kentucky and tried to get car insurance. But, he says, his insurance history, which was supplied by ChoicePoint, showed that another person's Social Security number, that of a "K. Caye," had been added to his file, along with Caye's auto accidents. Not surprisingly, this put Burkhead into a higher risk category, with premiums that were $500 to $600 higher than the standard annual rate, according to his attorney, Bernard Leachman.
After Burkhead got a look at his report and figured out what was going on, he tracked down Caye's agent at Nationwide Insurance, which apparently had been using Burkhead's Social Security number with Caye's account. Burkhead said he sent a letter to ChoicePoint and also placed a couple of calls to customer service reps at ChoicePoint, who said they would take care of the mistakes. But nothing happened. This went on for five years.
Burkhead's headache got worse. In 2003, Burkhead claims ChoicePoint substituted his driver's license for Caye's and added multiple claims by Caye to Burkhead's report.
In April 2004, six years after the mixup began, Caye and his accidents were finally deleted from Burkhead's report. But even that didn't end Burkhead's problems.
Burkhead says his son, Robert Burkhead III, somehow was added last year to his report and listed as living with his parents—even though the son lives on his own and was filing for both bankruptcy and divorce.
Burkhead had enough and last year sued ChoicePoint. The complaint filed in the case cites ChoicePoint's "gross, wanton, willful and malicious faulty management of data and reports." Leachman says ChoicePoint does not scan claim reports for accuracy when they enter or leave its system. "There is a cross-check of birth date and Social Security number and driver's license number and similar names that the computer automatically does, but there is no reason I know of why Mr. Caye kept showing up on these reports," he says.
ChoicePoint refused to comment on an ongoing case. However, in its answer to the complaint, ChoicePoint admitted that it had received a letter and phone calls from Burkhead, and that Nationwide had submitted information to CLUE that tied Burkhead's driver's license with Caye's claims.
However, ChoicePoint said "it lacked sufficient knowledge and information" to know whether the other complaints lodged against the company were accurate. And the company denied any wrongdoing on its part. "Plaintiff's damages, if any were incurred, are as a result of the actions or omissions of other parties or individuals for whom ChoicePoint has no responsibility," reads the answer to the complaint.
Indeed, ChoicePoint's service agreement with insurance carriers stipulates that, "Neither CPS [ChoicePoint] nor third parties shall be liable ... for any loss or injury arising out of or caused in whole or in part by CPS's or third parties' negligent acts or omissions in procuring, compiling, collecting, interpreting, reporting, communicating or delivering services or in otherwise performing this agreement."
That gets right to the crux of the problem. A broker such as ChoicePoint does not vouch for the accuracy of the data it collects and then resends to insurance companies, law enforcement agencies and employers.
As the 20-year data expert puts it: "Crap in, crap out."
Despite the disclaimers, data experts, including English and Redman, say data brokers should be responsible for the accuracy of the information they distribute. "They don't verify. They just capture," English points out. "That's got to change."
Story Guide:
Blur: The importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security — Accuracy. "Serious" Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records "Full of Inccuracies" Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
Fix It Yourself
ChoicePoint says the building blocks of its business are data, analysis and distribution—and the company's most publicized failing of late has been in data distribution.
California law requires companies to notify residents if their personal information is compromised. ChoicePoint in February sent letters to the 35,000 Californians affected by last year's breach to tell them that someone unauthorized "may" have accessed their data.
One recipient of the letter, a Los Angeles nurse named Elizabeth Rosen, contacted a law professor, a reporter at MSNBC and an attorney with EPIC.
"I had never heard of ChoicePoint," Rosen says. "I didn't know if I should be concerned."
The thieves did not breach ChoicePoint's databases—they signed up for a ChoicePoint service called AutoTrackXP using fake identification and business licenses.
AutoTrackXP is a search service for law officers, collection agents and others looking to track people down. According to the company's Web site, with nothing more than a name or Social Security number, a customer can search for identity information, the names of relatives and associates, property records and deed transfers. AutoTrackXP searches billions of records in national and state databases for summary assets, licenses and criminal records, and compiles the information into reports.
ChoicePoint says it has tightened its procedures for selling products containing sensitive personal data like Social Security and driver's license numbers—for example, the credentials of all small-business customers are being reviewed. As a result, the company expects to lose $15 million to $20 million in revenue this year.
Rosen is not comforted. As of mid-May, she said she still didn't know exactly what, if any, of her data ChoicePoint sold to the Nigerians.
But, to Rosen, perhaps just as shocking as the possible data theft was the number of inaccuracies on her ChoicePoint report. Five of the report's six pages contained repeated errors.
For example, she was incorrectly listed as an officer of a Texas company that went bankrupt and as a deli owner. Her nursing licenses in California and New York were omitted.
"[They told me] to call each source of information, get them to change it and submit the corrected information to ChoicePoint," she says. "I said, 'You've got to be kidding.'"
ChoicePoint itself points out all the errors that can come out of AutoTrack. A sample report posted on its Web site indicates that partial birth dates, typos, bad Social Security numbers and a half-dozen other mistakes are all possible.
ChoicePoint, however, argues that this is a search service—a tool for investigators looking to find out who lives at an address or to locate a witness. The service does not fall under FCRA guidelines. And customers who use the service are aware of its limitations, Curling says.
In May, the California Senate passed a bill that would allow residents to see files kept on them by ChoicePoint and other data brokers, and to correct any inaccuracies and to know who requests information about them. One obstacle for people like Rosen who want to see and correct their data is that ChoicePoint doesn't keep static reports on people—it conducts fresh public records searches as they're requested.
But ChoicePoint's McGuffey adds that the company is thinking about how to accommodate requests like Rosen's. Meanwhile, Congress is also considering several bills, including ones similar to California's notification law.
ChoicePoint's carelessness with Californians' data hasn't stopped the company and the state from doing business, however. On April 22, ChoicePoint announced an $845,500 contract with the California Department of Justice to build a "distributed network" so the state's criminal intelligence analysts can assess information without relying on a central database. The state attorney general's office, which is simultaneously investigating ChoicePoint for the security breaches, says the network will tie together various public and private databases, but ChoicePoint won't be handling the data.
Story Guide:
Blur: The Importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security, But Accuracy 'Serious' Errors are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records 'Full of Inaccuracies' Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way to Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
No Way To Check
Unfortunately for Steven Calderon, he could not check or dispute whatever data ChoicePoint had on him before the Anaheim police arrested him at Fry's in January 2002.
Calderon spent a week being transferred from jail to jail in Southern California. He continued to protest his innocence, but the police were unmoved.
Only after an officer in Ventura noticed that Calderon's driver's license number, height and weight did not match the ones on file on the suspect being sought, did they check his prints and realize they had the wrong man. So, they let him go. He returned to work at Fry's. A year later, he filed suit against Fry's, ChoicePoint, the city of Anaheim and the California counties of Orange and Ventura.
Everyone who spoke about the case—Fry's and Anaheim officials—expressed regret that it happened. But all said their actions were correct, or at least understandable, given the situation. Calderon's lawsuits against the city and counties were dismissed. Mark Facer, the attorney for Anaheim, says the police acted on an arrest warrant that looked valid.
ChoicePoint's only comment on the case is that the plaintiff dropped the complaint. Calderon could not be reached for comment, but Stephen Gargaro, Calderon's attorney, says he requested a dismissal—which the court granted—because he felt "the law was on the edge as to whether they [ChoicePoint] had liability."
Fry's attorney, Alex Curotto, "disputes vehemently that [Fry's] did anything wrong." Calderon settled with Fry's, but the company's community relations manager, Manuel Valerio, says Calderon should have told Fry's when he was hired about the ID theft. "The crime of identity theft is compounded by not making the employer aware," he says.
Such finger-pointing is common in cases where bad data is involved. Bad data sets off a chain of errors, in which each misstep is linked to the last. Calderon told the court he'd forgotten about the identity theft, although he certainly would have told Fry's if he knew he'd spend a week in jail.
But it never occurred to Calderon to refuse a background check. As he told the court: "My record was clean."
Story Guide:
Blur: The Importance of Accuracy
Not Just Security, But Accuracy 'Serious' Errors Are Common Data Customers Pay the Costs Collecting Data Without Garbage Filters Records 'Full of Inaccuracies' Crap In, Crap Out Fix It Yourself No Way To Check ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
ChoicePoint Data at a Glance
Headquarters: 1000 Alderman Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30005
Phone: (770) 752-6000
Business: Collects, stores and distributes personal information on consumers to help organizations reduce fraud and mitigate risks.
Chief Executive Officer: Derek Smith
Financials in 2004: $148 million in net income; $918.7 million in revenue; net profit margin of 16%.
Challenges: Repair reputation and raise revenue, despite data-accuracy and security obstacles.
Baseline Goals:
- Increase revenue at least 14% to $1.1 billion, from $918.7 million.
- Maintain free cash flow at between $180 million and $190 million in 2005, compared to $182 million in 2004.
- Sustain operating income margin in 2005 at 26% of sales.
- Limit 2005 revenue loss from decision to reduce access to public records to $20 million.


text: Ladies have to stick together! Come in to mix and mingle with other women who make in all capacities. Fabricators, crafters, hobbyists, or women with an interest in DIY culture should come to share stories, combine strengths and share a glass of wine together. All attendees are encouraged to bring projects, photos, and friends. Personal tools may be brought in and used, but if TechShop has comparable machines (ie: sewing machines), they may not be used unless that person has taken and passed the appropriate Safety and Basic Usage (SBU) course.Additionally, please be aware that power tools (anything electric) may not be used after consuming alcohol. Light refreshments and libations will be available. This event is free and open to the public. Questions? Call 313-583-3831 RSVP here.

subset: commoncrawl


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As tragic and terrible as the Boston Marathon bombing and the crimes that followed it were, this will be remembered as one of law enforcement's finest hours.
Officers and agencies at all levels of government came together to protect the public and kill or capture the perpetrators in four days.
Technology played a big role in aiding the police operation.
Rolling the LENCO BearCat
The investigation and manhunt gave the cops the opportunity to roll out those big expensive tactical vehicles that were purchased with Homeland Security money over the years since 9/11, and demonstrated that they actually serve a real need.
It's one thing when the bad guys are shooting guns at you. Pressure-cooker IEDs and homemade hand grenades are a whole different animal. No one in their right mind wants to take on one of those in an Interceptor or a Charger. When you're going up against bad guys with high explosives, you want something more substantial around you... like a LENCO BearCat.
Searching with iRobot's PackBot
On Thursday evening, the Tsarnaev brothers shot and killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, and then carjacked a vehicle, eventually releasing the carjacking victim at a gas station. Their violence that night would not be over, however, as they tossed IEDs from the vehicle as they fled police.
Eventually, the suspect's car was found, but with those IEDs in mind, a law enforcement robot was used to conduct a careful inspection before officers approached it.
Charlie Vaida, a spokesperson for iRobot, told the Internet site Mashable that the PackBot was used "by local law enforcement early yesterday to inspect the suspects' car."
Airborne-Mounted FLIR Video
When the second bombing suspect was reported to be hiding inside a recreational boat perched atop a trailer parked at a private residence in Watertown, the Massachusetts State Police deployed their Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR)-equipped helicopter to see beneath a tarp that was covering the boat.
The outline of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the wounded suspect, was clearly visible inside.
Tactical team members believed Tsarnaev was armed and knew he wasn't bashful about shooting cops. They deployed an armored vehicle with a robotic arm to tear off the tarp and expose Tsarnaev without putting officers at immediate risk.
They then used flash-bang grenades to stun Tsarnaev before making their approach to take him into custody.
Photos, Videos, and Social Media
The Boston Marathon is a major event so lots of people at the finish line were taking video and photos. Some of these contained images of the bombing suspects.
Once images of the bombing suspects were identified from a store surveillance video, facial-recognition software helped to locate those faces in other still and video frames and tracked where they had come from and where they had gone after dropping their deadly backpacks.
Social media, Twitter, and Reddit in particular helped disseminate the suspect images to the public at a pace and scale far greater than all the cops in the United States could have done, though not without downside; Reddit notably misidentified several individuals as suspects, including Sunil Tripathi, the Brown University student who was found dead last week.
"It's not the first use of private video from stores or other places to help solve a crime. That is a common investigative technique," Jim Bueermann, president of the Police Foundation and former police chief of Redlands (Calif.) told NBC News. "But it is without a doubt the largest-scale use of crowd-sleuthing that I've seen."
Many technologies and equipment are often condemned as being invasive of privacy or elaborate toys, wasteful expenditures of taxpayer dollars. The events of the past couple of weeks demonstrated the value of these tools in quickly resolving an incident and mitigating further destruction.
About the author
Tim Dees is a writer, editor, trainer, and former law enforcement officer. After 15 years as a police officer with the Reno Police Department and elsewhere in Northern Nevada, Tim taught criminal justice as a full-time professor and instructor at colleges in Wisconsin, West Virginia, Georgia, and Oregon.
He was also a regional training coordinator for the Oregon Dept. of Public Safety Standards & Training, providing in-service training to 65 criminal justice agencies in central and eastern Oregon.
Tim has written more than 300 articles for nearly every national law enforcement publication in the United States, and is the author of The Truth About Cops, published by Hyperink Press. In 2005, Tim became the first editor-in-chief for Officer.com, moving to the same position for LawOfficer.com at the beginning of 2008. He now writes on applications of technology in law enforcement from his home in SE Washington state.
Tim holds a bachelor's degree in biological science from San José State University, a master's degree in criminal justice from The University of Alabama, and the Certified Protection Professional credential from ASIS International. He serves on the executive board of the Public Safety Writers Association.
Dees can be reached at email@example.com.
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- ebay find of the day 1957 bmw 507
eBay Find of the Day: 1957 BMW 507 is a black beauty
by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Jun 19th, 2010 at 1:35PM
The BMW 507 is arguably the most beautiful and certainly among the rarest production models ever to emerge from Munich, with only 253 produced between 1956 and 1959. The 507 was the first BMW built with a V8 engine and remained the only model to use one until the 740i debuted in 1992. The 3.2-liter pushrod V8 under the 507's bonnet was rated at either 150 or 160 horsepower. Unfortunately, as attractive as the 507 was, its $10,000 price tag made it a bigger commercial failure than the more recent Z8. Following the 507's demise, BMW didn't build another roadster until the 1989 Z1. This... Read More


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Dubai is one of the seven emirates and most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. It is a relatively new city, and only a few hundred years ago was a simple fishing village. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. The emirates' current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE. The emirate's revenues are from trade, real estate and financial services. Revenues from petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6% of Dubai's US$ 37 billion economy (2005). Dubai has attracted worldwide attention through innovative real estate projects and sports events, and its emergence as a world business hub.
Dubai, once a small fishing village famed for being a source of pearls is now known as the "Venice of the Gulf'. Glitz, glamour and gleaming towers - Dubai has it all. Book by May 31st for travel anytime in 2013 and save more than $300 per person!
Explore a land where ancient Islamic traditions fuse seamlessly with the modern ways of the West with this exotic private tour of the innovative city of Dubai, elegant Abu Dhabi & the desert vistas of Hatta.
(Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
This elite tour boasts luxurious accommodations, exclusive city tours, and the best the United Arab Emirates has to offer.
(Abu Dhabi)
Enjoy the sights and sound of Abu Dhabi with a day tour to of the city, followed by a dhow dinner cruise in the evening.
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A premium tour featuring the best of Dubai, and one it's finest hotels, The Palms Atlantis Dubai. A city tour, dhow dinner cruise, Aquadventure Waterpark, dolphin experience, sand-boarding, dune exploration, camel rides, catamaran ride and BBQ dinner, shopping and much more.
Perfectly paced for your stopover in the Emirates, this exotic Arabian adventure showcases the best of Abu Dhabi by land, desert and sea.
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Push Plate Collection Solid Brass Nashville Style Push Plate - 3-1/2 Inch x 20 Inch
Steeped in traditional design, Baldwin's Nashville style push plate makes a bold addition to any doorway. Constructed from solid forged brass, the strength of this plate helps alleviate some of the dents, scratches, and other abrasive damage that can accumulate when using high traffic doors, while the included threaded wood screws make for easy installation. Further, each plate is available in seventeen high quality Baldwin finishes ensuring a flawless match to your existing theme and décor, every time. Baldwin consistently provides the highest quality products on the market, and their line of push plates is no exception.
- Dimensions: 3.5" x 20"
- Solid Forged Brass Construction
- Includes Necessary Full Thread Wood Screws
- Mix any Baldwin Door Pull and Push Plate to Create Your Own Look
There are brand names, and then there is Baldwin. Constantly building and re-building upon a time tested legacy of superior design, craftsmanship, functionality and innovation, Baldwin Hardware has delivered modern luxury to discriminating homeowners, architects and designers since 1946. From being the first to forge solid brass door hardware to setting precedence for Lifetime Finishes, Baldwin has been and always will be synonymous with revolutionary technology and unsurpassed quality. Aspire to make your home much more than mere shelter, and relax in the assurance that function and elegance can finally flourish within the same line of fine products—Baldwin can show you how.
Additional Baldwin Links
Our SKU: Baldwin 2281
This product is listed under the following manufacturer number(s):
- Baldwin 2281038*
Aged Brass
- Baldwin 2281151
Antique Nickel
- Baldwin 2281034
Lacquered Vintage Brass
- Baldwin 2281003
Lifetime Polished Brass
- Baldwin 2281031
Non-Lacquered Brass
- Baldwin 2281102
Oil Rubbed Bronze
- Baldwin 2281030
Polished Brass
- Baldwin 2281260
Polished Chrome
- Baldwin 2281140
Polished Nickel
- Baldwin 2281190
Satin Black
- Baldwin 2281040
Satin Brass
- Baldwin 2281050
Satin Brass and Black
- Baldwin 2281060
Satin Brass and Brown
- Baldwin 2281264
Satin Chrome
- Baldwin 2281150
Satin Nickel
- Baldwin 2281112
Venetian Bronze
- Baldwin 2281033
Vintage Brass
*Denotes a finish or option that has been discontinued
Installation Resource Center
Whether you are installing the product yourself or hiring a professional, our installation Resource Center has everything you need to get your project done. Visit the Installation Resource Center to get started.


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- Redwood City 650.367.8181
- Take A Tour!
Cambridge Essentials Bookcase in Black 48 high
- Your Price: $229.88
- Retail: $330.00
- You Save: $100.12
Cambridge Essentials Bookcase in Antique Black 48 high. This bookshelf features 3 shelves than can be adjusted. Available in 34 standard sizes including 23" wide, 33" wide, and 46" wide and 10" or 12" deep. Constructed of solid poplar and poplar veneers. The Cambridge Essentials bookcases are available in Antique Rubbed Black Lacquer or Brown Cherry finishes. See PDF download for details. The Essentials bookcases offer display and storage options to fit any space in the room. Cambridge's clean lines, base feet and bronzed hardware define this stylish collection. Flexibility and charm are at the heart of this energetic look that can go sporty or country chic. There is an extensive collection of Cambridge Bedroom, Dining Room, Living Room, Entertainment and Home office pieces to match. Fully assembled. Made in the USA. Manufacturer: Aspenhome.
Poplar and Poplar Veneers
Rubbed Black Lacquer
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- Fully assembled
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More about Aspenhome Furniture
Aspenhome has evolved over the past 31 years from a small family owned home entertainment business based in Phoenix to a full line furniture company specializing in thoughtfully designed innovative products for the way people work, play and relax at home. Recognized as a resource for functional family furniture, the Aspenhome collection includes bedroom, dining, home office, home entertainment and occasional furnishings. Aspen has production facilities overseas and in Phoenix, Arizona.


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Build your future with a leader in the automotive services industry...Midas.
Midas is one of the world's largest providers of automotive service, including exhaust, brakes, steering, suspension, and maintenance services. Midas has more than 1700 franchised and company-owned Midas locations in the United States and Canada.
Midas is committed to earning our customers' trust by offering them the expertise, value and responsiveness they expect…every time they visit us.
Click below to view a description of the jobs:
We are seeking expert auto repair technicians, who are ASE certified and have driveability skills. Use your ASE Certifications and years of experience to diagnose and provide quality vehicle repair services in a time and cost effective manner. Our Assistant Shop Managers assists the shop manager in all aspects of shop operation and improving sales results through the satisfaction and retention of customers. They help promote the Midas name and services, analyze vehicle service needs, effectively communicate those needs to the customer; and ensure that quality services are performed on the vehicle in a timely yet thorough manner. They also ensures the shop maintains a high professional image.
Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
We are seeking experienced Automotive Technicians who are ASE certified and have drivability skills. Use your ASE Certifications and years of experience to diagnose and provide quality vehicle repair services in a time and cost effective manner. The successful candidate will be able to work independently, while also being able to work collaboratively at times with peers.
Our General Service Technician provides general services for vehicle maintenance and repair, such as oil changes, tire rotation and replacement, etc., and does so in a safe, efficient, and productive manner. Under the guidance of an Experienced Technician, assists in vehicle repairs. Operates vehicles in a safe and responsible manner. Interacts with customers in a courteous and friendly manner. Assists in maintaining shop appearance and safety standards and in ensuring the shop runs in an efficient manner by performing duties such as inventory stocking and other general functions. Adheres to all shop policy, procedure, safety and environmental rules.
There are no job openings at this time.
Terms & Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Sitemap ©2015 Midas International Corporation


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Leave-in Conditioning Spray
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SLIS/Simmons Overview
SLIS/Simmons Overview
Placing students first—thats a Simmons tradition. We help students build successful careers, lead meaningful lives, and achieve a powerful return on their educational investment. We view this as an inviolable responsibility, as an educational promise that underscores our commitment to you. Too many schools lose sight of the implicit agreement they have with students, but we believe you should expect your school to always keep your welfare in mind and at heart.
The School of Library and Information Science is big in many ways—a national leader with top-rated faculty, prestigious alumni, and two great locations in Boston and South Hadley, Massachusetts. However, upholding our educational "contract" with students means that the focus is on you. We offer a learning experience that is highly collaborative and much more personal than that of large universities. You'll have direct and frequent access to faculty who know your name and understand your aspirations. And you'll work closely with classmates in an engaging, supportive classroom environment.
Nationally-ranked Programs
U.S.News & World Report ranked SLIS 9th in the nation for 2014 for its Library & Information Studies program. Simmons is the only library and information science school in New England to be ranked in this category this year. Additionally in 2013 for specialty categories, the SLIS Archives and Preservation program ranked 1st in the nation and the SLIS Services for Children and Youth program ranked 3rd.
The ranking is derived from a peer-reviewed survey of deans, program directors and senior faculty at 50 schools with accredited masters programs.


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Smart Mass Thinking Putty
The Thinking Persons Putty
- The ultimate stress reduction toy
- Like your kid's putty, but way better in every way
- Bounces, stretches, lifts comics, shears, tears, shatters
The Thinking Persons Putty
New Flavor - Magnetic Giant Lizard Green!
The Ultimate Stress Reduction office toy is here. Of course you remember playing with putty as a kid. Welp, this aint your kids putty. Adult sized, and as feature-rich as your favorite Operating System, the Smart Mass putty from ThinkGeek makes living life fun all over again. Like to fidget while sitting in front of the monitor? Enjoy being the envy of all those who surround you? Trying to make an impression on that new coder down the hall? Smart Mass putty will help...
But ThinkGeek, What Will My Smart Mass Really Do ??
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- It lifts comics! (as any self-respecting putty would)
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- It Even Shatters !!! (learn why!)
- It Drips From Ceilings (learn how!)
But ThinkGeek, Can I Achieve World Domination With My Smart Mass?
- Yes. Of course. All ThinkGeek products may be used to help you achieve World Domination.
Our Smart Mass putty is just too much fun. Find out for yourselves how magically enticing and addictive playing with putty really is. As you find more and more ways to get creative with your putty, you'll, well, find more ways to get creative with everything! It's simply that stimulating!
Click here for pics of all the colors and styles.
Your choice of:
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Wanna chat about it?
Have questions about Smart Mass Thinking Putty or your order? We monitor these comments daily, but it may be faster to email us directly or call us at 1-888-GEEKSTUFF.


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NL11392 In Stock
If you're tired of having the same old, ordinary jewelry our Fancy Script Gold Vermeil Monogram Necklace is just the piece to spice up your wardrobe. Made of sterling silver and dipped in luscious gold vermeil, this beautiful gold monogram necklace comes in three sizes of 1", 1.25" or 1.5" and your choice of 16", 18" or 20" chain length. This gold monogrammed pendant can be worn both day and night and will have all of your friends wishing they had one too!
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CHC provides content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine. This full text database covers topics such as aging, cancer, diabetes, drugs & alcohol, ...
Provides authoritative medical information on medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, pre-clinical sciences, and much more. Created by the National Library of Medicine.
Provides access to scholarly journals focusing on many medical disciplines. Coverage of nursing and allied health is particularly strong.
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Jennifer Lopez is synonymous with jaw-dropping style: just think of her plunging Versace number at the 2000 Grammy Awards or the backless Marchesa gown from the 2009 Golden Globes, if you doubt us. Exactly. From her Fly Girl days to Hollywood Walk of Fame stardom, the singer/actress has mastered the art of the wow factor, and continues to impress with her sartorial choices today.
Happy Birthday J. Lo! We Share Some of Her Best Looks!
- 1 of 17
As Lopez celebrates her birthday, we're taking a look at back at some of her best looks. Here's to many more body-skimming silhouettes, thigh-high slits, and show-stopping red carpet moments!
- 2 of 17
Photographed at the National Association of Theater Owners Convention.
- 3 of 17
Arriving at a fashion benefit for APLA, hosted by Tom Ford.
On Lopez: Tom Ford for Gucci dress.
- 4 of 17
At the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.
- 5 of 17
At the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
On Lopez: Versace dress.
- 6 of 17
Arriving at the MTV Video Music Awards in NYC.
On Lopez: Sean John top and pants.
- 7 of 17
Hitting the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards at Lincoln Center in NYC.
On Lopez: Roberto Cavalli top.
- 8 of 17
Posing at the 74th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood.
On Lopez: Versace dress.
- 9 of 17
At the 75th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood.
On Lopez: Valentino dress; VBH clutch; Harry Winston jewelry.
- 10 of 17
On the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall.
On Lopez: Biba dress; Fred Leighton jewelry; Versace boots.
- 11 of 17
At the 78th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood.
On Lopez: vintage Jean dress; Fred Leighton jewelry; Jimmy Choo shoes.
- 12 of 17
Photographed at the Echo Music Awards in Berlin, Germany.
On Lopez: Lanvin dress.
- 13 of 17
At the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills.
On Lopez: Marchesa dress; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
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At the UK premiere of The Back-Up Plan.
On Lopez: Lanvin dress; Jimmy Choo clutch; Lanvin necklace; Salvatore Ferragamo heels.
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Arriving at the Fox Searchlight Golden Globe Awards party in Beverly Hills.
On Lopez: Marchesa dress and clutch; Lorraine Schwartz jewelry; Christian Louboutin heels.
- 16 of 17
At the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party in Hollywood.
On Lopez: Zuhair Murad dress; Swarovski clutch; H. Stern jewelry.
- 17 of 17
Receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On Lopez: Dior top and skirt; Brian Atwood heels.


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Inside the Vatican
Published On: Feb 11 2013 01:13:12 PM EST Updated On: Apr 25 2014 03:12:16 PM EDT
Images of the square outside Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City are immediately recognizable. Now, take a peek at some views of the Vatican that aren't as familiar.
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First, I am new to Buddhism. Second, I apologize if I seem frank. I am not trying to be rude. Rather, this is the best way I know on how to phrase discussion and get back results.
The first part of the Noble Eightfold Path says that we must have right (correct) understanding.
I have been trying to understand Buddhism and have arrived at two possible conclusions.
Buddhism seems, most logically, to be a methodology of detachment. The world is suffering. Thus, to alive our suffering, we must detach from it as suffering arises from our cravings.
However, I am perplexed. Why then do some people define Buddhism as non-attachment rather than detachment? And, are not the two different goals, two different methodologies, with different destinations?
Detachment would declare this world illusion. Thus, ultimate Nirvana would be to 'rise above' or 'go beyond' this world. We must let go of both forms of craving, aversion and attachment. Only then do we no longer bind ourselves to the realms of time and space.
However, others seem to say that Buddhism is a journey to the present. That our goal is not to deny ourselves this world. But rather that we are to find 'enlightenment in the moment.' To more or less love the world and accept the world as it is, including its faults.
That a glass that in the future shows its impermanence by falling of the table and breaking. One still appreciates the glass in the moment even though we know it is not permanent.
To me, these ideas seem contradictory in both their destination and their practices. As such, what is Buddhism?
Option A:
We are to neither attach ourselves to or avert ourselves from the universe of time and space (the illusion.) Instead, we are to let it melt away and then we move on to a state of being that is beyond desire and its illusory worlds. It is when we become supremely indifferent to everything of the illusion that we truly unhook ourselves from this wheel of suffering.
Option B:
Enlightenment is in the moment and we are to learn to love things as they are where we are. Everything else is the illusion as it is just us projecting our goals (desires) onto the future.
Option A says Option B is incorrect as Option B is falling in love with the illusion.
Option B says Option A is incorrect as Option A is attaching oneself to the desire of achieving enlightenment. It is averting the world as it is and longing instead for a state of being it hopes to achieve in the future.
Which Buddhism is the real Buddhism? As many documentaries and articles I have been reading have been, in more or less words, promoting Option A and Option B separately. It seems to me one of the two perspectives has a misguided idea of Buddhism.
It seems some also phrase this as detachment vs compassion. This is still very confusing to me. As if the goal is to detach, how then do we have compassion?
Some say that the goal is not total detachment, but only detaching from desire.
Yet, this still confuses me. As the goal clearly seems to me to be the breaking of the reincarnation cycle. This is the goal because this world is seen as suffering and we must break our attachments to it so that we are not born here again after we die.
How then do we care for the world, if our goal is to leave it and never come back to it again?
Buddhavistas are those who pretty much reach enlightenment but do not go all the way. They stay back to help others find the way. Perhaps this is the perfect balance of detachment and compassion. Yet, it bars them from their own reward until all have found it too. And that could take thousands of years. Many in this world aren't even looking for Nirvana. Are we expected to wait for all of them?
This is seen as noble in some Buddhist traditions. However, is this necessary? The Buddha himself, as far as I can tell, did not do this.
The Buddha saw formalizing a teaching, a path to enlightenment, as well enough. He spent the remainder of his life teaching his teaching and creating his monastery. His disciples then continue teaching his teaching after his death. After his death, the Buddha went on to Nirvana and did not stay behind to help others get there.
I think he was wise to not deny himself his reward, and rather realize that those who also want it are those who care to learn from his teachings and fallow the path he created.
If the goal is really to detach from the world, as it appears to be; then how can compassion (beyond teaching Buddha's teaching in the time we have left in this life) really be seen as a good thing? It appears to me to be exactly what Buddhism is trying to unhook, not promote. For, if we love this world and those in it, how then are we to leave it and them?
Another way of looking at this, I was raised Christian. I had to have a gut-check that I won't be going to the same place my family will be after death. They will either reincarnate on Earth or on some 'heavenly' realm that is still part of time and space, still part of the illusion and of the suffering; of desire and of craving.
Many talk about freedom to fallow our own desires. Others talk about freedom to fallow the will (the desire) of the Christian God. Buddhism is different because it teaches us to have true freedom; freedom from desire.
In seeking freedom from desire, my goal is a place (state of being) without desire and without suffering. That is not where my family is trying to go. I will, if I succeed in my goal, go somewhere different than they.
How is it that I am to wait for them? Wait for them and a large chunk of the world that isn't even seeking Nirvana? Rather, they are seeking the exact opposite.
Better that I find my way to Nirvana and leave the teaching to them should they seek to find it also. I am not my brother's keeper. It is not my duty to make sure everyone fallows the path; only that I fallow it and that it is open to those who also desire the same goal.
Compassion beyond caring to keep Buddha's path open seems trivial, pointless, and contradictory to Buddha's teachings.
But what of war? What of abortion? What of death and theft?
What of it?
This world, and all within it, are impermanent. Suffering binds those who are causing it to stay here. Better they understand that sooner than later so that they can eventually turn from their cruel ways and abandon this world as well.
My interfering in the world's suffering, as far as I can tell, only achieves two things.
1: It attaches me to the world that it is my goal to detach from.
2: It shields those causing suffering from the natural karmic reaction to their own actions.
1: I am acting counterproductive and getting in the way of my own enlightenment.
2: I am enabling suffering in the world; and acting as an enabler for others to attach to the world and get in the way of themselves reaching enlightenment.
If I am completely off the mark, please tell me. For I would honestly like to know.
I will try to list my questions in pieces also; in hopes that doing so will make them easier to answer.
1: How do Buddhists reconcile detachment and compassion?
2: Is the goal of Buddhism to reach a state of being beyond the illusion (world of time, space, and suffering) or is it to find contentment within the illusion that comes from realizing that the illusion is an illusion?
3: If the goal is to detach and go to a state of being beyond this world and its suffering, doesn't having compassion for the world fetter us to it? The Buddha himself left his wife and son to seek enlightenment. Does this not indicate that enlightenment is the priority and everything else second if counted at all?
4: Some seem to see Bodhisatta, if I am understanding the term correctly, as an idea to aspire to as they deny themselves from breaking the reincarnation cycle to stay back and help others reach enlightenment. But the Buddha himself goes on to Nirvana. If the station of Bodhisatta is necessary, why then did the Buddha not exemplify it?
5: Or is it not necessary but rather something some Buddhists still feel compelled to do out of compassion? If so, is this not compassion holding them back from their goal? The very goal that the Buddha achieved.
6: It seems that reaching Nirvana, achieving enlightenment, is an individual goal. Buddha achieved it, then created the formalized teaching so that others could fallow and achieve it also. It seems that the Buddha demonstrated compassion by teaching the teaching. It is the teaching that leads to salvation from suffering as it allows us all to detach from the world that is suffering. Does not compassion beyond teaching the teaching only attach us to this world? Why should we wait for everyone to fallow when the path is open if they want to fallow?
7: Does not compassion enable suffering? If someone is about to hurt themselves, they are about to learn that there is a reaction to what they do. By interfering; it seems I am doing two things. One, shielding the person from the lesson they are about to teach themselves. Two, acting out of attachment by caring for them and their suffering. This further binds myself to them, their suffering, and thus this world. Is it not wiser to let them teach themselves and detach myself while I continue on my journey?
8: Is compassion in Buddhism really something the Buddha teaches? Or is this a misunderstanding of his teachings that were added in long after his death? In all fairness I have only read the Dhammapada once. But almost all of it is about how foolish it is to have cravings, desires, and attachments. I don't remember reading anything about compassion for others outside of teaching the teaching. Perhaps I should read the book again.
9: Many Buddhists write about compassion. Does the Buddha? I don't dispute the four noble truths or the eightfold path. Rather, I have yet to read any work from Buddha that would suggest that compassion is a teaching of his. It seems he wrote a lot. Should I look outside the Dhammapada for this answer?
10: If so, which text of the Buddha teaches compassion and logically integrates it with the goals of detachment? They seem such polar and apposite ideas and goals. I don't know how to reconcile them.
Thank you.


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Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice
A Word to Students
Whether your goal is to become more marketable in a highly competitive workplace or to advance your existing career in the criminal justice system, the Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSCCJ) at Florida Atlantic University can provide you with the tools to achieve your ambitions. This comprehensive program focuses on the two critical dimensions of the criminal justice system—understanding and responding to crime, from both theoretical and operational perspectives. Students progress through a solid foundation of applied theory and research courses that are focused on analyzing the causes and prevalence of crime, along with evaluating evidence-based approaches for preventing and responding to criminal behavior. As a graduate of this program, you will be well suited for a wide range of professional opportunities in the criminal justice field that seek to:
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Students will acquire a foundation of theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practices, implementation strategies, and professional values necessary to succeed in the criminal justice field, either as practitioners, policy-makers, or researchers. Coursework focuses on understanding theoretical explanations of crime, applying theory to real-life crime problems, as well as evaluating criminal justice policies and practices. In addition to a substantive focus on policing, the correctional system, and juvenile justice, coursework addresses such critical contemporary issues as progressive leadership, organizational culture, examination of ethical considerations, and the role of gender, race/ethnicity, and class in the criminal justice system. The purpose of the program is to prepare well-informed and highly-qualified graduates who can effectively:
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• Bold sterling silver and genuine pietersite elongated ring
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Humane Meat? No Such Thing
Should we eat animals? My disability gives me a unique view on the oxymoron "humane meat."
posted Mar 27, 2011
Page 2
Niman and others have suggested that vegans aren't helping to change the world's food production systems, whereas conscientious omnivores are. I'd suggest it's the opposite. For a movement that supposedly advocates eating minimal meat, the humane-meat movement sure praises and glorifies the stuff. Trendy, socially conscious events serve sustainable animal products, while articles praise the mouth-watering taste, showing glamorous photos of young hipster butchers and "compassionate" farmers.
What is the best way to protect the rights of those who are not physically autonomous but are vulnerable and interdependent?
Of course all of these articles mention that we need to be eating less and better meat, but one doesn't have to be an advertising expert to see that what is being sold is "delicious" animal foods—not lentils and kale.
A 2008 Carnegie Mellon University study showed that avoiding red meat and dairy one day a week achieves more greenhouse gas reductions than eating a week's worth of local food. A vegan is also able to easily buy organic and local or, if that's not possible, to buy fair trade, which, according to the book The Ethics of What We Eat, is arguably just as environmentally vital as buying organic and local, if you are considering issues of global justice.
Studies show that being a vegan or a conscientious omnivore (whose animal products actually come from small, sustainable farms) are about equal in environmental impact.
But I believe we must weigh environmental impact against other ethical concerns, such as the treatment of animals and global access to food and water. The more important question is which diet is more just for animals and more realistic for a planet with nearly 7 billion people and counting? The Worldwatch Institute calls for quick replacement of livestock products with other protein sources. Scientists are not saying that sustainable animal farming can't be done, but many are saying that it's not a realistic solution for a planet as hungry as ours.
Another argument is that veganism isn't realistic—that we can't grow sustainable food without farm animals. The principal claim is that manure is necessary to maintain soil fertility. But animals do not need to be killed to poop. In fact all of the supposedly necessary effects that domesticated animals have on crops and soil come while the animals are alive.
Even if a practical argument in favor of eating small amounts of meat can be made—whether based on soil fertility or on use of land that can't support food crops—that doesn't answer the moral argument against it.
In fact, vegan-organic farming may be a realistic option. Farmers in the United Kingdom have developed a certification process for "stock-free" farming, a term that "broadly means any system of cultivation that excludes artificial chemicals, livestock manures, animal remains," and so forth. Humans have not prioritized farming methods that minimize harm to animals so we actually have no idea what is possible. That animal-free methods are not widely known says more about the belief in human domination over animals than it does about the possibility of sustainable, compassionate agriculture.
Humane meat is an oxymoron—and it seems that its advocates' consciences know it. Conscientious omnivores appear to struggle with their own empathy toward animals: From Michael Pollan overcoming his hesitance and shame in hunting a wild boar, to newspaper stories on the new meat movement where people try to overcome their uneasiness about killing animals by taking a butchering class, to the Nimans' own stories of their grief when sending their animals to slaughter.
Just the Facts: Should We Eat Meat? We can feed the world and still eat meat—but only a little bit.
Ex-cattlemen like Lyman and Brown show that empathy should be something that human beings have toward animals not only while they are living on our farms or after they have been killed and are on our plates being thanked or prayed over, but at that crucial moment when the decision is made to kill them for food or not.
Nicolette Hahn Niman and I agree about the horrors of factory farming. We also agree on the importance of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. But I don't agree with her that slaughtering sentient animals for food is righteous—even if it's done on a small family farm.
There are better ways to be humane.
Sunaura Taylor wrote this article for Can Animals Save Us?, the Spring 2011 issue of YES! Magazine. Sunaura is an artist, activist, and writer. She's currently working on a book on animal rights and disability, forthcoming from the Feminist Press. For more of her work visit sunaurataylor.org.
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