Vital records provide detailed personal information about a person. For example, birth certificates contain a person’s complete name, the name of his or her parents, and their nationalities. Obviously, this document reveals much about a person.
I’m often surprised then as to why people ignore these vital records when conducting background checks. Some even look at various employment or school records for information that are explicitly stated in single-page birth certificates.
Maybe people ignore vital documents because the information contained therein are the basic ones you could easily get from verifying one's e-mail address or blog page. However, those sources of information are provided for by the person himself so there is a big chance that the data may not be accurate or complete due to inadvertence.
Keep in mind that many do not trust the people that they communicate with on the Internet. Hence, it would not be surprising if some of the personal details that they post on the Internet are false. In fact, this is even advisable to prevent identity theft, which is rampant in cyberspace. Official records are still the best sources of information since they are verified.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Who Are You?
Are you fond of using Yahoo! Messenger, or Windows Messenger? I love chatting with people I do not know, especially if they’re from another country. I learn a lot of things about people and culture through online chat networks.
Several years ago, I got close with one of my chatmates from Hong Kong. Her name is Jennifer Hwang. We’ve been chatting for about a year then. In one of our conversations, she asked me if I wanted to take a vacation in their country. Although I had no immediate plans of going to that part of the world, I still said yes because I really did want to see Victoria Harbor.
She offered to be my tour guide. I thought that was great considering that I don’t know anybody in Hong Kong. However, I only half-heartedly considered her offer. Even though we’ve been chatting for quite some time then, I still had doubts as to her identity. Years have passed and I didn’t push through with the vacation plan. I guess I should’ve just checked some of her vital records, such as her birth certificate, to see if she was really telling the truth about herself.
Well, I guess it’s too late for that. She already migrated to Canada.
Several years ago, I got close with one of my chatmates from Hong Kong. Her name is Jennifer Hwang. We’ve been chatting for about a year then. In one of our conversations, she asked me if I wanted to take a vacation in their country. Although I had no immediate plans of going to that part of the world, I still said yes because I really did want to see Victoria Harbor.
She offered to be my tour guide. I thought that was great considering that I don’t know anybody in Hong Kong. However, I only half-heartedly considered her offer. Even though we’ve been chatting for quite some time then, I still had doubts as to her identity. Years have passed and I didn’t push through with the vacation plan. I guess I should’ve just checked some of her vital records, such as her birth certificate, to see if she was really telling the truth about herself.
Well, I guess it’s too late for that. She already migrated to Canada.
Friday, October 20, 2006
As Good as the Real One?
I recently visited a friend of mine in their new house. The façade looked great and refreshing, but the furniture arrangement inside looked like a cut and paste job from their old apartment. I guess they spent more time on the paint than on the furniture lay out.
They were still fixing some things on the kitchen so I decided to spend some time with their daughter. She was very lively and kept on asking things. I then saw her opening up her account on My Space. She has about 100 friends on her list. Wow. I can’t imagine an 11-year old girl having that many friends. I asked her if she knows each of them. She said yes and started telling stories about each of them. I was surprised because she knows their full name, age, address, and all sorts of details that you could only know by verifying one’s vital records.
It then occurred to me that online communities such as My Space or Friendster could be an alternative or informal repository of vital records as far as birth, marital, and other personal details are concerned. Of course, they are not reliable or credible. But for those who just want to take a peak at the vital records of others, My Space and Friendster could somewhat quell that curiosity in them.
They were still fixing some things on the kitchen so I decided to spend some time with their daughter. She was very lively and kept on asking things. I then saw her opening up her account on My Space. She has about 100 friends on her list. Wow. I can’t imagine an 11-year old girl having that many friends. I asked her if she knows each of them. She said yes and started telling stories about each of them. I was surprised because she knows their full name, age, address, and all sorts of details that you could only know by verifying one’s vital records.
It then occurred to me that online communities such as My Space or Friendster could be an alternative or informal repository of vital records as far as birth, marital, and other personal details are concerned. Of course, they are not reliable or credible. But for those who just want to take a peak at the vital records of others, My Space and Friendster could somewhat quell that curiosity in them.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Honesty Needs a Policy
In a world where a man’s word or claim is just as good as that of another’s, the need and importance of evidence can never be sufficiently stressed. You should always have something that can back your words up.
The same thing is true with regard to your identity. Unless you’re a celebrity where everybody recognizes you despite layers of disguises, you can’t expect to process or consummate a transaction without showing any proof of your identity.
IDs, birth certificates, social security data, and other vital records have made transacting convenient and safe. Without it, fraud would be rampant.
Hey, I could be Michael Jackson if I want to without those vital records to prove me otherwise. Just imagine life without them. It would simply be chaotic. But then again, it might be great. Without my birth certificate, I could easily claim that I’m still in my early 20s. Unfortunately though, nature has a way of showing that you’re lying about your age. If only I had more hair…
The same thing is true with regard to your identity. Unless you’re a celebrity where everybody recognizes you despite layers of disguises, you can’t expect to process or consummate a transaction without showing any proof of your identity.
IDs, birth certificates, social security data, and other vital records have made transacting convenient and safe. Without it, fraud would be rampant.
Hey, I could be Michael Jackson if I want to without those vital records to prove me otherwise. Just imagine life without them. It would simply be chaotic. But then again, it might be great. Without my birth certificate, I could easily claim that I’m still in my early 20s. Unfortunately though, nature has a way of showing that you’re lying about your age. If only I had more hair…
Monday, October 16, 2006
Proof of Existence
Cyberspace was just blossoming when the Sandra Bullock thriller, The Net, made it to the box office. The movie was about an ordinary employee who inadvertently entered a prohibited Web site that contained very sensitive information about a crime.
For fear that Bullock might soon disclose what she saw to the authorities, the perpetrators of the felony decided to get rid of her. They first began by erasing her identity in all government and private databases. Of course, the first to go was her birth data. Everything else followed, from her social security information to her credit card records.
The movie made me realize how important vital records are. These documents are proofs of your existence! If you don’t have that many relatives or friends, then those records are the only ones that you could rely upon to show that you are who you really claim to be. Without them, you’re just another faceless John Doe...
For fear that Bullock might soon disclose what she saw to the authorities, the perpetrators of the felony decided to get rid of her. They first began by erasing her identity in all government and private databases. Of course, the first to go was her birth data. Everything else followed, from her social security information to her credit card records.
The movie made me realize how important vital records are. These documents are proofs of your existence! If you don’t have that many relatives or friends, then those records are the only ones that you could rely upon to show that you are who you really claim to be. Without them, you’re just another faceless John Doe...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Romancing the Stone
Reality TV shows are the IN thing right now as far as primetime television is concerned. I would probably need an extra paper if somebody would ask me to list all reality programs that are currently on air in various TV and cable channels.
“Survivor” has obviously edged out the others in gluing viewers to the tube. My favorite though, is “The Amazing Race”. However, of all the reality entertainment programs that I’ve come across with, Joe Millionaire struck me the most. This show is all about a guy who is depicted as the most eligible bachelor in America because of his wealth and good looks.
The competitors are several gorgeous women who are given time and opportunities to get to know Joe without the glitters. I sometimes wonder if they would like Joe without the “bling blings”. There are some men or women who marry for money. Not surprisingly, many of them divorce their spouses a few months or years thereafter.
If you think you’re partner just wants to romance the stones on your fingers, check out for possible divorce decrees under his or her name. This vital record might save your heart (and money) from unnecessary pains and losses.
“Survivor” has obviously edged out the others in gluing viewers to the tube. My favorite though, is “The Amazing Race”. However, of all the reality entertainment programs that I’ve come across with, Joe Millionaire struck me the most. This show is all about a guy who is depicted as the most eligible bachelor in America because of his wealth and good looks.
The competitors are several gorgeous women who are given time and opportunities to get to know Joe without the glitters. I sometimes wonder if they would like Joe without the “bling blings”. There are some men or women who marry for money. Not surprisingly, many of them divorce their spouses a few months or years thereafter.
If you think you’re partner just wants to romance the stones on your fingers, check out for possible divorce decrees under his or her name. This vital record might save your heart (and money) from unnecessary pains and losses.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Divorce Decree – A Fact of Life
I’m not really a fan of romance novels, but Richard Gere and Julia Roberts movies still sometimes make their way through my weekend DVD list. I guess there’s really a hopeless romantic in each of us that burns strongly when fanned by tales of love.
A divorce decree is virtually the proverbial “pail of water” for those who keep on dreaming that love stories always end up the way Danielle Steel wants them to. Indeed, a Stephen King novel is sometimes more believable than those rosy paperbacks that usually end up as New York Times’ #1 bestseller.
Vital records, such as divorce decrees, chronicle the various facts in our lives. Although it speaks of a period or moment that is sometimes worth forgetting, it shouldn’t be relegated to the “Recycle Bin” of our brain. The document may not tell a very desirable tale, but it is important (and sometimes entertaining, too) just the same.
A divorce decree is virtually the proverbial “pail of water” for those who keep on dreaming that love stories always end up the way Danielle Steel wants them to. Indeed, a Stephen King novel is sometimes more believable than those rosy paperbacks that usually end up as New York Times’ #1 bestseller.
Vital records, such as divorce decrees, chronicle the various facts in our lives. Although it speaks of a period or moment that is sometimes worth forgetting, it shouldn’t be relegated to the “Recycle Bin” of our brain. The document may not tell a very desirable tale, but it is important (and sometimes entertaining, too) just the same.
Monday, October 02, 2006
What are Vital Records?
Ok folks, listen up... :)
Vital records are called as such because they are made up of documents that document the most vital / important / fundamental moments in our lives. So what are they? They are birth, marriage and death records. These three were the original vital records but today we also include divorce records on the list.
Why one needs vital records is varied and complex. Some use it for business, some for personal reasons, and others just out of simple curiosity. But don't worry, we'll cover all these myriad details in my next posts. Stay tuned!
Vital records are called as such because they are made up of documents that document the most vital / important / fundamental moments in our lives. So what are they? They are birth, marriage and death records. These three were the original vital records but today we also include divorce records on the list.
Why one needs vital records is varied and complex. Some use it for business, some for personal reasons, and others just out of simple curiosity. But don't worry, we'll cover all these myriad details in my next posts. Stay tuned!
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