We couldn't find a copy of your book "How to be Invisible" in any bookstore here in Ottawa. We've just been reading a copy which we borrowed from the Library (unbelievably...only one copy for borrowing purposes available for all of Ottawa's Libraries).

Apparently it is not included in your list of available e-books for downloading. It would be preferable, and so much more practical, to download the book in PDF format, of course.

Are there any possibilities in the near future of having it formatted as an e-book?

Thank you for the suggestions in "How to be Invisible." It's incredible how many of them are absolutely essential for everyday use.

Yours truly, Jeinie and friends

... HTBI (2004) cannot be downloaded because North American rights are owned by Saint Martin's Press, New York, NY. However, they do allow me to offer a free download of the 2000 version.

"A patent application filed by IBM engineers reveals the company's developing technology that will allow governments to shut down the engines of private automobiles via traffic signals. It's like Skynet... only much worse."

Submitted Link #1: http://jalopnik.com/5546841/ibm-wants-to-control-y...

Contact the for the state of NY. They will have a procedure for obtaining a delayed birth certificate.

(1) Buy your favorite liquor in bulk and reduce the number of times you have to go to the liquor store.

(2) Take someone with you whose birth date you don't mind giving away, pay cash and have them show their ID for the purchase.

(3) Go to different liquor stores to stock up.

Carding is a good thing in my opinion because I don't need minors who are already acting ridiculous under the influence of youth, testosterone and other hormones to have the added excuse of alcohol.

The problem is this: Today (technically tomorrow, July 1st), my state requires DOB and acceptable photo ID to purchase alcohol. Various retailers disagree whether a passport is acceptable photo ID. One bartender in Illinois showed me a book published by Miller with photo examples of all 50 states drivers licenses and *multiple* foreign countries IDs. There was no example of a passport OR a passport ID card!!!!

Tomorrow, who knows? Some of the retailers have cash registers that won't move forward without entry of a DOB. Where is that info being stored? For how long? Combined with what other info? Who is to say that next year they won't require the actual DL number? And store it where? What database is my entire purchase history of alcohol, guns, controversial books, contraceptive devices, etc. going into? How are retailers combining the data entry info with their video surveillance? At what point does a citizen need to turn into an activist and stop this trend from continuing?

In regard to the alcohol issue: one time I went to a liquor store to buy wine and I was told I needed to show my ID. I was a bit dumbfounded since I'm over 21 and I look over 21. I was told that everyone who busy liquor, regardless of the age, must show ID.

I explained that I did not like showing my DL to anyone; she said she just needs to see the DOB. I hesitated and was about to walk out but I thought it wouldn't look good. SO I showed her my DL and she looked at the DOB and typed the DOB numbers in the register and the transaction went through. I vowed to never return to that place again.

Other liquor stores I know of do not ask for any ID whatsoever and I now go to those.

I cannot stand this modern phenomenon of copying or scanning DL's and IDs. Regrettably, in some situations it is almost unavoidable. The only exception is a nominee or using fake IDs, which are illegal and risky.

Does anyone know how long a hotel that makes a copy of your DL or ID hold it on file? Are they required to shred it? Can you ask them or force them to shred it after your visit is over?

The thought that my DL is copied at various places makes my blood boil but, alas, when you are young and uneducated, you make mistakes.

We recently found out that my father is eligible for veterans benefits for his service during the Korea War. They are denying benefits because we cannot provide proof that he was born.

My father was born in Buffalo, NY in 1931. He has a birth certificate from the hospital, but not from the city of Buffalo. He has a valid SS#. His NYS driver's license is expired. He has an honorable discharge certificate from the US Coast Guard. However, they will not release benefits until we have a birth certificate.

We applied for a birth certificate and supplied all of the above documentation, but the City of Buffalo refuses to issue one on the grounds that they "have no record" of the birth.

Are there any other options open to us?

Regarding ID laws in general: I am *extremely* concerned about liquor laws in Indiana and Illinois effective July 1st. I'm getting mixed reviews from various retailers about what is required and what they retain in their databases. Indiana and Illinois both are requiring photo ID (driver's license preferred) in order to purchase alcohol. Some of the retailers I've questioned record the birthdate, others only "check" the birthday. ALL are required to card everybody, whether they are 21 or 101! Some require an actual driver's license, while others are happy with any real-looking ID that shows a birthdate (which the passport ID card does).

Is the second problem a national problem or is it limited to the 2 states I'm in at the moment?

I would flatly refuse any demand to photocopy my ID, any ID, claiming potential identity theft issues. If the clerk says "it's the law," demand that they cite the specific statute, by number, and show you a copy of it. And then I would STILL refuse to hand over my ID for photocopying and would sleep in the woods first.

This is a problem when traveling internationally, of course, because many nations, particularly in Eastern Europe, require that you surrender your passport to the desk clerk. In many countries the hotel will keep your passport during your stay, and in some cases, they must notify state security agencies and pass the passport information on to them.

This is a very good reason to have a duplicate passport, particularly in politically volatile countries where you might have to make a quick exit in the event of political or social unrest, and if the government is holding your passport, you will have substantial difficulty exiting the country or entering another.

If you must leave your (duplicate) passport with the desk, try to leave the one WITHOUT the entry visa if you can. That way you will have the one with the entry visa in your possession (physically hidden and attached to your body at all times) should things go south. This may not work, but having ANY passport is better than having no passport if trouble looms.

Domestically, however, you merely need decide between convenience (allowing photocopying) and security (finding another hotel). I always opt for the latter. It can be a pain in the butt sometimes, but in the long run, learning good privacy habits by sticking to them even when it's inconvenient is a good idea.

Generally, the motel is not to blame for requiring photo ID, and they face legal sanction if they fail to obtain the required ID.

I have a close friend who has a business that cashes my checks that may be helpful for your readers. He deposits my check and the next day withdraws the cash for me. I pay him $20.00 for the “service”. This has passed the muster of two Lawyers and CPAs.

The “fee” gives him something for his service and prevents it “from getting old’ for doing a favor. Should he be audited the “fee” also ads legitimacy. Obviously you must be able to trust this person.

I had an unsettling experience with Travelodge when they said they had to keep a photocopy of my passport for 1-7 years for their corporate audit. Now Best Western and Travelodge are both on my list of hotels to avoid!

Thanks for the info about BW, and also for naming the hotels that did not keep id numbers. In general, I think that upscale hotels and hotels in low-crime areas are less likely to have these invasive check-in procedures.

... I agree with your last sentence, Marissa. I stay in upscale hotels on a regular basis and have never yet had my passport copied.

When I checked in they asked for ID and credit card. I used my employee ID, which only has my name, photo, and company name. They said they had to see a passport or DL because "our city requires us to document an ID number for all our guests in case they need to get it later" (ha ha).

Because I was afraid I might not be able to find another hotel room, I showed my passport and my passport number was put into their computer. (Maybe I should have asked them what the statute number was or some other question that (hopefully would have made them realize I was not buying their story, but I was exhausted after an 11-hour day on my feet in the hot sun).

Last fall I posted onto this site how another Best Western told me they "needed" a DL for ID because they "had" to scan the photo into their system. I politely told them twice that a passport is a valid Government-issued ID and the clerk dropped it. I'm starting to believe ID documentation in the computer is a Best Western policy.

Earlier this month I took a vacation to Colorado staying in 4 hotels in 4 cities (two Doubletrees, one Marriott, one Holiday Inn) and while a couple of those places asked to see ID, apparently they only checked to see if the name on the ID matched the name on the reservation.

... I do not stay at Best Westerns but I am very curious to know if this is a Best-Western policy everywhere. Can some of you readers help out here?

9a I would put Sole Proprietor or OTHER: and write in LLC. (It says if 8a is yes see instructions, but the instructions don't say much about it either.

16 - Other and fill in the blank.

FYI: You can get an EIN fastest using the online form (see link of #7723) or call it in.

The link below is the SS-4 form in pdf.

JJ - The following message I will send will be the html instructions link.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf...

In the vehicle was myself, a properly licensed driver from a far-away State; my wife who only had her passport as an ID; and our 2-year old son in his car seat.

After fixing the move permit in the window, showing the officer the title of the car, and giving him our IDs, the educational part began.

He didn't like my wife using a passport as an ID and kept asking for a driver's license or State ID. My wife does not drive and has not in over a decade. She had a State ID in Illinois a few years back, and a license in Florida 20 years ago, but that is it.

The officer wanter her SSN, which she said "I don't have it memorized" and had no other paperwork with it written down. He questioned this a dozen different ways, not buying her story but she stuck to her guns (and we do NOT have anything with the SSN written on it).

His problem? He can't verify identity using a passport! It doesn't contain an SSN nor an address, and he has NO ACCESS to the Federal system that records passport data! Neither of our names showed up in Virginia's database by name & DOB. And for some unknown reason, my wife's old but still valid Illinois ID did NOT come back by name and DOB. He was stymied because she wasn't in any computer system he had access to. (Don't be fooled by the 2-year old son. We also have 20+ year old children, so have had almost half-a-century to get "in the system".)

In the end, his suggestion was for my wife to write her SSN and address in the passport. :-) Somehow, I just don't think that is going to happen!

... Excellent information for us all, Charles. Well done!

Yesterday I was in the DMV and proposed the following scenario.

I own a computer consulting business from out of State. I travel to areas where my clients are and frequently stay for a few months at a time. Since I'm only here for a few months, then gone, I don't get a driver's license in this State. (They agreed this was correct.)

For tax purposes and the fact it is just plain cheaper for me, I usually just buy some cheap old car off of Craigslist instead of renting one, then sell it again when I leave. How hard is it for me to register that car in my business' name, an out-of-State LLC with no local presence?

I was told to just bring the form from the IRS with the FEIN and the LLC papers and an ID that matches the name of the person authorized to sign for the LLC. (This person does NOT show up in the database. The new title & registration is in the name of the LLC.) They also need an address where the vehicle will be garaged.

I said I change garaging locations every month or two, as for the next six months my territory ranges from Front Royal east to DC then north to Baltimore. The DMV person said "pick one and don't bother changing it with us".

My next question was "what proof do I need of the address?" Answer. "None. Just tell us what it is."

Make sure to pick an address NOT in city limits and the registration will just show the COUNTY where the vehicle is to be garaged.

As for the FEIN number...it is a GOOD IDEA TO GET ONE! Virginia, like many other States, can look up vehicle records by owner SSN. Any competant PI is going to have my SSN if looking for me, and it would quickly turn me up and expose my LLC name. However, since they don't know about the LLC, they don't know about the FEIN. A search by my SSN shows NOTHING!

... Comments about VA from a PI friend:

"If I'm already looking for someone - I'll have their full SSN in the dossier eventually. Sooner rather than later.

"Looking up his SSN would not find a vehicle if the vehicle is registered to the LLC, not him. If he has an FEIN for the LLC registered vehicle(s) it might not be as simple and quick to locate his vehicle information.

"Does Virginia REQUIRE an SSN or an FEIN to register vehicles?

" According to: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa14.pdf Yes. Under the Privacy Notice and Ownership Information sections they make that clear. 'Any person who refuses to supply the required information will be denied a certificate of title and or registration.'

"Directly after that sentence, is this disgusting abomination: 'Title and registration records may be disseminated in accordance with §§ 46.2-208through 46.2-214, to business, law enforcement or authorized government entities.'

"Charles is correct though when they say having his SSN will not reveal the existence of an NMLLC - or the vehicle(s) registered to it.

"It is certainly worth trying to talk the Virginia DMV clerk out of strictly enforcing this requirement. Another reader may have an effective ruse/story. But having an FEIN for a fall back plan may be the only way to go for VA resident readers."