Homestead mailing list

[Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net>]

On May 30, 2008, at 11:31 AM, Don Bowen wrote:

> > Maybe it would be smart to get fingerprints of all criminals, even  
> > as  they are becoming criminals, not later.
>
> If you have ever been in the military, your fingerprints are on file  
> with the FBI and in recent years a DNA sample.

I was in the military, and later there was a reason to get another set  
of prints made and submitted.

Folks where I used to work (NIST) were involved with the development  
of fingerprint automated reading and classification systems.  It turns  
out that it's not a simple thing to accomplish.  A neighbor was  
involved in that effort for many years till he retired in the 1980's.  
Occasionally on those forensic tv shows or FBI case solving ones there  
is mention of a fingerprint match coming from the new automated  
systems that helps solve a crime, or a previously  long-time-unsolved  
one.

Related factoid:  It appears that zebras have unique stripe patterns  
and for folks who are familiar with the animals, can be told one from  
the other because of it.

Roy Morgan
k1lky AT earthlink.net
Lovettsville, VA 20180