Dear Mr. Brittain, Maybe I'm reading something into your message, but I usually detect a little animosity in your postings directed at the Shelby County Rootsweb Site and the good folks who run it for us. While I share your concern that "identity theft" can be a problem, thieves can still get the information - with or without the assistance of the internet - it's all a matter of public record. I think it's WONDERFUL that Ray Jackson and the other folks of Shelby County have created a link for the birth records on the County Website! If you want to bitch, send an e-mail to Rootsweb or to the Texas Office of Vital Records, since they just made birth and death record indexes for the ENTIRE STATE of Texas available on their website! Three cheers for Rootsweb and the great State of Texas! You need to get over whatever it is that has you ticked off and stop taking shots at a good group of folks who work very hard to enable those of us out of state to do much of our research on-line. I live in Maryland and have only had the good fortune to go to Center and visit the Historical Society and Library once in the last 2 years. Get over it. Nikki Neal Allen AtlsShrggd@aol.com Date: Sat, 20 May 2000 06:25:52 -0400 From: "Doyle T. Brittain" <athensga@ix.netcom.com> To: TXSHELBY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Birth Indexes Folks I love this website and most of what has been posted on it to date. However, to post these birth indexes is to "mess with the living in Texas" which is a bad idea. It facilitates "Identity Theft" which is becoming very popular these days and causing a lot of people a lot of trouble. I suggest the birth indexes be limited to those who are no longer living. Doyle T. Brittain