Originally Posted by Wilbur

About five or six years ago I requested this report. Either a post here on FT described the process, or maybe View From The Wing or Flying Fish. It sounded interesting, so I jumped through the hoops and eagerly awaited the report.

Anyway, when it arrived, it was a mess. First, it was a computer printout comprised of a very low signal-to-noise ratio, with a significant portion of the report being gobbledygook, eg. [((($*****...VVV#!!!)4^!..].

Second, it wasn't particularly complete; when I compared it to a recent year's worth of travel, the report lacked several entrances and exits from the US as well as omitting entirely visits to various other countries. Furthermore, I seem to recall a few domestic flights or perhaps hotel stays did appear, but once again, less than half of my actual travel.

In summary, if that one report represented Big Government's attempt to track my movements, I congratulate the Government on doing a job consistent with most of the rest of their other endeavors.