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Show bbeRIaA| Intelligence f de Becker, a security consultant, has figured out how to predict violence based on a computer program that mimics human intuition—that gut feeling that tells you you’re in danger. Federal and state officers use his program to assess threats to govemors, members ofCongress and Supreme Court justices. But de Becker—whose book The Gift of Fear is due out next month from Little, Brown—has modified the program to help abused women. “Women who are abused by angry husbands need the technology more than governors,” abused women questions such as these: “Did he ever destroy weddingphotos,cutuppictures, destroy a wedding gown or break things in front of you that have value to you? Has there been a major act of violence widely re- ported in the media in the last 14 days? Did he witness or experience violence in his childhood? |g Do you have an intuitive feeling you are at risk?” The computer matches the answers with those in cases where the abuse ended in homicide, then writes a report with probabilities. “MOSAIC20 workslike a de Beckertold funnel,” said de us. His program Becker. “You for domestic Fabuse, called Ou. and Nicole ‘Simpson in pourthecases in, MOSAIC®-20, RiOeans sienna hens potoedpieaer and they come predicts which abusers are most back in three piles: those you can likelyto kill their spouses.It was forget about, those you mustact used afterthe fact by investiga- on, and the pile to think about.” MOSAIC-20 currently is being tors in both O.J. Simpson trials. Based on the investigators’ in- field tested by law-enforcement put, O.J. scored 10 outof a pos- officers in Los Angeles County sible 10 points in termsofthe and Indiana. By Dec.1, it will be likelihood of homicide, said de available to police departments Becker. “If you'd done that pre- and prosecutors across the U.S. diction two weeks before the Also in development is MOSAICmurders,” he added, “you could 50, which focuses on abused have looked Nicole Brown children who are at risk. And de Simpsonin the eye and said, Becker is working on a system to “You're in situation with a very provide this technology directhigh likelihood for homicide.’” ly to people over the Internet, Remembering the Reason for Memorial Day armella LaSpada, the woman behind the national “tie a yellow ribbon” duringtheIranian hostage crisis of1979-81, has a new mission: She’s urging everyAmerican to take aminute at 3 pam. EDT each Memorial Day to rememberthose who diedin wars (orconflicts or ofterrorism)since the country’s beginnings in 1776. Smoke aoe 30 don’t know anything about war,” LaSpada told us. “One minute is the only time this country will be unitedfor an important purpose—showing respect. The Netherlands does it, Israeldoesit. So does Turkey. The U.S. shoulddo it too.” Toinitiate her effort, Congressional leaders will light a candle at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., at 3 p.m. EDT next Tuesday. Assisted by Medal ofHonor winners, governors will do the same at numerous state capitals around the country. LaSpada’s organization, No Greater Love, has provided the District of Columbia andthe 50 states with displays forthe candlesto be used on Tuesday. It will be sent to TV and radio stations, airports, bus stations, malls, casinos, racetracks andballparks, to be played at 3 p.m. EDT on MemorialDay, May 26. | Discontinued & Active China, Crystal, Flatware and Collectibles Call toll-free today for FREE lists of eein your ey |