via thesunnews.net
Age 82, Young at Heart, Dr. Calkins pens his family history! Three cheers for the Doctor! Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
2012 Featured Collections - Ancestry.com
2012 Featured Collections - Ancestry.com
Does anyone know how long Ancestry will keep its door open on the free access to these collections?
Does anyone know how long Ancestry will keep its door open on the free access to these collections?
Fold3 - Historical military records
via fold3.com
I will begin the new year with no subscription to either "fold3" or ancestry.com. I don't have a subscription to company that archives and makes available the historical newspapers.
This next year, I will still have plenty to do, plenty of resources to check out. For example, I've hardly begun to skim the surface of www.findagrave.com or www.familysearch.org. I have access to Heritage Quest through the local library. There is Rootsweb, the "free arm" of Ancestry, and also www.usgenweb, where many volunteers have posted information.
When I'm not looking at the Internet at free resources, I can always tidy my "papers". I can scan photos and original documents, as well as notes and maps. I will aim to collaborate with family, get closer kin to take part of the load, and make memories with grandchildren.
All of the subscription services will still be available down the road, should I decide I can't live without them. I marvel at the giant companies that have managed to gather and make accessible, wonderful historic records and genealogy databases. I just choose do something else for now, for my own private reasons. And there is a ton I can do, for free! Maybe I'll even re-learn how to write a letter or a query.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Lawmakers urge VA to keep better records - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times
Lawmakers urge VA to keep better records
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2012 13:27:02 ESTLawmakers are pressing for digitization of military records, and better file sharing among agencies responsible for them, following media reports of missing or inaccurate unit records and the temporary disappearance of 250 files from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.
In November, media investigators at Pro Publica and the Seattle Times found that the Veterans Benefits Administration denied some claims because service members’ units had lost or inaccurately catalogued their field records, making it impossible to prove they had deployed or suffered a service-related medical condition.
And on July 3, a person walking in the woods behind the records repository in St. Louis found a dumped cache of 250 military records. A follow-on investigation found they’d been unloaded by a temporary employee who was supposed to have filed them.
Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J., said Tuesday that problems must be addressed by all three agencies that handle troop records, including the Defense Department, Veterans Affairs Department and the National Archives, to ensure the records are “initiated, maintained and transferred as efficiently as possible.”
“Often, a single record or notation can be the difference in whether a veteran’s disability claim is granted or denied. This is why we must work together to ensure that no records are lost, overlooked or otherwise unable to be associated with an individual disability claim,” said Runyan, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s disability assistance and memorial affairs panel.
Several initiatives are underway to digitize records and ensure accuracy. DoD and VA are piloting a $4 billion integrated electronic health records system to ease the transfer of information between the departments; VA is rolling out the Veterans Benefits Management System, a paperless claims processing system; and NRPC maintains an electronic system that the tracks records and automates work assignments.
Veterans’ advocacy groups pressed Congress during a Dec. 4 hearing on the matter to encourage creation of a Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record that would include an individual’s complete personnel and medical information starting from recruitment.
They also urged Congress to press the military to reconstruct lost unit records and lower the standard of proof for veterans to provide information related to claims when records are lost.
According to Vietnam Veterans of American, among 3,956 claims appeals of veterans represented by VVA between 2001 and 2003, 954 involved missing service records.
“There should be no way that the VBA should be able to deny their claims based on lack of military records,” said Michael Viterna, president of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates.
Ranking subcommittee member Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., said managers and the employees who handle military records must take their responsibilities seriously.
“Veterans and their families should not be burdened with the responsibility of recreating lost files, providing multiple copies of records that once were in DoD or VA’s possession,” McNerney said.
Runyan promised follow-on hearings to address the problems associated with lost and inaccurate unit records and closer scrutiny of record-keeping in general, which he considers vital to clearing VA’s disability claims backlog.
In a Wednesday email to Military Times, National Archives Chief Operating Officer Jay Bosanko said the administration is investigating the displacement of the records in St. Louis and the Justice Department is also looking into the matter.
He added that the records were recovered and affected veterans are being notified.
“The National Archives carries the responsibility for collecting and preserving the service records of America’s military members. This responsibility is serious. … It is also very great, with hundreds of millions of documents in our care. No one takes that responsibility more seriously than the archivist, David S. Ferriero, himself a Navy veteran,” Bosanko wrote.
Videos You May Be Interested In
Leave a Comment
With military cuts in the works, lawmakers may be disappointed that their concerns may get way-laid. However, it seems a worthy goal and I'm all for it. In the cited case, a temp worker obviously didn't want to work. What's wrong with that picture?
Saturday, December 08, 2012
Vintage Minolta Camera
Vintage Minolta Camera
Hope someone who sees this ad will want this camera or forward it to someone who wants it! It is an antique but still takes good pictures (35mm film).
Hope someone who sees this ad will want this camera or forward it to someone who wants it! It is an antique but still takes good pictures (35mm film).
Friday, December 07, 2012
Mormons and Gays
I hope this website helps me and others to understand that we should strive to love each other as we are loved by our Heavenly Father. We are each unique and challenged in this life by various circumstances. Standing together and believing in the worth of souls will help us get through hard times.
Tell John Boehner To Stop Purging Fiscal Conservatives! - FreedomWorks
Tell John Boehner To Stop Purging Fiscal Conservatives! - FreedomWorks
I will be calling his office tomorrow morning; you can be sure! I didn't think he would ever give in to the pressure of the President or some other person or group.
I will be calling his office tomorrow morning; you can be sure! I didn't think he would ever give in to the pressure of the President or some other person or group.
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
A Brief History of Florida - Education - Florida Facts - Florida Division of Historical Resources
A Brief History of Florida - Education - Florida Facts - Florida Division of Historical Resources
The rich tapestry of Florida's history is a great story to share with your family.
The rich tapestry of Florida's history is a great story to share with your family.
Welcome - Viva Florida 500
What is Viva Florida 500
Viva Florida 500 commemorates Florida's rich heritage and diverse cultural history through 2013, a significant milestone unlike any other in the history of the United States. As 2013 nears, this website reflects the plans, activities and events that will mark Florida's 500th anniversary, a statewide and year-long event. Learn More.
What's New
Expedition Florida 500: An adventure more than 500 years in the making
The 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León's landing on Florida's east coast has inspired the rediscovery of Florida's unique ecosystems, waterways and coastlines. Learn more about Expedition Florida 500.
The Viva Florida 500 time capsule is coming to a library near you
To encourage activities in every community in each of Florida's 67 counties, the Department has provided a Viva Florida 500 Time Capsule to every county library in the state. Learn More about the Viva Florida 500 time capsule
A Message from Governor Rick Scott
--->
via fla500.com
I'm just learning about this celebration. Perhaps you or your organization will want to support it and participate in the plans and activities.
Easiest Online Backup Service - Backblaze
via backblaze.com
Storage. With so much to lose if our files are compromised, we have to be concerned about backing up our files. This is one tool that seems fairly inexpensive. I suggest using two or three different tools for the purpose. This could be just one way to save your genealogy files. Consider researching other ways as well and make a commitment to protect your research.
WorldCat for genealogy [OCLC]
via oclc.org
The terminology a lot of us continue to use is "BOOKS", alas the age of technology is changing us everyday. We seek a lot of information from online sources, now. Digitized databases and resources abound. Fortunately, World Cat is not just about books. It's about all kinds of documents and all about research that we genealogists still need to do. I'm excited to use such an intensive tool. Tell us what you found at World Cat!
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Happy Birthday Gatherings are a Positive Experience
I had a great time, tonight, helping my son celebrate his birthday. He hadn't had the best week of his life, or of this day, but bravely, he chose to share with us this family tradition where we all (as many as are available) get together. I think my mom and dad had given us kids the example to follow. The only mistake they made was in letting me lead the way in planning the occasion!
I remember one time, my mother said I could invite some classmates to my tenth or eleventh birthday party. I invited the whole seventh grade! Seriously. I don't think my parents knew that I had done this. Just before the party, my mother had to go to the hospital--right now, I couldn't tell you what the situation was. Anyway, a neighbor offered to help my dad go ahead with the party.
Wow! Did she have a surprise! People just kept arriving. My dad was giving horse rides--no Thunder or maybe it was Stormy--was a full grown horse. The kids, my friends, most of whom I had known from first grade, were loving it. We didn't think about liability those days. Or at least, if my dad thought of it, he never shared with me. I'm pretty sure that our neighbor never forgot that day, as she tried to replenish the food table!
But tonight was different. My grandchildren (the three that live here in the area) were in good spirits. My son, Kevin, participated and my Birthday son's wish was to eat at a pizza parlour in Destin, (Graffitti), which was fine with all. After all, you only turn 49, once! Richard, the birthday boy, will always be young at heart. These days, I don't think any of us look at age quite the way my parents did, possibly. The older generation is living longer and healthier. It's hard for me to believe that just 17 years ago, when I turned fifty, I was sure I could care less. Surprise, surprise! A dark cloud of depression met me on the day of my birthday. I couldn't shake it; my body knew and my brain knew that I was about to head over the hill.
Whatever happens in life, it is good to know that you have family who care about you. Every birthday is good if you still have some family or friends to share it. And if you don't, then you just have to invite folks who need a laugh at your expense! This is Richard's son. He's seventeen now, but this picture is a couple of years old, I believe. 
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Links to Other Winter Activities
DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Links to Other Winter ActivitiesDLTK's Christmas Activities for Kids
Coloring Pages with a Winter Theme
FirstSchool Seasons Activities
KidZone Winter Themed Math Pages
MakingLearningFun Snow and Snowmen Activities
This is mostly for little kids or kids in the younger grades. However, if you're a grandma with company coming or a busy mom, you might want to plan ahead by acquiring green and red craft paper, glue sticks, glitter glue, and the odds and ends that some of the activities might require. Good luck and have fun!
Monday, November 12, 2012
The ILGenWeb Project
Links to the counties will be available soon.
The ILGenWeb Project's is located at:
http://illinoisgenweb.orgILGenWeb Announcements Calendar
Please use the calendar to announce reunions, genealogical & historical meetings, etc. Brief History of the State
The first Europeans to explore what is now Illinois were Frenchmen Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, who reached the area in 1673. The area was controlled by the French until 1763, and was then controlled by the British. In 1778 it came under the control of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Territory of Illinois was created by an act of Congress in 1809. On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state admitted to the union.
For more in-depth history of the state, be sure to visit the The Illinois History Project.
Available Counties
The following counties are available for adoption:
Bureau, Edwards, Ford, Gallatin, Hardin, Henry, Jackson, Massac, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Putnam, Rock Island, Saline, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash and Whiteside. If you are interested in adopting one of the above counties, please visit the adoptions page for more information.
Last Update: Wednesday, 24-Oct-2012 22:16:48 EDT
This is a wonderful example of an USGenWeb page. I just discovered that one of my former students in the Center for Lifelong Learning is the State Coordinator for Illinois! I love how non-fussy and easy to use it is.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Stardock: Fences 2.0 is now available!
via stardock.com
You may be wondering, "What is this"?!! I stumbled across the free version of this program a few years ago and used it for a while. The idea of organizing and simplifying the Desktop provides a sense of being able to exercise a little control on an ever expanding number of icons and options.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Vintage Minolta Camera
Check out this website I found at okaloosa.craigslist.org
De-cluttering cleans out corners and makes money. Sometimes.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Turkish book on Darwin sparks outrage
A series of books for primary schoolchildren, describing Charles Darwin as a Jew with a big nose who kept the company of monkeys and other historical figures in anti-Semitic terms, has caused outrage in Turkey amid fears of rising religious intolerance.
A teachers’ union is taking legal action over the distribution of the books last week to about 1,000 schoolchildren in the Maltepe district of Istanbul. The local education authority, which approved the books and ultimately answers to the central government, has denied knowledge of their content.
More
On this topic
- Turkish musician accused of Islam insults
- EU lambasts Turkey over freedoms
- Syrian shelling leaves Erdogan with dilemma
- Turkey authorises sending troops to Syria
IN Europe
But the incident has already made waves far beyond Maltepe. It follows previous attacks in Turkey on the theory of evolution; last year, an internet filter briefly restricted access to evolutionist websites.
It also comes in the wake of wide-ranging education reforms pushed through this year by the country’s Islamist-rooted government, which have increased the number of religious schools in Turkey and introduced optional lessons on the Prophet Mohammed in ordinary state schools.
Such changes are hailed by the government as increasing freedom of choice in a country that for decades excluded the religiously conservative majority. Opponents say the secular educational system is being threatened.
“The education system is becoming reactionary; imams are now teaching religion in schools,” said Mehmet Aydogan, an official in the union asking for the books to be impounded. “These books are discrediting worldwide accepted artists and scientists and forcing students to think unscientifically.”
The European Commission and other bodies have long complained that the traditional Turkish education textbooks are deeply flawed, painting minorities as untrustworthy and treacherous.
But the books in Maltepe, intended as potted biographies, go further. A book on Albert Einstein describes the physicist as “filthy and slovenly”. Immediately after saying that he ate soap, it adds: “The sad part is during that time the Gestapo was putting Jews into ovens and making them into soap.”
The book on Darwin says the proponent of natural selection “had two problems: first he was a Jew; second, he hated his prominent forehead, big nose and misshapen teeth.” It adds that he threw nuts to monkeys at the zoo rather than go to school. Darwin was not Jewish.
Speaking to Turkey’s Radikal newspaper, Faik Kaptan, Maltepe’s director of education, said he had not read the books, adding: “It is not possible to check all the books distributed in the district.”
But Yaman Akdeniz, a professor of law at Istanbul’s Bilgi university, said that the attack on Darwin came in the context of a more general assault on evolution, which many Turks associate with atheism. Mr Akdeniz represented Richard Dawkins, the British scientist, in a case that successfully reversed a two-year ban on Mr Dawkins’ website. “Evolution is the second most sensitive issue after sexually explicit material,” he said.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2012. You may share using our article tools.
Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.Featured on Drudge
Post your own commentComments
via ft.com
1939 doesn't seem so far removed, after all. I'm not personally concerned whether Turkish schools teach evolution or not, but to portray Judaism as an enemy or a disease, in the guise of Charles Darwin, really bothers me. Sowing seeds of hate is insupportable.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
No White House Press Briefing in Last 15 Days | The Weekly Standard
No White House Press Briefing in Last 15 Days | The Weekly Standard
It isn't transparency in this administration; its obscurity.
It isn't transparency in this administration; its obscurity.
Saturday, October 06, 2012
FamilySearch Labs
Research Assistance
We are exploring better ways to provide community-driven research assistance to those who have specific genealogical questions. Please give Research Assistance a try and let us know how it goes.
(Requires a free FamilySearch account.)
General Research Questions
Research Assistance is currently available for these specific areas in the United States: -->
I have been interested in the development aspect of FamilySearch.org from the beginning. Some of the elements of FamilySearch were tried and then retired, probably because something better was on the way in. I love the FamilySearch Center locator, which is fairly new as far as I know. It is user friendly and interactive; a positive result of the software engineers that I think will stay around.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
South Asia Mail
I love it when good people get together! They can accomplish understanding, good works, and who knows what else!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
New genetic light shed on human evolution
via ft.com
Historians and genealogists, I think, are fact finders. We try not to assume such and such is true because we know that as we continue to delve into our mysteries, new facts come to light. We wait to see what is going to develop, we collect evidence and see how our hypotheses stands up.
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Untitled
A fellow teacher (I teach for fun but he teaches at the college level), spoke, yesterday, of his discouragement with the education process in these United States. This process has evolved over a period of years (or should I say "devolved"), to a system in which there is little evidence of brainy-ism learning. We are watered down by many elements, it would seem. The quality of our students' efforts has been supplanted with false agendas.
Now all of this languaage is dressing for my sense that parents don't care about excellency in their children's learning. Or, could it be that there is so much out there competing for our children's attention? Is sociality the key that shouldn't have been turned? Are teachers dedicated enough to get through all the hoops and jumps they have to go through, to pull the mind of the student from wherever it is hidden.
Just what is the deal, here? I'm terrible in math, but with a good teacher, a book, plenty of practice time, and the kind of thinking that is crucial to being the steward of the world, even I can pass algebra. What does it matter? Where is passing algebra an important achievement?
I learned to read at an early age; not a child prodigy or anything, but the key was given to me by my parents and teachers...the key to love of reading, dependance on reading, appreciation for those who could transmit not just words, but ideas through their reading.
Dad always included us kids in his bedtime stories. He used the device of tone inflection to catch our interest and vanity to keep interest. We were the heroes, we were the action figures, and my dad who really should have been an actor or on stage with his wondrous way of weaving a tale, it all came together on the tails of the teacher's efforts. I'm sure I read Dick and Jane, but it was clear to me from the first that if I wanted more complex and interesting tales, I would and should make them up myself. I don't even consider myself very imaginative, but there must be a store of the stuff somewhere inside.
It was both a safe haven (reading at the piano instead of practicing), and a secret (hiding under the covers of my bed, throwing caution to the wind, usually with a book that was "too old" for me. The Agony and the Ecstasy at age 11? I was too young to be intimidated or daunted by fat books
.
What is real and what is not
The "Real" Housewives of New York or wherever. Faux Fur speaks to this generation, yes or no? A student's grades at Harvard: real, as in honestly they earned it, or real for the purpose of "getting by" in life. Has the value of real, as in genuine, been supplanted by what is acceptable, by what will pass, by the lasting value of the gold standard?
Friday, September 07, 2012
Intelligence Committee Chair Describes Explosive Confrontation Between Netanyahu and American Ambassador - Jeffrey Goldberg - The Atlantic
Intelligence Committee Chair Describes Explosive Confrontation Between Netanyahu and American Ambassador - Jeffrey Goldberg - The Atlantic
Alliance with Israel critical to peace in the Middle East. Let's get serious about our commitment to them.
Alliance with Israel critical to peace in the Middle East. Let's get serious about our commitment to them.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Geni Adds Facebook Social Sharing - Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
« Finding Genealogy Records and Books on eBay | Main | Britain Destroyed Records of Colonial Crimes »
September 02, 2012
Geni Adds Facebook Social Sharing
Geni users will be interested in the latest addition to the service. Here is the announcement written by Geni.com:
Today we’re excited to introduce Facebook Social Sharing on Geni – a new way to share your Geni experience with your friends and family!
Have you ever been working on a Geni project and wish you could share your progress with your friends? Or perhaps added your latest census discovery to your ancestor’s Geni profile and wanted to share it with your genealogy Facebook buddies? Facebook Social Sharing will easily allow you to share your public Geni activities with your friends and family on Facebook!
The Facebook Social Sharing button can be found at the top right of any Geni page. By default, Social Sharing is turned off for all current users. To activate the feature, simply click to toggle it on. Everyone may turn Social Sharing off at anytime - just click again to turn it off. Note if you already use Facebook Connect to log in to your Geni account, you will need to toggle it on to begin sharing on Facebook. Don’t see Social Sharing on your Geni page? Only Facebook users will see this option, so connect your Facebook account to your Geni account now to start sharing!If you enjoyed this article, please share it with others. Tweet it, share it on Google , Facebook or on your preferred social network.
Republishing of this article in newsletters, blogs, and elsewhere is allowed and encouraged, with a few minor restrictions. Details may be found at http://goo.gl/hoHH1.Of course, if you haven’t done so already, you should join my email newsletter mailing list to stay current on my latest articles and announcements. You can also cancel at any time within seconds. I promise to never, ever send you any unrequested e-mail, other than newsletter updates.
Posted by Dick Eastman on September 02, 2012 in Online Sites | Permalink ShareThis
Reblog (0) | | |
|| | Digg This
Comments
via blog.eogn.com
We were some of us into this a while back; now that they have added social sharing, perhaps some of you will want to use Geni on a limited, private basis. Obviously, you should be thoughtful about what to share about whom, even if it is your own family. I'll give it a try later in the day.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Social Security Administration Explains Plan to Buy 174,000 Hollow-Point Bullets
(CNSNews.com) – The Social Security Administration posted a blog on Thursday to explain why it was planning to purchase 174,000 hollow point bullets.
SSA posted a "Request for Quote for Ammunition" on the FedBizOps.gov website on Aug. 7. The request listed the commodity that SSA desired as ".357 Sig 125 grain bonded jacketed hollow point pistol ammunition." The quantity listed was "174 TH."
The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General’s said it posted a new blog on the agency’s website, “Beyond the Numbers,” “as we strive to be a transparent and accountable government organization for all of our stakeholders.
“With those goals in mind, we thought it would be appropriate to address recent media reports regarding the organization’s purchase of ammunition for our special agents’ duty weapons,” the blog post states.
The blog states that the SSA has 295 special agents who work in 66 offices across the United States.
“These investigators have full law enforcement authority, including executing search warrants and making arrests,” the blog post states. “Our investigators are similar to your State or local police officers.
“They use traditional investigative techniques, and they are armed when on official duty,” the blog post states.
Concern expressed in some media reports about the type of ammunition ordered by the agency is unfounded, the blog states, explaining that the .357 Sig 125 grain bonded jacked hollow point pistol ammunition is “standard issue for many law enforcement agencies” and is appropriate for the work agents perform.
“Our special agents need to be armed and trained appropriately,” the blog post states. “They not only investigate allegations of Social Security fraud, but they also are called to respond to threats against Social Security offices, employees, and customers.”
The blog also links to another post about a fight that broke out near an SSA office in Massachusetts that required action by law enforcement officials.
“SSA is processing more applications than ever, which means more traffic in SSA office,” the blog states. “Employee and visitor safety is the highest priority for OIG, which, together with the Federal Protective Services and local law enforcement, has jurisdiction over SSA workplaces.”
Prior to the blog being posted, CNSNews.com had asked the agency specific questions about its ammunition order. Although some of those questions were addressed by the information provided in the blog, the agency did not say why it needed 174,000 bullets and if that quantity was customary or had increased from previous orders.
via cnsnews.com
I think the article speaks for itself. It's just weird that I never thought of the SSA having its own security force.
The Sun's almost perfectly round shape baffles scientists
via phys.org
Could we ever learn the secrets of the Universe? Why this or Why that? This is pretty interesting if you can read through the scientific lingo.
Cabins in the Woods — DIY Ornament #5
via homeworkshop.com
I thought this would be cute, also, if you take pics of your neighbors' homes or your friends; then you could give the at Christmas? Oh, okay...these are adorable and look totally dimensional. Even I could do some version of this!
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Progress 2012: Kermit Dooley loves family, history » Features » North Jefferson News, Gardendale, AL
http://www.njeffersonnews.com/features/x328562858/Progress-2012-Kermit-Dooley-loves-family-history
“In order to appreciate where you are today, you need to know where you came from and the hardships our ancestors went through.” This isn't the first sentence in the article about Kermit Dooley, but it is, just possibly, the core sentence for the motivation that drives Mr. Dooley in all he does. Read the article to learn of his family history journey. And I do mean "history".
I used to say that genealogists are some of the greatest people in the world to hang out with. I still believe it; I just haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of it in the last five years. I suppose if I were working the historical angle, I would say the same about historians and historical preservation. In actuality, these are not two different fields. Ancestors and history go hand in hand. And when we are focusing on one or the other, we'd best include a consideration of the "other".
I enjoy being among the family history crowd; they're usually trying to dig about the family tree, shake it and see what comes down, or whatever. In doing so, they find themselves visiting historical sites, reading books about historical events, and most especially, trying to figure it all out. Why were the ancestors where they were when they were? How did the actions of one family member impact the other family members?
Well, once again, I'm getting a little off track...and probably making no sense at this point. Hurrah for Mr. Kermit Dooley and hurrah for us; we are on a fascinating and rewarding journey together.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Scouting: Lifestyle Choice
No one gets into Scouting halfway.
You either are or you aren't, involved in Scouting. There is no "Scouting is skirting the fringes of my life" thing. You may not be an active participant in scouting at some periods of your life, but the fabric of your life has blue and gold threads running through it: you know the lingo:
"Arrow of Light"
"Order of the Arrow"
"Eagle Scout"
"Woodbadge"
"Merit Badge"
"Little Philmont"
Just a few weeks ago, my stepson attended "Little Philmont". Attended is probably too mild of a word. It's a learning experience, a test of your patience and skills, a primer for Leadership-ness. Mark is a grownup man with three jobs and a family, but he has chosen to make Scouting a part of his life. The ranks of Scoutmasters, Committee Members, and Merit Badge Counselors are filled with just tha kind of dedicated people. People who carve out a little time each week to develop and carry on a successful Scout program are people just like you and me--they are special because of their volunteership spirit, because they enjoy helping boys and girls be productive and engage.
You primarily remember the "bad" campouts. The ones that were held with the rain pouring down, with cars getting stuck in the sand, the ones when things didn't go perfectly. Scouting mimics life. If you can get through scouting, you are better prepared for the challenges ahead. Even if you think you were a half-hearted Scout, try attending an Eagle Court of Honor. The memories will flood back and a lot of them will be positive.
I'm the mother of Scouts (all grown up Scouts); my husband was a Scout Master and I was a den leader and committee member. I remember the night that I sat in a forest of trees at EucheeAnna Scout Camp. There was a blazing bonfire. There were whispers mingled with rowdy interruptions of restless Scouts. But when the ceremony began, you had better take it seriously. There was a solemnity about the occasion. Afterwards, jubilation and relief. Relief that another year was under your belt, sadness that tomorrow would be going-home day. The crickets are chiming in, the bonfire wanes, and the parents and other visitors are getting in their cars, laughing, talking, hugging their sons goodbye.
House rejects bill penalizing doctors for sex-selective abortions - The Hill's Floor Action
The House on Thursday rejected a Republican bill that would impose fines and prison terms on doctors who perform abortions for the sole purpose of controlling the gender of the child, a practice known as sex-selective abortion.
The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA), H.R. 3541, was defeated in a 246-168 vote. While that's a clear majority of the House, Republicans called up the bill under a suspension of House rules, which limits debate and requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass. In this case, it would have required more support from Democrats.
Twenty Democrats voted for the bill, while seven Republicans opposed it. The bill would have needed 30 more yeas to pass.
Suspension votes are normally used for noncontroversial bills, but the GOP-backed measure was clearly controversial. Republicans have occasionally put controversial bills on the suspension calendar in order to highlight that Democrats oppose certain policies.
In some cases, Republicans have rescheduled these bills for regular consideration after they have failed, allowing for passage by a simple majority. But Republicans gave no sign that they would try again with PRENDA.
Earlier in the day, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated that the issue of stopping sex-selective abortion is important enough that they would try again, but he was not specific.
More from The Hill:
♦ President Bush returns to White House
♦ Pelosi defends $1M tax-cut threshold against liberal critics
♦ Romney makes surprise campaign stop at Solyndra factory
♦ Romney supporters shout down Axelrod at Obama event
♦ Obama to donors: Get off sidelines and send cash now
♦ Bill Clinton to campaign against Scott Walker in Wisconsin
♦ Warren: I told Harvard I was Native American after hiring
♦ Obama official: UN proposals could lead to Internet censorship"This is an important issue to the American people," Boehner said to reporters off the floor. "This type of sex selection most Americans find pretty repulsive, and our members feel strongly about it. That's why it is being brought to the floor."
During debate on the bill Wednesday, Republicans said the bill is consistent with the broader U.S. position that sex-selective abortion should be condemned around the world.
"In 2007, the United States spearheaded a U.N. resolution to condemn sex-selective abortion worldwide," said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), the sponsor of the bill. "Yet, here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, we are the only advanced country left in the world that still doesn't restrict sex-selective abortion in any way."
While some Democrats made it clear that they oppose sex-selective abortion, they indicated that they oppose the bill's enforcement provisions, which they said would put in place an unacceptable limit on women's rights to choose abortion.
"We can all agree that women should not choose to terminate a pregnancy based solely on gender, but this bill criminalizes a legal procedure," Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) said Thursday afternoon.
"The bill includes a provision that would allow a women's husband or parents, by merely alleging that an abortion is because of gender, to seek injunctive relief to prevent the doctor from performing abortion procedures, sending an incredibly private and personal decision into the courts," Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) added Thursday.
"It is another Republican intrusion into a woman's right to choose," said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) of the GOP bill on Wednesday. "Women should be able to make such sensitive and private decisions with their families, their doctors and their god, free from the fear of the police."
Republicans voting against the bill were Reps. Justin Amash (Mich.), Charlie Bass (N.H.), Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Robert Dold (Ill.), Richard Hanna (N.Y.), Nan Hayworth (N.Y.), and Ron Paul (Texas).
Democrats voting for it were Reps. Jason Altmire (Pa.), John Barrow (Ga.), Dan Boren (Okla.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Jerry Costello (Ill.), Mark Critz (Pa.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), John Garamendi (Calif.), Tim Holden (Pa.), Larry Kissell (N.C.), Daniel Lipinski (Ill.), Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Nick Rahall (W.Va.), Silvestre Reyes (Texas), Mike Ross (Ark.) and Heath Shuler (N.C.).
via thehill.com
House rejects bill penalizing doctors from performing sex selective abortions. (thehill.com).
How did this happen? Do we really think we can expect God to bless our country if this type of practice is coddled?!!
How can our congressmen and women (7 Republicans among them) vote no on this bill? When did it become an option in the USA to choose sex (gender) over a child's right to be born? I have looked to see who (which of the congress reps) voted not to support the bill. I haven't found a list, yet, so if anyone can tell me how to find that out, I would be very apprreciative.
I appreciate life. It's both beautiful and difficult. Sometime when we're not paying attention it can get pretty hum-drum. I'm so proud that my mother and father didn't say, "Whoops, it's gonna be a girl", and rush off to find a way to keep me from coming on board the bus whose destination was EARTH. What sacrifices did they make in their lives for the joy of having me? How do I know it was joy? Because they took a lot of pictures. Because they took the time to teach me stuff, to share themselves with me. I like being a girl and I like being alive.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
[FLOKALOO] WFGS - Navigating Family Search
West Florida Genealogical Society
Date: June 2, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Place: Asbury Place, 5725 N. 9th Ave., corner College Blvd.
Speaker: Lee Scott.
Topic: LDS Family Search.org update. The LDS Family Search.org website has a new look and ever-expanding
content. It takes a little practice to relearn to use it. Lee is an
LDS member and has volunteered off and on at the Family History Center
since 1975. There have been many changes in research techniques and
technology in the last 35 years. Lee is constantly surfing to keep
abreast of the latest. She is a past president of WFGS and past editor
of Footprints and the current newsletter editor. 2011 Footprints will be available at the meeting.
Escambia Co. FL new Marriage Records Index book 1910-1918 will be available. Mark your Calendar: Nov. 3 - Megan Smolenyak Seminar. Outstanding
genealogist and
speaker. Google her name for more info on her.
Topics Nov. 3:
http://www.honoringourancestors.com/schedule.html Contact: Cynthia Dean cgdean@bellsouth.net 850-432-7072
Allen Lawrence
List Admin
-------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FLOKALOO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Time: 10:00 AM
Place: Asbury Place, 5725 N. 9th Ave., corner College Blvd.
Speaker: Lee Scott.
Topic: LDS Family Search.org update. The LDS Family Search.org website has a new look and ever-expanding
content. It takes a little practice to relearn to use it. Lee is an
LDS member and has volunteered off and on at the Family History Center
since 1975. There have been many changes in research techniques and
technology in the last 35 years. Lee is constantly surfing to keep
abreast of the latest. She is a past president of WFGS and past editor
of Footprints and the current newsletter editor. 2011 Footprints will be available at the meeting.
Escambia Co. FL new Marriage Records Index book 1910-1918 will be available. Mark your Calendar: Nov. 3 - Megan Smolenyak Seminar. Outstanding
genealogist and
speaker. Google her name for more info on her.
Topics Nov. 3:
http://www.honoringourancestors.com/schedule.html Contact: Cynthia Dean cgdean@bellsouth.net 850-432-7072
Allen Lawrence
List Admin
-------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FLOKALOO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
Thursday, April 26, 2012
inauthor:"pete daniel" - Google Search
I was looking around at Google Books and found this author who writes about the South. Can't wait to see how he reads.
Quotes:
inauthor:"pete daniel" - Google Search
This message was sent to you by Margaret Harris via Diigo
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Keepsakes: What's worth keeping?
I am at a crossroads in my life right now. My husband is currently residing at the nursing home 13 miles away, my two youngest children are deciding which way and how soon they will fly the coop, and I need to downsize for financial and other reasons! So, what to do with all the stuff I have accumulated over the past years? A lot of it falls into the category of keepsakes, memoirs material, relics, photographs, and so on. I am sitting here, right now, looking at some of the mementos, just in my own bedroom! 
This is an old Christmas basket filled with sewing supplies, scrap pieces of lace, etc. The next photo shows the same bookcase in a larger view; most of the "stuff" surrounding the basket is genealogy related: files, books, notebooks, etc.
I confess to saving knick-knacks, also! 
The first Valentine's day after my husband had his stroke, I went out and bought this little novelty item. The mama bear is giving the papa bear some flowers. For other pictures of my junk, beloved heirlooms, etc., check out my blog http://ancestorant.blogspot.com.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Inertness
Finding myself in a quandary
About what to do what to do
My senses are inert
They resist actions
Like thinking
Like planningAll that it is left:
A warm bed welcomes my being during the earliest hours of the night,
I want to get an early start on dreams and on nothingness.
Perhaps, in case I don't sleep well, I will have ample time to rest. 
About what to do what to do
My senses are inert
They resist actions
Like thinking
Like planningAll that it is left:
A warm bed welcomes my being during the earliest hours of the night,
I want to get an early start on dreams and on nothingness.
Perhaps, in case I don't sleep well, I will have ample time to rest.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
What's a Beat?
Boundaries of towns and other minor civil divisions, and in some cases of counties were ill defined, so enumerators were frequently uncertain whether a family resided in their own or an adjoining district. For this reason, it is not unusual to find individuals and families listed twice in the census and others missed entirely."
And again:
In a few states and territories, such as Arizona, Louisiana, Orleans, South Carolina, and others, the county divisions have been known by other names. In other places in some years, counties have not existed or have not been used, so other means of dividing up the state or territory have been used. Common examples of these names are Beat, Division, Judicial District, District, etc.
The supervisor of census is by law charged with the following duties:First. To propose to the Superintendent of the Census the apportionment of his district into subdivisions most convenient for the purpose of enumeration. These subdivisions are not allowed by law to exceed 4,000 inhabitants, according to the census of 1870, and can be made as much smaller as the good of the service may require. Administratively, the census office has favored the plan of small subdivisions; and of the 15,000 subdivisions reported up to the present date, the average estimate of population is not in excess of 2,000. Generally speaking, each existing civil division, whether a town, township, military district, "beat," or precinct, has been constituted one or more enumeration districts. In comparatively few cases two townships or more, of small population, have been constituted one enumeration district. It is anticipated that the total number of enumeration districts for all the States and Territories will be closely in the neighborhood of 28,000.
We know that initially, the Enumeration District, and knowing which one to look at for our relatives, will become indispensable in searching the 1940 Census, but what about the Beat, the Beat, the Beat; are we any closer to knowing what it designates? Chime in, will you, if you have any info on this!
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Valparaiso Community Library
Excellent article with photos of the Valparaiso Community Library, describes it as a "superb resource" for history and genealogy research.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
What we don't do for our students...
Why do I think that I have to keep up with everything new under the sun that has to do with Family History, aka "Genealogy"?I used to read Dick Eastman's online genealogy newsletter, every single issue, till lately. Now, I'm lucky if I can get through a couple of articles. Why? Because I'm too busy trying to keep up with Megan Smolenyak's adventures (in genealogy, what else?), the latest updates from RootsMagic, the software, reading genealogy blogs such as Genealogy's Star, and downloading George Morgan's podcast with Drew Smith (The Genealogy Guys) for my Smartphone. And somehow, I have to put in some time researching my ancestors, especially since I'm supposed to be teaching others how to do it.Yes, it's true that I have Legacy FamilyTree, the standard version on my computer, but I also have PAF, and GRAMPS, as well. Just so I can listen intelligently when I talk about other people's programs. Is it any wonder that I don't recognize myself when I look in the mirror, nowadays? 
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Ten Physical Abilities I'm Grateful For:
- The Gift of Sound--I enjoy listening to wonderful music, to talented musicians, to my sweet husband's voice saying prayer, to young children playing, to the rain hitting my roof---this list could go on and on. I am thankful for my ears and my ability to hear.
- The Gift of Sight--these are not in order of importance--just as I think of them. How lovely is the sunset! I love color and the sunset has some beautiful hues. I love the faces of those in our family and friends, too. I love animals, watching them, amazed at them and I love beauty in all of nature and in art, watching the ballet.
- I am thankful for the sense of touch. There's nothing like a warm hug, a kiss on the cheek, someone massaging my back. I like holding a baby and feeling its soft cheeks. I like the warm water in a bath, the cool breeze on a summer's eve.
- I'm grateful for the wonder of this amazing piece of machinery that I call my body. All of its parts work together and in tandem to perform the work of pumping blood, take a breath of fresh air, process the food that I take into my body and extracting the nutrients, while discarding the waste! I love the mobility of a finely tuned body, or at least one that I'm taking care of (when I take care of myself). At my age, I'm losing mobility, but I remember what it was like when I could do anything, go places, bend and pick pecans, and I miss it. And best of all, my body houses my spirit (that which is the essence of me).
- I am thankful for the sense of taste, for the salty things, the sweetness of pecan pie, the refreshing taste of cantaloupe, and I even love the taste of some vegetables, especially if they're seasoned the Southern way.
- I am grateful for rhythm in my bones! In my psyche I guess. I love to dance, keep time to the music, sway to the music of The Sound of Music. I love to sing, when I have the voice for it. Mostly, I love to sing with others, with people on tv, or along with the music of a CD.
- I am thankful for my hands. I love using my hands; my mother never sat down without something to work on with her hands. She crocheted throws out of colorful yarn; she made many of my dresses when I was growing up. I learned to sew and make my own clothes. I also learned to make bread, without a bread maker appliance. I kneaded the bread and lathered it with butter when it came out of the oven (that makes the crust soft). My mother taught me how to shell peas, pick blueberries, etc. Using my hands has given me a deep satisfaction because it has to do with accomplishing something as opposed to accomplishing nothing. With my hands I can play the piano, crack nuts, pat the earth over a newly planted seed, and best of all, my right hand can write using pencil and paper. I love scrabble and sudoku, and sometimes do crosswords. With two hands I can compose using a keyboard and computer.
- I am grateful for the sense of smell. There are good smells, bad smells, and smells that define an item, warn us of impending danger, help find the garden. I love the smell of Christmas trees and roses.
- I am grateful for my brain. It is a wonderful and very necessary part of my physical abilities. It keeps my memories, helps me plan, and it soaks in tons of information, most of which I think important but could easily fall under the category of trivia.
- I'm thankful for my feet and legs, the ability to walk and stand and do stuff (like dance). Through the mechanics of walking, I can wait on my husband who no longer can walk. My legs and feet support my body while I do a little bit of caregiving, along with the attendant duties. What a privilege it is to work and move around and help others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)