- 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.
My brain is Grand Central Station, a veritable beehive of activity. Ideas are easy, the imagination fertile. Filtering the truth: now, that's a challenge.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Data is the New Black
Data is the New Black:
At our recent Preservation Storage Meeting, the word “data” was frequently mentioned. This was of some note to me, as cultural heritage organizations have, until recently, spoken of “collections” and “content” or even “files,” but not data. This is of course not the case at universities, where social science and observational datasets are very much a part of the custodial landscape. But most libraries, archives, and museums have not considered their collections to be data.
Martha Anderson recently blogged on this topic very eloquently.
I want to say this out loud: we all have data, from metadata to full-text collections to more formal datasets. We used to talk non-stop about metadata. Now we talk about data. Data is the new black.
The Storage Meeting and a recent meeting with a software vendor have had me thinking specifically about what constitutes “Big Data.” The definition of Big Data is very fluid, as it is a moving target — what can be easily manipulated with common tools — and specific to the organization: what can be managed and stewarded by any one institution in its infrastructure. One researcher or organization’s concept of a large data set is small to another.
In one conversation that I remember not too long ago, an organization was surprised to find that they would need 10 TB of storage for a large digital collection. I now know of collections that add that many TB in a single week.
The Twitter archive has 10s of billions of tweets in it.
The Chronicling America collection has over 4 million page images with OCR.
Web Archives, such as the one at the Library of Congress, may be comprised of billions of files.
And researchers may want to interact with a collection of artifacts, or they may want to work with a data corpus. Some may want to search for stories in historic newspapers. Some may want to mine newspaper OCR for trends across time periods and geographic areas. Some may want to see what a specific user tweeted. Some may want to look at the spread of an event hashtag across the world in a day.
We still have collections. But what we also have is Big Data, which requires us to rethink the infrastructure that is needed to support Big Data services. Our community used to expect researchers to come to us, ask us questions about our collections, and use our digital collections in our environment. We transitioned into a partially self-serve model when we moved online. But can we support real-time querying of billions of full-text items? Can we provide tools for collection analysis and visualization? Can we support the frequent downloading by researchers of collections that may be over 200 TB each? These are among the questions that all of our institutions are grappling with as we build large digital collections and discover new ways in which they can be used.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
{FLPanhandle Genealogy} The Seven Steps of the Research Process | olinuris.library.cornell.edu - StumbleUpon
Monday, October 10, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
VA-History-Exchange
Genealogy, the search for our ancestry, of necessity, encompasses history. As we become more involved in the strategy of research, we learn to look for clues in the pedigree chart: date and place. Developing a chronology (timeline) for our ancestor is not just something interesting to do; building a backdrop (a stage, a setting) for each leaf on the family tree provides direction for our research. See if you can detect (as in "detective") the why, the where, the when, the what and you will begin to discover clues that will lead you to the "rest of the story". Be sure to download the Power Point presentation, "Untold Stories from the Virginia Frontier" if you want to see how history and family members are intertwined.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Are your genealogy files in your will?
Are your genealogy files in your will?Like to read? If you've spent hours researching your family history, you will want to read this e-mail and the articles recommended by Leland K. Meitzler and Lee Everton, editors of the free "Genealogy Newsline".
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Monday, September 12, 2011
Misleading Genealogy Advice for Beginners – Free Guide to Tracing your Ancestry and Researching your Family Tree.
"There’s a difference between knowing something and being able to explain it so someone else can understand it. Plus, an explanation that makes sense to an experienced person may be totally confusing to a novice. This is why so many people give up ancestor hunting before they really get started. So, what’s the answer?"
Quotes:
Read more »
- There’s a difference between knowing something and being able to explain it so someone else can understand it. Plus, an explanation that makes sense to an exper ienced person may be totally confusing to a novice. This is why so many people give up ancestor hunting before they really get started. So, what’s the answer?
( http://message.diigo.com/message/misleading-genealogy-advice-for-beginners-fr... )
This message was sent to you by Margaret Harris via Diigo
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10 Steps to Writing Your Family History
Kimberly Powell offers some thoughtful insights on a topic I've often considered: when and how can I produce a history of my family? She points out that there are several ways to accomplish this. One method that is kind of attractive to me is the idea of "publishing" a family cookbook. The great thing about projects of this type are that, in these days of desktop publishing, with Kinko's or Office Depot just an digital second away, we have the opportunity to be simple and straigtforward with our task. Other types of publishing offer an less expensive way to complete a more formal presentation that just wasn't available twenty or thirty years ago.
So what will be the format be for our family history? Will we design a memoir or a pedigree? Will we collect and publish family recipes, then annotate it? A scrapbook is what many have chosen to put together, but I can't help but think that I need to do something that can be circulated among our family members and perhaps friends.
Will 2012 be the year? Kimberly's article remind us to choose a deadline that will be realistic and manageable. This article covers several points that can help us make this goal a realistic objectiive.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Family Search and a Free Newsletter in Your E-Mail
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Heritage Books Labor Day Sale
| To: | la376@bellsouth.net |
|---|
HPC’s Giant Labor Day Sale!
(Prices good while supplies last or until September 30, 2011)
Buy One County Heritage Book at Regular Price & Get One of the following books at Half-Price!
* Plus FREE SHIPPING *
For a list of all our products, go to <heritagepublishing.net>
Go to our Website and select a book at regular price.
Example: Hill County, TX, Vol. II @ $60.00. Go down the list below and select any of the listed books. Perhaps, Autauga, AL. You get both for $90.00 and no S&H charges. You save $30.00 on the 2nd book and $9.00 S&H.
Alabama
Autauga – $60
Blount – $65
Bullock - $60
Butler – $60
Calhoun – $55
Choctaw – $65
Clarke – $60
Coffee – $60
Colbert – $55
Cullman – Vol. I – $55
Cullman – Vol. II – $60
Dallas – $55
DeKalb – Vol. II – $60
Elmore – $65
Etowah – $55
Houston – $60
Jackson – $60
Lauderdale - $60
Lawrence – $65
Lee – $60
Lowndes – $60
Mobile – $60
Monroe – $55
Perry – $55
Pickens – $55
Pike – $70
Russell – $60
St. Clair – $65
Sumter – $60
Tuscaloosa – $65
Walker – $60
Washington – $55
Winston – Vol. II – $60
Florida
Bay – Vol. I – $60
Escambia – Vol. I – $60
Escambia – Vol. II – $60
Holmes – $65
Jackson – $60
Liberty – $60
Okaloosa – Vol. I – $60
Okaloosa – Vol. II – $60
Santa Rosa – Vol. II – $60
Walton – $60
Encyclopedia of Florida Sheriffs 2 volume set – $65 (counts as 1 Book)
Others
Folsom, LA – $25
Wayne Co., MS – Vol. II – $55
Terry Co., TX – $65
AL residents add 4% Sales Tax, KY residents add 6% Sales Tax
Mail your check/MO to the address below or call and charge your order
HPC or Heritage Publishing
PO Box 22128
Louisville, KY 40252
We accept phone orders for Visa/MC/Disc/AMX/Debit
1-800-568-1611 or (502) 423-9016
FAX (502) 423-9017
We have sold out of Calhoun County, FL. However, we have reprinted Tallapoosa County, AL.
If you do not wish to receive emails from us, please return this message with "Delete".
Exhibit Opening Reception, Military Memories - Sat. SEPT. 3, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
| From: | Gina Marini <gmarini@co.okaloosa.fl.us> |
|---|
Dear Museum Members,
Thank you for your continued support of our work at the Heritage Museum and for helping to keep history alive in our community.
Because we value your membership, join us during the opening reception of Military Memories on Sept. 3, 10a-12p and receive a special gift while supplies last.
Thank you!
Exhibit Opening Reception
Military Memories – On the Home front & At War
Saturday, September 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the
Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
Valparaiso, FL - The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida will hold the official opening reception with refreshments for their new exhibit, Military Memories – On the Home front & At War, sponsored by Pioneer Technologies, Inc. on Saturday, September 3 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Military Memories features original artifacts from the Museum’s collection from the Civil War, WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War. In addition, on loan from local POW Howard Hill, is the original uniform he wore during his 5 years as a Prisoner of War during the Vietnam conflict. Historian, Michael Weech will be available to explain about the exhibit and discuss military history with an emphasis on the history of Eglin Air Force Base. September 3rd is also the last day for active duty military and their families to take advantage of free admission as part of Blue Star Museums, a nationwide program in which the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is one of over 1400 museums participating.
Event: Military Memories Exhibit Opening Reception
Where: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
115 Westview Avenue, Valparaiso, FL When: Saturday, September 3, 2011, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Contact: (850) 678-2615
www.heritage-museum.org Cost: General museum admission applies
Free for Active duty military and their families
Free for Heritage Museum members
###
GSOC Sept. Meeting
| Subject: | GSOC Sept. Meeting |
|---|---|
| Date: | Fri, 2 Sep 2011 10:09:46 -0500 |
| From: | Pat <QueenDecor@cox.net> |
| To: | <Queendecor@cox.net> |
| CC: | ' |
Hello All
The September meeting of the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County will be a field trip to the University of West Florida main campus in Pensacola. We will be visiting the John C. Pace Library Archives and History Center. Meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Saturday, 10 September. Visitors are welcome to join us there. After the meeting, those who wish will share a Dutch Treat lunch in Pensacola. Those who wish to car pool from Niceville will meet at the large sign at the Palm Plaza parking lot on John Simms Parkway at 8:30 AM.
Check out our Newsletter at our GSOC Website for more details and a map thanks to Jim Young , our Websmaster.
Pat Pruett, Publicity Chairperson GSOC 678-2023
Thursday, September 01, 2011
[FLOKALOO] WFGS - Research tips program
just e-mail FamilyHistoryFriends@groups.live.com
From: Cynthia Dean <cgdean@bellsouth.net>
Date: Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 9:08 PM
Subject: [FLOKALOO] WFGS - Research tips program
To: FLOKALOO@rootsweb.com
West Florida Genealogical Society
Meeting date: Sept. 3, 2011
Place: West FL Genealogy Library
5740 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
Time: 10:00 AM A favorite speaker, Jerry Merritt, will give a Power Point presentation on
research tips: 1. Help to figure ages in pre-1850 censuses
2. Preserving and restoring old photographs on your home computer
3. Using reverse search techniques to find other researchers with whom
to trade information
4. Using land records to find where your ancestors lived
5. Solutions to long-term storage of your research Attendees will receive a link to a copy of the Power Point presentation
to download and use at home. Contact: Cynthia Dean 850-432-7072 cgdean@bellsouth.net
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
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Now on the horizon: 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812
- Find links at Google, Bing, and other search engines.
- Visit FootNote.com
- Access "the largest online collection of War of 1812 records" at Ancestry.com
- Library of Congress (loc.gov)
- Bone up on the facts, Visit a Library today near you!
- Plan an 2012 Summer Vacation and Visit Memorials, Events, Etc.
- SparkNotes.com: The War of 1812 (1809-1815); [it's the economy, stupid. Follow the money...]
- Washington DC War of 1812 Bicentennial
- Wikipedia: War of 1812
- My Ancestors in the War of 1812 (Good Job!)
- Another stellar site: Leaves for Trees (Military Monday)
For more information about my group at Windows Live,
just e-mail FamilyHistoryFriends@groups.live.com
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Family Roots Publishing - Home (Brief Review)
- Salt Lake Christmas Tour (numerous trips to The Family History Library; attendees will recieve assisted research at the library from experienced professional genealogists ALL WEEK LONG. There are ten classes and workshops scheduled for the week, all presented by Thomas MacEntee. Be sure to take in the Christmas lights and tour of Temple Square and if possible, attend a free rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Editors, Lee Everton and Leland K. Meitzler are the hosts and organizers for the 27th Annual Christmas Tour.
- One of the features of the Newsline (really handy for those of us without a brain--I for one need numerous reminders), is a list of the recent addition of records just posted to FamilySearch.org. This feature lets us know that new USA Vital Records Data is now available, including digital imagesand indexes.
- A plug for Aero-Info.net (a way to publish your local genealogical or other types of events). Can I call it a "plug" if it's free to do that?
- New book review. After all, the website is a publishing company for genealogy books.
- Articles. This time, one titled, "Oregon Historic Newspapers".
- Special Sales of published materials and books. This company also publishes state guides, etc, but you may not want to forget to check for free guides from other sources before you pay big bucks. Just Google "free genealogy guides for U.S. States" or something like that.
- Another plug for Aero-Info.net: a place to express your personal opinions as many times as you wish about anything, I guess! And don't forget you can share news of your town and society at this venue.
- News from the Genealogy World. To get the latest news and commentary, visit GenealogyBlog.com.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
[FLOKALOO] WFGS - Change of speaker
just e-mail FamilyHistoryFriends@groups.live.com
From: Cynthia Dean <cgdean@bellsouth.net>
on Indian Research, we
will, instead, be having Dot Brown to talk about
"What is a Florid Cracker?"
Dot is a long-time genealogist, writer and delightful speaker.
You will enjoy her. Visitors are welcome.
Sat. 10:00 AM. West Florida Genealogy Library,
5740 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
For info, contact Cynthia Dean 432-7072
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
Saturday, June 04, 2011
FT.com / US / Economy & Fed - Jobs data stoke US recovery fears
How many factories in your town? What is your city's main source for jobs? I don't think the country is beyond economic recovery, but just in case I'm wrong, perhaps we should cut down on our TV and our golf and learn how to be self-sustaining, somewhat. Remember the (according to my kids), "ancient text" of the Fox Fire Books? Amazon offers them and there are other publications with a similar, though never as genuine/original/earthy as the Foxfire Books.
I'm pretty ignorant about things these days; I can't remember the last time I walked into an old-fashioned hardware store and bought a hoe, or any other gardening tool for that matter. Fortunately, hoes can be purchased in many different places today, even online.
Now, if only I wasn't out of shape, having trouble with my back, and not wanting to bend those knees........
I'm sure I can find a project and accomplish something toward this goal, but first I'll just check the Internet and see what info is out there for beginners.