The ILGenWeb Project

Links to the counties will be available soon.

The ILGenWeb Project's is located at:
http://illinoisgenweb.org

ILGenWeb 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

via illinoisgenweb.org

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Vintage Minolta Camera

Check out this website I found at okaloosa.craigslist.org

De-cluttering cleans out corners and makes money. Sometimes.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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.

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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.

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1. Report Sanborl | October 20 1:50am | Permalink

   The Islamization creep.

2. Report User9179560 | October 20 1:44am | Permalink

   After teaching Evolution for years I have come to realize that no matter how much evidence one brings to the classroom people will believe what their social group instructs, regardless. Knowing that the "belief" system doesn't need to include evolution promotes those peoples needs to discredit it. They in turn fit in and rock no boats at home. Life is good. In the largest scheme of things whether evolution exists or not really doesn't matter to anyone except the scientist who needs to understand its implications, and of course us teachers who are supposed to teach our children correct scientific theory.

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Smolenyakpgs1-2.pdf (application/pdf Object)

via rootsweb.ancestry.com

I had the pleasure of attending one of Megan's seminars. You'll come away with an enhanced understanding of Family History and DNA!

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Boy, 15, charged in CAPA teacher attack | Allegheny Co. News - WTAE Home

via wtae.com

When did teaching English become a crime?

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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.

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: -->

• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Other research areas

via labs.familysearch.org

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

South Asia Mail

via southasiamail.com

I love it when good people get together! They can accomplish understanding, good works, and who knows what else!

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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

.

 

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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?

 

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Hungarian prime minister uses Facebook page to ‘unfriend’ IMF, rejects alleged loan conditions - The Washington Post

Hungarian prime minister uses Facebook page to ‘unfriend’ IMF, rejects alleged loan conditions - The Washington Post

Is FB the new wave of diplomatic stratagem?

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.  

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

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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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Social Security Administration Explains Plan to Buy 174,000 Hollow-Point Bullets

    

(AP Image)

(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.

    

View the discussion thread.

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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!

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

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.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous