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  • 30 Oct 2024 10:06 AM | Anonymous

    From Bloomberg News:

    Ancestry.com Inc. said a hypothetical takeover of its flailing rival in the consumer genetic testing industry, 23andMe Holding Co., likely wouldn’t be possible for antitrust reasons. 

    “Although we are always interested in looking at possibilities that are out there, 23andMe specifically would be challenging because they’re the No. 2 in the category and we’re the No. 1 in the category and those combinations can be challenging from an FTC standpoint,” Chief Legal Officer Greg Packer said at an internal meeting last week when asked about the possibility of buying 23andMe’s database.

    An Ancestry spokesperson declined to comment beyond what was said during the meeting.

    23andMe went public in 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company founded by billionaire Richard Branson and was valued at $3.5 billion at the time. Since then, its shares have fallen 98% as sales of DNA testing kits have slowed. Chief Executive Officer Anne Wojcicki said last month she is no longer open to third party takeover proposals and instead will take the company private. All independent board members resigned last month.

    Even if Ancestry were allowed to buy 23andMe, Chief Operating Officer Howard Hochhauser isn’t sure they would want to, he said during the meeting last week. Ancestry has the best product and network of data, Hochhauser said, pointing to a recent spike in sales of DNA testing kits.

    Led by former Meta Platforms Inc. executive Deborah Liu, Ancestry is the world’s largest consumer genealogy company. It has more than $1 billion in revenue and over 25 million people in its DNA database, according to the company’s website. In 2020, private equity giant Blackstone Group Inc. acquired a majority-stake in the company.

  • 29 Oct 2024 9:54 PM | Anonymous

    What families don’t have skeletons in their closets? To delve into family secrets and learn about unspoken family members and ancestors, the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, 400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire, is presenting a three-part series in November called Dirty Laundry: The Dark Side of Genealogywhich will focus on prisons, mental institutions, and the Ku Klux Klan in Wisconsin.    

    Kicking off the series on Saturday, Nov. 9, 11am-noon, is “Our Black Sheep Ancestors and Their Prison Records.” Presenter Eleanor Brinsko, MLIS, owner of Carlon Genealogical Services in Oshkosh, will show how to learn about ancestors our families won’t talk about by using prison and legal records, archives, online databases, and newspapers. Brinsko specializes in Scandinavian-American and Midwestern genealogy. She has presented lectures at the Wisconsin Historical Society, public libraries, and genealogical societies around the United States. Brinsko also has contributed to the PBS show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.   

    The second presentation, The Blue Trunk, Genealogy Research & Historical Fiction: A Path to Healing” on Thursday, Nov. 14, 6-7pm, will feature Ann Lowry, an Eau Claire native from Fort Collins, Colorado. Lowry will share her debut novel The Blue Trunk, and how failing to uncover the secrets of her long-lost, great-great aunt Marit led to healing through historical fiction. Though fictional, the book was inspired in part by Lowry’s real-life search for an ancestor whose life story was taboo in family conversations. Marit may have lived at the Eau Claire County Asylum and Poor Farm, and Lowry’s search was hampered by lack of official records and family stories.

    Concluding the series on Thursday, Nov. 21, 6-7pm, “Chippewa County, WI Klanswomen in the 1920s, is the library’s very own Alyson Jones, MLS, MSc. Jones will present her research into membership of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in Chippewa County. Who were the local women who joined the second wave resurgence of the KKK in the 1920s? What do we know about their lives and their motivations? Jones will discuss how to supplement sparse membership records with primary sources, such as censuses, newspapers, and vital records, and use record linkage and family reconstruction to create profiles of these women in their communities.

    Registration is required. To access the series and each program, please visit www.ecpubliclibrary.info/dirtylaundry     

  • 28 Oct 2024 2:01 PM | Anonymous

    Here is an article that is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, it is a topic that I suggest that all computer users should be familiar with this new technology:

    Without a question, the Internet has completely changed the way we live. It has altered the way we communicate, travel, work, get information, and engage with one another. We benefit from an increased degree of freedom as a result of the democratization and decentralization of information. As a result, the public's access to information about issues affecting both the globe and themselves has increased significantly thanks to the Internet. The mainstream media and centralized authorities are losing influence as a result of the Internet.

    But not everything is perfect. We have overlooked—or have been forced to overlook—something as significant in our haste to seize the liberties provided by the Internet: our privacy. People often forget that they are the real product of these new free services, as billions of people rush to sign up for the newest social media networks.

    Parts of the Internet became factories for data collecting, with important user information and data being handed on to the platforms' real customers — the highest bidder — thanks to incentives from "free" platforms and peer pressure. Large swaths of the Internet were taken over by a few dominant firms, which harvested data property that did not belong to them, weakened privacy rights, and made censorship easier. (Can you say "Google" or "FaceBook" boys and girls?)

    Privacy awareness has increased as a result of this centralizing influence as well as other worries about accessibility, surveillance, and net neutrality. In order to provide a more democratic, private, secure, censorship-resistant, and decentralized Internet of the future, there is an increase in the use of VPN and DPN services.

    Virtual private networks (VPNs)

    I rather like the Wikipedia definition of VPNs:

    "A virtual private network (VPN) is a mechanism for creating a secure connection between a computing device and a computer network, or between two networks, using an insecure communication medium such as the public Internet.

    A VPN can extend access to a private network (one that disallows or restricts public access) to users who do not have direct access to it, such as an office network allowing secure access from off-site over the Internet.

    The benefits of a VPN include security, reduced costs for dedicated communication lines, and greater flexibility for remote workers.

    A VPN is created by establishing a virtual point-to-point connection through the use of tunneling protocols over existing networks. A VPN available from the public Internet can provide some of the benefits of a private wide area network (WAN)."


    You can read more about VPNs on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network as well as on dozens of other web sites.

    Private Networks That Are Decentralized

    Decentralized Private Networks, sometimes known as decentralized VPNs (often abbreviated to DPN or DVPN), function similarly to virtual private networks (VPNs) in that they transit web traffic via encrypted tunnels over decentralized networks as opposed to centralized ones. Higher security levels are ensured by serverless and distributed architecture, which prevents user data from being tracked, compromised, or subpoenaed.

    VPNs are growing in popularity as people become more conscious of privacy concerns and challenges related to data and information centralization. Blockchain and cryptocurrency innovators are already taking advantage of this need to provide decentralized enhanced security for online users.

    User devices function as the client (typically individual Internet users) and a server or multiple servers (such as Amazon Web Services or Google or even individual desktop or laptop computers in use in private homes) in a decentralized private network such as Deeper Network or Mysterium Network. Additionally, the IP addresses automatically shift in accordance with their routing rules, creating global tunnels to connect to other nodes.

    Similar to virtual private networks (VPNs), decentralized private networks have the advantage of not requiring a central point of control. This indicates that the network cannot be taken down and that there are no central locations to attack. Because no centralized supplier has access to the data that users were attempting to secure, the individual users (clients) also retain control over their data.

    For instance, Deeper Network and other DPNs integrate blockchain technology, network security, and the sharing economy to build a worldwide peer-to-peer network that provides the same level of resistance against censorship and data theft as conventional VPNs, but without the requirement for a central server. The same is true with other services that enable total privacy for information sharing between apps, users, and organizations, such as Mysterium Network and HOPR.

    Deeper Network and Mysterium and others insure privacy and increase security simply because there is no central organization that can retain records that can be subpoenaed by central governments. Rather than use high-tech language to explain how DPNs work, I will revert to a non-technical explanation:

    DPNs work by creating an environment whereby interested users can "meet" and negotiate connection services. It is as if a client in Singapore says "I am available" and a client in the United States says "I am looking for an available client in Singapore." The two clients remain anonymous to each other, then connect and data is exchanged directly between the client in the United States and the client in Singapore" with no other "middleman" involved. The client in Singapore typically provides data from local online connections in Singapore, encrypts it, and then provides that data to the client in the United States. Unlike traditional VPNs, the central DPN organization does not know which clients are communicating with each other and never sees the data being exchanged. Therefore, a central government or any other organization or an individual hacker cannot monitor the connection and cannot later obtain any records of what transpired, even with a subpoena.

    In addition to software, there are hardware solutions that, such as Deeper Connect, also establish a private network that allows users to browse the Internet normally through a DPN. These hardware-based decentralized DPNs provide a one-time purchase option without a subscription. Additionally, DPN users have the option to profit from sharing their unused bandwidth with other users.

    All of this combines to produce a more pleasurable, safe, and genuinely private network for Internet browsing. In addition, most DPNs are available either free of charge to the end user or else may be available at greatly reduced charges when compared to traditional VPNs. 

    DPNs have a strong chance of guiding the Internet from its current state to a safe communication area where ethics and technology converge to protect individual liberty, freedom, and dignity.

  • 28 Oct 2024 12:58 PM | Anonymous

    I’m happy to report that from October 29 to November 1, 2024, MyHeritage is offering free access to the company's vast collection of death, burial, cemetery, and obituary records. With nearly 1.2 billion records in 435 collections, it’s the perfect chance to dive into the stories that connect us to generations before us.

    Search Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries now


    Death records are incredibly valuable resources in genealogy. They often provide essential details, including birth and death dates, family connections, last addresses, and heartfelt obituaries that add personality to each name. Beyond these, however, are other rich details that can deepen your understanding of your ancestors’ lives. For example, a death certificate might reveal occupation, marital status, burial location, and even the names of the deceased's parents and their birthplaces, providing significant insights that link you to earlier generations.

    By the way, the MyHeritage DNA kit is also currently on sale for Halloween...

      Read more about the free death records on the MyHeritage blog.

      Remember to share this news with your friends and followers so they don’t miss the chance to explore these records for free and enjoy a great price on the MyHeritage DNA kit!

    • 28 Oct 2024 11:04 AM | Anonymous
      ddThe 2024 Lumbee Genealogy Symposium will be held November 14-15 at Upchurch Auditorium


      The Museum of the Southeast American Indian at UNC Pembroke will host the 2024 Lumbee Genealogy Symposium: Fighting for Native America – Lumbee, Coharie & Waccamaw-Siouan in the American Revolution. 

      The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 14 and 15 in Upchurch Auditorium at James A. Thomas Hall. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. The event is free and open to the public.

      The symposium will explore the complicated histories surrounding Indigenous politics and service concerning the American Revolution. Historians, subject-matter experts and the community will share histories about Indigenous Colonial patriotism, loyalty to the British Crown and the complicated relationship and alliances with Scottish Tories. During the two-day event, participants can share their own stories in an oral history booth that will be recorded.

      Dr. Donald Fixico, Regents and Distinguished Foundation Professor of History at Arizona State University, will be the keynote speaker. A member of the Muscogee, Seminole, Shawnee and Sac and Fox tribes, Fixico was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor's, master's and PhD, all in history from the University of Oklahoma. He has worked on more than 25 documentaries on American Indians and is the author and editor of 17 books. He is an ethnohistorian, policy historian and oral historian.

      The symposium is made possible through a grant from NC 250 and Mill Prong Preservation, Inc. To register or for more information, contact Blake Tyner at 910. 521.6282 or blake.tyner@uncp.edu.

    • 28 Oct 2024 10:51 AM | Anonymous

      It is common knowledge among those genealogists that I come in contact with that the FamilySearch.org Catalog has not been updated for over two years. What this means is that the millions of digitized records being added daily to the FamilySearch.org website are not in the Catalog. So where are they? I will leave that question for a while as I try to explain what is going on from the perspective of someone who uses the Catalog and other resources on the FamilySearch.org website many times in a single day. 

      https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog


      The main use of the Catalog is to find stuff (records, documents, etc.) on the FamilySearch website. It has worked sort-of well since the website was first put online on May 24, 1999. Its main use for serious genealogists is to discover the jurisdictional organization of the various geographic areas of the world. Now, I happen to do an extensive number of online consultations with people from Argentina. 

      You can read the full article at: https://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-beginning-of-end-of-familysearch.html 

    • 28 Oct 2024 10:39 AM | Anonymous

      Eighty years after the liberation of Belgium and the end of World War II, a new database brings together all information on the resistance activities during World War II in Belgium. The national resistance database is the result of a pilot project run by expertise centre CegeSoma and the State Archives of Belgium.

      On the Resistance in Belgium platform, anyone can research resistance activities in Belgium during World War II. There are already numerous scientific and social initiatives around the history of the resistance, but the new platform makes all information available online for the first time. 

      The project is part of the mission and social role of CegeSoma, the Belgian centre of expertise on 20th-century conflicts.

      The platform contains information on more than 42,000 people on whom the state security services produced a file related to the Intelligence and Action Services. New data will be added and the database will eventually include information on more than 200,000 people, drawn from more than 350,000 individual files.

      The platform, resistanceinbelgium.be, is intended for the general public but also meets the needs of research and analysis. It completes the thematic portal developed by CegeSoma on World War II in Belgium, called Belgium WWII.

    • 28 Oct 2024 10:27 AM | Anonymous

      Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have created a dataset that contains data on agricultural productivity and farming techniques from 1888 to 2021. The researchers collected historical records on an agricultural experiment that has been continuously running since 1888 examining the impact of certain farming practices on maize. Studying long-term data from such agricultural experiments is key to developing innovative farming practices, and the dataset can help researchers assess current practices and develop new methods to improve crop yields and soil fertility.

      Get the data.

    • 28 Oct 2024 9:49 AM | Anonymous

      Have you noticed the recent erratic publication of new articles on this web site? Here is the reason why:

      In the past month, I have encountered:

      I earlier purchased a new home in Maine.
      I made plans to move to Maine.
      I packed up all my belongings in preparation for the move (that required more than a week).
      I scheduled a moving company to visit my Florida home on October 9, load a truck with all my belongings, and take everything to Maine.
      The strongest hurricane in the past decade struck Florida (including my home) on the scheduled day (October 9) with winds of up to 140 mph. The driver of the moving truck postponed the visit to load my possessions due to dangerous conditions on the highways.
      The driver of the moving truck finally arrived at my Florida home on October 13 and loaded all my possessions onto the truck but did not leave for Maine due to highway flooding along the route.

      On October 14, I started driving my automobile via a round-about route (remember the highway flooding) from Florida to Maine. I had my laptop computer with me but drove so many hours every day that I didn’t touch it until after arriving in Maine.

      On approximately October 16 the truck driver left Florida for Maine.

      On October 20, the driver and the truck arrived at my new home in Maine and unloaded. 

      I have since spent many hours unpacking, arranging furniture, made multiple trips to the grocery store to purchase food, and performed many related tasks...

      I am exhausted.

    • 25 Oct 2024 8:39 AM | Anonymous

      Discover over 2.5 million individuals in this new release

      Leading UK genealogy research website TheGenealogist has just launched a new, comprehensive collection of parish records for North West Kent. This monumental release includes over 2.5 million individuals, encompassing:

      • Baptisms: 1538-1916

      • Marriages: 1538-1939

      • Burials: 1538-2000

      The detailed transcripts include direct links to original images of the parish records, providing an invaluable resource for those looking to trace their ancestry or delve deeper into their family's history in Kent.

      “We are pleased to announce this large release of new parish records broadening our coverage for Kent,” said Mark Bayley, Head of Online Development at TheGenealogist. “This release represents a significant addition to our growing Parish Record collection. Keep on eye on our news page as we’ll be adding further areas in the coming weeks!”

      Parish records are an essential resource for anyone investigating their family history, offering insights into personal connections and local community histories. TheGenealogist is dedicated to providing high-quality resources and easy-to-use search tools that allow users to navigate their family’s past with ease.

      Found in these records is Henry Tracey Coxwell a Victorian Aeronaut Extraordinaire, read his story here:https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/the-victorian-balloonist-who-defied-death-at-29000-feet-7850/

      Explore the parish records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist. To celebrate this release, for a limited time you can claim a Diamond Subscription for just £99.45, a saving of £40. You can claim this offer here: 

      https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBKPR1024

      The offer expires 31st January 2025.

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