Actor Matthew Modine will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming virtual event March 3-5, according to FamilySearch.

Matthew Avery Modine was born March 22, 1959, as the youngest of seven children in Loma Linda, California, the son of a bookkeeper and drive-in theater manager. His iconic roles as Private Joker in Full Metal Jacket, the title character in Birdy, high school wrestler Louden Swain in Vision Quest, oversexed Sullivan Groff on Weeds, and triumphant return of the mysterious and frightening Dr. Martin Brenner on the Netflix global phenomenon Stranger Things have cemented his legacy.

Modine was drawn to acting at a young age because his father managed a drive-in theater. He performed in several high school plays and later attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.

Modine has acted in more than 75 films and dozens of television shows since the early 1980s. He credits his wife of 40-plus years, Puerto Rican producer Caridad Rivera, for giving him the confidence he needed to become an actor. Modine is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award and has shared the screen with well-known actors such as Mel Gibson and Nicolas Cage. One of his most recent roles is Dr. Martin Brenner in Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”

In his RootsTech remarks, Modine will tell about his life’s journey as a young boy in California and Utah, share his discovery of how New York City is actually more of a homeland than an adopted home, and discuss the connections he has made along the way, including a special connection with an uncle whose U.S. Air Force uniform Modine wore as a B-17 captain in the film, “Memphis Belle.”

“Can we create, as a human being, a little ripple of positivity and goodness that will impact other peoples’ (ripples)?” Modine said in a news release. “And my ripple will connect with another ripple and create a great wave of change. That’s how you connect to people … don’t think that you’re above anybody else.”

You can register now for RootsTech Connect 2022, which will be held on 3–5 March 2022, on RootsTech's website. RootsTech Connect is a free, virtual event that includes access to all speakers, classes, and additional resources. You can also check out videos from previous years' RootsTech Connect by going to their website.

David S. Ferriero, who has been the archivist of the United States for more than a decade under three presidents, is planning to retire in April.

Ferriero, 76, has been head of the National Archives and Records Administration since he was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2009.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime,” Ferriero wrote in a note to his staff Wednesday. “My time here has been filled with opportunities, challenges, and awesome responsibilities. … I am humbled and awestruck and so deeply grateful — grateful to all of you.”

You can read more in an article by Michael E. Ruane published in the Washington Post at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/01/13/david-ferriero-national-archives-retiring/.

This week I purchased a new cell phone. It is a modern “smart phone” combining a telephone along with many capabilities of computers.

One of the first things I did was to load my entire genealogy database into the phone, consisting of full data on more than 4,000 individuals and including all my source citations, text notes, "to do" lists, and more. In fact, I even have a few old family photographs stored in the cell phone that can be displayed on the telephone's built-in screen at any time.

The entire effort of loading my database was easy, requiring less than an hour to complete. I now have my genealogy data with me at all times. I can check my notes and even update the information while at the library or a local Family History Center, or even if I meet a fellow genealogist at the local grocery store. I always have my cell phone with me whenever I leave the house. Now I always have my genealogy database with me as well.

Adding data onto a cell phone is easy these days. I purchased one of the new devices that is both a cell phone and what we used to call a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). In the past, I have carried a cell phone and a separate PocketPC or Palm device. The new combination PDA phones combine the two into one. In fact, my new cell phone/PDA combo is actually smaller and cheaper than my old PDA, yet it has a larger screen and is easier to read. Even better, it has a real keyboard; I am not restricted to entering data with a stylus.

My new cell phone/PDA not only stores all my genealogy information, but it also includes a pocket-sized version of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as numerous other programs. Using Word and the built-in wireless networking, I can even write newsletter articles and post them to the newsletter's web site at http://eogn.com without using any other hardware or software. All I need is my combination cell phone and the included software.

If that is not enough, the particular cell phone that I purchased also functions as a portable music player. Similar in functionality to Apple's famous iPODs, my new cell phone/PDA allows me to listen to music files stored inside the device. I can also transfer music from any of several online services “in the cloud” and listen to them with the stereo "earbud" headphones included with the unit.

In fact, I can even post pictures directly to the newsletter's web site within seconds after snapping them with the built-in camera. I can do this from nearly any location by using the built-in high-speed wireless network. Again, no other hardware or software is required: everything is built into the twelve-ounce device clipped onto my belt.

Because the cell phone/PDA has built-in high-speed wireless data, I can surf the web and even check my e-mail at any time. Unlike the short-range "Wi-Fi" wireless networks, this unit will work while riding the commuter train, while sitting in any airport lounge, or most anyplace else in any metropolitan area. Modern cell phones are not restricted to short-range "hot spots." I can also use the new device as a high-speed wireless modem on my laptop, using the laptop's big screen and its more powerful operating system. The high-speed wireless data connection will not work in many rural areas, however.

While the new cell phone has all the functions one expects in a modern cell phone, it is also a full computer. You can obtain third-party programs written for handheld computers and install them onto the cell phone. I now have enough storage to keep all my genealogy data, all my e-mail from the past year, a telephone book with more than 1,000 names, addresses, and phone numbers, plus a few thousand MP3 music files. That's not bad for a device that weighs twelve ounces!

In this article I will describe my thought process in selecting the individual components. I will include a checklist of things to consider when selecting a new cell phone. I will also give a short description of the process of installing the genealogy software and data.

Cell phones with built in computers are available with several different operating systems. The two most popular operating systems found in cell phones are Google’s Android operating system or Apple’s iOS system.

Modern smart phones should be able to run almost any genealogy program that is designed for those operating systems. The best-known handheld genealogy programs include:

For Android: Family tree & DNA from MyHeritage, FamilySearch Tree from FamilySearch, Heredis, GedStar Pro Genealogy Viewer from GHCS Software, and Ancestry: Explore your family tree & genealogy from Ancestry.com.

For the Apple iOS operating system, the more popular apps appear to be MacFamily Tree from Synium Software, Heredis, and Family Tree Builder by IW Technologies,

NOTE: I haven’t reviewed all of those apps and am not prepared to make any suggestions as to which one is “the best,” if any.

In addition, many people download and install the apps from MyHeritage.com and/or Ancestry.com which simply access the huge databases online and reformat the information to display it properly in the smaller screens of these devices.

I am one of those people who does not use a separate genealogy program and database installed in my cell phone. I find it simpler and easier to use the Android app from MyHeritage and therefore can always access my current information online.

Here is a checklist I created when evaluating which cell phone/PDA to purchase, along with some of my comments. I would suggest that you might want to add your own selection criteria to this list:

1. Operating System: Both Android and iOS devices work well and have a wide variety of Apps available. The choice strikes me as being one of personal preference.

2. Size: some of these units are bulky. For men who wish to carry the device on a belt, the size will be very important. Ladies who carry cell phones in their purses may tolerate a larger unit as long as the weight is acceptable to them.

3. Keyboard: Some of these units have no keyboard. Others have a tiny keyboard right below the screen. Again, personal preference seems to be the most important factor.

4. Display: Can the display function in both portrait and landscape (sideways) mode? (Almost all of today’s devices can do that.) You will be surprised how much easier it is to read data-filled pages in landscape mode.

5. Display size and legibility: All of these devices obviously have small screens. However, some are smaller than others. Default font sizes also vary from one manufacturer to the next. You probably want to examine one of these devices in use before purchasing to make sure that you can read the screen easily, without eyestrain.

6. Display shape: Traditionally, almost all handheld computer display screens had a 4-by-3 aspect ratio (like a standard television set). In other words, the screen length would be 133% of the width or vice-versa. Some of the new devices now feature square screens: the length and width are identical. Not all third-party software works with square screens. You need to either purchase a device with a 4-by-3 screen or else make sure that your preferred handheld software will work with square screens. (This issue will probably soon go away as all the software vendors will add square screen capabilities to future software releases.)

7. High-speed wide area data network: Will the unit function on long-range high-speed cellular networks for checking e-mail or surfing the web? If so, what is the monthly charge for using this function? (I spend about 99% of my time accessing online sites with (free) wi-fi.)

8. High-speed local data network: Does the device have built-in 802.11 "Wi-Fi" networking? Most of today’s “smart phones” have this capability.

9. Can the unit be used as a high-speed modem on your laptop computer? Some of today’s “smart phones” will function as modems and will be very useful when traveling. With a cell phone modem, you can check e-mail or surf the web from almost anyplace.

10. Bluetooth networking: Most cell phone/ these days include Bluetooth capabilities, but you should verify that Bluetooth is included with the unit you select.

11. Available memory: More is better.

12. Storage expansion: Many cell phones with built-in handheld computers (but not all of them) feature the ability to add an extra memory card for extra storage. Most of today's devices use Secure Digital (SD) or mini-SD cards. You will need the extra storage if you add a large genealogy database, MP3 music files, word processing documents, and more.

13. Camera: most of today's cell phone/PDAs include a camera. Many of them will even record full-motion video. Some people work in areas where cameras are not allowed. If that includes you, look for a cell phone/PDA that does not include a camera. They are easy to find although cell phone stores typically do not keep the camera-less cell phones in stock. The store employees may have to order it for you.

14. Music: You may want to use your cell phone as a portable music player. Most of today's cell phones feature stereo music playback of MP3 files. Since the built-in speakers are not suitable for music reproduction, plan on using earbud stereo earphones. Check the specs before purchasing if music is important to you.

15. Multimedia: Do you want to watch movies or other video clips on your cell phone? I find such things to be boring, but others are very enthusiastic about the multimedia capabilities found today. The cell phone providers offer widely different services, so shop around and compare services.

16. Processor speed is a trade off. Slower processors obviously produce slower results, which can make it difficult to multi-task. However, faster processors consume a lot more power and may significantly reduce battery life. Cell phones with the fastest processors may not keep a battery charge more than eight hours or so. Devices with slower processors may last three or four days between charges.

17. Quad band GSM: If you travel internationally and want to use your cell phone from other countries, make sure that you purchase a phone with the proper capabilities. In short, you want a quad band GSM phone. See http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwarriorcontent/quadbandphones.htm for an explanation of these terms. Also, make sure that your cell phone provider enables calls from international locations. I speak from experience: four years ago I was in London with a quad band GSM cell phone, but my provider in the United States didn't allow international calls on my cell phone account. I paid an outrageous long distance charge to call the United States from my hotel room's phone. My new cell phone is a true quad-band GSM phone and makes international calls from most countries at no extra fee.

18. Office applications: If you wish to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, or other office productivity programs, purchase a Windows Mobile/PocketPC device. The office applications are included, and they work well. I have written short newsletter articles on my cell phone's keyboard but do not wish to use it for longer articles.

Selection

After comparing about a dozen different cell phone devices against the above list, I purchased a Pixel 6 Pro. It was expensive, but has all the feature I want. For $19.95 (U.S.) per month, I get unlimited talk and text from kore than 100 didifferent countries. Accessing online data costs more but the fees are modest. I no longer worry about bills for $300 or more in roaming fees when returning from a foreign trip.

I am now surfing the web, reading e-mail, writing newsletter articles and listening to the Grateful Dead, all by use of my new cell phone.

The cell phone market is highly competitive, and new units appear almost weekly. Your local cell phone store may have available devices not listed above. Prices also vary widely and cell phone companies seem to be in love with rebates that appear and disappear overnight. Your total cost may be very different from the list price. However, if you compare the offerings against the above checklist, you should be able to find a device that meets your needs.

When you and I meet at the next genealogy conference or at a courthouse, let's compare (portable) databases!

The following is a press release written by 23andMe:

23andMe’s latest update provides new ancestral connections to 25 African ethnolinguistic groups, or groups of people who share a common language and culture.

Along with the Recent Ancestor Locations previously covered, this brings us to over 200 Ancestry Composition populations in Africa. This update is just one of many steps we’re taking to offer richer and more detailed information for customers with African ancestry. We are always looking to improve and we hope to add even more granular ancestry results to our customers and better represent the depth of our genetic diversity.

What will customers find in this update? 

With this update, some customers with African ancestry will discover new Ancestry Composition matches to one or more of 25 new genetic groups, often called reference populations, that represent present-day ethnolinguistic groups in Sub-Saharan Africa. These new groups include the Igbo, Yoruba, Kongo, Mandinka, and Shona peoples, among others. Customers will also find a map marking where the people in each reference population and their ancestors have lived for generations. 

You can read more at: https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/african-ethnolinguistic-groups/

I know this has confused more than a few visitors to Salt Lake City. Now the Family History Library and the Church History Library have published an online guide that explains the differences between the two libraries.

What Is the Difference Between the Family History Library and the Church History Library? may be found at: https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/difference-between-family-history-library-church-history-library.

The following is a press release issued by the (U.S.) National Genealogical Society:

FALLS CHURCH, VA, 12 JANUARY 2021— The National Genealogical Society (NGS) issued a call for submissions for the SLAM! Idea Showcase scheduled for May 2022. The event is one of several components of the 2022 NGS Family History Conference, 24─28 May 2021. The showcase allows genealogical information providers to share their work with genealogists and family historians while encouraging collaboration among information providers.

Societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAM) as well as other organizations such as universities are encouraged this year to submit posters or videos to illustrate their creative and innovative projects or programs.

Posters and videos will be available for viewing by attendees In-Person in Sacramento, California, and Online at Home using the Whova virtual event platform. Presenters will also be able to discuss their posters with participants. NGS will select the top posters and videos for cash awards; additional submissions will be selected for honorable mentions. The top six videos will be shown during the SLAM! Film Fest in Sacramento on 24 May 2022.

NGS will accept submissions through 15 March 2022. Submission requirements and online submission forms are posted on the NGS conference website.

From an article in the Jerusalem Post:

You can read the full article at: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-692240.

The following is from the State Archives of North Carolina blog:

"We are excited to announce that eleven counties of Search Room microfilm have been completely added to our online searchable database, Discover Online Catalog (DOC)!

"The completed counties are Albemarle (defunct), Ashe, Avery, Bute (defunct), Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Dobbs (defunct), Gates, Graham, and Tryon (defunct). 

"As stated in our previous post regarding this project, many of the county records we have on microfilm are not available in their original format so be sure to check the microfilm Search Room holdings for unique records. The county microfilm added to DOC includes a variety of records ranging from Minute Dockets to Record of Deeds to Marriage Records.

"If the record has an “MF-“ that precedes the container ID, this indicates that it is Search Room microfilm. “Physical Access” notes are also present in records where Search Room microfilm can be found."

You can find more information at: https://bit.ly/3qeNkc0 

The following announcement was written by the organizers of The Family History Show:

The Family History Show is back next month!

After the extremely successful virtual events held online last year, The Family History Show, Online is returning in February so that once more you can enjoy all the features of a physical family history show, but from the comfort of your own home.

The Family History Show, Online is gearing up for its return on Saturday 19th February 2022.

You'll have the opportunity to put your research questions to an expert, watch professionally produced talks and to speak to family history societies, archives and genealogical suppliers by text, audio, video chat or email from the comfort of your own home.

You will also be able to submit your questions to the Ask the Experts panel before the show and you have a choice to either book a free 1-to-1 session or to watch the question panel at 15:30 where our experts answer your questions!

Save the date in your diary and snap up an early bird ticket now for only £7! You'll also get a downloadable goody bag worth over £10.

Featuring All New Talks

From Cradle to Grave

Jackie Depelle - Family History Tutor and Speaker

Jackie's talk shows you how to follow the life of an ancestor, using key family history sources, plus more from maps to house history

Solving Genealogy Brickwalls: A Case Study

Amelia Bennett - Expert Researcher, Census Detective with the SOG

This talk uses an example from Amelia's own family history where she progressed a brickwall using DNA alongside traditional genealogy research. The path to solving this brickwall had a number of surprises along the way with forgeries, quick marriages, criminal ancestors and often more questions than answers. In telling the story, methods and tools for using DNA to break down brickwalls are provided.

The Joy of Surnames

Debbie Kennett - DNA & Surname Expert and Writer

Each surname has its own story to tell. This lecture provides an overview of the history and distribution of surnames with a focus on surnames originating in the British Isles. The one-name study approach can provide breakthroughs that would not be possible by restricting research to your own family tree.

Family history and the media: behind the scenes of Who Do You Think You Are?

Nick Barratt - Historian, Author and Professional Genealogist

Exploring the impact of Who Do You Think You Are? on the way we research our family stories, with an explanation of how the show was first conceived and produced.

Ask the Experts Live Q&A Panel

with Mark Bayley, Debbie Kennett, Jackie Depelle and Nick Barratt.

Submit your questions to our panel of experts before the show. Either book a free 1-to-1 session or watch the live stream question panel at 15:30 where you can ask your questions live!

Societies, Archives and Companies

Visit exhibitors, societies, archives and companies in our virtual exhibition hall. Here there will be the opportunity to talk to some of the stallholders by text, audio or video from the comfort of your own home.

Show Partners

SoG, AGRA, TheGenealogist, GenFair, S&N Genealogy

Early Bird Ticket Offer

Buy your tickets in advance and save - tickets to attend The Family History Show Online are available from the website at just £7.00 each. You will also get a FREE virtual goody bag on the day worth over £10. https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/online/tickets/

Genetics testing company 23andMe received Food and Drug Administration clearance for its prostate cancer risk test. It’s 23andMe’s third clearance for a cancer risk report — the company also has tests for genes that predict breast and colorectal cancer risk.

The test screens for a specific mutation on the HOXB13 gene linked with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Men with the mutation, the G84E variant, have around a three-fold higher chance of developing prostate cancer than men without, one study found. Around one in 70 people of European descent have the variant, according to a statement from 23andMe.

The prostate cancer risk report is not yet available to 23andMe customers, the company said. Customers will be able to choose whether or not they want to see their results. Those that choose to see it will also get access to an “educational module” to give them information about how to interpret the results.

Details may be found in an article by Nicole Wetsman in The Verge web site at: https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/10/22876615/23andme-fda-prostate-cancer-risk-test.