Latest News Articles

Everyone can read the (free) Standard Edition articles. However,  the Plus Edition articles are accessible only to (paid) Plus Edition subscribers. 

Read the (+) Plus Edition articles (a Plus Edition username and password is required).

Please limit your comments about the information in the article. If you would like to start a new message, perhaps about a different topic, you are invited to use the Discussion Forum for that purpose.

Do you have comments, questions, corrections or additional information to any of these articles? Before posting your words, you must first sign up for a (FREE) Standard Edition subscription or a (paid) Plus Edition subscription at: https://eogn.com/page-18077.

If you do not see a Plus Sign that is labeled "Add comment," you will need to upgrade to either a (FREE) Standard Edition or a (paid) Plus Edition subscription at: https://eogn.com/page-18077.

Click here to upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription.

Click here to find the Latest Plus Edition articles(A Plus Edition user name and password is required to view these Plus Edition articles.)

Complete Newsletters (including all Plus Edition and Free Edition articles published within a week) may be found if you click here. (A Plus Edition user name and password is required to view these complete newsletters.)

Do you have an RSS newsreader? You may prefer to use this newsletter's RSS feed at: https://www.eogn.com/page-18080/rss and then you will need to copy-and-paste that address into your favorite RSS newsreader.



Latest Standard Edition Articles

  • 13 Jul 2023 3:59 PM | Anonymous

    From an article by Danny Klein, the genealogy librarian at the Jersey City Free Public Library’s New Jersey Room and a founding member of the Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society: 

    Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has been prevalent in the news, social media, and entertainment a lot lately. But what is it and what does it mean for genealogy? Let’s start with what it is. Wikipedia defines AI thusly:

    …perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information — demonstrated by computers, as opposed to intelligence displayed by humans or by other animals. “Intelligence” encompasses the ability to learn and to reason, to generalize, and to infer meaning.

    We’re already used to AI. We have Netflix and Amazon algorithms that suggest new films or products based on what we’ve watched or bought previously. We don’t tend to think of that as AI, but it certainly fits the description.

    And it’s also been used in genealogy. It used to be the case that optical character recognition, or OCR, software could only read printed documents. But last year the National Archives and the big database companies used AI algorithms to help transcribe handwritten 1950 Census returns when they were released.

    But what can we as researchers do with AI?

    You can read the full article in the NJ.com web site at: https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/07/what-impact-will-artificial-intelligence-have-on-genealogy-research-tracing-our-roots.html.

  • 13 Jul 2023 12:55 PM | Anonymous

    The following is a press release written by Quest Diagnostics:

    SECAUCUS, N.J., July 11, 2023 -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the leader in diagnostic information services, today announced the launch of its first consumer-initiated genetic test, now exclusively available through the company's consumer health business at questhealth.com. Called Genetic Insights, the new offering helps people understand their potential risk of developing certain inheritable health conditions, with advanced technology and end-to-end support that includes personalized health reports and access to genetic counseling.

    Using a saliva specimen, Genetic Insights analyzes 36 genes to identify potential risk of nearly two dozen inheritable conditions, including breast and colon cancer; a number of heart and blood disorders; and carrier status for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease. Designed to address gaps in existing consumer genetic tests, the new test is powered by advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology*, which can analyze thousands of DNA variants in genes associated with disease and looks at more regions in a person's genome than microarray testing technology.

    "Genetic Insights goes beyond the typical consumer genetic test. The Quest team spent the past couple of years innovating not just the test, but the entire consumer experience to deliver comprehensive, complex genetic health data in a way that is digestible and actionable to the end user," said Dr. Sarah South, PhD, FACMG, Executive Scientific Director of R&D for Molecular Genetics and Oncology, Quest Diagnostics. "The use of NGS is a crucial distinction­, because NGS-based tests are uniquely able to identify a wider range of genetic conditions and keep pace with new genetic discoveries."

    A uniquely guided user experience

    Individuals who purchase Genetic Insights at questhealth.com will receive an at-home saliva-collection kit and ship back their sample to Quest Diagnostics for analysis in one of the company's state-of-the-art laboratories. An independent physician orders the test for the individual, provides personalized information about the link between the genetic findings and the individual's health status, and is available to discuss the individual's questions. Test results will be available within three to five weeks.

    Each kit includes an activation code to unlock access to a personalized, secure interactive Genetic Insights online dashboard, where users can:

    • Gain an overview of the Genetic Insights experience and access easy-to-understand educational materials on various conditions for which there could be risk;
    • Provide relevant personal and family health history via a secure questionnaire, supporting results interpretation by the ordering physician;
    • Track the status of each test kit, from sample collection to testing to results delivery;
    • Chart family health history via an easy-to-use template that can be downloaded and shared with the individual's doctor;
    • Access highly visual, personalized genetic health reports designed to break down complex genetic information into a digestible, actionable format. Reports include information on genes tested, test limitations, key takeaways, and suggested next steps based on DNA and family history;
    • Schedule a one-on-one phone or video session with a third-party board-certified genetic counselor—available at no extra charge—to discuss results and what they mean, address any questions, and help map next steps.

    Supporting the continuity of care

    To support a dialogue about inherited health risks and action steps, Genetic Insights also allows individuals to download and share clinical lab reports directly with their own doctors. Within the lab report, healthcare providers can access quick reference guides, which are intended to help facilitate discussions between providers and their patients and include key lab findings and clinical guideline-based resources and recommendations.

    "Half the physicians in the U.S. trust Quest for their laboratory tests, so we added unique features, like physician reference guides, to support dialogue and continuity of care between individuals who order Genetic Insights and their providers," Dr. South said. "We also wanted to ensure access to genetic counseling and easy-to-understand educational content, so people have the end-to-end support to understand and act on their personal health risks."

    Genetic Insights is now available for adults (ages 18+) in the United States** to purchase on questhealth.com for $199.

    For more information, visit questhealth.com and follow @testwithquest on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter.  

    *The Genetic Insights test is based on advanced NGS technologies that can detect 80-90 percent of inherited risk for specific health conditions1, including at least 80 percent of DNA variants linked to a higher risk of developing the most common form of inherited breast cancer. However, it is designed to be an elective screen and is not as sensitive as other NGS-based genetic test services that physicians may order in situations that require diagnostic-level sensitivity. Based on the results of this test and personal or family health history, an individual's physician may suggest additional genetic testing. The Genetics Insights test does not identify genetic risk markers of all known inheritable diseases.

    **Excludes AK, AZ, HI, and NY

    About Quest 

    Quest empowers consumers by making affordable, high-quality, trusted healthcare easy. With innovative tools, we give consumers more control over their own healthcare journeys and meet them where they are, supporting both consumers and their care teams. Our consumer-initiated test service allows people access to the same quality lab tests used by doctors and hospitals, providing the information and insights they need about their health. With more than 75+ lab tests available at questhealth.com, from general health profiles to tests for conditions ranging from heart health to sexually transmitted diseases, consumers can shop, schedule test appointments, and access results securely from a phone or computer.

    About Quest Diagnostics

    Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

    Quest® is the brand name used for services offered by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its affiliated companies. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and certain affiliates are CLIA-certified laboratories that provide HIPAA-covered services. Other affiliates operated under the Quest® brand, such as Quest Consumer Inc., do not provide HIPAA-covered services. 

  • 13 Jul 2023 8:41 AM | Anonymous

    When Judith Ezekiel was five years old, her grandfather drove her and her two brothers to Arlington National Cemetery, to see a statue made by their relative.

    Moses Jacob Ezekiel, Judith's cousin four times removed, was a renowned Jewish sculptor in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. His most famous work, what he called the "crowning achievement" of his career, has stood inside Arlington since 1914: the Confederate Memorial.

    "My grandfather was quite proud of his artistic prowess," Ms Ezekiel says. At some point in their childhoods, Judith says, he took all 15 of his grandchildren to see Ezekiel's work.

    The monument, a bronze statue and plinth on top of a granite base, commemorates the men who fought and died for the slave-holding southern states in the US Civil War.

    For more than a century, this statue commemorating the Confederacy has stood inside Arlington - known as America's most sacred shrine. Overlooking Washington DC across the Potomac river, it hosts some 400,000 graves: US soldiers, sailors, astronauts, actors, and even two presidents.

    But by next year, by order of the US government, the monument must be removed. The decision is part of an ongoing movement to rethink how the US remembers the Confederacy.

    You can read more in an article by Toby Luckhurst of BBC News at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66004176.

  • 12 Jul 2023 7:08 PM | Anonymous

    I have been a big fan of Evernote for many years, mentioning the product many times in previous articles in this newsletter. (See https://eogn.com/Sys/Search?q=evernote&types=7&page=1 for an index of the many articles where I have mentioned Evernote.) Sadly, the product appears to have fallen on hard times.

    I have become disillusioned with Evernote over the past year or so for several reasons and am now considering switching to a different product. 

    The following is a brief article published in the Slashdot.org web site at: https://slashdot.org/story/23/07/10/2318212/evernote-lays-off-most-of-staff-triggering-fears-of-closure:

    "Evernote, the note-taking and task management application, is triggering fears of closure after its parent company Bending Spoon laid off most of the company's staff and announced plans to relocate all operations to Europe. Thurrott reports:

    Most of the company's "operations will be transitioned to Europe," Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari told SFGate, due to the "significant boost in operational efficiency that will come as a consequence of centralizing operations in Europe." As a result, most of Evernote's staff in the San Francisco Bay area and Chile has been laid off and those offices will be closed for good. 

    "Bending Spoons won't confirm how many Evernote employees it laid off, but Ferrari claims all is well. "Our plans for Evernote are as ambitious as ever," he said. "Going forward, a growing, dedicated team based in Europe will continue to assume ownership of the Evernote product. This team will also be in an ideal position to leverage the extensive expertise and strength of the 400-plus workforce at Bending Spoons, many of whom have been working on Evernote full-time since the acquisition."

    I am now looking at alternative replacements for Evernote. One that looks appealing is Joplin, a freeware open source product that seems to have a lot of enthusiastic users.

    Question: Do you use Joplin?

    If so, would you drop a comment at the end of this article describing your satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with Joplin? I certainly would like to know and I suspect quite a few other readers of this newsletter would like to know of your experiences as well.

    Joplin may be found at: https://joplinapp.org/.


  • 12 Jul 2023 3:57 PM | Anonymous

    Got an old PC knocking about and but you don't want to throw it away? Here are some amazing ways to repurpose and reuse an old computer: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/creative-projects-reuse-old-pc/.

    Comment: I have long ago built a home server, set up an external router, converted an old PC into a NAS (Network Attached Storage device), and donated some of my old PCs to charities. Don't let an old PC gather dust in a closet! And whatever you do, never throw out an old PC in the trash! There's numerous things you can do with "vintage" computers to make them very worthwhile for new purposes.

  • 12 Jul 2023 3:50 PM | Anonymous

    Thanks to a generous grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, 100 years’ worth of the York Weekly and other town newspapers have been completely digitized.

    York Public Library, in partnership with Old York Historical Society, Advantage Preservation, and York Weekly, recently announced the long-awaited unveiling of the York History Digital Archive.

    For decades, the Old York Historical Society has preserved the town newspaper collection by microfilming it. The film is not indexed, however, and the only way to view it was to go page by page.

    “York Public Library, with their expertise in digital technology, is opening a door to unprecedented discovery of York’s history," said Joel Lefever, executive director & chief curator at Old York Historical Society. "There's nothing like a local newspaper, at all, for giving you a real good picture of what was important in a community, what was going on, who the personalities were."

    You can read more in an article published in the seacoastonline.com web site at: https://tinyurl.com/2xhs9p8r.

  • 11 Jul 2023 8:46 PM | Anonymous

    NOTE: This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, it is a method of using the latest technology, increasing the security of your information, and of saving money, so I decided to publish the information here.

    What Is Storj and Why Should I Care?

    Simple answer: Storj is an open source, decentralized file storage solution that is cloud-based, easy-to-use, and inexpensive. It stores files "off site" (and optionally makes them available to others) for its customers.

    Answer from Wikipedia

    Storj is a decentralized storage platform that uses a cooperative storage cloud to store data on many different nodes around the world. The company was founded in 2014. 

    Both of the above explanations are correct but do not properly explain what StorJ is nor why anyone would be tempted to use the company's services. 

    A longer and more complete description

    Cloud storage of files has become a very popular service in recent years, attracting companies like Dropbox, Google Drive, Apple iCloud Drive, Microsoft Azure, BackBlaze, SpiderOak, Sync, Mega, pCloud, and several dozen others. Prices vary widely and most of these services will provide a small amount of free file space as enough for you to test it. 

    Most of the cloud-based file storage services will store files originating in all the popular computer operating systems, including Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Chromebooks, Android, and iOS.

    Almost all these services operate by building large data centers and filling them with hundreds or even thousands of file servers as places to store their customers' files. Almost all these services (with a few exceptions) must purchase the data centers, the servers, and all the related hardware. For most of these companies, the expenses for all this is measured in the millions of U.S. dollars, an expense that must be passed on to their customers.

    Of course, a disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, or wars (such as a data center in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine war zone)) in one of these data centers will have a huge impact to the company's business. The bigger cloud-based file storage services solve this by building multiple data centers in multiple countries spread all over the world. The file servers in any one location will periodically copy their stored files to servers in a distant data centers located in another part of the world. Expenses in those cases may go into the billions of dollars. 

    In contrast, Storj has a different business model. 

    Storj (pronounced as "storage") does not own the majority of file servers. In fact, Storj claims on it's web site at https://www.storj.io/how-it-works: "We don't own or operate a single data center."

    So how does a cloud file storage service store customers' data in the cloud without owning "or operat(ing) a single data center?"

    Instead of owning their own (expensive) data center, Storj contracts the file storage space out to both large corporations and to private individuals who have sufficient storage space available for use by Storj. The Storj company then compensates the storage space providers for the space used. Since Storj does not have to spend millions (or billions) of dollars to purchase the servers and data centers, the savings are passed on to end users. Storj's fees are amongst the lowest in the industry.

    Storj runs on the Interplanetary File System, usually abbreviated to IPFS. (You gotta love that name: Interplanetary File System!) 

    Instead of uploading your files to a single server, the IPFS (and including Storj) breaks each upload down into 80 or more distinct pieces (called "sharding") that get copied to 80 or more distinct storage points throughout the world. These "distinct storage points throughout the world" are owned by other people and companies, not by Storj.

    The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol, hypermedia and file sharing peer-to-peer network for storing (and optionally sharing) data in a distributed file system.

    Your files are therefore first encrypted, then broken up into 80 or more hard-to-trace fragments and all the fragments of all the files are distributed across the globe, making for one of the safest and most secure content-upload suites available. Any potential hackers cannot find and decode your entire file(s) simply because every file is broken up into 80 or more distinct pieces and stored in different locations. One piece might be stored in Singapore, another piece in Poughkeepsie, one in Caribou, Maine, still another piece in Rio de Janeiro, and the remaining 76 or more pieces stored in still other locations. 

    Not only are your files safe from government spies, hackers, and others, even the employees of Storj are unable to decode any of your encrypted and distributed files. (There is a method of NOT encrypting your files, should you wish to not do so. However, that remains under the control of the owner of each file at all times.)

    IPFS allows users to host and receive content in a manner similar to BitTorrent. As opposed to a centrally located server, IPFS is built around a decentralized system of user-operators who hold a portion of the overall data, creating a resilient system of file storage and sharing. Any user in the network can serve a file, and other peers in the network can find and request that content from any node who has it. If any one (or more) file servers in the network are unreachable, the "missing piece" of the files is quickly supplied from other servers in the network that have redundant copies of the file being retrieved.

    All of this file splitting and multi-server file retrieval is invisible to the end user. For instance, he or she simply requests a normally-addressed "http" file in his or her web browser and it appears (often in less time) in his or her normal web browser. Of course, the user storing the file(s) is not limited to World Wide Web-formatted (http) files; each file can be any standard file format such as DOC, PDF, EXE, or any other file format.

    You can read more about the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) at: https://ipfs.tech.

    The use of IPFS (and therefore Storj) files has many advantages. The more obvious advantage is file redundancy: files can be retrieved even if a significant number of file servers are off-line and therefore inoperative.

    Traditional cloud storage solutions, like Dropbox or Google Drive have limitations. While files are backed up redundantly, bandwidth from a traditional data center or unexpected outages can restrict access to your files. There’s also the issue of privacy. These companies have control over your files, including the ability to access them with or without your knowledge.

    Another advantage is security. With each file in your Storj account broken up into 80 or more separate pieces (shards) and stored in 80 or more different servers located all over the world, a hacker cannot access your files as he or she will never discover all the 80 or more servers needed.

    When you need to access a file that you earlier backed up on Storj, the file service only needs 29 of those pieces ("shards") to reconstruct the file. However, it actually requests 39 pieces to be downloaded simultaneously, using only the fastest 29 pieces that reach you first.

    The Storj project uses blockchain and peer-to-peer networks. It distributes the files so redundancy is well established. It also guarantees you’re the only one who can control access to your files: you can make access private (only you can retrieve your files) or make them public (anyone may retrieve your file).

    File sharding and redundancy also has numerous advantages when a traditional server becomes overloaded. Normal file servers, such as HTTP, downloads files from one server at a time — but peer-to-peer IPFS retrieves pieces from multiple nodes at once, enabling substantial bandwidth savings. IPFS makes it possible to efficiently distribute high volumes of data without duplication. If Storj needs more than 80 different widely-distributed servers because of system loads, the many file segments are automatically copied to additional servers. 

    Another major advantage is anti-censorship: No one controls IPFS, not a government and not any individual. For instance, during the block of Wikipedia in Turkey a few years ago, IPFS was used to create a mirror of Wikipedia, which allowed access to archived static Wikipedia content despite the ban. Even if Wikipedia's primary (non-IPFS) file servers were censored by the Turkish government and even knocked off-line, the mirrors on IPFS continued to serve the (non-censored) web pages. The mirror has now been expanded to more languages, such as English, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese.

    IPFS also automatically powers the creation of diversely resilient networks that enable persistent availability — with or without internet backbone connectivity. This means better connectivity for the developing world, during natural disasters, or just when you're on flaky coffee shop wi-fi. You are never dependent on one backbone network. 

    Perhaps the biggest advantage of all is pricing: Storj provides up to 25 gigabytes free of charge to anyone who establishes a (free) account on the service. That's a lot, more space than almost all other cloud-based file storage services (with 1 or 2 exceptions). When your stored files exceed 25 gigabytes, Storj charges $4.00 (US) per terabyte for all stored data exceeding 25 gigabytes. In addition, Storj charges $7.00 (US) per terabyte of downloaded bandwidth costs. Again, not the absolute cheapest but certainly one of the cheapest fee structures in the business. Storj claims that its customers save 80% or more on your cloud storage costs compared to the big cloud providers.

    You can read more about Storj's fees at: https://www.storj.io/pricing.

    Files are always available and can be downloaded using multi-layered parallelism (pulling from multiple storage nodes around the globe) with low latency, and higher throughput, ensuring faster recovery.

    There is a lot more information about Storj on the company's web servers (distributed across more than 80 different servers around the world, of course) at: https://www.storj.io.

    I have been using Storj for more than a year now and am very pleased with the service. It is easy-to-use and works well. I don't have any testing equipment to measure download speeds, but my "eyeball measurement system" seems to indicate that it retrieves files at least as fast as any of the bigger cloud-based file storage and retrieval services I have used in the past and possibly a bit faster.

    You can learn a lot more about Storj by starting at: https://www.storj.io/.

    NOTE: By the way, I am not compensated in any way for writing this article. I am simply a very satisfied user of Storj and plan to continue using it until something even better comes along. The folks at Storj do not know that I am planning to publish this article. In fact, I doubt if the folks at Storj even know who I am.


  • 11 Jul 2023 7:30 AM | Anonymous

    Bonjour to all our fellow history enthusiasts and genealogy explorers! In honor of Bastille Day, we’re offering free access to all French records on MyHeritage from July 12–16, 2023. This massive treasure trove of French records includes 1,304,623,272 records spanning 117 unique collections. Imagine the fascinating connections and discoveries you might make about your family’s French history by exploring these records for free! 

    Start exploring French records now

    As we all know, French influence reaches far and wide. From Canada to the Caribbean, Vietnam to parts of Africa, the tendrils of France’s historical legacy are intertwined with the stories of nations across the globe. You don’t have to hail from France to find something unexpected or intriguing in these records. This is an opportunity for MyHeritage users worldwide to uncover potential French heritage and delve into the rich and varied tapestry of French history.

    51,252,583 of these French records were added to MyHeritage just over the past year! So, if you’ve searched our French records before, it might be time to revisit these historical record collections and uncover new leads in your genealogy research.

    Don’t yet have a MyHeritage account? No problem! We’ll ask you to register for free, so you can take full advantage of this offer and begin your journey into the past.

    Many interesting examples may be found in the MyHeritage Blog at: https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/07/celebrate-bastille-day-with-free-access-to-french-records-on-myheritage/

  • 11 Jul 2023 7:20 AM | Anonymous

    The Belfast Free Library is now a FamilySearch affiliate library. The designation means local library patrons will now have greater and more convenient access to the wealth of genealogical resources available through FamilySearch, the largest genealogy organization in the world, according to Belfast Free Library, in a news release.

    Details may be found at: https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/belfast-free-library-becomes-familysearch-affiliate-library/176100.

  • 11 Jul 2023 7:16 AM | Anonymous

    The New England Historic Genealogical Society is the recipient of an $18 million bond to expand its Newbury Street location in Boston, MassDevelopment said. The funds will be used to add a visitor’s center and other improvements to the facility.

    Secretary of Economic Development Yvonna Hao, chairwoman of MassDevelopment, said cultural institutions' contributions to the economy are key to bringing visitors to downtown neighborhoods and commercial centers.

    “We’re pleased that nonprofits across Massachusetts like New England Genealogical Society can leverage MassDevelopment’s financing solutions to upgrade their facilities, buy equipment, and pursue other capital projects that help them grow and thrive,” Hao said in a statement.

    A vacant building located at 97 Newbury St., Boston, according to a release, will be reconstructed and expanded to be connected to the genealogical society’s current facility at 99-101 Newbury St. The expansion will feature a Discovery Center with computer kiosks, visitor recording booths, multimedia presentations, and visiting exhibitions and museum pieces.

    “Everyone has a story worth telling and worth hearing; when people are inspired and supported to explore and share their family history, they gain a better understanding of themselves, of others, and of the shared human experience,” Ryan Woods, who serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the genealogy society, said in a statement. “Through the financing solutions afforded through MassDevelopment and Brookline Bank, we are able to realize the creation of a national center for family history, heritage, and culture that will provide exceptional experiences for people of all ages and all backgrounds to explore their identities and histories.”

    According to a release, the organization will also move its retail shop and make it larger, improve the original building to current code compliance, create more space for administrative offices, and purchase technology, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Brookline Bank purchased the bond.

    “The New England Historic Genealogical Society is a destination for people of all ages to explore the history of their families and communities,” MassDevelopment president and chief executive officer Dan Rivera said in a statement.

    The organization, founded in 1845, according to a release, is privately funded with a mission to assist people to explore and discover their family history.

Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter









































Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software