• Google Drive now allows users to save scanned documents as JPEGs.
  
• Scanned docs saved as JPEGs are generally smaller in size when compared to PDFs, enabling faster uploads over mobile data.
  
• This new feature is rolling out now to all Google Workspace customers and those with personal Google accounts.
  

Google Drive users have long had the ability to scan physical documents and upload them to the cloud right within the app. However, saving scanned documents has always been limited to PDFs.

The tool had previously been upgraded to offer automatic capture when the camera view is aligned with a document, an option to import from your camera roll, and a scanner button shortcut for faster scans, alongside options for changing the scanned document's alignment, automatic crops, filters, and more.

Now, in a bid to make scanned documents easier to upload and share with others, Google Drive is rolling out support for saving scanned docs as JPEGs. The tech giant announced the rollout in a Workspace Updates post, highlighting that the feature will be available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

This new feature is rolling out now to users on both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains, and users can expect it to be available within the next fifteen days on both Android and iOS.

I wrote a few days ago (at: https://eogn.com/page-18080/13391849) about Tim Walz's ancestry from  Luxembourg. Now, as more amore genealogists research his heritage, they are finding more information about more ancestors from more countries. He is the latest American politician to have his roots traced back to Ireland - but where exactly his ancestors are from is a matter for debate.

The 41st governor of Minnesota's relatives are said to have hailed from County Wexford. American genealogist Megan Smolenyak, who has been tracking politicians' roots since Barack Obama first ran for president in 2008, believes his ancestors are from Ferns in the county. However, local genealogists are suggesting it is Kilmore which is about 52km down the road.

Ms Smolenyak told BBC News NI that Mr Walz was "about 1/8th Irish", pointing out that his ancestors moved to Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska.

She said, according to records, Mr Walz's great-grandmother was called Laura Ellen Sullivan. "A surname like Sullivan is a clear sign that you have Irish ancestry," she said. "I started working backwards then following the trail from there. "His ancestor's name was Sullivan. I found James Sullivan who was from Ireland, his daughter was Laura Ellen Sullivan."

The hunt is now on for distant relatives of the man who could be another American in the White House with Irish connections.

You can read more in an article by Barry O'Connor published in the BBC News web site at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5r5yl624ko 

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

Speculation in the stock market, real estate, oil futures, or dot-com firms is commonly associated with contemporary endeavors pursued by daring entrepreneurs. Our predecessors were renowned for taking even more substantial risks in a predominantly uncontrolled economic environment. Arguably the most renowned example is the Dutch Tulip Mania that occurred from 1636 to 1637. Nevertheless, the phenomenon was not limited to the Dutch; a significant number of our forebears in several nations also participated in the fervor. A significant number of individuals experienced financial losses, both substantial and minor.

When tulips come to mind, the majority of us instinctively associate them with Holland. Nevertheless, it is not an indigenous species of that particular nation. In 1593, Charles de L'Ecluse, also known as Carolus Clusius, successfully cultivated tulips that were able to withstand the challenging climate of the Low Countries, which were then known as the United Provinces (today called the Netherlands). Charles received bulbs from Turkey as a gift from his friend, Ogier de Busbecq.

During the Bubonic Plague outbreak in the Netherlands, Charles de L'Ecluse intended to study the tulip plant for its medical properties. He cultivated a petite garden. Allegedly, a group of individuals trespassed into his garden and pilfered a portion of his bulbs with the intention of generating immediate profit, therefore initiating the Dutch bulb trade.

The flower quickly gained popularity as a highly desired luxury item and a mark of social prestige. 

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13394792. (A Plus Edition password is required to access that article.)

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077. 

The following announcement was written by Findmypast:

Explore new church records spanning 60 years this week. 

We added 24,453 church records from England, Scotland and the United States to our Catholic Heritage Archive this week. 

Covering intermittent years between 1914 and 1974, these unique new additions will enable you to unlock the stories of your Roman Catholic ancestors in more detail than ever. 

We also added over 300,000 pages to our newspaper collection, taking our total page count to 82 million.

England Roman Catholic records

We've added 22,586 English Catholic birth, marriage and death records. 

These additions - all from 1914 - cover Birmingham, London, Northampton and Nottingham.

Scotland Roman Catholic records

Our Catholic record collection for Scotland also grew this week, as we added 1,829 birth, marriage and death records from 1934, 1949 and 1974.

Philadelphia Roman Catholic records

If you've got roots in America's Keystone State, you may find a familiar name or two within these new Roman Catholic records from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic church, Philadelphia. 

Within this updated set, there are a handful of brand-new images and transcriptions for you to explore. 

82 million new pages to discover

We hit the 82 million page mark this week, with the addition of a brand-new Northumberland title - the Whitley Bay Guardian - and updates to 17 of our existing newspapers. 

Whitley Bay Guardian.

Here's a full rundown of everything that's been added this Findmypast Friday. 

New titles:

• Whitley Bay Guardian, 1987-1990, 1992, 1996, 1998-1999

Updated titles:

• Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 1942
• Bicester Review, 1995, 2001-2002
• Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 1995, 1998-1999, 2002-2003
• Crawley and District Observer, 1996-1999
• Football Echo (Sunderland), 1907-1910, 1912-1915, 1924-1939, 1949, 1951-1955
• Halifax Evening Courier, 1999-2002
• Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, 1978-1979, 1998-2000
• Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 1996
• Hebden Bridge Times, 1883, 1897, 1911, 1978, 1992-1993, 1996-1997
• Horncastle News, 1996, 1998-2002
• Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian, 1984, 1999, 2001-2002
• Littlehampton Gazette, 1940-1954, 1978, 1987, 1993-1997, 2000, 2002-2003
• Morecambe Guardian, 1961-1963, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998
• Spilsby Standard, 1997-1999, 2001-2002
• West Sussex County Times, 1998, 2003
• West Sussex Gazette, 1967-1968, 1996-1997, 1999, 2001-2003
• Worthing Herald, 1998-1999, 2002

Last week we added over 28,000 fascinating records from the East Midlands - explore the full release here. 

Fridays Live is getting a makeover...

From this week, you'll get not one but two separate live sessions, rotating fortnightly. And what's more - there's something for everyone. We're kicking this exciting new format off with The Family History Show, at 4 pm on Friday 16 August.

The Family History Show will see co-hosts Ellie Ayton and Liam Boyle in conversation every two weeks, as they chat about historical anniversaries, the latest family history shows and historical films, surname spotlights, and of course, your amazing family history discoveries. Everyone's welcome, so bring a coffee and join in the discussion.

Family History Expert Hour will be your fortnightly dose of family history wisdom, featuring tutorials, top tips, brick wall busting, record deep dives, and more. Whether you want to solve a mystery or deepen your genealogy know-how, hosts Jen Baldwin and Rose Staveley-Wadham are here to help.

Louisianans are embracing their roots on National Acadian Day in Nova Scotia.

People from the state are among the 30,000 expected to attend a big party happening in southwest Nova Scotia on Thursday. It's part of the World Acadian Congress 2024, a celebration of Acadian culture that began on Aug. 10 and ends Aug. 18.

Donna Bourque-Misthos, a Cajun who travelled to Nova Scotia from Louisiana, told Radio-Canada that she wanted "to see where it all started in the New World for my family."

It's her first trip here and she said it's been a great experience so far. She said she has a pot and wooden spoon ready for her first Tintamarre, a traditional Acadian parade in which participants march through the community making noise.

"It's been very emotional. When we went to Grand Pre, a lot of tears and it's been very heartwarming to be embraced by the Acadians of Nova Scotia. When they say 'Welcome home,' it's very special," Bourque-Misthos said.

Jessie LeBlanc, another Cajun from Louisiana, said he came to Nova Scotia for reunions with the LeBlanc, Landry and Gaudet families.

He said his genealogy traces back to early French settlements in Nova Scotia. After the British kicked Acadians out of the region in the mid-1700s, families like his settled in Louisiana.

"I do not speak French because in my family, in Louisiana, my two older brothers failed first grade because they couldn't speak English well enough," he said.

"So word got out that Cajuns in Louisiana needed to assimilate if you wanted to get ahead in life, so you had to master the English language. So everything French was kind of thrown out and a lot of our French culture down in Louisiana was lost during that period, like the 1930s and 1940s. But it's coming back."

Denise Comeau Desautels, the president of the Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia, told CBC's Information Morning Halifax it's been an exciting week so far in southwest Nova Scotia — particularly with all the family reunions.

"There's a lot of resemblances between us from people, from all the Acadians all over the world. We are seeing people from all the states, especially Louisiana, lot of people from Louisiana — from Quebec, from New Brunswick, from other parts of Canada and from France. It's incredible," Comeau Desautels said.

• With Acadians coming to N.S. by the thousands, rappie pie is a hot commodity

• 'My trademark is my accent': Acadians embracing their brand of French

Comeau Desautels said people want to talk about their genealogy and their connections to Nova Scotia.

"Everybody is really enjoying their time here and tonight is the big concert at the Yarmouth Airport … the Tintamarre, which is a parade making a lot of noise to show Acadians are still here and that starts in Clare and ends up in Yarmouth," she said.

Comeau Desautels said people are showing pride in their Acadian heritage in a big way.

"There's a lot of Acadian flags everywhere, a lot of Acadian flags," she said.

Billy Nungesser, the lieutenant governor of Louisiana, is in Nova Scotia for the Acadian World Congress. He told Radio-Canada he wants to strengthen ties between his state and the province. (Radio-Canada)

Billy Nungesser, the lieutenant governor of Louisiana, is also in Nova Scotia for the World Acadian Congress. 

He said he'd like to strengthen ties between Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and his state.

"Last night out on the waterfront, we made jambalaya, Louisianans, Canadians pitched in to make it together," Nungesser said.

"The music, the Cajun music, people were joining in all night, sitting together like they've been playing together for years and just picked it up but that friendship, that, like I said, Canadians are like Louisianans. They treat strangers like family."

In today's digital age, the quest for ancestry and family history has transcended mere curiosity. Many people seek to reconnect with their roots, discover the final resting places of their ancestors, or locate the graves of famous personalities. Sysoon stands out as a premier free resource dedicated to this very purpose, offering users the ability to search for deceased individuals and explore millions of death records across the globe.

What is Sysoon?

Sysoon is more than just a website; it's a comprehensive database and social network dedicated to the themes of death, dying, funerals, and memorials. With Sysoon, users can:

• Search for Deceased Individuals: Easily locate the burial records of family members, friends, or famous personalities.

• Explore Ancestry and Family History: Delve into genealogy records and uncover your family's past.

• Locate Cemeteries: Find cemeteries worldwide, offering a valuable tool for those looking to visit the graves of their loved ones.

• Create Online Memorials: Establish virtual memorials for deceased individuals, complete with photos, virtual flowers, and heartfelt notes.

The First Social Network Dedicated to Death and Dying

Sysoon isn't just a repository of records; it's a social network that brings together individuals who share a common interest in preserving the memories of the deceased. Whether you are planning a funeral, searching for cemetery records, or simply exploring your ancestry, Sysoon offers a platform where users can connect, share information, and honor the memories of those who have passed.

Key Features of Sysoon

• Search for Deceased and Millions of Death Records Worldwide: Sysoon allows users to search billions of death records quickly and easily. With just a few clicks, you can locate the grave of an ancestor or search for death certificates, burial records, and obituaries.

• Family History and Genealogy Records: For those interested in genealogy, Sysoon offers access to a vast collection of family history records, helping users piece together their family tree.

• Online Memorial Website and Virtual Cemetery: Sysoon provides a unique opportunity to create online memorials. These virtual cemeteries allow users to pay tribute to their loved ones by adding photos, virtual flowers, and personal messages.

• Locate a Cemetery Anywhere in the World: Whether you're searching for a cemetery in your hometown or across the globe, Sysoon's comprehensive database makes it easy to locate cemeteries and gravesites.

• Funeral Home Directory and Cemetery Resource: Planning a funeral can be a daunting task. Sysoon offers a directory of funeral homes and cemeteries, helping users find the right resources during a difficult time.

Why Use Sysoon?

• Free Access to a Wealth of Information: Sysoon is a free resource, making it accessible to everyone. Whether you are conducting research or simply want to honor a loved one's memory, Sysoon provides a wealth of information at no cost.

• Comprehensive and User-Friendly: With millions of cemetery records and online memorials, Sysoon is one of the most comprehensive resources available. Its user-friendly interface ensures that even those unfamiliar with genealogy can navigate the site with ease.

• A Community for the Bereaved: Sysoon's social network aspect allows users to connect with others who have experienced loss. By sharing stories, memorials, and memories, users can find comfort and support in a community that understands their grief.

How to Use Sysoon

Using Sysoon is simple and straightforward. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Search for Deceased Individuals: Enter the name of the deceased in the search bar and explore the available records.

2. Locate a Cemetery: Use the cemetery locator to find burial sites worldwide.

3. Create an Online Memorial: Pay tribute to your loved ones by creating a virtual memorial with photos, messages, and virtual flowers.

4. Explore Family History: Dive into genealogy records and trace your family lineage.

Sysoon is a valuable tool for anyone interested in genealogy, family history, or simply honoring the memory of those who have passed away. As the first social network dedicated to death and dying, it offers a unique platform where users can search for deceased individuals, locate cemeteries, and create online memorials. With its comprehensive database and user-friendly interface, Sysoon is a must-use resource for anyone looking to explore the final resting places of their ancestors or pay tribute to loved ones.

Start your search today and discover the rich history that lies within Sysoon's vast records. Whether you're searching for the graves of famous folks, friends, or family members, Sysoon offers a free, accessible, and comprehensive resource that connects you to the past in a meaningful way.

Source: Busines NewsWire

For a century, the Schneider family had lost one another, unwillingly split in half in 1924 during efforts to flee the chaos brought on by the Bolsheviks taking control of Russia and the antisemitic riots that ensued.

Alex Schneider’s grandfather Aaron had traveled with 7-year-old daughter Mina and 5-year-old son Rem—who would become Alex’s father—with the intent of wife, Katerina, and the younger children, 3-year-old Simon and baby Fania, joining them on a second trip.

However, Joseph Stalin’s efforts to shut off the Soviet Union from the outside world prevented the family from reuniting, until eventually they lost contact completely.

“For the rest of their lives, my father and his sister did not know what happened to their mother and younger siblings. The separation was extremely painful and affected them deeply. They grew up without a mother,” Schneider wrote in a July 28 blog post.

Using the genealogy website MyHeritage, Schneider managed to find and connect with Michael Kogan, the son of Fania. Schneider spoke with JNS about the experience and the insights gained from his research.

“Connecting with our long-lost family members has been a transformative experience for all of the family members,” Schneider said. “Learning about our grandfather Aaron’s journey from Moscow to China and the challenges he faced has deepened our appreciation for the resilience and adaptability that runs in our family.”

“Discovering our father’s younger brother Simon at the Soviet Army memorial site with the help of MyHeritage and connecting with our long-lost cousins has enriched our understanding of our cultural heritage,” Schneider said.

The process of discovering this hidden family history also strengthened the bonds in the Schneider family, moving some to tears. 

“Sharing these discoveries with other family members has brought us closer together and created a sense of unity and pride in our shared history,” Schneider told JNS. “Overall, this journey has been a source of joy and inspiration.”

Elisabeth Zetland, a researcher at MyHeritage, said that the Schneider family’s story “highlights the power of online genealogy platforms like MyHeritage in bridging the gaps created by time and history.

The following is a press release issued by the the Polarization Research Lab at Dartmouth College:

A new, online tool—America’s Political Pulse—developed by the Polarization Research Lab is tracking the rhetoric and actions of all 535 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

And while a majority of Americans have long held a negative view of Congress as a whole, the online tracker finds that the House and Senate may have more workhorses than showboats.

Updated daily, the dashboard tracks, analyzes, and catalogs all public statements in real-time by members of Congress, including Twitter/X posts, newsletters, press releases, and floor speeches, using artificial intelligence models. More than 1.5 million data points dating back to Aug. 31, 2022, have been analyzed to date. 

Public statements are classified into five categories: personal attacks, policy discussion, constructive debate, accomplishments, and bipartisanship/compromise.

Users can run searches by category, legislator, or state, and filter results by party, as well.

Our data show that Congress is not nearly as dysfunctional or polarized as people may think.

According to America’s Political Pulse, 66 members of Congress, or 12.2%, have never insulted anyone during the current Congress, while 350, or 64.8%, have done so in less than 1% of their communication.

“What we’ve identified is that there are a lot of members of Congress who are showing up and doing their jobs and engaging in meaningful debate and they’re not getting the attention they deserve,” says Sean Westwood, director of the Polarization Research Lab and an associate professor of government at Dartmouth. “What is instead happening is that firebrands are absorbing all of the media attention.”

“Our data show that Congress is not nearly as dysfunctional or polarized as people may think,” says Westwood. 

The Polarization Research Lab is also studying Americans’ attitudes on key issues leading up to and following the presidential election in November through a monthly report series, The Path to 2024.

The following is a press release issued by the Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan:

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Washington, DC

Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan announced the appointment of 20 individuals to the National Archives and Records Administration’s 2024–2026 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee. The individuals named will serve a two-year term and will begin meeting in September 2024.

The FOIA Advisory Committee consists of no more than 20 individuals who are all FOIA experts from both inside and outside of government. Members of the FOIA Advisory Committee foster dialogue between the administration and the requester community, and develop recommendations for improving FOIA administration and proactive disclosures. Dr. Shogan has appointed the following individuals: 

Government Members 

• Kevin Bell – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Nieva Brock - Department of Defense
• Whitney Fraizer-Jenkins – Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
• Scott Hodes - Department of Homeland Security
• Marianne Manheim - Department of Health and Human Services
• Joan Moumbleaux – Environmental Protection Agency
• Deborah Moore - Department of Education
• Melissa Pickworth - Department of Health and Human Services
• Alina M. Semo – Chair, National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Government Information Services 
• Bobak Talebian – Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy 

Non-Government Members 

• Jason R. Baron – University of Maryland 
• David Cuillier – University of Florida, Brechner Center for the Advancement of the First Amendment
• Elizabeth Hempowicz – American Oversight
• Shelley Kimball – Johns Hopkins University
• Margaret Kwoka – The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
• Frank LoMonte – Cable News Network (CNN)
• Ryan Mulvey – Americans for Prosperity Foundation 
• Richard Peltz-Steele – University of Massachusetts School of Law
• Nicholas Wittenberg - Armedia 
• Sarah Jones Weicksel – American Historical Association

Background

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) established the FOIA Advisory Committee in accordance with the United States Second Open Government National Action Plan, released on December 5, 2013. The Committee’s work helps fulfill the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) congressional mandate to “identify procedures and methods for improving compliance” with FOIA, 5 U.S.C. §552(h)(2)(C). The Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1014. NARA initially chartered the Committee on May 20, 2014. The Archivist of the United States renewed the Committee's charter for a sixth term on April 26, 2024, and certified that renewing the Committee is in the public interest. OGIS provides administrative support along with chairing the Committee in accordance with the charter. For a complete list of recommendations from the Committee, visit https://www.archives.gov/ogis/foia-advisory-committee/dashboard.

From an article by Fatima Hussein published in the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services. 

A broad new government initiative, dubbed “Time Is Money,” includes a rollout of new regulations and the promise of more for industries spanning from healthcare and fitness memberships to media subscriptions.

“The administration is cracking down on all the ways that companies, through paperwork, hold times and general aggravation waste people’s money and waste people’s time and really hold onto their money,” Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser, told reporters Friday in advance of the announcement.

“Essentially in all of these practices, companies are delaying services to you or really trying to make it so difficult for you to cancel the service that they get to hold onto your money for longer and longer,” Tanden said. “These seemingly small inconveniences don’t happen by accident — they have huge financial consequences.”

Efforts being rolled out Monday include a new Federal Communications Commission inquiry into whether to impose requirements on communications companies that would make it as easy to cancel a subscription or service as it was to sign up for one. 

The Federal Trade Commission in March 2023 initiated “click to cancel” rulemaking requiring companies to let customers end subscriptions as easily as they started them. 

Also Monday, the heads of the departments of Labor and of Health and Human Services are asking health insurance companies and group health plans to make improvements to customer interactions with their health coverage, and “in the coming months will identify additional opportunities to improve consumers’ interactions with the health care system,” according to a White House summary.

The government already has launched several initiatives aimed at improving the consumer experience.

You can read more at: https://bit.ly/3AlDCMi.