Friday, March 16, 2018

Easy GENEALOGY Search with the Right Tools

Ahnentafel von Herzog Ludwig (1568-1593) Holzs...
Ahnentafel von Herzog Ludwig (1568-1593) Holzschnitt Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart
(Photo credit: 
Wikipedia)
Your ancestors play a significant role in why you exist today. There are some individuals who give high regards to their ancestors which led to the birth of genealogy. Aside from paying respects to your ancestors because of who you are today, there are more advantages genealogy can bring into your life.  

Interest and fun are the two most important key considerations why people are into genealogy search. With genealogy, you will be able to identify which part of the country or even in the world you have relatives with. Moreover, you will also be able to know the specific meaning of the names of your relatives.  Most importantly, it is with studying genealogy that will help you be familiar with the possible health conditions that may run in your family which you ancestors had before. 

To be successful with your genealogy search, there are helpful tools which can aid you to find your ancestors.  

By Word of Mouth

Story-telling from immediate family members and relatives is the most common step one undertakes when doing a genealogy search. Oral history is the appropriate term for this in genealogy studies. 

The memories of an individual are evidence you can gather to track your lineage. Face-to-face interaction is not the only means of communication you can assume when doing oral history. You can also opt to send a letter by post indicating your motive. Phone interviews can also be done. 

It is best to prepare a set of questions when doing an interview, may it be formal or informal, to avoid repetitions.  

Through the Internet

With the advent of technology, you can now enjoy a hassle-free genealogy search through the internet. The internet offers different genealogy search website. You can choose a paid or free service to help you with your search. 

There are several information you can gather on the internet such as your ancestor's surname. Different documents can also be obtained via the internet such as papers concerning your ancestor's birth, marriage, and death. In some sites, the location and type of employment can also be viewed.  

Through DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) 

DNA testing is a medical technology utilized to determine and establish proof of the existing relationship of one person to the other. There are two types of DNA testing which can be done to help you with your genealogy search:  

1. Y-line Test – this type of DNA test is extremely helpful to genealogists due to its distinctive features. Y-chromosome is only present with male individuals which are passed on from father to son.  Additionally, the said chromosome is the only chromosome that breaks out in the repeated rearrangement of the parental genes. 
2. mtDNA Test – mtDNA Test is the short term for mitochondrial DNA test. This type of DNA test is also known as the "maternal lineage test."  The test determines if the individuals have the same maternal lineage.  

DNA Testing is the common last resort option of those who study genealogists. You need to exhaust all the possibilities of knowing who's who in your family line through oral history and via the internet. 



Thursday, March 15, 2018

The Jade City

English: Monte Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico: Danzante...
Monte Alban, Oaxaca
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)



Getting there was a difficult and frustrating day, mainly because I caught the wrong plane from Merida and ended up flying halfway around Mexico, via Mexico City, but when I arrived in Oaxaca, the jade city in the heart of the Southern Sierra mountains, it was all well worth the effort.

My hotel was the unique Cameo Real, originally a sixteenth-century convent. Today it is the ultimate in old Spanish colonial splendor, a cool maze of flag-stoned passageways and cloistered patios that are lush with tumbling cascades of jasmine and bougainvillea. Situated in the center of the city in the heart of its mountain-ringed valley, the hotel was only a two-minute walk from the Zocalo, the main plaza with its massive cathedral, and even less from the magnificent baroque church of Santo Domingo, which was visible across the low rooftops from my bedroom window.

Oaxaca is a small but beautiful city of shaded plazas, splendid block solid churches with double bell towers, and long streets that run straight with uninterrupted views to the far mountains. Santo Domingo had the most lavish and awe-inspiring interior of any church that I have ever seen, a palatial splendor of gold and gold leaf against cream, decorating huge columns and Moorish arches, with hosts of angels, saints, and cherubs, smiling down from every possible niche. The altar was a golden wonder under a vast dome.

Equally impressive in its own way was the Church of La Soledad, situated on a high square on a hill that seemed to look straight out over the rooftops to the mountains beyond. It was Sunday morning when I toured the churches. The services were packed and seemed continuous, one congregation still filing out as the next made their way in. Mexicans are a devout people, and it seems that everyone goes to mass.

The lush Oaxaca valley has been settled since before 600 BC and has seen the influence of several of the ancient Indian cultures, the Zapotecs and later the Miztec civilizations. There was even an Aztec military outpost here when the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in the sixteenth century.


Today it is enjoying something of a tourist renaissance, being an excellent short-stay add-on in contrast to the ever popular beach resorts of Cozumel and Cancun on the Caribbean coast. From Oaxaca, you can still visit vibrant, traditional Indian markets, rich with colored textiles and handicrafts, in addition to the colorful profusion of local fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

In the little shops between the cafes flanking its streets and plazas, you can buy heavy silver jewelry in exotic Zatopec or Aztec designs, inset with precious and semi-precious stones, including the brilliant green jade that gives the city its name.

Monte Alban (Oaxaca Mexico), temple, August 2006
Monte Alban (Oaxaca Mexico), temple, August 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the best views of the city climb the Escaleras del Fortin, the long series of shaded, upward sloping terraces that ascend the 300-foot climb to the Auditorio Guelaguetza. Every July in this vast auditorium overlooking the city the world famous Guelaguetza festival of folk-dancing is held, an annual competition featuring dancing groups from every region of the state of Oaxaca. It is a musical spectacle not to be missed if you are here at the right time.

From above the auditorium, there are bird's eye views of the entire valley, basking in the hot sunshine and framed in wreaths of bougainvillea and palm fronds. You can pick out the splendid domes and bell towers of all the major churches, and from the heights, the huge black monument to Benito Juarez, the reforming President of the 1870s looks out over what was his native city.


Oaxaca is also within easy reach of the ancient ruins of the once great cities of Mitla and Monte Alban. The latter is only six miles outside the city, a short drive up into the mountains, but once there you are back in the remote mists of another time. Monte Alban is a stupendous construction, a complex of vast stone pyramids and temple platforms built on top of a twelve thousand foot high plateau where a hill-top has been sliced off a mountain.

Monte Alban is believed to have been founded sometime in the sixth or seventh centuries before Christ and went through at least five different phases of occupation and development before it was finally abandoned. The site comprises a huge plaza with temple platforms running down the center and along both the eastern and western sides. There is a great northern complex of ascending temple platforms and an even larger pyramid platform to the south. It is all hot-baked brown and dusty under a scorching blue sky, with tremendous hazy valley views on all sides.

Monte Alban is a truly exhilarating experience, but it would also be a mistake not to see Mitla, some fifty miles further south along the Oaxaca valley. Lacking the sheer size and brute power of Monte Alban, Mitla, at first sight, seems a much poorer set of remains. But there is much elaborate and delicate frieze stonework here that is worth seeing. If Monte Alban was the work of gigantic visionary architects, then Mitla was carved by artists of much greater sensitivity.

However, you spend your days, the evenings in Oaxaca are for strolling or sitting by the Zocalo. Here you can watch the evening flag lowering ceremony, listening to the music from the pavement cafes, or from the bandstand under the great eucalyptus trees. Enjoying a beer, a tequila or a coffee or just browsing in those little jewelry treasure shops are more pleasurable experiences.

Half of Oaxaca will be here, doing what Mexicans do best, just enjoying the warm summer evening. Join them and relax, soak up the atmosphere. After all, you are on holiday.

    By Robert Leader
    Robert Leader is the author of more than sixty published novels. His website at http://www.robertleaderauthor.com is a showcase for a lifetime of traveling and writing. There you will find a full autobiography and details of all his books, which include crime novels, thrillers, horror and fantasy fiction. It also highlights the six books of EXTINCTION'S EDGE, which tell the story of Vietnam from the fall of Dienbienphu and the end of the French occupation of Indo-China to the Great Tet Offensive which led to the end of the American War. These six books form the ultimate novel of Vietnam. There are free read extracts and the stories behind the stories which explain how the books were inspired and came to be written.
    Pictures are available to illustrate all of Robert's ezine articles. Please contact and request through the website.

    Article Source: EzineArticles



Wednesday, March 14, 2018

The Ever Anticipated Feat Of WALKING


baby learning to walk
Baby learning to walk (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We make such a big deal out of when a baby takes his first steps. In fact, the age at which your child took his first steps will be ingrained in your Mommy memory forever, just like your child’s birth weight and time. Personally, I think walking is a bit overrated since you can’t manage to keep them out of trouble ever again once they start, but here are some things you might want to know, anyway.

For some reason, everyone seems to think that a baby should be walking by his first birthday, but the fact is that most babies don’t walk until after this time. There are a few who walk as early as nine months of age, but a great many who don’t take their first steps until fifteen months. And, if your child is a late walker, it has absolutely no bearing on his intelligence.

The age at which a baby walks is often genetic. Walking very early or very late often runs in the family. My husband walked at nine months, and I walked at ten months, so we were unlucky enough to have a daughter who also walked at ten months. She was very petite, so she looked like the world’s tiniest walking human. She also scaled the kitchen counters before she was a year old so you can see what I mean by “unlucky”.

When your baby walks is also often related to his size. Babies with short legs usually walk sooner than those with long legs (a balance issue) and thinner babies usually walk sooner than their more plump counterparts.

Pushing your baby to walk is not a good idea, but providing him the opportunity to learn is critical. If you force your child to endure daily practice sessions, he may just rebel and refuse to walk for quite a while. On the other hand, if you keep him in swing or playpen all day, he’ll never have the opportunity to try out his skills. Give him some supervised time on the floor, and he’ll figure the rest out with or without your help.



If by chance, your child is not walking by the age of eighteen months, it is best to have him checked out by a doctor. There is not necessarily anything wrong, but most babies are walking by this age, so have him examined as a precaution. But, don’t be too eager, because once he starts walking, all the rules change. Someone, though I don’t remember who, once said, - “We spend the first two years of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk, and then the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.” It’s so true.




Friday, March 9, 2018

A Good COFFEE MUG Makes The Difference

Drinks at the beach 1933 coffee mug
Drinks at the beach 1933 coffee mug (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Everyone has their favorite and you are no exception when it comes to your favorite coffee mug. It is special and you like the feel of it in your hands and are really disappointed if someone else in the family is already using it for their beverage.  What makes a good coffee mug? Who knows? Each person has their own special likes and dislikes; however, there are literally thousands of different ones to choose from.

There are coffee mugs in every shape and size imaginable. They are now insulated and can be covered, are stackable, ceramic, stainless steel, travel sizes, and the majority are dishwasher safe. They can be small and hold about 6 ounces or very large holding over 20 ounces. There is no unique type, style, color or size to them, so, what makes these so special to the user?

Actually, there is nothing more comforting than holding a steaming hot mug of coffee. Sitting back and smelling the fresh scents from the newly brewed coffee that you just poured is delightful and it can soothe you after a long day or refresh you so that you can move on and accomplish more work.

Have you noticed that more and more companies are giving away personalized mugs to their customers? What better way to advertise your products and services than by giving away an item that everyone uses every day. These products can be purchased from numerous companies that will allow the organization to select a color and a special logo and the more they purchase the lower the cost for each.

Many companies order thousands when using them as a promotional gift.

There are even organizations that will give each employee their very own as an award or bonus—a way of saying thank you for the hard work everyone has accomplished over the past year. This is just a little token of appreciation that goes a long way with employees and, they can also be used as promotional advertising.

People are even decorating with coffee mugs. They have shelves in their homes where they proudly display antique ones that have been handed down for generations or that they have collected over the years. There are special cup hangers that you can attach to a wall so that you hang it by the handle and set up a pattern to display them in such a way as to enhance their beauty. This is an inexpensive way to decorate and to also show your collection. They could even be souvenirs of places the family has visited and vacation in over the years. It can be a constant inexpensive little memory of a special time that is in their home.



No matter what your preference in coffee mugs, to use or to display them, each person has their own special one-and heaven forbid that it ever gets broken. Some people when they have a favorite go back and get another one, exactly like the first, just in case. If you do not have a spare, you can always get another, but nothing will ever replace the look and feel of your favorite coffee mug.





Thursday, March 8, 2018

Your Way to MEXICO A Travel Guide

Teotihuacan Pyramids  - Photo: Flickr
The country of Mexico is such a great place to have your vacation. There are lots of attractions that can captivate your heart and mind. Generally, the attractions are categorized into four major types and these are resorts and beaches, its colonial-era architectures, its ancient Native American archaeology, and eco-adventure tours.

It’s very ordinary if you try to visit several of the major attractions in Mexico. But if you want total adventure you can visit them all. However, to see all the attractions, you should have your Mexico travel guide. You can get Mexico travel guides from travel agents near you. You can also search some Mexico travel online sites for the best offer available.

Precisely, online Mexico travel guides are the best place to find the idea of what you like to happen for the much-awaited vacation to Mexico. Online travel sites have the complete information of the best place to go, on what you can expect when you get there, and the cost of the tour package.

Since Mexico is a year-round tourist destination, there is a possibility that your planned vacation will coincide with its tourist peak season. With other tourists on your side, there is a chance that some of them can be your friend. To be in another company can be an exciting one when visiting different places.

Locations like Guadalupe, where you will find the Teotihuacan Pyramids and Guadalupe Shrine are spectacular to see. In El Tajin, you can explore the ancient Pyramid of Niches and other remains of the ancient civilization of Veracruz. In Cancun, famous for its world-class beachfront can be a fabulous place to stay and enjoy.



With different exotic places to visit, Mexico travel guides will keep you informed where to stay. There are cheap hotels and resorts throughout Mexico. On the other hand, Mexico hotel rates are high from December to April and low for the rest of the year. But still, you can look for some best bargains in spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Contrary to some impressions about the weather conditions, Mexico doesn’t experience reverse weather seasons unlike in the U.S. and Canada. Summer season in Mexico is generally humid and hot, while in a winter season, inland cities experience cool and cold weather condition. If you like to be at a beach resort, it’s advisable to go to Mexico from November to April.

With a Mexico travel guide in tow, your Mexico vacation will be full of memories you will never forget.



Wednesday, March 7, 2018

1977 to 1979: The Years of the Lincoln Mark V

Lincoln Continental Mark V de 1978 - Photo: Flickr
From the year 1977 and up until the year 1979, the Lincoln Mark V was sold by Lincoln, the luxury division of the Ford Motor Company. The Lincoln Mark V was sold and marketed as a large coupe. It was only during the mentioned model years did the Lincoln Mark V have the opportunity to roam the streets. 

Looking at it, the Lincoln Mark V was just like the previous Lincoln Mark IV, only this time it held a coupe of refinements and received a couple of restyling. The previous vehicle sported a rounded design. The Lincoln Mark V now was built and constructed to be more square and was sharper when it came to its edges. This was perhaps due to the fact that during that time, the sharp-edged look was the in thing in the automobile world. Also, instead of the 460 cubic inches Ford 385 engine, the Lincoln Mark V was equipped with the Ford 400 cubic inch small block engine. The vehicle was also crafted to be much more angular, longer, and pretty much lower than its predecessors. It was given more trunk space and was much lighter compared to the Lincoln Mark IV. In fact, it only weighs 4,650 pounds which were some 500 pounds lighter. It was crafted on a wheelbase that measured some 120 inches. With that, the car was then completed to be much longer. It was stretched to 230 inches. In short, the Lincoln Mark V was a reskinned Lincoln Mark IV. 

However, this vehicle had its own drawbacks, thus the very reason why it existed for such a short period of time. In 1978, it was tested by Auto Motor Und Sport which was Germany’s leading car magazine. When the results came out, the magazine found out that the Lincoln Mark V had an average mile per gallon of not more than 7. Even up to this day, this vehicle still holds the Auto Motor Und Sports record for being the least fuel-efficient vehicle. This actually brought the Ford Motor Company very close to violating the Corporate Average Fuel Economy laws during that period. 

People who were interested in purchasing the said vehicle would have to have at least $11,396 so as to be able to own one. Aside from this, the Lincoln Mark V’s customers and patrons were given options like a couple of trim levels for choices. Also, this line of vehicles was given to a couple of designers. These designers – Givenchy, Bill Blass, Cartier, and Pucci – were given the chance to personally design these vehicles.




Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Bizarre Flag Facts – Q & As

American Flag - Photo: Wikimedia
Test your Patriotic Knowlege of the American Flag:

Question: Is it ok to fly the American Flag upside down?
Answer: The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. 

Question: My flag was accidentally dropped and got dirty. Does it have to be destroyed?
Answer: The flag should never be allowed touch the ground, the floor or water. If it does accidentally touch the ground, it does not have to be destroyed. It should merely be cleaned.

Question: I’m thinking of making a quilt out of old flags. Is this ok?
Answer: The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or curtains.

Question: Is it alright to print a picture of the American Flag on my parent’s 50th Anniversary party napkins?
Answer: The flag should never be embroidered on fabric or printed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed to be used once and then thrown away. 

Question: Is it ok to fly my American Flag outside 24/7?
Answer: The flag is usually flown only from sunrise to sunset. The flag may be displayed at night if it is lit during the hours of darkness. 

Question: Should I raise my American Flag slowly, ceremoniously? 
Answer: The flag should be raised quickly and lowered slowly. 

Question: Should I take my flag down when it’s raining, hailing or snowing outside?
Answer: The flag should not be flown on days during bad weather, except when using an all-weather flag.

Question: Where should I expect to see the American Flag being flown?
Answer: The flag should be displayed daily at the main administration building of every public institution, including schools and polling places on election days. 

Question: During parades, where should the American Flag is placed?
Answer: The flag should be at the centre and at the highest point of the group when flags of states, cities or other groups are displayed.

Question: When a group of flags are displayed which one should be raised first?
Answer: When the flags of states are flown on neighbouring staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No other flag may be placed higher than the flag of the United States or to the United States Flag's right. 

Question: During the Olympics, why were all the countries flags flown at the same height? Shouldn’t the gold medal winner’s flag be flown higher?
Answer: When displaying the flags of two or more countries, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids flying the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

Question: How should the American Flag be used when hanging over our Main Street on Memorial Day?
Answer: When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

Question: Can the American Flag be used to unveil our town’s new statue?
Answer: The flag can be used at the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.

Question: Is there a special way of raising the American Flag for half-staff?
Answer: When flying the flag at half-staff, it should first be raised to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.



Question: How should the American Flag be used during a funeral?
Answer: When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union (stars) is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground. 

Question: What do the colours of red, white and blue stand for on the American Flag?
Answer: The flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. Red stands for Hardiness and Valor, White stands for Purity and Innocence and Blue stands for Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.