DNA genealogy for many might just hold some clues to the questions that just can’t be found through research.   Testing the y chromosome which only men carry and passed directly down from one generation to the next can tell you were your family originated.   Testing the Mt chromosome can give you the same results from your maternal line.  

Ancestry.comhas just launched their own DNA test with very helpful software to map out your DNA results.   The test is under $200.00 and the reports you can access is free.  If you already have taken a DNA test from another company you can upload those results for free.  

I’ve read on other blogs that researchers have privacy concerns and don’t want their DNA tested.   The DNA information that is collected is considered junk DNA.  This DNA isn’t useful to anyone except researchers trying to find a common ancestor or a place of origin of their ancestors.   All the companies that offer DNA testing for researchers let you decide if you want to make your test private or available for others to see.   Ancestry.com will notify you if someone who took a test has a possible ancestral match.  That person’s name and email address will not be provided.  You can however send  an email through their website.  They will have the option of replying back or not.   Choosing to not take a DNA test is an option but when you read up on all the facts taking the test opens so many new doors to ones research.    Especially if those doors can’t be opened going through standard research. 

A DNA test can help you find a living ancestor you may not have known about.  A genealogy DNA test can not tell you any medical information.   If you are looking for medical DNA information you can go to Ancestry.com and they will provide you a link to a company that does provide medical DNA testing. 

Like so many trying to find Native American ancestry in their genes Ancestry.com does not provide that information as of yet.  They say that the technology isn’t where they want it to be to provide that information.  When they feel they can provide accurate information they will offer it.   DNA samples are kept indefinitely and when the technology becomes available you can request your DNA sample to be retested (for a small fee).  If you are wanting to find that out it is best you use a different company like FamilyTreeDNA.com.  

With so many companies to get DNA information why use Ancestry.com.  It is simple really.  The amount of users they have.  You have a better chance finding a common ancestor if you post your test results with them then any other DNA site.   Sure they just launched their DNA test but give it a year from now and the amount of people who have taken the test or uploaded their test from someone else will greatly increase your chance of finding a common ancestor.   Look at their world tree.  People are adding to that every day and it has become very useful to find someone that has a common ancestor. 

For me DNA genealogy is very exciting.  I hope to have my dad tested before the year is out.  It will be his Christmas present he just doesn’t know that yet. (I hope he doesn’t read this blog)  -big smile-  No matter how much research we do there are no documents before 1700.  We don’t know where he came from.  DNA testing is the only way we can find out to help give us the answers we are searching for.   

So what are you waiting for???? Knock down your brick walls find someone with your common ancestor go to Ancestry.com and order your test! 

Genealogy Family Research is proud to present this award to the Alm Family Website.

I truly enjoyed reading about the Alm family’s history their immigration to America and the creation of their surname.

It is well written and a wonderful site full of history and stories.  This is one of the best family sites  I’ve ever had the pleasure visiting.   Take a trip into time and visit this site. 

http://www.http://www.mnwebsteps.com/alm/

Genealogy Family Research is proud to present this award to Rock Island County Genealogy.

Illinois Ancestors

“Your Path into the Past”

The layout of this site is very easy to navigate and there is so much information in this site.  It is a wonderful site and even if your ancestors are not from Illinois I still recommend you take a moment to look around. 

http://www.illinoisancestors.org/rockisland/index.htm

You know those cutesy HTML codes you can get for your page well as soon as I put one in and viewed my page I knew something was wrong.  Yep, I had a virus.  My computer is completely shut down, doesn’t work, won’t even turn on kind of dead!  Thing is now I can’t even remember what site it was that gave me the virus.  Make sure when you get your codes for your MySpace page or for anything make sure the site has a good name and other people have used their codes with out any problems…  Check them out before you make the same mistake I did.   My web building program was on that computer and I didn’t have a chance to back it up before my computer was lost.  Hopefully my brother the computer expert can get my latest version off my hard drive and all will be good.  I have one more piece of advice DO NOT down load any type of TOOL BAR!  Unless of you know it is 100% safe.  Such as Google.  Conduit has tool bars that websites can customize.  My site has one and I downloaded it and it gave my computer a virus.  It says virus free and spy-ware free.  Guess they were wrong.  When I took the tool bar off my computer trying in a panic to fix my computer my avast software went crazy saying I was deleting a Trojan horse.  That’s nice I thought.  Lucky me and I put it on my computer.  The conduit tool bar is still on my website.  Please don’t anyone down load it.   The virus was very fast and I couldn’t access my website builder to delete it before my computer crashed. 

I am always searching the web for the newest gadget and new tech thing to either add to my websites or make searching for genealogy content easier. 

Yesterday I came across a blog by the CEO of World Vital Records http://www.paulallen.net/.  He was the CEO of Ancestry.com  and is now the CEO of World Vital Records.  When I started to read his blog I had know idea who he was or what he had done in the past. I just found what he was writing very interesting.  He talks about the newest and upcoming companies, technologies, and websites and how they all relate to genealogy. 

For me, reading his blog, was like taking a look into the world of genealogy on the other side.  An exciting look into what it takes to get investors and documents. 

I can’t tell you how excited I was to find out that Paul Allen was the CEO of Ancestry.com.   Ancestry.com is for many the place to get the answers. 

There are other vital records websites and to be honest I was less then trusting of these sites that offer to get your birth or death records for a fee.  No, I never actually tried it but that was because I feared it was a hoax.  If I was researching for someone and they needed those records I would always direct them to the place the record was kept rather then going through those vital record websites. Not every state started keeping birth and death records at the same time so it is sometimes hard to know if the one you want is there.  What if you already paid for the record?  They keep the money even if they don’t provide your document.  So, how do you know they even tried?  My point to all that is when I heard World Vital Records it was in the back of my mind that this site was just another one of those Vital records sites.  Saying they could provide a record for a fee.  After reading Paul Allen’s blog I was very wrong.

Honestly, I am so excited at the thought of World Vital Records.  My excitement is now knowing that this site has the potential to be big, bigger then big, bigger then Ancestry.com ever thought of being big.  Researching documents in your ancestors home land.  That would be impossible for most and a dream for some and now it could be a reality for everyone.  So, are you as excited as I am?

The Genealogy Place is a big genealogy meeting place with lots to do and each member has their own customizeable page.  This site is designed for people of any level of experience who are researching their family to share thier family tree,  get research advice,  share their discovers,  get help and meet other people who love genealogy.   Its free to join!  I hope everyone joins The Genealogy Place! 

http://www.thegenealogyplace.me.com

There are 3 versions of Bill Number S.1877 for the 110th Congress

Military members not in uniform and veterans honored the flag by placing their right hand over their heart.   Growing up on a military base I saw the lowering of the flag on a daily basis and sometimes my dad would salute and other times he would put his hand over his heart.  I asked him why he didn’t salute the flag every time it was lowered.  That is when he told me that only people in uniform were supposed to salute the flag.   My dad is now a retired veteran and with great pride I was able to tell him that he now can salute the flag even though he isn’t in uniform.   I think this bill is a long over due but better late then never.

1 . To amend title 4, United States Code, to prescribe that members of the Armed Forces and veterans out of uniform may render the military salute during hoisting, lowering, or passing… (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate)[S.1877.ES]
2 . To amend title 4, United States Code, to prescribe that members of the Armed Forces and veterans out of uniform may render the military salute during hoisting, lowering, or passing… (Referred to House Committee after being Received from Senate)[S.1877.RFH]
3 . To amend title 4, United States Code, to prescribe that members of the Armed Forces and veterans out of uniform may render the military salute during hoisting, lowering, or passing… (Considered and Passed by Senate)[S.1877.CPS]

For more information or to view other people’s comments click the link below.

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_1877.html#usercomments

 While I was researching on Footnote.com I found something that tickled my funny bone.  I’m sure at the time it was seriously looked into but looking over the file now it made me laugh.  Here is the FBI file on something Dr. Minthorn said. 

http://www.footnote.com/spotlight/380/fbi-investigates-dr.–min

Publication Number: M1085
Publication Title: Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation 1908-1922
Publisher: NARA
Series: Old German Files, 1909-21
Case Number: 382013
Case Title: ALLEGED RADICAL STATEMENT
Suspect Name: Richard Minthorn