Blog posting by Pam on the Technology Tamers Blog
Pattie's husband has really really out done himself this time. He booked us into a two room suite. We have the bedroom area and then we have the den...two TVs, loads of drawer space, a table with four chairs (in the den) and a microwave and frig. The bathroom is well planned and the pillows are to die for. We are a bit far a field. So we had to learn to take the Greenline tram. It's easy and kinda fun.
On the tram ride in today, we started talking to someone who directed us to the back door of the Salt Palace...a short cut that saved us lots of walking and put us right where we need to be for registration. We've already got our badges and tote bags.
I'm doing this post from the basement of the Family History Library...still looking for English relatives. It's been several years since we've been to the library and things have changed. Computers are everywhere as are table top plugs. The library allows you to bring bags in. You can roll your computer along rather than lug it. The tables have brass rings at the end. I couldn't figure out what they were for until I saw a lady anchor her bags to one with what looked like a bicycle wire complete with a lock. What a hoot!
Since the conference starts tomorrow, the library is manned by lots of extra people. I've already had one librarian explain how to do a more targeted search with the batch numbers.
More to come later
Showing posts with label Pam Treme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pam Treme. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists
The only resolution I have ever tried to keep in my adult life was one I made about my genealogy. I thought a resolution tied to something I loved to do would be easy.
I made a list of all the records I needed to request and people I needed to contact. My resolution was to check one of these off each week. That was it, one letter a week.
While I never wrote all of those letters, just making the list was a great exercise. Organization is a key to doing genealogy and making that resolution forced me to get my act together.
Here are a few New Year's Resolutions to consider:
Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Take Care, Pattie
I made a list of all the records I needed to request and people I needed to contact. My resolution was to check one of these off each week. That was it, one letter a week.
While I never wrote all of those letters, just making the list was a great exercise. Organization is a key to doing genealogy and making that resolution forced me to get my act together.
Here are a few New Year's Resolutions to consider:
- I resolve to catch up on my filing and get rid of clutter.
- I resolve to join a genealogical society
- I resolve to write one article about my family research
- I resolve to submit an article to a local genealogy or state newsletter/ quarterly.
- I resolve to pick one record type, for example land records, to concentrate on this year.
- I resolve to learn how to look up one new type of genealogical record.
- I resolve to attend one county or state-level genealogical event this year.
- I resolve to renew my contact with cousins, aunts or uncles I have not spoken to in years (maybe decades).
- I resolve to create timelines for significant family members to put their life in perspective.
- I resolve to produce either a family blog or newsletter to update my family on my research.
Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Take Care, Pattie
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Using Passwords to Protect Your Documents
Hi,
I am under the weather this week so instead of posting the weekly tips I am re-posting my genealogy buddy, Pam Treme's post about password protecting a MS Word document.
I hope to be posting by the weekend - in the meantime enjoy this post from the Technology Tamers website!
I have had only rare occassions when I have added or used a password on a document. To me, genealogy applications would also be rare. However, applying a password is an option that you should be aware of in case you have occassion to use it. The choices you see below are all made when the document that you want to apply that password to is open.
Word 2010
I am under the weather this week so instead of posting the weekly tips I am re-posting my genealogy buddy, Pam Treme's post about password protecting a MS Word document.
I hope to be posting by the weekend - in the meantime enjoy this post from the Technology Tamers website!
I have had only rare occassions when I have added or used a password on a document. To me, genealogy applications would also be rare. However, applying a password is an option that you should be aware of in case you have occassion to use it. The choices you see below are all made when the document that you want to apply that password to is open.
- Select File, Info, Protect Document, and then Encrypt with Password. The dialog appears.
- Enter a password. Be sure to write it down so that you can open the document again.
- Click OK. A confirmation dialog appears.
- Enter the password again, and then click OK.
- Close the document, and then open it again. A Password dialog appears.
- Enter the password, and then click OK.
Word 2007
- Select File, and then Save As. The dialog appears.
- Click the Tools button at the bottom of the dialog. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select General Options. The dialog appears.
- In the field Password to open, enter the password. Be sure to write it down so that you can open the document again.
- Click OK. A confirmation dialog appears.
- Enter the password again, and then click OK.
- Click the Save button, and then close the document.
- Open the document again. A Password dialog appears.
- Enter the password, and then click OK.
- Click the Tools menu, and then select Options. The dialog appears.
- Click the Security tab.
- In the field Password to open, enter the password. Be sure to write it down so that you can open the document again.
- Click OK.
- Save and then close the document.
- Open the document again. A Password dialog appears.
- Enter the password, and then click OK.
Can a password be cracked? Just about anything can be cracked by a pro. However, for the average user, this type of password is sufficent to protect a file.
While you're exploring the password options be sure to notice that there are also some editing options that you may want to look at. When you apply an editing password, everyone can see your document; however, only those readers with the password can edit the document.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Add Paint to Your Genealogy Toolbox
Pam Treme, my genealogy partner, and I speak at societies in the Tampa area under the name 'The Technology Tamers'. Our presentations show how to make your genealogy research easier using technology.
I have seen "Paint" on my Windows based computers for years, but rarely used it. Whenever I did try I would get confused and frustrated. Pam, on the other hand is a Paint genius. After hearing how frustrated I was using Paint Pam decided it was a great topic for the Technology Tamers to tackle.
We recently did a presentation to the Florida Genealogy Society - Tampa entitled "Dipping Your Fingers in Paint". I thought I would share the highlights on this blog.
Why use Paint?
According to the Microsoft website Paint is "a feature in Windows 7 that you can use to create drawings on a blank drawing area or in existing pictures".
While this may be true, it does not describe how I use Paint, now that Pam taught me how to use it!
Webpages
Let's say that I find an obituary online that I want to share with my family. By using the PRINT SCREEN button on my computer I can capture the obituary, paste it into PAINT and then HIGHLIGHT the areas I want my family to read.
If the obituary is split into multiple columns I can COPY the entire obituary into PAINT, open another instance of PAINT and CUT/COPY the various pieces into one document.
Photos
Paint will convert photos from one format to another. You can right click on any photo, open it with Paint and then SAVE the photo in the new format. Always be sure to understand the various formats (Tiff, Jpeg, etc) and under what circumstance to use each format.
Dip Your Fingers into Paint!
These are only two examples of the hundreds of things that you can do with Paint. Check out PAINT on the Microsoft Site or check out Utube.com.
Have fun Painting your Genealogy!
Take Care,
Pattie
I have seen "Paint" on my Windows based computers for years, but rarely used it. Whenever I did try I would get confused and frustrated. Pam, on the other hand is a Paint genius. After hearing how frustrated I was using Paint Pam decided it was a great topic for the Technology Tamers to tackle.
We recently did a presentation to the Florida Genealogy Society - Tampa entitled "Dipping Your Fingers in Paint". I thought I would share the highlights on this blog.
Why use Paint?
According to the Microsoft website Paint is "a feature in Windows 7 that you can use to create drawings on a blank drawing area or in existing pictures".
While this may be true, it does not describe how I use Paint, now that Pam taught me how to use it!
Webpages
Let's say that I find an obituary online that I want to share with my family. By using the PRINT SCREEN button on my computer I can capture the obituary, paste it into PAINT and then HIGHLIGHT the areas I want my family to read.
If the obituary is split into multiple columns I can COPY the entire obituary into PAINT, open another instance of PAINT and CUT/COPY the various pieces into one document.
Photos
Paint will convert photos from one format to another. You can right click on any photo, open it with Paint and then SAVE the photo in the new format. Always be sure to understand the various formats (Tiff, Jpeg, etc) and under what circumstance to use each format.
Dip Your Fingers into Paint!
These are only two examples of the hundreds of things that you can do with Paint. Check out PAINT on the Microsoft Site or check out Utube.com.
Have fun Painting your Genealogy!
Take Care,
Pattie
Friday, April 1, 2011
New Mexico Research - Part 2
On January 6 my blog entry was about researching in New Mexico. I am happy to pass on another great tip for researching in New Mexico.
My friend Pam Treme recently requested an obituary from a library in Clovis, New Mexico. It ended up that her request was to the wrong library, but an industrious librarian forwarded the request to the New Mexico State Library and voila the obituary was found.
Here is an explanation from the librarian, Terri, of the Clovis-Carver Library:
1. Enter the request with the local library. If you’re looking for an obituary in Clovis, they have an index you can check: http://www.usgwarchives.org/nm/curry/currobit.htm
2. If the local library can’t find it in their collection, the library can forward your request to the state library to see if they can fulfill your request.
If the state library finds the obit, they forward a PDF to the local library, which can then be forwarded to you. In the case of the Clovis-Carver Public Library, the service is free as long as you are able to accept a PDF via email.
Always be sure to check with the library you are working with about any fees that may apply.
New Mexico Archive Project
The New Mexico Archive Project is part of the USGenWeb Archives Project and offers a wealth of free information donated by your fellow researchers. Never pass up a chance to find a description of the "Towns of Harding County" or a transcription of the "Old Anton Chico Cemetery" in Quadalupe County.
You never know what you may find!
Take Care,
Pattie
Books on New Mexico History and Genealogy Research:
Final Destinations: A Travel Guide for Remarkable Cemeteries in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana
Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period
Larger Than Life: New Mexico in the Twentieth Century
Bailing Wire and Gamuza: The True Story of a Family Ranch Near Ramah, New Mexico
Bridge to the Past: The New Mexico State Monuments
My friend Pam Treme recently requested an obituary from a library in Clovis, New Mexico. It ended up that her request was to the wrong library, but an industrious librarian forwarded the request to the New Mexico State Library and voila the obituary was found.
Here is an explanation from the librarian, Terri, of the Clovis-Carver Library:
1. Enter the request with the local library. If you’re looking for an obituary in Clovis, they have an index you can check: http://www.usgwarchives.org/nm/curry/currobit.htm
2. If the local library can’t find it in their collection, the library can forward your request to the state library to see if they can fulfill your request.
If the state library finds the obit, they forward a PDF to the local library, which can then be forwarded to you. In the case of the Clovis-Carver Public Library, the service is free as long as you are able to accept a PDF via email.
Always be sure to check with the library you are working with about any fees that may apply.
New Mexico Archive Project
The New Mexico Archive Project is part of the USGenWeb Archives Project and offers a wealth of free information donated by your fellow researchers. Never pass up a chance to find a description of the "Towns of Harding County" or a transcription of the "Old Anton Chico Cemetery" in Quadalupe County.
You never know what you may find!
Take Care,
Pattie
Books on New Mexico History and Genealogy Research:
Final Destinations: A Travel Guide for Remarkable Cemeteries in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana
Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period
Larger Than Life: New Mexico in the Twentieth Century
Bailing Wire and Gamuza: The True Story of a Family Ranch Near Ramah, New Mexico
Bridge to the Past: The New Mexico State Monuments
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Readability Statistics
Posted by Pam Treme of Technology Tamers
My presentation partner Pattie used to be my boss. When I worked for Pattie, she always wanted me to write on a sixth grade level. Try as I might, the best I could dial it back to was eighth grade.
Dealing with the situation was a problem of my own making because Pattie and I had a conversation one day about the readability of a piece of text. I ran the stats. Pattie asked, “How did you do that?” I showed her. Now Pattie uses this bit of knowledge to benchmark everyone who writes anything for her. You have to be careful what you show Pattie. It can come back to haunt you!
The grade level you write at is important for getting information across to your reader. With a little practice, anyone can write compound sentences with high flown words that send readers scurrying to a dictionary. However, if your objective is a pleasant read that is readily understood, trooping out your high-end English skills may not be the best way to go.
Knowing the grade level that you’re writing at can help you make adjustments. For example, I learned that long paragraphs that include more than one idea quickly pumped up the grade level. If a paragraph reaches somewhere in the neighborhood of five or six lines, I start looking at it to make sure that I haven’t let a new idea creep in. Besides, if a paragraph goes over nine lines, Pattie won’t read it, and I think Pattie is typical of many modern readers.
In addition, compound sentences that require your reader to slow down and dissect the sentence to ensure that they understand it is, in my opinion, counterproductive too. These types of sentences also pump up the readability stats on your document.
To gauge your normal writing level—and eighth grade in my opinion is just fine—you can set up Word to run readability statistics routinely. Here’s how you do it.
Word 2003
1. From the main menu, select Tools and then Options. The Options dialog appeared.
2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
3. Look in the Grammar group for the option Show readability statistics, and click it to add a check mark.
4. Click OK. The next time you run a spelling and grammar check on a document, the statistics display automatically when you finish the check.
Word 2007 and 2010
1. In Word 2007, click the Office button (big button in upper left of screen). A pop-up menu appears. In Word 2010, click the File tab.
2. In Word 2007, click the Word Options button at the bottom of the pop-up menu. In Word 2010, click Options. The Word Options dialog appears.
3. Select Proofing. The Proofing dialog appears.
4. Look for When correcting spelling and grammar in Word.
5. In the group, look for Show readability statistics, and click it to add a check mark.
5. Click OK to save your change and close the dialog. The next time you run a spelling and grammar check on a document, the statistics display automatically when you finish the check.
To stop displaying statistics, repeat the steps and remove the check mark.
Posted by Pam
My presentation partner Pattie used to be my boss. When I worked for Pattie, she always wanted me to write on a sixth grade level. Try as I might, the best I could dial it back to was eighth grade.
Dealing with the situation was a problem of my own making because Pattie and I had a conversation one day about the readability of a piece of text. I ran the stats. Pattie asked, “How did you do that?” I showed her. Now Pattie uses this bit of knowledge to benchmark everyone who writes anything for her. You have to be careful what you show Pattie. It can come back to haunt you!
The grade level you write at is important for getting information across to your reader. With a little practice, anyone can write compound sentences with high flown words that send readers scurrying to a dictionary. However, if your objective is a pleasant read that is readily understood, trooping out your high-end English skills may not be the best way to go.
Knowing the grade level that you’re writing at can help you make adjustments. For example, I learned that long paragraphs that include more than one idea quickly pumped up the grade level. If a paragraph reaches somewhere in the neighborhood of five or six lines, I start looking at it to make sure that I haven’t let a new idea creep in. Besides, if a paragraph goes over nine lines, Pattie won’t read it, and I think Pattie is typical of many modern readers.
In addition, compound sentences that require your reader to slow down and dissect the sentence to ensure that they understand it is, in my opinion, counterproductive too. These types of sentences also pump up the readability stats on your document.
To gauge your normal writing level—and eighth grade in my opinion is just fine—you can set up Word to run readability statistics routinely. Here’s how you do it.
Word 2003
1. From the main menu, select Tools and then Options. The Options dialog appeared.
2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
3. Look in the Grammar group for the option Show readability statistics, and click it to add a check mark.
4. Click OK. The next time you run a spelling and grammar check on a document, the statistics display automatically when you finish the check.
Word 2007 and 2010
1. In Word 2007, click the Office button (big button in upper left of screen). A pop-up menu appears. In Word 2010, click the File tab.
2. In Word 2007, click the Word Options button at the bottom of the pop-up menu. In Word 2010, click Options. The Word Options dialog appears.
3. Select Proofing. The Proofing dialog appears.
4. Look for When correcting spelling and grammar in Word.
5. In the group, look for Show readability statistics, and click it to add a check mark.
5. Click OK to save your change and close the dialog. The next time you run a spelling and grammar check on a document, the statistics display automatically when you finish the check.
To stop displaying statistics, repeat the steps and remove the check mark.
Posted by Pam
Monday, March 14, 2011
Genlighten and Obituaries
Posted by Pam Treme - My McKee Family Tree
As the editor of Florida Lines (FSGS newsletter), I try to keep abreast of anything new that develops so that I can alert users. So it was with Genlighten, which is a service that matches an info seeker and a local researcher.
In most cases, researchers charge a minimal fee to look up info for you. I haven't been to Genlighten much lately. Mostly because they didn't have many researchers in geographic areas that were of interest to me.
While I've been away, the list of researchers have grown. So I've booked the following obituary searches:
Earl C. Crain, d. 13 Aug 1999, Baldwin, MO
John William Knierim, d. 12 Jun 1940 Kirkwood, MO
Roy O. Mangano, d. 26 Jan 1996 Saint Louis, MO
Olive (McClure) McGuire, d. 14 Dec 1919 Colorado Springs, CO
Mamie Alice (Boyd) McGuire, d. 10 Jan 1974 Colorado Springs, CO
Ellen Ida (Jones) McKee, d. 7 Jan 1949 Firman Desloge Hospital, St. Louis, MO
We'll see how good the Genlighten researchers are!
As the editor of Florida Lines (FSGS newsletter), I try to keep abreast of anything new that develops so that I can alert users. So it was with Genlighten, which is a service that matches an info seeker and a local researcher.
In most cases, researchers charge a minimal fee to look up info for you. I haven't been to Genlighten much lately. Mostly because they didn't have many researchers in geographic areas that were of interest to me.
While I've been away, the list of researchers have grown. So I've booked the following obituary searches:
Earl C. Crain, d. 13 Aug 1999, Baldwin, MO
John William Knierim, d. 12 Jun 1940 Kirkwood, MO
Roy O. Mangano, d. 26 Jan 1996 Saint Louis, MO
Olive (McClure) McGuire, d. 14 Dec 1919 Colorado Springs, CO
Mamie Alice (Boyd) McGuire, d. 10 Jan 1974 Colorado Springs, CO
Ellen Ida (Jones) McKee, d. 7 Jan 1949 Firman Desloge Hospital, St. Louis, MO
We'll see how good the Genlighten researchers are!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Blogs, Blogs and More Blogs Available on Smartphones
Readers of the Everyday Genealogy blog may not realize that it is one of four blogs authored by myself and Pam Treme.
To assist our readers using moblie devices we are participating in the Bloggers 'Beta' Mobile Template. What this does is make our blogs easier to read on Smartphones and hopefully encourage more followers.
Here is a list of the blogs that appear on Twitter under EverydayGene:
Everyday Genealogy: http://everydaygenealogycalendar.blogspot.com
A blog supporting the Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar offering hints, tips and advice on genealogy research. Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar
Technology Tamers: http://technology-tamers.blogspot.com
Pam and I speak at genealogy societies in Florida and we use this blog to promote our lectures. Our goal is to make genealogists aware of how technology can assist in their research and encourage them to publish their results.
My McKee Family Tree: http://alexandermckee.blogspot.com
This blog was created by Pam to share her in depth research of the McKee family. Her goal is to document all the McKee's that migrated to Southern Illinois.
Pack Peddler's Place: http://packpeddler.blogspot.com
My grandmother nicknamed me Pack Peddler when I was a child and this blog reflects my collection of ideas, family stories and genealogy journeys. And my love/hate relationship with my eReader!
Thanks,
Pattie
To assist our readers using moblie devices we are participating in the Bloggers 'Beta' Mobile Template. What this does is make our blogs easier to read on Smartphones and hopefully encourage more followers.
Here is a list of the blogs that appear on Twitter under EverydayGene:
Everyday Genealogy: http://everydaygenealogycalendar.blogspot.com
A blog supporting the Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar offering hints, tips and advice on genealogy research. Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar
Technology Tamers: http://technology-tamers.blogspot.com
Pam and I speak at genealogy societies in Florida and we use this blog to promote our lectures. Our goal is to make genealogists aware of how technology can assist in their research and encourage them to publish their results.
My McKee Family Tree: http://alexandermckee.blogspot.com
This blog was created by Pam to share her in depth research of the McKee family. Her goal is to document all the McKee's that migrated to Southern Illinois.
Pack Peddler's Place: http://packpeddler.blogspot.com
My grandmother nicknamed me Pack Peddler when I was a child and this blog reflects my collection of ideas, family stories and genealogy journeys. And my love/hate relationship with my eReader!
Thanks,
Pattie
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Everyday Genealogy Premieres at Florida State Genealogical Society Conference
Everyday Genealogy 2011 (the Desk Calendar)had its debut at the Florida State Genealogical Society Conference in Sarasota this weekend. The conference featured noted genealogy speaker Maureen Taylor (aka the Photo Detective).
Attendance was expected to hit 250 avid genealogists and was a huge sucess.
Decked out in our 'custom made' tee shirts our table was manned by myself, Pam Treme and Cathy Vance. While we enjoyed catching up with many old friends we were also happy with the steady stream of customers taking advantage of the special conference pricing.
If you missed the conference I'd like to offer my blog followers a promotion for Everyday Genealogy of their own. For a limited time if you enter the promo code BLOG during check out on http://www.EverydayGenealogy.com you will receive FREE SHIPPING.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on Everyday Genealogy!
Attendance was expected to hit 250 avid genealogists and was a huge sucess.
Decked out in our 'custom made' tee shirts our table was manned by myself, Pam Treme and Cathy Vance. While we enjoyed catching up with many old friends we were also happy with the steady stream of customers taking advantage of the special conference pricing.
If you missed the conference I'd like to offer my blog followers a promotion for Everyday Genealogy of their own. For a limited time if you enter the promo code BLOG during check out on http://www.EverydayGenealogy.com you will receive FREE SHIPPING.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on Everyday Genealogy!
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