Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Genealogist Has a Novel Idea

Karen Harrington's interest in genealogy led her to write Janeology—a novel that comes with its own pedigree chart.

Jane, a loving mother of two, has drowned her toddler son and is charged with his murder in this powerful examination of love, loss, and family legacy. When a prosecutor decides Jane's husband Tom is partially to blame for the death and charges him with "failure to protect," Tom's attorney proposes a radical defense. He plans to create reasonable doubt about his client's alleged guilt by showing that Jane's genealogy is the cause of her violence, and that she inherited her latent violence in the same way she might inherit a talent for music or a predisposition to disease. He argues that no one could predict or prevent the tragedy, and that Tom cannot be held responsible.

With the help of a woman gifted with the power of retrocognition—the ability to see past events through objects once owned by the deceased—the defense theory of dark biology takes form. An unforgettable journey through the troubled minds and souls of eight of Jane's ancestors (named below), spanning decades and continents, this debut novel deftly illustrates the ways nature and nurture weave the fabric of one woman's life, and renders a portrait of one man left in its tragic wake.

Monday, April 07, 2008

David Wilson? Meet David Wilson

Meeting David Wilson premieres April 11 on MSNBC.

David Wilson, a 28-year-old African-American journalist, journeys into his family’s past to find answers to America’s racial divide. Along the way he meets another David Wilson, the descendant of his family’s slave master. This discovery leads to a momentous encounter between these two men of the same name but whose ancestors were on the opposite sides of freedom. Through DNA testing, David determines his African roots and returns to his native land. [Link]

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

They Like You, They Really Like You!

Congrats to RootsTelevision.com for winning four Telly Awards. That's four more than Susan Lucci has ever won.

RootsTelevision.com, an online channel dedicated to all aspects of genealogy and family history, has been recognized in the 29th Annual Telly Awards for four of its original productions. Selected from more than 14,000 shows were “DNA Stories: A Tale of Two Fathers” (documentary), “Heir Jordan: Extreme Genealogy” (entertainment), “Roots Books: Psychic Roots” (talk show), and “Flat Stanley’s Family Tree” (children’s audience).

“We’re delighted,” said RootsTelevision.com co-founder, Marcy Brown. “To receive this kind of recognition during our first year of existence is remarkable, and winning in four different categories is even more astonishing. We take this as an indication that our decision to pioneer online programming for the substantial but neglected niche of millions of genealogists was a risk worth taking.”

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Population Control Freaks

I somehow missed the 2006 horror flick Population 436 at my local theater.

Jeremy Sisto and Limp Bizkit lead singer Fred Durst star in this thrilling story about a U.S. census taker who is assigned to assess the population in a remote mountain community. The census taker becomes trapped in this prison-like town full of 'golden rules' (that no one ever breaks) that doesn't allow its population to drop below or exceed exactly 436 citizens, a number in accordance with 'God's Law.' He eventually learns that NO ONE is ever allowed to leave Rockwell Falls and that the town citizens will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo. After fending off a lobotomy and pretending to go along with the program, the U.S. census taker eventually tries to escape. Will the population finally be altered, or will the story of Rockwell Falls live on?
I don't know why Hollywood hasn't produced more movies in which census takers fend off lobotomies. It sure would have made Driving Miss Daisy more exciting.

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Friday, February 15, 2008

Forbidden Love in the Cemetery

The first installment of a new Roots Television series, Down Under, tells the story of an unlikely love affair. A love affair even more unlikely than mine and Gwyneth's.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Found Photos

Get warmed up for Wednesday's premiere of African American Lives 2 by checking out this amazing collection of snapshots and home movies at Square America. Some of my favorites.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Scary Santa Moments

Craig's Christmas photo brings to mind terrifying Santa memories of my own. Isn't there one of these photos in every family album?

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Genealogue Challenge #100

The 100th Challenge comes courtesy of Megan. All you have to do is watch this video and answer these questions:

In the Genealogical Cruising video, which well known genealogist:
  • Is seen riding a Segway?

  • Is seen wearing bunny ears and playing guitar?

  • Touts karaoke lounges as an ideal venue for computer talks?

  • Describes genealogical cruising as “tasty, painless” and “not prison”?

  • Suggests that all genealogical conferences should be done on cruise ships?

Monday, December 03, 2007

A Khan Conversation

About 8% of men in Central Asia inherited their Y-chromosome from Genghis Khan, which means that roughly a gazillion people have the Mongol ruler in their family trees. Michael Stusser—author of The Dead Guy Interviews—snagged a sit-down with the prolific potentate.



Saturday, December 01, 2007

Soldier Bagged Two Girlfriends

Egyptian tour guide Kahled Makram found a bag in the Sahara dropped by Alec Ross when he was serving there in World War II. Ross died a few years ago, but Makram is sending the bag to his sister, Irene Porter.

She has been able to read the letters - sent by her parents, herself and her brother's two girlfriends - from photographs put onto disc by Mr Makram.

Mrs Porter, 75, of Burnley, said: "I was stunned when I found out about this and it is just incredible the way the bag has come to light.
"I just wish the bag had been found a few years earlier so that Alec could have been reunited with its contents.

"He would have been thrilled, if a little embarrassed about having had two girlfriends on the go." [Link, via Neatorama]

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Genealogue Challenge #95

Challenge #94 still needs attention, but here's a quick one sent in by Steve Danko. For this one, I want you to guess without looking up the answer question. You can wager some or all of your checking account balance.

I just watched today's (20 Nov 2007) broadcast of Jeopardy! and the Final Jeopardy category was "American Ancestry". Alex Trebec said that this was a new category for Jeopardy!

The answer was:
ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU
AT 15.2% AND 10.8%
THEY ARE THE 2 LEADING
NATIONAL ANCESTRIES OF AMERICANS
Remember to phrase your response in the form of a question. (Cue the music.)

Monday, November 05, 2007

World's First Genealogical Wave

Megan reports that the attendees of the Wholly Genes cruise were caught up in World's First Genealogical Wave. Thankfully, no one was swept overboard.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Meet the Other White Meat

Stahnsdorf Cemetery has pigs. Davis Cemetery has turkeys.

Turkeys don't pose a threat to humans, but they can be intimidating. If a person runs from one of the toms, the aggressive males will give chase, [Susan] Finkleman said. She's learned to sidle by the turkeys and avoid making eye contact with them.

But even if the turkeys never actually attack, their presence at the cemetery is untenable.

“Out of their own fear of the turkeys, someone could take a step backward and fall over a headstone and get hurt,” Finkleman said. [Link]
KCRA reporter Richard Sharp tried to get the other side of the story, but was rebuffed:

Stage Fright Keeps Me From Swabbing

After watching Alex Haley's nephew Chris take his DNA test on Roots Television, I'm hesitant to do it myself. Does it have to be done in a public place while singing?

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

From Cork to New York

I found time this evening to watch From Cork to New York—a dramatization of Annie Moore's journey to America written, produced, directed, and acted by 11-year-olds from Scoil Oilibhéir in Cork, Ireland. (You can watch the trailer here.)

My school projects at that age involved gluing macaroni to poster board. These kids commandeered a train and reenacted a transatlantic sea voyage on film, then got people on another continent to watch it. I guess they don't have macaroni in Ireland.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

DNA: Could It Happen to You?

Last night's Colbert Report was all about DNA. We learned that "DNA was invented back in the 1950s, and it's responsible for cool stuff like hair color and arms." Who knew? Here's Stephen's interview with Dr. Spencer Wells of the Genographic Project:

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Saturday, July 28, 2007

Godzilla Genealogy Bop

Ever wonder how Ernest Borgnine is related to Godzilla? The stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 explain:

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

The Stooges Take the Census

In 1940, the Three Stooges were recruited as census takers. Hilarity ensued.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Were Your Relatives in the Movies?

"Willowbob" is using YouTube to identify relatives who appeared in his grandparents' home movies (Parts 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7).

If you had any relatives in the USA in the 50s or 60s named BOOKE LEVY HANIFORD ROSENBLATT ROSENGARD MILLER GOLDBERG HEIN ALTMAN COPPACK, they MAY just be related to the people in this cinefilm that my British grandparents visited in California, Vegas and New York (Buffalo) over 50 years ago.

It may be a longshot, but it would be AMAZING if I could contact anybody from the family tree I have containing over 200 names. It's never too late for a reunion! Who knows? You may just be watching your grandparents right now!
On a less genealogical note, he asks if anyone can identify the TV show or movie being filmed in this clip.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Still Life

I guarantee that all of you family historians out there will appreciate Josh Flowers' video Still Life. If you don't, find a new hobby.

[via Neatorama]

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