Mini-exhibition

The year-end function of the West Gauteng Branch of GGSA was held on 28 November 2009 at the Dutch Reformed Church, Ontdekkerskruin, Discovery, Roodepoort.

A mini-xhibition of research done by members was on display. Charts, files, books, journals, an old family Bibles and copies of old photographs were on display.

Lucas Rinken set up his computer and his e e-SAGI database was available for visitors to search.

Two visitors also attended. The members who attended had time to discuss each other's work, to chat and to get to know each other better. As usual Margaret Humphries and her team provided delicious snacks, cake and tea.

These pictures reflect of what we experienced. Click on any picture to enlarge.

Report and pictures by Penny Evans.

Hier kom die bokke

MILLS RIVER, North Carolina -- The brambles and underbrush are so thick it's hard to see anything, much less walk around.

Munching through the thicket are four sturdy goats, doing their part to uncover the grave sites of up to 30 early residents of Henderson County.

The Ballard Family Cemetery in North Mills River is the subject of a new experiment: using goats to clear vegetation from historic cemeteries.

"It's hard to tell what's here until we clean it out," says Toby Linville, the county staff member for the Henderson County Cemetery Advisory Committee. "It was so bad, you couldn't move in here."

Credit for the idea goes to Jennie Jones Giles, who heard someone joke that "goats would eat everything here" and borrowed six of the animals to eat through the overgrown thicket.

Giles, director of the Henderson County Heritage Museum, is also a member of the Cemetery Advisory Committee, established by the County Board of Commissioners in 2005. The committee is responsible for identifying and coordinating the county's upkeep of abandoned cemeteries.

Read more at BlueRidgenow.com (click here)

WE WISH!

WASHINGTON, 18 December 2009 -- The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has received a Fiscal Year 2010 budget of $469,870,000 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, 16 December 2009.

(Exchange rate on 18/12/2009: $1 = R7,58, thus R3 561 614 600.)

The overall appropriation of $469,870,000 is an increase of 2.31 percent over last year's funding of $459,277,000.

"Given these difficult economic times, we are extremely grateful to the Congress and the President for the generous FY 2010 appropriations. We will be able to continue to fund our core programs, offer the same high standard of services to our researchers and the public, and complete much-needed repairs and renovation of the Franklin Roosevelt Library," said David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States.

Read more at Eastman's Online Genealogy.

A Dirty Secret

Genealogists, should known that their computers are one of their most important tools.  Take care of it.

I have a dirty secret. I've never cleaned my computer. Sure, I've dusted my monitor, but I haven't taken off the cover or tried to reach the crumbs lurking inside my keyboard.

"Your computer could fry if you don't keep it clean," says Jonathon Millman, chief technology officer for Hooplah Interactive.

Dust clogs the vents behind your computer, which causes your CPU to heat up—and heat is the biggest cause of component failure in computers. Regular cleaning could save you costly maintenance fees down the road.

Keep your computer in tip-top shape by following Millman's guide to a spotless computer system.

Preparation

You'll need:

• screwdriver
  
• can of compressed air (available from computer dealers or office-supply stores)
  
• cotton swabs (do not use a cotton ball)
  
• rubbing alcohol
  
• paper towels or anti-static cloths
  
• water
  

Always turn your computer off before you begin and unplug all the cords.