The graveyard-a nice spot for information

Maybe you like to research your ancestry. Perhaps you've discovered a long-lost rum-running uncle or a charismatic suffragette aunt. It's exciting to see what the past holds, especially when it's tied to you in some sort of way! There's places to go to get this sort of info. Here are a few resources to try:
Your public library-public libraries will have not only resources, but usually a guide on how to search for genealogical information.
Your local genealogical society-you may or may not have this in your community. I'm lucky to live somewhere that has one-the Seattle Genealogical Society
Ancestry.com  You will hit a pay wall pretty quickly on this site.
Cindy's List free, various categories
RootsWeb free, unless you decide to search through Ancestry.com
Genealogy.com free , but you will need to create an account
Ancestor Hunt  free, listing of search engines by category
Public Domain Genealogy -requires you set up an account (but free)

My personal favorite-Find A Grave! This website lets you search "over 47 million grave records". Try the "Famous Grave" search. It's fun!

This is a very basic list. There are lots of ways to find genealogical information. Talk with you local librarian to find out more. Genealogical research is complex and exciting. You never know what you'll find.

LCSH-It can get weird.

The Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) list is an amazing thing. While cataloging is a serious business, it also carries within it some comedic gems. Most of these gems can be found in the LCSH. What are subject headings. To put it very simply-they are words chosen to describe works, items, things, etc. They are standardized terms, a.k.a. controlled vocabulary. The Wikipedia entry on LCSH is a good place to get a basic understanding of how the subject headings work.

Now comes the funny part. Some of the subject headings are bizarre! Here's a link to a wiki of Wacky and Weird Subject Headings. You may need to type in a code to see the list. Don't worry, it's worth it! Some of my favorites are:
Boating with cats (May Subd Geog)
Boring--Periodicals
Church work with cowgirls
Donkeys in numismatics
Folk dentistry
Potpies (May Subd Geog)
Stunt nematodes

the list goes on.... If you happen upon a strange LCSH that's not on the list, you can add it. The next time you're looking for something in the library catalog, check out the subjects assigned to it. You might be surprised.

The Archive, A Grand Place

History is fun! You know that feeling of wonder you get when you discover a drawer of old photos? One great place to do that (virtually) is the National Archives and Record Administration. It's a fun site with lots of great resources, including a link to the National Archives Flickr Photostream. You'll find fabulous historic images like the (copyright-free) poster shown above. Have fun hunting through this!

Who likes chart tools?

 I enjoy a good chart tool. I'm not a heavy creator of charts but I appreciate what great instruments they can be. Presenting data visually makes it accessible to a wider audience. The reader does not have to be an expert to look at a chart to see that something is happening in the situation that the data belongs to.  I just happened upon QuickStats, a chart-making tool for the National Center for Educational Statistics. Its part of the NCES Datalab, which was mentioned in one of my favorite blogs, ResourceShelf.

What is all this technology doing to us?

Multitasking is almost a prerequisite for living. Gadgets galore fragment our attention spans into small pieces that click and work together at the same time. The ipod, smartphones, laptops, netbooks, portable game systems, and other devices have made life seem easier and faster. But does this have any effects? Certainly, some think so. Others think our brains will just adapt to the barrage of attention-stealing devices. Take a look at "Hooked on Gadgets and Paying a Mental Price," in the Technology section of the New York Times. It's something to think about-while you're thinking about everything else.

Bing Health Maps

Hey! Bing has a fancy new tool. It's called Health Maps. It's an easy, colorful way to get health information at the state and county level. You can choose a state and a community health indicator. A map of results is drawn right over the location you selected. It's quite handy! The data is drawn from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.