The Best RSS Readers and News Aggregation Apps

Leave a reply

I saw this blog posting about the RSS Reader called Feedly on Dick Eastman’s Blog 16 Oct 2019 and thought it was important enough to share here. Besides, I too use Feedly. It is the only way I can keep up with the rapid changes regarding DNA testing and genealogy!

“I have written before about the many advantages of using RSS Newsreaders to quickly and easily find articles of interest published on dozens, even hundreds, of web sites that interest you, including the EOGN.com web site. You can find my earlier articles about RSS Newsreaders by starting at: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=site%3Aeogn.com+newsreader&t=brave&ia=web.

Brendan Hesse has posted an article that I think everyone should read: The Best RSS Readers and News Aggregation Apps. (I found this article by using my favorite RSS Newsreader, of course.) As Brendan writes, “Without further ado, here are the best RSS readers/news aggregators, plus a few alternatives for good measure.”

I also noted that he claims that Feedly is the best RSS Newsreader available today. I cannot say that I have tested as many newsreaders as Brendan Hesse has, but I will say that I have been using Feedly for several years and am pleased with it.

First of all, Feedly is a cloud-based newsreader that does not require any software installation in your computer. It works equally well on Windows, Macintosh, Chromebook, Android, Linux and Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) systems. It is also super simple to use.

Feedly has three versions: FREE, Pro, and Team.

The FREE version contains ads, the Pro version is ad-free and allows the user to follow an unlimited number of sources. The Team version is for use by corporate teams; I cannot imagine any individual consumer ever needing the Team version.

Of course, Feedly isn’t the only product available. You might prefer something else. You can read a lot more in Brendan Hesse’s article in the Lifehacker web site at: https://tinyurl.com/eogn19-10-16.

Also, see my earlier article, Is It Time to Try a Newsreader?, at: https://blog.eogn.com/2018/03/29/is-it-time-to-try-a-newsreader/.”

The above article is from and is copyrighted by the Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter at blog.eogn.com. Many thanks go to Dick Eastman for his continued support of the genealogy world.

California rolls out first statewide earthquake early warning system

Leave a reply

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today (Thursday, Oct. 17) announced the debut of the nation’s first statewide earthquake early warning system that will deliver alerts to people’s cellphones through an app developed at the University of California, Berkeley.

The mobile phone app, MyShake, can provide seconds of warning before the ground starts to shake from a nearby quake — enough time to drop, cover and hold on to prevent injury.

The app is available on both Apple and Android platforms.

So why am I posting about this here? Because I was one of the “citizen scientists” that helped beta test the app. I have had it on my phone now for a couple of years and can assure you that it is safe. The app gets input from phones’ motion sensors and now also delivers alerts from the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey that utilizes data from seismic networks in California, Oregon and Washington.

Columbus Day Sales for DNA Tests

Leave a reply

Columbus was the first to sell America and he gets an national holiday for it.

There are a few sales going on on DNA tests just for the next couple of days. If you were waiting for the next sale cycle, now is the time.

The biggest sale is, for customers only, 23AndMe is selling their “ancestry+health” test for only $129, I’ve never seen it that low. $70 off for already customers. Get your sister tested now!

MyHeritage is currently only $49. Go check FTDNA and Ancestry too.

Things to Remember when you go to your local Family History Center

1 Reply

Some of our MoCoGenSo members volunteer at the local Monterey Family History Center (FHC). We see lots of different people over the years and it is always a pleasure to help newcomers get their feet wet! Ancestors are free at the FHC 🙂

But many folks forget the same things when they come to a FHC for the first time.

Bring a flash drive. Call it a thumb drive or USB stick, whatever. If you do find something on our computers, you can print it of course. But if you have a thumb drive, you can take a digital copy with you! And share it and print it many times. The FHC does NOT supply USB sticks.
Bring or remember the passwords for your Email and for your Ancestry.com account or your FamilySearch account (or any other account you need help with). If we help you create a FamilySearch account, it will send an email to you for verification. You either need to have your cell phone or your password! Likewise, if we help you download your DNA data file, you will need your email access.
Bring something (paper, charts, notes, etc.) that has the BMD information for the ancestors (or their close relatives) you are researching. BMD is Birth, Marriage, Death, The info needed is name, date & place. Bring whatever you have, but don’t bring original records.

Bring those things with you and your visit will go more smoothly!

”Failure to plan is planning to fail.” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Genealogy with DNA Discussion Group to Meet on 1st Wednesdays

Leave a reply

MoCoGenSo, in cooperation with the FHC, is going to form a new “discussion” group to explore genealogy and the use of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) therein.

We are going to have our meetings discussion oriented, talking about using DNA to enhance our genealogical efforts. Our goal is to help each other learn.

The big deal about this restructuring is the scheduling: we are going to meet on the ”1st Wednesday of the month at 12 noon.

We will hold our first meeting November 6th in the Film room at the FHC. We will provide the large display monitor for computer screens when needed to enhance discussions. I will bring my laptop, you can bring yours. iPads work if you have the right adapter.

I have decided to monitor this group because I myself really do want to learn more. If we provide the forum, perhaps others will share too. We will open the door and see who comes in!

” Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change.” – Tom Clancy

23AndMe Tree

Leave a reply

News about the new tree is starting to come out.

In order to utilize the new tree feature, you must enable Beta for your account, which you can find under your name in the Settings area.

Be sure to go to the dna-explained.com blog to see Roberta Estes’ thoughts on the tree.

https://dna-explained.com/2019/09/26/23andme-automatically-creates-tree-using-new-technology-relationship-triangulation/

Adoptees must think they’ve died and gone to the happy hereafter, because all other vendors’ tree support requires you to actually HAVE a tree of some description. Of course, adoptees and people seeking an unknown parent don’t have trees for their unknown parents.

The following was written by 23AndMe themselves.

https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036068393-The-23andMe-Family-Tree-Feature

“Your family tree is written in your DNA, and 23andMe researchers have developed an algorithm that can help you read it.

“Instead of relying on customers to painstakingly enter names and dates — or tracking down records — just to get started, 23andMe new Family Tree does it for you using your genetic connections and DNA Relatives.

“With the click of a button, your genetic family tree is built automatically by an algorithm that predicts relationships based the DNA shared between you and your DNA Relatives. The size of your family tree depends on how many connections and DNA Relatives you have close relationships with in the 23andMe database. Participating in 23andMe’s DNA Relatives tool helps improve the experience. Customers will also be able to add names of relatives, or ancestors, to the family tree whether or not those individuals are on 23andMe. As the 23andMe database grows, customers may see their trees expand.

“We created this new feature because we heard from customers who want to understand their recent family history, but don’t want the hassle of building a traditional family tree from scratch. The team is also working on additional functionality, such as the ability to edit your predicted relationships, which is expected to roll out in the coming weeks. 23andMe’s Family Tree offers a simple friction-free option, and a beautiful way to visualize how you connect with DNA Relatives.”