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Posts Tagged ‘Free’

Got Spyware?

22 Apr

I’ve been asked by three separate people this week how to get rid of Spyware from their computers.  If you don’t have the extra cash to buy a new Macintosh, I have the following four  suggestions:

  1. Get rid of whatever expired AntiVirus or Internet Security software you are running (Norton, McAfee … etc) and switch to Microsoft Security Essentials.  It is FREE (and we like free) and doesn’t slow your computer down to a crawl.
  2. Install Lavasoft’s AdAware.  There is a free version.  I would recommend disabling the realtime protection, and just schedule it to run weekly.
  3. STOP using Internet Explorer.  Start using Mozilla Firefox.
  4. STOP using Internet Explorer.  Seriously.
 
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Posted in Technology

 

FamilySearch Pilot Kicks Ass

19 Apr

Token picture of Frank Deller

I’m really digging the updated FamilySearch Pilot.  It’s got a few quirks, such as the mouse wheel and tab key not always behaving like you might expect, but … who cares.  It’s FREE and more and more stuff keeps getting added.

If you haven’t used it yet, imagine Ancestry.com but without 800 ads for “Who do you think you are?”

Utah Death Certificates are just one of the sources I’m getting a lot of mileage out of this week.

 
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Posted in Genealogy

 

RAOGK celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

06 Mar

Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness celebrates it’s 10th Anniversary this month.

There were 5,741 volunteer requests in February.  I took care of an amazing, er substantial, er adequate 4 of them.  That’s almost .07%!

You can get help from me, or one of the other 3,900 volunteers over at www.raogk.org.

 
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Posted in Genealogy

 

Kiss me, I’m Irish

20 Feb
1911 Irish Census

1911 Irish Census

I think I’ve got a love/hate relationship with Irish genealogy. On the one hand, I’m Irish. On the other hand, Ireland likes to make things hard. Having gathered all the statistics they were interested in, the government may or may not have ordered the originals disappeared.

You have got to give it to Ireland. When I explained to them the error of their ways, they really wanted to make it up to me.  Almost immediately they agreed to started publishing the 1911 Census online. We discussed it ad nauseum, and both agreed that it should be free. I also asked them to publish the 1901 Census in the future. You’re welcome.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

 
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Posted in Genealogy

 

Ancestry.com for free!

15 Feb

Wow, that sounds like an internet ad banner if I’ve ever seen one.  You can also win a free iPod and matching T-Shirt.

Actually, if you live in Colorado, Ancestry.com is free.  Most public libraries and Family History Centers all over the country (world?) have a subscription you can use while at their facilities.  However, the Boulder Public Library lets you use it from home!  You need a library card, which is free to anyone with a Colorado address.

Since it’s a library subscription, you miss out on some features (saving documents in your shoebox … linking historical documents to your Ancestry.com hosted family tree … etc).  But if you’re budget minded, it’s a pretty sweet dealio.

http://www.boulder.lib.co.us/

Update April 2010: Looks like they got wise to our ploy, and it no longer works from home.  It is still free when you are inside a library branch.

 
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Posted in Genealogy