• Tierney Christmas 1959
  • Contemplative Farmer
  • Irish-Ferry-Crossing
  • Coney Island Tierney Family 1920
  • Long Island National Cemetery
  • SS George Washington - Marie Simanek
  • Pumpkin Picking
  • Sister Mary Attracta
  • Mary Egan on Chair
  • Tall-Leg Tierneys
  • Uncle Joseph Simanek on Motorcycle Predmir, Czechoslovakia
  • Lily-at-Window
  • Fun

  • Oct13

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    Hemmie Gets Famous!

    Posted in: Fun, Resources

      While listening to the Genealogy Gems Podcast a few weeks ago, Lisa Louise Cooke talked about waiting for her young grandson to call her Grandma and asked if anyone had any unusual terms of endearment they’d like to share.

    I sent along a story of how my son came up with an unusual name for my mother-in-law and Lisa asked if I could record it for her via Skype or a phone call. Pretty neat!

    I offered to record it and sent along an mp3 of the story (and was sure to include a sample of my son’s made-up name.) The nicest surprise was that Lisa also gave me a free year’s subscription to her premium podcast for using my story.

    So thanks very much to her! I will be checking out those Google Earth for Genealogy videos as soon as I get a chance, as I’m working on various mapping projects and can always use some more tricks in my magic bag.

    You can hear the story somewhere in the middle of Episode 119 Thousands of Memories – Childhood, Grandparents & Beyond.

    If you’d like to hear my son’s grandma naming story directly, you can also play it here:

    How Hemmie Got Her Name

  • Sep26

    2 Comments

    23andme Rage Research Snippet

    Posted in: 23andme, DNA, Fun

    23andme Research Snippet Capture

    Genetic testing company 23andme uses “Research Snippet” questions to compare people’s answers to their DNA results.

    Typically they are simple questions and often have obvious usefulness – such as “Have you ever undergone LASIK eye surgery?” I would think a comparison of certain locations of the response group individuals’ DNA could one day predict a the likelihood of a certain affliction.

    But, I am quite amused by the 2nd question in this research snippet screen capture:
    “Does the sound of other people chewing fill you with rage?”
    YES. YES IT DOES. (Actually, not really.)

    But I am left thinking about those who might answer “I’m not sure.”

    “Hmm, well, it is not RAGE exactly, but mandibular gyrations DO cause me to be overcome with a certain combination of ENNUI and MUDEROUS INTENTION.”

    For more information on 23andme’s research see their blog – this post in particular:
    23andMe Research Team Presents Findings at International Human Genetics Meeting

  • Jun15

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    Patently on a Roll

    Posted in: Fun

    Holder for Toilet Paper Patent 741,988

    In my regular searches for Tierneys in New York in the late 1800s and early 1900s I stumbled upon this tidbit.

    Apparently a circa 1903 John J. Tierney patented this wonderful design for an updated toilet paper holder.

    I do not know of any familial connection, but if I find one I’M GONNA BE RICH!

    Ah, probably not.

    You may read the full and complete patent here, if you are in need of some reading material. Ahem.

  • May4

    No Comments

    App Permission Craziness

    Posted in: Fun, Technology

    This is by no means a genealogy specific item, but as someone who works in information systems and security I am amazed at the breadth of permissions some convenience apps ask for online.

    DO: Weigh the benefit you receive for the app in question. While it is nice to have an automatic connection from the Flickr to the Facebook, is it really worth access to ALL of my profile and my friends’ information? Or access to my chat?

    DON’T: Deny all apps – some are quite useful. Common sense rules the day here.

    # Yahoo to Facebook Request for Permission

    You do realize this permission graphic is a joke I made, right?

     

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