A $290 million (New Zealand dollars, roughly $191 US dollars) national facility will be built for Archives New Zealand in Wellington to house the country’s rapidly-growing archival collections.

Details of the state-of-the-art building will be announced by Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti​ and Taranaki Whānui Te Āti Awa representatives at the building site, opposite the National Library on Aitken St.

The location formerly held Defence House, which was demolished after the 7.8-magnitude Kaikōura earthquake of 2016.

You can read more at: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127617135/new-290m-national-archives-facility-to-be-built-in-wellington

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

Note: This is an update to an article I published several years ago. The technology of cloud computing has grown rapidly and changed significantly since the article was first published. I decided to update the article to make it more relevant to today’s cloud computing environment.

One of the current buzzwords in the online world is "cloud computing." You can probably find dozens of definitions of this new technology, but I think the simplest is that cloud computing refers to a computer application running on a distant computer or, more often, in a cluster of distant computers. Those multiple computers often are installed in different data centers around the world, and yet they work in harmony as if they were one very big and very powerful computer.

In fact, if your present computer is showing its age and is slowing down a bit, switching to cloud computing applications is an excellent method of obtaining several more years of productive use from the aging hardware.

Your local desktop or laptop works as a "remote terminal," with your video screen showing what is happening on the distant computer(s) and your local keyboard and mouse being used as input devices for the same distant computer(s). In short, while the program runs on distant computers, you use it as if the program was running in your local system. As a result, your local computer requires very little processing power and, in most cases, a minimal amount of disk storage space. Instead, you are using the power and storage space of the powerful, distant computers.

All the computing power and disk storage is being provided by the powerful computers or banks of powerful servers in distant data centers. Your local desktop or laptop simply provides your "view" of that distant application. You can use the application program running in the distant computer(s) in the same manner that you run applications in your own computer. However, you benefit from the computing power and the storage capabilities of those distant computers.

Note: For simplicity's sake, I will often state “a distant computer.” However, it might not be a single computer, and it might not be in one single location. Many cloud computing applications operate on banks of distant computers (servers) that may be located in different data centers around the world. At any given moment, your cloud-based application might be using five or more servers; one in California, one in New Jersey, one in Frankfurt, Germany, one in Singapore, and one in Rio de Janeiro. Then again, there could be fewer or more servers being used simultaneously, in fewer or even more locations.

Those details will be invisible to you and will remain unimportant for this discussion.

The word “cloud” refers to the Internet. I am sure you have seen various drawings over the years depicting home computers connecting to distant web servers via the Internet. The Internet is almost always drawn as a cloud to indicate there is a massive collection of routers, switches, and cables connecting the computers. However, all the complexity of the Internet is hidden from the user. Therefore, it is a cloud. The phrase “cloud computing” really means “running programs on multiple distant servers via the Internet.”

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/12575616

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077. 

Powerful new photo album reveals Warsaw after the war. “The National Digital Archive has published an album of photographs by Uprising photographer Stefan Rassalski depicting Warsaw destroyed after the Uprising as well as its reconstruction. The album of around 200 photographs called The Capital of Rassalski has been released in print in Polish and English and will soon be available online.”

Details may be found at: https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/powerful-new-photo-album-reveals-warsaw-after-the-war-27675

The menu choices changed about a week ago and feedback from newsletter readers indicated that some people have difficulty finding the COMPLETE Plus Edition newsletters (the version for Plus Edition readers only). So I just changed the menus again to (hopefully) make it easier to find them.

As of this morning, to access the COMPLETE Plus Edition newsletters:

Go to https://eogn.com

Log in with your Plus Edition user name and password

Click on Plus Edition. News Articles

Click on the new note (that I just added today) that says:

"NOTE: Complete Newsletters (including all Plus Edition and Free Edition articles published within a week) may be found if you click here."

The following is an announcement from FamilySearch.org:

FamilySearch added 28 million new records this week to the United States Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls (1916-1939), and 10 million new Catholic Church records for the Philippines. Check out even more records added for the US Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, New Jersey Death Index, Virginia County Marriages, and country collections for Brazil, Ecuador, England, Malta, Mexico, Peru and Spain. Search them now for free by clicking on the links below.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Millions of new genealogy records are added each week to to help increase your discovery success. Check back each week and, in the meantime, search existing records on FamilySearch to see what you might have missed.

For other exciting genealogy content, peruse over 1,000 free, on-demand sessions from RootsTech Connect 2021.

The list of all the newly-added records is very long, too long to list here. You can view the entire list at https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/new-records-22-jan-2022

Are you really who you think you are?

DNA is a wonderful thing and tens of thousands of DNA heritage kits have been sold. Most confirmed and helped the purchaser(s) identify and confirm their family origins. But a small percentage have produced surprises. I have read dozens of stories about DNA surprises.

A current story at https://bit.ly/347gotT tells of one such incident where a 29-year-old woman discovered she was not related to the man she assumed was her father and also that she had no Italian heritage, unlike what she had been told all her life. She believes there was a mix-up at the hospital where she was born.

That certainly is possible. Other stories I have heard often revolve around stories of the person's DNA matching that of the fertility doctor who assisted a formerly childless couple and, of course, many stories of marital infidelity, often involving "one night stands."

How does this affect the person who had their DNA tested? The results vary widely but it rarely is "welcome news." These stories often remind me of the old sayings about skeletons hiding in a family closet.

Is your heritage REALLY what you think it is? A DNA test will tell you the truth. You might want to order a DNA test kit today.

Then again, maybe you don't really want to know.

The University of New South Wales and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have developed a new computer file format to speed up nanopore sequencing analysis and improve specialised treatments for patients with cancer and other diseases.

Published in Nature Biotechnology, the research said the newly developed SLOW5 format can process complex DNA nanopore sequencing "more than 30 times faster" than the previous file format called -- ironically -- FAST5.

You can read more in an article by Aimee Chanthadavong published in the ZDNet web site at https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-file-format-helping-researchers-reduce-dna-analysis-time/.

The following is a press release issued by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration:

WASHINGTON, February 2, 2022 — In 1950, as enumerators fanned out across the United States to tally the population for the first time in a decade, the federal government had specific questions for residents of certain Native American reservations: Were they reading, writing, or speaking English? Were they participating in Native ceremonies? 

A blank example of the Form P8 Indian Reservation Schedule. In April 2022, nearly 33,000 of these schedules from nearly 100 reservations across the lower 48 states will be released along with the general population schedules from the 1950 Census.

Cody White, archivist and subject matter expert for Native American–related records at the National Archives and Records Administration, set out to explore the history and context of the Form P8, Indian Reservation Schedule, in the 1950 Census to better understand why the Census Bureau created an entirely separate form to be used in some communities.  

As White explains, “While every Native American was enumerated on the standard Form P1, 1950 Census of Population and Housing, that was used across the entire United States, the Form P8, Indian Reservation Schedule, was not conducted on every reservation.”

The P8 forms, among other population schedules, will be released to the public on April 1, 2022, in accordance with the 72-year rule.

Researchers interested in genealogy may also find questions about clan affiliation and additional names used by residents helpful in their research.

Although the census population schedules from 1950 will not be viewable by the public until April 1, documents pertaining to the administrative aspects of the census are not subject to the same lengthy waiting period.

Consequently, White was able to find records relating to the creation and funding of the Indian Reservation Schedule. He notes a memorandum from the Census Bureau to the Bureau of Budget in February 1950:

In the first paragraph, the Census Bureau wrote that the BIA needed the information that would be collected by the P8 schedule “in connection with their present program in aiding Indian citizens to become economically self-sustaining and in order to lessen or remove governmental supervision.”

Read the full piece, “The Story of the 1950 Census P8 Indian Reservation Schedule,” and see additional documents referenced by White—including partial lists of which reservations were tallied—on the Text Message blog.

The National Archives is scheduled to release the records of the 1950 Census on April 1, 2022. Bookmark www.archives.gov/1950Census to stay updated on the latest information. Join the conversation about the 1950 Census and broader genealogy questions on NARA’s History Hub.

A very nice lady named Kayla Rachelle Orlando recently contacted me. I don't remember her exact words, although it as something like this:

"Hi,

I work for FamilySearch and we would like to write about you and your newsletter."

After an exchange of email messages and a couple of telephone calls, she wrote the article. I am flattered. I don't remember my life being that interesting.

NOTE to anyone who is about to be interviewed: See if you can arrange to be interviewed by Kayla Rachelle Orlando. She has "a way" with words that makes even the most humdrum life story sound interesting.

If you would like to read Kayla's words and also suffer with a bit of information about some of my life experiences, look at the FamilySearch Blog at https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/dick-eastman-genealogy-newsletter.

The following is a press release written by Vivid-Pix and the National Institute for Dementia Education:

 February 1, 2022, Orlando, FL -- The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE) announced today results from the “Cognitive Benefits of Photo Reminiscence Therapy for Dementia Patients” research study that concluded that Photo Reminiscence Therapy can improve the quality of life for those living with dementia or related forms of memory impairment. Conducted by a coalition of organizations, including the National Institute for Dementia Education, the CERTUS Institute, Vivid-Pix, Tellegacy, and achi, the group studied the healing power of photos and concluded that Photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) can minimize social isolation and improve medication compliance and general cognitive performance. The complete pRT study is available at: https://nid.education/nide-publications.html. Videos about the study are available at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/reminisce/.  The Photo Reminiscence Therapy findings may be found at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/blog/national-institute-for-dementia-education-recognizes-photo-reminiscence-therapy-prt-research-project%ef%bf%bc/.
 
Over 8.8 Million Americans Currently Have Dementia
 
Over 8.8 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This number is expected to triple within the next few decades. In addition, Alzheimer's disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one in three seniors dying from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Experts have been using Reminiscence Therapy for years to help Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and depression. As reported by Shirley Wang, NPR, “Researchers find that dementia patients who engage in activities, such as gathering photographs and talking about family, see improvements in their quality of life and are less agitated.” Researchgate also reported that Reminiscence Therapy is an effective way to increase self-esteem and decrease behavioral disturbances in those with dementia, and their research proved that photography was the best therapy.
 
“We concluded that the power of engaging with personal photos, matched with a high-quality care curriculum and living environment, may improve the quality of life for those with dementia by stimulating the brain and fostering neurogenesis as well as neuroplasticity. This may improve quality of life and, in some cases, temporarily diminish dementia symptoms during therapeutic sessions,” said Joshua Freitas, PhD(c), M.Ed., BC-DEd, Chief Research Officer, CERTUS Institute.
 
How pRT Research was Conducted
 
The Photo Reminiscence Therapy research study identified photos that foster reminiscence and looked at the behavioral and somatic responses of older adults in senior living care through pRT. The study was conducted in 2021 in three five-week phases comparing the influences of viewing different types of photos at four CERTUS Senior Living communities in Florida. CERTUS oversaw the care and clinical assessment, with participants ranging in age from 67 to 92 years, who were living with a diagnosis of dementia or memory impairment and had diverse work backgrounds, from engineers to stay-at-home mothers. The study employed the Tellegacy/achi program, which uses social prompts that foster human connection through focused questions as part of an evidence-based curriculum.
 
The Effects of Different Photos
 
The pilot group studied the effects between viewing generic stock photos, personal photos, or no photos. Photo types included family, self-portraits, pets, landmarks, newspaper articles, nature, and abstract themes. Aged or faded personal photos were enhanced using Vivid-Pix technology to digitally enhance and restore images, improving color, contrast, clarity, and overall quality. This allowed photos to be more recognizable and relatable. Vivid-Pix’s knowledge of how people emotionally connect and interact with photos was also essential to the research. “This study highlights the emotional, mental, and physical health benefits that looking at photos provide to the young and young-at-heart alike,” said Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix.
 
The pilot study was led by Joshua Freitas, Chief Research Officer at CERTUS and an award-winning expert, researcher, and author on memory care, Dr. Jeremy Holloway, Founder, Tellegacy and Professor and Director of Geriatrics Education at University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix, photo researcher, and Hayley Studer, CPA, FHFMA, Founder of achi, a holistic care management company.
 
“Our findings were robust, insightful, and beneficial for participants,” said Dr. Jeremy Holloway, Tellegacy. “Through engagement with personal photos, pRT can help patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and provide healthy neurological and action-based benefits to those with dementia, especially in supportive care environments.”
 
“As a percentage of population, individuals over age 65 will double by 2050. How we care for our aging is of social and economic importance,” describes Hayley Studer, achi. “As a bright light shines on how the social determinants of health are affecting communities, many want to take action to create healthier communities and reduce overall healthcare costs.”

To view the full pRT pilot study, see: https://nid.education/nide-publications.html  
 
To view videos about research, see: https://www.vivid-pix.com/reminisce/

About The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE)
 
NIDE works to enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia through research, case studies, education, collaboration, and advocacy. NIDE works with senior care facilities, memory care units, hospitals, and universities studying memory disorders to create unique certificate programs that improve the way we care for seniors who have dementia. The NIDE Standards of Excellence Council offers free dementia training and certification for participating students and caregivers. For more information, see: https://www.nid.education/.
 
About Vivid-Pix

Vivid-Pix helps people relive photos and documents by connecting individuals, families, and friends with their most treasured memories, restored through Vivid-Pix technology. The U.S. Patent Office has awarded two patents to Vivid-Pix for its image processing techniques used to automatically correct faded images. Vivid-Pix founders brought Kodak’s “You Press the Button, We Do the Rest” philosophy to the design of Vivid-Pix RESTORE. Vivid-Pix RESTORE is available at: https://vivid-pix.com/restore/buy.html, with a free trial at: https://vivid-pix.com/restore/free-trial.html. For more information about Vivid-Pix, visit: www.vivid-pix.com.
 
About CERTUS Senior Living
 
CERTUS Senior Living is a research-based senior living community specifically designed for people living with dementia. The CERTUS Senior Living research division, the CERTUS Institute, works with organizations to create pilot programs, research products’ effectiveness, and help improve the delivery of services following best practices with the mission of making memory care better. CERTUS Senior Living is a leader in memory care research and lifestyle accommodations through their evidence-based approach to memory care, endorsed by the National Institute for Dementia Education, as well as a number of nationally recognized organizations. For more information, see: https://www.certusseniorliving.com/.
 
About Tellegacy
 
Tellegacy is an intergenerational program created to combat loneliness and social isolation among older adults, keeping them connected and engaged through weekly phone or virtual visits with university students. As research shows, loneliness and social isolation can result in long-term negative health outcomes. Tellegacy founder Jeremy Holloway, PhD is determined to change that narrative with his flexible, relationship-oriented, mindfulness, goal-setting and guided imagery curriculum. To learn more about the Tellegacy program and how it can save lives, visit www.tellegacy.com.
 
About achi
 
achi is a holistic care management company that lowers overall expenses by actively engaging people and connecting them to organizations to address the social determinants of health. Through innovative partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and creative solutions, we equip organizations across multiple industries to educate the people they serve and connect them with resources to improve their lives from the ground up. By partnering with health systems, educational institutions and corporations, achi empowers lasting transformation in individual lives— resulting in an overall healthier population and data to transform our healthcare payment models. To learn more about achi and its mission, visit www.achi.solutions.