Saturday, December 29, 2007
Genetic genealogy is rapidly becoming a trustworthy and often preferred alternative to traditional genealogy research methods.
Replacing Traditional Genealogy
Obviously genetic genealogy cannot completely eliminate traditional genealogy research methods. It is in fact somewhat reliant on them since there are obviously not DNA samples of every one of your deceased relatives, but genetic genealogy can be used to verify existing genealogical research.
As genetic genealogy expands it will become even more effective in doing what it all ready does. It can be used to verify family relationships, confirm relations among surname variants, extend your genealogy and leave a living legacy. Imagine how much easier it will be to find a lost relative when a large DNA database has been established and all you have to do is give a DNA sample and the matches will be automatically found for you. Though it is still relatively in its youth, genetic genealogy shows that the future of genealogy has arrived.
Y Chromosome and mtDNA Testing
As many know Y chromosomes are passed on from father to son. What many don't know is that the Y chromosome is passed on virtually unchanged. This can be very useful in genetic genealogy and is the most used form of it. If someone suspects that they are a relative of a deceased man they can find out for sure through a simple DNA test. One simply needs to know of a direct ancestor of that man and then when both are tested, Y chromosomes can be compared and a match can be verified.
You may be wondering what mtDNA testing is. The "mt" stands for mitochondrial, a term we won't go into too deeply, since the important fact is that mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally. As such, mtDNA testing is used to trace a person's maternal heritage.
This is an important form of DNA testing as the majority of genealogists are females. Females often lose track of their maternal lines over time as they marry and have their surname changed. By going through mtDNA testing one can learn more about their maternal lineage.
It is easy to see why genetic genealogy is rapidly spreading in popularity and use. Its accurate and speedy results make it an excellent genealogy resource.
Kent Fairbourn is the Great Grandson of John A. Scorup (a member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame) and a Client Account Specialist for 10x Marketing, an Internet marketing company. Go now to Relative Genetics to learn more about Genetic Genealogy.
Garage Heating - Practical and Affordable
A typical two car garage represents approximately 20% of the usable space in an average home. In addition, there are currently over 40 million single family residential garages in the U.S. But the fact is, garages are simply the most under-utilized spaces of the home, especially during the winter months. Why? There may be any number of reasons, but one of the most obvious is that garages are typically left cold during the winter, making them uncomfortable to use for any other purpose than parking cars and storing tools.
Within the past 10 years that negative view of the garage has changed dramatically. Climatizing the garage has become much more than an afterthought. In fact, Insulating and providing some type of heat source in the garage has become a priority for many homeowners.
"There is a push among residential building contractors to offer their customers the option of providing garage heat to the new homebuyer", says Matt Workman, of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., located in Draper, Utah. "In fact, when given the option by the builder, the homebuyer will almost always choose to have the contractor insulate the garage along with the rest of the home during the construction phase. In addition, when given the option, the homebuyer will at least opt for a gas line connection and/or the necessary electrical connections to handle a heating appliance - with the idea of having a heater installed later on. Now more often than ever, a garage heater is installed during the final stages of home construction. It's an amenity homeowners want and an extra profit incentive for the builder."
"There are numerous practical reasons for heating the garage" states Mr. Workman, " including mechanical maintenance, freeze control, hobby, recreation (table tennis or excercise), pet comfort, wood working or simply to be able to climb inside a warm car on a bitter cold day. For men more than women, the garage is a sanctuary - a place to get away, tinker around and do minor repairs. For women and stay at home moms, it can be a haven for excercise or simply a place to send the kids to bounce a ball or play games." Many homeowners even go to great lengths to make the garage feel like the dwelling space of the home by installing recessed lighting, closed cabinet storage and even a sink. Painting the walls and floors and adding a little decorating touch can also make the garage a more inviting - a place where anyone would want to spent more time.
For existing homeowners as well, there seems to be an increased interest in upgrading and improving the "livability" of the garage. One reason is that home prices have risen sharply across the nation, making a move into a larger home impratical or unobtainable for many families. Rather than moving up to larger homes, many choose to stay put and maximize the use of the space in their existing home. In these cases, a small investment in upgrades to the garage is quite practical, especially when considering the cost of a new mortgage and associated costs of relocating. A heated, climatized garage can provide just that little extra room to spread out and make the garage useful year-round.
One of the major concerns people might have with heating their garage is cost. The good news is there are numerous ways to heat a garage to fit almost any budget. Options include gas forced air (unit heaters), electric forced air, direct vent wall heaters, infra-red tube heaters and vent free heaters. Prices can range from $450.00 to $2,500.00(installed), depending upon garage size and the type of heating appliance. (The author of this article strongly recommends an appliance that is CSA approved for residential use. Portable propane or kerosene heaters in an attached garage are not safe, especially in the presence of gasoline cans, solvents and other products that may pose a fire hazard should there be a spill on the garage floor. A permanent heater mounted high on the wall or suspended from the ceiling offers the best safety and places the heater out of the way of vehicles and people passing through).
One of the most affordable and popular heaters on the market is the Heatstar H25N vent free garage heater by Enerco. This is an infra-red radiant heater designed specifically for residential garages and small shops. It is vent free, safe, and requires no electricity. Simply hang the heater and run the gas line and you're done. Other heaters are more expensive and require additional labor. These include forced air in both gas and electric. Gas forced air heaters (also called unit heaters) are ceiling suspended and require a flue to the outside and 110V electrical power, while electric forced air heaters require no venting at all, yet require 240V electrical hook-up.
Larger detached garages or shops may best be suited to a gas infra-red tube heater, which also requires an outside flue. Unlike forced air heaters, however, vented tube heaters operate on the principle of infra-red (radiant) energy and are much quieter and more efficient to operate. And because tube heaters do not blow air, drafts are virtually eliminated, creating a more comfortable environment.
As for operational cost, the most practical thing the homeowner can do is insulate. Insulate well! That's easier to do prior to sheet rocking the walls, but even glued on foam or blue board can make a dramatic difference in cutting down heat loss. In addition, an inexpensive door seal (available from most garage door suppliers) can cut down on infiltration of cold air from the outside around the perimeter of the overhead garage door. Also, any leaks from man doors and windows to the outside should be sealed. A well insulated garage can cut heat loss by at least 90% compared to an uninsulated garage. This means that your heater will not need to run all that often to maintain comfort and the cost to operate can be just pennies a day.
Regardless of one's reasons for adding heat to the garage, there are now a host of practical and affordable heating solutions to do it. There are several companys in the U.S. who specialize in garage heating. They can be very helpful in sizing and recommending a system suited to the homeowners specific requirements. For more information, visit http://heatersunlimited.com or http://infraredinfo.com.
Scott Workman is owner president of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., located in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit http://heatersunlimited.com or http://infraredinfo.com
Build A Great Family Web Site
You don't have to be a technical wizard in order to build a great family web site. Gone are the days when you had to buy expensive software for your computer that was difficult to use. Today things are so much easier that anyone can create terrific websites for their families. FamilyLobby.com has easy to use templates that will have you up and running your own family web site in less than one hour.
Creating a family web site is the perfect way to keep your family connected whether they live down the street or are scattered around the world. The websites on FamilyLobby.com are customizable so you can include the things that are most important to your family. Share family recipes, photos, your family tree and more with the click of a button. Schedule a family chat session for up to thirty family members and talk to everyone you've been missing on the phone. The chat or discussion features are also a great way to plan family vacations, reunions and holiday get-togethers.
Add a blog to your family web site so everyone can participate in sharing news. A website will allow you to do this easily. When a family member logs in to the website using their own unique password they can enter information about what is going on in their lives. Photo galleries are another fun way to show others what your branch of the family is doing. Use the galleries to show off a child's achievements, highlight family reunions, holiday activities and special events. Everyone in your extended family will enjoy viewing the photos and they may add a few of their own too.
Finish your family web site by adding extras that will enhance your site. FamilyLobby.com offers large and mini calendars for you to use when you're designing your site. Large calendars are easy to view and highlight birthdays and anniversaries. Online news feeds, games and links to popular family-oriented sites can be added to help you complete a professional looking site. Lastly, don't forget to send invitations for your family members to view the newly created site. Everyone will want to see how their family web site looks and they will want to join in on the fun too.
FamilyLobby.com is a family owned site. In fact, we initially created it for our family, and we enjoy having it so much we decided to share it.
Since it was created with our family and yours in mind, you can be sure that all of its content and features are constantly monitored for family friendliness.
We also upgrade it regularly to offer you and your family the best features.
Find out more at http://www.familylobby.com
