Seewalds 27: Playing not Cleaning

[nssherlock]

3 minutes ago, Tikobaby said:

Has anyone else watched the PBS doc "Resurrecting Richard III?"  They found a young man with a curved spine that was almost identical with the skeleton of Richard III and worked with him to see if he could learn to ride a horse, fight, and wear armor. Turns out he could do all of it and he did not look hunchbacked, especially wearing clothing or the armor. Maybe no one back then except close family or his wife even realized he had a curved spine. Of course, once he was killed in battle and they threw his naked body down in the town square to be stared at for a few days, people would have seen and started spreading the news that his back wasn't normal looking. Guess it could balloon into being a hunchback over time, especially since it was to Henry Tudor's benefit to denigrate him.  

I watched that, it was fascinating.  

So much of history is gossip or bad PR by the winning side, it was good to see something realistic.

[Carm_88]

Ooh look mustard cardigan. Jessa was ready to pop with Spurgeon two years ago.

[RosyDaisy]

The St. Louis Arch protects the city from tornadoes and bad storms: 

It didn't in April 2011. The airport took a direct tornado hit. The video is on YouTube. No fatalities, though.

 

[SapphireSlytherin]

4 minutes ago, RosyDaisy said:

It didn't in April 2011. The airport took a direct tornado hit. The video is on YouTube. No fatalities, though.

 

Oh, I remember that. But the airport isn't actually in the city. It's in a suburb called Bridgeton, although the City does handle police operations there. It's MILES from the city limits proper and over 15 miles from the Arch.

[OldFadedStar]

4 hours ago, RosyDaisy said:

It didn't in April 2011. The airport took a direct tornado hit. The video is on YouTube. No fatalities, though.

 

I remember this tornado. 

 

I had a rollercoaster of a time in getting the military to move me to Japan to be with my husband. Got my plane ticket on Thursday after 4 months of hell and that Sunday is when this tornado happened. 

Like was mentioned, the airport isn't technically in the city. It's probably 20-30 minutes west. 

[MadameOvary]

I'm so glad so many of you share my view that family is family, whether or not related by blood! I have felt such a heretic as that does not seem to be the dominant view among genealogists.  I also have an adopted cousin, and of course he is my cousin; he is my aunt's son and my grandparents' grandson and as such no different to any of my other cousins. Sadly our uncle viewed things differently: he printed out some family history materials for all of his nieces and nephews, except one.  Years later, I have taken on the role of family genealogist, and guess what? My cousin and his lovely daughters: firmly in the familytree.

Would genealogy and more broadly, family history, be interesting enough as a subject to justify making it an FJ CLUB?

 

[Carm_88]

2 minutes ago, MadameOvary said:

Would genealogy and more broadly, family history, be interesting enough as a subject to justify making it an FJ CLUB?

I think so! I agree that adopted cousins/adopted family members are still family.  Half the time they're more likable than those you are blood related to.   

[BlondeIdol]

13 minutes ago, MadameOvary said:

I'm so glad so many of you share my view that family is family, whether or not related by blood! I have felt such a heretic as that does not seem to be the dominant view among genealogists.  I also have an adopted cousin, and of course he is my cousin; he is my aunt's son and my grandparents' grandson and as such no different to any of my other cousins. Sadly our uncle viewed things differently: he printed out some family history materials for all of his nieces and nephews, except one.  Years later, I have taken on the role of family genealogist, and guess what? My cousin and his lovely daughters: firmly in the familytree.

Would genealogy and more broadly, family history, be interesting enough as a subject to justify making it an FJ CLUB?

 

My Mom was adopted and she did most of the genealogy of the family and until last year our part of the family was firmly part of the tree. Then some of my cousins, since they didn't like that my Mother didn't vote for Trump now use every opportunity to point out that we're "Not really part of the family tree" and "adoptive family". It's super offensive. The funny thing is, other cousins(My Mom's nieces and nephews) and my youngest brother didn't even realize my Mom was adopted until they started pointing it out.  

But yes! I feel it would be justified!

[Tikobaby]

38 minutes ago, MadameOvary said:

 

Would genealogy and more broadly, family history, be interesting enough as a subject to justify making it an FJ CLUB?

 

Yes!  That's a great idea.  I worked on our family tree for years in the snailmail era and got tons of info and document images from Ancestry when I was a member.  Genealogy seems to be an almost universally interesting topic.

[Bad Wolf]

The only time I really note adoptions, I have 2 adopted nephews, is when I'm checking out our family's contribution to overpopulation. We're doing great. 

[PumaLover]

I think so! I agree that adopted cousins/adopted family members are still family.  

 

Hubby and I adopted our daughter at the age of 11 (well became court appointed guardians but we tell everyone we adopted her). She is as much a part of our family as if we'd had her ourselves. We tell her all the time that we never wanted our own kids, for a lot of reasons. But we always felt drawn to adopt an older child and well, here we are!

 

Sadly I have a good friend whose mom does not accept her older adopted daughter as one of the family. My friend was unable to have bio kids and it hurt her when her mom said that she could only love a bio kid (i.e. My friend's nephew.) I don't understand that kind of thinking. Even if you feel that way, why would you say it!?

 

[VelociRapture]

4 hours ago, MadameOvary said:

I'm so glad so many of you share my view that family is family, whether or not related by blood! I have felt such a heretic as that does not seem to be the dominant view among genealogists.  I also have an adopted cousin, and of course he is my cousin; he is my aunt's son and my grandparents' grandson and as such no different to any of my other cousins. Sadly our uncle viewed things differently: he printed out some family history materials for all of his nieces and nephews, except one.  Years later, I have taken on the role of family genealogist, and guess what? My cousin and his lovely daughters: firmly in the familytree.

Would genealogy and more broadly, family history, be interesting enough as a subject to justify making it an FJ CLUB?

 

I think if someone is doing research into potential genetic medical disorders for their family then it may make sense not to include an adopted family member. Otherwise? I think it’s just mean and cruel. Family is family regardless of blood.

[Special friend]

1 hour ago, PumaLover said:

My friend was unable to have bio kids and it hurt her when her mom said that she could only love a bio kid (i.e. My friend's nephew.)

What the hell is wrong with some people?

[Carm_88]

1 hour ago, PumaLover said:

Sadly I have a good friend whose mom does not accept her older adopted daughter as one of the family. My friend was unable to have bio kids and it hurt her when her mom said that she could only love a bio kid (i.e. My friend's nephew.) I don't understand that kind of thinking. Even if you feel that way, why would you say it!?

The only answer that I have is that person is an asshole. You can love friends like family, you can love pets like family. Giving birth to someone doesn't make you a parent, loving unconditionally does. 

[llg1234]

Ben has been quite active on Twitter lately. His tweet came after retweeting this:

Spoiler

 

I definitely don't agree with the Jesusy slant, but it's a lot more than what any of the extended Duggars have said.

[Clairice]

I tried to do my family tree several years ago, did really well on my British Mothers side but my Dad's Irish side meant a trip to Dublin to look up the records and only managed to go back to Great Grandparents.

Husband is adopted, he is on his families tree.

[MayMay1123]

I can take one branch of my tree back to 1682 when my 8th great grandfather came to Philadelphia from England on one of William Penn's ships. Another, I can't get back farther than my grandparents...so frustrating! But I am related to William Cody, and Richard Nixon 

[Chickenbutt]

Mr. Butt has done our family tree. When he started doing mine he asked if I wanted bio dad or step dad. Bio dad left when I was 5. Step dad raised me. Mr. Butt found a way to add both men into my family tree. So I have bio dad's family and step dad's family in my tree. 

[SapphireSlytherin]

My ex-husband (B) is adopted, as is his older brother (A). Their younger brother (C) was a "surprise! you can have babies!" baby. When their grandfather died, my then-husband and his older brother were mentioned in the grandfather's will:  A gets nothing. B gets nothing. C gets $20,000, stock certificates, gold coins, etc.

 

[SassyPants]

I want to know why the last Pope suddenly “retired” - 

[Jenn The Heathen]

My grandmother was adopted.  Or something like that.  She didn’t like to talk about it and died 9 years ago.  I have exhausted all my options trying to solve the mystery.  According to census records, she was living with two people I believe to be her birth parents at the age of 3 and newer census records won’t be out for a few years.  At some point, it appears that both of her birth parents abandoned their 3 children and went their separate ways.  I don’t think my grandmother was ever officially adopted by new parents, though, because her marriage certificate lists the two original birth parents as her parents.  My great grandfather would go on to father another child who I tried reaching out to with no luck.  My great grandmother seemingly went off and started another life with a new man and new kids.  I don’t think I’ll ever know exactly what happened as she didn’t tell any of her 7 kids.  A friend of mine is kind of a genealogy savant and even she can’t figure it out.  I’m hoping when the next batch of census records are released, it’ll shed more light on it all.

[anjulibai]

36 minutes ago, SassyPants said:

I want to know why the last Pope suddenly “retired” - 

He was just too old and it was impacting his ability to do his duties. He was one of the oldest men ever to hold the office, which is saying a lot since it's always held by old men. He's 90 now. There are few people that old that can deal with the level of activity, physical and mental, required of that type of job.

I mean, I'm surprised Elizabeth II hasn't abdicated given all the demands on her even at the age of 91 - and she's been able to pass a lot of her duties along to Charles. There are a lot of duties of pope that can't be passed off, no matter what. 

The average age of popes is in their mid 60s when elected and the age average age of death is mid-late 70s. Benedict was 78 when elected, he was already stretching it. 

I'm guessing something happened that made it glaringly obvious he wasn't fit to continue. Like, he got lost somewhere, or was forgetting major things, like the names of people he saw daily. I doubt it was anything nefarious. 

I should add, I wouldn't be too surprised if Francis abdicates if he's still ruling in his mid to late 80s. 

They really need to pick a much younger pope next time. 

No, not Jude Law, though he makes an interesting pope. 

[BadMurphy]

37 minutes ago, anjulibai said:

He was just too old and it was impacting his ability to do his duties. He was one of the oldest men ever to hold the office, which is saying a lot since it's always held by old men. He's 90 now. There are few people that old that can deal with the level of activity, physical and mental, required of that type of job.

I mean, I'm surprised Elizabeth II hasn't abdicated given all the demands on her even at the age of 91 - and she's been able to pass a lot of her duties along to Charles. There are a lot of duties of pope that can't be passed off, no matter what. 

The average age of popes is in their mid 60s when elected and the age average age of death is mid-late 70s. Benedict was 78 when elected, he was already stretching it. 

I'm guessing something happened that made it glaringly obvious he wasn't fit to continue. Like, he got lost somewhere, or was forgetting major things, like the names of people he saw daily. I doubt it was anything nefarious. 

I should add, I wouldn't be too surprised if Francis abdicates if he's still ruling in his mid to late 80s. 

They really need to pick a much younger pope next time. 

No, not Jude Law, though he makes an interesting pope. 

Just FYI: QE II will never formally retire. She pledged to devote her whole life to the service of her people (on her 21st birthday).  

[nst]

11 hours ago, anjulibai said:

He was just too old and it was impacting his ability to do his duties. He was one of the oldest men ever to hold the office, which is saying a lot since it's always held by old men. He's 90 now. There are few people that old that can deal with the level of activity, physical and mental, required of that type of job.

 

I think the current pope is also really likeable opposed to the pope that retired.  I remember back in the 80's seeing the original pope when he came here.  

Do you know who I like, Cardinal Dolan of New York...every time he is on the Today show I feel such peace. 

 

[nastyhobbitses]

Re Genealogy: A lot of my mom's side's genealogical research was actually done by a very interesting third party: the government of the USSR. My aunt got the opportunity to go to Moscow in the 70s on a school trip, and for her visa, the government did extensive background checks, going all the way back into our family's history. They found out that my aunt (and subsequently me) was a direct descendant of the founders of the Fabian Society, so she got all sorts of special treatment during the trip, since she was descended from very prominent socialists. We also found out through the Soviet government that we had some ancestors who were very heavily persecuted by the Russian government because we're Jewish (I guess that's why we live in America and not Russia/Belarus), and the government was worried that this would make my aunt a potential liability. But then I guess they found the Fabian ancestors and figured it was all good.