Reading Roundup 3/14/08

John Michael Neill demonstrates how easy it is to upload your own scanned documents to Footnote.com.

Randy comments on the value of conference syllabi to those who were not able to attend. I must confess that I'm a huge fan of these. I refer to the ones from conferences attended and from ones I've purchased online when unable to attend. If a national conference is in a state in which you had ancestors or adjacent to such a state, you really should try to purchase a copy. You'll pick up great information in any of the syllabi, but these will offer you even more because many of the lectures will be dealing with records in that area.

Terry amuses me when his claim to Irish ancestry are those e-mails that tell you that you've won an Irish lottery.

I realized that I haven't commented on this. One of my Christmas presents this year was a DVD set of season one of WKRP in Cincinnati. The biggest problem is that they have changed the music from the original version. As someone who not only saw the originals but also saw the reruns when the original music was still being included, I can say that there's definitely something missing from these DVDs, and it's the music. You can find a list of all the music changes here. Another review is here with an addendum here. I do miss the music, but the querky characters are still around.

One of the books in my stash of books to be read soon is authored by Louise Penny. Lesa describes meeting this author at the Poisoned Pen bookstore. It's a very interesting post, and I will have to read the Three Pines mystery soon.

A Baptist looks at St. Patrick and concludes he is a role model.

I was searching the New York Times archives earlier today and found a story dated 6 Mar 1855 about the explosion of the tugboat Thomas McDaniels. The explosion presumably occurred around New Orleans since it appeared in the New Orleans Picayune 27 February 1855. Among those injured was pilot Daniel Taylor. Stephen Taylor, father of Laura Lucy Taylor, had a brother named Daniel Taylor who was enumerated as a boatman in the 1850 Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois census. In that household was a James H. Taylor, age 12. I have seen James listed as a son of Daniel; however, evidence based on the 1850 census is inconclusive as James is enumerated below children younger than he is. However, James is very likely related to the family. Also listed among the injured of the tugboat is a fireman named James Taylor. Listed among the dead is a William Taylor, and if Daniel had a son named William, I don't know about it. It is possible that Daniel had a son named William who was living on his own or with a wife at the time of the 1850 census. I have gaps in the children where such a possibility might exist. Daniel later lived in DeSoto, Jefferson County, Missouri. Now, my question is: Is this Daniel Taylor who was in the tugboat accident Laura Lucy Taylor's uncle? I don't have an answer to that question. It may just be coincidence.

If any of you are up on your Irish movie trivia, you might want to guess Maggie's Irish movie meme quotes.