Yuletide R&R: AI does Pam Ayres

Digging Through the Past

I thought I’d try my family tree,
A harmless hobby, just for me.
A bit of digging, what’s the harm?
I didn’t expect the old-world charm.

Out came the charts, the records, the maps,
Late nights poring over digital apps.
On FamilySearch, I clicked away,
And found more cousins than I can say.

Then DNA, what a clever thing,
Unveiled a family fit for a king.
Or so I thought, till the test revealed,
My roots were more “farm” than battlefield.

I asked AI, “Where do I begin?”
It hummed and whirred, and took it all in.
“Your great-great-gran,” it said with flair,
“Was known for her pies and questionable hair.”

I found a thief, a sailor, a bard,
A tanner who smelled of leather and lard.
A sheep wrangler, and—this made me blush—
A blacksmith known for his temper (and mush).

Each story a gem, a quirky delight,
From dodgy scandals to tales of might.
The truth is odd, the facts askew,
But oh, the laughs as the picture grew!

So grab your pen, your magnifying glass,
And dive headfirst into the past.
It’s messy, funny, and full of glee—
A glorious tangle of family!

Thursday Tidbits

Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI
Don’t miss Thomas MacEntee’s webinar for OGS today, Thursday 2 January, at 7 pm. It’s free. All are welcome. Register here.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac for December
This December, the mean temperature in Ottawa was -5.6C, right on the money for the OFA prediction of -6.0C
SUCCESS

The total precipitation at Ottawa was 78.8 mm, just above the long-term average of 75.2 mm. The OFA predicted 60 mm underestimates the actual by 18.8 mm and on the opposite side of the mean to the actual. It is within one standard deviation.
FAIR
SUCCESS

The Bones of Catharine Reid Mason: Lessons Learned and Reflections on the Genealogy of Black Londoners
At 10 am on Saturday, 4 January, OGS London and Middlesex Branch invite you to a presentation by Hilary Bates Neary. All are welcome. Register here.

WDYTYA Magazine – January 2025
The issue is now available with lead articles on 50 Websites to Watch, the Great Plague and other articles of Welsh interest.

MyHeritage Closes Service to Russia
MyHeritage will exit the Russian market and delete Russian user data from its servers after February 1, 2025. MyHeritage was previously fined for refusing to store Russian user data on servers inside Russia. Source.