I am going to leave this here as well, for anyone reading, and not in direct reply to anyone in particular.
I think that is all i am going ot have to share on family connections for now. After thinking about it, i think i have figured out the surnames and maiden names of my most direct members. Of course the ancient, possible connections are just those. Ancient, and thus, possibly wrong. But it's nice to think about.
If anyone has any pictures of Really old long past deceasd MacKays from back in the day, before the world wars. Like old pictures of old paintings. I would love to see them. I have always wondered if i resembeled anyone. Would be neat to see/find out.
It is great reading about all of the work you have done researching your family roots. I think it provides a good example of what you can accomplish in piecing together your own personal history.
Thanks so much for posting it, I enjoyed reading it. I do believe their are some strong MacKay connections in Scotland. I received an email a few years back from the father of the junior world champion highland dancer whose last name was MacKay. May not have been spelt the same way, but I do think it is from the same clan.
My one suggestion about family research online is if you find a webpage about your history and pictures be sure to save the information on your computer. A lot of times people will let a personal website lapse and then that great information is gone. I keep a folder and just save the pages as word documents for future reference.
Again Symm thanks for posting this interesting family history!
It is great reading about all of the work you have done researching your family roots. I think it provides a good example of what you can accomplish in piecing together your own personal history. Thanks so much for posting it, I enjoyed reading it. I do believe their are some strong MacKay connections in Scotland. I received an email a few years back from the father of the junior world champion highland dancer whose last name was MacKay. May not have been spelt the same way, but I do think it is from the same clan. My one suggestion about family research online is if you find a webpage about your history and pictures be sure to save the information on your computer. A lot of times people will let a personal website lapse and then that great information is gone. I keep a folder and just save the pages as word documents for future reference. Again Symm thanks for posting this interesting family history!
Thank you again, and that last part about webpages is sooooo true.
I have already come across so many dated and sadly sometimes missing pages that are still linked to through many sites. Even here I think if I am remembering correctly. You are right that a person should be keeping it all saved in a way that doesn't require the internet. Currently I am working on a Linux setup that should be able to handle running 24/7 and store that data safely and on auto backup as I find it. But actual written out links would be a good idea too, and printed pages.
A folder is great, but so easily lost if a computer fails and you aren't vigilant enough with back ups. If you are going to use that method, I recommend you keep a daily, if not weekly backup on a USB stick or otherwise. Losing data sucks. For me, running a 10watt/hr linux setup is good enough for this as long as it can keep a net connection of some sort. Raspberry pi's are awesome. But rather limited in some ways. But if you don't mind the cost, which is rather small.... it's awesome. I suggest you give it a shot, and anyone else reading as well. Just be sure to get the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, with Noobs Raspbian OS included. Some of you might not need it, but it sure is handy for those who do.
Thank you Montie! Be sure to take advantage of the welcome gift that is now available when you start a new subscription. It's just kind of a thank you from us for joining the club.
Family history and research can be exciting and draining at the same time. But we promise you that if you listen to Highlander Radio you will gain inspiration and focus by hearing the music of our ancestors in song and lyrics. It really does help!
Sometimes the music helps us work faster, more focused and smarter. Celtic Music truly does make you more aware and healthy!
Thank you Montie! Be sure to take advantage of the welcome gift that is now available when you start a new subscription. It's just kind of a thank you from us for joining the club. Family history and research can be exciting and draining at the same time. But we promise you that if you listen to Highlander Radio you will gain inspiration and focus by hearing the music of our ancestors in song and lyrics. It really does help! Sometimes the music helps us work faster, more focused and smarter. Celtic Music truly does make you more aware and healthy!
The Cross is a nice design, but I was hoping it was real sterling silver like it shows in the photo. What I got is more akin to silver coloured plastic.
The bumper sticker is nice though. I will just use this plastic piece to make myself a wax mold and pour my own silver cross.
Currently I am working on a Linux setup that should be able to handle running 24/7 and store that data safely and on auto backup as I find it.
We run Celtic Radio on a flavor of Linux on a server hosted in our own studio. It has worked out very well.
Backups are always a concern. We have a pretty complicated backup plan that has about 3 layers. This year we needed to figure out how to move our installation to another hardware platform because it was failing. We were able to use a WD elements 3 TB USB drive to copy the entire server over as an image and then copy it to our new sever.
We literally had our fingers crossed as the new server booted up and worked!
Our setup is for two main servers and a workstation. We use each server two fold as a backup device (level 1) - files are copied on each server so there is always a backup in case 1 server fails; we then have a couple of WD 3 TB stand alone back up drives (level 2) - and finally our WD backup drives get backed up to the cloud (level 3) in case of a catastrophic failure such as a meteor hitting the studio or a direct hit by a lighten bolt! Although we have all electrical lines and internet lines surged protected just in case...
The Cross is a nice design, but I was hoping it was real sterling silver like it shows in the photo. What I got is more akin to silver coloured plastic.
The bumper sticker is nice though. I will just use this plastic piece to make myself a wax mold and pour my own silver cross.
Isn't the first time I have worked with silver.
It would be nice if it was real silver I agree!
Most of the jewelry in our store including this piece is made from pewter.
Glad you got everything OK and let me know how you make out pouring your own cross. That sounds very interesting!
Congrats on the successful server setup. I would suggest if you haven't already, to keep a "vanilla" copy of that image somewhere safe. Just in case, and if you haven't already as part of those 3 layers you mention.
As for the cross. Yeah I kind of thought it might be pewter. Feels like plastic, sounds like a metal when tinked against something.
As for pouring, I don't have the skills or materials/equipment to pour molten metal yet.
I have done some work with a hammer and torch though before as a kid. My mother was being taught by a licensed goldsmith how to work with precious metals, and I got a crash course on it as well. Made my own roman hammer fledged ring, and helped with making a few Torque bracelets. Haven't made a cross yet, but I don't think it would be much more difficult than what has already been done before.
That being said, when looking to make something with extreme detail and hard to create details at that, pouring is much more efficient compared to hand working it all out.
I intend to get my own smithy setup here in the next few years though. When that happens, I may start learning how to make lost wax molds for stuff like that.
Barring that, 2 hands, a hammer, a torch and pliers is all that is really needed to make most small silver trinkets in my personal opinion.
Pouring is more accurate though. I can't deny that.
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