Which Puzzle?

I came across this piece to a puzzle yesterday while I was cleaning out some old stuff. I frequently find pieces of old games, puzzles etc. I have a drawer that I put them in and occasionally the lost part finds its master.


The funny part about this is that I know which puzzle this goes to. And, I am sure each of my three daughters will look at it and know where it belongs. In fact they can probably tell you where it goes in the puzzle.

I constantly find odd parts around the house. All I have to do is show it to Gary and he will look at it for several seconds and tell me what it is for.

Yom HaShoah

Today is Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories, and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day and public holiday.

The day was inaugurated in 1951. In the Jewish calendar the day begins in the evening and ends in the following evening. In Israel Yom HaShoah opens at sundown, the national flag is lowered to half staff, the President and the Prime Minister deliver speeches, and Holocaust survivors light six torches symbolizing the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and the Chief Rabbis recite prayers.

At 10:00 am on Yom HaShoah, sirens are sounded throughout Israel for two minutes. During this time, people cease from action and stand at attention; cars stop, even on the highways; and the whole country comes to a standstill as people pay silent tribute to the dead.

On Yom HaShoah ceremonies and services are held at schools, military bases and in other public and community organizations.

On the eve of Yom HaShoah and the day itself, places of public entertainment are closed by law. Israeli television airs Holocaust documentaries and Holocaust-related talk shows, and low-key songs are played on the radio.

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to be Jewish during WWII. While it has been over 60 years since the Holocaust, it is still very real to those that survived. To those of us that weren't alive for it, it seems like ancient history.

I have seen a couple of movies that include the Holocaust, and I read a wonderful book, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It was one of those books I couldn't put down. I had no idea how Paris was involved in the Holocaust.

Please, take a few minutes to learn a little more about the Holocaust. I first learned about it in History class in school. Six million Jews were murdered, entire families were decimated, all because of their faith. Along with the European Jewish people, other groups including ethnic Poles, Romani, Soviet civilians, Soviet prisoners of war, people with disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other political and religious opponents were murdered. By this definition, the total number of Holocaust victims would be between 11 million and 17 million people. Hitler believed that, in regards to Applied to human beings, "survival of the fittest" was interpreted as requiring racial purity and killing off "life unworthy of life."

What is interesting is that there is a debate as to whether or not Adolf Hitler himself was Jewish. It is believed that he himself had feared that he had Jewish ancestry and showed an extreme hatred toward the Jewish people so no one would doubt his ancestry as German.

Could something like the Holocaust happen today?

2010 US Census

I am sure everyone has received their 2010 US Census. It really takes just a few minutes to complete, and it helps the US Government plan for schools, roads and hospitals.

I heard that about 80% of the US population will comply and send in their census forms. The other 20% will not do so willingly because they feel the information is invasive. I read the form and it asks 10 simple questions that I don't feel are invasive.

As many of you know I enjoy genealogy. Recently, my mother-in-law needed to get a Social Security statement for her twin sister that passed away last year. In advance I called the Social Security office to find out what information she would need to get the statement. Somehow she needed to prove they were sisters. Luckily I had a copy of the birth certificate that showed twin sisters, and I had a copy of the US Census from 1930 showing the household and who lived there and their relationship. It was all the information they needed.

I looked back at some of the old census records and they used to ask a lot more information. Someone would be hired at the beginning of the year, given paper, a pen and a bottle of ink. Throughout the year they went from house to house asking the same information. It is great to go back and look at these records, the handwriting, to see who lived in the house and who lived right next door.

If you think those 10 simple questions are invasive, you will be interested to see some of the old questions that were asked. Personally, I have to say that this information has been invaluable, it has helped me trace back my family for decades.

Relationship to head of family

If foreign born, year of immigration to the U.S., whether naturalized and, if so, year of naturalization

School attendance, Literacy, ability to speak English

Birthplace of person and parents

If foreign-born, the mother tongue

Occupation, industry, and class of worker

Whether on a farm

For women, number of children born and number now living

Months not employed

Marital status and if married number of years married

Whether suffering from acute or chronic disease, with name of disease and length of time afflicted

Whether defective in mind, sight, hearing or speech, or whether crippled, maimed or deformed, with name of defect

Whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper

Whether a soldier, sailor or marine (Union or Confederate) during Civil War, or widow of such person

Value of real estate owned or personal estate

Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic

Number of slaves

Number of free white males according to age

Number of white persons over 20 who could not read and write

Number of pensioners for Revolutionary or military service

Hours worked in week

Wage and salary income last year

Whether at work previous day (or last regular work day)

Veteran status

If Indian: whether of full or mixed blood, tribal affiliation

Whether a survivor of Union or Confederate Army or Navy

The US Census is mandated by the US Constitution. The population is counted every 10 years to help determine Congressional Seats, Electoral Votes and government program funding.

The first Census was taken August 2, 1790. The census estimated the population of the United States at 3,929,214. The census records and data specific to individual respondents are not available to the public until 72 years after a given census was taken, but aggregate statistical data derived from the census are released as soon as they are available.

The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906. Sorry, I know this is a lot of facts and you probably aren't interested. I think it is fascinating! Without the questions asked on some of the old census records I would not have been able to track some of my family.

Michelle is Pregnant!!

I am soooo excited! Grandbaby #4 is on the way. In the past, even-numbered years have been important for Michelle:

• 2004 Marriage to Derrick
  
• 2006 Dayton born October 18
  
• 2008 Daphne born March 27
• 2010 Baby #3 due

Michelle just found out a few weeks ago. She is due November 6. I think it is great she is pregnant at the same time her sister Jenny is, although Jenny is due in June.