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I'm a reader who enjoys posting comments and recommendations about the books I read. You will not find a synopsis with my recommendations because you can just click on the book title for a link to www.goodreads.com for a synopsis and reviews by other readers. I prefer the 3 Reason format: the reason I chose to read it; the reason I liked (or disliked) the book; and the reason I recommend it.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

The reason I'm still revising the family history

Being Creative With Troublesome Kin

You are working on your family genealogy and for sake of
example, let's say that your great-great uncle, Remus Starr,
a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing
and train robbery in Montana in 1889.

A cousin has supplied you with the only known photograph of
Remus, showing him standing on the gallows. On the back of
the picture are the words:

"Remus Starr: Horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial
Prison, 1885. Escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six
times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged,
1889."

Pretty grim situation, right? But let's revise things a bit.
We simply crop the picture, scan in an enlarged image, and
edit it with image processing software so that all that is
seen is a head shot.

Next, we rewrite the text:

"Remus Starr was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory.
His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable
equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana
railroad.

"Beginning in 1885, he devoted several years of his life to
service at a government facility, finally taking leave to
resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key
player in a vital investigation run by the renowned
Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away
during an important civic function held in his honor when
the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth

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