Ancestry.com: real bullshit! by Barbora Misakova

It is such a saying, that we all are brothers and sisters. But the real truth is a bit (actually very) complicated. Talking about someone’s brothers and sisters is one thing, but proving it is another, especially when someone tries to connect two famous people. According to Ancestry.com, site that discovers the family history of well-known figures, President Barack Obama is related to radio host and relentless critic Rush Limbaugh. This conservative political commentator should be Obama’s 10th cousin, through a common ancestor named Richmond Terrell. Anastasia Tyler, allegedly genealogist at the Utah-based Ancestry.com claims these two personas are family. On th! e other side she admits that history of common ancestor “is a little more nebulous.” Tyler said they start by picking the people they’re interested in, but actually it is not that easy. Family trees are very fascinating, there is no doubt, but to find out the truth is much more complicated. If you want to find who is who in your family tree, you need to do a detailed research. Looking for ancestors needs your 100-percent concentration and plenty of time. Even though I know nothing about Ancestry’s methodology, I would like to know why they are so sure. Common or even the same names in the family trees mean really nothing. How many people with the same surnames do we know? Before we accost someone strange, we should verify all presumptions. Is date and place of birth the same, are there any photographs that would prove it is the same person, what about his or her parents? These and even more questions must be answered before we mark someone as someone! else’s relative. Whether it was meant as a joke or not!!

related story (sgx18400): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101013/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_...

by Barbora Misakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

Cantell TV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with telecommunications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface coupled with free phone calls. Cantell TV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers.