from: http://failblog.org/2008/10/20/bank-fail/

Bryan Sykes, founder of Oxford Ancestors is also author of The Seven Daughters of Eve , on branches of mitochondrial DNA in Europe and Adam's Curse: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Destiny , on his studies of the Y chromosome in European men.

In Blood of the Isles ( Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland in the US and Canada), Dr. Sykes examines the Y chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA of Britain. Some of the incredible findings he discusses in this book include:

• the genetic makeup of Britain and Ireland included mainly DNA that has been there since sometime during the Mesolithic period, and which predates the appearance of western European Celts by about 10,000 years;
• the Picts were not genetically a separate people from the other peoples of Britain;
• Anglo-Saxons and Normans made a contribution of less than a quarter of the DNA of Britain, that it is mostly DNA that has been there since the Mesolithic period, mainly from Iberia (today Spain and Portugal).

This book was a pleasure to read, both the descriptions of the modern-day hunt for DNA and Dr. Sykes' discussion of where it came from. He tells you about the worlds people lived in, their day-to-day activities, their history, their artifacts and living spaces, the changes in their surroundings as Britain changed. The book also describes the changing views of "race" and culture in Britain, including the rise of the Saxon ideal, the disparagement of what was perceived as "the Celt" and the rise of anti-Celtic racism during the Victorian era.

I recommend this book to anyone, I really liked it. It was easy to read and very entertaining and presents the subject of DNA and genetics in a way that seemed easy to understand and puts it into workable context in life.

This is up on a feature page but I wanted to blog it into the feed to bring it to people's attention because I think it's a really cool idea:here's the interview ; Nia's press release: ;and her youtube channel , all Welsh all the time.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Click here!

Oct 10 2008 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo "A PREGNANT woman has Welsh ambulance control operators to thank for the arrival of paramedics at her home in Nevada, USA."Read this article about a Welsh ambulance workers who help a woman in labor in her house in NEVADA!

Manufacturer's description I think you can get the game HERE :"Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is set on the Celtic fringes of Britain; a place where myth and magic spill into reality, threatening the sanity of a teenage girl named Rhiannon Sullivan. An ancient battle for revenge engulfs Ty Pryderi, the remote Welsh farmstead Rhiannon now calls home. She begins to hear unexplained noises, see disturbing visions, and experience other chilling paranormal phenomena. There is an ancient evil lurking in the walls of Ty Pryderi that holds a terrible connection to a timeless struggle between man and magic fabled in the Mabinogion Legends. Her parents take Rhiannon away, leaving Ty Pryderi to your watch and exploration, but their absence can only postpone the inevitability of revenge and death. Unless you can stop it!"I don't remember that "timeless struggle between man and magic" bit in the Mabinogion but whooo-hoo nonetheless, I say.Anyone seen this? Tried it? Know or care anything about it?Publisher: Got Game EntertainmentPublisher 2: Lighthouse InteractiveDeveloper: Arberth StudiosReleased in North America: 10-6-2008UK release date: 24th October 2008.Europe not sure of release date, may be with UK

Member Hugh Roberts was interviewed about americymru this morning by Jonsi on Welsh-language Radio Cymru . Click on the Jonsi Show page link and you can hear the interview.

Ceri Shaw was interviewed about americymru by Roy Noble on English-language Radio Wales . This show will air on this Thursday, 9 October 2008, at 2:30pm in Wales.

This was on our earlier games page and now, by request, we bring back the Sheep Tranquilizer Game.The object is simple: as sheep try to escape across the pasture before you, blast 'em with a hypo and stop them in their tracks!You will find the game HERE.