Author: jack

Do the right thing for 9/11 responders

Do the right thing for 9/11 responders

About 5 years ago, the Senate almost derailed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which provides health care and compensation those for responders on and in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

One would think it would be a national priority to at least provide this minimal amount of aid to those who sacrificed their lives and/or health to rescue people from the collapsing and burning buildings recover bodies from the rubble, and helped clean-up so Wall Street and other American businesses could re-open.

But it doesn’t seem to be. We’ve heard plenty of political speech in this summer but not much about doing the right thing for 9/11 responders.

The website http://www.renew911health.org/news-articles-on-effort-to-renew-the-911-health-and-compensation-act/ provides an easy way to find what has been in the news on this issue.

Bills (James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act : HR 1726 and S928) were introduced in the House and Senate in April. In May the bills were referred to the appropriate committees and subcommittees. Bill have gathered co-sponsors but no floor action (debates or votes) in either branch.

If someone on these committees or in the party leadership has a problem with the legislation, why not tell us the problem or introduce a bill that would solve the problem. Why not a vote so we know who has a problem with the legislation or with the idea of giving medical care or compensation to those who sacrificed for America.

I think it a good idea to make this permanent but maybe there is some political benefit to being able to co-sponsor legislation every few years. But sometimes politicians just do the right thing.

Let’s hope they do the right thing for 9/11 responders.

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann

Not quite a joke -just a misunderstanding with myself.

A few days ago I wrote that I was re-reading “TransAtlantic” by Colum McCann.  I had read the book before my vacation in Ireland this summer.  We spent our first vacation night in Cobh.  I remembered a beautifully written line from TransAtlantic about Cobh.  I thought now that I had been to Cobh, I would enjoy re-reading the  book.  It seemed to me there were quite a few great descriptions in the book in addition to the one I remembered so well.

So here is the misunderstanding.  Continue reading “TransAtlantic by Colum McCann”

TransAtlantic again

TransAtlantic again

I had read “TransAtlantic” by Colum McCann last spring before going to Ireland on vacation. I was busy with preparations for my trip and didn’t really have the time to write a review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but did not realize what an impression it made on me until I was in Ireland and parts of “TransAtlantic” came to mind. So in an unusual turn of events I am reading a book for the second time in a few months.
Continue reading “TransAtlantic again”

Public Check on Congress

Public Check on Congress

I recently reviewed a short book on fixing our dysfunctional congress. I thought it a book well worth your time and a few dollars.

But today I ran across a website by the author that explains the main thrust of the argument and it is free. The Public Check on Congress website is http://publiccheckoncongress.com/.

You might also want to see the facebook page.

I think we need to fix our dysfunctional Congress. There seem to be several groups with various ideas about how to do this. Look over this one. The Public Check on Congress project seems to get right to the heart of the matter by changing the incentives of the members of Congress.

Drescher mystery

Drescher mystery

A little over a week ago I posed several question in the bog in my entry Is Marie Greer really Maria Dresher ?. I have found some answers but not the one asked in the title.

I found an index entry of Marie Jennie Drescher ‘s birth certificate at family search (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZ9-FVJ). She was born 05 Sep 1909. Her father is William Drescher and the mother is Lottie Grae Drescher. I assume “Grae” is really Greer.

I found a marriage cert that seemed to confirm the names of the parents.

So now I am pretty sure who Mr. Dresher is. But this still leaves several of my questions unanswered.

Fix Congress

Fix Congress

The full title is Restoring the Consent of the Governed: How Americans Can Hold Congress More Accountable for Serving the National Interest by Bill Bridgman. The title and subtitle are a mouthful but it does summarize the book nicely.

The book is neither long nor expensive. I think it is interesting, well done, and important. The problem it addresses is one I think most Americans can agree with. There is wide spread agreement that the U.S Congress is just not doing a very good job. Continue reading “Fix Congress”

Lucy Greer Collins born 1859 Sligo Ireland

Lucy Greer Collins born 1859 Sligo Ireland

Lucy Greer Collins was probably born about 1859. Lucy Greer was probably born in Sligo town, Sligo, Ireland to Matthew Greer and Ruth Allingham of Glencar in County Leitrim.

I had not known of Lucy’s existence before finding an abstract of a New York City marriage record listing parents Matthew Greer and Ruth Aligan (a common misspelling). Continue reading “Lucy Greer Collins born 1859 Sligo Ireland”

The Burning of Cork

The Burning of Cork

1920 was a bad year for Cork. Well, a bad year for Ireland. But this is about what happened in Cork.

Ireland was fighting the British for its independence and the fighting in Cork was intense. The Burning of Cork by Gerry White and Brendan O’Shea is a rather detailed account of that fighting. Continue reading “The Burning of Cork”

Shipwreck off Ireland 1822

Shipwreck off Ireland 1822

Before getting to the shipwreck off Ireland, let me tell you where I read about it. After all the shipwreck is old news and there’s no rush in getting to the story.

I live just outside West Chester, PA and I signed up for emails from a downtown West Chester business association. Even retired guys try to keep up with what is happening locally. Continue reading “Shipwreck off Ireland 1822”

Wolfe Tone in America

Wolfe Tone in America

Theobald Wolfe Tone, better known as Wolfe Tone, was co-founder of the United Irishmen and an Irish revolutionary of the late 18th century.

At first this political movement attempted to unite the both the Protestants and Catholics of Ireland and sought reform to the parliament to give the all Irishmen more rights. After several years the leaders of the United Irishmen realized reform was impossible and sought revolution to gain independence for Ireland. Continue reading “Wolfe Tone in America”