Author: Jack
I retired in 2008 and so I have more time now to devote to several of my interests The blog here is mainly for my interests in some current events but may have the occasional rant on other subjects. I have also decided to keep my genealogy posts and book reviews here instead of 2 additional blogs (and so simplify my life a little).

Trump economy: this is HUGE

Trump economy: this is HUGE

Welcome to the new Trump economy. It is the result of President Trump’s failure to adequately respond to the the spread of the cornavirus.

The virus will kill people and can also kill an economy. President Trump has not done a good job preventing either. Last week there were 3 million claims for unemployment benefits.
Continue reading “Trump economy: this is HUGE”

Learning from success about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning from success about the COVID-19 pandemic.

A few days ago I read an article about the success of Hong Kong and Singapore in preventing infection of Health-care workers during this COVID-19 pandemic. I was thinking it might help us in dealing with large number of infections in some places now and most likely in many other places in our near future.
Continue reading “Learning from success about the COVID-19 pandemic.”

President Trump’s failure: delay and misinformation

President Trump’s failure: delay and misinformation

The COVID-19 pandemic is much worse in the United States than it should be. This is due to a failure of federal response until fairly late in the spread of the virus. We can blame President Trump for most of this problem did not take the warning signs seriously. The blame is shared with those federal officials who should have contradicted him and gone public with what they knew.

The is a long story in about this delay and why this lost time is making things worse. It is long but worth reading. here is a link:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-many-americans-are-sick-lost-february/608521/

COVID-19 information

COVID-19 information

The COVID-19 situation is a difficult one. Over 100,00 case are reported world-wide and the number is growing. Because it is so new, we do not yet have a handle on mortality and how it will spread and for how long. Fortunately there is plenty of good information out there.

There is also a good bit of misinformation so be cautious about what you believe.
Continue reading “COVID-19 information”

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Erik Larson’s newest book” is “The Splendid and the Vile : A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz”. In it he tells a well known story in a most unusual and interesting way.
Continue reading “The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson”

Trump Comparison With Hitler

Trump Comparison With Hitler

Some Republicans are upset about a Trump Comparison With Hitler. To me, it seems very appropriate.

But this story was just a small note in my Sunday paper. It was probably a bigger story in the Baltimore area. So when I had the time, I looked for more information. Now seems like a good time to say what this is all about.
Continue reading “Trump Comparison With Hitler”

Borderline Citizen by Robin Hemley

Borderline Citizen by Robin Hemley

The full title is Borderline Citizen: Dispatches from the Outskirts of Nationhood and it is by Robin Hemley.

The author discusses being a citizen of the world, what that means, and the meaning of travel. The book is a mix of travel writing (dispatches), philosophy, and political thoughts with a bit of autobiography.

I found most parts of the book very interesting and a few parts not so much. The latter were towards the end of the book so I suspect I was just a bit tired of some longer dispatches.

As usual, my thanks to https://www.netgalley.com/ for letting me read this before publication.

President Trump learns a lesson

President Trump learns a lesson

The Senate has voted not to remove President Trump from office. It’s not that he wasn’t guilty of the charges in the impeachment trial.

The case was proved by overwhelming evidence. Perhaps Senator Alexander said it best: Continue reading “President Trump learns a lesson”

We are not a banana republic yet

We are not a banana republic yet

Is the United States on the way to becoming a banana republic?

To many it would seem that President Trump is taking us in that direction. His retaliation or revenge against those who stood up to tell what they saw and heard during the impeachment hearings (or even relations such as Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman’s brother) suggests we may be moving toward becoming a banana republic.

President Trump’s influence on the justice department and threats against opponents also suggests a banana republican type move. Continue reading “We are not a banana republic yet”

See no evil and hear no evil

See no evil and hear no evil

The Senate will see no evil and hear no evil concerning our President. The full saying is “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” but 2 out of 3 is not bad for majority in the US Senate.

So ends the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump. The trial without witnesses or evidence. Continue reading “See no evil and hear no evil”

Will Mitch  McConnell  be a Bad Juror

Will Mitch McConnell be a Bad Juror

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has told us he is not an impartial juror and he will work with with the White House. Does Leader Mitch McConnell plan on a sham trial which will exonerate the President no matter what evidence is presented?

Will any evidence be allowed?

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski finds Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s positions on the impeachment trial disturbing. We all should find McConnell’s positions on the impeachment trial disturbing.

We heard from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham back in early November that he has no plans to listen or evidence or be impartial.

Where are the other Republican Senators? Are they OK with a sham trial or would they like a real trial?