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).

Bad driving and good eating

Bad driving and good eating

Posted on by Jack

Yesterday was what I called the day of bad driving. It was also the day of good eating but I’ll get to that in a minute or so.

We had visited the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. Out interest was specifically the exhibit on Pompeii but the price of admission to that included general admission of the museum. As I retired scientist that interested me and maybe I’ll have another post on that in a day or two. But for now I’ll just say we had spent the night in Richmond and so were at the museum when doors opened and left in late morning. I could have stayed longer but we figured we had a 5 hour drive in front of us. We live in southeastern PA.
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What is bipartisan

What is bipartisan

Posted on by Jack

Several years I was on the email list of our Congressman and every week, I’d get an email which included many, if not all, or the bills he voted for. He was a Republican so naturally most were Republican bills.

But some were described as bipartisan and I would look up the ones that sounded interesting. Nearly always, they were passed with well over 200 Republican votes and a very small number of Democrats – maybe 3 or 4.
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Are Republicans against election security ?

Are Republicans against election security ?

Posted on by Jack

I was thinking back on my posts on Mitch McConnell (aka Moscow Mitch) and election security and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s opposition to what has been called a bipartisan election bill. One answer to why he opposes it is that it is really a Democratic bill.

H.R.2722 was passed by the House last month and has been “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration” on June 28 according to Congress.gov
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#MoscowMitch, a deserved nickname or not

#MoscowMitch, a deserved nickname or not

Posted on by Jack

Lately there has been a lot of talk about Moscow Mitch (or #MoscowMitch), a new nickname or perhaps title for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Is this deserved or not?

I tend to think it appropriate but there is opinion on both sides of the issue. Continue reading “#MoscowMitch, a deserved nickname or not”

US Election security

US Election security

Posted on by Jack

Yes, we need to increase our election security. But there are some who think it unnecessary or perhaps they welcome Russian intervention as it has helped them in the past and they hope it will continue to keep them in power. But that is just my opinion and many agree but I am getting a bit ahead.
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Where to send me ???????

Where to send me ???????

Posted on by Jack

President Donald Trump would like to send citizens who disagree with him back. Presumably back to their country of origin if they are naturalized citizens and it is a bit unclear where citizens born in the USA go. Perhaps the lands of their ancestors.

Deporting citizens is a bit of a problem. So it seems to be another empty threat. Is ‘send her back” like “lock her up” in that way?
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Old Bones by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Old Bones by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Posted on by Jack

Preston and Child are about all you need to hear to know it is going to be a good, and likely great, mystery novel.  Their collaboration is simply amazing.  The new book is Old Bones by Douglas Preston  and Lincoln Child. This is a new one in the Nora Kelly series and is scheduled to be out on August 20, 2019

If you have read many of my reviews, you know that I occasionally buy a book but more often my reading matter comes from the library or reading advance reader copies (ARC) that I find on NetGalley ( https://www.netgalley.com/ ).  A few weeks ago I was perusing Netgalley to see if they had anything interesting.  Of the hundreds of books available there the Preston and Child book stood out.
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Emma Cash & Malcolm McKenzie: a father-in-law joke

Emma Cash & Malcolm McKenzie: a father-in-law joke

Posted on by Jack

My grandfather liked to tell jokes. Many were simple and maybe a bit silly. He had one about his in-laws that I remember. His in-laws were Emma Cash & Malcolm McKenzie.

The joke goes something like this. Malcolm did not marry for money but did marry CASH.. A very short joke but it came to mind yesterday as I was editing the record of Emma Cash on WikiTree.
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Environmentalist in Chief

Environmentalist in Chief

Posted on by Jack

Our Environmentalist in Chief aka President Trump claims that he has been good for the environment. He cites his leadership in many achievements in ensuring air and water quality.

I am glad to hear good news at last on the environment

But not everyone believes.
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Stop the torture – Lights for Liberty

Stop the torture – Lights for Liberty

Posted on by Jack

For those who do not approve to President Trump’s Concentration Camps and torturing children, there is a protest on Friday July 12th, 2019. It is called Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Concentration Camps.

As far as I know, the pro-Concentration Camp rally has yet to be organised.

Why is President Trump torturing children?

Why is President Trump torturing children?

Posted on by Jack

Is the real purpose of this torture to get us to ignore the Mueller report, various investigations or maybe something else while we are being outraged by his latest actions?

Is torture too strong a word? I don’t think so. Being separated from family and being held in prison is very bad for children. The administration does not call them prisons. They are federal detention centers. They try to use words that minimize the harm they are doing.
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Ann Cleeves new series of crime mysteries

Ann Cleeves new series of crime mysteries

Posted on by Jack

The Long Call is my first Ann Cleeves book. It is also a first for these characters as she is starting a new series of crime mysteries (The 2 Rivers Series).

But I did see Shetland, a TV series based on a series of her books. I liked the TV series do I decided I’d try one of her books.
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Toothbrush Memo to Justice Department

Toothbrush Memo to Justice Department

Posted on by Jack

Seems a bit odd to be writing a “Toothbrush Memo to Justice Department“. But it seems it is needed now since the judges seem to think that toothbrushes and other items are needed for the safe and sanitary conditions required to by children separated from their parents by the Trump administration (see Mistreat children in custody (not safe and sanitary)). The Justice Department lawyers working on the case may need a bit of help from a concerned citizen.
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Mistreat children in custody (not safe and sanitary)

Mistreat children in custody (not safe and sanitary)

Posted on by Jack

A few days ago the Trump administration argued in court that they do not mistreat children after they are separated from their family at the border and they had not violated the safe and sanitary conditions required for minors in custody. A previous court decision had found that the conditions under which children were held was in violation of the required standards.
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