Jack – Page 30 – RetiredGuy

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).

#TheMinistryOfTruth: Orwell and 1984

Posted on June 14, 2019June 14, 2019 by Jack

#TheMinistryOfTruth is a book for our times. The full title is The Ministry of Truth: The Biography of George Orwell’s 1984 by Dorian Lynskey

Shortly after the Trump administration told us their lies were just alternative facts, I decided I needed to re-read 1984. I don’t think George Orwell ever talked about alternative facts, but it seemed to me it was just a step or 2 from “alternative facts” about crowd size to “alternative facts” about bigger issues. Continue reading “#TheMinistryOfTruth: Orwell and 1984”

The Distant Echo by Val McDermid

Posted on June 12, 2019October 11, 2022 by Jack

The Distant Echo by Val McDermid is her first novel in the Karen Pirie series.. Detective Perie is not the central character in this book. As I remember, she does not even make her first appearance until the second half of The Distant Echo. But I am getting a bit ahead of myself so I’ll just begin at the beginning.

I had read Val McDermit’s Broken Ground a few months ago. It was the 5^th and most recent book in her Karen Pirie series. I liked the book and thought it might be interesting to read the series from the beginning. The first in the series was available in my local public library. Continue reading “The Distant Echo by Val McDermid”

Culverhouse gift returned and the best response.

Posted on June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 by Jack

The Culverhouse gift has been returned. What is the best response?

Hugh Culverhouse Jr. pledged a 26.5 million dollar gift to the University of Alabama Law School. So far 21.5 million of that has been paid to the university and the Law School had been renamed in his honor Last week the university gave it back and removed his name from its law school.

The why is in dispute. Continue reading “Culverhouse gift returned and the best response.”

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

Posted on June 10, 2019October 11, 2022 by Jack

Broken Ground by Val McDermid is a great Scottish crime mystery. This book came out last year but my favorite librarian suggested it to me few months ago. This is a wonderful book and I completely enjoyed it .
Continue reading “Broken Ground by Val McDermid”

The Trust: A Novel by Ronald H. Balson

Posted on May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 by Jack

The title is The Trust: A Novel by Ronald H. Balson. This is a really good book and I’ll be sure to check out other titles by the author.

Liam Taggart’s last visit to Northern Ireland ended badly. Very badly. Continue reading “The Trust: A Novel by Ronald H. Balson”

Myths about Congressional pensions and more

Posted on May 1, 2019April 23, 2019 by Jack

There is quite a bit of bad information out there about Congressional pensions and benefits. Several times I’ve corrected those who think Congressional retirees get a full salary for life after one term or less in Congress. Or a lavish free healthcare plan or some other benefit as detailed in the latest email.

So I decided it was time to make a post of it.
Continue reading “Myths about Congressional pensions and more”

Secure our elections

Posted on April 22, 2019July 31, 2019 by Jack

On January 7, 2017 a declassified intelligence report on Russian efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election was released by the U.S top intelligence officials. The report is a declassified version of a highly classified assessment. The declassified report’s conclusions are identical to the highly classified assessment. They were confident then. Here is part of the declassified intelligence report:
Continue reading “Secure our elections”

Should we abolish the Electoral College?

Posted on April 16, 2019August 31, 2019 by Jack

Those who say “yes, abolish the Electoral College” will remind us that in 2 of the last 5 Presidential elections the winner was not the candidate with the most votes. Those who want to keep the Electoral College will say it was put in the Constitution by the founders and we should not question their wisdom.

I come down on the side of those who would abolish the Electoral College. I think it would be unconstitutional if it wasn’t in the Constitution. All votes should count the same in my opinion. The candidate with the most votes wins.
Continue reading “Should we abolish the Electoral College?”

Democracy in Chains – why and how

Posted on April 16, 2019September 10, 2019 by Jack

The full title is “Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America“. The author is Nancy MacLean, a professor of history and public policy at Duke University. So you can be certain that the author knows her history. In addition, there are extensive notes and a bibliography.
Continue reading “Democracy in Chains – why and how”

Put country before party

Posted on March 17, 2019March 18, 2019 by Jack

Now is the time to put country before party. Congress has blocked President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on the southern border that is clearly not an emergency. Just an abuse of the power of his office.

In declaring the “emergency” President Trump said: “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster, I just want to get it done faster, that’s all.”
Continue reading “Put country before party”

Save the Internet Act

Posted on March 16, 2019March 15, 2019 by Jack

The Democrats have introduced the Save the Internet Act. Maybe net neutrality will be back.

But maybe not. The bill could pass the Democrat controlled House but it might not make it through the Republican controlled Senate. And then President Trump might not sign it. So there is quite a way to go on this.

Keep watching the situation and express your opinion as you think best.

Trump gives GOP members of Congress a second chance

Posted on March 15, 2019March 15, 2019 by Jack

President Trump today gave the GOP members of Congress a second chance to oppose his power grab disguised as a national emergency.

His veto of congressional resolution to rescinded his national emergency declaration at the Mexican border gives those GOP members who did not vote for this resolution (and only a minority did) a chance to vote to override President Trump’s veto and show they have some respect for the Constitution and sepatation of powers.

It is not often that you get a second chance. Make the most of it.

Horace Greer – Happy Birthday

Posted on March 12, 2019March 13, 2019 by Jack

I thinking about the Bad Boy Greers of New York city, such an interesting bunch.

The older one, Horace Greer is having a birthday this week. Happy Birthday Horace. Horace A. Greer is best known for Hollywood scandal in the 1920s involving a leading actress of the time, Mabel Normand.

Continue reading “Horace Greer – Happy Birthday”

McKenzie MacKenzie Cape Breton to New York City genealogy

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Jack

I noticed that the birthday of my grandmother Isabel MacKenzie is coming up soon. The name is spelled McKenzie in many records. And there are actually a number of other spellings but none are seen as consistently as Mac and McKenzie.

My second great grandfather Alexander McKenzie came from Gairloch, Scotland and settled in Middle River, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada and married Isabella McGregor. Their son Malcolm move from Cape Breton and settled in New York City.
Continue reading “McKenzie MacKenzie Cape Breton to New York City genealogy”

Two McBrien – Allingham families of Leitrim and Donegal

Posted on February 21, 2019July 12, 2020 by Jack

These two McBrien – Allingham families have led to some confusion in evaluation of family relationships. I have written about odd coincidences in genealogy before but this one is much more confusing.

I first encountered the family of John McBrien and Elizabeth Allingham when I expanded my study of the genealogy of the Allingham family of the Glencar area of Killasnet parish in County Leitrim Ireland. The first record we have of my great great grandmother Ruth Allingham is her 1854 marriage in the small Church of Ireland near Glencar Lake . In 1856 Elizabeth Allingham (who is probably her sister) married John McBrien in the same church.
Continue reading “Two McBrien – Allingham families of Leitrim and Donegal”

#TheMinistryOfTruth: Orwell and 1984

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The Distant Echo by Val McDermid

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Culverhouse gift returned and the best response.

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Broken Ground by Val McDermid

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The Trust: A Novel by Ronald H. Balson

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Myths about Congressional pensions and more

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Secure our elections

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Should we abolish the Electoral College?

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Democracy in Chains – why and how

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Put country before party

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Save the Internet Act

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Trump gives GOP members of Congress a second chance

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Horace Greer – Happy Birthday

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McKenzie MacKenzie Cape Breton to New York City genealogy

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Two McBrien – Allingham families of Leitrim and Donegal

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