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).

Net neutrality explained by analogy

Net neutrality explained by analogy

Posted on by Jack

Net neutrality has been much in the news lately. The Trump FCC is ready to roll back the rules to benefit corporations over consumers.

It is an important issue but perhaps a bit difficult to understand. The folks at NPR Marketplace have explained it by offering a series of analogies. The Marketplace article is very non-technical and uses analogies such as ordering a pizza or paying protection money to the mob.
Continue reading “Net neutrality explained by analogy”

Bipartisan healthcare plan

Bipartisan healthcare plan

Posted on by Jack

Are we ready to try for a bipartisan healthcare plan ?

The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 has not yet been passed. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell developed his plan in secret and was then not able to get the 50 votes he needed to get it through the Senate by the July 4 recess.

The Majority leader is still working toward 50 and probably modifying the Bill to help get there. It is a very tricky task modifying it to make it more palatable to extremely conservative Senators without adding some provisions that will cause the loss of support of other Senators.
Continue reading “Bipartisan healthcare plan”

Two Paths: America Divided or United by John Kasich

Two Paths: America Divided or United by John Kasich

Posted on by Jack

John Kasich  is a 2 term governor of Ohio and a former  U.S. congressman. In the House of Representatives he was on the Armed Services Committee and was chairman of the  Budget  Committee the last time we had a balanced budget.  So he does know a bit about governing and fiscal matters. Continue reading “Two Paths: America Divided or United by John Kasich”

Healthcare follies

Healthcare follies

Posted on by Jack

What do I mean by healthcare follies? The definition of follies I had in mind is “the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding or sense” or perhaps absurdity . How does healthcare tie-in?

Healthcare is not absurd. But the actions we have seen recently and may see more of in the near future do bring the word “follies” to mind.
Continue reading “Healthcare follies”

Interesting reconciliation process. (Fun with Healthcare)

Interesting reconciliation process. (Fun with Healthcare)

Posted on by Jack

Assuming Mitch McConnell is able to twist enough arms in the weeks ahead, we may see an interesting reconciliation process. Of course it could be done in secret which would take most of the fun out of it. But we may be set for an interesting debate.

The House has already passed the American Health Care Act of 2017 which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would throw about 23 million off the healthcare insurance rolls by 2026.

The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 has not yet been passed. In present form the Congressional Budget Office estimates it will increase the number of people who are uninsured by 22 million in 2026.

If the Senate bill is passed, we will see the reconciliation process. Perhaps there will be an argument about whether it is better to increase the uninsured by 22 or 23 million.

Griese MacKenzie SC, VA, PA, Cape Breton

Griese MacKenzie SC, VA, PA, Cape Breton

Posted on by Jack

Griese Mackenzie … is kind of an odd title.  But it goes back to a book I was reading.  Let me explain.

Now that I know where my MacKenzie (or McKenzie) great grandfather came from (Middle River, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia), I decided to look at another MacKenzie from the same town.  The Griese comes from a Reverend Griese who is a descendant of Neil McKenzie and visited Middle River in 2001.
Continue reading “Griese MacKenzie SC, VA, PA, Cape Breton”

Thomas Allingham of Glencar Leitrim and children

Thomas Allingham of Glencar Leitrim and children

Posted on by Jack

I’ve written a good bit about my line of descent from Thomas ALLINGHAM. Thomas Allingham (c1798-1883) was a farmer in Sracreeghan, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland. This part of the parish was called Glencar or Glenlough. Now I want to briefly fill-in what I know of the rest of the family.

First thing I don’t know the name of his wife or for that matter if the same wife was mother to all these children. On his daughter Ruth’s death certificate it is stated that her mother in Jane Allingham. So I do have a first name for at least 1 child.

So here are the children I know. At least I believe these are correct with varying degrees of certainty. I’ll add a few words about why I think these are correct.

Elizabeth Allingham, 1826–1909

The only record I have in Ireland is her marriage to John McBrien in 1856. This took place in Glenlough, Leitrim, Ireland and Thomas was name as her father. Since several children were born in Ireland, there are those records but they don’t add anything to a discussion of which family she was born into. The McBriens emigrated to Ontario. Her death record also confirms Thomas as her father. I’ve estimated her birth year from the death record.

Jane ALLINGHAM, 1830–

I have very little on her. She married William Algeo in Killasnet, Leitrim, Ireland. The record list her father as Thomas so I think she belongs with this family. She had a child named Ann Algeo. I am not very confident about this one and the birth year is just a wild guess.

Ruth ALLINGHAM, 1835–1887

This one I am very sure about. Ruth is my 2nd great-grandmother and I’ve written about her several times (see glencarleitrim.wordpress.com and this blog. The birth year is an estimate. She married Matthew Greer in Glenlough, Leitrim, Ireland in 1854. After Matthew’s death she emigrated to New York City with her younger children to meet her older children who were already there.

Anne ALLINGHAM, 1838–

She was named executor of her father’s will I have little else but she definitely belongs in this family. I don’t believe she everymarried and the year of birth is a guess without any real basis.

Margaret ALLINGHAM, 1840–

She married William Irwin in Killasnet, Leitrim, Ireland and the record listed her father as Thomas. I don’t know much after that.

Robert Allingham, 1855–1890

I know very little except he was named as Thomas’ brother on a military record (see below). I also know he was a member of The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). So I’m pretty confident he belong to this family.

John ALLINGHAM, 1861–1915

He married Sarah Martin in Dublin and named Thomas of Sracreeghan as his father. He was a member of the RIC and was present at the death of Thomas

Thomas ALLINGHAM, 1865–

Military record named John and Robert of RIC as brothers. And I am very sure about John. The record also gave year of birth and indicated he was from Leitrim.

So here is the list I said was coming.

Race for the Flash Stone by K. Patrick Donoghue

Race for the Flash Stone by K. Patrick Donoghue

Posted on by Jack

Race for the Flash Stone is the second of a series. I liked the first one Shadows of the Stone Benders much more than expected and reviewed it last year). It did not seem like the type of book I would enjoy. But the write-up I saw on Netgalley was interesting. So I thought I would give it a try.

For those who are not familiar with Netgalley, it is a website for those who like to read an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of books and are willing to share an opinion of the book. In my case, I write reviews.
Continue reading “Race for the Flash Stone by K. Patrick Donoghue”

New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons

New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons

Posted on by Jack

Mitch McConnell has devised a new legislative process. We’ll have to see how well it works but teachers of civics may want to think about updating their lesson plans. This could be the new normal or perhaps a political disaster which is never tried again. It’s a bit early to tell.

In the secret Republican plan to change our healthcare system which is currently being developed in the Senate, we may have a new model for legislation. We don’t know yet what the plan is or if this method will be successful. Continue reading “New legislative process: Teachers update your civics lessons”

Heathcare secret plan from Republican Senators

Heathcare secret plan from Republican Senators

Posted on by Jack

Do you want to know a secret? A big healthcare secret. Our Senate has one. Neither you, nor I, nor most Senators know the plan. As far as I know, no healthcare experts have seen it. I think the only people in the loop are Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell and 12 other Republican Senators.

The plan could have large economic effects. After all, health care is a big piece of our economy. As far as I know, no economists have seen it. Have the possible economic effects been considered?

If this works out well for the Republican party, will secrecy be the new model for legislating?

The secret plan for your healthcare

The secret plan for your healthcare

Posted on by Jack

It’s a secret plan. I don’t know anything about the Senate healthcare plan except that it is a closely held secret among Senator Mitch McConnell and and handful of other Republican Senators. I suspect a few other Republicans may know part of the plan, at least in broad outline. But I don’t think the majority of Republican Senators know much about it. It seem fairly certain that Democrats are not in on the big secret.

I suppose at some point the public may know about it but probably not until after (or maybe just before) the vote. Senators will probably be informed of the contents before voting. I think that is a rule but I could be wrong. The Senate under Mitch McConnell had surprised me before.

Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Posted on by Jack

I wrote about the Allingham family of Glencar, Killasnet Parish, Co. Leitrim, Ireland several times but the last time was late last year.

At that time I identified 4 children including my great grandmother. I think now I have information indicating 8 children and I expect there may be more that I have not yet found. In most cases the evidence is pretty good; in others it is not quite enough. So I’ll have to do another post to bring you up-to date on this.

The secret healthcare plan in the Senate

The secret healthcare plan in the Senate

Posted on by Jack

There is a secret healthcare plan somewhere in the Senate. I don’t know what is in it. You don’t know. In fact, most senators don’t know. Only a small group of Republican senators are drafting the bill. But the plan is to have a vote before the July 4 recess.

So it is coming soon with no hearings and no amendments.

Since the bill is unlikely to be made public much before the vote, there will be little (if any) time for comment and debate, even among the senators.

Distractions and the important stuff

Distractions and the important stuff

Posted on by Jack

Distractions keep our attention off the important stuff. The problem many of us have is we can’t tell which are the distractions in President Trump’s administration and what is important.

Certainly the Russian interference in our election is important. We do not know yet if the president or perhaps part of his administration or campaign helped the Russians in some way. But it is clearly important to learn this. The apparent cover-up and attempts to interfere with this investigation are suggestive but not proof. Continue reading “Distractions and the important stuff”

The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters

The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters

Posted on by Jack

I liked The Death of Expertise but I was a bit concerned. The full title is The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters and it is by Thomas M. Nichols, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College .
Continue reading “The Death of Expertise: …and Why it Matters”