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).

No government interference in Medicare part D

No government interference in Medicare part D

They clearly wanted no government interference in Medicare part D. I knew because an ad on a news website led me to http://www.nogovinterference.org/.

But I could not figure out what had them so upset. After all, Medicare part D is a government program so why shouldn’t the government be involved and how were they interfering or proposed to start interfering.
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The Twentieth Day of January

The Twentieth Day of January

The Twentieth Day of January  by Ted Allbeury sounded interesting but I was a bit leery.  Sounded a bit too much like a novel  ”ripped from today’s headlines” , as they say.

The basic premise is that a Presidential election is won by a candidate aided by Russia.  I figured it was probably very quickly written to be one of the first books  on our Presidential election on the market  and had a good chance of being both poorly written and a bit of political nonsense.
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Why health insurance across state lines makes no sense to me

Why health insurance across state lines makes no sense to me

Republicans have long championed allowing consumers to buy health insurance across state lines and told us that this would somehow make insurance more affordable. This makes no sense to me.

In the recent failure of the Republican attempt to repeal and replace to Obamacare this was not included. The Republican plan was to first do the repeal and replace as a budget reconciliation bill which had lesser and follow that with other harder to pass stuff like selling health insurance across state lines. Since the first part could not pass, everthing is on temporary hold.

I’m sure the idea of selling health insurance across state lines will reappear. But it is a bad idea.
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Reidy Restaurant remains and real estate in NYC

Reidy Restaurant remains and real estate in NYC

This is interesting in several ways. First, there is the name Reidy. OK, that one is probably only of interest to me and a few hundred or maybe a few thousand others.

Also I like stuff about changes in New York City (NYC). Maybe a bigger audience there. And real estate development in NYC has been much in the news lately.
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Protecting U.S.  Democracy from Russian  Election Interference

Protecting U.S. Democracy from Russian Election Interference

Our intelligence agencies agree that Russian election interference took place in 2016. President Trump and the Republican party clearly benefited and there is the possibility that the Trump campaign or others may have colluded with the Russians.

On January 6, 2017 a bill (HR 356) was introduced in the House of Representatives called the “Protecting Our Democracy Act”. The bill would establish an independent commission to look into Foreign Interference in the 2016 Election.

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Less privacy on the internet

Less privacy on the internet

There is not much privacy at all on the internet but soon there will be even less privacy. The Republicans and the Trump administration are doing their best to make sure of that.

Republicans are giving the little privacy you have to internet service providers. They will be free to sell your information on which websites you visit and what your do there. The bill has been passed by both the Senate and House. President Trump will sign it. (see Republicans Attack Internet Privacy).

More money for the big companies. Less privacy for us.
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This is getting tiresome

This is getting tiresome

Tiresome is the word that came to mind. I wasn’t sure if it was the right word.

So I looked it up. Well, a lookup online. I knew I had a dictionary around but it seemed so much easier this way.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary online offers “causing you to feel bored, annoyed, or impatient”. So it looks like I found a good word because –
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Misdirect and delay, again

Misdirect and delay, again

Delay the probe in the Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible collusion by the Trump administration. Misdirect and mislead us so we don’t notice the delay. Misdirect and delay, again.

When will we ever learn? I had just written about the bizarre actions of Rep. Nunez, chair of the House Intelligence Committee which to me seemed to be an attempt to delay the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible collusion by the Trump administration.
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House Intelligence Committee

House Intelligence Committee

What is going on with Representative Devin Nunes, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee? Is this just another distraction to delay looking into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the possible collusion of President Trump oor his associates?

This this just another example of misdirection?

Supreme Court vacancy: Senator McConnell’s second chance

Supreme Court vacancy: Senator McConnell’s second chance

Senator Mitch McConnell made history when he stopped the Senate from doing it’s job in holding hearings to allow President Obama to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. His somewhat novel theory was that a President had limited powers during his last year in office and should not nominate someone for the Supreme Court if there was a vacancy.

Senator McConnell now has a second chance to make history, President Trump has nominated Judge Gorsuch to fill that vacancy. But President Trump is now under FBI investigation for colluding with Russia to influence the 2016 election. It seems to me that this is reason enough to stop the confirmation process now.
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Cybersecurity : Hack-Proof Your Life Now!

Cybersecurity : Hack-Proof Your Life Now!

The full title is Hack-Proof Your Life Now! The New Cybersecurity Rules: Protect your email, computers, and bank accounts from hacks, malware, and identity theft by Sean M. Bailey  and Devin Kropp .

Highly recommended.  I thought I was good about cybersecurity and keeping the bad guys from hacking into my accounts.  I consider myself an experienced computer user and pretty good about safety  online but I learned quite a bit here.
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Free Irish Genealogy Records from NEHGS

Free Irish Genealogy Records from NEHGS

The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is providing free access to their collection of Irish Genealogy Records for St Patrick’s Day and more (March 15-22).

All Irish resources are FREE from March 15-22. This includes databases, guides and webinars. So there is no cost and no reason not to check out the NEHGS.

You might decide the FREE membership is right for you or maybe you’ll decided to join as a paying member. In any case you might find that elusive Irish genealogy record for free, or something else worthwhile, for nothing.

The NEHGS is at https://www.americanancestors.org

English translation needed for American Health Care Act

English translation needed for American Health Care Act

I took Paul Ryan’s advice. I usually don’t do that and regretted it almost immediately. And this is my story.

To much ado, Speaker Ryan introduced the American Health Care Act to the country.

The American Health Care Act is a plan to drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance.

Or at least so he said. Furthermore this bill was available online at readthebill.gop
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Rushing the American Health Care Act

Rushing the American Health Care Act

The House leadership is rushing the American Health Care Act through the committee process.

Apparently there is no time to wait for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates on cost or likely effects of this bill. No time to discuss and debate improvements. No time to consider that millions may lose insurance and access to health care. No time to consider that some of them will probably die.

Do Republican leaders think that giving legislators a bit of time to think and understand might make it less likely that the American Health Care Act will pass?