Jack – Page 49 – 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).

Hangman by Stephan Talty

Posted on August 8, 2014August 15, 2014 by Jack

Last year I reviewed a first novel by established non-fiction writer Stephan Talty. I liked it very much and thought it was a great introduction to a new series about Detective Absalom Kearney.

The second book in the series came out a few months ago and just read it. I thought Hangman by Stephan Talty was a great followup and if anything I found it even more compelling than the first.

<br /> The book starts with what seems a very unlikely escape of a serial murderer known as the Hangman. He had recently terrified the residents of Buffalo, NY with a series of murders of teenage girls (involving hanging). The manhunt begins and soon after the murders and the terror begins again.

Homicide Detective Absalom (Abbie) Kearney, who Continue reading “Hangman by Stephan Talty”

Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware

Posted on August 2, 2014August 15, 2014 by Jack

Last spring my wife and I had a pleasant day riding north along the Delaware River. I meant to write then but didn’t get around to it and figure I should do so now before the memories get even fuzzier. The trip was partly based on a trip in National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S., a book we have often used to find scenic drives.

The drive in the book starts in Trenton, NJ but we thought Continue reading “Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware”

The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion

Posted on July 28, 2014August 5, 2014 by Jack

I was going on vacation and was thinking I’d take a book along for those inevitable down-times when there is nothing much to do. Typically I end up watching a TV and not making much progress in the book. This time was different.
Continue reading “The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion”

Frances Greer marries Horace Johnston in 1892 NYC

Posted on July 21, 2014October 23, 2014 by Jack

I’ve been looking for additional children of Matthew Greer and Ruth Allingham of Glencar, Leitrim and Sligo Town. Yesterday I stumbled across a marriage record on familysearch.org while looking for information on Matthew Greer’s son of the same name.

Frances Greer married Horace Johnston on 24 Dec 1892 in New York City, NY. The parents of both were listed and hers may be those listed above.

I guess I am about 95% sure I have the right family but I need more. Thought I would mention it now in case anyone out the is looking at the same record or thinks they are related. Hope to hear from you soon!

Note added:
I am almost certain this is the correct Frances Greer. See my later post on Frances Greer and Horace Johnston .

American Civil Liberties Union and Stand

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Jack

I’ve been a member for the American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU for quite a while now. I’m not sure exactly how long but I’d guess it is somewhere around 20 or 25 years. I joined because I thought it important to support the ACLU’s fight to defend our rights and liberties.

The ACLU sends members a series of letter and newsletters at intervals which I find educational and informative. But this year they improved on that by launching a new glossy magazine called “Stand”.

The cover story in current issue of “Stand” is an interview with Edward Snowden and the ACLU Executive Director. A related story is by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner(R-Wi) on the PATRIOT Act. Then there are several other articles related to various issues in which the ACLU is involved.

I find “Stand” interesting and attractive and a great benefit of membership.

Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Jack

The full title is Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg. It is the subtitle that tells what this book is about.

I had written about this book while I was reading it and thought I would review it when finshed.

It is a bit unusual. It is a different perspective on history Continue reading “Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg”

Western Maryland and the Casselman River Bridge

Posted on July 14, 2014July 14, 2014 by Jack

Last week my wife and I took a few days to visit Frederick, Maryland and points west. One of the highlights of the trip was the drive from Frederick to Deep Creek Lake Continue reading “Western Maryland and the Casselman River Bridge”

Hobby Lobby: Missing the forest for the trees

Posted on July 1, 2014July 1, 2014 by Jack

The recent Supreme Court decision on in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties seeking an exemption from the contraception mandate of in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a step in the wrong direction. I think although the justices applied the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to reach a narrow conclusion, it was wrong and that wrongness will cause greater harm than the narrow ruling suggests. Continue reading “Hobby Lobby: Missing the forest for the trees”

Emma Cash McKenzie

Posted on June 28, 2014June 28, 2014 by Jack

I’m trying to find out more about Emma Cash who we think was born in Allegheny, PA about 1867. I believe that is now part of Pittsburgh. Her mother was Ellen Gow (probably from Ireland) and her father was Charles Cash (probably from Germany). She and Ellen Cash are listed in the Federal census for 1860 and 1870 in Westmoreland Co PA.

Emma Cash later married Malcolm McKenzie or Mackenzie, probably in the 1880s. We think they may have married and had their first child in the Boston, MA area and later moved to the Greater New York City area (New Jersey and New York).

Climate change, a conservative solution

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Jack

In last Sunday’s NY Times, Henry Paulson wrote a piece called The Coming Climate Crash: Lessons for Climate Change in the 2008 Recession.

Yes, we are talking about that Henry Paulson Continue reading “Climate change, a conservative solution”

A Natural History of Greater New York

Posted on June 25, 2014July 15, 2014 by Jack

I am reading a wonderful book right now. Since I am still reading, it would not be fair to write a review at this point. So this is more of a Progress Report. Or maybe a note about What I am Reading Now.

A great Introduction got my interest in the opening paragraph where the author takes us on a nature adventure to a “veritable Garden of Eden” Continue reading “A Natural History of Greater New York”

The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Jack

A rather odd title but I wanted to mention The Nature Conservancy (website – nature.org). I’ve been a member for many years now and I’ve been glad to contribute a little to their work in preserving nature’s wild places. What made me think about it Continue reading “The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy”

Sherlock Holmes is now a public domain character

Posted on June 23, 2014July 28, 2014 by Jack

It is hard to believe but the Sherlock Holmes stories are almost a century old. Well, some are more and some less but the point is the stories are very old. So the stories have been in the public domain for years. Yet the character was still under copyright. And although Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died well before most us us were born, his heirs still collected a fee when Sherlock Holmes was used as a character in another work. Continue reading “Sherlock Holmes is now a public domain character”

The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein

Posted on June 7, 2014July 28, 2014 by Jack

A few weeks ago a wrote a review of the short free ebook on saving and investing by Dr. William J. Bernstein. I thought the book was a very good but short.
Continue reading “The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein”

By Any Means by Chris Culver

Posted on June 3, 2014June 7, 2014 by Jack

A total surprise. I was expecting a more or less usual crime novel when I downloaded By Any Means (from NetGalley) by a new (for me) author. Instead I was amazed by Chris Culver’s skill in sucking me into the story and then the life of his main character. I now know that By Any Means is Chris Culver’s third Ash Rashid novel. Continue reading “By Any Means by Chris Culver”

Hangman by Stephan Talty

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Washington’s Crossing and north along the Delaware

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The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion

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Frances Greer marries Horace Johnston in 1892 NYC

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American Civil Liberties Union and Stand

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Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg

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Western Maryland and the Casselman River Bridge

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Hobby Lobby: Missing the forest for the trees

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Emma Cash McKenzie

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Climate change, a conservative solution

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A Natural History of Greater New York

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The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy

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By Any Means by Chris Culver

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