Working poor, a documentary

Working poor, a documentary

Posted on by Jack

Last night I watched the HBO documentary “Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert”.

As mentioned previously, we subscribed to HBO because there was a series we wanted to watch on this premium cable channel but we stayed long after the show ended because of the documentaries. And then new shows start up and we’re glad we still have the subscription.

“Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert” did a good job Continue reading “Working poor, a documentary”

Limerick Genealogy Day 2014

Limerick Genealogy Day 2014

Posted on by Jack

For those who plan on being in Limerick or can travel to Limerick, you may be interested in Limerick Genealogy Day 2014. It is a free event and many groups of historical and genealogical interest will be there for 1 day only. Full details are available on the web at http://limerickcityofculture.ie/content/genealogy-day.

The event will be on March 15, 2014 in Limerick city. This is a chance to view many genealogical records from Limerick and surrounding areas and get advice from the participating groups. Many are listed on the website. In addition, I know that the Letters of 1916 project will participate.

Brooklyn Graves: An Erica Donato Mystery

Brooklyn Graves: An Erica Donato Mystery

Posted on by Jack

This is the second in a series. I liked the first and reviewed it about a year ago on this blog. I liked it so much I eagerly jumped at the chance to read and review an ARC of Brooklyn Graves: An Erica Donato Mystery by Triss Stein. Continue reading “Brooklyn Graves: An Erica Donato Mystery”

Letters of 1916 project at Trinity College

Letters of 1916 project at Trinity College

Posted on by Jack

I received an interesting email today from Kevin Kavanagh at Trinity College Dublin. The Letters of 1916 project at Trinity College is creating digital collection of letters written between 1 November 1915 – 31 October 1916.

Letters of 1916 is the first public humanities project in Ireland. it is creating a crowd-sourced digital collection of letters written around the time of the Easter Rising (1 November 1915 – 31 October 1916).

This project could help provide insight into an important period in Irish history. Continue reading “Letters of 1916 project at Trinity College”

Merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable

Merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable

Posted on by Jack

I’ve been reading and thinking about the merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Since I live in the Philly area, I suppose I should be happy about it since Comcast is already an important part of the area economy and this merger would seem to enhance the growth of Comcast and our regional economy. But the power of such a large company which would control such a large part of the internet bothers me.

One the one hand, Comcast and Time Warner Cable do not, to my knowledge, compete in any markets. So it would appear their should be little, if any, effects on competition in individual markets. On the other hand, should one company control an estimated 30% of the internet?

Inherent conflict between Religious Freedom and ObamaCare

Inherent conflict between Religious Freedom and ObamaCare

Posted on by Jack

There is an inherent conflict between Religious Freedom and ObamaCare. Specifically, the mandate for employers to provide health insurance meeting standards and the employers right to refuse what they feel violates their religious beliefs. Considering an recent event demonstrates this clearly. Continue reading “Inherent conflict between Religious Freedom and ObamaCare”

Ending an unjust prosecution for assisted suicide

Ending an unjust prosecution for assisted suicide

Posted on by Jack

It happens to be Pennsylvania news but the issue is one that could happen almost anywhere and that is certainly worth thinking about. A loving daughter helps her father to relieve his pain and is unjustly prosecuted for assisted suicide. Continue reading “Ending an unjust prosecution for assisted suicide”

Rejecting medicaid expansion and thinking it through

Rejecting medicaid expansion and thinking it through

Posted on by Jack

Did they think it through? About half the states, mostly those with Republican governors and legislatures, rejected the medicaid expansion. They not only rejected a benefit for the low-income folks in their state but it seems they have also hurt many of the hospitals.

Now they might have to bail out these hospitals or watch them close. So the state’s choice is to let them close and hurt the people of the state or bail them out and pay twice. Why do I say pay twice? Continue reading “Rejecting medicaid expansion and thinking it through”

Gabriel Cohen mysteries published as ebooks

Gabriel Cohen mysteries published as ebooks

Posted on by Jack

I have been a fan of Gabriel Cohen‘s writing for several years now. So when I received an email that his Jack Leightner crime novels have been published as ebooks by Open Road Media, I thought I should help spread the word. Continue reading “Gabriel Cohen mysteries published as ebooks”

The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America’s First Subway by Doug Most

The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America’s First Subway by Doug Most

Posted on by Jack

By the mid to late 1800s major cities had become extremely congested. There were several ideas to help ease that problem. From our vantage point today, we see the subway as a fairly obvious solution. But it wasn’t so obvious then.


This is a history of how we came to see the subway as a solution and some of the interesting personalities involved. Continue reading “The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America’s First Subway by Doug Most”

The Deiform Fellowship Two: The Cult by Sarah Ettritch

The Deiform Fellowship Two: The Cult by Sarah Ettritch

Posted on by Jack

Sarah Ettritch’s The Deiform Fellowship Two: The Cult is the second in the The Deiform Fellowship series. I thought the premise a bit odd but the title of the first intrigued me and so I gave it a try.

I wrote my review of The Atheist: The Deiform Fellowship One less than a week ago and as I was writing I was thinking about how good this book was and that maybe I should try the second in the series.

I should mention (for the benefit of those who haven’t read my review yet) that Deiforms are agents of God (or at least believe that to be true) and the main character in The Atheist is Jillian. And there is an interesting conflict of beliefs since Jillian is an atheist. Continue reading “The Deiform Fellowship Two: The Cult by Sarah Ettritch”

Senior moments: Maybe Sherlock was right

Senior moments: Maybe Sherlock was right

Posted on by Jack

A recent blog post on the New York Times website considers the research into cognitive performance and aging. In The Older Mind May Just Be a Fuller Mind, Benedict Carey cites some research from Topics in Cognitive Science which may suggest that older minds just have more data Continue reading “Senior moments: Maybe Sherlock was right”

Obama, Federal contractors, and living wages

Obama, Federal contractors, and living wages

Posted on by Jack

Workers for Federal contractors at the Pentagon and several other government-owned buildings have gone on strike because of the low wages being paid. They have asked the administration for help.

President Obama has recently called called for a minimum wage increase to $10 or more per hour. Can he not, by executive order, force government contractors to pay living wages? If this is not possible with not current contacts, can he force agencies negotiating new contracts or renewing contacts to include language about a a minimum wage and perhaps decent health insurance?

The Atheist: The Deiform Fellowship One by Sarah Ettritch

The Atheist: The Deiform Fellowship One by Sarah Ettritch

Posted on by Jack

I was just browsing Netgalley looking for something that would be an interesting read when the title The Atheist caught my eye. So I looked a bit further and the description seemed interesting:

“Jillian Campbell doesn’t believe in God. When local pastor Jim Preston claims to be an agent of God called a Deiform, and declares that Jillian is one too, she dismisses him as a kook. Two days later, Preston is dead, and Jillian stands accused of his murder.”

Continue reading “The Atheist: The Deiform Fellowship One by Sarah Ettritch”

PA voter ID law struck down

PA voter ID law struck down

Posted on by Jack

Over almost the last 2 years I’ve written several times about the Pennsylvania voter identification law. The law was passed in March 2012 several weeks before the primary election. It seemed to me that the purpose of the law was voter suppression Continue reading “PA voter ID law struck down”