Major update of my website

Major update of my website

Posted on by Jack

I’m pretty busy these days updating my website.

The site is a work in progress as I’ve recent changed from HTML to WordPress. In the long-term I think this will be an improvement. I will be able to do more things and hope to improve the site as I learn. But right now my major task is trying to move all the content from my old site.

It is taking longer than expected. And it is also more work than I expected. But I guess that is the price of progress. A good bit of what I had has been moved over but much is still left to be done.

I had a good bit of information on Irish Genealogy and I expect it will all be there shortly. Right now I have almost everything on the Reidy name moved, a good bit on County Limerick, and relatively little on general Irish information and Irish surnames.

When should I take Social Security?

When should I take Social Security?

Posted on by Jack

I’ve been doing this blog called the RetiredGuy and I picked that name because I am a retired guy, I like being retired and I wanted to express my opinions on a variety of issues. But despite calling the blog the RetiredGuy, I usually don’t address retirement issues issues in a big way.

But what started me thinking about was an email discussion of when to start taking Social Security among my high school classmates. Most of us are still working but a few (like me) decided to retire early.

So I looked into Social Security because a big question is Continue reading “When should I take Social Security?”

Politics of potholes

Politics of potholes

Posted on by Jack

Having just written about potholes, I was wondering why politicians seem to ignore them.

Fixing potholes would seem to be an issue with considerable popular support. I live in Pennsylvania and potholes are a big problem. They make driving dangerous. You could easy lose control of your car while swerving to avoid a pothole or lose control after hitting a big one. Or someone else could and you could end up in the accident.

Nobody likes a pothole. Continue reading “Politics of potholes”

Prevent Potholes

Prevent Potholes

Posted on by Jack

According to AAA (quoted in a report by WUSA ) damage to cars will cost motorists 6.4 billion dollars this year.

Road departments will be busy filling in potholes now that the winter weather is behind us. But would it not be better if we could prevent potholes from forming on our roads.

Can the roads be made to prevent potholes from forming or at least make it less likely? I suspect the answer is YES.
Continue reading “Prevent Potholes”

Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans and offensive license plates

Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans and offensive license plates

Posted on by Jack

A case before the Supreme Court  (Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc.)  contests whether the state of Texas can decide not to  issue specialty license plates bearing a Confederate battle flag.

At one time license plates (called tags in some locales) just served to identify the car for law enforcement purposes.  But states realized they could make money by allowing those with registered vehicles to pay a bit extra to have specialty license plates with a logo or message on them.

Texas law gives the state the right to reject specialty license plates that are offensive.  But some things are offensive to a few, and others offensive to many.  Is this standard vague? Continue reading “Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans and offensive license plates”

Social Security Budget

Social Security Budget

Posted on by Jack

One of the many things that impressed me when reading Social Security – Get What’s Yours was that the budget for administering Social Security is clearly inadequate.

Budget cuts have caused the Social Security Administration to cut services in a time of growing demand. The baby boomers are getting to retirement age and we can only expect demands on the Social Security Budget to increase. We should expect better from our government.

Secret Science

Secret Science

Posted on by Jack

Let me start by saying that as a scientist I am against the idea of secret science. Science should be an open process and certainly not secret.

But sometimes, it isn’t.   And there is nothing sinister about that.  And certainly no need  to be reformed. However, that is not what this bill is about. If science needed to be reformed and it doesn’t, Congress is the last place I would think of. Continue reading “Secret Science”

Newspapers for genealogy

Newspapers for genealogy

Posted on by Jack

I’ve been doing genealogy and finding things on family members for years. Over a year ago, I decided to try newspapers for genealogy.

Not exactly a new approach. I had used the occasional search of free resources. I did some research on the Library of Congress site. And the New York Times site. The Times does limit you if you don’t subscribe but we do so there was no problem.

I had found a few things Continue reading “Newspapers for genealogy”

Social Security – Get What’s Yours

Social Security – Get What’s Yours

Posted on by Jack

I just read Get What’s Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security by Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller, and Paul Solman. It was an enjoyable experience.

Yes, I used the words “social security” and “enjoyable” in the same paragraph.

Imagine my surprise when I read this book that I thought would be important but dull and found it enjoyable. The authors not only convey the basic facts about social security and discuss how to maximize your benefits but do so in an entertaining fashion.

If you are unconvinced, Continue reading “Social Security – Get What’s Yours”

Archie in the Crosshairs

Archie in the Crosshairs

Posted on by Jack

I think it appropriate to begin the review of a mystery with another mystery. Robert Goldsborough has done it again. Well, what has he done?

Robert Goldsborough is writing new Nero Wolfe mysteries in the style of the originals by Rex Stout. The two I have read before are very good . (See 2 Nero Wolfe Mysteries by Robert Goldsborough). I just finished another titled Archie in the Crosshairs and it was also quite good. Continue reading “Archie in the Crosshairs”

Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

Posted on by Jack

I just got an email from ancestry.com in my inbox today. Actually it had been sitting there overnight. I just saw it today.

“Who do you think you are?” is coming back for season 5 on Sunday, March 8. I enjoy this show. My only real complaint is that sometimes it makes genealogy look too easy.

Usually involves a celebrity guest trying to learn about his or her ancestors. Of course they learn quite a bit in a a short time. But then, they have a lot of help.

It is usually interesting (although a bit different from the way us normal folks do things). Here is the ancestry announcement.

If you haven’t seen the show, give it a try. If you’re already a fan, enjoy.

Irish crime novels on sale

Irish crime novels on sale

Posted on by Jack

Open Road Integrated Media is a different type of book publisher. They specialize in ebooks and partner with many publishers to produce and market ebooks.

Perhaps in honor of St Patrick Day which is coming up in a few week (or perhaps this is just coincidence), they are having a sale on Irish crime novels.

I have read, enjoyed, and reviewed several mysteries published as ebooks by Open Road Media so I think this is worth a look. While there you might want to look around the website.

The Irish crime novels on sale are on the page http://www.openroadmedia.com/irishcrime?

#EndRobocalls

#EndRobocalls

Posted on by Jack

Don’t you just hate it when you are busy doing something and the phone rings. You drop what you are doing and run to the phone but it is just a recording to tell you about your big chance to buy something or claim a prize in a contest you never entered.

These moments are brought to you by Robocalls. They are more than a bother. Sometimes people actually respond to them and end up losing money. It must be enough people to make it worthwhile for these scammers.

Consumers Union (a division of Consumer Reports) is running a campaign to end these calls before they reach your home (#EndRobocalls). They have an online petition and information at https://consumersunion.org/end-robocalls/.

If you agree, please sign the petition. No guarantee this will end them but at least it could. This is your chance to make your voice heard. #EndRobocalls.

Great map of Ireland

Great map of Ireland

Posted on by Jack

I’ve never been to Northern Ireland but I understand that it is beautiful. I’ve been to the Republic of Ireland but it has been many years and I’m ready to go back. So I think that when I do go, I will see both. And notice that I said “when” rather than “if”.

I can be a bit cynical at times. You may have noticed that in some of my more political posts. But when it comes to things like genealogy and travel I tend to be more optimistic. So I’m already planning my trip to Ireland. Continue reading “Great map of Ireland”

An Irish Valentine

An Irish Valentine

Posted on by Jack

I was looking around the internet for an Irish Valentine. That is something appropriate for Valentine’s Day, Irish-style. And I found a new (for me) blog.

What could be better than giving an Irish Valentine for someone of Irish descent or someone fortunate enough to have a Valentine of Irish descent?

Also there is more interesting stuff on that blog. Look around