Doris O'Brien is a retired college Speech teacher and banker. She has published two books of humor (Up or Down With Women's Liberation and Humor Me a Little) and for many years contributed light verse to the Pepper 'n Salt column of the Wall Street Journal. She is an avid writer of letters to the editors.
Doris celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in the same year she welcomed her first grandchild. She now lives in Pasadena with a great view of the San Gabriel mountains — and the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
She can be reached by e-mail: witsendob at (@) gmail.com
A Busy Congressional Action Week: Diversity in the Boardroom, Poverty in America, SNAP, Quality Family Planning Care, Veterans Survivors of Military Sexual Assault and Who Was Vera Rubin?
Human Trafficking — On Thursday, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary is scheduled to mark up S. 1494, the Secure and Protect Act of 2019; a Legislative Fix to the Crisis at the Southwest Border, a bill to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008. On Thursday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is scheduled to mark up several bills, including H.R. 36, the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act; H.R. 2528, the STEM Opportunities Act; more »
*GAO Investigates Elder Care: As Many as 1 in 10 Older US Adults are Abused Each Year with Physical, Sexual, or Emotional Abuse, Financial Scams and Neglect
Researchers estimate that as many as 1 in 10 older US adults are abused each year. This includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, financial scams, and neglect. It can occur at the hands of family, guardians, caregivers, or others. The Department of Justice has investigated and prosecuted cases of elder abuse, provided training and grants, and taken other actions to combat it. However, DOJ has not developed goals that could help guide these efforts. The GAO recommended that DOJ develop and document elder justice goals and outcome measures to better guide its elder justice efforts. Examples of Scams Commonly Committed Against Older Adults in the US are included. more »
Collection of 20th Century Souvenir Buildings at the National Building Museum: A Reminder of Travel and a Record of Popular Architecture
These pocket-sized buildings are at once a reminder of travel, and a record of popular architecture. Included in the collection are iconic tourist destinations, like the Tower of Pisa; Empire State Building; the Parthenon; the Space Needle; the Alamo; the Eiffel Tower; and the Temple of Heaven. Also included are more modest buildings, like dozens of suburban American banks, grain silos, and football stadiums, as well as souvenirs from places with less architectural, but nonetheless popular, pedigrees: Lincoln’s log cabin; Elvis’ Graceland; and the Disneyland Castle. After decades of display in museums and private residences, the entire collection was donated to the Museum in 2019. more »
Swedish Parental Leave Policies: Parents are Entitled to 480 Days of Paid Parental Leave When a Child is Born or Adopted
Before a baby is born, expectant mothers in Sweden get prenatal care through free or subsidised courses that help them prepare for the delivery, with breathing techniques, coaching sessions and group support. Women who work typically strenuous jobs that require heavy lifting or in risky work environments such as construction sites are entitled to additional pregnancy benefits by taking time off work earlier during their pregnancy. Benefits can be paid as early as 60 days into the pregnancy and continue up to 11 days before the due date. The amount received is roughly 80 per cent of the mother’s daily pay and is paid by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. Many Swedish hospitals have adjoining ‘hotels’ where new mothers and their partners may stay for two or three days (with all meals included) after a birth so nurses can monitor the mothers and provide postnatal care for newborns. more »
