Monday, December 30, 2019

The Testament By: John Grisham

This book started great, then slowed down to the point that I was going to give up. However I was already invested into it so I pushed through. It then got better. Sadly, as I have found with the last few Grisham books, it was a bit anticlimactic. This story is about a rich old guy that leaves a will that causes a ruckus between his kids. The fortune (11Billion) is left to someone that is unexpected by any of the ex-wives or degenerate kids.  As I most Grisham books you have multiple story lines taking place. I wanted to love the book but it was hard. And the ending was very disappointing.  As I was finishing the book, I was pinching the remaining pages as I do to see how much "runway" is left for a good ending.  I did not see there was enough runway in this book and when you get to the end, you will agree that it was in fact anticlimactic.



**Spoiler**
I really wish it would have ended differently. Dam-it Grisham, come on. Couldn't you have hooked up Nate and Rachel?  She saved him.  It could have been a great relationship where Nate and Rachel wed and since he was leaving law, he could have gone with her to the place that saved him by almost killing him.

Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (February 2, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385493800
ISBN-13: 978-0385493802

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Trump vs. China: Facing America's Greatest Threat By: Newt Gingrich

This book is surprisingly nonpartisan insomuch as Gingrich gives Trump credit for taking corrective steps as opposed to his predecessors. Gingrich gives a litany of sensible changes that need to be done and many not so popular changes. I read this book as a follow up to "Stealth War". Gingrich's book definitely contains more information and you will come away with a far deeper understanding of the risk of China.
This books is scary on so many levels. It has a great lite history lesson on China and gives you a detailed view into the Chinese mindset. I cannot believe that Biden said China is not a threat. China is a larger threat than Russia and all other countries combined. Climate change is ridiculous compared to China. China has not heretofore, nor does it plan to comply with any Global Warning / Climate Change treaty et al. Even at our current level, we are getting our asses handed to us, I can only imagine when we bring the "New Green Deal". We might as well commit mass suicide.

Gingrich calls out the media for purposely not informing the public about the danger of China. Hollywood and media carry water for China. Not only that but we sadly saw how the NBA capitulated to China and the very same folks who purport to support free speech and that recently have embraced the Constitution in its "traditional meaning" turned their backs on Hong Kong. I think both putrid parties are part of the problem. As I mentioned in the “Stealth War” review, Mitch McConnell, Biden, The Clinton’s and so many more are guilty.

You hear the left now saying that the Senate is a rubber stamp for the POTUS, well this is the same issue with the Dems and the media and law enforcement. If the investigators are corrupt, how can we expect the guilty to be brought to justice. How can we expect authorities holding these China enablers accountable when many of them are as, if not more corrupt than the aforementioned.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It should be read by anyone looking to understand what China's game plan is.

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Center Street; 1st edition (October 22, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1546085076
ISBN-13: 978-1546085072

Friday, December 13, 2019

Stealth War: How China Took Over While America's Elite Slept By: Brigadier General Robert Spalding

This book is extremely eye opening.  I alas y knew China was engaging in corrupt tactics from a technology IP perspective because that is the business I am in.  When Huawei first developed their routers, it was literally the Cisco Systems operating system.  When I worked at a distributor of computer parts and equipment, people were arrested for writing down serial numbers as they were being used for fake China created fakes.  But economic warfare was way more than I expected.  Also appalling was the chapter on "law-fare".




The author seems to be non-partisan as he criticizes both majority parties of the US. He is critical on Mitch McConnell for his wife's unholy alliance with the CCP as well as Obama and Biden. Although I disagree on some of the author's recommendations for rectifying the China problem, I do believe it is worth looking into.

At a minimum, the author does praise President Trump on his efforts and sees them as a positive step forward. However when I hear Biden come out and say "China is going to eat our lunch?" It gives me pause.  How can a man in the VP seat for 8 years and still either be ignorant or complicit to what is going on there?  It is not a long book, but very concise.

I was recently in Jamaica and saw a brand new highway that was fabricated by China for Jamaica.  Reminded me of the chapter on Shri Lanka

Here is the story of Shri Lanka
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Portfolio (October 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0593084349
ISBN-13: 978-0593084342
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches


Sunday, December 8, 2019

The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts by Tom Farley Jr. & Tanner Colby

A very sad book.. Chris Farley was one of my favorites.  Farley and Kinnison, sadly both taken too soon.  This is a book told by the many people in his life.  The authors compiled memories and moments by many of the special people around Chris.  He was such and amazing comedian and for his size, surprisingly nimble and athletic.




Chris Farley struggled with sobriety since early on.  He was also addicted to food and struggled with weight; something I know all too well.  Although everyone knows what the outcome of his life was, I found myself wanted to continue to read and hear more things about it. 

Chris was a cast member of SNL and went on to star in many number 1 movies, Tommy Boy being one of my favorite movies today.  SO SO Sad.  Chris' family was very important to him.  However his father was painted in this book as being an enabler and did so to Chris since he himself struggled from some of the same demons as his son.  His father died a year later. 



Chris Farley During SNL

Baby Chris Farley
Chris and his father Tom Farley

Chris' last picture

In his last picture shown above, taken by the prostitute he was spending the evening with was taken as she was leaving the room and after she stole his watch.  His last words were “Please don't leave me."  Still chokes me up after so many years.  If she had called Fire Rescue, he might still be with us today.  R.I.P. Big Guy.  You will be forever missed.  Often imitated, but never, ever duplicated.  

Check out the Chris Farley foundation
http://www.chrisfarleyfoundation.com/

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Viking Adult; 1st edition (May 6, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780670019236
ISBN-13: 978-0670019236
ASIN: 0670019232




Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Guardians: A Novel By: John Grisham

I usually like Grisham books and was looking forward to "The Guardians".  However the book was a bit anticlimactic.  The book is about a burned out public defender that leaves the public defenders office and becomes a minister.  During his ministry, he becomes a crusader for exonerating innocent prisoners.  I won't give it away but there is some happy moments but he leaves a lot open.  I would have loved to see him maybe focus on one case and follow through on the apprehension of the guilty parties.


I liked the book though, hopefully the movie will be a little better and it will be "Based" on this book but not follow it that close.  


Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (October 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385544189
ISBN-13: 978-0385544184

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Jay Z: Made in America By: Michael Eric Dyson

Not my cup of tea. Was looking for a book on the life and success of a great musician and business man. I am a big fan of Jay Z and have been since his early work in music, clothing, liquor, and record empire. I bought this book because it was 2019 and wanted to get the most updated book. However this book turned out to be what I perceived as a politically, racially charged book I did not want to read. I did not finish it so I may have acted in haste, but I really did not feel the content. I read all kinds of books and I do not shy away from books pertaining to race and the like. It may be a good book for someone looking for a Apotheosis of Jay Z where they compare him to a god and talk about how there is a curriculum of Jay Z in universities. I wanted more about the man not the myth. Just my $0.02



Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us By: Donal Trump Jr.



Donald Trump Jr is a funny guy. This book starts off with his upbringing. Many will criticize this book, his dad, and his success but the reality is, Trump is known for not coddling his children and being tough on them. What I found surprising was how Jr. Spent weeks hunting or fishing completely off the grid and not on his family yacht or G6. That says a lot about him. He talks about working for his father but not in a well placed managerial role but rather as a laborer.  JR. Had to earn his keep.





JR is on the money when he talks about hypocrisy. The kids in cages and the wall was something Obama, Clinton and the Democrats were for. Now that Trump championed it, they are against both. Not to mention the gender situation in college sports. It is absolutely unfair for women to lose scholarships to male born athletes.

I admire how he was brought up and had to work. His father did a good job in showing them the value of a dollar and what it takes to make it. Although his dad could have coddled his kids like a lot of the kids I watch on one of my favorite shows, Growing Up Hip-Hop (don’t judge me).

The book calls out the hypocrisy on the left as well as the Trump Haters. I hate to say this for the sake of the aforementioned, but you absolutely will see him again running for politics and maybe, probably another Trump presidency.

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Center Street (November 5, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 154608603X
ISBN-13: 978-1546086031

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Witch Hunt: The Story of the Greatest Mass Delusion in American Political History By: Gregg Jarrett


This is a well researched and detailed book that sheds light on the shenanigans of the Trump Haters on the left and on the right.  It's appalling to me that given this president's track record on economy, rights, security, and all other things that the haters would not give him a break. I did not like Obama, at all but there were few things I gave him credit for.  The bias against this POTUS, ironically by a group that spends their entire existence pointing  out biases on others from implied racism to micro aggression and everything in between  is shocking. Literally today I read an article that said the Michelle Obama has tweeted a picture of her family for Thanksgiving. Really?  No positive reports on anything about the current  FLOTUS but the Obama story gets legs, all for sending a Tweet? 


Back to the book. You will gain great detailed information about timelines and the reason the political left is gunning for Trump in such a way expended all of their political capital on failed attempt after failed attempt after failed attempt. There was collusion, conspiracy, obstruction, bribery, sex, lies, and the rest however it was the Democrats that ironically are the guilty ones.

I am always shocked how people still today would say that they would want Hillary instead of Trump. Knowing that Trump has not been found guilty of anything as of yet and that Hillary has been proven to be a snake on so many levels, that they would still want her.  It's OK to have an inept , fake, lie to your face, career politician which has been embroiled in scandal after scandal after scandal since the beginning of her adult life as POTUS?  I'm a libertarian and I had to admit we had weak candidates in 2016. Why is it so hard for the Dems to admit Hillary was the wrong candidate?  Why is it so hard for the left to see the hypocrisy?  Just take the position about accepting the results question asked in the debate. Clinton was appalled that Trump would not accept what she thought was a sure thing. Yet here she is 3 years later still not accepting the results and not being called to the mat on it.

Anyone that has done even cursory  research on this subject will know that the anti-Trump movement is real and is strong and it is really unfair.  I am struggling with being happy or sad that the Dems have changed the rules of engagement forevermore. On one side, I am sad that this president has had this happen to him and that the founding father's Gran Plan has been perverted and distorted in such a way.  However, I then feel I should rejoice because the next Democratic POTUS that comes in will have to be a saint because the ROE have changed and impeachment, special councils, investigation and the like would be SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) now.  Of course that is assuming that the media, you know the ones that spike stories about Harvey Winstein a full-on rapist, Polansky (child predator) and Jeff Epstein, another scumbag extraordinaire, and Matt Lauer, would not carry water for them as they did for Obama.  During Obama's presidency, the MSM did puff pieces.  

I truly hope the IG report comes out and we are able to prosecute those that acted this way against the country. Democrats and Republicans will fall and I am fine with that. I am also fine with Trump being impeached for an "impeachable offense"; this Ukraine call is not one though.

It is indeed a great book, heavily researched and written by an attorney that understands laws and has been in the "political game" for some time. Read it so you at least have the facts and not the spin.  Make your own decisions and form your own opinions AFTER.  The MSM is lying to us and "reporting" fallacies and opinions and not facts. It's a war on your minds.  Don't let the enemy in. Fight the BS and form your opinions. If you still feel Trump is bad, so be it. If you at least walk away saying I still hate a Trump but he has been wronged here or there, that is fine too. But we have seen the media wrong so many times on so many levels from the exit polls to the impeachment, why would you believe ANYTHING they say?  


Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Broadside Books (October 8, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062960091
ISBN-13: 978-0062960092

Thursday, November 21, 2019

A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston By: Robyn Crawford

Whitney Houston was a once in a lifetime kind of person. She meant so much to so many people.   I remember saying to myself when she married Bobby Brown, "Now he is going to turn her out". Little did I know that Houston was as bad of a "bad-girl" as he was a "bad-boy".   Weather you were team Whitney or team Bobby, no one can debate that she was a star like no other. Her voice was truly emotionally moving.



In "A Song for You"  Crawford revealed what we all suspected.  Whitney was indeed, at a minimum bi-sexual. I think today, almost eight years after her sad passing, her lifestyle would have probably been an inspiration for some struggling with their sexuality and not something to me ashamed of.  The "relationship" was not a one-time, curiosity; rather a long time sexual relationship.

The book details Houston and Crawford's relationship, platonic as well as sexual. It does it in a classy way though so if you are looking for a play-by-play lesbian porn story, move on.  Don't get me wrong, this is not necessarily a book for teens.  Talks about drug use and sex. Not that I'm a prude, just read it yourself before you recommend it to younger readers.

The chapter on her brother's death, the one on her mother's death and certainly the one on Whitney's death were very powerful and heard to read.  I understand this is Ms. Crawford's account of what happened, and I am sure when I read the Cissy Houston's book, she will probably have a different version of events, but for now it is very hurtful that Cissy allowed this to go on.  Shame on Bobby Brown as well for being the vehicle for her and her daughter to destroy their lives and die the same way.  Their deaths are indirectly on his hands.

This is a great book about a wonderful singer that I truly loved.  What a loss to everyone.  I recommend it to any fan of Whitney.  May Whitney and her daughter rest in eternal peace.  Such a huge loss.


Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Dutton (November 12, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1524742848
ISBN-13: 978-1524742843

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Plot Against the President: The True Story of How Congressman Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in U.S. History By: Lee Smith

This is another book in the throng of books I have read regarding this President and those around him trying to bring him down.  I am not a Republican but I have witnessed this country improve substantially.  I have also seen the media and the left doing everything and anything to discredit him and his family.  Take for instance his wife.  She is arguably the most beautiful First Lady we have ever had; for God's sake she is truly and literally a Super Model.  Yet you go through the grocery store and if you are lucky, you will see her on 1 magazine but under some sort of scandal (e.g. FLOTUS and POTUS divorcing).  Yet under Obama, Michelle was on every cover of every magazine and every show.  Although I happen to think she is a beautiful woman, she is certainly not a Super Model and the Obama's, if you care to look, were so corrupt and non-transparent.  Everything from Separating Families, Bombing countries, deporting illegal aliens (yeah I said it).




It's crazy to me that the public (primarily leftists and anti-Trumpers) will believe absolutely anything negative about Trump. The more salacious the better. Anything from being a double-agent for the Russians to golden showers and anything in between. Yet when confronted, with facts even that there was in FACT a coupe attempt that is still very much alive today, THAT my friends is tin foil hat craziness. 

This book covers, in detail how the "deep state" or whatever you want to call them, abused their power and positions to attempt to reverse a victory by Donald J. Trump in 2016. The irony is that the very same things they accuse HIM of doing, and have been unable to prove a single thing, is precisely what the the Left and anti-Trumpers have done. The crazy part about it is that they come out on TV with this righteous indignation against Trump's supposed action when all the while it is them that are guilty of collusion, obstruction of justice, hatch act, hiring foreign counties to affect elections and oh so many more. The media and the people are myopic to the hypocrisy or are just down right evil people. 

Now we are at this impeachment crescendo where the left thinks this is going to be the grand finale of their plan, but don't count your chickens quite yet. I predict this, coupled with all of the rest of the failed attempts at the coupe will be seen by the people and you WILL have a "perfect storm". As we saw with the unpopular George W. Bush's second term where he won the electoral and the poplular vote, you will probably see the same with Trump. Not only this but the "real" "do nothing Congress" will go back to Republicans. At that point, the shoe WILL drop. You will see the full force of the United States Government rein down on the previous administration including Hillary "rotten" Clinton, Comie, Clapper, Brennen, Peloci, Schiff, Nadler, Obama, Rice, Lynch and the rest. 

I think this is good. I think the Dems need to police their party as do the Republicans. I truly believe that the Democrats have opened Pandora's Box and have woken a sleeping giant. They have set the rules by which future administrations will be looked at and investigated by. Be careful what you wish for Nancy.

I have read other books on this subject and this one really gave me a lot of little details and timelines of which I was not aware of. Also the attacks against Mr. Núñez and his family. 

I fear the media companies that are owned by corporations that benefit from Socialistic endeavors and the Social Media companies that have way too much power to influence all sorts of things political and others is a problem. I would love to see a bipartisan attempt to rein in the corruption in the media as well as the Social Media. Recent history has shown how the media protects their leftist heroes regardless of what heinous crimes they have committed. Weinstein, Jeff Epstein, Matt Lauer, Clinton, Polanski just to name a few. These people are predators, real predators of even children. The media outlets consistently spiked stories about them. Yet Trump simply says that women let famous people "grab them by the pussy" and these very same people who are guilty themselves (Clinton, Lauer) and the media outlets that protect them go full apoplectic. 

I hope the American people see through this hypocrisy and force change. I don't care what party gets caught up and outed, it's not and should not be a partisan thing. The ends do NOT justify the means. We all have the presumption of innocence, freedom of speech and right to bear arms to name a very few. Analyze, these rights are all being taken from us in the name of the "better good" but the better good only comes when we have and protect those rights. ALL OF THEM.


Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Center Street (October 29, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1546085025
ISBN-13: 978-1546085027


Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Case Against Socialism By: Rand Paul

An amazing book Sen. Paul.  Well done sir, well done.  This book should be read by non-socialist and proponents of  Socialism.  This book blows the lid off of the fallacy of "Socialism".  Paul describes the Socialist countries in the past and how they caused millions of deaths and tyranny. 
 
Income inequality is a fallacy. It does not say anything about how those with less income. For example if I work in Dubai and those around me have luxury cars like Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari etc, but I have a Toyota Camry. Yes there is inequality of course but I am not on an ox or donkey. I still have a great reliable car.




How about a hot wife or husband. Is there inequality there as well?  Why is it that my wife or husband is not as good looking as that other person's wife or husband. Should we permanently scar their spouses to ensure that there is hotness equality?  Obviously my last example is a ridiculous example, however these days, the insanely obvious farces easily become insanely real.  Look at Chapter 38, where Paul talks about how China has created facial recognition in public restrooms where if you have NOT gotten toilet paper in the last 9 minutes, they will release 81cm of toilet paper for you to use.  Where the government there has facial recognition and you have a social credit score.  If you smirk while passing a photo of the leader, you loose points.  This is important since you have the Kentucky's Covington Catholic High School students with the MAGA hat.  The media finally after failing to prove the students caused anything and facing a legal backlash, now say that his face shows racism.  How insane is this where we now have "Face Crime".

How about intelligence?  If your child is smarter than my child and your child gets accepted into a better school, should we shut down the better school to force the "not so smart kids" are more equal?  I wonder Yale, Harvard, Princeton and the like would be willing to lower their tuition and their standards in the name of education equality?

Dwight D. Eisenhower once said,  "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."  This a synonymous with these idiots on the left calling for Socialism when they have never lived in it. 

Paul also destroys the "Nordic Countries" fallacy.  He describes how those countries are NOT in FACT socialist but rather Capitalist Countries with large Welfare states.  Not at all free since the middle class pays over 60% in income tax and an additional 25% VAT Tax on everything including food.  This is 85% of your earnings going to the State.  This leaves you with 15% of your check for food, and all other expenses.

The REALITY is you will either have Venezuela style Socialism or a heavy Welfare state such as the Nordic Countries which are moving back to a more full Capitalist style.  Socialism is for the people NOT the Socialists. 


Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Broadside Books (October 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062954865
ISBN-13: 978-0062954862




Friday, November 1, 2019

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators By: Ronan Farrow

A disturbing tale of money, power and influence and the attempted cover up to protect the elitist. I truly enjoyed this book, however if there is one point that bothered me is his latter chapters where he talks about President Trump.  Seems to me that he was hoping to entice people to read the book and threw in a few chapters on Trump, which by all accounts had consensual sex with women, and does not make him a "Predator".  I think it was a hit piece or something to ease the outing of Democratic donor and "real predator" Harvey Weinstein.  He also takes a cheap shot at Trump by not making note that Trump expelled Epstein from his club and repudiated Epstein after finding out he was engaged in the shenanigans he was up to.


I did not know that the author is the son of Woddy Allen and Mia Farrow. He is not new to sexual assault and misconduct based on the

It is so troubling to read what Weinstein did to these women.  Call me naive, but I always pictured rapists as "a rapist".  When you see Weinstein as a successful Hollywood Mogul that could have paid,  if that is what you are into, for women to have sex with him, but chose to rape them, you have to see that he is putrid individual.  Crazy part is, that he has a daughter.  How would he react to his daughter getting raped?  I am sure he would not use his power and influence to protect the rapist.  I do not have daughters of my own, but I do have three sisters, a mom, and a bunch of nieces and daughters of friends of mine that I love as my own.  I believe this guides the way I treat women.  I would not treat a woman in a manner that I would not one someone to treat my loved ones.

The gull of NBC who leans LEFT politically, could go against the perceived Liberal only #MeToo and that have the woman's rights (you know since the Right has a "war on women") in mind all the time is sickening.  Total hypocrisy.  Not to mention Matt Lauer's escapades.

Fox personnel were also accused of sexual misconduct.  The difference is that Fox cleaned its ranks and brought in outside people to investigate.  NBC refused to do so, based on a Farrow interview.  This speaks volumes.

I think the book could have been so much more if he would have either focussed on Weinstein alone or focussed on Weinstein and Lauer.  I do think the superfluous salvation of Trump as it does not match his title of "...Conspiracy to Protect Predators".


Scumbag Weinstein 


Author: Ronan Farrow

Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316486639
ISBN-13: 978-0316486637

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America By: Kimberley Strassel

If you read the book solely for the introduction, it will be worth the time and price.  Left stated that Trump was not legitimate because he did not win the popular vote. This is a tired tale parroted over and over by the media and regurgitated by the leftists drones. The reason for the electoral college is because we are a representative republic. We are not a "democracy". In a TRUE democracy, Trump and all his supporters would be shot and killed based on the rhetoric. 51% could vote that the remaining 49% be killed. Without the EC, every election would chosen by CA, NY, and CH. All three which are bankrupts, have more crime than all other states and cities, and corruption is at an all time high in all three. Is that "fair"? Is that what "equality" looks like? Would there be a "urban privilege" then?


Obama got a bit of Fox News mileage with crazy conspiracy theories but even Fox killed them as quick as they were released. However the Trump Haters have run with insane, off the wall conspiracy theories and the mainstream media have not only given them airtime but have jumped on the crazy bandwagon. Ironically, the left always took the moral high ground calling out the right on "vitriol", "hate" and fear. However that lecture was apparently forgotten when Trump won in 2016. Fear mongering have been the order of the day since before he even stepped foot into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Presidential Pardon of Alpeio was attacked by the haters. However all other POTUS of past also had pardons that were questionable.

Obama was the most lawless POTUS and used executive orders almost exclusively after his first two years where he has the house and senate.

Many of the haters say Trump is a tyrant because he has gotten rid of laws and regulations, but tyrants don't get rid of rules. They add them.

The author paints the timeline of what transpired leading up to the FISA warrants. Anyone, regardless of party has to read this. If you are not utterly shocked, then you are part of the problem. Anyone that has followed my reviews or tweets knows that I am for each party holding their respective politicians accountable. I think if the corrupt politicians knew there were consequences to their actions, they would be hesitant to commit the crimes they do regularly.

It is painfully obvious that as the writing of this post, the current Congress has done nothing but try to reverse the results of 2016. Remember there WILL be a Democratic POTUS after Trump. The rules and laws being used against Trump today will be used against the Democratics in the future. History has shown that the Democratic Party is corrupt from the Mob days up until Obama's administration and even during Trump's administration. They will need to have a saint on their tickets else face the same wrath seen by Trump. Granted the media would "puff piece" us to death but I highly doubt others would have the ware with all to handle what Trump has during his tenure.

After reading this book, you have not choice but to admit that the Trump Haters, and the Left and The Media in general are doing everything in their power and outside of their power to reverse the 2016 election. It is painfully obvious to any racional, honest and principled person to see that the unfair treatment of this POTUS is unprecedented. I often wonder where we would be if the Left and the Right got together and supported this president. We would be even better than we are today. It is very sad. We have been bad stewards and have left this country in a worse state than we got it.

Market and Sciff demanded the un-redacted Muller report. So much so that they held in Contempt of Congress. They demanded he release Grand Jury information which is illegal (or should I say "undocumented") knowing good and well that it was impossible. However now the very same are saying they will NOT release any transcript of the testimony of the impeachment. How can the haters accept this hypocrisy? It's selective outrage. God help us all.

Amazing book. You should read this ASAP

Author Kimberley Strassel

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Twelve (October 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1538701774
ISBN-13: 978-1538701775


Wednesday, October 23, 2019

My Voice: A Memoir By: Angie Martinez

Angie is my age, well she is 10 days older than me. She worked at Power96 for a while while she lived with her aunt in Coral Springs, FL.  She writes about visiting Cameo's and other local clubs. I ran in those circles and probably was in those clubs when she was.  Reading her book transported me to my youth.



I love memoir, but a memoir about someone I can relate to is a marvelous experience.  Angie Martinez (The Voice of New York) is a famous DJ, recording artist, and public persona in NYC.  She is a beautiful woman and very down to earth.  Being a memoir, it goes through her life and career.

The chapter on the Tupac was awesome.  She was really smack dab in the middle of the East-coast/West-cost beef.   By flying to LA to meet with none-other than Tupac, she really risked her career. The audience in NY could have turned on her.

She wrote about meeting Erick Estrada. I too met Estrada, in NYC ironically.  There is a lot of similarities with her life and my own. I truly enjoyed the book.  She covered the many artists she knew and followed, many of them where artists I followed as well.

If you are or were into Hip Hop, this book is for you.

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Celebra (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1101990333
ISBN-13: 978-1101990339


Monday, October 21, 2019

Power Grab: The Liberal Scheme to Undermine Trump, the GOP, and Our Republic By: Jason Chaffetz

Lets start by addressing the elephant in the room, pun intended.  I am not a Trumper, I do not own a MAGA hat (although I do not have an issue with it), not a white supremacist (my family is from Cuba), I do not watch Fox, I am not a Republican.  Now that we have that out of the way, lets get started.

I understand the hatred for Trump. I understand that the left wanted Hillary to win.  I understand because I wanted Ron Paul to win in 2008 and 2012 and did not want Obama for one term and certainly not two.  But when Obama won.... again, I again accepted the outcome of the election and moved on.  This outrageous, unhinged behavior is incredible, especially from a party that has always put out a message of tolerance and of a group of people that are smarter than the non-Democratic people.  In my opinion, this image has been shattered.   In this book, you will see how intolerant the left "has become".


Chaffetz, a former Congressman, exposes the corruption in D.C. and more specifically with the left.  He made a point that I have always known, he mentioned that the left is not about helping people but more about gaining and retaining power.  This is obvious with the latest Congressional Majority today.  They have done absolutely nothing but multiple witch-hunts.

I have to hope that deep down inside, the people who consider themselves "liberal" have to see the hypocrisy of the Left.  I mean as recent as this past week, the Bidens faced reports of Hunter Biden sitting on the board of a Ukrainian company.  What's worse, is that Biden is on a video essentially admitting to what the left is falsely accusing Trump of doing.  On this video, BTW I wanted to include the video but it seems that bug tech has scrubbed access to it, you hear the former VP speaking at the Council of Foreign Relations.  At this meeting he specifically says that if they did not fire the prosecutor, he would hold the billion dollars promised to Ukraine.  Not only did he admit to bribing the Ukrainian leader to stop an investigation that could be unfavorable to his son, but he implicated President Obama.  In the interview and his bragging session, he states the the Ukrainians questioned HIS authority and that they had already spoken to Obama, he said "call him".

Chaffetz exposes Nancy Pelosi's tactics to change the rules to favor herself and maintain herself in power unlike what the Republicans did to John Boehner, former Speaker of the House.  Chaffetz does an excellent job is exposing the 501.c(3) and 501.c(4) and how they use their tax exempt status to affect elections.  He also covers the IRS scandal whereby they denied 501.c(3) status to Right leaning groups seeking that status.  This was a scandal that was essentially whitewashed by the media.

I recommend this book for anyone looking to see how the insiders are working to obtain and retain power in D.C.  I truly believe that if the people hold their respective parties accountable for their actions, and do not fall into the partisan bickering, this country will be much better than what it is today.  


Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Broadside Books (September 3, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062944428
ISBN-13: 978-0062944429









Thursday, October 17, 2019

Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. By: Selwyn Raab

If  you are fascinated with all things mob, this book is for you.  Raab covers a plethora of mobsters and law enforcement agents that interacted, investigated, infiltrated and in some cases arrested the mafiosi.  The book is a good "middle-ground" between mafiosi and LOA.  Raab covers the rise and subsequent fall of the "Cosa Nostra".



The  author covers some off the well known mafiosi and some of the not so known.  I was really surprised how close the mafia was to the Democratic Party.  It was always known about the Mob's involvement in Labor Unions but this book adds some clarity as to the level of involvement.  Although not a political book, it does show the corruption, specifically on the Democratic Party.

Some of the former mafiosi covered in this book:

Charles "Lucky" Luciano
Vito Genovese
Frank Costello
Carlo Gambino
Joe Masseria
Albert Anastasia
Louis "lepkeleh" Buchalter
Santo Trafficante
John Gotti

Because of the amount characters and the overlapping timelines, the books does travel forward and backwards in time which is a bit of a pain, but not too bad and right away you are back engaged in the story.


Paperback: 816 pages
Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (October 4, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250101700
ISBN-13: 978-1250101709

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Chernobyl By:Serhii Plokhy

I have to admit, I never really thought about the Chernobyl situation until I saw the mini-series on HBO.  I was so into the series I watched the 5 episodes in a row.  The book was OK.  There was a lot of useless information in my opinion.  There was a lot of life stories of the people involved where I was looking for what happened.  It does however go over the explosion and the subsequent trial.  I truly believe that this single event, caused the Soviet Union to decline which eventually brought down the U.S.S.R. altogether.  Russian people lost faith in their government, rightfully so.  This is the problem with Socialism and Communism.  Whereas in Capitalist societies you could argue that corporation are for profit, it is actually better because their greed makes them continue to make a better product.  In Chernobyl, they cut corners and lied to their people.  I think the people saw right through it.


In most cases, I say to read the book and do NOT watch the movie.  In this case, I would say to watch the series and then decide if you want to read the book.

Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Basic Books (May 15, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1541617096
ISBN-13: 978-1541617094

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The Fight: A Secret Service Agent's Inside Account of Security Failings and the Political Machine By: Dan Bongino

This book is all about being a secret service agent and what he witnessed.  Obviously he is Republican but it did not seem like a hatchet job.   He discusses his failed run for the Senate and limitations placed on him because of his role.




Bongino is more of a Republican Libertarian, where I am more libertarian libertarian.  He does make some interesting points. He calls out Clinton on her email scandal and rightfully so.

I get that a lot of people hate Trump but what blows my mind is that EVERYTHING they accuse Trump of doing that he should be impeached on is exactly and princely was Hillary did. Collusion, Obstruction, dealing with a foreign power to change the outcome of an election, use of power and privilege to grant favors for counties in return for "donations" to the Clinton Foundation and on top of all of that, the email scandal.  I am not even talking about White Water, travel gate, attacking women her husband was accused of full on raping.  Yet to Democrats, they literally cried when the piece of crap lost to Trump. So it would have been perfectly acceptable for Hillary to do everything Trump was falsely accused of.

If the media had an ounce of integrity, and held both parties responsible for their actions, our country would be a much better place.



Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 12, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250082986
ISBN-13: 978-1250082985


Monday, September 23, 2019

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup By: John Carreyrou

This book was recommended to me by a friend.  The book covers a "Bio-Tech" company that was akin to vaporware in the Software world.  Elizabeth Holmes, a young Standford dropout started a medical testing company. The plan was to create a blood testing device that would allow you to run a battery of test with a minimal amount of blood; from prick of a finger.


Holmes was a well connected, ambitious, young woman and sociopath with a "single white female" like love for the late Steve Jobs; to the point that she wore his signature black turtleneck.  The book covers the lies and mistrust with her own people. Sadly, I have worked for companies like this before.  I have had to leave, even at a loss to myself. 

Holmes seemed the little sister of the silicone valley tycoons and former political personas.  She was able to hoodwink these people into believing in her vaporware test.  She was able to secure funding for the company, Theranos and built her net worth in the billions.  I recommend this book for anyone looking to start a business and use it as a reference on how NOT to do it.


Here is a YouTube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwJyX15R4rQ

Another video, more in-depth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CccfnRpPtM


Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Knopf; 1 edition (May 21, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 152473165X
ISBN-13: 978-1524731656

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Permanent Record By: Edward Snowden

This is a long awaited book for me.  Some people may disagree with him.  IMHO I consider him a true hero.  He outed the corruption at the very top.  This has not stopped and has actually increased.  The saddest thing about the entire situation as that we all know the NSA is watching everything we do and we the people have done nothing.  We have become a bunch of complaisant drones of the government.


This book covers more of his upbringing and what brought him to the point where he blew the whistle on the government than the information he released.  I think Snowden is a brave man and should really be pardoned, although not sure he can be if he has not been convicted yet.   Snowden was on the money regarding the Internet of the 90's. Not the crazy victimization world we live in today where a post you made at the zenith of your acne outbreak comes back to haunt you well into your adult days. This why I agree with GDPR to some degree.

I am glad that his then girlfriend flew out with him and they were able to get married.  It is a great story of a great guy.  He blows the lid off of the government mass surveillance which they call "Bulk Collection".   Based on the recent call to sue Snowden for the proceeds of this book, I do not see this government slowing down.  Government production is bipartisan.



Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Metropolitan Books (September 17, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250237238
ISBN-13: 978-1250237231





Monday, September 16, 2019

Solitary By: Albert Woodfox

This was an amazing book. Although I disagree with the political views of the Black Panthers, since they are a Marxist organization,  I must remove my hat and commend Albert Woldfox for the way he carried himself in prison. He was a convict but not a thug. What they did to Robert King, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox is unrcontionable.  Woodfox, Wallace and King where held in solitary confinement in sub-human conditions for an extended period of time.  In Woodfox's case, over 40 Years.


This book shows the racism experienced during the 60's and how it continued well into the 2000's.  The Angola 3 as they were know as, had a huge following and a amazing legal team of mostly volunteers.  Two portions of the book hit me especially hard.  One of them was how Woodfox would take his hour to help bathe and clean the cells of the mentally ill in his cell block.  The second was the testimony given by Teenie Miller's, the widow of Bent Miller.  Brent Miller was a guard at Angola Prison and was murdered.  Albert, Wallace and even King (which was not even in Angola during the murder) were accused and held for over 40 years for a crime they did not commit.  This is a travesty of justice.  I recommend this book highly.  It will change your views on prison, prisoners and the legal system.  I cannot wait for the movie to be made.  I will be there.


Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Grove Press (March 5, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802129080
ISBN-13: 978-0802129086

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Prince of Thieves By Chuck Hogan

This book takes place in the mid 1990's in Charleston, Boston; the oldest neighborhood in Boston. I watched the Ben Affleck's adaptation film of this book "The Town" before I read the book.  Because of that, as I was reading the book, Doug MacRay WAS Ben Affleck.



The author writes about a group of childhood firends that commit heists when they are older.  Doug screwed up his chance to get out of the Town after being drafted by the Bruins.  He is a recovering alcoholic.  James Coughlin, another member of the "gang" is a hot-headed, degenerate but pulled 9 years in prison for defending Doug.  His sister is Doug's former lover.

The gang pulls a bank heist.  They are extremely detailed oriented and in doing so, they investigate the workers of the bank.  One of those employees is Claire Keesey, the Assistant Bank Manager.  Doug falls for her and after a successful bank robbery, Doug finds a way to meet her, unbeknownst to her, she does not realize that he was one of the bank robbers.

The FBI is obviously investigating the crime and the agent in charge, Fraweley, is also into Claire and  as the story unravels, you can see the battle for Claire's affection.

The movie was excellent but the book was too.  I recommend it.


Agent Frawley, Doug MacRay, James Coughlin, Krista Coughlin from the movie "The Town"



Hardcover: 364 pages
Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (August 10, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 074326455X
ISBN-13: 978-0743264556

Monday, September 9, 2019

The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture By: Heather Mac Donald


** Trigger Warning: contains sexual content that might offend the non adults **


This book is geared mostly to our colleges and universities. Mac Donald calls out the insanity that exists today in colleges and university. From "micro aggression" to "rape" and everything in between.



When writing about rape, MAC Donald writes about how the colleges and universities have changed what they consider rape and as such, there numbers are skewed. Also interesting is how a woman is not responsible for her actions while intoxicated but rather the male has to be responsible for HIS actions while drunk or high as well as the female's action. Soon you will see contracts such as this made up contract below:

I do hereby authorize to insert at least one finger, but not to exceed three finger in the vagina of . I also authorize to penetrate said vagina with penis. This Interaction will last at least 15 min but not to exceed one hour. Oral sex is optional but highly recommended. For oral including touching with hands, please see finger section above.

At many points in this book I found myself laughing out loud because of the stupidity our society has devolved into. Other times I found myself in tears because of the same. I cannot fathom our country being run by these professional victims that find fault in anything and everything. How can these people operate in the real world where rejection is a daily issue, relationships where people argue, jobs where bosses do not coddle you. They cannot. These people in my opinion are not prepared to enter into society as adults.

Shame on the colleges and universities for capitulating to these coddled, imbecilic, entitled, professional victims babies. Sadly these kids are paying enormous amounts of money and jumping through hoops to get accepted only to be taught that if they do not like their surroundings, they can accuse and fabricate whatever they want to force those not acting the way they want into submission.

The Oscars, Emmy awards, Golden Globes et al have become unwatchable. They have turned into a political opportunity and a race/sex/LGBTQ quota fest. I would like to watch entertainers entertain. I wouldn't mind those institutions go away altogether. The fact that we need to pass over artists that are deserving of an award simply because another is a female, black, short, tall, LGBTQ, or any other group that has decided to complain.

I used to want my kids to go to a great Ivy League school but after reading this book, I think to myself "Why?" Why would I spend all that money to have my kids take semester after semester on meaningless "education" about fabricated things. What a waste of time and money.






Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 4, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250200911
ISBN-13: 978-1250200914

Thursday, August 29, 2019

The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech By: Kirsten Powers

Trigger warnings, safe spaces, micro aggression, cultural appropriation, white privilege and other moronic views is a huge problem today.  I normally ask people "Where are you from originally", this is considered micro aggression?  Powers, a Liberal, blew the lid off of what Conservatives and independents like myself have seen for years. "Free speech for me, not for thee" and "Tolerance for me but not for thee" is apparently the new new-liberal motto.



Conservatives have been denied speaking at universities because of their beliefs or political affiliation.  In other words, we need to practice exclusion to attain inclusion.  This is insane.  Universities used to be a place were freedom of speech was not only encouraged but many of the battles for the same were fraught. Today it's the complete opposite.

So the illiberal oppose Christianity but support Islam which we know is anti-LGBT and have zero respect for women. I guess enemy of my enemy is my friend.  Selective Outrage much?   The new left has even gone after Bill Maher for not following lockstep with their new illiberalism.  Maher?  He is ultra liberal but it only shows to what level the new left has gone.

In my opinion anyone who requires to have trigger warnings, and are offended by anyone that does not agree with them are not ready to be part of society and honestly require severe mental health help. We have failed our future generations. We have been bad stewards of freedoms and rights. We have been able to unravel what has been a beacon for the world for centuries.  I will address the typical triggered response, I do not want to go back to slavery or Jim Crow. I live by a strict motto; "no groups, no colors, no hyphenations and no labels". ~me.

This book was written during the Obama administration.  Ironically, she writes about how Obama was attacked by negative stories from Fox. Wow. Fast forward to today and Trump, Obama has a honeymoon for 8 years.

I commend Powers for taking on a subject considered a third-rail in her circles. She has laid out a concise, well documented, and honest book sure to rock the snowflakes that have corrupted society and have contaminated the future of this country. I can only hope that a miracle occurs and these drones realize how wrong they are. Not only is it bad for the country but the future of other countries looking at us, will be emboldened to attack us because they will know that the people here would fold like a cheap suite.

If this continues, the new left will live in an echo chamber.  The irony is that just because you use force and intimidation to stifle the speech, you do NOT change the belief. For instance if you have a person that is a racist, you would never know where this person stands. Given the right situation and opportunity, that racist would act on their true feeling. Not only that but the inability to speak your mind and your thoughts as offensive as they may be, I believe multiplies those thoughts.  Those thoughts coupled with ridiculous snowflake antics could be devastating.

Powers decimates the media and whistleblowers. Ironically she is now working for CNN.  She states that Obama's was the most closed WH thertofor.  Probably different today with Trump although not sure. Obama has his own videographer that spins the message. He gave far less interviews than Bush and Clinton.  She is rightfully critical of Obama's narcissism and he lack of transparency. Anyone with a pulse would have seen that.   With regards to whistleblowers, Powers writes about the aggression with the whistleblowers while leaking other information for political gains.

When it comes to climate change, the fact that a media organization is allowed to block opposing talk, letters or articles is such a scary situation. It is a double-edged sword. I was utterly shocked when I read "Kentucky Professor northern pro life.  Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor to how I felt when I saw it" WTH is this crap?  The more I read about these things the more I believe that political party or affiliation should be a protected class. Furthermore if a women's group grossly discriminate against a conservative woman and does not fight for the Conservative woman in the same vigor as a liberal, those groups should lose their tax exemption as should any group purporting to protect a group of general users.  If the women's or Hispanic or black or whatever else is ONLY for a particular party, they should be called out and shutdown as a racist organization. Although that attacks their 1st amendment, I do not see another way.


Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Regnery Publishing; First Edition edition (May 11, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1621573702
ISBN-13: 978-1621573708

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Kochland by Christopher Leonard

The pro-EPA, anti-Capitalist, and anti-Koch position of the author is palpable.  However, with that said, the book is well written and obviously well researched.  Some of his assertions are off though in my opinion.


Leonard writes about how breaking the Labor Unions is tied to the divide between management and the workers.  However if you look at the Union structure, and the salaries of the Labor Union Bosses you will see that they too are off from the standard worker.  There was a time when Labor Unions were necessary and created value for the worker.  However today, with the Government intervention in EVERYTHING we do, the Unions are a thing of the past.  The Left, the ones who support Labor Unions, will tell you that the "Citizen's United' decision should be reversed because it gives corporations the ability to "interfere" in political elections and that the corporations are NOT people and should not be allowed to participate in funding campaigns.  Although I somewhat agree with that stance, I also think that Labor Unions should also NOT be allowed to mingle in elections.  Today, you have Labor Unions that are allowed to pull workers out of their "regular work" to assist in "Labor Union Business" which in many, many cases is electioneering for a pro-union candidate.  Not to mentions the disparate salaries of

2017 Labor Leaders Salaries and Compensation

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 464
(UFCW)
John Niccolai
Salary - $589,439.00
Compensation - $594,193.00

Air Line Pilots Association
Timothy Canoll
Salary - $526,292.00
Compensation - $775,829.00

Laborers International Union of North America
(LiUNA)
Terrence O'Sullivan
Salary - $516,698.00
Compensation - $717,992.00

International Longshoremen's Association
Harold Dagget
Salary - $488,008.00
Compensation - $533,222.00

International Brotherhoos of Trade Unions Local 713
Peter Hasho
Salary - $477,500.00
Compensation - $756,973.00

Source: https://laborpains.org/2017/05/17/union-president-pay-watch-2017/

I am sure that the respective Labor Union members are not pulling in those numbers.  I am sure if you look at the percentage the bosses are making over the standard worker, the number would ALSO be staggering.  And these do not include the really big ones like Teamsters and AFL CIO.


Leonard also writes about the Charles Koch not wanting to take the company public because it would open up the company to scrutiny and shareholders would be able to demand information.  I make one observations, the Labor Union are also NOT public.  And they too, as you saw above, have all kinds of information they do not want revealed.

Charles Koch is a business genius. He has grown his company based on strategies he has devised and lessons learned. Their success was not based on shareholders and wall street or even government intervention. This speaks to the Freemarket and how some win and some lose.  Obviously in this book we see that Koch Industries failed at many points in their time.  They pushed through and were able to protect themselves for the "bad times".  The Kochs were very liberal with their money from a philanthropy perspective.  They gave to multiple causes that should meet the approbation  of the author, however he points out that the 100 Million dollars donated was over 10 years.  I am curious what donations the author supports?

 Democrats "create jobs" by enforcing arduous regulatory efforts that require full time teams to try to comply. This is not organic and cost companies profits that stifle internal growth.  The Democratic policies and regulations coupled with labor unions would destroy this economy. Although not specified in her book, Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged lays out the current Liberal agenda.

I think the best thing to happen to the "climate change" movement was also the worse; arguably, Gore's movie/commercial "Inconvenient Truth".  After Gore states that carbon credit was the path to take, he followed it up by saying his company was the only one that could sell you said credits.   Any racional person could see right through it. I believe there is climate change but I do not believe it is as cataclysmic as some make it out to be.  Nor do I think that we need to regress back to the horse and buggy days while the reset of the world ignores and pushes on.  It is a suicide pact.

Leonard is critical about Koch and the "astroturf" of him funding protest movements and so on.  This is nothing new here.  Soros has been doing this for quite some time.  Leonard also blast Glenn Beck, which I am not a fan of BTW, for peddling in fear.  Yet today you see every media outlet talking about Trump being a Russian Spy, racist, et al.  I am not saying that peddling in fear is good, but for God's sake, look at your team and at least make reference to what is going on around YOU.  You are basically doing the same thing you accuse Beck of doing.

Chase Koch chapters were very interesting. Even if you do not like Koch, you must admit he did some very difficult things with his son.  He instilled good work ethic and although Chase did not assume the "thrown" of Koch Industries, aside from the terrible tragedy he was at fault for, he did pretty good.  I mean, Ted Kennedy did great things arguably after his issues with cars and deaths.

I think the funniest portion of the book is the policies that were thousands of pages long and difficult to follow and undertand.  Take a look at our tax code, our laws, the ACA with over 20,000 pages for just health care.  The author is obviously on the side of big government and more regulation, what does that look like in pages?  It was funny to read that section.



Charles Koch


David Koch


William "Bill" Koch



Hardcover: 704 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (Aug. 13 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1471186970
ISBN-13: 978-1471186974






Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Secret Life of Kim Dotcom: Spies, Lies and the War for the Internet by David Fisher, Kim Dotcom

This book covers Kim Dotcom's early life (born Kim Schmitz) in Germany to an alcoholic and abusive father.  He is a good student and is smart for his age.  His mother struggled to purchase young Kim his first computer. He is arrested as a young man which gives him street cred to open a security consulting company. He later starts Megaupload which arguably is the dawn of cloud storage today and becomes incredibly rich.




It's funny because I used to use his Kimble.org (another one of his alias’) site to test Internet speed before the speed test sites started popping up. It was so loaded with Flash and had a countdown when it loaded. Depending on how fast the countdown cycled through, the better the Internet connection was. He was already grossly successful with his MegaYacht, MegaCar and all his pictures and videos of his adventures were posted on this site.  He would post pictures with famous people, parties with 100’s of people on yachts, private jets and cars.  I have to admit, in my early days, I thought of following his security consulting ways, and eventually I did but obviously not to his level of success.

Kim meets and subsequently marries his wife in the Philippines and has 3 kids and twins on the way during his arrest.  In January of 2012, on the day before Kim's birthday, his life gets turned upside down. The New Zealand police, in an unprecedented raid on a geek’s home in the early hours, hit his mansion with a military force raid where they subsequently arrest him on charges of Copyright infringement and even states "terrorism" and "child pornography".   Dotcom would eventually divorce his beautiful wife and mother of five to what is said is the strain with the case.  Many accused her of being interested in his money.  I guess no one will know.

What ensued next was a whirlwind court case where Kim is fighting for his life and his family which you can argue that he loses both. Dotcom challenges the validity of the warrants and those that allowed it. Kim not only challenges the courts to avoid extradition to the US, but also throws his hat into the political arena only to lose to the incumbent John Key, who some call his nemesis.

It is a shame that a person, a visionary, has been silenced.  I understand that US Laws are probably the strictest in the world.  I also realize that the US lobby system and the over-reach of government is pervasive and every day, it seems we the citizens of the US are losing more of our rights not only from government, but from political parties.  We have lost “TRUE” freedom of speech, the 4th amendment is all but gone and a particular group is hard at work to take our 2nd amendment as well.  I am sure Dotcom did some criminal stuff to amass his wealth, but like I used to tell my Scouts when I was a leader, “When you point your finger at someone, you have three fingers pointing back at you”.  We see our government and the politicians constantly use money, power and influence to get out of all sorts of crimes they have committed that regular people would surely go to prison for.

Good book, could have been great but nonetheless a great read especially if you are part of the "scene" and were part of his rise to fame.

Dotcom's Mansion in New Zealand

The Megacar from his kimble.org site

Dotcom's first wife and kids

The NEW Mrs. Dotcom



File Size: 2346 KB
Print Length: 238 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Paul Little Books; 1 edition (November 17, 2013)
Publication Date: November 17, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0473267152
ISBN-13: 978-0473267155
ASIN: B00GR7AF46