The Real Lincoln By Thomas DiLorenzo

I read this book way back in 2011 It was actually my first review in this blog.  I read it again this week.  In this book, DiLorenzo dives into Lincoln's unconstitutionality with regards to the secession of the south as well as the tyrannical ways of Lincoln.  Throughout my life, like most people my age, we grew up thinking Abraham Lincoln was "the best President of the United States".  We were led to believe that Lincoln was a staunch pro-black, anti slave abolitionist, but a cursory review of the facts tells you otherwise.  The fallacy of his reasons to go to war to "free slaves" is not only false but ridiculous to repeat.  For years I listened to people refer to the "Civil War" as the "War of Northern Aggression" and I had never REALLY understood, in detail what they meant by it.  This book will shed light on that phrase and details the ways of "Honest Abe".  He was in FACT a white supremacist, anti-black, and at best, indifferent on slavery. 

Lincoln was a Whig; first and foremost.  He was all about centralizing the power in Federal government as well as centralized banking and the "American System" advocated by Henry Clay in the early 1800s.

American System: "the policy of promoting industry in the U.S. by adoption of a high protective tariff and of developing internal improvements by the federal government" Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Here are a few key points covered in this book

• Conscription - Conscription is essentially slavery.  You are forced to fight for someone regardless of your support for the cause and against your will.  So I guess the adage of "Fight fire with fire" or in this case, Fight slavery with slavery held true.

• People in the North revolted against Lincoln and the war because they did not want to fight for blacks.  Its funny how history shows that EVERYONE in the south was pro-slavery and EVERYONE in the north were abolitionists, when in fact the opposite is true.  Many in the north sold "freed slaves" back into bondage in the South.  

• Slave States in the North - Even with the "Emancipation Proclamation" by Lincoln which technically did absolutely nothing for the slaves, today's historians credit Lincoln with this genius writing, however the FACT is that when Lincoln and all the way until the end of the war, there were still 4 states in the North where Lincoln ACTUALLY governed that were allowed to keep slaves  (Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Delaware and "West Virginia").  This FACT proves that Lincoln was at the very least indifferent about slavery.  Even in his inauguration speech where he famously stated "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."

• Colonization - Lincoln was a firm believer in Colonization.  Essentially saying, "You can be free, just not in my neighborhood".  I remember Ted Kennedy, Senator from Massachusetts droning on  and on about how, we the people needed to adopt wind turbines because it was good for the environment, up until the point when they wanted to install them in Nantucket Sound where he lived. He became unhinged.  So do as I say, not as I do was the norm.  Again a quote from the Lincoln Douglas debates   “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races … I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be a position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”  Ask yourself this, if you made as statement like that, what would become of you?

• Compensated Emancipation - Looking back at other countries' actions regarding slavery in their respective countries, many did "compensated emancipation".  It would have been much less loss in blood and treasure than that of the "Civil War".  Many countries ended Slavery (in case you did not know it, slavery was not just a United States issue both rather a world wide phenomena) by purchasing the freedom of the slaves.  Slavery is a horrid practice that has no place an any society, But to assume that every southerner owned slaves and fought for slavery is as irresponsible as believing that every northerner was an abolitionist and was fighting for the freedom of slaves.

• Fugitive Slave Act - Lincoln supported the fugitive slave act of 1850.  Going back to the the 'Slave States in the North' comment, since Slavery flourished in the north on the "border states" Lincoln needed to protect that institution by ensuring that "property" was returned to its rightful owners.  And he did support and enforce the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.  Again this is cursory research that revisionist try to use terms like "well that is difficult" as trying to White Wash (pun intended) history.  

• Total War - Total War is defined as "involving a complete and unified effort especially to achieve a desired effect total war total theater" Marriam-Webster.  Lincoln waged total war on the south.  This included women, children and non-military personnel.  Lincoln lauded Sherman and Sheridan for the udder destruction of the south.  Women and Children that had nothing to do with the war were rapped & slaughtered by Northern soldiers.  These soldiers would burn down civilian's homes, loot their belongings and kill all animals to ensure that even those that survived the soldiers, would be unable to survive in the long run.  Ironically, at the time, the Geneva Convention was already in effect (first rev of it).  Today, you would be charged with war crimes.  Hell, if you look at Abu Graib where soldiers were prosecuted for far less than what the north did to innocent women and children in the south.

• Secession was nothing new - In the past leading up to the Civil War and Lincoln's notion that succession was not allowed in the Constitution, there had been plenty of debates regarding other issues that states threatened to leave the union, and never was this challenged by anyone as not being Constitutional (NY being that most vocal).  Actually if you look at the Declaration of Independence "That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; ".  Actually, Lincoln succeeded West Virginia from  Virginia.  He needed the votes.

I can go on and on, but I definitely recommend this book to any one looking to see thing outside of the revisionists view.  The fact is that anyone with 30 minutes and an open mind will see that the Civil War was NOT for the plight of slaves but rather a power grab, that to this day corrodes our states rights, a financial issue, and a Tyrant.   Lincoln controlled the media at the time.  He imprisoned news papers that did not support him 100% or wrote against him, any law maker that did not do the same was also imprisoned and in some cases deported.  He was the poster-child for tyranny.

The irony though is that both of today's political parties want to claim Lincoln as their own.  Democrats will throw the "Dixiecrats" where somehow the "good" republicans and all their good things changed sides while the "bad" republicans and their ilk stayed behind.  The reality is that most of the dictators of this world that have committed atrocities against their people have quotes Lincoln and followed his lead including Adolf Hitler.  Both parties should distance themselves from Lincoln.

I am not a "Greatest President Ever" kool-aid drinker.  I do not view him in only a negative light either although there is more than enough reasons to detest him for what he did, but conversely thinking that somehow this guy was some kind of angel from God sent here to free the slaves and be the "honest" president is cultish and sadly ignorant.  

I highly recommend this book. 

ISBN-13: 9780761526469

Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group

Publication date: 12/02/2003

Edition description: Reprint

Pages: 384

Sales rank: 252,117

The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics By: Salena Zito and Bradd Todd

This was an interesting read to say the least.  Not your standard political book.  This book contains interview like vignettes of voters explaining their mindset and subsequent decision and vote for President Donald Trump.  This book covers the states, counties and cities that have historically been hard-core Democratic strongholds. The very same that rocketed President Barak Obama into office during his tenure.  Ironically, many of the voters were still looking for that change promised by President Obama.

The authors describe in statistical detail the numbers involved and the margins when compared to Senator Hillary Clinton that got Trump elected.  The irony is not lost when the very same voters that elected Obama into office, somehow became sexists and racists to deny the Presidency to Clinton.  I recommend reading this book to understand from a person's perspective outside of your "circle of trust" and the folks that tend to agree with you.

Strangely enough, the Republicans were attacked during Obama's administration for being violent, insensitive, hurtful, and other pejoratives; fast forward to the Trump Administration where members of his cabinet are being thrown out of restaurants with their families, and shouted out of other restaurants for simply existing.  The physical attacks against Republicans was never seen by the Tea Party.  The level of disrespect towards this President is insane.  Is he a lovable guy, probably not (for the record, I do not know him personally) but Obama was equally offensive to many of the people he spoke about and then things he said, he was much more suave and debonaire at saying it.  However anyone speaking ill of Obama was immediately and ceremoniously labeled a racist.  Similar to the "woman's groups" that allowed Sara Palan to be repeatedly annihilation by other women and men and NEVER stood up for her.  Even in the face of leftists women (and men BTW) wearing "Sara Palin is a cunt" T-Shirts.

The books shows you that many people see right through the rhetoric and see how unhinged the left has become.  For the record, I am not a Republican.  I do not watch Fox News and I am not a Tea Party member, a racists, sexist, homophobe, a Nazi or anything of the sort.  I am however not blind to the double standards being used by the left.  I welcome others opinions even when they do not match mine.  I promised that I would keep an open mind about Trump as I did about Obama and Bush.  Both Bush and Obama let me down in a big way.  Not so much on how they spoke, or  carried themselves but what their policies did.  Will Trump let me down?  Probably.  My standards for POTUS are more in line with Anarchists.  I believe the Constitution limits the Federal Government and it is specified EXACTLY what the branches of the Federal Government can and cannot do.

Sadly, if we continue down this route where political correctness is demanded but only when talking about the things that are important to you, but when anyone disagreeing with you, you can go at them with everything you have, we are doomed.  Today I was listening to a show about Sarah Sanders and how the owner of the restaurant "that is a majority of LGBTQ workers" said "We do not want to serve her".  This is insane.  The ACLU said it was OK.  This is from the people that went after a baker for not baking a cake for a same-sex wedding?  These are the ones that espoused their moral indignation against anyone that was discriminating against anyone.

Here is the rub.  I do not believe in "gay", "women", or "X", "Y" "Z" rights.  I believe in Human Rights.  There is no need to differentiate yourself because of your sex, orientation, color or anything else.  WE ARE ALL EQUAL.  The issue with that is that now, "Gay" people are of more value than a straight person.  I cannot refuse to make a cake for a gay couple, but I can kick you out of a restaurant because I disagree with you, your political party etc.  In this example, the "gay" person is of MORE value to society than anyone else.  It is identity politics 101.

I hope that this country turns their crap around real soon.  There is nothing good on the horizon if we continue like this.  The level of vitriol coming from the Democratic Party needs to be shut down.  We need to love one another and tolerate other views and opinions.  One last note, if you have any integrity, you would admit that Hillary was a bad pick.  She has broken laws.  That is a FACT.  I had to face it when Garry Johnson (aka Mr. Aleppo) and John McAfee (oh geez) ran on the Libertarian ticket.  I was mortified to associate myself with them.  Dems should do the same with her.  It only hurts your narrative when you would allow Clinton to walk and then go after Trump for what equates to the "Birther Movement" of today.

I will get off my soap box now.  "Mic drop"


Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Crown Forum (May 8, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1524763683
ISBN-13: 978-1524763688

The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity By: Ester Perel

I once stumbled onto Perel a few years back during her  Ted Talk.  She opened my eyes to an issue that has plagued relationships for centuries.  I recommend this box to those that have cheated, those that have been cheated on, those that have contemplated it and those that may be cheating and don't know it.

This book is interesting because it touches on many people's lives.  It discusses the sexual side, commitment side, the betrayal side, and the aftermath.  One of the great lessons from this book is, "what is your definition on monogamy?"  For some, that question eludes them while others have a good understanding of what it means.  For instance, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" ~ William Clinton when he spoke about having Oral Sex with Monica Lewenski. Really?  Really?  Is it watching porn?  It is engaging in inappropriate conversation with a co-worker?  Is it a cigar in an inappropriate place and oral sex?  Some religions even state that lusting over another person is tantamount to infidelity.  I guess you need to ask yourself and your partner to be sure.

Perel discusses the many reasons for infidelity.  She dives into non-sexual relations stemming from either party, emotional void, and many more, but I thought the most interesting one was that a person sometimes will cheat because they are looking for another "themselves".  Someone that they could have been.  The book draws some conclusions that I do not necessarily agree with but the book will definitely make you do what the title says "Rethink Infidelity"

Perel was born in Belgium, studied in Israel and finished her studies in the US.  She is an amazing person to listen to.  She also has a Podcast "Where should we begin".  I learned quite a bit from this book.  I learned that the hurt that cheating causes the other party is not worth the temporary pleasure of the affair.  Also that what used to be taboo many years ago; leaving your spouse for cheating, has been turn on its head today.  Today, the taboo thing is staying together after an affair when you can leave.  She discusses heterosexual as well as gay couples so wherever you find yourself in the spectrum, you should gain perspective from the book.

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Harper (October 10, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062322583
ISBN-13: 978-0062322586

Secret Empires : How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends By: Peter Schweizer

This is the second book I read by Peter Schweizer.  The first one was 'Throw them all out".  In that book he discussed the insider trading that occurs with members of the House and the Senate. After the publishing of the book, laws were passed against this activity, however in this book he informs us the very same administration that signed those bills into law, gutted them as well.  This book is equally tantalizing with respects to exposing the corruption in our government even at the highest levels.

As is Schweizer's MO, he does not toe any party lines in this book.  He is an equal opportunity basher.  He calls out Joe Biden, his kids, and their long time friends and how they enriched themselves with sweetheart deals.  He also calls out Barak Obama and his "FBOs" (Friends of Barak Obama) and the litany of cronies he put in positions of power without having any sort of qualifications.  He also calls out how the corruption that followed President Obama from Chicago and the corruption heretofore.  Of course the Clintons were covered.  How can you write a book about DC corruption, nepotism, fraud, crime and sweetheart deals without mentioning the Clinton's.

Not to be accused of being a Republican shill, he called our Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and his wife, Elaine Chao with deep ties to the Chinese government.  McConnell who has been seen as a big "free trade" advocate votes and pushes his fellow Senators in a way allowing his wife and her family to enrich themselves and increase their net-worth. Schweizer also calls out President Trump and his entanglements with businesses around the world.  He narrows in on Ivanka Trump's husband Jared Kushner and his family's real estate dealings, arrests and convictions and how he is over extended on his 666 property in NYC.  It is hard to tell with the Trumps how much has occurred since it is still ongoing.

Funny thing how we hear liberals decrying President Trump's ties to real estate and how his position will allow him to benefit from such investments, all the while they were silent about Penny Pritzker, Obama's Commerce Secretary.  She is a member of the Hyatt fortune and conveniently purchased properties personally and then leased them back to government agencies that she controlled at a huge profit.  She funded Obama throughout is ascent but apparently her dealings never made it to the front page or prime time hour of the Mainstream Media.

The book is written well.  I could not put it down.  The problem is, you cannot unring that bell.  You cannot unsee what you saw.  This is sadly becoming a banana republic and it appears that it has zero to do with party.  Sadly we are the enablers that allow these scum bags to do what they do and even provide cover for them.  For Hillary Clinton, the gull of this woman to think that she would get away with what she did unscathed AND obtain the highest position in government speak volumes about the level of corruption.

I do not align with any party.  I feel that today, in order to follow a party, you must lie, cheat and steal even when you do not agree.  Both parties keep us, the people fighting and thinking that somehow they are different from each other.  Anyone that has lived in the States and worked for an extended period of time knows that we, the middle class, get screwed regardless of the letter, or what I like to say, what gang sign they are throwing up in the parties.  They want us to think that if R or D wins, somehow we are better off.  Until we the people, drop the party system and make these politicians accountable, this will continue to plague and eventually destroy this country.

Mitch McConnell and his wife who's family (including her) own a massive billion dollar shipping company and have ties to Chinese Government officials and companies owned by Chinese Government.

Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner.  Kushner is on the hook for a bad investment in NYC where his interest only deal will come due in 2019.  We should monitor how that goes.  He is now part of the WH.

Penny Pritker, Former Obama Commerce Secretary.  She is a billionaire and has enriched herself by purchasing properties personally, then leasing them out for long term leases to government agencies at a premium.

Hunter Biden, son of Vice President Biden and Devon Archer got a sweetheart deal and landed on the board for a Ukranian gas company while Hunter's father was involved in calling out Ukraine for corruption.  Not to mention his other partner in crime, and that is not just an idiom Chris Heinz; none other than the step son of Former Secretary fo State John Kerry (bottom picture)

This book is great but will open your eyes to the corruption that exists at all levels and parties of this countries government.  I highly recommend it for anyone looking to "drink the red pill and see have far the rabbit hole goes" ~  Morpheus (The Matrix 1) .  If you want to take the blue pill and forget all about it and continue as a drone in this world, pass this one up.

Publisher: Harper (March 20, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0062569368

ISBN-13: 978-0062569363

Time Management Magic by Lee Cockerell

This was a great book. Although it is based on an analog system instead of a digital system, it delivers great insight into the skills necessary to maintain sanity in your world.

Lee Cockrell is someone who inspired me in the past and continues to do so today.  His previous  book "Creating Magic" changed my management style and helped me to identify a truly great leader and more importantly, how to become one myself.  As I stated earlier, Cockrell uses an analog approach and uses a Daytimer which he hand writes into instead of an app like OmniFocus, Things, or TodoIst. There are studies that show that someone that writes things out has a better retention and comprehension of the subject matter.  Although I agree with the study regarding writing things down manually, I cannot see myself doing away with my sacred OmniFocus apps (macOS and IOS). I live and die by OmniFocus.

Cockerell was the EVP at Walt Disney World and had over 40k people reporting to him.  Disney created an institute around Cockerells methods.  They teach world leaders and corporations at the institute.

I highly recommend this book for anyone trying to get organized and get things done without procrastinating or dropping the ball. It will put things into perspective from Cockrells point of view about goals, priorities and getting things done. I have already applied some of the techniques and merged into my existing workflow and I have already started to bare the fruits of his wisdom.  It is not a very long book at all.  But it is replete with excellent pointers.

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Emerge Publishing (October 8, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 194312731X
ISBN-13: 978-1943127313

Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War By: Fred Kaplan

This book was recommended by a fellow member of an InfoSec group I am a member of.  The book is a great historical account of the NSA and many offshoot divisions that came before and after. The book does have a few inconsistencies which I will list here:

1. Packet Sniffer - In chapter 1, he talks about a packet sniffer that is used to find directories and files.  This however is not the case necessarily.  Can it identify calls to directories and see files in motion, yes, but not in the context, he was writing IMHO.

2. He also mentions hacking into thousands of computers when speaking of a DoS attack.  Maybe if he was talking about a DDoS where they hacked into 1000s of computer to install LOIC or something, but again, not in the context he was using it. 

Dark Territory delves into the infancy of the Cyber Security world as we know it today and puts it square on the shoulders of former President Ronald Reagan.  Reagan had watched a screening of War Games staring Matthew Broderick.  In the film, a young computer whiz kid accidentally connects into a top secret super-computer which has complete control over the U.S. nuclear arsenal. It challenges him to a game between America and Russia, and he innocently starts the countdown to World War 3.
Reagan assembled his people and asked if this movie was plausible.  They gave him a definitive "YES".  This started the era of Cyber Security that we still find ourselves in.

The book covers the history of many of the tools and technologies we still use today such as red teaming, IDS, IPS, APT etc.  The book does gloss over a lot of technologies and issues that have occurred, but the overall the book covers the subject well and is worth the read.

From a political perspective, he Kaplan does not blame one side or the other in the US' lack of awareness and protection. It is interesting to read about the era before we were all aware of vulnerabilities and insecure practices.  I kept asking myself "What the hell were we thinking?"



Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (March 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1476763259
ISBN-13: 978-1476763255

Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla. Biography of a Genius By: Marc J. Seifer

Tesla was an amazing inventor.  Anyone who has followed him knows that he was an incredible inventor and although he applied for patents of his inventions, he lacked the business acumen to hold those responsible for infringing on his patents accountable.

This book rife with details about Tesla's life. Communications to and from Tesla are carefully quoted in this book; sometimes ad nauseam.  The author makes some assumptions regarding Tesla's mental state.  Say what you will about Tesla, but he is directly responsible for many of the marvels in science that paved the way for what we enjoy today:

Alternating Current (AC) - He competed with Thomas Edison that eventually took AC from Tesla.

X-Ray

Radio - Although Marconi was initially credited, and to some degree, still today with inventing the radio, it was Tesla that invented it and the decision was later upheld in a court of law.

Electric Motor - And yes, Elon Musk's company is name after Tesla and the electric motor.

“I don't care that they stole my idea . . I care that they don't have any of their own”
― Nikola Tesla

“Of all things, I liked books best.”
― Nikola Tesla

Paperback: 576 pages
Publisher: Citadel; Reprint edition (August 30, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0806539968
ISBN-13: 978-0806539966