Kingpin: How One Hacker Took Over the Billion-Dollar Cybercrime Underground By: Kevin Poulson

This title had been on my "To Read" book list for at least two years.  This was an excellent book and when juxtaposed with "Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World" which highlights the different paths that many of the "black hat" hackers took, it is a sad tail of Max Ray Vision formally Max Ray Butler, and his downfall.

Paulson, a former black hat hacker himself, did an extraordinary job documenting the life, ascent and subsequent decent of Max Vision.  Max was no stranger to jail. He had already served time in prison way before this final cardermarket.com debacle.

Vision is credited with identifying and subsequently exploiting a serious BIND vulnerability, (most common DNS server used for Domain Name Services).  He "patched" the vulnerable servers but kept a backdoor.  He served 18 months for that incident. While in prison he, much like many other criminals, grew his social circles of other criminals. Upon getting out, it was not long before he got into trouble again. Changing and later dominating the "carder" black market.  He stole over 2 million credit card records.

Sadly, for Vision's sake, he did not follow his instincts when he discovered "Master Splyntr" was an Federal Agent. That was his undoing.

Max Ray Vision, 37, was sentenced to 13 years in prison, was also ordered to pay $27.5 million in restitution, and to serve five years under court supervision following his release, during which time he'll be allowed to use computers only for legitimate employment or education.

It is truly a sad tail to see someone as talented as Mr. Vision was and is, throw his career and life away for what he could have easily made 100x over in the white hat world. I guess for there to be good, there must be evil; where there is light there is also darkeness.

Recently (2013), Vision was accused of using a cell phone in prison to gain access to debit cards and use the proceeds to purchase a drone.  Said drone was used to smuggle contraband into the prison and once again, a snitch outed him.  He was 12 years into his sentence and now is looking at another extended stay in the "Federal Hilton".

Max Vision in his early days

Max Vision today

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crown (February 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307588688
ISBN-13: 978-0307588685

Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World By: Joseph Menn

This was a great book written about a great time in my life. I was part of the culture but not a member of CDC.  I grew up following many of these people.

It was great to read about how these players had a lot to do changing the industry I enjoy today.  Mudge's accomplishments and his insight has threaded the needle regarding companies securing their software and hardware. 

Beto O'Rourke, Presidential Contender In 2019, was also a member of CDC and it is good to see someone from my "world" running for POTUS.  I disagree with his politics and it is sad to see him capitulate his "privilege" and other false flag issues he has apologized for.  I think it goes against the hacker community as it is more like "this is what I believe.  I think one of the most important messages of the book though, is how people were discovering their skills and in some cases, using it for nefarious reasons, there is a lucrative path to "adulthood"; in some cases even the POTUS.

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: PublicAffairs (June 4, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 154176238X
ISBN-13: 978-1541762381

Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War

This is a great book. I know the title calls out the "Left", however the book covers a much larger problem. This book covers 81 "Hate Hoax" cases.  Reilly covers some insane, IMHO, notions of White Privilege and Cultural Appropriation.

The notion that somehow people that are white have more chances and more opportunities is a fallacy. What does have "privilege" in this country is wealth. Think about it, who do you think would have more "privilege" John Smith (a fictional white person) or the family of Jay Z and Beyoncé, or the kids of Will and Jeda Smith?  How about the daughter of the CEO of SoSo Def, Jermain Dupree?   These people would have and DO have greater opportunities than any "normal" white person. How about those white people that grew up in the inner city (many do), went to the same schools, had the same friends, of parents in the same socioeconomic circles; these people are equally challenged by their surroundings.  Additionally, look at most of the CEOs of the largest, most successful companies.  Very few are overweight.  Is there a "thin privilege"

In "Cultural Appropriation", this is another insane notion that occurs when normally ONLY a white person appropriates someone's culture. The problem with this is that if you follow it to its logical conclusion, non Mexicans will not be allowed to go to Chili's Bar and Grill, no one would be able to eat Chinese food except for Chinese people, no non-black people would be able to listen to hip hop etc. It's absolutely insane.

What is shocking to me in most of the cases he covered in the book is the continued support of the hoaxer even after they were discovered.  It goes against all logical thought process. Anyone representing a particular group should be appalled by someone hijacking their causes. Furthermore, it diminishes real hate crimes.

Some of the hoaxers said they did it to call attention to something they were fabricating. However that is like me saying I robbed a bank to call attention to the weak security they have. And the organizations that support them are on record saying it does not matter if they lied because they are sure that other crimes are probably happening.

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Regnery Publishing (February 26, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1621577783
ISBN-13: 978-1621577782

The Real Watergate Scandal: Collusion, Conspiracy, and the Plot That Brought Nixon Down By: Geoff Shepard

This starts off with a good preview of Nixon's rise to "stardom". It covers his utter failure on the Kennedy debates and of course Watergate.  Author describes the political makeup of the prosecutors and secret meetings the prosecutors were having with judges.  This is extremely disturbing.  I will admit that I am not a Nixon expert so this is my first real attempt to read on the subject. 

This book was an interesting read.  With the current climate and temperature in the D.C. this book is very apropos. Seeing what went on during the Watergate debacle and how the prosecutors and judges were having secret meetings and stacking the deck especially the Dean "sentencing" which was a sham, it cleared up a lot of the strategy being used today.  I recommend this book for noobs to the Watergate / Nixon genre as well as long time readers.  I can say that based on this book and the hatred of Nixon, I can only imagine the pressure on both sides with the Trump White House. Nixxon was a loved POTUS compared to Trump.  I am going to read the following books:

Blind Ambition By: John Dean
All The President's Men By: Bernstein and Woodward
The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It By: John Dean


Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Regnery History; First Edition edition (August 3, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1621573281
ISBN-13: 978-1621573289

Anyone who knows Dan Bongino knows he is a regular guest on Fox News and is known for his Conservative views. You would expect him and his book to be extremely partisan, however you would be wrong.  Bongino talks about his career path that brought him to the prestigious PPD (President Protection Detail). Bongino talks about his childhood with a "stepfather" and how his mental, emotional and physical abuse drove him.

I was pleasantly surprised at the chapter regarding President Barack Obama and how he felt proud and honored to be part of it.  He was also very gracious and congratulatory to Obama in spite of his political differences and how nice they were with him. I was additionally surprised that Bongino ascribes, as I do, to Austrian Economics principles.  He also shows signs of Libertarianism although more Right leaning.

Bongino blows the lid off of the mainstream media's report about death threats to President Obama and its increase to over 400%.  I would believe that about Trump but not so much about Obama.  I enjoyed reading about missions I remember watching of TV as most Americans.   Bongino talks about how the new political landscape is more about "Style not substance".   This is sadly true in my opinion.

Bongino speaks about the Secret Service Prostitution issue. His brother, still in the Secret Service during the time it occurred.   The book is extremely informative and gives you vivid insight into the world of Secret Service and the famous/infamous "bubble". I recommend reading this book.



Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: WND Books; First Edition, First edition edition (November 19, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938067363
ISBN-13: 978-1938067365

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story By: Sean Howe

Very informative book about the history of Marvel.  Marvel was a a juggernaut in the comic book scene many years ago and as of late, even bigger on the motion picture side of the house.  Stan Lee was a visionary and has changed the comic/super hero genre forevermore.

I was never a big "comic book guy", although I encouraged my sons to read them and follow them.  They love them and I am able to always ask them about was in "canon".  

Howe, takes you through the history of Stan Lee and his company and how they changed comic books.  Their rival with DC Comics and how they made it work.

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Harper; 1st edition (October 9, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 9780061992100

ISBN-13: 978-0061992100

ASIN: 0061992100

Filthy Rich: The Billionaire's Sex Scandal--The Shocking True Story of Jeffrey Epstein by James Patterson (Author), John Connolly (Author), Tim Malloy (Contributor)

A sickening tale of power, privilege and child molestation. Jeff Epstein, a billionaire took advantage of over 150 underage girls.  Ages from 12 to 17.

This book is disturbing. However I do not see how else to drive the story without the details. This books dives into the victim's testimony of what happened, in explicit, sickening details. Epstein has handlers that seek out and bring underage girls to his mansion where these young girls would be paid to give Epstein "massages" where he would order the girls to be naked and where he would masterbate until ejaculation.  Furthermore, Epstein would insert his fingers, sex toys and in some cases his penis into these young girls.

Equally disturbing is his ability to literally get away with these crimes. Epstein used his money, power and influence to downgrade the charges he would plead guilty to.  Epstein was sentenced to 18 months however he had a personal guard to sit outside his cell (when he was there), he was allowed to go home via his private driver.  Who does this?  Well the powerful and rich do.

Sadly there are two sets of rules and laws. Those for the common folk, and those for the rich and powerful. Epstein has been tied to Price Andrew, Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Chris Tucker, and Donald Trump. Although those listed here deny any wrong doing, Donald Trump had originally banned Epstein from his Palm Beach club (Mar-a-Lago).

After this book was published, Epstein was re-arrested and as of late, he allegedly attempted suicide in his cell. This debacle of a case shows the breakdown and the problem with big government where something as egregious as this case is allowed to fall through the cracks, or pushed into cracks.  There should have been checks and balances where we identify usurpation of laws and the Constitution.  We see this circus we are living now with Trump where lawmakers have spent all their time on a witch hunt instead of their jobs they were elected to do.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First Edition edition (October 10, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316274054
ISBN-13: 978-0316274050