The story starts out with Kit Carson. Carson was a well-known man for his hunting, conversing with Indians and travelled all through the unknown terriThe story starts out with Kit Carson. Carson was a well-known man for his hunting, conversing with Indians and travelled all through the unknown territory of early 19th Century Western United States.
He was taken as a guide for many trips. He spoke Spanish, English and some Indian languages too. One trip he made was with John Fremont to California where he got into a war with some Mexican Indians. He was later sent to Washington D.C. but ran into General Steven Kearny. The General talked him into leading him back to California as his guide because there was an uprising after General Kearny previously had peace. They took a long, arduous trip through the desert. Their mules and horses were dying. And they were starving, However, then ran into a group of Indians who fed them. They rested their and moved on. When they arrived in California, they took part in the Battle of San Pasqual, where they were extremely outnumbered but put up a terrific fight. General Kearny was injured, and a few had been killed. Kearny sent Kit Carson and two others to ask for reinforcements from San Diego where another army was stationed. The Indians surrounded them. But fortunately, 300 soldiers came to their rescue. The Indians saw the reinforcement coming so they disappeared and moved elsewhere.
This book is an entertaining look at the espionage industry. The author claims that all Wars are lost or won according to how much intelligence they hThis book is an entertaining look at the espionage industry. The author claims that all Wars are lost or won according to how much intelligence they have gathered about the other. For example, Paul Revere’s ride alerted Massachusetts’s residents to the attack by the British. Also, a man named John Honeyman was an American Spy who helped George Washington get his major victory at Trenton. Honeyman informed the Hessian Commander, Johan Rall, that Washington’s army was low in morale and would not attack the Hessians. In response, Washington ferried 2.400 troops across the Delaware River and defeated the Hessians while only losing 2 of his soldiers ( to frost bite) not action. Every major country had developed an intelligence operation. In WWII, the Germans had the Central Security of the Reich. The English had the M15 and M16. The American’s had the CIA and FBI. In the 21st Century brought in spy drones, infrared sensors and high resolution TV Cameras. So Spying will continue for now and into the future. ...more
The book is an interesting look at so called secret societies. The oddest of the stories told was that Mary Magdalene went to France and bore a baby The book is an interesting look at so called secret societies. The oddest of the stories told was that Mary Magdalene went to France and bore a baby who was Jesus Christ’s supposed lineage. The offspring of these were supposed blessed with Super powers and became World leaders. Leonardo da Vinci was supposedly one of these blessed people. Another odd story is the Skull and Bones society of Yale University. Apparently once you are initiated into the group you must steal license plates with the number 322 on them plus steal a skull from a grave to put in their room. The author surmises that the Bay of Pigs fiasco was planned out by Skull and Bones members Richard Drain, McGeorge Bundy and William Bundy. The author said that this blunder caused the boosting of Cuba prestige among the Third World nations, highlighted Fidel Castro’s claims of American Imperialism, and lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960’s.
It is a very interesting book which I enjoyed reading. ...more
A Dark History of the Tudors shows good and bad about the Tudor Family who had ruled England from the years 1485 until 1603. The first Tudor Monarch wA Dark History of the Tudors shows good and bad about the Tudor Family who had ruled England from the years 1485 until 1603. The first Tudor Monarch was Henry VII whose greatest achievement was to successfully end the War of the Roses uniting the houses of York and Lancaster. On Henry’s death in 1509 Henry the VIII came into power. Henry VIII may be the most famous King in English History. Henry VIII had 6 wives and starting his own religion after the Pope would not grant him a divorce. Unfortunately, Henry had executed 4 of his wives. He also sent Britain on many wars which left Britain in debt. After Henry VIII died his son Edward became King at the age of 9. He was led by smart and capable men by having him marry Mary Queen of the Scots. This helped quell the relationship between England and Scotland. However Edward had died in 1533 After his death the Crown went to his sister Mary I. Mary was a devout Catholic who tried to reinstitute Catholicism on British subjects. This became quite a messy affair because she thought it was her duty to purge non Catholics. She became known as Bloody Mary. When she died in 1558 but left her Crown to one of England’s greatest Monarchs-her sister Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth despite being protestant stopped the killing of other Protestants and protected the Catholics. She hired Francis Drake who privateered potential enemy ships and brought gold and other valuables he obtained to her. Elizabeth’s greatest accomplishment was her defeat of the Spanish Armada which led England to populate the America’s unmolested. Elizabeth reign ended the Tudor rule in England in 1603 after her death....more
Henry Ford was such an interesting man. He looked after the poor and middle class people. As a youngster he would disassemble other kid’s watches and Henry Ford was such an interesting man. He looked after the poor and middle class people. As a youngster he would disassemble other kid’s watches and put them back together. Later he was a chief engineer for Thomas Edison. Edison remained Henry’s hero throughout his life. Henry got very interested in the motor less carriages.
He developed the cheapest car a person could buy. The model T automobile became the most popular car of the 1920’s. It cost $500. Which was a lot for that time but as low as he could produce a car. Two things made him produce cars more cheaply. One was the discovery of Valadalium. If you add this steel it makes the car lighter and stronger. The other was the use of an assembly line for production. Moving the parts to the worker who did the same function everyday then passed it along increased production so more cars were available.
Ford also offered his workers a $5 dollar a day work day. This was astronomical increase in wages for his workers. However part of the $5 dollar day included a visit from a Ford staff member who would visit the employees houses and teach the employee about the use of money and give health advice. More than half of Ford employees were immigrants so it was hard for Ford staff to communicate with them. So Henry Ford set up a school to teach his employees English.
As the years passed the public became fascinated with Henry Ford. He along with John Burroughs, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone would go on camping trips and write about them. They made the newspapers and were named the Four Vagabonds.
Ford believed in reincarnation, exercise and that all disease was caused by the food we eat. The author, doesn’t neglect to tell the bad side of Henry Ford either. The workers on the assembly job got monotonous to the worker so Ford faced absenteeism.
In addition, when the congress passed authorization for unionization. Ford fought against and would not sign the contract that was proposed to him. However he finally backed down and gave Ford workers their union. He was also an anti-Semite. He had produced a pamphlet that was critical of the Jews. He disliked Banks and Wall Street which he believed was the creation by Jews. He later repented and apologized to the Jewish people.
This book details a man who was beloved and hated at times by the American people. It was a great read about one great interesting man. ...more
To sum up Charles Adams most important point it is “when a government taxes too much the inevitable consequence will be a rebellion, flight to avoid tTo sum up Charles Adams most important point it is “when a government taxes too much the inevitable consequence will be a rebellion, flight to avoid the tax or fraud. He describes societies destroyed by high taxes and a whole host of rebellions throughout history in many different countries. In fact, he blames Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo due to unpopular taxes Napoleon had imposed on his citizens and the British using the income tax providing them with money to pay and feed their troops.
Another interesting point Mr. Adams brings up is that Islam spread so easily in the 7th and 8th Century over the Middle East because they offered Christians a no tax policy if they could take over the Christian’s landholdings.
Also Cortez’s takeover of Mexico was due to the fact that Cortez went to neighboring communities to help him to defeat the Aztecs. Since the Aztec’s taxed the neighbors so much they joined Cortez. He also describes the economic miracles of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan who attracted business with low taxes. And he points out according to the Laffler code a nation taxed at 70 percent can reap the same income if the nation taxed at 7 %.
There are lots of interesting stories about how societies have failed due to high taxation and prospered due to moderate or low taxation. And it’s full of stories of revolts of various nations due to high tax policies.
And finally, the American Revolution was started over unfair tax policies forced on it by the British. ...more
The 1880’s Western part of America was really the Wild West. Famous characters emerged from these times. Wyatt Earp, Bat Matterson and Doc Holiday allThe 1880’s Western part of America was really the Wild West. Famous characters emerged from these times. Wyatt Earp, Bat Matterson and Doc Holiday all became famous by a gunfight they had in Tombstone, Arizona. Earp as the leader of the group would frequent saloons but would only drink coffee while the others were getting drunk. He met up with Masterson when Masterson was working as a Buffalo skinner. Earp was shooting Buffalo and Matterson and his brother would skin the Buffalo. When Earp let Bat shoot at the Buffalo he realized that Bat was a good shot. Oddly though Masterson disappeared from Wyatt Earp. Later Earp had visited Doc Holiday about an outlaw that both disliked. They became great friends afterward.
The Earp brothers and Doc Holiday got into the law because they were all very quick draws and accurate shooters. And it the time bands of cowboys would ride into a town and proceed to bring terror and mayhem. However with Earp and his friends around it receded somewhat. However a gang would test these law men.
Wyatt’s brother Virgil had become sheriff of Tombstone. On October 26th In 1881 Frank and Tom McLaury, Wes Fuller and Billy Claiborne along with Billy Clanton came into Tombstone with weapons. The law in Tombstone was you had to turn your weapons over to the Sheriff when you got into Tombstone. Virgil, Wyatt and the other brother Morgan along Doc Holiday went to get the weapons off of the McLaury brothers and Clanton expecting to be in a gun fight. When they met them a gun fight ensued. In it Frank McLaury was killed and his brother, Tom, also died from wounds suffered. Both Virgil and Morgan were hit with bullets but were not killed. Wyatt and Doc were unharmed in the battle. The Wyatt’s with Doc Holiday finished off the cowboys and bandits. However, they had faced a trial for killing those bandits. Fortunately, for the sake of the citizenry they were acquitted by the judge.
After the most famous gun fight in US History ended, Wyatt kept going after the cowboys and bandits. After his brother was assassinated Wyatt led a posse to capture the culprits. On his way his group killed many of the bandits.
Wyatt however get bored with it and moved to Colorado. He visited an old flame in San Francisco, married her and lived mostly happily until his death in 1929 when in Los Angeles. ...more
A Fist Full of Murder is a very interesting book about a great Boxing Champion who apparently killed his wife and ruined his reputation, somewhat, in A Fist Full of Murder is a very interesting book about a great Boxing Champion who apparently killed his wife and ruined his reputation, somewhat, in the process. After having a brilliant career as the Middle Weight Boxing Champion. His name is Carlos Monzon. Monzon grew up in the slums of Argentina.
After fighting in the streets he joined a Boxing gym. He won most fights but lost of few decisions. He was unknown, and unheralded, plus a decided underdog when he met Middle Weight Champion Nino Benvenuti on November 7, 1970. He slugged out the champion and knocked him out, to somewhat stunned crowd, in round 12 of their match.
He was now the Middle Weight champion. His 12 defenses of the title until his retirement when he ran out of good opponents plus his fragile right hand which was riddled with arthritis ended on July 30 1977 with a 15 Round decision victory over Rodrigo Valdez. In the meantime Monzon had been in movies but they dried up after he finished Boxing.
He had loads of earnings from his Boxing career however he never made in the US market. He was often listed as the best pound per pound fighter by the Ring Magazine. However, he didn’t go into retirement quietly. He drank and did drugs. He was a crazy man when he drank. He had numerous altercations with a variety of people but the one with his wife Alicia put him in prison.
On August 12, 1986 he had a fight with Alicia and according to court documents pushed her over a wall and killed her. He also had injuries from the fall but the court that he did them afterwards. So he was convicted.
As a prisoner he was a model prisoner. He was somewhat taking care of in prison. A restaurant would bring him meals. He was o good as a prisoner the prison let him out on furlough. He could have weekends off and week evenings. He always drove fast. After a party that he attended he was driving and he lost control of his car. His car rolled over and he was killed. He was just 52 years old.
He is regarded as a legend mostly in Argentina. A few women groups have vilified him but he is still popular with the rank and file Argentinians. He is regarded by boxing historians as one of the greatest Middleweight Champions of all time. It is a sad ending for such a great boxer....more
It is an interesting book which talks about many secret societies and cult groups both present and from the past. Jim Jones wore sun glasses day and nIt is an interesting book which talks about many secret societies and cult groups both present and from the past. Jim Jones wore sun glasses day and night to add to his mystique however he used bullying and intimidation to keep members of his tribe in line. He left the US to Guyana in South America to avoid the US government from catching him doing his evil deeds. He forced the members to watch Soviet propaganda. Also they were forced to live in rat infested deplorable conditions while he live in the lap of luxury. He had his members work long hours planting food and making roads while he slept then forced them to listen to his long winded sermons in the evening. He also staged fake poison events where members drank lemonade and told poison was in it after they drank it. Even though their wasn't any poison. When a congressman came down to visit the camp with reporters he shot and killed them all. Then he had the members drink lemonade laced with cyanide and they all died in the nastiness of the jungle. Another group the author discusses is the Illumanti. The idea was created by Adam Wieshaupt and the wanted to rid Europe of Christianity and nationalism. There are many famous members of the group including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They are around today but their aims have as of yet failed.
Anyway there are many other discussions of interesting and entertaining cults and secret societies in this book....more
This book is certainly a “secret life” of the FBI’s longest running Chief. J Edgar Hoover was a very smart man who propelled himself from law school tThis book is certainly a “secret life” of the FBI’s longest running Chief. J Edgar Hoover was a very smart man who propelled himself from law school to the head of the FBI. He directed the FBI appointed by FDR and died as the Director during the Nixon presidency. All the time he amassed secrets on many people to use as blackmail against them if need be. He was a right wing zealot who fired FBI agents for cheating on wives, being homosexual, and having drinking problems. He was against civil rights, homosexuals and feminism. Ironically, his big secret was he himself was apparently gay.
He and his deputy, Clyde Tolson were long lasting partners. However he tried to keep this secret. He was soft on the mafia because they had pictures of Hoover in gay acts. Hoover’s greatest fear that he would be outed. When Bobby Kennedy was Attorney General he went after organized crime. Hoover tried the thwart all Kennedy’s efforts. Hoover always stated that America’s largest problem was that we had too many communists among us. There were many illegal acts committed by him but he would work to destroy the person who went after him in any manner at all, even a seemingly obvious slight on the FBI he would pursue.
The book is full of interesting, if not unbelievable, information. It’s too much to put in this review. I will just say that after he passed away in 1972 some people still feared his impending wrath. However this is a very interesting book. ...more
This book was very interesting it described the 12 days that elapsed between the night John Wilkes Booth shot and killed President Lincoln. On the samThis book was very interesting it described the 12 days that elapsed between the night John Wilkes Booth shot and killed President Lincoln. On the same evening William Seward, Lincolns’ Secretory of State, was attacked by Lewis Powell. Powell was evidently a giant of a man who came after Seward posing as a doctor’s assistant. Fortunately for Seward his family tried relentlessly to fight off Powell’s assault. He badly scared Seward but failed to kill him and escaped the premises.
John Wilkes Booth is described as a very handsome charming man. He however saw President Lincoln as tyrant that must be put out of business. His original plan was, however, to kidnap President Lincoln. When that plan failed he took matters into his own hands. On April 15. 1865 Booth enters Ford’s Theater goes to Lincoln’s box and shoots him unmolested. Amidst the confusion Booth escapes the theater untouched. He finds a companion in David Herold.
The two of them try to get to Virginia from Baltimore where they might find sympathetic ears. They endured a terrible ordeal sleeping in the woods on the ground. Both had broken his leg and he struggled along. People around had helped them until they stumbled into a farm house. At first, the Garrett family showed them hospitality, unaware that they had Lincoln’s assassin, but they got suspicious on the second day, they made Booth and Herold sleep in the barn. When they are in the barn the Garret son locked the barn door.
In the meantime federal agents were in hot pursuit of Booth. When the agents find Garrets farm they were told they had two men trapped in their barn. The agents correctly figured out it was Booth and Herold. The agents talked for a while with Booth and Herold form outside the barn. They know Booth was heavily armed. Finally Herold is left to leave the barn and go to the federal officers.
The chief decided to burn the farm house to force them out. AS Booth exited the house he is shot by an assistant in the throat. He parishes shortly afterwards. The Chase for Lincolns killer was finally over you would think. But the other coconspirators were rounded up tried, convicted and hung.
In the Epilogue, the author, tells what happened to other residual players in this dreadful story.
The winter for the Continental Army at Valley Forge was deplorable. The men had few sources for food, many had shambles of clothing on them, and lots The winter for the Continental Army at Valley Forge was deplorable. The men had few sources for food, many had shambles of clothing on them, and lots wore in bare feet during a very cold winter in the Pennsylvania encampment. General Washington blamed congress for not providing the necessary staples to support his troops.
However, as spring approached things brightened. First, they found corruption and incompetence at the Quartermaster office. Civilians ran the Quartermaster for the Army. The Quartermaster was supposed to provide food and clothing for the soldiers. The failed had miserably at it. This changed when Washington convinced congress to appoint General Nathaniel Greene to head the Quartermaster Unit. In his first week in charge of the Unit, Greene had delivered a wagon full of food and clothing to the soldiers at Valley Forge.
Secondly, Baron Von Steuben appeared and brought with him Prussian discipline to the troops. He said, “Americans need to know why they are told to do something.” He explained why and things changed at the camp. They cleaned the camp up and drilled constantly. Almost everyone at the camp was impressed with Steuben.
In the meantime, British General Howe wanted to retire. He had enough of trying to defeat America and failing at it. Also, after the stunning victory at Saratoga, plus Benjamin Franklin’s and Silas Dean’s charming King Louis XVI, the French were convinced to help our American cause. The British wanted to concentrate on defeating France and gave the Americans an offer that included the repeal of the coercive acts and representation in the House of Commons. Washington thought they were trying to take the spirit out of our fighting citizens so he rejected it.
When General Clinton took over he was ordered to evacuate Philadelphia and move into New York. Washington and his council decide to attack Clinton’s rear on their advance. He puts General Lee, who recently was returned to the Continental Army after being captured, in charge of it. General Lee sees the British troops and runs away from them. Washington comes in and the sight of him had inspired the troops so they rally and win an important battle of Monmouth Court House.
Washington devised another plan to have General Greene lead a command through the South. He engaged with the British General Cornwallis troops a few times but retreated and disappeared before they could get hurt. He eventually led them to Charleston exhausted from the chase. The French ships took over Charleston harbor and our Army came down from the North. Cornwallis was trapped and he had no choice to surrender. The Treaty of Paris is signed and a new Country is formed. ...more
The New Dealers War is an interesting book on the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). FDR ran against Herbert Hoover. He laid blame at the man The New Dealers War is an interesting book on the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). FDR ran against Herbert Hoover. He laid blame at the man he once had complimented. FDR’s plan to defeat the Depression was to through programs at it. Today a number of New Deal programs (as they were named) exist. These include the Federal Deposit Insurance (FDIC) which insures deposits of your money in the bank for up to $250.00. Also, Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Fannie Mae's purpose was to purchase loans from private lenders, freeing up capital so those lenders could fund new loans. In addition, National Labor Relations Board, it was create a new agency dedicated to enforcing employee rights. Securities and Exchange Commission was another surviving New Deal program. The main goal of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was to restore consumer confidence in the securities markets. The law established the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate and oversee brokerage firms, stock exchanges, and other agents. The Social Security Act is the most known New Deal program. The U.S. government established an agency to register citizens for benefits, to collect taxes on both employers and employees to fund the benefits, and to distribute those funds to beneficiaries. Social Security helped not only the elderly, but also the blind, the unemployed, and dependent children by giving money to these groups. The final one is the Tennessee Valley Authority. The Tennessee Valley Authority still provides power to 10 million people in seven states and oversees a combination of hydroelectric, coal-fired, and nuclear power plants.
While they are lasting successes he also had problems with the Supreme Court. They struck down two big programs the National Relief Act (NRA) and the Agricultural reform Act (AAA) as unconstitutional. In fact, a total of 24 programs were deemed unconstitutional. In 1940, FDR ran for a third term. He defeated Wendell Willkie, however more Republicans come into the congress and they started to dismantle many of the New Deal programs. The most punishing of FDR’s programs was the issuing of an executive order imposing an income tax of 100% on income over $25,000. Congress rescinded this. Congress also abolished the Civilian Conservation Core and the Works Progress Administration. While he was getting his New Deal policies demolished. He was running our War effort against Germany and Japan. There is very suspect reasons for us getting into a War with Japan. It appears we provoked Japan into attacking us so we could get into the War with Germany. The War with Japan went horribly wrong for the US at the beginning. Japanese landed near Singapore and entered Thailand, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and also seized Guam. The Japanese also had invaded Burma, Hong Kong, and Luzon in the Philippines. The British lost at Borneo. General Douglas MacArthur had to withdraw from Manila to Bataan; Japanese took Wake Island. The British surrendered at Hong Kong. Manila was declared an open city however the Japanese had bombed Manila. We eventually take control of the War. Or superior Military leadership won the war for us despite FDR’s meddling. As 1943 approached FDR was getting sickly looking. He ran for reelection in 1944. He managed to win the nomination however the Democratic Leaders didn’t want Henry Wallace, due to his controversial Liberal politics, to be President after FDR’s impending death. So they made FDR take Harry Truman as his Vice president.
FDR had practically ignored Truman when he was Vice President. In a sly deceiving way, he made sure nobody criticized the Soviet Union. Despite the Soviet Union taking over the Baltic States, Romania and Yugoslavia. Plus murdering 10,000 Poles. He kept these acts secret apparently wishing for a Soviet attack on Japan to happen.
Another blunder he made was he insisted unconditional surrender from Germany. High ranking Germans tried to negotiate with the United States and the President. The unconditional surrender had made the Germans fight harder because they would lose everything to the conquering nations if they accepted an unconditional surrender. This act was responsible for 80,000 deaths that could have been averted. He apparently had a hatred for the Germans and a love affair with the Russians. Finally FDR died on April 12, 1945. Harry Truman took over and he had to make enormous decisions. The Japanese refusal to surrender caused Harry Truman to use, our greatest new weapon the atomic bomb, on Japan. On August 6, 1945 the plane the Enola Gay left the Mariana Islands and headed to Japan then dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. Devastation occurred. Temperatures reached 5400 degrees Fahrenheit. Human bodies were burnt to char and stuck to the streets. In the Six mile circumference anyone who stood outside died instantly. Over the next 5 years 60,000 victims died due to radiation poison. In total 145,000 people were estimated to have died as a result of the Atomic Bomb. On August 10 another atomic bomb was dealt to Nagasaki delivering the same devastating result as Hiroshima did.
In the last chapter Thomas Fleming, the author, spells out FDR’s dismissal performance in the presidency. First, FDR concealed his intention to go to War then what became what is known as the Rainbow Five emerged in the papers. It was FDR’s War plans which included sending 5 million soldiers to fight Germany. Second, his provocative policies had lured Japan into attacking us. In fact. FDR is quoted as saying “I know they were going to hit us but I wasn’t suspecting it would be so hard. Third, FDR’s policy of unconditional surrender caused legitimized, terror bombings of civilians and the use of the atomic bomb. Fourth, he ignored the plight of the Jewish extermination attempts made by Adolph Hitler. Fourth, he is love affair with the Soviets coupled by his hatred of Germany. And finally, running a 4th time for the presidency when his health was failing miserably. ...more
After reading this book I am confident that President Hoover would have solved the Great Depression much earlier than FDR ( who never really solved itAfter reading this book I am confident that President Hoover would have solved the Great Depression much earlier than FDR ( who never really solved it) For example, Hoover administration’s helped to slow the the Great Depression. Hoover administration’s, in fact, slowed down the Depression by enacting the the Emergency Relief and Construction Act signed in 1932. The Act provided government-backed loans to banks and created public works projects in the interest of increasing employment. Franklin Roosevelt stole this idea and made it part of his New Deal.
Nikola Tesla is a fascinating individual who changed the American and World way of life in the early 20th Century. He emigrated from Serbia to the UniNikola Tesla is a fascinating individual who changed the American and World way of life in the early 20th Century. He emigrated from Serbia to the United States after attending University training in Europe. He arrived and found a job with Thomas Edison. Edison said of him ‘that he was the hardest worker he had ever seen.” However, Edison took credit for inventions done by his employees. Also Edison was promoting an electricity provider using direct current. Tesla, had conceived of a using alternating current to provide energy. Edison dismissed Tesla’s idea.
Tesla left Edison and joined Edison’s competitor George Westinghouse. Westinghouse readily accepted Tesla’s idea of alternating current. Edison went on smear campaign to discredit alternating current. He electrocuted dogs using alternating current to show that it was too dangerous to use. The problem with direct current electricity is that it can only travel about one mile. So every block need a generator to produce it. Alternating current could travel from long distances. So one Generator could supply at whole city. Of course, we all benefited from the use of alternating current that we use today, thanks to Nikola Tesla.
Tesla was an odd man. He always dressed impeccably. He liked things divisible by 3. For example, he always had 12 napkins. 4 x 3 =12. He also loved pigeons. He even called one his girlfriend.
However, his list of inventions is enormous. He is credited with inventing an improved loud speaker for telephones, rotating magnetic fields, dynamos and transformers, the hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls, wireless telegraphy, Vacuum tubes, radar, bladeless turbines to name just a few. He died Jan 1943 in the New Yorker Hotel room 3327 (of course divisible by 3).
Nikola Tesla should be appreciated by mankind because alternating current made life a whole lot easier. ...more
The Butchering Art is a very interesting book about one of medicines legendary doctors- Joseph Lister. Lister was a fascinating inquisitive person whoThe Butchering Art is a very interesting book about one of medicines legendary doctors- Joseph Lister. Lister was a fascinating inquisitive person who used newly developed microscopes to study as a youngster. He used his inquisitive nature to dramatically cut the number of deaths experienced in hospitals in the mid-19th Century. Lister became a surgeon as a young man. He had enormous arm strength and was said of him that he was never to be found sitting at more than a few seconds. In the 1850’s Surgery was crude at best. Few people would go to a Surgeon if they didn’t have serious pain. Lister’s strong arms helped propel him into a superb surgeon because in these early years of surgery speed was the most important aspect of the surgery since there were no anesthesia. Lister could saw through bone and muscle in 6 seconds.
Chloroform was found to put people asleep without them feeling pain. That made surgery more tolerable. However, something called sepsis created a chilling atmosphere in the Hospitals. Sepsis was killing people after having a successful surgery. At the time, there was no explanation for it. However, Lister read a study by Pierre Curie that describes microorganisms as invading the body. This is what we can infections today.
The wounds created by surgery were being infected and causing death on many of the people in the hospitals. Lister painstakingly searched for the solution. Using Curie’s study Lister determined that it was, indeed, microbes that caused the after surgery death. At the time, this was a very controversial topic in the medical community. Most doctors could not see microbes so they didn’t believe that it was the cause. Fortunately Lister came to the opposite conclusion. So Lister tried applying different types of substances to clean wounds and instruments when he finally found one that worked. He found that carbolic acid would sterilize the instruments and it also killed microbes in the wounds.
Even after his personal Hospital showed tremendous increases of successful operations to his prescription, he still wasn’t universally accepted. Finally in his later years he was applauded by his contemporaries and lavished with awards. He lived to age 88 and died in 1908 a hero to anyone who had ever spent time in a Hospital. ...more
You may have never heard of this woman however Kathryn Smith has shed some light on Franklin Roosevelt’s most important person in his White House - MiYou may have never heard of this woman however Kathryn Smith has shed some light on Franklin Roosevelt’s most important person in his White House - Missy Lehand. She started out as a secretary to Franklin when he was Governor of New York. When Roosevelt became President he brought Missy with him.
It was said that only Missy and Franklin’s wife Eleanor were the only ones who could tell FDR exactly what they were feeling. Cabinet members often asked Missy to talk to the President for them. FDR went to Warm Springs Georgia to help him with his polio. Missy also went with him taking care of his every need.
As we entered World War II FDR lost his best most loyal follower due to Missy having a stoke. In 1941 she was in a wheel chair just like her boss had always been. FDR didn’t call or visit her often but he did pay for all her medical expenses. She passed away at the relatively young age of just 46. It was interestingly noted that many (in fact 5 of FDR’s closest advisors) of FDR’s assistants had died an untimely death. This hadn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, this led White House maid Lillian Rogers to remark “the White House used up people like soap!”...more
In my quest to read a biography of every president which did not reign when I lived I came across “Millard Fillmore, The Accidental President.” I ordeIn my quest to read a biography of every president which did not reign when I lived I came across “Millard Fillmore, The Accidental President.” I ordered it from Barnes and Nobles website not realizing it was more a pamphlet than a book. I read the whole thing in one setting.
President Fillmore served in congress from 1837 to 1843. While in Congress he opposed annexation of Texas. Authored the Tariff of 1842 and served as chairman of the Ways and Means committee. After leaving Congress he served as New York State Comptroller where he revised New York’s Banking System making it a model for the future National Banking System.
In 1849 he was picked to serve as Zachary Taylor’s running mate because he was popular in New York where the Whig Party was weak. Also his anti-slavery position ran against Taylor’s pro slavery stance. This balanced the ticket somewhat.
However, Taylor and Fillmore differed over the slavery issue for the territories recently gained by the U.S. in the Mexican-American War. Taylor wanted the new states to be free and choose for themselves while Fillmore favored making the new territory slave States to appease the southern vote.
Unexpectedly, however, President Taylor died in 1850 making Fillmore the first unelected President in U.S. history.
As President Fillmore admitted California as a free state, settled the Texas boundary issue and compensated Texas for its lost land, granted territorial status to New Mexico, placed federal officers at the disposal of slaveholders seeking escapes – the Fugitive Slave Act, and abolished the slave trade in the District of Columbia.
In addition, he refused to interfere in Hungary’s revolution despite efforts from exiled leader of the failed revolution Louis Kossuth. Kossuth received enormous support of the German- American immigrants who made up a large portion of the Whig Party.
Furthermore, President Fillmore sent Mathew Perry to negotiate with Japan to open trade with the Western Countries. After finishing out President Taylor’s term he was not nominated by the Whig Party for its next nominee mainly because of his support for the Fugitive Slave act.
After his Presidency, Fillmore founded the University of Buffalo where he was the school’s first Chancellor. In 1856, Fillmore refused to become part of the newly formed Republican Party. Instead he headed the American Party which was an anti-immigrant and antic Catholic party known as the Know Nothing Party. He did well in the election receiving 21.6% of the vote.
Later he opposed President Lincoln and supported President Johnson. He died March 8 , 1874 after suffering a stroke....more
There was no man more popular from about 1865 when the Civil War ended until July 1885 when War hero and former President Ulysses S. Grant had passed There was no man more popular from about 1865 when the Civil War ended until July 1885 when War hero and former President Ulysses S. Grant had passed away. I am going to briefly cover his War days.
After graduating from West Point he served in the Mexican American War where he observed the great leadership of Zachery Taylor and had emulated Mr. Taylor throughout his career. Taylor treated the defeated Mexicans with such graciousness that it left an imprint in Grants mind which he carried throughout his years. When the Civil War started President Lincoln correctly chose the most distinguished War General of the time to lead it George B. McClellan. However, as the War grew on Southern victories happened because of McClellan’s unwillingness to attack giving the South time to prepare. Meanwhile Grant rose to the rank of General.
As a general he took control of Kentucky, most of Tennessee, won the major battles at Shiloh and seized Vicksburg, gained control of the Mississippi River and divided the Confederacy. These victories, combined with those in the Chattanooga Campaign, persuaded Abraham Lincoln that Grant was the general best suited to lead the combined Union armies. Grant was promoted to Lieutenant General, a rank previously reserved for George Washington, in March 1864. In April 1865 Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, effectively ending the war.
Grant had really like Lincoln but unfortunately Lincoln was assassinated April 15 1865, Andrew Johnson succeeded him. Reconstruction was started by Lincoln to protect the newly freed black population. Andrew Johnson was lax in enforcing it so groups like the KKK and other anti- Black programs had sprung up. Johnson made all kinds of enemies in congress as well becoming our first impeached President. He was dumped by the Republicans and US Grant became the man to replace him.
He was elected president in 1868, the youngest man in the office to that date, Grant stabilized the post-war national economy, created the Department of Justice, used the military to enforce laws in the former Confederacy and prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan. Grant strengthened the Republican Party in the South and signed three civil rights acts into law. In 1871 he created the first Civil Service Commission. In the presidential election of 1872, Grant was re-elected by a large margin. He was regarded as personally honest, he nonetheless faced accusations of corruption within his administration. In foreign policy, Grant sought to increase trade and influence while remaining at peace with the world. Britain had supported the South in our Civil War and in what became known as the Alabama claims avoided a war with Great Britain Grant and his Secretary of State Hamilton Fish negotiated a peaceful resolution with Spain over the Virginius Affair. The Virginius was an American ship hired by Cuban insurrectionists to land men and munitions in Cuba to attack the Spanish regime there. It was captured by the Spanish, who wanted to try the men onboard (many of whom were American and British citizens) as pirates and execute them. Congress rejected Grant's initiative to annex the Dominican Republic, creating a rift among Republicans. In national affairs, Grant's administration implemented a gold standard and sought to strengthen the dollar. Grant's immediate response to the Panic of 1873 failed to halt a severe industrial depression that produced high unemployment, deflation, and bankruptcies.
After his two terms were up Grant went on a World Tour. At every stop he was treated like Royalty. After his tour, he moved to New York, His son Fred and a con artist named Ferdinand Ward started an investment company whose company gave tremendous profits at first. Grant had invested all his money in this adventure as did many New Yorkers. However, the company went bankrupt and Grant slumbered into poverty. However, he was so popular though that wealthy people had helped him out.
Years of smoking cigars had cause Grant to get mouth and throat cancer. As he wasted away with that dreadful disease he spent the last few years of his life writing a detailed account of the Civil War. The book was an enormous best seller. After he died, his wife Julia survived on the royalties earned from his memoirs.
A side note: Susan B. Anthony cast the only vote she ever cast for Grant. Although, she did so illegally....more
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