This massive-almost nine hundred pages-book is an almost day by day, detailed record of her ten- and one-half years in office.  It is an amazing record of battles won and lost, almost impossible accomplishments set against her own country’s deep state, bureaucracy, entrenched interests and ossified political thinking.  Her record of successes on the foreign front is also detailed as she fought for the primary interests of her nation against European neighbors by  reducing uneven payments (in short, cutting welfare payments to France, Germany, etc.), a successful war with Argentina, leading the way in punishing Iraq for its invasion of Kuwait, etc.  Plain spoken, sure of her goals, she was, in my opinion, a pre-tweet version of Donald Trump.

A lengthy biography of General and President Ulysses S. Grant (given name, Hiram Ulysses Grant), Mr. Chernow is enamored with the General.  Yet, it is hard to dispute that in many ways, both as General and as President, earlier revisionist historians and biographers have done a great disservice to Grant.

There is a saying, “What the Left touches, it destroys”, so their target here seems to be an education; they prefer ideology. Such a waste of young minds. https://www.city-journal.org/racial-equity-programs-seattle-schools

Mankind may very well be in danger, but not from environmental dangers. In this article, a strong case is made, supported in part by Michael Shellenberger’s excellent book, Apocalypse Never (reviewed here 7/14) that the real danger to mankind is a falling birthrate and ecological disaster. Deaths by man caused disasters are down thanks to technology but the growth of technology is endangered by, among other things, a decreasing population. While some environmentalists may see mankind as a blight on the earth, anyone who cares about humans should read this article and think about its conclusions. https://quillette.com/2020/12/11/the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/

I once was told by a wine merchant that the difference between Cognac and Armagnac is like the difference between a city girl and a country girl. Interesting comparison but if you develop your taste for these two staples of France, the comparison might come to mind.

Considered by many to be the founding father of the Panzer concept in pre-war Germany, Guderian was forceful, stubborn, opinionated and driven; all the virtues that would put him at odds with most traditional militaries around the world.  Fortunately for him, he caught the eye of Hitler and Guderian’s concepts represented exactly the type of bold thinking that Hitler sought to enable him to carry out his military goals. From that point, it was a love/hate relationship between the two, with Guderian being cast aside, brought back, ignored by Hitler, apologized to by Hitler and finally once again sent into the wilderness.

Starting in the late 1920’s the author began prowling the back streets and alleys of Paris, going where tourists dare not go and would not be welcome.  He mingled and took photos of the underside of Paris; the whores, pimps, cesspool cleaners, madams, opium dens, thieves, gays and gang leaders who lived in the dark alleys and byways of Paris at that time.  His was not an easy journey for those who he wished to talk too and photograph were often wanted by the police and they lived in a world where there was little honor and every outsider was view with suspicion and was also seen as an easy “mark”.

I was so glad to see this article as I watched the Fox interview this past Sunday. It was disappointing to see Chris Wallace allow this man to distort and play legal word games; Wallace has certainly gone downhill as a questioner. https://thefederalist.com/2020/12/09/why-does-corporate-media-amplify-john-brennans-neverending-lies/

Over three hundred years ago, a Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire built a bridge at the small village of Visegrad in modern day Bosnia.  At the time, the Ottoman Empire was near its peak and the bridge was s symbol of the power of the Empire.  Ivo Andric, a Serbo-Croat, grew up in the area; he learned the tales and history of the bridge, how it was built, how it was a meeting place for not only the Ottomans, but also the Christians and Jewish leaders of the area.  He traces its history through a series of stories spanning the centuries, capturing the mindset, problems and changes over the three hundred years.

“To fall in love with yourself is the first secret of happiness. I did so at the age of four and a half. Then if you’re not a good mixer you can always fall back on your own company.” Robert Morley

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance” Oscar Wilde

“He who is in love with himself has at least this advantage-he won’t encounter many rivals” G.C. Lichtenberg

“If we were not all so excessively interested in ourselves, life would be so uninteresting that none of us would be able to endure it” Arthur Schopenhauer