A lone rider approaches a family ranch. He observes a gang riding up to order the owner off his land. There is an economic conflict between a big land owner and small ranchers who are bringing in Jersey cows and working the land for agriculture. The big land owner wants to eliminate competition from small businesses; his government contract shows his political connections. The film shows the use of barbed wire, the invention that put an end to the open range. The settlers go into town for supplies. A barroom brawl occurs when Shane is attacked; Joe Starrett joins in to help his hired hand. Tavern owner Riker sends to Cheyenne for a hired gun, Jack Wilson, for a final solution to the homesteader problem.

The settlers gather for a July 4th celebration. They hear of Riker's hired gunfighter. That evening Riker show up to make a final offer to Starrett: join him for a good price, and abandon the other small ranchers. This offer is refused. The next day the gunfighter insults Torrey to force a duel, and kills him. Joe Starrett announces he will go into town next, without waiting for the other settlers. The question is: shall the people be oppressed and swindled by a rich powerful landowner? (Most of the large ranches were owned by corporations from back East.) Some of the small ranchers decide to abandon their claims. Yet they have the right to settle and farm the land. "This country wasn't made for just one man." The burning of one home makes the settlers decide to hang on for a while.

Riker makes an offer to draw Starret to his place (for an ambush). Calloway turns up to warn Shane of this trick. Starrett's wife argues for giving up and moving out now. (Credible?). Shane tries to stop Starrett, and they fight in the dark (to hide their body doubles?). Shane wins and leaves to keep the appointment, and force a final showdown. Shane successfully resolves the problem of Jack Wilson, then Riker, and moves on to new territory. [This avoids any retribution by Riker's allies.) {This film uses the dime-novel fantasy of a "fast-draw", which did not occur in historical records.]

This story is loosely based on the Powder River war. In reality, the settler's militia drove off the armed gang hired by the large landowners. The large ranchers tried to get rid of small ranchers by passing a law that gave them sole rights to all cattle in the state! Read the chapter in William Weir's "Written With Lead" for more details. "Unhappy are the people who want a hero."

This brings back memories, like forty-year snapshots. The author begins Chapter 2 by citing the morality of Calvin and Wesley as to amassing as much wealth as they can, and an 18th century traveler as to the worship of self-interest (also true of other peoples?). There is also the tradition of frugality and plain living, which made a virtue out of a necessity. The author betrays a naive and ascetic outlook in claiming the Roosevelts entered politics for "unselfish reasons" (p.22). Government power leads to riches, in all times and places (Kevin Phillips "Wealth and Democracy"). The author says John F. Kennedy opposed the Titans of Wealth (p.23). But every President represents some parts of the ruling classes, and act for its interests. It is also true that JFK represented change, and a threat to parts of the ruling classes and their "order of things" (p.28). JFK's father was one of the twenty richest men in America, but JFK attracted a huge majority from the minorities (p.31). JFK's politics were to be friendly with everyone. His wealth and power created fear among many Americans. One change was the flaunting of wealth and style, a change from Truman and Eisenhower (p.42). Critics sniped at Jacqueline's spending, the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Chapter 4 notes the changes of the Kennedy administration, more striking in retrospect. The author talks of the "aristocratic and plutocratic conception" of the Kennedy family, and their resentment by many of the well-to-do (jealousy or envy?). Chapter 6 tells of the gangland murders in the Boston area (p.89), and the contacts between "millionaire pillars of the community". [Are they still protected by politicians? Does this explain the Massachusetts laws against Second Amendment rights?] Pages 112-113 list JFK's novel Cabinet appointees; some could have served in Eisenhower's Administration. Page 132 tells of the Defense Dept. control of the American economy. The taxes of the many support the corporations owned by the few. These 'make work' projects prevented another after-war economic depression (p.151). Peace would bring a terrific blow to the oil industry (p.153). The "Alliance For Progress" led to more military coups, and forced capital to flow to the U.S. (p.158). Big Business feared the Kennedy administration (p.174). Chapter 10 explains how Big Oil controls governments (p.189). [You'll never read this in newspapers and magazines!]

Chapter 13 is the heart of this 1968 book - it says the assassination was driven by politics and arranged by a "Committee". It depended on powerful men in the Government who would no interfere (p.288). Chapter 16, and others, are an antidote to the fiction of the Warren Report. Chapter 20 ends the book. The deaths of JFK and RFK were not accidents. [What about JFK Jr.?] The 1960s saw many changes in America (p.375). [One index of the 1960s is that people were economically better off than the decades before or after.] But this chapter's ending became outdated. Thirty-five years later some youthful protesters are now part of the Establishment. Some things have changed, but it still remains the same. The prediction about China is now amusing (p.380). Ten years later the Select Congressional Committee re-opened the investigation; they concluded that there were two shooters (refer to pages 356-7), and effectively demolished the shoddy cover-up of the Warren Commission. More books were written because this was no longer a "controversial topic" that was censored by the Establishment. We've also seen other scandals: Watergate, Contra-gate, Iran-gate. The smiling mask on the Establishment wears thin.

A young lady inherits shares in a gambling place at Las Vegas. Her father had refused to sell out, and was murdered. Now the daughter is asked to sell her shares to a stranger. She seeks help and advice from Perry Mason. Perry has another client who also owns a part of this gambling place, and begins to investigate. But his client went out of town and can't be found. Perry locates him by telephone, and carries on a secure conversation; the result is that Perry will protect the young heiress. Perry meets the potential buyer to discusses the price, but nothing is resolved. While sitting outside in his car, he sees his client enter this apartment house, and then leave. Then the young heiress enters, and rushes from the house; Perry picks her up and discusses her visit. The next morning the would-be buyer is found murdered in his apartment.

Read this novel to learn why Erle Stanley Gardner was such a popular author; it is a good example of his work. Gardner was a lawyer who found fame and fortune writing about a heroic lawyer roughly based on the life of Earl Rogers. You will learn a few things about law and lawyers as part of this story. Could these tactics be possible today? The fact of blood clotting after a murder is still relevant today. "The police rarely solve gangster killings" (Chapter 1). The story follows the convention of denoting the villain as one guilty of some other crime.

This may be an example of the Western novels popular over fifty years ago; it was first serialized in the weekly 'Saturday Evening Post'. It begins with the travels of Kern Shafter, a loner, to the Dakota Territory of 1875. He joins the U.S. Cavalry as a private, and is quickly promoted to sergeant. (He has a past that is slowly revealed.) Various historical facts are used for background. This story is about a search for happiness, and the obstacles that are overcome.

The author describes life in Fort Lincoln during the Indian wars on the Northern Plains. Chapter XIII describes what a journey during a blizzard would be like; Kern survives and meets unexpected visitors. The high point of this novel is Chapters XV through XXI: the ill-fated campaign against the Sioux and Cheyenne at the Little Big Horn river. Kern is wounded, but survives, as a member of Major Reno's command. The book ends with a promise of happiness for Kern. [Relevant to 1943 America?]

The reader can learn some facts about this military disaster. General Crook's forces suffered a defeat earlier, and could not continue to advance as part of the plan. Crook telegraphed Sheridan, but no warning was sent to Terry or Custer about the unexpected large force of Sioux and Cheyenne. A carefully planned campaign turned to disaster because of unforseen changes. Later, another campaign using converging columns worked against the Native Americans when there was no overwhelming concentration of these warriors fighting for their homeland.

Ernest Haycox was a prolific writer of Westerns, some of these were made into films. This novel concentrates on the common people, which may explain the popularity of Westerns then, and why they were forsaken since the 1950s.

Professor Odie B. Faulk has written a very readable and concise history of an army experiment in the 1850s southwest. Victory in the Mexican War resulted in new territories of arid lands, with military presence. Using mules, horses, of oxen to carry men and supplies was difficult and expensive due to the lack of waters in the Great American Desert between the Rockies and the Sierras. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis urged the importation of camels to test their fitness as transportation. Camels could carry 400 to 600 pounds over 25 to 35 miles a day, and could grow fat on plants other animals refused to eat. They could out-perform horses, but not the railroads. The discovery of gold and silver drew people to the desert country; it was also the overland route to lower California and Nevada.

The election of James K. Polk resulted in the annexation of Texas, war with Mexico, and the westward expansion of the United States from California to Washington. Discovery of gold and immigration created the state of California. In between was a region that received less than ten inches of rain a year. There were no trees or rivers like the eastern half of the country. These "shortgrass" plains were where the buffalo roamed, and the deer and the antelope played. It was "unfit for cultivation" and "uninhabitable by a people depending upon agriculture" (p.12). The need for transportation brought the idea of using camels, which perform well under desert conditions (pp.19-23). This idea was adopted by a large segment of the population before Congress appropriated funds for this experiment (p.30).

The book contains many drawings and photographs that illustrate the topic. The rest of the book tells about the details, but doesn't bog down the reader. The camel has proved its worth for thousands of years. Arabian and Bactrian camels were used by the British in the Crimean War (p.48). But importing a species to a New World will always result in unforeseen problems. The look and smell of camels terrorized horses and cattle. Camels would defend themselves against the maltreatment suffered by mules and horses. Male camels fought during the rutting season, and needed to be separated. Loading camels presented new problems, unlike horses and mules. Done wrong, the load would create sores on their backs. Riding a camel was totally different from horses and mules. Camels had a problem with muddy, swampy ground. Camels could carry a heavier load, and run faster, than horses or mules. Their lesser dependence on water is legendary. The "camel's temper" denoted a vindictive and unforgiving disposition. Camels would feed on shrubs ("greasewood") avoided by horses and mules. Camels outperformed mules in adverse conditions.

The events leading to the Civil War raised new priorities. A new President and Administration had new policies. The Government camels were sold to individuals, who had mixed successes (Chapter 7). The last chapter provides a summary of this new experiment. Camels did well in the hot arid Southwest, mountains, or desert, mud or rocks, and could carry greater weights. But they were never widely accepted. Steam power proved superior to animal power. [For entertainment, see the film "Hawmps!" which uses this topic as background.]

Sefton Delmer was a journalist who reported from Germany in the 1930s. During the war he worked for the British Office that dealt with propaganda. The introduction tells how a visit to Storey's Gate recalled his experiences. Twenty-five years after the war ended many stories were released. This book tells of "Cato's Orchestra", a German spy ring that gathered information in Great Britain. Except that it was totally controlled by the British "Twenty Committee" to feed misleading information to the German Abwehr. "Cato" warned the Germans of the invasion of Normandy just before it occurred, then advised them that this was a feint, the real invasion would occur later at Calais. This news prevented the Germans from sending reinforcements to Normandy, assuring the success of this invasion, and the start of the end of the war in Western Europe.

"Jorge Antonio" was a Falangist supporter in the Spanish Civil War. He was repulsed by the Republican Government, and escaped to join Franco's forces. But his experiences in Franco's army turned him against this regime (p.54). "Jorge Antonio" then volunteered his services to the British, but was rejected. He applied to the Germans, and was accepted and sent to Lisbon, then to Britain. Soon he was working for the British as a double agent, and sending misleading information back to his controller in Madrid. The book tells of the efforts in using facts to provide a false picture. This deception continued past the end of the war.

Sefton Delmer presents a view of the various German counter-espionage groups as being lazy in not verifying details in the reports they received, their inter-service rivalry, and their dominance by Hitler (who decreed what the facts were). Woe to any messenger with undesired news! [Does this remind you of the report from the 9/11 Commission?] Delmer writes as a reporter after the fact, not as one who was personally involved at the time. (...)

Sefton Delmer was a journalist who reported from Germany in the 1930s. During the war he worked for the British Office that dealt with propaganda. The introduction tells how a visit to Storey's Gate recalled his experiences. Twenty-five years after the war ended many stories were released. This book tells of "Cato's Orchestra", a German spy ring that gathered information in Great Britain. Except that it was totally controlled by the British "Twenty Committee" to feed misleading information to the German Abwehr. "Cato" warned the Germans of the invasion of Normandy just before it occurred, then advised them that this was a feint, the real invasion would occur later at Calais. This news prevented the Germans from sending reinforcements to Normandy, assuring the success of this invasion, and the start of the end of the war in Western Europe.

"Jorge Antonio" was a Falangist supporter in the Spanish Civil War. He was repulsed by the Republican Government, and escaped to join Franco's forces. But his experiences in Franco's army turned him against this regime (p.54). "Jorge Antonio" then volunteered his services to the British, but was rejected. He applied to the Germans, and was accepted and sent to Lisbon, then to Britain. Soon he was working for the British as a double agent, and sending misleading information back to his controller in Madrid. The book tells of the efforts in using facts to provide a false picture. This deception continued past the end of the war.

Sefton Delmer presents a view of the various German counter-espionage groups as being lazy in not verifying details in the reports they received, their inter-service rivalry, and their dominance by Hitler (who decreed what the facts were). Woe to any messenger with undesired news! [Does this remind you of the report from the 9/11 Commission?] Delmer writes as a reporter after the fact, not as one who was personally involved at the time. You will find Dusko Popov's "Spy/Counterspy" a better book on this topic. F.W. Winterbotham's books provide a higher level outlook on this subject.

"Skull and Bones" was founded in the early 1830s by the wealthy son of a powerful drug dealer. With popular resentment against secret societies (the Anti-Masonic Party) at its height, William H. Russell created a secret society that was to "dominate the world" (p.4). This New World Order will eliminate personal freedom for all but a few wealthy families. Skull and Bones has been running the United States for years. Page 5 tells of this feudal society: members get honors and rewards, important jobs and the wealth that goes with it; they must leave part of their estates to this society. Skull and Bones controls Yale's' teachers and publications, its real estate, and most of the land in Connecticut. Skull and Bones follows neo-Nazi doctrines. Their controlling powers are noted on page 7. The author is a member of a kindred secret society, and discusses these legends.

Early in the 18th century Yale was started to preserve Congregationalist orthodoxy. It took its name from a wealthy benefactor (East India Company). About half of its graduates became ministers of churches (1702-39). Some of those who protested Yale's orthodoxy went on to found Princeton. Yale, like Harvard, ranked students by social standing, rather than academic standing (p.23). Hazing was part of this class system. These chapters tell a lot about the history of Yale's societies, but I think its just surface details. It does tell how censorship worked (pp.150-1).

Chapter 6 deals with the network. George W. Bush has done a great job in distancing himself from his "elite Northeastern connections" (p.162). Its who you get to know, the talented with great family connections. Every President who attended Yale was a member of Skull and Bones. And so will the next President elected in 2004! The connections involved in passing Bush Sr.'s banking deregulation bill is on page 169. Where did the looted billions wind up? "The Network" is the most important chapter of this book. [But could you find similar networks in most states?] There is the example of loans to Saddam Hussein (p.174). Overall, they seem to be part of a self-selected aristocracy.

"The Order" (Chapter 7) seems similar to one of those small-town clubs formed by people with similar affinities. Except it has both a wider and more limited audience. It also provides a "family" for those in college. Forming self-selected groups starts in grammar school, but without the formality. The legends about Bonesmen were created to enhance their prestige (p.200). Some of the things that make Yale different from Harvard or Princeton are noted on pages 202-3. Page 205 imagines "conspiracy theory" as an explanation for the causality for "seemingly random events". Does Alexandra Robbins deny the reality of "underground control"? Or is this just a slight attempt at a whitewash? I found it very disappointing and a way to negate the preceding chapter. This book ends with Acknowledgments, a Bibliography, and the Index. Is this an expanded version of the article in the May 2000 'Atlantic Monthly'?

This 1997 book covers the many areas of a "beige box" to help you understand the workings of the hardware. Its aim is to help you to extend and enhance your PC, and is intended for intermediate to advanced users. The operating system is Windows 95, the then latest version. It covers topics that are rarely explained in the monthly hobby magazines. This provides an objective treatment instead of one oriented to the advertisers. You should know that you rarely "repair" a PC or its components. Failing components are replaced by new ones, like batteries in a flashlight. Upgrading is much more likely, especially with a slightly older PC. This book is written on a level that the average person can understand. The Glossary defines the terms used, the Index covers the preceding pages. Chapter 4 "Troubleshooting" should be read thoroughly. Part II explains the inside workings of a PC. CD-RW has replaced the often trouble-prone tape back-up devices. AGP has supplanted PCI graphic cards. Chapter 12 "Hard Disks" does not document the different jumper settings for IDE devices (p.260). This is too important to omit!

Whether you read the whole book page by page, skim through it, or just read selected topics, you will become more knowledgable about the components that make up a "personal computer". [You should read the second edition.]

The author was born and lived on Avery Island, Louisiana, a place with an abundance of alligators. He has observed them all his life. This book tells of his experiences. The Spanish settler on the Gulf Coast called them "el largato" (lizard), and this was changed by English settlers to "alligator". Chapter 1 provides a physical description of these reptiles, and the enormous power of their jaws. The author contrasts his observations to published information (pp. 20-23). Chapter 2 tells about the habitat of alligators. They dig holes underwater for safety, and to spend the cold winter months. This makes the grass around it greener. Alligators can make trails between water holes, and often travel locally. Alligators mostly feed during warm weather, April to October (Chapter 3). They feed on every living thing they can catch. The extermination of alligators led to a great increase in garfish, muskrats, ducks, water snakes, and turtles. Deer and dogs can be killed when they drink from water; cattle when they walk through marshes. Hogs can not be raised anywhere near alligators.

Chapter 4 tells of their rates of growth, and size. Hunting alligators for their hides has destroyed large numbers. New teeth form inside old teeth and replace them (Chapter 5). Full grown alligators have teeth that are almost solid. Chapter 6 describes the limited vocal ability of alligators. Except for man, alligators have no enemies once they grow to about 3 to 4 feet long (Chapter 7). The author explains why they have acute hearing and sight (p.85). Protecting alligators resulted in destroying great numbers of muskrats (p.86).

Chapter 8 tells of the variations in size and location of alligator nests. Fully grown females will often use the same location year after year. The author describes his observations of nest building. The flesh of the tail of young alligators is excellent (p.90), resembling meat rather than fish. Chapter 9 describes the incubation and growth of baby alligators. Alligator eggs take about 63 days to hatch, longer in cooler weather. Grass or leaves of other organic matter give off heat as they decompose. Page 113 explains why alligators grow much more rapidly in the wild where the food supply is unlimited. This chapter ends with a plea to protect alligators so their number can be increased to where it was in the late 19th century. [To what end?]