Month: November 2014

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Countdown Discounts – Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time

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In the spirit of Thanksgiving (and Black Friday sales), Amazon and I are making the e-book Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time available with big discounts for a limited time.

This is a countdown deal with Amazon, so the e-book is directly and immediately downloadable on Amazon based on the following price schedule:

Friday (11/28), Saturday (11/29), and Sunday (11/30): Only $0.99

Monday (12/1), Tuesday (12/2), Wednesday (12/3), and Thursday (12/4): Only $1.99

After Thursday the price reverts to its normal low price of $2.99, but obviously the best deals are made by acting fast. [More info below the photo]

Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time

This e-book explores the little-known fact that Nikola Tesla was promoting the need for renewable energy 100 years ago. Tesla’s motivations and his contributions predating our current efforts to harness the power of nature are examined. The primary goal of this overview book is to show that Nikola Tesla, and others, were already seeing the need for renewable resources long before the current resurgence in interest. It expands on a concept briefly addressed in my earlier book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity, published by Fall River Press (2013).

Don’t wait – the clock is already running on this countdown deal. Get it from November 28th through 30th for only $0.99, or from December 1st through 4th for $1.99.

Feel free to share this deal with anyone you know that might be interested in Nikola Tesla. You can even give the e-book as a gift to anyone with access to the US Amazon site.

And thank you all for spreading the world about Nikola Tesla.

David J. Kent is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and the e-book Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time.

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Happy Thanksgiving…Thanks to Abraham Lincoln

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ThanksgivingWe can thank none other than Abraham Lincoln for the great turkey-eating, pie-gulping, football-watching holiday of Thanksgiving. Yes, Abraham Lincoln.

Sure, the pilgrims started the first Thanksgiving repasts in early 17th century Plymouth, Massachusetts. Or maybe they didn’t. In any case, while days of thanksgiving were usually held in the fall to offer thanks for the bounty of the harvest, the holiday was held only sporadically and on different dates in different states during our early history as a country. All that was changed by our 16th president in 1863, who in the midst of the Civil War issued a Proclamation of Thanksgiving. Lincoln states:

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

The proclamation, which was hand-written by Secretary of State William Seward and then signed by Abraham Lincoln, established the precedent for the annual day of thanksgiving on the federal level. Lincoln’s Proclamation sought to bring together all Americans – in the north and the south and the east and the west. Whether it had any significant effect in that regard is debatable, as the holiday wasn’t actually celebrated nationally until the late 1870s after reconstruction has more or less reunified the country. Still, he had the right idea.

Today the fourth Thursday each November is set aside for all of us to give thanks for all with which we have been blessed. Abraham Lincoln remembered this during a time of great strife so it should be easy for us to remember all that we have gained since that era. With that spirit in mind I give thanks for all the wonderful people I have, and have had, in my life. Thank you all, and be well always.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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The Lincoln Forum Comes to Gettysburg

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Each year the Lincoln Forum comes to Gettysburg, PA, the site of Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech. This year marks the 19th annual symposium, and like all the symposia that preceded it, good times were had by all as over 300 learned people learned even more about our 16th President.

This was my first time in attendance at the Forum as the week had always coincided with the annual SETAC meeting. A shift in SETAC’s schedule put me in Vancouver a week early, which freed me up for the short drive to Gettysburg. Based on my experiences last week, I’ll definitely be at the Lincoln Forum in 2015 as they celebrate their “one-score” anniversary.

Abe and Me

Abraham Lincoln (aka, George Buss) and the author

As luck would have it I was able to meet two Abraham Lincolns (my first presidential photo-op). George Buss, in full regalia, is an active member of the Lincoln Forum. Jim Getty (more on him in a moment) is one of the most revered Lincoln presenters in the country.

Harold Holzer

Harold Holzer at the lectern, watched by Frank Williams

The conference was a cornucopia of Lincoln scholars. I was able to meet such esteemed historians as Harold Holzer, Frank Williams, Edna Greene Medford, Catherine Clinton, William C. “Jack” Davis, Craig L. Symonds, and, just one week after seeing them in Washington at the Lincoln Group of DC symposium, Tom Horrocks and Jonathan W. White. If all that scholarship wasn’t enough, noted Civil War historian and Pulitzer Prize winner James McPherson was there with his new book on another Civil War President – Jefferson Davis.

James McPherson

James McPherson

I also had the chance to speak with Daniel Weinberg, owner of the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago, IL. A published author himself, Dan has been instrumental in bringing Lincoln book authors to the public, both through store sales and his Virtual Book Signing events. I also spoke several times with David Hirsch and Dan Van Haften, authors of “Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason,” a book that delves into Lincoln’s use of Euclid geometry in his speeches. Given my own work in progress – a book on Lincoln’s “sciencey” side – I felt privileged at the opportunity to get their insights first hand.

Panel discussion

Panel with (l-r) Jack Davis, Craig Symonds, James McPherson, John Marszalek, Richard McMurry

Like most conferences, the annual Lincoln Forum symposium includes stellar speakers, stimulating panel discussions, and significant award presentations. Unlike some conferences, the camaraderie is palpable, as both old and new friends gleefully share their interest in one of our greatest presidents.

Jim Getty

Jim Getty

And then there is Jim Getty. Each year the Lincoln Forum gives the Richard Nelson Current Achievement Award to someone who has contributed to “the spirit of Lincoln in both word and deed.” This year the recipient of the award was kept secret for only the second time, then given to an unsuspecting Jim Getty for his nearly 40-year career as a Lincoln presenter.

Bobby Horton

Bobby Horton

Finally, the conference closed with a performance by instrumentalist and singer Bobby Horton, known for his work with Ken Burns on the original PBS miniseries, The Civil War. The best part is that I will get to see Bobby Horton again soon as he provides musical enlightenment during the Lincoln Group of DC’s “2nd Inaugural Address” festivities in March 2015.

Click on these links to get information about joining the Lincoln Forum and the Lincoln Group of DC.

David J. Kent is a lifelong Lincolnophile and is currently working on a book about Abraham Lincoln’s interest in science and technology. He is also the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and an ebook Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time

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Shaken, Stirred, Abraham Lincoln, and the Climate Crisis

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Two weeks, three conferences, and thousands of social interactions. It’s good to be home.

Shaken, Yet StirredThat’s how I start off my most recent piece on Hot White Snow. It all started with a full-day conference on the Election of 1864 sponsored by the Lincoln Group of DC. The next day I flew to Vancouver for SETAC, and then after only a couple of days back took off for Gettysburg and the annual Lincoln Forum. Shaken, Yet Stirred relates my need for period recharging during these busy social occasions. Plug me in to an energy source for a while, and I’m all ready to go back into the game.

Climate Crisis Tired of scientists being too technical in describing climate science? The Dake Page reviews a book called The Climate Crisis that attempts to give the basics without all the math. They don’t entirely succeed – it’s still technical enough to not be suitable for non-technical folks – but it is full of color graphics, charts, tables, and photographs documenting every aspect of climate science. Think of it as IPCC-lite.

And then there is Lincoln. We had some great speakers at the Lincoln Group of DC symposium, and two of them also participated in another Lincoln event – the Lincoln Forum held in Gettysburg, PA. I’ll write more about this Forum shortly, but I can report already that I plan to attend next year, and the next, and the next. One cool feature of the Forum is that you’re sure to find more than one Abraham Lincoln wandering the halls. This is my first photo-op with a US President!

Abe and Me

Speaking of the Lincoln Group of DC, please plan to join us on December 16th for a great dinner speaker – Gerard Magliocca. Check back soon for much more…including some upcoming overseas science traveling.

David J. Kent is a lifelong Lincolnophile and is currently working on a book about Abraham Lincoln’s interest in science and technology. He is also the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and an ebook Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time

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Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1864

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In the summer of 1864, the chances of Abraham Lincoln’s reelection looked dim, and he knew it. The election was critical – a Lincoln loss could very well have changed the course of history as the alternative platform was peace at the price of revoking emancipation. The very fact that an election was being held as the country was tearing itself apart was historic.

But Lincoln did win the election. The reasons are many, and the Lincoln Group of DC explored them all on November 8, 2014 – the 150th anniversary to the day – in a full-day symposium “The Election of 1864.”

Thomas Horrocks

An impressive assemblage of Lincoln historians came together to discuss the election. Starting off the day was Thomas Horrocks, Director of the John Hay Library at Brown University. Horrocks recounted the many campaign biographies that helped create a new image for the incumbent president in “The Rail-Splitter as Father Abraham: Campaign Biographies.”

Elizabeth VaronElizabeth Varon, Professor of History at the University of Virginia, then provided some insights on the election from the South in her talk “Catastrophe or Setback? The Election of 1864 in Confederate Eyes.”

 

Jennifer Weber“The Summer of ’64” was a critical time period that significantly impacted the election, said University of Kansas Professor Jennifer Weber, author of Copperheads. Grant’s overland campaign had even die-hard Unionists war weary; Weber explored many reasons how military disasters turned into Union – and Lincoln’s – victories.

 

Jonathan W. WhiteSpeaking of the military, the soldier vote was crucial to Lincoln’s electoral victory in November. Christopher Newport University Professor and historian Jonathan W. White examined voting dynamics that possibly changed the outcome of the election in “Emancipation and the Soldier Vote of 1864.”

 

Michael BurlingameFollowing these great talks was our keynote speaker, noted historian Michael Burlingame, author and editor of numerous books on Abraham Lincoln. In a wide-ranging talk, Burlingame brought us into the opposition Lincoln faced in reelection, including many in his own party. His “Radicals, Abolitionists, and Lincoln’s Reelection” explored the fickleness not just of the public, but of the lawmakers and generals who worked for and against Lincoln.

White, Burlingame, Varon, Weber, Horrocks

But wait, there’s more. All five speakers sat en banc for a panel discussion and took questions from the audience packed into the benches of the E. Barrett Prettyman US District Courthouse. Participation was active and informed, and the panelists were challenged to provide additional information expanding on their topics.

If you missed this historic event, you’re in luck. The entire symposium was captured by C-SPAN and will be airing in its entirety on Friday, November 28, 2014 beginning at 8:00 am (and repeated beginning at 8:00 pm). For more information go to www.c-span.org/history.

I’ll post more about the symposium soon, and be sure to check out the Lincoln Group of DC website for more information on upcoming events. Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, and Link with us on LinkedIn to keep up to date on events and fast facts about Abraham Lincoln.

David J. Kent is a lifelong Lincolnophile and is currently working on a book about Abraham Lincoln’s interest in science and technology. His most recent article, “Lincoln and the Rule of Three,” was published in the September 2014 issue of The Lincolnian. He is also the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and an ebook Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time

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Of Old Friends and Chinese Climate Deals

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A busy week science traveling in Vancouver at the annual SETAC conference, on which I’ll write more soon. Check out the cool grass-covered roof.

Vancouver convention center

The conference may be the only time I see in person many old friends. This year an invite to a special “senior resource group” breakfast got me thinking about how old some of those friends have become. It also made me think how much times have changed. Check out Old Friends, Getting Older on Hot White Snow.

China US flags

Meanwhile, the US and China signed a historic climate change agreement this week during President Obama’s Asian trip. With this pact, both of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitting countries show a commitment to reducing carbon emissions, a much needed step in the fight against man-made climate change. Not surprisingly, the partisan misrepresentation of the agreement back home started before the ink was dry. Read why this is such a big deal on The Dake Page. You can also read this “Fact check” article that corrects the misperceptions.

Tesla book in BN Nov 2014

Friends sent me the above photo of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity on display at Barnes and Noble. Apparently we’re now a science classic alongside Stephen Hawking and Ray Bradbury. This is noteworthy because sales have been so strong that the stores are making every effort to keep it available while copies of this printing last. The third printing will be out in February 2015. Meanwhile, my e-book continues to sell on Amazon – look for some exciting news about Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time to be annnounced shortly.

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Science Traveling Vancouver

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I’m in Vancouver for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry conference. The city is very environmentally aware; even the conference center has grass growing on its roof.

The surrounding mountains are beautiful.

Inside the conference center is a huge planet Earth that rotates so you can see from all sides.

There is much more science in this traveling. I’ll have more on the SETAC meeting during the week. Check out the organization at www.SETAC.org.

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Odd Tastes in Art, Climate Change Politics, Abe Lincoln Gets Married (and Reelected)

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It’s been another busy week, so here’s a quick roundup from Hot White Snow, The Dake Page, and Science Traveler.

The Death of MaratWhat do Picasso’s “Guernica,” David’s “The Death of Marat,” and Wyeth’s “Christina’s World” have in common? They all were posters hanging on my bedroom wall as a teenager. Yes, I was not a normal child. Read more at “An Odd Taste in Art for a Teen.”

 

IPCC reportTwo big events in climate science occurred this week. The most important one (IPCC’s Synthesis Report) was largely ignored while the least important one (Mid-Term Elections) will be talked about for the next two years. Check out why on The Dake Page.

 

Lincoln MemorialSpeaking of elections, Abraham Lincoln was reelected on November 8th, 1865, and 150 years later we are celebrating this milestone event with our Lincoln Group Symposium this Saturday in downtown DC. Only two days to go – sign up now or you can register at the door.

 

Lincoln and Mary ToddMeanwhile, this week also saw the anniversary of Lincoln’s tempestuous marriage to Mary Todd. The sudden wedding caught everyone by surprise; could have been because Mary had seduced old Abe? And why did Mary refuse to be photographed with her husband? Find out here.

 

Bonus! Sales of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity have remained strong since the second printing went back into Barnes and Noble this summer. More than 25,000 copies have been sold so far, and the publisher has ordered a third printing for February 2015. Meanwhile, my e-book continues to sell on Amazon – look for some exciting news about Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time to be annnounced shortly.

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Today is the Wedding Anniversary of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln

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Abraham and Mary Todd LincolnOn November 4, 1842, Abraham Lincoln rushed around to his friends and invited them to his one-day’s notice wedding to Mary Todd. The sudden marriage came as a shock to their family and friends, many of whom weren’t aware the couple had resumed their courtship almost two years after the ignominious “fatal first” that ended their prior engagement.

Even Lincoln seemed a bit shell shocked when a week later he wrote to a friend. Mostly a dry letter dealing with legal issues, Lincoln’s last line was “Nothing new here, except my marrying, which to me, is a matter of profound wonder.” Some have argued that Mary seduced him into premarital sex, thus forcing Lincoln into a quick marriage. Friends reported that he went to the altar muttering he was going to hell. In any case, their first son Robert was born on August 1, 1843, a mere 8 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days after the wedding.

As I’ve noted in a prior post, though an odd couple in a ofttimes tempestuous marriage, the two remained together for more than two decades, ending only at the hands of an assassin.

One note about the image used above. It never happened. Lincoln was 6’4″ in height, so the 5’2″ Mary refused to have any photographs taken with her towering husband. Despite many photographs of Lincoln and Mary independently, none appear to exist with the two of them together. She wouldn’t even consent to a photo similar to the image above where he is sitting and she is standing. There are many etchings and paintings done after the fact, but no actual photographs. And then there is this:

AL and MTL

This photograph purporting to show them together is not what it seems. It is actually a cropped closeup of two separate photos, one of him and one of her, that have been cut out, partially reversed, retouched, and rephotographed together along with a photo of the White House. Think of it as the 19th century version of Photoshop. art11026.14576.widea.0Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln

So happy anniversary to Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. May your memories live on forever.

Interested in Abraham Lincoln? Then check out the Lincoln Group of the DC.

David J. Kent is a science traveler. He is also the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, now available. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (both Fall River Press). He has also written two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

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Last Chance to Join the Election of 1864 Symposium (The Reelection of Abraham Lincoln)

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1864-poster.gifAbraham Lincoln was reelected for a second term in 1864, which surprised everyone, including Lincoln. After three years of a brutal war pitting American against American, many people were ready for a change. But “changing horses in the middle of the stream,” as Lincoln once noted, would lead to the destruction of the United States.

Find out why the election was so critical during the Lincoln Group of DC’s full-day symposium on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the E. Barrett Prettyman District Courthouse in downtown Washington, D.C. Some of the most prominent Lincoln scholars will be explaining just how critical this election was, and how it went from a surefire Lincoln loss to his victory. Featured presenters are:

Michael Burlingame: One of the most respected Lincoln experts in the world, Burlingame holds the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Author and editor of many books on Lincoln, his topic for the symposium is “Radicals, Abolitionists, and Lincoln’s Reelection.”

Thomas Horrocks: Director of special collections and the John Hay Library at Brown University, Horrocks is the author/editor for multiple Lincoln books and will speak on “The Rail Splitter as Father Abraham: Lincoln’s 1864 Campaign Biographies.”

Elizabeth R. Varon is the Langbourne M. Williams Professor of History at the University of Virginia and author of several books, including her latest: Appomattox: Victory, Defeat, and Freedom at the End of the Civil War. Her topic for the symposium is “Catastrophe or Setback? The Election of 1864 in Confederate Eyes.”

Jennifer Weber is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Kansas and specializes in Civil War studies. Her book Copperheads was widely acclaimed. Dr. Weber will speak on “The Summer of ’64.”

Jonathan W. White: Assistant Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University and the author of Emancipation, the Union Army, and the Reelection of Abraham Lincoln. He will speak on “Emancipation and the Soldier Vote of 1864.”

More details on the speakers and the program can be found on the website of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia.

Time is running out so go to the link above to register to attend. You can also register at the door. The symposium is Saturday, November 8, 2014 and runs from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

You don’t want to miss this event (or any of the other 150th anniversary events the Lincoln Group has coming up). Join us now!

David J. Kent is a lifelong Lincolnophile and is currently working on a book about Abraham Lincoln’s interest in science and technology. His most recent article, “Lincoln and the Rule of Three,” was published in the September 2014 issue of The Lincolnian. He is also the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and an ebook Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time

Follow me by subscribing by email on the home page.  And feel free to “Like” my Facebook author’s page and connect on LinkedIn.  Share with your friends using the buttons below.

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