The On The Bookshelf Podcast

Dr. Jason Bell uncovers a Canadian MI6 operative who warned of the Nazis in 1919

CRACKING THE NAZI CODE: The Untold Story of Agent A12 and the Solving of the Holocaust Code By Jason Bell (Pegasus)

He was the earliest enemy of the Nazis, and the first spy to crack Hitler’s deadliest secret code: the framework of the Final Solution. In public life, Dr. Winthrop Bell was a Harvard philosophy professor and wealthy businessman. As an MI6 spy—known as secret agent A12—in Berlin in 1919, he evaded gunfire and shook off pursuers to break open the emerging Nazi conspiracy. His reports, the first warning of the Nazi plot for World War II, went directly to the man known as C, the mysterious founder of MI6, as well as to various prime ministers. But a powerful fascist politician quietly worked to suppress his alerts. Nevertheless, Dr. Bell’s intelligence sabotaged the Nazis in ways only now revealed in Cracking the Nazi Code.

As World War II approached, Bell became a spy once again. In 1939, he was the first to crack Hitler’s deadliest secret code: Germany’s plan for the Holocaust. At that time, the führer was a popular politician who said he wanted peace. Could anyone believe Bell’s shocking warning? Fighting an epic intelligence war from Eastern Europe and Russia to France, Canada, and finally Washington, DC, Agent A12 was a real-life 007/Indiana Jones , waging a single-handed struggle against fascists bent on destroying the Western world. Without Bell’s astounding courage, the Nazis just might have won the war.

Jason Bell, PhD, is a professor of philosophy at the University of New Brunswick. He has served as a Fulbright Professor in Germany (at Winthrop Bell’s alma mater, the University of Göttingen) and has taught at universities in Belgium, the United States, and Canada. He was the first scholar granted exclusive access to Winthrop Bell’s classified espionage papers. He lives in New Brunswick, Canada.

Actor Drew Moerline discusses new Horror Film and Video Game Reboot of Capt. America

As an actor and producer, Drew Moerlein (pronounced MORE-line) has found success bringing captivating, original, and authentic characters to life on stage and screen. Notably, Moerlein stars as Captain America in Skydance New Media/Marvel's upcoming, groundbreaking cinematic video game "Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra," set to release in 2025.Here's the trailer for "Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb2wwEx6DVw 

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | Story Trailer Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra - In the chaos of war, worlds collide. Skydance New Media and Marvel Games share an original story where an ensemble of four heroes must overcome their differences and form an uneasy alliance to confront their common enemy. #GDC #Marvel1943 Watch Marvel on Disney+: https://bit.ly/2XyBSIW Subscribe to Marvel on YouTube ... www.youtube.com

 

Moerlein's film acting credits include the "Bloodline Killer" ; British black comedy "Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose" (opposite Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver, and Christopher Lloyd); "Blind" (with Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore); thriller "The Wrong Path" alongside C. Thomas Howell; rom-coms "Stars Fell Again" and "Fair Market Value"; cult-classic found footage anthology "V/H/S" which premiered at Sundance, as well as the film festival favorite "The Ballad of a Hustler".His feature producing credits include "Bloodline Killer," "Nandor Fodor, " "What Remains of Us" (starring Kit Harington), and "The Plantation".

On television, Moerlein starred as the unassuming but sinister "Dusty" opposite Mena Suvari in the supernatural horror drama "South of Hell" and has guest-starred on "Blue Bloods" and "NCIS: New Orleans," among other series. Moerlein starred in the Tony Award nominated musical "American Psycho," originating the role of Paul Owen, in his Broadway debut.

Bloodline Killer arrives In Select Theaters & On Demand April 26, 2024.

Directed by Ante Novakovic, Bloodline Killer is being described by Vertical as "a terrifying horror-thriller that follows Moira Cole who endeavors to rebuild her shattered life after the murder of her family at the hands of her deranged and obsessed cousin."The cast also includes Shawnee Smith, Bruce Dern and Tyrese Gibson. Anthony Gaudioso and James Gaudioso wrote the screenplay.Bloodline Killer was produced by Rob Simmons.Here's the trailer for Bloodline Killer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok46QVymwkU 

Bloodline Killer | Official Trailer (HD) | Vertical Bloodline Killer is a terrifying horror-thriller that follows Moira Cole who endeavors to rebuild her shattered life after the murder of her family at the hands of her deranged and obsessed cousin. Starring: Shawnee Smith, Taryn Manning, with Bruce Dern and Tyrese Gibson Directed by: Ante Novakovic Release Date: 4/26/24 #verticalentertainment # ... www.youtube.com

 

Bryan Chapell discusses Christian viewpoints on the Last Days

“Are We Living in the LAST DAYS? Four Views of the Hope We Share About Revelation and Christ’s Return” by Bryan Chapell (BakerBooks, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

When will Christ return, and how? Is it a “secret Rapture” where Christ doesn’t touch down but takes all believers with Him in an instant, setting off a very specific series of events leading to the end of time? Premillennial Dispensationalists believe this, and they are the most vocal among Evangelicals and Charismatics. One of the most respected proponents is Dr. David Jeremiah, who has several books asserting that “all Bible-believing Christians” ascribe to this view. Most of my beloved Sunday School class firmly agrees. Yet, as the author explains, “people can get so attached to a particular view of end-time prophecies that if you don’t agree with them, they think you don’t believe the Bible. You might not even be a Christian. Few of these people are aware that these perspectives are not shared among all serious Christians, but result from views of biblical prophecy whose foundations predetermine our conclusions.”

In truth, the vast majority of Bible-believing Christians since the Book of Revelation was written have believed that the “thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth” began symbolically with Jesus’ triumphant resurrection. It’s only been in the last century, since the influence of the Scofield Reference Bible, the Left Behind book series and Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth, that PMD became so well-known.Godly interpreters have at least five ways of thinking about the vivid spiritual-warfare imagery of Revelation: The Near View (also known as preterist, or past, which believes the prophecies were fulfilled as it was being written); The Long View (or historic, which assets that the prophecies of the Apocalypse were an outline of church history, taking place over more than two millennia that climax with the physical Return of Jesus); The Future View (Dispensationalist, which sees current events are signs being fulfilled close to the Last Days); The Symbolic View (idealist or amillennial, which assigns a symbolic understanding of Revelation as the constant spiritual battle between God and satan); and the Mixed View (whose advocates are less vocal but see good points in all these views). And there’s Postmillennialism, which was very popular in 1900, that saw the spread of Christ’s influence on humanity as an upward trend leading to His return.

The Bible marks “end times by more expansive epochs”. Christ’s appearance is imminent. Anticipating the specific time is where the conflict among Christians comes. The most important thing for all believers is that Christ who loves us is coming back, in some fashion, and time will end. Bring the lost to Christ and disciple them while we still have time to do so.

If you have struggled with understanding the different viewpoints of the End Times and the validity of other viewpoints, be sure to get a copy of this book!

 

Joe Kent-Send Me: True Story of a Mom at War

"Send Me: The True Story of a Mom At War" by Joe Kent and Marty  Skovlund, Jr.

The extraordinary true story of Shannon Kent, a legend among special operators serving in Iraq during the War on Terror.

“Operator” doesn’t refer to everyone in special operations. The term

is reserved for those few who weren’t satisfied with their Special Forces

tab, the color of their beret, or their Navy SEAL trident. Those, like

Kay, who wanted to serve at the most elite level of special

operations and volunteered to take “the long walk.” Seventy thousand of

the 1.3 million active-duty service members in the US military are

assigned to the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Among them are the operators—the one percent of the one percent."

But few realize these same operators are the friendly neighbors

and Little League coaches back home, tasked with balancing home

and work like any other busy American. Well, almost like any other

American.

Shannon was a highly-trained  cryptologist who joined US Navy after 9/11, trained in Defense Language Institute , where she showed unusually exceptional skill in languages

In 2007-after two years of training, deployed to Iraq with a SEAL Team! Meets Joe Kent, Green Beret.

2008-she’s the only woman in her Naval Special Warfare Direct Support Course

2012-deployed again , this time with Naval Special Warfare to Afghanistan in a Cultural Support Team (back home, women are now completing Ranger training!)

Shannon produced 400 mission-critical IQ reports, advanced warning on 12 attacks, prevented 30 IED attacks, leading to the capture or killing of 6 enemy soldiers

2014-in a course together,  Shannon and Joe reconnected and fell in love. He realizes she’s kind of an urban legend (“Shaymah”) respected by Iraqi operators due to her mastery of Iraqi slang and her wit. Xmas Eve 2014-they get married, and she’s pregnant. Joe deploys in Jan. 2015 she finishes a BS in psychology, while still working fulltime for one of the world’s most elite special ops units. She moves them into a new place, paints it etc in her 3^rd trimester!Colt is born 11 Aug 2015

Shannon is recruited into another secretive, more compartmentalized element, requiring her to attend a different high-stress selection & training pipeline.

2016-Joe is deployed for the 10^th time. Meanwhile, Shannon is diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease, the thyroid cancer. She has lump removed.

2017-pregnant again. Joe is nearing retirement, considers CIA work.  21 June-Josh is born. Joe is promoted to Chief warrant Officer 3. Due to her cancer, the US military won’t admit her to their psychology PhD program (but she’s considered well enough to deploy to Syria!) She is promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer

16 Jan. 2019 She and three others are killed by an ISIS suicide bomber. (within a month, the entire ISIS team that planned and executed the attack is dead or captive.)

 

 

Owen Elliot-Kugell tells the story of her mother, Mama Cass

"My Mama, Cass: a memoir" by Owen Elliot-Kugell (Hatchette Books)

A long-awaited, myth-busting, and deeply affecting memoir by the daughter of legendary rock star "Mama" Cass Elliot

To the rest of the world, Cass Elliot was a rock star; A charismatic, wisecracking singer from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted band, The Mamas & The Papas; A legend of Laurel Canyon, decked out in her custom-made Muumuus, glittering designer jewelry, blessed with a powerful, instantly identifiable singing voice which helped define the sound of the 1960s counterculture movement. But to Owen Elliot-Kugell, she was just Mom.

In the nearly 50 years since Cass Elliot's untimely death at the age of 32, rumors and myths have swirled about, shading nearly every aspect of her life. In her long-awaited memoir, Owen Elliot-Kugell shares the groundbreaking story of her mom as only a daughter can tell it.

In My Mama, Cass, Owen pulls back the curtains of her mother's life from the sold-out theaters to behind the closed doors of her infamous California abode. Born Ellen Naomi Cohen, the woman who was known to the world as Cass Elliot was decades ahead of her time: an independently minded, outspoken woman who broke through a male-dominated business, a forward-thinking feminist, and a single parent who embraced motherhood from the moment Owen entered the world. From the closely guarded secret of Owen's paternity to Cass's lifelong struggles with self-esteem and weight, to rumors surrounding her mother's death, Owen illuminates the complex truths of her mother's life, sharing interviews with the high-profile figures who orbited Cass, as well as never-before-heard tales of her mother and this legendary period of American history.

Featuring intimate family and archival photos as well as interviews and memories from famous friends, fans, and colleagues who loved and respected Cass, this book is both a love story and a mystery, a tale of self-discovery and a daughter's devotion. At its core, My Mama, Cass is a beautifully crafted testament befitting of Cass Elliot's enduring cultural impact and legacy, written by the person who knew and loved her best.