I had been searching for a comprehensive yet simplified text book for the Slovak language for several years with out an luck what so ever. The language books I had gotten a hold of previously were not thorough enough for my tastes. Of course I was put off by the price for this book and cassettes but I decided to buy it because I had read that the Department of Defense recommended it for their employees stationed in Slovakia. For myself, who is serious about learning Slovak, I never regretted spending this money and think it is a good investment for anyone with real interest.

Although written for naval buffs, this book will be of interest to anyone involved in the design of systems. With the coming of steam propulsion, naval architects and technologists had to find the right balance between the three elements of speed, gunpower, and armoured protection. It took them a hundred years, and - the common fate of all systems - as soon as they reached perfection the whole conception of the batleship was obselete. This book (huge, 700 pages in 11 x 9inch format) details the successes, the blind alleys, the debates and personalities - and every British battleship ever built, and the designs of the ones that weren't.

This book is the story of Crispus Attucks rise to basketball fame despite the prejudical climate in Indiana at the time. There is a history lesson in explaining what prejudice existed and how the Crispus Attucks family dealt with it. The book cronicles the high school story of Oscar Robertson in particular and the Crispus Attuck Tigers from 1950 thru Oscar's final high school game as the number one player on Indiana's all star team vs the Kentucky all star team lead by "King Kelly Coleman". I was an Indianapolis high school resident during this period and can speak for the historical accuracy and emotional insights brought into focus by the author Randy Roberts. For those of you who enjoy basketball, this book is a worth while purchase.

Oscar Wilde, in this Canterville Ghost story, reaches a tremendous level of humor and caustic social vision. The humor comes from the fact that the American family that buys the ghost along with the mansion takes him as being real and apply to him all the possible modern techniques to improve his life and make his sojourn in the mansion untroublesome for the new inhabitants. It is also funny because two young boys play all kinds of tricks to the ghost and there is no end in their creativity. But the story is also a little bit sad because it reveals the ghost has become a ghost when the brothers of his wife, whom he had assassinated, took vengeance and starved him to death. It also reveals that the ghost can be redeemed if love comes along and frees him of his misery and fate. And this love will come from the young daughter of the American family. She will naively open her heart to the suffering of the ghost and thus free him of his lot. This also shows how the attitude of the English owner of the mansion are just not interested in the suffering of the ghost, whereas the Americans will take this ghost seriously and will try to understand him and give him solace. Beyond the humor of the tale there is the tremendous belief that suffering can be solved.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Perpignan

At a time when extremists of both the left and the right continue to polarize the Catholic Church in the USA for what, in many cases, are no more than their own self-serving ends, it is imperative that moderate and unity-minded Catholics take up the hard work outlined by the esteemed Cardinal Bernadin in bringing church-splitting extremists to the table of dialogue. As Paul wrote in his letters, "Is Christ divided? Can one say, am I of Apollos and another, I am of Paul?" Bernadin had the intelligence, foresight, and grace to see that the Common Ground Iniative would be a way for moderate peacemakers in the Church to bring our feuding brothers and sisters together in a calmer, more productive manner. His words still ring prophetic. Come, let us reason together, that we may all be one. At the very least, the Common Ground Initiative offers real hope and stability against the polarizing impulses of special-interest Catholics whose myopic North American/USA point-of-view fails to include the mission of the worldwide church. We owe it to Cardinal Bernadin and his legacy to equip ourselves for the work of healing and reconciliation in any way we can.

Friends, you simply *must* have this workbook if you've ordered Father Luke's "A Catholic Guide To The Bible" book. Not only will you be able to test yourself on what you've learned, it is very useful as a study aid in or out of the classroom!

Being of Irish descent, I am very particular about hearing Irish stories in recorded form. There are some really good editions out nowadays. But this one is the best. I knew I was in the presence of greatness when I beheld the wonderful packaging, and it just got better the longer I listened to these truly wonderful stories. My favorite is one I've read many times, by Joyce, entitlled "The Boarding House." Here it is transformed into something that is difficult to describe and thrilling to experience. The narrator, who must be Irish, has perfectly deciphered Joyce's intent. He has also given us some of the very finest renditions of Irish stories I have ever encountered. "The Weaver's Grave" comes to life as if by magic. There is wonderful music here and very lifelike sound effects that are very skillfully and gently woven into the fabric of these great works. It is such a pleasure to listen to these recordings, you will be listening over and over again, as I have.

Mark Manning loves women. He has just released a handbag sized book, so that it can be stuffed in along with the tissues, lipsticks, keys, fags, bits of envelope and Orbit sugar free, and so that just as he promises, he will always be with us. Ostensibly, this book is a journal of Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction's recent post-9/11 tour of the States. It documents their movements across the States and has some boss photos of the tour in action. But there is more than this between the covers.

Read carefully, be mindful of the substance abuse, be amused by the entertaining lies, muse upon the wordplay. But be more careful to identify the truth, as when you find it, it is profound, and will make your heart soar and sink by turns. Mr Manning can see all that is inspirational and sickening on planet earth and inside himself, and he weaves it into cartoons and parables to sustain the rest of us who are cursed with artistic and economic cataracts. True prophets acknowledge that sometimes the wheat will fall on stony ground, but I really rated this little book for it's beautiful mess, cynical chuckles and especially for the queeny bickering and tramp fighting.

A comprehensive guide to collecting Michael Jordan memorabilia. Very well documented with hundreds of pictures to help identify the various items.

An indispensable guide for MJ collectors.

Oscar Wilde is a fantastic writer and person. In this book he devolops his thinking about the world so extrememly good, that he deveserves 5stars. I read a lot of plays by Wilde and some of his short stories and I can only come to one conclusion: This is the best writer ever with Shelley, Keats and Fitzgerald. You have got to love this one.