Ball Books

A reader suggested that I might enjoy MATZO BALLS FOR BREAKFAST AND OTHER MEMORIES OF GROWING UP JEWISH by Alan King, the great comedian who conceived and developed the book in the period before he died in 2004.

She was wrong, I loved MATZO BALLS (almost as much as the actual food product).

It is a series of essays written by famous people--many of them entertainers--about what being Jewish is all about . . . they range from Neil Sedaka writing about not becoming a cantor to Melissa Manchester describing how she came to find her way to the
father . . . in a final section, Rick Moranis, Barbara Walters and Billy Crystal recall the Alan King they knew so well and laughed with so often.

And don't feel you have to be Jewish to enjoy this material . . . regardless of your religion, it will move you at times . . . and make you smile, at others, as a result of gentle humor such as this tale from Barry Louis Polisar (a four-time Parent's Choice Award winner for his
books and music for children):

My grandmother used to tell me a story that her father, Louis, used to tell about God giving the Jewish people religion. "It's really not such a hard religion," God said. "Here, I'll write it down for you. You try it for a while, and if it doesn't suit you, bring it back." So the Jewish
people tried it and found it was not too hard. For days, caravan upon caravan stretched across the desert carrying Haftorahs, mezuzahs, yarmulkes, prayer shawls, commentaries, and prayer books. God looked out at the caravans that stretched to the horizon and said,
"What's all this? All I wrote down for you were ten simple commandments."

Uri Geller contributed his favorite Alan King joke:
Mrs. Cohen is yelling at the lifeguard who just pulled her husband out of the ocean. He tells her is going to give artificial respiration. She yells back, "You'll ever give my Benny real respiration or nothing!"

There are also a series of wonderful quotes throughout the book, including these I particularly liked:

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.--Calvin Trillin

If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank.--Woody Allen

I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up--they have no holidays.--Henny Youngman

"Matzoh Ball Soup" was given to me by a loving grandson. It touches the heart. This book will make a wonderful gift to and
from family members and all others who care for humanity. It makes you aware of the importance of loving relationships with each other.

In this age of political correctness where the victors rewrite history,Mbokodo is a refreshing look at the other side of the ANC.Not the ANC of The Freedom Charter or of Luthuli or of the world icon Nelson Mandela but of the hideous concentration camps of Quatro ,of the torures that went on there of which surely Hitler and Stalin would have been proud and of the brutal Mbokodo-the ANC secret police whose deeds rivalled the worst of those at Vlakplaas. It is not a novel for the fainthearted for among the torture methods described are jumpin on the heads of suspects 'to see if they would burst'. thowing stones at the eyes of suspects standing against walls,dripping melted plastic on genitalia and open wounds,whipping to death with barbed wire,sjamboks and electric cable and burning the souls of the feet with red hot pieces of iron. Of course this book is not popular with the current powers that be but than neither was that wonderful book by the great Steve Biko-'I Write What I Like'

I have no doubt that though he is not a popular figure now,Mwezi Twala will oned day take his place among the great South Africans who stood for conscience such as Steve Biko,Alan Paton and Emily Hobhouse.Especially since we have not been given a clear picture of what happened at Quatro and other ANC camps by the media or the TRC as we have of abuses by the Apartheid government

Ross Enamait has written more and newer works, so this one is a tad out of date. However, if you see it at a garage sale, grab it. It's a great read and a fantastic training aid. Also get the Underground Guide to Warrior Fitness, another of his out of print books. I'd also recommend his new book Infinite Intensity.

This book is a excellent tribute to the public affairs program that spawned such programs as "Face the Nation" and "This Week". This book is a very interesting look at the political faces that have passed through "Meet the Press" in its first fifty years. This book is a must read for those who really enjoy this program.

I was a little worried when I bought this book. I though it would be about soldiers. But I read the frist couple of pages and I just couldn't stop reading. Mr Ball has such a wonderful sense of humor. I found the story to be similar to a Anime style movie or cartoon. I loved it!!!

The late William Bentley Ball's book titled MERE CREATURES OF THE STATE?is a thouhgtful book on what is meant by teaching, learning, ecucation, and what is fundamentally important. Ball examined court cases, including some that reach the US Supreme Court where many of these questions were fought in the legal system. The issues of some these cases involved parents' rights vs. the power of the state. These questions ultimately dealt with the question of who are actually the parents-the mother and father or school bureaucrats.

Mr. Ball began this book with the legal rule that the state can only interfere with parental rights when there is cruelty, criminal activity, etc. Yet the cases that Mr. Ball examines dealt with were areas of parents' rights which had nothing to do with criminal activity, abuse, or anything that had a "compelling state interest."

Mr. Ball began this study with a case which originated in Pennsylvania involving state assistance to Catholic schools for secular purposes and "the common good." The Pennsylvania law confomred to previous court decisions. Yet, when challenged, the US Supreme Court Justices showed inconsistency and a veiled prejudice against the Catholic Church. For example, in the 1972 Supreme Court case, Hugo Black constantly referred to Catholic nuns as teachings ignoring the fact that many Catholic school teachers are not nuns and are laity. The suggestion that Catholic teachers would use the Rosary to teach counting was speculated upon without a shred of evidence. As an aside, this reviewer went to a Catholic university for graduate school, taught as a lay volunteer for a Catholic teaching order, and associated with dedicated Catholic teachers. Never was the Catholic Rosary ever used to teach counting.

The Pennsylvania law was overturned by what is known as the Lemon Case. However this legal standard was mitagated later when a blind student at a Bible college was granted public funds for the handicapped, and another student who was deaf was permitted to have a state teacher to help him in a Catholic school.

The Yoder Case (1972)involved Amish who kept their children "on the farm." This case involved the state authorities whose testimony, whether intentional or not, supported the case of Mr. Yoder and his family. The state education "experts," whom Mr Ball repeatedly called the Guardains, tried to make a case that if Amish children did not attend public school, they would become social and legal problems. Yet, the Green County, Wisconsin social welfare authorities testified that the Amish were not involved in drugs, alchohol, pre-maritial sex, abortion, etc. The police authorities also stated under oath that the Amish hardly ever appeared on arrest reports and that the Amish were lawful people who bothered no one. Mr. Ball got to a very important point in this case. The state authorities tried to argue that Amish people are unfit for a technilogical society. Yet as Mr. Ball stated the Pennsylvania Amish were sleeping peacefully while teams of technicians were trying to prevent a nuclear disaster on the Suquehanna River on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. The word utlity will be explored later in this review per Mr. Ball's observations.

Mr. Ball had a very good explanation of a case in Kentucky when the state "education authorities" tried to get the Evangelical schools to conform to the state curriculum or face closure and criminal prosecution. A staged media event was held to hopefully expose the teachers, parents, and administrators as "ignorant rednecks." The scripted media event exploded in the face of the prosecution and media. The Evangelical pastors, teachers, parents, and administrators presented themselves as articulate, intelligent, thoughtful, and knowledgeable men and women. Mr. Ball and his co-counsel showed the "education experts" for the thoughtless, inarticulate, burearucrats they were and still are. These bureaucrats tried to fool the court with such buzz words as "excellence," "revelance," and "flexibility." When these "experts" could not explain and offered nonsense as definitions, those in the courtroom knew the bureaucratic frauds for what they were. The state also lost the "excellence" arguement when the standardized test scores from the religious private schools were exponentially higher than the the public school students.

Mr. Ball returned to the position of the Catholic schools. He commented in the 1950s and even in the 1960s, Catholics were building and staffing elementary and high schools. The teachers and students excelled in these schools. Mr. Ball warned Catholics that government aid means government control, and the fact that Catholic schools were declining was the fault of the Catholics themselves. This trend began in the 1970s, but this was a time when Catholics were wealthier and more prosperous than their immigrant ancestors who were poor but who made sure there were good Catholic schools.

Mr. Ball had an important final note re utility of teaching and learning. Some of the cases had state "experts" who stated that teachers and students in private religious schools were unfit. Mr. Ball raises the question unfit for what? Readers who are enamored with former Federal Judge Bork should note that he disapproved of court decisions of freedom of religion and the right of parents to have their children taught in religious institutions which taught honesty, religious convictions, etc. Conservatives beware. The untility arguement is dangerous. Those who are not deemed useful can be disposed of or "liquidated" (mass murders and concentration camps). In fact, some of the "education experts" testified as much in some of the court cases.

On a personal note, this review knows of parents who taught their children foreign languages at home. These parents also read good books to their children. Yet, the "education experts" tried to stop it with the explanation that it interfered with their "offical reading programs and official curriculum." The results were that those parents who took an interest in teaching their children had children who were successful adults. Many parents who fell for the "education experts'" nonsense had children whose reading and thinking ability was seriously lacking.

This is a good book. Those parents who are concerned with their children's learning should read this book and take it seriously. Readers should know some of the greatest scholars and teachers did not follow the advice of "education experts." A good case is Socrates (470 BC-399 BC)who befuddled the "edcuation experts" in Athens known as the Sophists.

Book 4 of the "Hidden Picture Puzzles" series, Merry Christmas Hidden Treasures by Liz Ball is an economical and delightful combination activity and coloring book for young children. It's filled cover-to-cover with Christmas-themed line drawings featuring cheerful animal characters, and an assortment of hidden items to find. Ideal for the Christmas season, Merry Christmas Hidden Treasures is a highly recommended excellent brain teaser for indoor day activities and long car trips.

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (6/08)

Do you like Dr. Doolittle? Dr. Doolittle is a very popular movie; there was an original movie, then a remake followed by at least two sequels. Don't you wish you could talk to animals? You look at your pet dog and wish you knew what he was thinking. It would be much easier if he would just be able to put his feelings into words.

Come along and experience "The Misty Forest." It will be a trip that you won't soon forget. Running Deer is a young Indian boy who has a gift. Running Deer has discovered that he too can talk to the animals. Some of the animals give off the impression that they are fierce and could tear you apart in seconds. But inside of them is a softer side which Running Deer discovers. He makes new friends with the animals in the forest and has a lot of adventures with them.

I love Grumpy Bear. His grumpiness actually makes him seem cuter all the time. Is it possible that this grizzly could be as tame as your own teddy bear? It doesn't matter if you are just a kid listening to the stories read to you or you are reading the book on your own, you are sure to learn some things about life in general that you didn't know before. With each chapter being a story all on its own, you could read them one a night. But I'll warn you that once you start experiencing "The Misty Forest," you won't want to put the book down until the very last page when you have met all the interesting characters there. I hope Stephanie LeMonde writes another book about talking to animals and their adventurous yet soft sides.

There is no need to be afraid of venturing into the forest, the animals in "The Misty Forest," by Stephanie LeMonde' will have you falling in love with them!

My training is in Physics, and I have not had a chance to read-up on Chemistry in a long while. I decided to read this book in order to get a better bird's eye view of what the modern Chemistry is up to these days. As such, this book was a great introduction, and brought me up to speed with some of the more recent developments. Thanks to this book and some other info I got, I was able to piece things together and figure out what some of the more advanced research in the conventional explosives is all about.