This is a wonderful book of photographs of the now-closed Bethlehem Steel plant in Bethlehem, PA. The first part of the book provides a history of the company and plant. Beautiful black and white photos complete the book. If you enjoy industrial photography in general, or steel mills in particular, you will appreciate this book. My only complaint is the book format size. There are so many details in each photograph that you really need a larger page size to fully appreciate the subject matter. The book is fairly priced and well-worth owning.

Andrew Garn's "Bethlehem Steel" offers a glimpse of a now-defunct steel plant, a plant once alive with power, energy and productivity. Garn's photos convey an ominous sense of the encroaching loneliness and desolation, as the mighty plant ceases production. After looking through the book I had this urge to enter the world of Bethlehem Steel, run around the grounds, and explore every mysterious alcove and dark corner. Personal favorites include "Baskets for workers' personal belongings, hung from the ceiling in the welfare room" (page 66); "The forge division at night" (page 73); "Monitor on the roof of the steel foundry," (page 79); "Open-hearth furnaces" (page 80); "Tool steel shop interior" (page 89); "Blast furnace at night with crows" (page 107).

When in Jerusalem about 8 years ago I read an article in the Jerusalem post based on Martin's findings. I was fascintated by the theory, and followed it up as best as I was able, not being as familiar with the science as many might be. What I find particularly fascinating is the reference to Herod's death in 1BC, which of course stands out from the scholarly cohort. When it comes down to it the dating of Herod's death stems from a battle, the dating of which the Roman historian Tacitus gives differently from other scholars. So who is right. Minorities have not always been wrong. All in all, a fascinating study amongst many, though what the 'truth' is we see as yet "but through a glass darkly".

While the problem of the Star of Bethlehem is not yet solved, Martin's book come up with a different date for Christ's birth. Everything depends on the death of Herod. He says that it was not in the year 4 b.C., as almost everybody states. He gives some good reasons, but other authors disagree with him. Anyway, it is a valuable book for those who are interested in the topic. Any paper on the Star of Bethlehem now mentions it as a reference. I appreciate the effort of analizing the Gospel looking for historical evidence. I'm even thinking of translating it into Italian...

Over 600 planetariums around the world have been showing the new discoveries recorded in this 280 page book. This book identifies what the real star of the Wise Men was, it also reveals the precise date and time of day when Jesus was born. This surprising information comes directly from the New Testament. The research is backed up with extensive reference to Roman and Jewish records and gives the astronomical data that can make the New Testament account of the birth of Jesus to be very understandable and also majestic beyond compare. There were planetary conjunctions that happened in the heavens in the period when Jesus was born (3 to 2 BC) about which modern astronomers have expressed awe and astonishment. This is one book that all people interested in science and the Bible should have. Although a professional scholar, Ernest L. Martin's writing style is easy to read and understand.  A previous review mentions Herod's death asa major obstacle. This obstacle is made clear in this book.
Potential readers include: those interested in astronomy, astrology, early Roman history, mainline Christianity, students of Bible Chronology and Prophecy, religious teachers and university professors.

Michael R. Molnar's quest for the Star of Bethlehem provides a reasonable approach towards the identification of the star whose identity has puzzled astronomers since the time of Johannes Kepler. Any student of the subject should add this book along side David Hughes' The Star of Bethlehem, and Ernest Martin's The Star that Astonished the World. Molnar identifies the Star of Bethlehem as the heliacal rising and lunar occultation of the planet Jupiter in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 BCE (Before the Common Era) when Herod the Great ruled over Judea. The significance of this event as a royal portent is supported by a very formalized view of Greek astrology that was current around this period. It is unfortunate, however, that the occurence of this event could probably not have been seen with the naked eye. This implies that the Magi must have calculated the stellar position, rather than having "seen his star in the east." On the other hand, the subsequent path of the star where it "went before them (the Magi), till it came and stood over where the young child was" can be correlated to the apparent motion of Jupiter, first in its retrograde motion, and then at a stationary point. So far, Molnar's astronomical outline seems to provide a plausible interpretation of Mathew's nativity, but the story can't end at this point. Molnar feels compelled to continue, and give his view as to why Luke's nativity reports the birth of Jesus as occuring during the time of the Census of 7 CE when Judea had been absorbed into the Syrian province where Quirinius served as governor. This time period is paradoxically about ten years after the death of Herod the Great. Most biblical commentators either try to find another census that fits their particular chronology that overlaps with the reign of Herod the Great, or dismiss Luke's account as being somewhat muddled. Molnar chooses to support the latter viewpoint with a coin minted in Antioch about the time of the 7 CE Census that shows a ram looking backwards in the direction of a star. This particular coin, according to Molnar, signifies the lunar occultation of Jupiter, and could have provided Luke with the necessary inspiration to write his "anachronistic" nativity story. The converse, where Matthew's historical account of the nativity could be unreliable, is never considered, because commentators like Molnar have fixed upon an "orthodox" chronology that preserves a preferred but arbitrary precedence of reliability among the four gospels. In spite of all the skepticism to the contrary, a very reasonable possibility exists that Jesus was born at the time of the Census of 7 CE, and died shortly before the time when Pilate was expelled from Judea in 36 CE. Molnar and others who are searching after the Star of Bethlehem might therefore try to find meaning in the "manger-sign" that was presented to the shepherds by the heavenly host as reported by Luke's nativity instead of relying solely upon the Star of Bethlehem that was sighted by the Magi as reported by Matthew's nativity. That meaning, not surprising at all but largely ignored, might have something to do with a set of significant planetary occurences involving a faint cluster of stars located within the constellation of Cancer, which is known as Praesepe, the manger.

Michael R. Molnar, a PhD astronomer, convincingly argues that the identity of the star of Bethlehem has to be sought from the astrological perspective that held sway at the time and place of the birth of Jesus. He studied that astrology in depth and conveys it to the readers of his book. Molnar also describes relevant aspects of the ancient cultures of Rome, Judea and the East, so that the reader can follow his reasoning. His investigation deftly combines ancient astrology and history with modern astronomical calculations of planet and star positions 2000 years ago. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM: THE LEGACY OF THE MAGI concludes that an astrological portent involving Jupiter and the Moon in the zodiacal constellation Aries was the 'star' that lead the Magi to Jesus. The book has a Christian and Western flavor but is respectful of other religions and cultures. The writing style is quite clear and pleasing to read.

This book surprised the heck out of me. I expected another typical rundown of the usual astronomical suspects (comets, supernova, planetary massings and conjunctions, etc.) but was pleasantly surprised to find instead a very serious and scholarly treatment of first century astrology. As a certified skeptic, I've always given fairly short-shrift to astrology in general, but until reading Molnar's book, I don't think I ever understood how truly complex and technical it is. Certainly the "science" of the ancient world, Molnar argues that without such an understanding of astrology, the biblical clues as to the identity are simply missed by virtually all researchers of the star of Bethlehem. For good reason, most astronomers and biblical scholars have largely avoided the role of astrology other than casual mentions. Instead, they have focused on astronomical phenomena that are visually striking, and which they believe would have been meaningful to the visitors from the east.

Molnar takes the astrological bull by the horns, and, combined with the very novel angle of first century coinage, provides a compelling and persuasive new theory of the true nature of the Matthean "star." Briefly, Molnar points to the language of the original Greek text of Matthew 2, and identifies unmistakable allusions to a star's helical rising, and to features of a planet's "retrograde" motion (he argues that the Greek for "went before" and "stood over" are clearly references to a retrograde loop and stationary point).

In a very well documented and easily readable account, Molnar traces the evidence to a helical rising and subsequent lunar occultation of Jupiter in April of 6 BC. After this event, which took place in the constellation of Aries, Jupiter proceeded to travel east, go retrograde, and resume its eastward journey over the next several months. Though the occultation would not have been observable (it happened after noon on April 17th), Molnar argues that this is inconsequential since all astrology was done via charts based on Ptolemy's tables of planetary positions anyway. Astrologers were much more interested in the significance of their charts and rarely made any effort to observe the events they portrayed. Furthermore, many significant astrological events are visually unimpressive even if they are observable.

I don't know if Molnar is right. Others take the approach that the star must have been a series of conjunctions or nova phenomenon (Kidger and Hughes). Some say the whole event is a myth (Gardner). Molnar's contribution is certainly worth reading and has gained the approval of some fine authorities (Gingerich and Trimble both wrote jacket reviews).

Harold Robbins' sequel to the lukewarm THE BETSY brings back Angelo Perino and the gang for yet another multitude romps in the hay as they all use one another for the benefit of money and power in the automobile business.

Robbins paint-by-the-numbers storyline doesn't miss a beat : lesbianism, sadomasochism, nymphomania, orgies, it's all there-- once again ! Yet, the author succeeds in making the story works. His auto industry's wheelings and dealings are a fun read, especially the making of the first electric car, the XB 000. One can't help but wonder when fiction stops and reality takes over. As for the characters, well, as we all know, Robbins is no Proust. His Angelo character is no different than his other characters in his 24 books. Macho, good looking, well-endow, a master in his field as well as in the bedroom...

Still, THE STALLION is a fun read. It is not one of Robbins best (NEVER LOVE A STRANGER,THE CARPETBAGGERS, THE LONELY LADY, 79 PARK AVENUE) and not his worst (THE DREAM MERCHANTS). It's more on the lukewarm side-- just like its prequel.

M. Boucher

As a long time fan of Harold Robbins, I've read most of his more popular novels, but not The Betsy, which is the precursor to The Stallion. However, one not need have read the former to understand what is going on in the latter. The Stallion is vintage Harold Robbins, and IMO, one of his best stories. I couldnt help but wonder whether the XB electric car in the story was a case of art imitating life or vice versa. Whichever you choose, it was a fascinating insight into the world of sports cars.

The Stallion, is a beautiful piece of artwork, and anyone that disagrees obviously cannot appreciate on of the greatest men's work that ever lived. The Stallion rocks!!!

First of all I enjoyed reading Ms. Pont's book. I too am also a runner and Cross Country Coach. Her description of a season's worth of experiences is not all that unusal when it comes to the typical High School team. The one real problem I had with the book was the omission of some type of forward or afterword. The rear cover talks about this as being her first season of coaching but I did not gather that from the narrative. Did she change the names of her athletes? A little more backround info would have been nice. She hints at that but does not say for sure. I will definitely recommend this to my athletes as a work that they could perhaps find something of themselves in.

I have to admit up-front I'm a former high school cross country teammate of Sally Pont's. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brought me right back to the crisp fall days of my too-long-ago high school years. Her descriptions of the runners, their struggles, and the realities of being a teenage athlete were just beautiful. I'm still a (very slow) runner and this book brought me some renewed enthusiasm for this beautiful and special sport.

This author's take on the sport of cross country is exactly right as a cross country runner myself. The story of this team to be not unlike my own. It reminded of some moments every runner has. The struggle to finish when your legs don't think they can take another step, fighting through injuries, and using your mind to try to take steps you never thought possible. Even if your not a runner this book will make you want to be one and hopefully give you a new-found perspective on our sport. I read this in June when I wasn't to motivated to train for the season. When I finished this book I jumped up and ran a couple of miles in pouring rain. In short this an inspiring, motivating, and excellant story that everybody should read

The Star of Bethlehem is a perennially favorite topic for planetarium shows, articles, musings, sermons, and books. What could be left at this late date to say about it? Quite a lot, actually. Enough so that two new books, both titled "The Star of Bethlehem" (How original!) and both copyright 1999 are on my desk as I write.

The story about the Star is found only in the Gospel of Matthew. There are three possibilities: 1) The star was a myth - invented by the writer of Matthew or earlier Christians whom he followed, in order to give Jesus appropriately royal auspices for his birth. 2) The star was a miracle provided by God to guide the Magi, even perhaps visible only to them. 3) The star was a natural astronomical event or events. These three are obviously mutually exclusive and exhaustive. If either of the first two possibilities are correct, there is little more to be said; therefore both of our authors give them short shrift.

Both books cover some of the same material in about the same way. Jesus was *not* born on December 25 of 1 BC as worked out by the Scythian monastic scholar Dionysius Exiguus (Denny the Dwarf) in 525 AD. King Herod, of whom the Magi inquired about the birth, died in 4 BC. For other reasons, the birth is fairly firmly dated to between 6 and 4 BC. If the shepherds were 'abiding with their flocks by night', the birth did not take place in December. For various reasons, these authors agree that Spring is more likely.

"The Star of Bethlehem - An Astronomer's View", by Mark Kidger, gives a review of all the various suggestions that have been made over the years, finally settling on a combination of events being the sign: a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces (the sign Kidger says is associated with the Jews - more on this later) between May and December of 7 BC, with Mars approaching this pair in February of 6 BC, followed by a near-occultation of Jupiter by the Moon in Pisces in February of 5 BC, and then, possibly a nova in March/April 5 BC, as suggested by some Korean and Chinese records.

I would have found this scenario plausible were it not for the second, and to my mind more interesting, book: "The Star of Bethlehem - The Legacy of the Magi" by Michael R. Molnar. There are two problems, as pointed out by Molnar, with the kinds of solutions reviewed, and those eventually suggested, by Kidger. Firstly, they tend to focus on what we as moderns would find to be visually compelling sights in the heavens. But this neglects the fact that the Magi were certainly *astrologers*, most likely Hellenistic rather than Babylonian in their astrological theories. Most of the events put forward would not have been significant to contemporary astrology. Kidger himself makes this point but does not seem to follow through with a close study of Hellenistic astrology as Molnar has made. Secondly, we have the advantage over the Magi of *knowing*, at least approximately, what the correct time frame is, then sifting through a small number a years to find the most significant events during those years. We have to imagine an ongoing community of astrologers, scanning the skies for generations perhaps, and imagine what would have been absolutely unique over many years, and compelling enough to make them undertake an arduous journey. In this light, Kidger's series of events are not so special.

Se my review of Michael Molnar's book for more details.

One of two books on the star of Bethlehem published in 1999 by an astronomer. Kidger takes the view that the phenomenon was a series of events, specifically a planetary grouping followed a few months later by a bright nova. Whether you're interested in the biblical account at all, Kidger's book is an interesting historical romp through dozens of great planetary conjunctions and massings, and an enjoyable read.

Mr. Kidger's words open a whole new world to the reader. Whether you think the star is a hoax or a supernatural phenomenon, what he has to say will have you looking at the sky in a whole new way. After I read it I couldn't wait to go out and watch an eclipse, look for a comet, or just look at the stars. I even called my parents to see if they still had the telescope they bought me when I was a child. The book does a good job of presenting several views of what the "Star" could have been. Mr. Kidger doesn't expect you to believe that he is right in his conclusions, instead he gives the reader the opportunity to see many points of view. Like a good teacher, Mr. Kidger makes a conclusion from his research but makes it in such a way that the reader (student) wants to learn more. The only reason that I did not give the book 5 stars was becasue at times it can seem to stray away from the purpose of answering the question, "what was the star?" While there is no way to answer this question without looking at history, the book at times resembles more of a history book than an astronomy book. If you like astronomy or are just curious about the Star of Bethlehem you will find this book worth looking over. If nothing else the new way you look at the sky will be worth reading the book.

If you're a Mark Doty fan, there's no reason not to have this book - its contents reveal the younger poet working his way toward the greater expanse of his more mature poetry. It lends a neat perspective to Doty's later work. Is by no means his best, but hey. Neat anyway.

Fans experienced in Doty's unique vision of our world will appreciate this early collection combining his first two volumes (now out of print). Certainly lacking the later intensity which would define this celebrated poet (Atlantis' "Homo Will Not Inherit" and Sweet Machine's finest: "Mercy on Broadway"), these poems account for the poet's youth, a topic later dismissed following the sucess of My Alexandria. The artist here is very much in development yet still images describing genuine affection for our decaying world prevail (a theme consistently "Doty"). Turtle, Swan's title poem introduces Wally Roberts, though it's hardly a lamenting cry that we'll see later in Heaven's Coast. Beauty exists here. From an ancient Egyptian headdress to a senile old neighbor, Doy examines his world in scientific detail: a talent which not only inspires delicate, lyrical poems but also heals a breaking spirit, focusing the voice on anything lustrous. Isn't that why we read Doty? To, if only for an instance, see the world as he does: fashionable and redemptive--"our miracle / our hour"?

I would not recommend this book to anyon

I chanced upon From Fire to Rust while scouring books about the decline of US industry. The tired and illogical blaming of "foreign competition" here has been put to rest; the fault, dear Brutus, is ours alone. As with Youngstown Sheet and Tube, Bethlehem's Lackawanna plant, south of Buffalo, NY fell victim to corporate bean counters with very short sight. The revelations in this book are central to explaining the entire US industrial decline and the stupidity of those corporate choices. More important, though, the book celebrates and elucidates the critical role of technology and labor, of wise investments and smart leaders. It's a must read for anyone caring about how we grew as a nation - and why we're in decline. It's beautifully written, wonderfully illustrated with historic and contemporary photos, and, even for us techophobes, explains how steel was made, how it changed, and why it's not replaceable in our economy. It also reminds us what makes a strong national economy - it is working people and their ingenuity, from the hard hats to the boardroom. Don't let the grumps who dislike admitting that corporate America is flawed steer you away from this outstanding book. After all - Enron execs won't like their biographies, either.

The news media that print work from writers like Hamzeh open themselves to valid criticism. For such "reporters" pursue the business of advocacy concerning current events in Israel and the disputed territories, and attempt to pass it off as news.

The book's two sections include a 70-page diary of the early stages of current war (October 4 to December 4, 2000) when Hamzeh lived in Dheisheh, near Bethlehem and 20 articles, most originally published in Arab-sponsored publications.

The preface opens with an epigraph from the U.S. Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...." Readers are supposed to see the Palestinian cause as a simple fight for freedom and statehood. But this is not the case.

Palestinian Arabs were offered statehood at least four times since 1937, when Jewish Palestinians accepted the Peel Commission recommendation to partition Western Palestine and Arabs refused. (Britain had unilaterally given Eastern Palestine--now Jordan--to the Hejaz Hashemites in 1923.) Arabs also refused the 1948 United Nations partition, which Israel accepted--as well as autonomy in 1979 and statehood in 2000. The last offer included all of Gaza, half of Jerusalem and contiguous areas in 96% of the West Bank. No mention of these offers here.

Instead Hamzeh falsely implies that Israel has refused both Arab statehood and Arab Palestinians rights. This diary reports on many events that Hamzeh neither witnessed nor participated in. Her preface, for example, claims that the establishment of 59 refugee camps in Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan following the 1948 Israeli War of Independence "which led to the expulsion of nearly 700,000 Palestinians from their homes," (page vii). But study after study shows that Arab people usually fled of their own accord. The author (predictably) offers not a shred of proof for her ridiculous claim. Readers are just supposed to believe it. I have read too much to be taken in.

The author charges Israel with unprovoked murders of Arab Palestinians in the current war--failing to note that Palestinian Authority leaders including the late Feisal Husseini and Telecommunications Minister Imad al-Falouji admitted planning the war long before September 2000. She does not mention even once suicide killings, sniping, rock-throwing and other murders Arabs have perpetrated against more than 700 Jewish and Arab Israelis--mostly civilians--since Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo accords in 1993, promising to halt such attacks. Instead, she describes Israel's understandably defensive actions as a "willful act of genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid," which she claims that the international community has ignored. (pp. ix).

Hamzeh engages in false and inflammatory hysterics, misusing words like "massacre," "killing," "maiming," "aggression," "brutality," "occupation" and making baseless charges. By October 4, 2000 she notes that each Zone A has been sealed off, without noting that Zone A was then in complete Arab control, or that Arab violence had prompted Israeli action. Never mind that the war's first victim was Jewish. (An Arab bomb killed David Biri, an Oslo-approved security man at Gaza's Netzarim crossing, days before Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount.)

Hamzeh could not have known on October 4 that ballistics experts would investigate the tragic and heart-rending death of Mohammed al-Durra at Netzarim junction--or that their work would show he was likely killed by Arab fire. Anyone could see in news feeds that the boy and his father had been caught in crossfire. Hamzeh's diary, though, hysterically charges that al-Durra was "killed in cold blood."

She writes about "Israeli aggression," without specifying what "aggression" she means. Conversely, on October 5, she lauds 11 Hamas members freed by the Palestinian Authority as "political prisoners" who had been "held, without trials, in Palestinian jails!" (page 9) She talks about how "Palestine" could be "beautiful and wonderful," but describes "intense clashes in the Rachel Tomb area" and a "heavy exchange of gunfire" without noting that the Arabs in each case opened fire. She cheers Arab gunfire on Beit Sahour that wounded three Israelis and on the Beit Jala Tunnel road that wounded an Israeli bus driver (page 10).

After Palestinian gunfire rocked Jewish targets in Bitar Illit, near Bethlehem, and al-Khader, Hamzeh complains about rock-throwing Jewish "settlers" and Israeli soldiers who "brutalized" the Arab residents (pp 10-11). She describes the Arab attacks as "exchange of gunfire," rarely accepting Arab responsibility for them. She describes Israeli reactions as "revenge" and Palestinian Arab fighters as "martyrs." She reproduces Palestinian Radio reports as gospel--never mentioning daily Palestinian Authority incitements to hate and kill Jews in radio and TV programs, newspapers and mosques. She does not mention the Palestinian snipers who hid behind stone-throwers and completely supports Arab violence against Israelis, whom she describes with utter contempt. She claims Israel sealed PA controlled areas without reason, although she herself shows otherwise.

Hamzeh's 20 articles are only slightly more palatable. She opens with two serenades to Arab riots, in 1987 and 1990, explaining how she moved from Washington DC to Dheisheh, where she had no immediate family, to join legions of stone-throwing young men--yet suggesting that the Israelis were the aggressors.

She writes nothing at all about PA corruption described by a Palestinian Arab named Mohamed J in an April 24, 2002 letter to Brazil's prestigious O Estado de S. Paulo. Although stealing hundreds of millions annually in international aid, Arafat's henchmen according to this young man also extorted money from the people and murdered those who failed to pay. His report has been corroborated by others. But according to Hamzeh neither Arafat nor even Hamas terrorists can do any wrong.

I'll give Hamzeh one thing. She offers evidence that Arabs have never accepted responsibility for either their violence or its consequences--not in 1948, 1967 or now. Given the distortions, omissions and hatred demonstrated here, it's clear that the Palestinian Authority did nothing to prepare Arabs for the state and peace that Israel offered in July 2000. No wonder they rejected it and started this war. Alyssa A. Lappen

Few are the works that have given the personal touch to what it means to be living under the ugliest forms of occupation of modern times: The Israeli Occupation of West Bank and Gaza. Ms. Hamzeh's work is one of such works. Her diaries give a face to the people who are suffering on a daily basis faced with what an Apartheid-like situation - those people are the Palestinians who are being dispossessed and forced to live as refugees in their own land. Ms. Hamzeh's diaries and the additional essays give the personal touch and the political situation in the form of Oslo agreement that is shown to be nothing more than a mask that was intended all along to squeeze the Palestinians out of their land.
This book should be recommended reading to students of Politics who risk losing sight of what it means to live under Occupation while reading Academic oriented works, and this book should be displayed as a testimony by all peace loving people against Violence and Racism and pure Murder that is being applied against Palestinians on a daily basis.

This is a day-by-day companion for Advent. The texts for each day begin with a note giving the biblical reference of the Gospel reading for the day according to the Lectionary, followed by Bishop Morneau's brief commentary and a meditative refrain that summarises the Gospel theme, taken from the Divine Office. What distinguishes the volume is the provision of a suitable poem for each day, which is accompanied by a meditation by Morneau and questions for reflection. Among the poems included are works by Rainer Maria Rilke, Emily Dickinson, George Herbert, T. S. Eliot, Jessica Powers and Morneau himself. Each day's entry concludes with a text for morning prayer. 'Fathoming Bethlehem' is an invitation to be re-enchanted with the joyous mystery of Christmas.