I was born on the island, and heard many stories from my father and mother, and my grandparents, uncles and aunts. However, Max and Gini's book has filled in all the gaps, either out of my own memory bank, or the stuff just left out by a father, protecting his daughter from the "sordid" tales. Galveston: Lore, Legend and Downright Lies has added even more to my "love of the island." I have bought the book twice, once for myself and once for my father. He loves it! I plan on ordering more from Amazon for Xmas gifts. A great "thumber" and definitely should be a part of everyone's home library. Thank you, Max, and Gini, and Robert John, and Amazon.....the world needs more books like this one!

“Galveston … Lore, Legend, & Downright Lies” is a delightful , entertaining potpourri of life in days gone by on Texas’ famed island city, once known as the Wall Street of the South. The city boasted electric lights and the best of practically everything west of the Mississippi.

The collection of stories was compiled by Gini Fendler-Brown and Max Rizley Jr., Texas writers, and published by Eakin Press, Austin, Texas in a 164 page package sure to please history-lovers near and far.

“Galveston … Lore…” brings to the reader stories ranging from the disastrous 1900 hurricane -- the worst natural disaster to occur in this country, to the fact that the extinct Karankawa Indians cared for Cabeza de Vaca and his shipwrecked party in 1588, and tales of fabled pirate-patriot-lover Jean LaFitte.

Stories abound telling of the history of Galveston’s moniker as “The Oleander City” and the true origin of the Oleanders, to the fact that Galvestonians took on the challenge to rebuild after the 1900 storm and physically raised 2,100 structures above the sand during the city grade raising to avoid any repeat of the disaster. Extreme hardship, loss and Pride.

The book, easy to read and hard to put down, is bound to be a big winner for all who are fortunate enough to get their hands on it.

Galveston Island is home to a unique community. Although it is connected to the Texas Gulf Coast by two bridges and a ferry service, in many ways it is its own society separated by much more than a mere few miles of saltwater.

This book takes us into the distant and more recent history of the island and its colorful inhabitants, telling us stories in a way that leaves one feeling like you're sitting around a fire at a family reunion recalling old friends, neighbors and family members. Some stories one might tell only in hushed whispers. Others provoke knowing interjections from all quarters. These are tales that deserve to be shared far outside the circle of sand.

Whether you were born on the island and want to learn about the gossip you might have missed, or live far away and merely wonder what life is like in a seaside city, this book delivers. From pirates to revered community traditions, it explores a vast scope of history in an easy way that leaves you wanting more.

Caution: You may be tempted to move to Galveston after reading this book, if you don't already live there.

We live in a modern culture that is not interested in the cultivation of the mind. This is true inside the church as well as outside. In "Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview", authors Moreland and Craig, who are among the best in Christian scholars, place all of the fundamental concepts needed to provide a strong foundation for intellectual growth in one volume. The book is primarily written for the Christian but is very accessible for the non-Christian who is interested in the debate.

The book begins by laying down a philosophical groundwork concerning concepts such as logic & rationality, epistemological issues such as truth and knowledge, and various important issues in metaphysics. Gradually, as the concepts build, the book covers areas in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, ethics, concepts of God, arguments for the existence of God, Christian doctrines, etc.

This book is a philosophical text and should be treated as such. That is, it should be rigorously studied and not just read. Most people who have not contended with weighty concepts in philosophy and religion may find some sections tedious and difficult to grapple with-hence the need to study. Fear not however, for the book is intended for the beginner and intermediate levels of understanding. Bold face text will alert readers to key definitions and concepts, and the chapters end with summary and list of concepts that should be mastered. Footnotes are placed at the end of book so as to not clutter the text.

Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview is an indispensable scholarly work that combines classical apologetics with fundaments philosophical concepts. It is sure to provide a solid platform by which the Christian can conduct his or her intellectual life. It also exemplifies the intellectual rigor that we have come to know in J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig.

Aristotle once said that the unexamined life is not worthy to be lived. With this book, one is well on their way to an examined life. It is high quality indeed

This book has given me a philosophical grounding that I never believed I could attain. Everything is explained thoroughly and (in my opinion) in a way easily understood by the beginner. The only thing that is needed is a desire to learn.

This book is so excellent--thank you Dr. Craig and Dr. Moreland!!

I highly recommend this outstanding book. Moreland and Craig are two intellectual leaders in a growing movement of Christian philosophers who have offered to both the general public and the academic world sophisticated and compelling arguments for why it is rational, and sometimes obligatory, to embrace the beliefs that are central to the Christian worldview--e.g., the existence of God, the existence of the soul, the reasonableness of miracles, the coherence of the Incarnation, the possibility of theological knowledge, etc. If you have an interest in philosophy and its relationship to the rationality of Christian belief, do yourself a favor and buy this book...

I'm 32 and have had heartburn since I was a teenager. I controlled it with TUMS. A year ago I finally went to a GI doctor and he immediately prescribed Prevacid. It worked great. I could eat anything, even my favorite pepperoni pizza. After a year on the drug I decided to quit cold turkey. I didn't want to have to take this drug the rest of my life especially after hearing some of the possible long term side effects (stomach tumors). I had horrendous heartburn non stop for 2 weeks. I stuck with only Tums to help ease the pain. I got to thinking that something else might be going on. I called my sister who worked at an allergy clinic. She had me come in to speak with the doctor. He ordered Food Allergy tests. Sure enough... Dairy, Tomatoes, Corn, Peanuts. At about the same time, I found this book. This book explains why that it is very probable that I got these food allergies from STOMACH ACID SUPPRESSION. It also explains why I could have low stomach acid which might be the cause of my GERD. It could also explain why I have had acne since I was a teenager. It's all exposed in this wonderful book. This is no joke... I now believe I will find out soon when I get my allergies under control that STOMACH ACID IS GOOD FOR YOU!!!

I am a current patent of Dr. Wright and have read his book after my stomach acid was tested ,as outlined in the book, and showed to be extremly low. I have been following the guidance outlined and under Dr Wrights guidance and feel better. No more bloating after a meal and more stable energy through the day. It is too bad most doctors do not check their patents stomach acid level before prescribing medication. As outlined in this book, digestion is not the only problem associated with low stomach acid.

Hard to believe, but true - at least in my particular case and, in the authors' opinion, about 90% presenting with indigestion.
After being warned by a pediatrician about the high incidence of stomach cancer among patients taking acid suppressors, I scoured the health food stores and web looking for alternative therapies until finally finding Dr. Wright's & Lenard's book.
They explained in detail how the stomach and, by extension, the whole body, are severely compromised by low stomach acid. The doctors expose the drug companies - who have known since the 1800s that the symptoms of low stomach acid mimic and are much more common than those attributed to too much acid - for the greedy pushers that they are.
The doctors warn of an impending stomach cancer epidemic and other related health problems if the drugs that are currently dispensed like candy (and are amazingly available over the counter) continue unfettered.
In my own personal experience, I have been under treatment for GERD and heartburn for over 10 years with typical emphasis on acid reduction, e.g., Prilosec, Nexium, and a lot of Rolaids. I was off drugs the same day I received this book and feel much better by taking over-the-counter supplemental acid and pepsin.
No doubt the drug companies will attack the truth here. There is a lot of money to be made by selling expensive products that at once reduce and yet sustain the indigestion symptoms daily until the patient eventually dies.
This information is a lot like that of Australian medical researcher Dr. Barry Marshall, the man who was ridiculed but later vindicated for discovering that the cause of many ulcers is a helicobacter pylori bacterial infection. While initially controversial, this book will hopefully similarly end up changing the dependence on dangerous acid-reducing drugs and save lives.

WILLIE'S MARKET highlights everyday life in a small urban community. Abe and Winona Stone move to East Liberty from the South and through hard work and a supportive family they are able to purchase Willie's Market and realize a dream. In addition to being a place to shop, the market serves as a community gathering place, where everyone knows everyone. But all of the characters in the story including Abe and Winona have a deeper story to tell, and as the story evolves we are reminded that life is much more complicated than meets the eye. It is this deeper story that will grab you and draw you in as you meet a colorful group of characters that indeed keep the story moving and the reader turning pages.

We meet Abe and Winona's son Dwight, whose comfortable home life, and love for Louis Armstrong doesn't outweigh his need to learn his true identity. Reverend Embry Wilshire, pastor of the neighborhood church, takes his job as spiritual advisor quite seriously, yet he has his own demons to battle. And Felton, whose bizarre behavior and elusive ways leave most people in East Liberty scratching their heads. Some of the other characters include a beautician/nude dancer, a washed up singer, a lonely widow, and a homeless orphan.

WILLIE'S MARKET is a strong character driven novel that evokes a strong sense of empathy in the reader. I found myself wanting to understand the characters better and curious about how things would end up. One of the strengths of this book was that it featured ordinary characters experiencing struggles that were inherently human. East Liberty could be any place and there were aspects of the characters' personalities and experiences that nearly any one could relate to. The book dealt with social truths and human truths and kept me enthralled until the last page. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Michael R. Lane....

A fast moving, intriguing novel which provides an informative insight into a close-knit black community. A real page turner with entertaining twists and turns along the way.

"Willie's Market" provides an engaging view of the joys and drawbacks of living in a small community. Abe and Winona Stone own a corner grocery store and are central characters in the novel. All of the characters are tied to the Stone's in some way - through friendship, through spirit, through animosity and jealousy. These characters demonstrate how strong personal integrity, love of family and friends, and perseverance can overcome many of life's difficulties.

I occasionally have to do math because of the sorts of 3D computer modeling I do, and also on some occasions when I want to build something. Then, too, sometimes I just get curious and like to look things up.

Math, however, was always my weakest subject, and I can only remember a very few formulae, so this compact little book has been a priceless reference for me for a good 20 years; I can't begin to guess the number of times it's been exactly what I needed. I looked for it here on Amazon.com so that I could refer others to it, and I'm very sad to see that it's out of print.

I have had this little book since the mid eighties and, to my surprise, still find in its tiny pages bits of material I was never taught in highschool or university mathematics courses. After so many years of use it is one of the very few books I've ever owned which remains completely intact and useful to my studies of applied mathematics and geometry. If you're planing a trip to the moon, take this one along - just in case.

This book contains all the basic formulae which you learn in high school/college and then forget about. When it comes time to actually apply them in later studies, this book becomes invaluable.

It's a quiet, mysterious book which draws the reader into a magical world. I really enjoy this book, it reminds me of Maurice Sendak's books.

Kids love this quiet book with fabulous pictures of giant pets and small children. The sparse text resonates with kids, especially those who find the world a little too large for them at times and whose pets comfort them. This is one of my all-time favorite kids' books: I read it myself when I feel overwhelmed, and I've given a copy to every child I know now.

Lane Smith's illustrations are rich and dense with colour, yet have a soft chiaroscuro effect to them. This is a fantasy story, where independent children play in wondrous locales with their big (huge!)pets. The book reads like a poem. The fun the children have with the big pets is reminiscent of the fun Maurice Sendak's Max has in "Where the Wild Things Are". "The Big Pets" however, does not have a social message or moral to it - just a sense of wonder and joy.

First written in 1543, The Bondage And Liberation Of The Will: A Defence Of The Orthodox Doctrine Of Human Choice Against Pighius is an English translation by G. I. Davies of one of John Calvin's profound theological works concerning the relationship between grace and free will. Astutely edited with meticulous notes by A. N. S. Lane (Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Christian Doctrine at the London Bible College), The Bondage And Liberation Of The Will is an historically important and influential treatise of religious and historical significance, and one which is very strongly recommended for Christian Studies theological reference and resource shelves.

This is an excellent debate on free will and predestiantion. it is extremely scholaraly and Calvin is more nuanced and complex than Luther. this book centers around Augustinian thought, as both Rome and the Reformers claimed him as their champion on this issue. Calvin showed conclusively, that Augustine sided with the reformers and solidified the reformation as something not novel, but as a spokesman for Augustine on the treatment of the will and the sinful state of man. The Reformation, it has been said, was the victory of Augustine's thoughts on salvation over Augustine's thoughts of the church.

This is an excellent review of the response of Calvin to A. Pighius and the debates of the 1540's concerning the Will of Man, and Predestination. This work covers many areas not covered in other English Translations of Calvin's works, and is very informative concerning Calvin's treatment of the relation between grace and free will.

I hadn't read a Regency romance in months when I picked up Allison Lane's latest book. I've read many of them, and so many of them quite awful, I was much in doubt that I would be surprised. But Ms. Lane's book did.

Reading the previous book in this series might have helped me, but I enjoyed The Rake and the Wallflower just the same. Lane creates some very strong characters that attract loyalty and fascination rather quickly. Heroine Mary is not your average bluestocking, she's into birds and natural history. Used to being outshone by her beautiful but risk-taking sister Laura, she stammers and makes gaffes often. In fact, she's hiding behind some palm trees at a ball when she meets Lord Gradydon, the book's hero.

Graydon, to be frank, has to be one of the more unique heros I've found in a Regency. True, he's been branded a rake by society but for false reasons. He doesn't spend his time boxing, hunting or gaming. He isn't always buying a new horse. He actually hates any bloodshed and grows sick at the sight of it. The fact that in many instances in the book Graydon is unwell or overcoming a weakness when around Mary is very unusual and got my attention. I also enjoyed the verbal interplay between Gray and Mary, although he seemed to drop his guard around her rather quickly. The author gives the reader ample opportunity to watch this special relationship unfold.

My only tiny complaint was about Laura, the outrageous, spoiled sister. I found it a little difficult to believe that after all her tricks, it took everyone so long to realize what a deeply evil woman she was.

But it pales in comparison to the rest of the book's many fine points. I thought that most of the plot well constructed and found myself having grown quite attached to Mary and Gray. I only hope Ms. Lane will let us revisit them in her next book!

Allison Lane is an auto-buy for me, and I was quite pleased with her latest Regency, The Rake and the Wallflower. I've read hundreds of Regencies, and it's hard to find one that's refreshingly different, but this one is. The hero is handsome, of course, but instead of being arrogant, he is sweet, kind-hearted, and generous. He is mistreated by society for being a rake, but he isn't one--not really. The heroine likes to tackle her problems head-on, and that's what she does in this book. She reminds me of Jamie Somers in The Bionic Woman--she doesn't wait around to be saved, but gives the hero help when he needs it. I like the book for two particular reasons: it contains many wonderful historical touches about the Regency period, and it successfully avoids being same-old same-old. Come to think of it, all of her books I've read have those qualities. I eagerly await Lane's next book.

"The Rake and the Wallflower" by Allison Lane continues the sage of the Seabrook sisters, started in "The Notorious Widow." This time, however, the focus is on Laura and Mary Seabrook and their London Season. Now that Catherine, the eldest Seabrook sister has married the Earl of Rockhurst, she can afford to give her sisters a London Season that they both deserve. However, neither Laura, the beauty of the family, nor Mary, the shy bookworm, are truly over the moon at this turn of events. Laura, who has dreamed and schemed of having a triumphant Season, is furious that she has to share it with her dab of a sister; as for Mary, who is both plain and shy, and who has not quite recovered from the unpleasantness that her family suffered at Catherine's enemy's hands (brilliantly chronicled in "The Notorious Widow"), this London Season is proving to be hell on earth, especially when Laura keeps maliciously pointing out all of Mary's shortcomings and flaws in public for all to see and know. And then Lord Grayson, the Earl of Rothmoor, who is both incredibly rich and notorious comes to town.

Laura immediately sets her sights on him in spite of his reputation of being a blackguard where women are concerned: he's supposed to have ruined two young debutantes, and to have actually driven one of them to commit suicide. But, it is shy Mary who actually meets and gets to know the notorious Grayson. And she senses that this is a man much maligned. Furthermore, Grayson seems to be suddenly dodging a lot of near accidents. Too many for them to be coincidence, Mary feels. And she is determined to save Grayson from both the twin threats of his invisible foe and her sister's, Laura's, machinations. Will Mary succeed in her attempts to keep Grayson safe? Or will Laura and Grayson's enemy have their way?

"The Rake and the Wallflower" is an excellent follow-up to "The Notorious Widow." This novel does not have quite that gothicky and malevolent feel that "The Notorious Widow" had, however it is still an interesting read nonetheless, as we follow both Grayson and Mary trying to figure out who is out to get him. And unlike "The Notorious Widow" this novel spends more time on the developing romance between Grayson and Mary. I really enjoyed that aspect of the novel very much. Another thing I liked was the relationship that existed between Laura and Mary. These are two sisters who do not get along very well at all, and Ms Lane does a wonderful job of portraying this not very amicable relationship, snipping, warts and all. And what can I say about the portrayal of self-centered, jealous, living-in-her-own-reality, almost demented Laura? Nothing, except that the Book Huntress is right: it is a gem of a depiction!

"The Rake and the Wallflower" is a truly excellent read, and well worth recommending, and raving about.

The book is a debate between two well-informed philosophers who debate the implications of big bang cosmology on the issue of God's existence. I recently re-read the book and was amazed at what I missed the first time around. The technical nature of the book will make it difficult to understand for those who are unfamiliar with both philosophical argument and big bang cosmology. I recommend one read Robert Jastrow's _God and the Astronomers_ and Hugh Ross' _ Creator and the Cosmos_ before embarking on this heavy dose of technical philosophy. I consider Craig's Kalam cosmological argument for God's existence to hold more weight than Smith's interesting but weak cosmological argument for God's non-existence.

According to Big Bang cosmology, the universe began to exist about fifteen billion years ago with an explosion called `the Big Bang'. But was this explosion created by God, or did it occur without cause? In Part I, Christian philosopher William Lane Craig defends the theistic interpretation of Big Bang cosmology. In Part II, atheist philosopher Quentin Smith defends the atheistic interpretation. Part III contains Craig's and Smith's interpretations of Stephen Hawking's cosmology, and its implications for the existence of God.

An excellent scholarly resource for anyone interested in the debate over Big Bang cosmology. Readers unfamiliar with Big Bang Theory may wish to consult other works before reading this one.

This is not the easiest book in the world to read. Then again, its subject matter is recondite enough to warrant its difficult essays. It is recommended that anyone who wishes to take on this monster first be acquainted with philosophy as well as contemporary 20th century cosmology. Stephen Weinberg's "The First Three Minutes" and Timothy Ferris' "The Whole Shebang" would be good places to start before attempting to read this book. It would also be helpful for one to have read at least one book on quantum mechanics ("Taking The Quantum Leap" by Fred Alan Wolf would be a wise choice) as a pre-requisite. Even having read these books beforehand, this is STILL not an easy book.

What this book deals with is the First Cause argument which St. Thomas Aquanis borrowed from Aristotle & then modified for Christianity. The question it confronts is "Why is there something rather than nothing?" The Creationist's answer is that the answer lies with God, the cause of all things. The atheists counter that this does nothing but push the question back, as then one must ask "where did God come from?" (if, indeed, the universe "came" from anywhere at all). If one cannot answer this, then why not just skip a step and say that nobody knows where the universe came from? (as opposed of taking the seemingly superfluous step of inferring a God or gods). William Craig Lane defends the theistic side of the argument while Quentin Smith takes the helm for the atheists. Both are quite erudite & it makes for a very good match.

In the 20th century, scientists used to adore the "steady state" theory, which was invented by Sir Fred Hoyle, the famous Cambridge astronomer. Why? you ask. Well, in the 1920s Edwin Hubble confirmed what Einstein's theory of Relativity had already predicted: the universe was either expanding or contracting (expanding, as it turns out). Due to the redshift, if one were to "run the film backwards" the universe must have been at a single point sometime in the remote past. However, if this were true, it would suggest that the universe had a beginning. However, if this were true, one could say that that was the moment of "creation" that Aristotle & St. Thomas Aquanis were talking about. This became known as the Big Bang theory.

Enter Hoyle. Hoyle speculated that there must constantly be matter "created" (for lack of a better term?) that "fills in the gaps" between galaxies as they rushed away from each other. This became known as the "steady state theory." The theory was very ad-hoc, but it did preserve an infintely old universe and was adopted by over 90% of the scientists on the planet.

The story took a decided turn in the mid 1960s when Arno Penzias & Ralph Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background (CMB), which was radiation left over from the first instants of the incredibly hot Big Bang. Almost overnight, Big Bang passed the steady state theory in the HOV lane. Today, steady state is a dead theory.

To many scientists' horror, they once again had to grapple with the First Cause argument as applied to a finite universe. Sir Arthur Eddington once said "I find the idea of a beginnig to the universe repugnant. I should like to find a genuine loophole." Oscillating universe theory became the favorite "loophole" of atheists. However, it suffers from significant faults (as William Craig Lane describes in this book).

This is a wonderful book as the polemics of the First Cause argument are presented on the battlefield of cosmology rather than straight-philosophy these days. That is as it should be. The book is filled with paradoxes of infinity as well as the possiblity of the entire universe being a quantum fluctuation (virtual particle) gone awry. Although the book dabbles with the Anthropic Principle a wee bit, it is primarily focused on the question of causation. Did God create the universe? Or is it, as they say, turtles all the way down? Or did the universe LITERALLY appear out of nowhere (and nothingness)? Read this book & you will be much more informed to decide for yourself.

A few sparks, but no fire. The problem with this debate was that the speakers were not really fighting for every argument. Craig offered several reasons why Jesus is the son of God because of his ressurection. Crossan didn't answer any of those. Craig was right in asserting that the problem with Crossan is that he is neglecting the historical evidence while presenting his case from a naturalistic viewpoint. You need better arguments than that. The most serious problem was I think that in comparison with other debates of Craig against atheists, that both speakers call them selves christians. This was confusing me. In the end I follow Craig's argument, that if jesus didn't rise from the dead, we have no better rational reason to believe in his divinity than to believe in Peter Pan. Cornelis van Putten.

Waaooh, this is a must. Unfortunately the debate is not yet in print, one has to be content with Moreland's "Jesus under Fire", for example.

Dr. John Dominic Crossan is the co-chairman of the media darlings known as the Jesus Seminar. Dr. William Craig is (in my opinion) the best Christian apologist of the late 20th century who has specialized his theological research on the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus in 3 major academic books. The give and take of this debate much favored Craig in which he clearly won. Craig argued two major contentions: 1. Jesus rose from the dead and confirmed his claims to act in the place of God. 2. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then belief in him is a fairytale and equivalent to an irrational faith of Peter-Pan theology. Crossan never seems to address point 2 at all in the debate. In fact, Crossan thinks that one should just go on believing in Christ even though , according to Crossan, Jesus never rose from the dead bodily and was probably eaten by dogs. One wonders who is the one with the irrational faith? Listeners will enjoy the 40 minute dialogue section in which William F. Buckley participates in.