I have owned this cookbook for years and I have never had a dud recipe. This last Christmas I was going to make candy and ran across the English Toffee recipe. I made it and everyone raved. I made it again and everyone raved. It is so easy and it tastes like a million bucks! That expensive toffee you buy in the high dollar chocolate shops is a breeze to make your friends and family will be amazed. My second favorite recipe is the Trees and raisins even my husband will eat his broccoli!

As a former chair of the JLS' Sassafras! Cookbook committee, I have had the opportunity to try most ALL recipes in this cookbook and have NEVER had a disappointment! The recipes were all triple-tested by Junior League of Springfield (Mo) cooks and the cookbook has been in print for more than 10 years.

I have absolutely used this cookbook over and over again until now, it is basically falling apart. I grew up in the Ozarks and this book represents the good wholesome food that comes from this area and brings me many of the memories I left behind.

Songs in the key of springfield is on of my most cherrished cd's in my collection. It is an exquisite blend of songs and skits. GO SIMPSONS!

One may lament the fact that the best work in original musical comedy today is being done, not on Broadway, but in animated cartoons (the Simpsons, Disney films like Beauty & the Beast and the Little Mermaid, South Park, etc.) However, that shouldn't stop us from enjoying good show tunes in whatever form and this Simpsons show compilation is a collection of true classics of the genre. I find it much superior to the "original" Simpsons collections on CD ("The Simpsons Sing the Blues" & "The Yellow Album.") and can hardly wait until enough material is available to issue a second TV show collection.

the best song is "around the house" featuring cherry bobin

I love this book,it is so informative and has lots of rare photos of Dusty.I like reading about all of her songs that she recorded,whether it be studio,live or songs that she meant to record,but for one reason or another,didn't get around to them.Lots of nice quotes by Dusty,as well.A must for the Dusty fan.

After many failed attempts by other authors to mine Dusty Springfield's troubled personal life for a few ducats, finally a respectable book that focuses on the musical and artistic influence of the White Queen of Soul and gives us intense detail about what went on in her recording studio and not in her bedroom.

A work of intense dedication and love, this compendium contains information on the more than 288 songs that Dusty recorded throughout her 40 year singing career. Includes hard to find information about never released (or yet to be released) tracks, as well as info on albums, live concert line-ups and song lists. Plus, it is full of wonderful photos (many rare, previously unseen) of the Lady herself in various environments and outfits.

A true gift for the true Dusty Springfield fan. I've been waiting for years for a book like this, and finally, Paul Howes has delivered the goods!

Until I stumbled upon the Wolf's book, I had never been able to get a mint condition 1888 Springfield Rifle to shoot anywhere accurately! For anyone shooting the Trap Door Springfield, this book is an absolute must. For anyone interested in how the Frankford Arsenal used to make the .45-70 ammo and the improvements thereof, the book is essential. I have two copies of the book, the original edition and the later revised edition which is currently available.The book has helped me win more than a few bets from people who doubted the Trap Door's ability to shoot accurately. Although Jack passed away several years ago the book is a fitting memorial to his memory and his efforts to resurrect the long lost knowledge of making the ammo for the Trap Door that allows it to shoot with great accuracy.

Tom Pearson

Having lived with this book for the past year or more, I cannot help but highly recommend it. It helped me move from the disappointing performance of standard black-powder loadings for the "Trapdoor" into the realm of fine accuracy. Not intended as a continuous thread, it is more like a series of loosely joined articles. There is much repetition from chapter to chapter but the somewhat disjointed format well serves its purpose...teaching the shooter to assemble Black Powder .45-70 Gov't rounds which duplicate the 1880's originals. This allows the shooter to use the original sight settings...no mean feat! No other book or article deals with loading for historical accuracy. I used Wolf's techniques to bring my 104 yr. old trooper back to life. Without this book, I would have traded the rifle off long ago. With it, I'm proud to own a working piece of history; proud to know how to handle and care for it as originally intended; proud to hear the deep-throated bark & feel the "mule-kick" thump as my great-grandfather likely did

What a great, fast paced, old fashioned sci-fi story! This would be GREAT on the screen- it reads like a really cool movie. Very visual and entertaining. Great action; something for everyone- lots of fun. TWO THUMBS UP!!!

I didn't know what to expect from this writer and I was not disappointed. From the first chapter to the last the pace runs full petal to the metal. The author stumbles from time to time and the prose is not always silky smooth but he more than makes up for it in the action sequences and reader interest.

If you are looking for light sci-fi fare to read on an airplane in less than six hours this is it. At once I was reminded of pulp sci-fi of the 40s and 50s. Be warned! There are no complex subplots and no gratuitous sex and language. What you get is an old-fashioned good guys vs bad guys action book that might look more at home in a comic book.

Take a chance. I did and I wasn't disappointed.

Addressing Violence is an excellent book on the subject of American violence. Although the book speaks specifically about a situation that occured in Springfield, MA, it is relevant to circumstances across the country.

The chapter dealing with America's culture of violence really gives insight into how hypocritical it is for Americans to be shocked at any act of violence. It speaks plainly about the fact that we are inundated with violence everyday and actually enjoy our indulgence in it.

This is a must buy for those exploring ways to address violence.

This book is truly inspirational to anyone who is dealing with the harsh realities of life. The story of faith encourages you as read about the bittersweet life of this woman. I thoroughly enjoyed this book;it was hard to put down!

Summary:
The book is an in-depth look at the relationship between religion and politics (church-state relations) in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Chapter 1 lays out the approach taken to the project and describes the research and the book. Chapter 2 is a brief history of Springfield from its Congregational roots in the 1600s up to 1950. Chapter 3 is a history from 1950 to the then present - late 1980s. All of the history of Springfield in the book focuses on politics and religion except where other elements are relevant to the ultimate analysis, so if you are looking for a thorough treatment of the history of Springfield you should look elsewhere. Chapter 4 is a closer look at church-state relations.

Chapters 5-7 are case studies used to advance the understanding of church-state relations in Springfield. Chapter 5 focuses on the issue of homelessness. Chapter 6 takes a closer look at race issues and poor areas in Springfield. Chapter 7 examines issues of abortion and sex education in light of religion and politics.

Chapter 8, the final chapter, is where the authors bring everything together. They summarize the book and the research findings thus:

"Our own summary involves four conclusions at odds with what might have been predicted. First, despite Springfield's predominant Catholicism, there are fewer violations of the law and less bridging of church and state than many constitutional Cassandras might have expected, or than might have been predicted on the basis of community opinion. Second, this does not mean that religion has become a political cipher. Religionists of varying stripes - not exclusively Catholic - have exerted considerable political influence on selected issues, indeed more influence than many social scientists might have expected. Third, attempting to understand where religion does and does not exert civic influence leads to the realization that the contingencies and vicissitudes of power are themselves more complex than many political analysts have suggested. As one pointed example, most accounts have focused on the 'structure' of power, but it is the 'culture' of power - and the power of culture - that requires increasing attention. Fourth, and finally, religion's varying influence on civic matters is obviously related to larger changes in religion itself. Once again there are paradoxes to be confronted. A continuing religious influence in community disputes is not a rebuttal to long-term trends of secularization, as many students of religion might aver. Secularization and sacralization are more mutually dependent than mutually exclusive, and each tendency can only be understood with reference to the other."

The findings are based on interviews, comparative analysies, and survey data collected by the authors.

My Comments:
Unlike many 'academic' books, this book is intentionally designed to be readable. Undoubtedly there are many parts that might not be understandable to the individual that is not a specialist in sociology or the sociology of religion specifically. However, the authors make a notable effort to present their findings in such a fashion that it is enjoyable to read and intelligible to a lay audience.

The book (I am looking back in time now) was also timely in the study of the sociology of religion as debates surrounding the concept of secularization were on the rise. The authors' discussion is timely and still relevant.

Overall, this book is an excellent examination of church-state relations and likely applicable in many cities (despite the authors continual reminders that the findings should not be extrapolated universally). If you would like a better understanding of church-state relations in the U.S. you should read this book.

Although I have owned this book for some time, I still find myself coming back to its cornucopia of sometimes-rare photographs of Springfield. In a city that preserves little of its history, CROSSROADS gives the reader glimpses into the past glories of Springfield. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn more about Springfield, or just treasures the historical lifeblood of the town.

This book is the best written book I have ever read. I believe I think about this story every day. I wonder if Diane Downs has ever felt any remorse for what she did to her children? I have so many questions about this book. Do Christie and Danny, now that they are grown, have any contact with their mother? Do they have any memories of the shootings anymore? Ann Rule did an excellent job at writing this book--I must say her best yet. I feel I was right there and watching Diane Downs whole life due to Ann's writing. A couple of things still disturb me though. Both Steve and Diane Downs came from big families, yet neither side of the family came forth to adopt either child after Diane lost custody. Also did Lew and Nora stay together even after Diane went to prison? Did Lew have any contact with Diane after she went to prison? I hope Christie and Danny were able to put the horror behind them and live a normal life. A must read for any true crime reader!

This book is truly one of Ann Rule's best true crime books. The story of Diane Downs is so shocking one cannot help but think, "Who could shot their own children in cold blood?" Ann Rule looks in depth at the life of Diane Downs to unearth the hidden motives of this murderess. This book is incredibly interesting to those who like the psychology behind criminal motives. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in true crime and the mind. It was definately a page turner that left me wanting more. Ann Rule has a website that keeps her fans up to date on the subjects of her books. You to can find out where Diane Downs is today.

After reading Ann Rule's Small Sacrifices I had to re-read it again. I could not believe this story was true. Above all I congradulate Ann Rule on excellent coverage of this tragic story. By the end of the book I have adopted Danny and Christie and feel the loss of Cheryl as if it were my own. I hope Diane never sees her children again and that she is never allowed into general population again for who knows what she is fully capable of ... after all this is a mother who tried to fulfill her own twisted obsession by killing her children.