Borka

When the mysterious foreign shipbuilder comes to town, even the wildest imaginations of the locals cannot conjure up the consequences . . . The Legend of Peter Borka book tells the story of English-speaking travelers who develop peculiar notions about a "Russian god" based on their misunderstanding a spoken Russian word. They travel around the world, learning about new religions and cultures and elaborating their false "Russian" religion into a cultural monstrosity, as they accumulate a dizzying array of contradictory beliefs and elaborate rituals. Elements of major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, as well as myth-based religions from Greece, Rome, Norway, and North America, appear in the beliefs and worship surrounding Peter Borka. A dialectical tension emerges between the fledgling Peter Borka religion and ideas from ethical humanism, rational humanism, and Communism. The book contains a surprising ending with a unique moral. The Legend of Peter Borka is a teaching story for youth and adults alike. As a fictional work, it concerns the origins (ontology) of religion and myth, the nature of logic and reason, and the difference between reality and fantasy. At the core is a fundamental question: How is information obtained? What is truly real? What really matters? The Legend of Peter Borka challenges the reader to think with new depth and breadth about the world and the humans who live in it. As a teaching piece, "The Legend of Peter Borka" contains rich academic themes pertaining to culture, history, religion, philosophy, psychology, and law. It also contains a geographic puzzle regarding the travel itinerary of the participants. It is appropriate for school-age children, as well as university-level classes and adults.

Once upon a time there were two geese called Mr and Mrs Plumpster. Each Spring they returned to the marshes of their ancestors, and Mrs Plumpster laid her eggs. Soon six fine young Plumpsters hatched: Archie, Freda, Jennifer, Oswald, Timothy and Borka. But Borka was different. Borka had no feathers and could not fly. When winter came the other geese flew off in search of warmer climates, leaving Borka all alone. But her adventure was only just beginning . . .

This book consists of a collection of short stories and poems from the author's childhood and teen years, as well as more recent artwork. Short stories include two variations on "The Legend of Peter Borka," the title of a separate novel by the same author. These two short stories include similar ideas as the full-length novel, with variations. One is written as a piece of fictitious investigative journalism, and the other is written in a more contemporary style. Poems include "They," a reflection on worldwide conflict such as that found in the Middle East. This poem embodies a linguistic perspective on the relationship between psychology and interpersonal relationships. A second poem, "The Greatest Spy," written in 1988, was inspired by then Vice-President George Bush, former CIA Director who was elected President of the United States later that year. Artwork includes a variety of architecture, still-lifes, and sketches of produce and product displays, all dedicated to the artist's father, who worked for the Defense Commissary Agency and taught the author how to draw house plans and build houses as a child and youth, in-between home lectures on economics and assorted military topics.

A riveting follow-up to Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal’s account of the most memorable missions of the Mossad, No Mission Is Impossible sheds light on some of the most harrowing, nail-biting operations of the Israeli Special Forces. In No Mission Is Impossible, Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal depict in electrifying detail major battles, raids in enemy territory, and the death- defying commando missions of the Israeli Special Forces. The stories are often of victories, but sometimes also of immense failures, and they run side by side with the accounts of the lives and accomplishments of some of Israel’s most prominent figures. Captivating and eye-opening, No Mission Is Impossible is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how these crucial missions shaped Israel, and the world at large.