Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures

Book Description

Enjoy the practical advice, real-life knitting instruction, and irreverent humor of Yankee Kay Gardiner and Tennessean Ann Shayne, the duo behind the renowned knitting web log masondixonknitting.com. The ladies of Mason-Dixon Knitting will take you on a thrilling adventure through Knitopia, a place where knitting and creativity unite through the zaniest knitted items imaginable. Kay and Ann reveal that a pattern is a starting line, a launching pad, the front doors of Saks the day after Thanksgiving: oh, the potential!

Mason-Dixon Knitting is a collection of unbelievable patterns, a how-to manual, and a crazy quilt of hilarious narrative, all in one. In this book, Kay and Ann chitchat their way through a series of more than thirty incredible patterns. Drawing creative inspiration from their surroundings, they present colorful blankets, sassy nightgowns, a delicate curtain, and much more to reveal that knitting can weave its way into just about every aspect of life. Most of these projects are the epitome of ease, but you can make them as simple or complicated as you prefer.

Kay and Ann invite you to use your creative vision to interpret each pattern and give it your own personal touch. Full-color photography of these delightful home- and family-inspired knits accompanies each project. Along the way, Kay and Ann will introduce you to incredible knitting personalities, share their own knitting experiences, and present eye-popping knitting phenomena. Mason-Dixon Knitting explores the humor, fun, and outrageous possibilities of a realm in which knitting is much more than a craft—it’s a lifestyle.

Inspiration, Guidance, and 30 Projects to Knit

Featuring: Technical hints; Great (knitted) things you will do; How to cope with disaster; Must-knit tv; Mistakes you will definitely make; Knitting for the common good; Knitting something that looks like something else

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Book.......2007-09-03

This book is a joy. Simply a joy, as are the writers who I had the pleasure of meeting at my local knit shop. They are regular, albeit extremely creative, women who became addicted to knitting. As a fellow addict, I understand. Their book is witty, funny, endearing and full of great projects that are 'doable' even for a beginner and that can be adapted to your needs. For example, I am working on the log cabin blanket in my husband's football team colors! What fun, how easy and how beautiful (although an awful lot of knitting!). I have a library of knitting books and subscribe to almost all the knitting magazines. Some are great, some are not. This one is great. You will not be disappointed.

One of the Best Knitting Books I Own.......2007-08-28

And I own a lot! The layout is great, the patterns varied, unique, and well written. I've owned this book over a year but still open it at least once a week for inspiration and eye candy. If for some reason I lost it, I'd buy it again right away. It's that good.

Errata.......2007-08-26

Good but be sure to check the publisher's web site for corrections to patterns. Seems there's always some corrections in knitting books. I always check for them before I purchase a book so I don't attempt a pattern with mistakes. This isn't foolproof but it does help.

Its popular.......2007-08-11

This seems to be a very popular book. It's a quality book and has some good projects but I'm not as excited over it like a lot of others seem to be. It's nice but not on my "best ever" or "favorites" lists of knitting books.

Can't put it away!.......2007-07-30

I love this knitting book. There are so many projects to do that are useful and go beyond the scarf, shawl, afghan, sweater norm. Knitted piano bench cushions? Who knew?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Puffin Novels)

Average customer rating:

A FUNNY BOOK TO READ!
My Favorite Book of All-Time
Charlie and the choclate factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Puffin Novels)
Roald Dahl
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 0141301155

Amazon.com

For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public--well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights--even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another unforgettable masterpiece from the legendary Roald Dahl, never fails to delight, thrill, and utterly captivate. (Ages 9 to 12)

Book Description

The classic tale of fantasy, this delightful masterpiece depicts all sorts of characters: greedy, selfish, obnoxious, compassionate, loveable, and generous. Recounting the adventures of four children bent on having their own way, the story's moralistic factor becomes uproariously apparent early on.

Customer Reviews:

A FUNNY BOOK TO READ!.......2007-10-02

My name is Schuyler®. I read Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Charlie is one fifth of the lucky children that get to go into the chocolate factory. Some of the wildest things happen. The book is hilarious. I recommend it and give it five stars.

My Favorite Book of All-Time.......2007-09-23

Roald Dahl is one of my favorite authors of all-time but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has so many elements to the book that make it so great. I think this book would be perfect for middle school kids because of the fantasy part of the book that gets kids thinking beyond what they perceive reality as, it gets them thinking outside the box. Another thing that this book builds is curiosity, in the book the kids are curious to see what is really inside the factory. There is never a boring part of the book. This book also teaches the point of never giving up because Charlie finally won the golden ticket. A great book...

Charlie and the choclate factory.......2007-06-13

Have you ever wanted to see inside of a chocolate factory? Well in this book a kid named Charlie gets that chance. He finds a golden ticket in the rapper of a chocolate bar. So he and his grandpa along with all the other kids that found tickets get to go to take a tour of the factory. Why they are in there some pretty interesting things happen to all the kids. Each kid finds a way to get in trouble in there own way.
My favorite part of this book is when Charlie and his grandma get in trouble. They drink so soda that makes them float and have to find a way down. Then they think no one saw them but they get caught in the end.
I believe that the theme of this book is that "good things happen to good people. I think this cause Charlie is a nice boy and very good things happen to him. He is quickly rewarded for performing good deeds.
Overall this was a pretty good book. The beginning is a little long and boring but after that it is good book. This is probably a book meant for kids 10 to 13. This book has a lot of imagination in it.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.......2007-06-06

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about a boy named Charlie Bucket, a small boy who lived a very poor. Until one day, as he walked alongside the road, his eye caught a dollar bill. What do you think he does with it? He spends it on two bars of chocolate. One of them contained a golden ticket to Mr. Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and Wonka is the world's greatest chocolate maker. Charlie gets a tour of the factory with four other children: Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee.

I would most likely recommend this book to children because it's whimsical and funny. I'd rate this book a five because it really gets my attention. This is also the reason why I like this book. If you think you might like this book, then try reading it.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.......2007-06-06

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about a boy named Charlie Bucket, a small boy who lived a very poor. Until one day, as he walked alongside the road, his eye caught a dollar bill. What do you think he does with it? He spends it on two bars of chocolate. One of them contained a golden ticket to Mr. Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and Wonka is the world's greatest chocolate maker. Charlie gets a tour of the factory with four other children: Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee.
I would most likely recommend this book to children because it's whimsical and funny. I'd rate this book a five because it really gets my attention. This is also the reason why I like this book. If you think you like this book, then try reading it.

The Friars Club Encyclopaedia of Jokes: 2,000 One-Liners, Straight Lines, Stories, Gags, Roasts, Ribs and Put-Downs

Average customer rating:

well organized
Find a laugh at the place that you need it
Ladies and Germs.....
Direct from the *true* Kings of Comedy, the Joke Enclopedia!
SUPER for speechmakers, comedians and BIIIIIIIG LAUGHS!

The Friars Club Encyclopaedia of Jokes: 2,000 One-Liners, Straight Lines, Stories, Gags, Roasts, Ribs and Put-Downs

Manufacturer: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humor, Comics & Pop Culture | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Jokes & Riddles | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1884822630

Book Description

Introduction by Alan King. The most extensive collection of jokes ever compiled from Friars Club members and other comedians, this hilarious book covers every imaginable subject--from aging to dieting, fashion to fathers, birth control to male anatomy.

Customer Reviews:

well organized.......2007-01-26

a well organized collection of older and newer material. good as i reference or an tntro to jokesmithing.

Find a laugh at the place that you need it.......2006-01-24

Georgie Jessel would have loved this book. He was endlessly talking of the 'Friar's Club' in his old routines. But the truth is this book has quite a bit of material which comes from other sources. Never mind. There are jokes here for every situation and every occasion. The one- liners are conveniently indexed under subject making it easy to decide to be amused about something and finding a particular subject.
This is of course a book not to be ' read through' but rather dipped into here and there when one feels like a little chuckle or smile. There is however some bad taste dirty stuff which a number of readers have complained about, and which the editor might have done without. Of course in doing so he would have taken out one major element of 'Friar's Club ' humor.
Usually I find something disheartening about joke- books especially if they are too 'low in spirit'. I prefer a kind of mild humor as exemplified by this kind of joke.
"Behind every successful man , stands an amazed woman"
The work is not all jokes and has little stories and anecdotes also.
Enjoy.

Ladies and Germs............2003-08-19

If you have ever seen the Friar's Club in action, you already know that there is no safe haven from the one liners, roasts and put-downs. "The Friar's Club Encyclopedia of Jokes is no different. The book has over 2,000 jokes listed by subject from A-W, so unless you are a xenophobe, a yak, or a zebra, any person,idea, or subject is fair game.

This is not a book that you would read from cover to cover, Just leave it out on your coffee table, or pull it out from the bookshelves, open up to any page and start laughing. The only place I would not suggest to keep it,is on your night stand. You may wake the person next to you laughing out loud.

All the one liners and gags are grouped by subject. Actors, Baldness, Bankers, Divorce,Ethnic Jokes, Female Anatomy,Life, Politics,Television, Taxes, Weather, you name it, these big guns of comedy don't miss a trick.

This book may not be for everyone, as many of the jokes are crude,some may be considered R rated, and some being from a time when it was okay to laugh at yourself and life without being politically correct. Although none of the lines are intended to be mean spirited. I definately wouldn't keep it around children who can read!

You can almost hear, these legends spouting their stuff. Groucho Marx.."A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running"...Mae West.."I like two kinds of men: domestic and foreign"...Jackie Gleason.."When you leave New York, you're camping out." Joe E. Lewis.."A man is never drunk if he can lay on the floor without holding on" (Those are some of the more tasteful quotes I could give without being edited or offending.)

It is quite a thick book at 496 pages of these priceless quotes and dialouges. There is an index of Humorists, making it easy to find your favorites, and an introduction by Alan King, listing it's most renowned memebers.

Many of the contributors(who some may consider as national treasures) are no longer with us, and this book is a treasure chest of their words. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh and can appreciate it for what it is.

"For the first year of marriage I had a basically bad attitude. I tended to place my wife underneath a pedestal."...Woody Allen

Badaboom.....enjoy...Laurie

Direct from the *true* Kings of Comedy, the Joke Enclopedia!.......2002-01-29

I love this great big joke book! I got it for Christmas, and each night before turning out the light, I'd read sections of it, and really enjoy it. To tell the absolute truth, I was *very* suprised to find MANY of the jokes from my collection of "Gross" and "Truly Tasteless" books included here, albiet in slightly altered form. I suppose there's a place in the Friar's hearts for occasional filth and rauch. But you know what? I still love it! Hey, I said I was suprised, I didn't say I didn't approve. More power to 'em, so much the better, I say. Ranging in topics from Drugs, Sex, Work, Women, Doctors, Lawyers, (a rather BIG section there) and yes, even the ethnic jokes, I guarantee you'll find the catagory in here to suit your taste, and then you'll find the perfect joke to make you split your sides! Check this one out today!

SUPER for speechmakers, comedians and BIIIIIIIG LAUGHS!.......2001-09-11

Even with Milton Berle's amazing, thick-with-laughs two volume Private Joke Files this is one of the best joke books on the market. Why? It truly contains great one-liners, straight lines, gags, roasts, etc. from the Friars Club, many of them attributed to the world's greatest entertainers and comedians.

Don't give this to Little Johnny (although he may indeed like it) since some jokes in this superb book are adult oriented (with adult language, too) and - yes -- some are politically incorrect ("She's so fat she's my TWO best friends." -- unattributed). But you'll howl with laughter as you read many of these.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Jokelopedia: The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever

Average customer rating:

My kids are in love with this book!
Jokes for granddaughter
suks comepletely
Hey, kids like it
Some material not appropriate for children.

Jokelopedia: The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever
Ilana Weitzman , Eva Blank , Rosanne Green , and Alison Benjamin
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0761142088

Book Description

Take it away! Jokelopedia is the mother of all joke books—an all-encompassing, gut-busting collection of more than 1,700 jokes for every occasion. 59 elephant jokes, including Why are elephants banned from pblic swimming pools They always drop their trunks. Dozens of knock-knock jokes, like Knock, knock./ Who's there?/Raven./Raven who?/Raven lunatic who wants to knock your door down! Plus teacher jokes, food jokes, gross jokes, and why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road jokes. And a whole section of tongue twisters, specializing in the yucky. Try saying "sneaking in my creaky squeaky reeking sneakers." but the jokes are just the beginning— Jokelopedia is loaded with joke-telling tips and profiles of famously funny people, from Will Ferrell to SpongeBob SquarePants (Hey, wait—is SpongeBob really a person?)Packed with 1,700 kid-friendly jokes, tongue-twisters, riddles, and puns, this new edition of JOKELOPEDIA is the bible for incurable jokesters, class clowns, and aspiring comedians. Here are doctor jokes, robber jokes, teacher jokes, why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road jokes. Lightbulb jokes, movie star jokes, gross-out jokes, vampire jokes, elephant jokes. The classics, fresh variations on the classics, and jokes with nothing classic about them. The guffaws are organized into categories for easy reference, and the book is sprinkled throughout with amusing facts, joke-telling pointers and tips, and informational spotlights on favorite funny people, including Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Did you hear about the two antennae that met on a rooftop, fell in love, and got married?
The wedding wasn’t much, but the reception was amazing!

What kind of books do skunks read?
Best-smellers.

Customer Reviews:

My kids are in love with this book!.......2007-01-18

My seven year old thinks this book is the best gift he has gotten all year! He giggles and comes and tells us the joke he has read and then reads some more. If you want your boys to read this one will help. It doesn't hurt to bring a bit of laughter into the lesson either.

Jokes for granddaughter.......2006-04-23

I e-mail my [...] granddaughter jokes often, the cornier, the better. She loves corny humor. I thought I would have a never-ending supply with this big book of jokes, but I have to hunt to find short, simple jokes for her. I would say that the book is for an older audience than first graders. It has a lot of good material in general, but too many long jokes in my opinion.

suks comepletely.......2006-03-29

this joke book suks. if i can give it any star i want, i would give it a -10 stars. i never actually bought it, but i borrowed it from a friend. i needed a joke book for my anouncements on the intercom every morning, and it only lasted 3 days and i ran out of good jokes. some of the jokes arnt appropriate and most of them dont make sense. if your gonna buy a joke book, dont buy this!

Hey, kids like it.......2005-09-05

This book has some (okay, maybe even a lot of) un-funny jokes that don't make much sense (non-sequitar), but it has some good ones and my younger siblings enjoy reading it.

Some material not appropriate for children........2005-05-02

"If a nut on the wall is a walnut, what is a nut in the bathroom? A pee can."

"Why did the baby cross the road? She was stapled to the chicken."

Billing itself as "the mother of all joke books", The Jokelopedia has the apparent goal of turning your child (or grandchild, etc.) into a comedian. Categorized by subject matter such as a monster jokes, classroom distractions, family funnies, etc., the book contains riddles, jokes, cartoons, and tips from famous comedians. Many of the riddles have pun-ch lines consisting of puns: some that I consider funny, and many of which adults will consider groaners, but will get a lot of giggles from 8 year-olds.

Although I tend to like puns more than the average person, as a practitioner of non-violent communication, I don't recommend giving this book to children. I am concerned that roughly up to 10 to 20% of the laughs come at the expense of becoming desensitized to the suffering of animals and humans. For example, there's a joke about a woman who buys a parrot, and to get the bird to talk, she buys a mirror, a ladder, a bell, etc. She goes back to the store and reports that the parrot died. The clerk expresses his sorrow over her loss and asks if the parrot ever said anything to her. The woman replied that just prior to dying, the parrot said, "Doesn't that store carry any food?" So the joke is that the parrot starved to death because the woman was too stupid to buy food in addition to all the accessories. There are riddles that have punch lines at the expense of animal suffering, for example, "What's black and white and flat? A panda that's been run over." And the tacky frog in a blender joke, mentioned by a previous reviewer, could give a child the idea to actually try this (likely very few children but it's possible). Although much of the egregiously tacky material is in the "Snot funny" section, there is some in other sections of the book.

Another reason I don't recommend the Jokelopedia is because of the practical joke recommendations. The child who tries out these suggestions will probably think he or she is being funny, but those laughs come at the expense of being rude and crude to other people, and insensitive to their feelings. For example, one of their slumber-party jokes is to pour cold water over the shower curtain rod on someone using the shower. Another is to put another child's hand in a glass of warm water to get him or her to wet the bed. Yet another is to put some fake plastic vomit in the sink. One of the elevator practical jokes is to bet the other passengers that you can fit a quarter in your nose. Yuck. Another joke encourages lying: "Tell [your big sister] that one of her friends called (for this to work, be specific--use the real name of someone your sibling is close to and say one of the coolest kids in school is having a party tonight, but you can't remember all the details." In case your budding comedian runs out of practical ideas to play on siblings and parents (yes, a parental practical joke idea involving the kitchen sink sprayer is provided--don't say you weren't warned!), there are five suggestions for tormenting the pizza guy.

One could, as another reviewer did, rip out some of the pages prior to giving the book to a child, or perhaps cross out portions with a thick dark marker like it's a government document. (But if you rip out the page of slumber party practical jokes, the blurb on Lucille Ball is on the other side.) Had I received this book as a child with pages ripped out, I would have been extremely curious about what was missing and sought out another copy! Unless the authors write a new edition that takes out the practical and insensitive to suffering jokes, I don't recommend rewarding them by purchasing this book. That's unfortunate, because I think some of the puns are very clever, and encourage children to have fun with the language.

Average customer rating:

Average
HEY PENN AND TELLER FANS!
If you buy, make sure it comes with ALL accessories!
"Humiliate people you claim to respect." - Penn Jillette
Funny and Annoying

Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends
Penn Jillette
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Magic | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0394753518
Release Date: 1989-05-20

Book Description

Penn & Teller impart their priceless secrets for conning, scamming, and fooling your closest personal friends. And even they're suprised how many copies of this we've sold: 120,000 to-date.

Customer Reviews:

Average.......2006-03-17

I picked up this book since I'm a fan of magic and especially Penn and Teller, but was rather disappointed with this book.

The book seems big because the book itself is meant to be a trick for your friends. You can leave it laying out on the coffee table without worrying about someone picking it up and learning all your secrets. That is, unless they read the whole thing. Parts of the book are printed just to fool your friends and some tricks don't work unless you know the secrets.

Many of the tricks mentioned you won't be able to do yourself and are more of Penn and Teller revealing the secret behind cutting a snake or making cockroaches appear. There are very few tricks that you yourself will be able to make use of. Included with the book (or should be) are several aids used in some of the tricks, making the book feel more like a child's toy. One item that is quite useful is a book made specifically for the trick of mind reading, or making it appear that you can read minds. Although, it only works if you can casually leave the book on a table and casually say, "Let's use this one."

In all, I found the book to not really live up to the standards of Penn and Teller and only found two or three tricks that might have actually worked on friends. If you're looking for a book full of tricks to really decieve your friends, keep looking.

HEY PENN AND TELLER FANS!.......2005-03-22

I bought this book new, and I did get all the extra stuff that came with the book. Trust me, the book itself is all ya need. other than that, the exrta book doesnt have anything really important in it. if anything at all. The book is the most important thing. All you need is just a pair of red and blue 3d glasses for the rest of the stuff in the book if you read the first couple pages you will understand. It is a strange book due to the fact that the majority of the book is just to fool your friends. It doesn have great stories and some good tricks though. out of all 3 books, this is my least favorite but still one of my top 3 all time favs because of the authors.

If you buy, make sure it comes with ALL accessories!.......2003-03-10

Please take note that this book originally came with a packet of trick accessories and another, smaller book. If you buy this book used and all you get is the main book, then many of the tricks in the book will be useless to you. Such is the case that happened with me.

Penn and Teller are great writers (and showmen, of course) and you will thoroughly enjoy their stories, but there's just something missing when you are not able to perform all the tricks they mention because you don't have all the original materials. The mind-reading trick sounds so wonderful, but without the extra book you can't perform it, for example.

Another impossible trick is the very first one where they tell you to call a phone number. I called it and was directed to the voicemail of someone within Random House (not the publishers of this book, btw). Being that the book came out in 1989 it looks like Penn and Teller have long given up that particular number.

Maybe in a dusty old bookstore, sometime in the future, I might be lucky enough to stumble across this complete package, but until then, if ever, I can only wonder at what might have been.

...

"Humiliate people you claim to respect." - Penn Jillette.......2002-11-13

This was Penn & Teller's first book, and they made the actual book a prank in itself. Now, I won't give anything away, but the book is designed to drive anybody who reads it "the wrong way" batty. Plus, there are stories about how they did a lot of their tricks, including the infamous "cockroach trick" that made David Letterman leave his show. Plus lots of other mean stuff to pull on unsuspecting people.

Oh, and there's also the full text of the screenplay for "Penn & Teller Get Killed." Here's hoping you have good eyes.

Funny and Annoying.......2001-04-08

I'm not that familiar with Penn & Teller. If not for my younger sister, I probably wouldn't even know who they are. I picked up a used copy of this book because I thought it would be funny. I enjoyed the descriptions of the cockroach trick, the 3 of clubs eyeballs trick, and the cutting the snake in half trick. The pictures were delightful. The cruel tricks reminded me of some I used to read about in "Children's Digest" when I was a kid. (If you, too, have friends who are too smart for them, you can still amuse yourself by imagining stupid persons you loathe falling for them.) I think I like the personality test trick the best. The short stories weren't bad. I'm torn between "The Best Magic Trick I Ever Saw" and "Invisible Thread" for my favorite. The annoying part is all those pages of red type on light grey paper with a dark grey swirl design smack in the middle. They are HARD to read. I had to keep a finger on the line so I wouldn't lose track. I'm not sure the authors expected anyone to read them because they're chock full of typos. However, if you do take the trouble, you'll read "Penn & Teller get killed", more cruel tricks on video, a strange tribute to Harry Houdini, the "Sharpening Stone", another version of "Invisible Thread", and "Penn & Teller at the Ritz". These are definitely very strange men. Happy Hunting for a copy.

The Joke's Over: Bruised Memories: Gonzo, Hunter S. Thompson, and Me

Average customer rating:

Steadman + Thompson = Fun For All!!!
Better than an unauthorized biography.
A good book that ultimately becomes just a little annoying
Intimate and revealing
good times

The Joke's Over: Bruised Memories: Gonzo, Hunter S. Thompson, and Me
Ralph Steadman
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Artists, Architects & Photographers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0151012822

Book Description

In the spring of 1970, artist Ralph Steadman went to America in search of work and found more than he bargained for. At the Kentucky Derby he met a former
associate of the Hell’s Angels, one Hunter S. Thompson. Their working relationship resulted in the now-legendary Gonzo Journalism.

The Joke’s Over tells of a remarkable collaboration that documented the turbulent years of the civil rights movement, the Nixon years, Watergate, and the many bizarre and great events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century. When Thompson committed suicide in 2005, it was the end of a unique friendship filled with both betrayal and understanding.

A rollicking, no-holds-barred memoir, The Joke’s Over is the definitive inside story of the Gonzo years.

Customer Reviews:

Steadman + Thompson = Fun For All!!!.......2007-10-02

Having been an HST fan for decades now, this book combines many elements
that make this duo a must have for Thompson fans of all levels;think about it: You have the Gonzo genius of Hunter S. Thompson,and the illustrator
of these 'Adventures' not from HST, but the same incidents as viewed by the
one man fortunate(?) enough to go the distance to cover the story. A unique
twist on the escapades of Dr. Gonzo. These two men shared much more than
two people using their collective genius for journalistic purposes;these men
almost seemed(to me) to need each other, and their collective talents to such a bizarre level that these guys in many ways became so influential to more than just a journalistic quest-a pairing so unique that such a combination in all probability will never happen again(unless it
came down to absolute 'ripping off' of the style they created. This book
should be a 'must have' for anyone intelligent enough to see what was really going on. After reading this book, one can finally comprehend
'When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro'. The good Doctor will be sorely missed, but thankfully Ralph Steadman is still around to carry the torch in some way. The world lost a true genius, but the one redeeming
factor is that now the metaphysical has a monster to deal with, and I think HST will derive great pleasure in that!! BUY THIS BOOK;YOU CANNOT
BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!

Better than an unauthorized biography........2007-09-11

Mr. Steadman tells it like it is, even when there is obvious animosity between himself and HST. Some great pictures I hadn't seen before, although I wish they had been reproduced full page size. The stories are good and give some interesting insight into (attempting) to work with HST. Overall a good read, if you're a fan of either of the men you will enjoy this book and be glad it is in your personal library. To no fault of Mr. Steadman, reading this book did bum me out a bit that we have no more new HST work to read ever again. I still remember turning on the news that fateful February morning...

A good book that ultimately becomes just a little annoying.......2007-07-12

Ralph Steadman paints a very interesting portrait of his long-time colleague and collaborator, HST, warts and all. The book is for the most part an enjoyable and interesting read, and I would tend to put more stock in Ralph's biography versus those written by any others given the nature of their relationship. However, in some places the book seems a little disjointed. In the end, I found myself growing annoyed with Ralph's writing style (which comes off a bit like "trying too hard" and merely a cheap imitation of Hunter's unmatched skill) as well as his description of Hunter's faults, which start to sound a little too much like whining.

Intimate and revealing.......2007-05-14

Thompson's life is difficult to seperate from his gonzo essa, and is often viewed as fiction. Steadman's retelling of their turbulent friendship clears away a great deal of the confusion about this brilliant and difficult icon; twenty-five years of alternating conflict and cameraderie allows a more human and focused view of an explosive and unique man. In the end Thompson's mythical persona is enhanced rather than diminished by the humanizing and honest eye of Ralph Steadman, illustrating the reality of trying to mainttain a friendship with the perverse and explosive Thompson. He does Thompson the honor of addressing him honestly; sugar coating his memory would be an unforgivable offense in the Doctor's own books.

good times.......2007-05-09

Great book!! Nice to hear from Steadman. I'm almost 50 and have been a fan of Ralph's and the good doctor since I'm 13. Painfull at times to read laugh out loud funny at otherrs. Thanks Mr. Steadman for showing me this side of HST and yourself. Jo Sullivan

Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes

Average customer rating:

Philosophy made fun
Philosophy lessons by jokes
very funny
A fun read
fodder for the joke teller

Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
Thomas Cathcart , and Daniel Klein
Manufacturer: Abrams Image
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Surveys | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 081091493X

Book Description

Here's a lively, hilarious, not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical traditions, schools, concepts, and thinkers. It's Philosophy 101 for everyone who knows not to take all this heavy stuff too seriously. Some of the Big Ideas are Existentialism (what do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?), Philosophy of Language (how to express what it's like being stranded on a desert island with Halle Berry), Feminist Philosophy (why, in the end, a man is always a man), and much more. Finally—it all makes sense!

“I laughed, I learned, I loved it!” Roy Blount Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Philosophy made fun.......2007-10-10

Harvard philosophy majors Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein present an unconventional approach to the study of philosophy in Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar...Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes. Cathcart and Klein tie in ten major principles of philosophy with the art of comedy. The two authors actually use common jokes (some of them hysterically funny) to illustrate the concepts in clear terms. From metaphysics to meta-philosophy, they have managed to find jokes that illuminate the common logic that can be used to explain major abstractions.

It is fascinating how much philosophy can be explained within the context of a simple joke, but Cathcart and Klein have successfully undertaken this task. Parallels between the constructs of philosophy and comedy surface as each chapter introduces a dialogue between Greek friends Dimitri and Tasso, questing for a greater understanding of philosophical reasoning. A brief summary of each principle is interspersed with relevant quips and cartoons. A glossary at the close of the book expands on some of the more complicated concepts that might have been confusing.

I was pleased to find that only a few of the jokes are familiar to me, making the majority of the book fresh, new material. Many are side-splitting passages that demand to be shared without hesitation. I won't quote any of the specific passages because I was dismayed to find so many had already been republished in various reviews, but I will note I spent an evening reading aloud to my family from Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar to raucous laughter. It was a hit.

Philosophy lessons by jokes.......2007-10-07

This book is like having Jay Leno as your college philosophy professor. I laughed and laughed when I read the jokes in this book. I did learn some philosophy along the way.

very funny.......2007-10-03

One of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Great use of humor to illustrate more serious discussion topics.

A fun read.......2007-10-02

I've always been interested in pholosophy, but never wanted to take the time to study it properly... this has been a fun read: I would highly recommend it to any college undergrad taking pholosophy 101: a great companion, it briefly elucidates philosophical theories with humor, as well as succinctly and directly.

fodder for the joke teller.......2007-10-01

The P. & the P. is an excellent primer of philosophy, and a treasure trove of jokes for every occasion. If you are the type who can remember a joke by hearing a subtle trigger, then this is a book you will want to have.
There are also favorite places to ingest and digest a book like this--short sections and quick jokes, some scatological, thus lending the reading forum/room to one of those circumstances.
It has served me well, and given me an excellent opportunity to multitask.

Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty

Average customer rating:

Really disgusting fun for kids and adults!
Really Cool Book!!!!
Education with a Twist
Excellent for keeping boys busy
awesome book

Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty
Joy Masoff
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Encyclopedias | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0761107711

Product Description

All the best stuff about some of the worst stuff on earth. From the liquids, solids, and gases - especially the gases! - of the human body to the creepy, crawly, fetid, and foul phenomena of the world at large, OH, YUCK! is the all-encompassing compendium of gross. Skin eruptions. Naked mole rats. The Donner party and the hissing roach of Madagascar, maggot therapy, ear wax, the good new about pus, and why vomit smells.Plus Raunchy recipes and vile experiments - Exploding Zit, Scab Surprise, and more. It's everything you ever wanted to know about the yucky side of life.

Customer Reviews:

Really disgusting fun for kids and adults!.......2007-10-02

Haven't you always wanted to have a truly encyclopedic knowledge of the absolutely revoltingly disgusting facts of life? Well, the most hilarious but well-researched facts are now available to you regarding pimples, poop, farts, burps, hairy ears, maggots, etc., thanks to Joy Masoff's Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty.

I can't honestly vouch for the fact that the book covered absolutely everything as the author claims, but it's really hard to imagine what she might have left out. There's some serious research presented here, along with a lot of laughs! Don't miss out on this book!

Really Cool Book!!!!.......2007-09-25

This book is really cool! I bought it for my 10 year old son for his birthday. I know he will read it cover to cover and relay all the 'gross and disgusting' facts to us while we are eating dinner!!!! A really neat concept for kids! Gets them interested in reading while learning some unknown, gross facts! Recommended...even interesting for adults too!

Education with a Twist.......2007-07-02

What a great book! My 8 year old was spellbound with it and he got an education along with it, and didn't even realize. Even I learned a thing or two, as well. Easy reading and so informative, great for "kids of ALL ages".

Excellent for keeping boys busy.......2007-05-12

This is an ideal book. I bought the book to keep my two nephews occupied during my daughters wedding. This book kept them quietly entertained and amused with whispered "look at this" giggles. It would be a great book for a boy of 8 - 14 yrs old.

awesome book.......2007-02-27

i bought this and the oh, yikes book as gifts for a friend of ours who was turning 7. my daughter (11) wouldn't get her nose out of this one long enough for me to give it away!! she loves it and is constantly reading little blurbs to us from it. great book for huge age range.

The Big Book of Presentation Games: Wake-Em-Up Tricks, Icebreakers, and Other Fun Stuff

Average customer rating:

Superb resource book
Even company money could be spent more effectively
Decent
It's not that great.
Great for any Organizational leader!

The Big Book of Presentation Games: Wake-Em-Up Tricks, Icebreakers, and Other Fun Stuff
John W. Newstrom , and Edward E. Scannell
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Leadership | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management Science | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0070465010

Book Description

Don't let the audience snooze through any of your presentations! How do you keep an audience from becoming bored or restless during a presentation? Find out with The Big Book of Presentation Games.

Each game in The Big Book of Presentation Games is fast, fun, creative, and easy-to-read, and easy-to-lead, and costs little or nothing. Categories also include: great session-openers; icebreakers; climate-setting games; practical jokes and tricks; audience brainteasers; motivation activities; memorable closing activities; and much more!

Customer Reviews:

Superb resource book.......2007-05-03

I had this series of books before - loaned them out at work and never got them back (go figure!). Happy to have found them again here.

Even company money could be spent more effectively.......2003-06-17

For any medium to advanced trainer, group leader, or presenter, this book does not raise any new methods of improving audience participation. In fact, the "cheese" factor is enough to choke even the most discriminating mouse.

Having said that, if you're a beginner with little to no background in or exposure to group training, then this book may help give you a little head start to realize how to engage an audience through active participation.

It's only because of the potential to aide a beginner that I rated this a 2. Otherwise, it's sitting with a lone star.

Decent.......2001-07-25

I was expecting more. But it certainly lived up to its title. Maybe my expectations were a little to hight.

I have yet to try any of the examples yet, but I am certainly waiting to try.

It's not that great........2000-01-30

This book wasn't that great. There were VERY few ideas that I would use. I wouldn't recommend buying this book.

Great for any Organizational leader!.......1999-01-25

I used a bunch of ideas from this book for my position in a student organization. A definite must for programs on dry material. It never hurts to have an ace up your sleeve, and this book is it!

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