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We Made Uranium!: And Other True Stories from the University of Chicago's Extraordinary Scavenger Hunt
by Leila SalesItem #176: A fire drill. No, not an exercise in which occupants of a building practice leaving the building safely. A drill which safely emits a bit of fire, the approximate shape and size of a drill bit. Item #74: Enter a lecture class in street clothes. Receive loud phone call. Shout “I NEED TO GO, THE CITY NEEDS ME!” Remove street clothes to reveal superhero apparel. Run out for the good of the land. Item #293: Hypnotizing a chicken seems easy, but if the Wikipedia article on the practice is to be believed, debate on the optimal method is heated. Do some trials on a real chicken and submit a report . . . for science of course. Item #234: A walking, working, people-powered but preferably wind-powered Strandbeest. Item #188: Fattest cat. Points per pound. The University of Chicago’s annual Scavenger Hunt (or “Scav”) is one of the most storied college traditions in America. Every year, teams of hundreds of competitors scramble over four days to complete roughly 350 challenges. The tasks range from moments of silliness to 1,000-mile road trips, and they call on participants to fully embrace the absurd. For students it is a rite of passage, and for the surrounding community it is a chance to glimpse the lighter side of a notoriously serious university. We Made Uranium! shares the stories behind Scav, told by participants and judges from the hunt’s more than thirty-year history. The twenty-three essays range from the shockingly successful (a genuine, if minuscule, nuclear reaction created in a dorm room) to the endearing failures (it’s hard to build a carwash for a train), and all the chicken hypnotisms and permanent tattoos in between. Taken together, they show how a scavenger hunt once meant for blowing off steam before finals has grown into one of the most outrageous annual traditions at any university. The tales told here are absurd, uplifting, hilarious, and thought-provoking—and they are all one hundred percent true.
We Made Uranium!: And Other True Stories from the University of Chicago's Extraordinary Scavenger Hunt
Item #176: A fire drill. No, not an exercise in which occupants of a building practice leaving the building safely. A drill which safely emits a bit of fire, the approximate shape and size of a drill bit. Item #74: Enter a lecture class in street clothes. Receive loud phone call. Shout “I NEED TO GO, THE CITY NEEDS ME!” Remove street clothes to reveal superhero apparel. Run out for the good of the land. Item #293: Hypnotizing a chicken seems easy, but if the Wikipedia article on the practice is to be believed, debate on the optimal method is heated. Do some trials on a real chicken and submit a report . . . for science of course. Item #234: A walking, working, people-powered but preferably wind-powered Strandbeest. Item #188: Fattest cat. Points per pound. The University of Chicago’s annual Scavenger Hunt (or “Scav”) is one of the most storied college traditions in America. Every year, teams of hundreds of competitors scramble over four days to complete roughly 350 challenges. The tasks range from moments of silliness to 1,000-mile road trips, and they call on participants to fully embrace the absurd. For students it is a rite of passage, and for the surrounding community it is a chance to glimpse the lighter side of a notoriously serious university. We Made Uranium! shares the stories behind Scav, told by participants and judges from the hunt’s more than thirty-year history. The twenty-three essays range from the shockingly successful (a genuine, if minuscule, nuclear reaction created in a dorm room) to the endearing failures (it’s hard to build a carwash for a train), and all the chicken hypnotisms and permanent tattoos in between. Taken together, they show how a scavenger hunt once meant for blowing off steam before finals has grown into one of the most outrageous annual traditions at any university. The tales told here are absurd, uplifting, hilarious, and thought-provoking—and they are all one hundred percent true.
Nothing Special: The Mostly True, Sometimes Funny Tales of Two Sisters (The Driftless Series)
by Dianne BilyakNothing Special is a disarmingly candid tale of two sisters growing up in the 1970s in rural Connecticut. Older sister Chris, who has Down syndrome, is an extrovert with a knack for getting what she wants, while the author, her younger, typically developing sister shoulders the burdens and grief of her parents, especially their father's alcoholism. In Nothing Special Bilyak details wrestling with their mixed emotions in vignettes that range from heartrending to laugh-out-loud funny, including anecdotes about Chris's habit of faux smoking popsicle sticks or partying through the night with her invisible friends. Poet and disability advocate Dianne Bilyak strikes a rare balance between poignant and hilarious as she paints a compassionate and critical real-world picture of their lives. They struggle, separately and together, with the tension between dependence and independence, the complexities of giving versus receiving, the pressure to live as others expect, and in the end, the wonderful liberation of self-acceptance.
Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor (New Directions in Aesthetics #27)
by John MorreallComic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor develops an inclusive theory that integrates psychological, aesthetic, and ethical issues relating to humor Offers an enlightening and accessible foray into the serious business of humor Reveals how standard theories of humor fail to explain its true nature and actually support traditional prejudices against humor as being antisocial, irrational, and foolish Argues that humor’s benefits overlap significantly with those of philosophy Includes a foreword by Robert Mankoff, Cartoon Editor of The New Yorker
Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor (New Directions in Aesthetics)
by John MorreallComic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor develops an inclusive theory that integrates psychological, aesthetic, and ethical issues relating to humor Offers an enlightening and accessible foray into the serious business of humor Reveals how standard theories of humor fail to explain its true nature and actually support traditional prejudices against humor as being antisocial, irrational, and foolish Argues that humor’s benefits overlap significantly with those of philosophy Includes a foreword by Robert Mankoff, Cartoon Editor of The New Yorker
Dear Celebrity: Absurd Letters to the Stars
by Julian HenbyWelcome to the weird and wonderful world of Julian Henby. For some time now, Julian, the Bridget Jones of letter writing, has been badgering decent, hard-working celebrities with a barrage of frankly absurd correspondence, often relating to his dysfunctional family and pets. Dear Celebrity is a compilation of some of his finest work and includes many of the best celebrity responses. So, can Matthew Kelly find Henby's mother a job as a Bearded Lady? Will Professor Lord Robert Winston be able to do anything to help Julian's hamster, David, whose locomotion is severely impaired by his erection which drags along the floor like a fifth leg? Will Joanna Lumley find the time to visit Julian's elderly uncle to talk about her career? And why does Sir Jimmy Savile insist on being the Loch Ness monster? The answers to these and many more questions are to be found here...
The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons (New Yorker #93)
by Robert Mankoff Michael CrawfordA loving look at the old ball game, from the cartoonists at The New Yorker America's national pastime engages fans and fanatics across the country and around the world. Across the magazine's eight decades, the artists at The New Yorker have captured the emotional essence of the game, and The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons, Second Edition brings an all-star lineup of cartooning greats together in one delightful collection. Collects over 100 drawings that present a playful view of the all-American sport Includes an introduction by Michael Crawford Features classic cartoons by New Yorker legends from Charles Addams to Jack Ziegler Selected by Robert Mankoff, acclaimed cartoonist and cartoon editor of The New Yorker, The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons is a home run for baseball fans of all ages.
The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons (New Yorker #87)
by Robert Mankoff Michael CrawfordA loving look at the old ball game, from the cartoonists at The New Yorker America's national pastime engages fans and fanatics across the country and around the world. Across the magazine's eight decades, the artists at The New Yorker have captured the emotional essence of the game, and The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons, Second Edition brings an all-star lineup of cartooning greats together in one delightful collection. Collects over 100 drawings that present a playful view of the all-American sport Includes an introduction by Michael Crawford Features classic cartoons by New Yorker legends from Charles Addams to Jack Ziegler Selected by Robert Mankoff, acclaimed cartoonist and cartoon editor of The New Yorker, The New Yorker Book of Baseball Cartoons is a home run for baseball fans of all ages.
The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons (New Yorker #94)
by Robert Mankoff Danny ShanahanA wry look at the golfing world, from the beloved cartoonists at The New Yorker A hilarious hole-in-one for golfers and cartoon-lovers alike, The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons, Second Edition brings together over a hundred classic images from across the magazine's eighty-plus-year history. Edited by Robert Mankoff, acclaimed cartoonist and cartoon editor at The New Yorker, and featuring work from legendary artists including Charles Addams, Roz Chast, Whitney Darrow Jr., Edward Koren, George Price, William Steig, and many others, the book is a side-splitting tribute to the game. Brings together over 100 golf-related cartoons by the best-loved cartoonists at The New Yorker Edited by the cartoonist and New Yorker cartoon editor Robert Mankoff Newly revised and updated to include coverage of the most recent developments in the golfing world, including Tiger Woods's troubles and more Features an introduction by Danny Shanahan A timeless anthology of the very best golf cartoons ever to grace the pages of America's favorite magazine, The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons captures the passion and the pain of the game.
The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons (New Yorker #88)
by Robert Mankoff Danny ShanahanA wry look at the golfing world, from the beloved cartoonists at The New Yorker A hilarious hole-in-one for golfers and cartoon-lovers alike, The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons, Second Edition brings together over a hundred classic images from across the magazine's eighty-plus-year history. Edited by Robert Mankoff, acclaimed cartoonist and cartoon editor at The New Yorker, and featuring work from legendary artists including Charles Addams, Roz Chast, Whitney Darrow Jr., Edward Koren, George Price, William Steig, and many others, the book is a side-splitting tribute to the game. Brings together over 100 golf-related cartoons by the best-loved cartoonists at The New Yorker Edited by the cartoonist and New Yorker cartoon editor Robert Mankoff Newly revised and updated to include coverage of the most recent developments in the golfing world, including Tiger Woods's troubles and more Features an introduction by Danny Shanahan A timeless anthology of the very best golf cartoons ever to grace the pages of America's favorite magazine, The New Yorker Book of Golf Cartoons captures the passion and the pain of the game.
The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons (New Yorker #92)
by Robert MankoffA charming, irreverent treasury from the cartoonists at The New Yorker Money doesn't just make the world go round—it spins it upside down, inside out, and out of orbit. Now, thanks to the world's most brilliant cartoonists, it also makes us giggle, chuckle, chortle, and laugh out loud. In The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons, Second Edition, the cartoonist and cartoon editor of The New Yorker Robert Mankoff brings together over a hundred classic images that show the influence, power, and occasional insanity of money. Features over 100 cartoons—new and old—from the pens of cartooning legends including Charles Addams, George Booth, Victoria Roberts, Roz Chast, Leo Cullum, Jack Ziegler, Gahan Wilson, and many others Includes a hilarious introduction by David Sipress Newly revised to include cartoons that touch on today's most pressing money matters Capturing the myriad ways money informs, confuses, and sometimes takes control of our lives, The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons is sure to tickle your money bone.
The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons (New Yorker #89)
by Robert Mankoff David SipressA charming, irreverent treasury from the cartoonists at The New Yorker Money doesn't just make the world go round—it spins it upside down, inside out, and out of orbit. Now, thanks to the world's most brilliant cartoonists, it also makes us giggle, chuckle, chortle, and laugh out loud. In The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons, Second Edition, the cartoonist and cartoon editor of The New Yorker Robert Mankoff brings together over a hundred classic images that show the influence, power, and occasional insanity of money. Features over 100 cartoons—new and old—from the pens of cartooning legends including Charles Addams, George Booth, Victoria Roberts, Roz Chast, Leo Cullum, Jack Ziegler, Gahan Wilson, and many others Includes a hilarious introduction by David Sipress Newly revised to include cartoons that touch on today's most pressing money matters Capturing the myriad ways money informs, confuses, and sometimes takes control of our lives, The New Yorker Book of Money Cartoons is sure to tickle your money bone.
The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons (New Yorker #91)
by Robert Mankoff Lee LorenzThe riotous world of the classroom, captured by the cartoonists at The New Yorker The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons, Second Edition is a hilarious compilation of cartoons that capture the joy, terror, excitement, anxiety, fun, and bedlam that teachers experience every day, as seen through the eyes of The New Yorker's best-loved cartoonists. A wonderful collection from some of the best and brightest artists in the world, The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons takes a wry look into the classroom—at the students, at their devoted and demanding parents, and, especially, at the teachers in the thick of things. Includes more than 100 hilarious cartoons Updated edition reflects recent changes in the world of education Features an introduction by Lee Lorenz Compiled by Robert Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker and creator of more than eight hundred cartoons published in the magazine, The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons is a perfect gift for teachers, and an encyclopedia of laughs for us all.
The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons (New Yorker #90)
by Robert Mankoff Lee LorenzThe riotous world of the classroom, captured by the cartoonists at The New Yorker The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons, Second Edition is a hilarious compilation of cartoons that capture the joy, terror, excitement, anxiety, fun, and bedlam that teachers experience every day, as seen through the eyes of The New Yorker's best-loved cartoonists. A wonderful collection from some of the best and brightest artists in the world, The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons takes a wry look into the classroom—at the students, at their devoted and demanding parents, and, especially, at the teachers in the thick of things. Includes more than 100 hilarious cartoons Updated edition reflects recent changes in the world of education Features an introduction by Lee Lorenz Compiled by Robert Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker and creator of more than eight hundred cartoons published in the magazine, The New Yorker Book of Teacher Cartoons is a perfect gift for teachers, and an encyclopedia of laughs for us all.
Noonaville: The Search for Sanity
by Stephen BoltonA parallel universe in cartoons for connoisseurs of day-glo surrealism. Noonaville is the cartoon sensation from the Sunday Times Style Magazine, each week it transports Style readers to a quirky alternative world somewhere between Twin Peaks, Royston Vasey and Brookside Close. In the book, the weirdness can be relived again and again with approximately 160 cartoons on themes of love, work, death, fashion and fun, plus a running narrative linking all the sections. Noonaville is set to be the humour book that people read under their desks, in front of the telly, in their lunch breaks & before they go to bed. It is bright, fun and funny and has cult status written all over it.
The Painspotter's Guide to Broken Britain: 50 People to Love, Hate, Blame, Rate
by Andrew HolmesWelcome to Broken Britain! MPs are blaming 'The System' for their thieving behaviour. Bankers have burnt through more cash than President Mugabe and still been bailed out. Britain is Broke. Only one thing's going to sort this mess out - some good old-fashioned finger pointing. It's time to take revenge... Painspotting style. Let the Painspotting commence! This book is more effective than Prozac and cheaper than therapy. You may be angry, you may be mad, you may even be institutionalised, but put the baseball bat away, hang up your lynching rope, and let the Painspotting commence! 50 of the best Love them, hate them, blame them, rate them: The Painspotter's Guide to Broken Britain introduces the 50 most frightful characters you'll meet in a financial crisis, so prepare to laugh out loud at the Frightened Fat Cat, the Miserable Middle Class, the Self-help Saddo and many more.
The Read Aloud Cloud: An Innocent's Guide to the Tech Inside
by Forrest BrazealWhat is “the cloud”? Is it here or there? Should it be allowed? Should I even care? Have you ever imagined the internet as a giant Rube Goldberg machine? Or the fast-evolving cloud computing space as a literal jungle filled with prehistoric beasts? Does a data breach look like a neo-noir nightmare full of turned-up coat collars and rain-soaked alleys? Wouldn’t all these vital concepts be easier to understand if they looked as interesting as they are? And wouldn’t they be more memorable if we could explain them in rhyme? Whether you’re a kid or an adult, the answer is: YES! The medicine in this spoonful of sugar is a sneaky-informative tour through the past, present and future of cloud computing, from mainframes to serverless and from the Internet of Things to artificial intelligence. Forrest is a professional explainer whose highly-rated conference talks and viral cartoon graphics have been teaching engineers to cloud for years. He knows that a picture is worth a thousand words. But he has plenty of words, too. Your hotel key, your boarding pass,The card you swipe to pay for gas,The smart TV atop the bar,The entertainment in your car,Your doorbell, toothbrush, thermostat,The vacuum that attacked your cat,They all connect the cloud and you.Maybe they shouldn't, but they do. As a graduation gift (call it “Oh the Places You’ll Go” for engineering students), a cubicle conversation starter, or just a delightfully nerdy bedtime story for your kids, “The Read-Aloud Cloud” will be the definitive introduction to the technologies that everyone uses and nobody understands. You can even read it silently if you want. But good luck with that.
The Read Aloud Cloud: An Innocent's Guide to the Tech Inside
by Forrest BrazealWhat is “the cloud”? Is it here or there? Should it be allowed? Should I even care? Have you ever imagined the internet as a giant Rube Goldberg machine? Or the fast-evolving cloud computing space as a literal jungle filled with prehistoric beasts? Does a data breach look like a neo-noir nightmare full of turned-up coat collars and rain-soaked alleys? Wouldn’t all these vital concepts be easier to understand if they looked as interesting as they are? And wouldn’t they be more memorable if we could explain them in rhyme? Whether you’re a kid or an adult, the answer is: YES! The medicine in this spoonful of sugar is a sneaky-informative tour through the past, present and future of cloud computing, from mainframes to serverless and from the Internet of Things to artificial intelligence. Forrest is a professional explainer whose highly-rated conference talks and viral cartoon graphics have been teaching engineers to cloud for years. He knows that a picture is worth a thousand words. But he has plenty of words, too. Your hotel key, your boarding pass,The card you swipe to pay for gas,The smart TV atop the bar,The entertainment in your car,Your doorbell, toothbrush, thermostat,The vacuum that attacked your cat,They all connect the cloud and you.Maybe they shouldn't, but they do. As a graduation gift (call it “Oh the Places You’ll Go” for engineering students), a cubicle conversation starter, or just a delightfully nerdy bedtime story for your kids, “The Read-Aloud Cloud” will be the definitive introduction to the technologies that everyone uses and nobody understands. You can even read it silently if you want. But good luck with that.
The Abertump Uprising (The Strange Life of Horatio Evans #2)
by Ray NoyesGrowing in confidence, but fed up with a lack of progress in bringing communism to Abertump, Horatio Evans decides to declare the town an independent soviet socialist republic. He, as its leader, decides to emulate Karl Marx by creating a reading room behind Jones’ Emporium, (the ironmonger), in which to find inspiration. However, he finds he’s the only one who’s looking for inspiration. The rest of the town seem quite content, thank you. How will he stir up the populace and persuade them to revolt? Horatio enlists the aid of the communist parties of London, Moscow, and East Berlin in his push for revolution. He hides his full intentions from Abertump Town Council under the guise of twinning it with Berlin. A group of six men set off for the German capital in an ancient Austin A35 van to make contact with real communists, but fail to get very far. How Horatio extricates himself from the failed uprising is a stroke of sheer genius.
Animals' Guide to the Human Race
by D. E. KendallLove animals? Life stressing you out? Struggle to find time to read? If you answered "Yes" to any of the above, Animals' Guide is the perfect pick-me-up! Animals' Guide is jam-packed with smile-inducing case studies, provided by animals observing humans. Open any page, read a case study, have a laugh, then get on with your day feeling a little brighter. Witty observations from horses, cats, dogs, and exotic creatures fill the pages with humour. Animals enrich our lives every day; I bet if we could all take our pets to work with us, we'd be so much happier! Escaping reality for even a moment to enjoy some hilarious animal antics really does make a difference...
Cow in a Crash Helmet (Myrtle's Mishaps #1)
by Pauline TuckerEvery day, Myrtle watched the traffic going past the farm. Cars and lorries, horses and tractors... Then a big blue motorbike roared down the road, and that’s when her life changed forever! With the help of her best friend, Tom, and the long-suffering Farmer, Myrtle embarks on some excitement-fuelled adventures.
Disaster in His Wake: The Strange Life Of Horatio Evans (The Strange Life of Horatio Evans)
by Ray NoyesThe Making of Horatio Evans Ardent communist, defender of the proletariat, and bin man, Horatio is convinced he has a calling to transform the village of Abertump and wake it from its sleep. Self-appointed leader of men, his confidence knows no bounds, even when disaster stares him in the face. From school expulsion to army court martial, he seems destined to confront authority. His desire to go his own way leads to some DIY disasters as he sets up his own Kremlin in his tiny terraced house. Using cast-offs from the village and sand from the beach, his lean-to quickly becomes a dangerous lean-over. His problem-solving skills also leave much to be desired, as he cuts a wardrobe in half to move it upstairs, and fits a new fireplace while the old one is still alight. Follow Horatio’s exploits and spare a thought for Gladys, his permanently-on-the-verge-of-death wife.
Mexican on a...: A Mildly Amusing Game (Creative Portfolio Series #4)
by David NorringtonWhat is a Mexican? They are everywhere, you cannot miss them when you know what they look like. I do not mean the indigenous population of the country of Mexico. No, these are entirely different, and they have taken over the world, but you didn't realise it. The fact that they look a bit like the top of a sombrero is entirely coincidental with the idea that people from Mexico wear that type of hat a lot. Entirely. Coincidental. This book will provide you with some ideas for drawing your own Mexicans, or you can colour them in, or add your own descriptions to the ones that are shown, or leave the book on the bus, it's entirely up to you.
The Pocket Guide to Abertump (The Strange Life of Horatio Evans #5)
by Ray NoyesWelcome to the village of Abertump, nestling in the Swansea Valley. A village recovering from the loss of traditional industry, and coping in its own, eccentric manner. Walk the streets and meet the residents to find out some of the background to the series, The Strange Life of Horatio Evans. Horatio finds hapless and unwitting allies in the village as he seeks to implement a Soviet-style administration in the depths of a South Wales valley.
The Strange Life of Horatio Evans: (Boxset Books 1-4) (The Strange Life of Horatio Evans #6)
by Ray NoyesBoxset of books 1-4 of The Strange Life of Horatio Evans. Follow Horatio’s exploits in Abertump and spare a thought for Gladys, his permanently-on-the-verge-of-death wife.