Games and Humor Books

I am taking a beginning Tai Chi class, in which we are learning the Yang Short form. I bought this book to help me practice and learn the moves in between my once-a-week classes. The book is very well illustrated and the moves are explained clearly. There's also a most helpful visual review of the entire sequence at the end of the book. I also really like the explanations of the health benefits of each move and posture.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons, both limitations of the book form itself. First, it would be nice if this book had the kind of binding where it would stay open to a page so that you could look at the pictures at the same time you're practicing the moves. Second, I find it just very difficult to learn movement from a book. Far more helpful to me is the DVD: T'ai Chi for Health/Yang Short Form by Terence Dunn.

I recommend this book as an accompaniment to a class. I think it would be close to impossible to teach yourself the Tai Chi Yang short form using this book by itself.

This book is full of rhymes and riddles in Spanish for young people. It also has a songs section (w/o the written music) with the lyrics to songs like Los Pollitos and Don Gato. I teach Spanish and use it at school - but it has also encouraged my own 9 y.o. to improve her reading in Spanish.

Since it's not clear whether the calendar exists, I'd like to say that the original "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader" makes me happy every time I find one in someone's "reading room". The older versions (and probably the new ones) had enough fact, fiction, humor, etc. to keep me happy no matter what mood I was in.
Of course, one can't pick and choose with a calendar. If you want to be surprised by something to read of a completely different genre each day, this is the calendar to buy.
By the way, I only know the first book (in the long series) very well and so it is the only one I recommend.

FAIR Notice: I own this book, but have NOT played the game.

That said, here are some items that may be of interest:

* Though missing from the front cover, this RPG was released under OGL 1.0, and bears the OGL emblem on the back cover.

* The authors state in the first pages that though the RPG shares the same setting as the Card Game (ostensibly of the same name), there is no game linkage between them.

* The book is indeed 304 pages long.

* The book features a simple two-column layout, with an easy-to-read and pleasantly spaced typeface. The page border is a little strong, but not overwhelming. Tables and callouts are black backed with white text; again, a little strong, but not too.

* Like the cover, the interior art is full-color and of pleasantly HIGH quality. Call me immature or picayune, but nothing turns me off faster than weak art. This game seems to have gotten that message loud and clear.

And there you have it. Though not a playtester review, I hope there is some useful info here nonetheless.

A very quick read about a handful of nursery rhymes. Does not contain the entire rhyme or whole story of humpty dumpty. Cute ways to flip pages makes it interesting for the reader(s)

I gave this gift to my mother-in-law and she really liked it because she doesn't have a lot of desk space. I was a little disappointed that it was so small but it that is what you are looking for, this is great. Funny "wisdom" as well.

The jokes may be a bit corny and hackneyed, but are great for children and are a refreshing change from the often mean-spirited, expletive-laden trash that passes for humor nowadays. If you want some good clean fun and something your kids can enjoy, you'll like this book.

An interesting view of the everyman's take on the Olympics by a citizen of the host city. At times moving, always interesting, displaying the Australian love of sports and appreciation of athletic effort despite
of the level of talent or results. Not to mention the dislike of pomposity.
A very enjoyable, well written, read.

This is certainly a very interesting way to present a heap of fascinating facts on a wide range of topics. The book is laid out as a number of multiple choice (usually three answers but sometimes true or false) quizzes for the reader to take, the only problem being you have to flip to the back of the book to get the answers (and inadvertently learn the answer to the next question at the same time). This sort of takes the fun out of reading it with a friend/s as someone has to be the asker and knower of the answers. A better format would have been to have the answers at the bottom of each page upside down or something. This would also mean those not interested in doing the quiz but just wanting to learn facts could learn them straight away without the hassle of constantly flipping pages.

Formatting aside though, there are no other let downs with this interesting little gem. You'll learn stuff on a wide range of topics such as -
In Ancient Egypt the owners of a cat would shave off their eyebrows when it died to express their grief
Ancient Romans used a sponge on a stick as toilet paper
A giraffe can lick its own ears
Ants have been used to help close wounds instead of stiches for thousands of years

A great little book that will appeal to readers of all ages

Be warned, a majority of the options offered in this book are truly tasteless, bordering on the disgusting, and sometimes insulting. That said, this is a great idea! (based on the 2003 edition).

I have this on my desk, not as a way to track the days, but rather to stimulate conversation in my work area. It never fails to draw attention. Each day, as people stream past my cube, they inevitably stop to ponder the question of the day.

For example, today's question was "Who would you rather have after you? The CIA or the Mafia?" We make it a game. You can't say "neither" you must make a choice and perhaps rationalize it. I recommend this calendar, but with a warning that it is not for the faint-of-heart, nor for a "delicate" work environment. :)