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The Snark Handbook: Overused Buzzwords, Hackneyed Phrases, and Other Misuses of the English Language
by Lawrence DorfmanCLICHÉ: nounEtymology: French, literally, printer's stereotype, from past participle of clichér, to stereotype, of imitative originDate: 18921 : a trite phrase or expression; also : the idea expressed by it2 : a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation3 : something that has become overly familiar or commonplace In the words of Stephen Fry, "It is a cliché that most clichés are true, but then like most clichés, that cliché is untrue." Clichés are like rationalizations: try going a week without using one. It can't be done! They are the hobgoblin of little minds. For most of us, once you begin to take notice, they are fingernails on a chalkboard.From Shakespeare to Shakira; in music, on television, at the movies; in the boardroom, on a conference call, online or in person, clichés have taken over the world. While some nitwits might say they're just misunderstood, they didn't start out that way. There was a time when they were new and vibrant, clever and pithy. Now they're just predictable--a vapid collection of much-too-familiar descriptions or metaphors that often replace smart conversation, speech, or writing.This book is a collection of the most overused phrases of all time. Hopefully, it'll make you laugh. Hopefully, it'll make them think. And at the end of the day, if the early bird catches the worm and the slow and steady win the race . . . Please . . . kill . . . me . . . now.
The Snark Handbook: Politics and Government Edition (Snark Series)
by Lawrence DorfmanAnother political year is upon us . . . a year in which we elect another useless figurehead to piss off the masses, confuse the classes, and, above all, reward the jackasses. It will be a time of fear, angst, and anger, the perfect moment for The Snark Handbook: Politics and Government Edition. Filled with quotes, jokes, and timeless snarks, this brave foray into the political theater, old and new, will serve as a priceless source of sanity as you navigate the asylum. In the same inimitable style as the previous bestselling Snark titles, this timely entry is guaranteed to amuse and entertain. The wit and humor of Lawrence Dorfman shines in this collection, where he highlights the ineptitude and malice that is American democracy. You'll see first-hand the shenanigans that started with our Founding Fathers and still continue bravely on today. Hail to the Chief!
The Snark Handbook: Sarcasm, Bitterness, and the Holiday Season (Snark Series)
by Lawrence DorfmanBah! Humbug! It&’s that time of year again….Time to spend too much, drink too much, eat too much, smile falsely, dig down deep to try and find &“good cheer,&” battle crowds, try to find parking in over-crowded lots, ignore surly clerks, bartenders, waiters, valets, and parking lot attendants, all in the pursuit of that moment of happiness known throughout the world as…dun, dun, dun: the Holidays. Has there ever been a time more suited to tapping into snark? With commentary, jokes, and quotes regarding Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year&’s; on bad presents, worse in-laws, horrible children, and much more glorious excess. Enjoy such rotten sugar plums as: • &“Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.&”—Victor Borge • &“If someone screws up on their gift, there are seven more days to correct it...No awkward explanations of virgin birth...No Irving Berlin songs.&”—Among the Top Ten Reasons to Love Hanukkah • &“What I don&’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.&”—Phyllis DillerThe Snark Handbook: Christmas Edition is destined to be a holiday classic.
The Sneetches and Other Stories
by SeussDr. Seuss creates another timeless picture-book classic with The Sneetches and Other Stories. Are you a Star-Belly Sneetch or a Plain-Belly Sneetch? This delightful book contains four tales with deliciously subtle takes on how silly it is to be, well, silly. “The Sneetches,” “The Zax,” “Too Many Daves,” and “What Was I Scared Of?” make this energetic compilation a must-have for every library. Full of Dr. Seuss’s signature rhymes and unmistakable characters, it’s perfect for new and lifelong Seuss fans.
The Sneetches and Other Stories (Classic Seuss)
by Dr. SeussAn iconic collection of original stories from Dr. Seuss that includes the official versions of "The Sneetches," "The Zax," "Too Many Daves," and "What Was I Scared Of?" This is a beloved classic that deserves a place in every child&’s library—from the bestselling author of Horton Hears a Who!, The Lorax, and Oh, the Places You&’ll Go! The Sneetches got really quite smart on that day,The day they decided that Sneetches are SneetchesAnd no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.The original collection includes the only complete versions of the following entertaining and insightful tales: "The Sneetches": The Star-Belly Sneetches and the Plain-Belly Sneetches learn to overcome their differences. "The Zax": When a North-Going Zax encounters a South-Going Zax traveling in the opposite direction, will their refusal to budge keep them both from going anywhere? "Too Many Daves": A mother who names all twenty-three of her sons &“Dave&” learns too late that a little individuality is a good thing! "What Was I Scared Of?": This delightfully silly story about a spooky pair of empty green pants delivers an important message about fear and tolerance.In these four timeless stories, Dr. Seuss challenges the assumption that we need to look the same or behave the same to find common ground. Filled with Dr. Seuss's signature rhymes and lively humor, this classic story collection is a must-have for readers of all ages, and is ideal for sparking discussions about tolerance, diversity, and acceptance.
The Sneetches and Other Stories: Read & Listen Edition (Classic Seuss)
by Dr. SeussDr. Seuss creates another timeless picture-book classic with The Sneetches and Other Stories. Are you a Star-Belly Sneetch or a Plain-Belly Sneetch? This delightful book contains four tales with deliciously subtle takes on how silly it is to be, well, silly. &“The Sneetches,&” &“The Zax,&” &“Too Many Daves,&” and &“What Was I Scared Of?&” make this energetic compilation a must-have for every library. Full of Dr. Seuss&’s signature rhymes and unmistakable characters, it&’s perfect for new and lifelong Seuss fans.This Read & Listen edition contains audio narration.
The Snottle
by Michael LawrenceFifth title in the best-selling Jiggy McCue series. A new girl at Jiggy's school has an allergy - her nose runs dramatically at unexpected times. Everyone shuns her except Angie, to Pete and Jiggy's disgust. One day, in class, the new girl does a mighty sneeze, spraying snot all over the window, and Jiggy sees pictures in it that foretell the future. It turns out that the girl has reached the age where females in her family develop a Gift - hers is to be able to tell the future via her nose - she's something of a Nostrilamus. Meanwhile, the three friends, Jiggy, Pete and Angie have found a creature on the council tip - a small, brown, furry character, the Snottle, that seems to have a strange bond with the new girl...
The Snottle (Jiggy McCue #5)
by Michael LawrenceFifth title in the best-selling Jiggy McCue series. A new girl at Jiggy's school has an allergy - her nose runs dramatically at unexpected times. Everyone shuns her except Angie, to Pete and Jiggy's disgust. One day, in class, the new girl does a mighty sneeze, spraying snot all over the window, and Jiggy sees pictures in it that foretell the future. It turns out that the girl has reached the age where females in her family develop a Gift - hers is to be able to tell the future via her nose - she's something of a Nostrilamus. Meanwhile, the three friends, Jiggy, Pete and Angie have found a creature on the council tip - a small, brown, furry character, the Snottle, that seems to have a strange bond with the new girl...
The Snow Day from the Black Lagoon (Black Lagoon Adventures #11)
by Mike Thaler Jared LeeWhen a blizzard hits, Hubie knows that doesn't mean a snow day, it means a no day-nothing moves, nothing happens. After spending all day zipping zippers, snapping snaps, and bucking buckles, he's finally ready to explore the winter wonderland. Can Hubie plow through the snow-venture or will he be left out in the cold?
The Snow Day from the Black Lagoon (Black Lagoon Adventures #11)
by Mike ThalerThese fun-filled chapter books mix school, monsters, and common kid problems with hilarious results. You'll scream with laughter!When a blizzard hits, Hubie knowsd that doesn't mean a snow day, it means a "no day"--nothing moves, nothing happens. After spending all day zipping zippers, snapping snaps, and buckling buckles, he's finally ready to explore the winter wonderland. Can Hubie plow through his snow-venture or will he be left out in the cold?
The Snow Globe Family
by Jane O'ConnorOh, when will it snow again? wonders the little family who lives in the snow globe. They long for a swirling snowstorm—if only someone in the big family would pick up the snow globe and give it a great big shake. Baby would love to. She alone notices the little family. She gazes longingly at their snowy little world, but the snow globe is up way too high for her to reach. Then, when a real snowstorm sends the big children outside sledding in the moonlight, Baby finds herself alone in the parlor. . . . Will the snow globe family at last get a chance to go sledding too? As readers follow the parallel adventures of both families, big and little, they will take special pleasure in the miniature world of the snow globe, where the skating pond is the size of a shiny quarter and a snowman is no bigger than a sugar cube.
The Snow Queen's Shadow (Princess #4)
by Jim C. HinesSnow White is their dearest friend...and their deadliest enemy.When Snow White fled her homeland of Allesandria after the death of her mother, she took with her only one thing: her mother's magic mirror. Now, a spell gone wrong has shattered the mirror, freeing the demon enslaved there so many years ago. The demon's magic distorts the heart and vision of each person it touches, and Snow is the first to fall under its power.Snow takes Danielle's son hostage and returns to Allesandria, determined to claim her rightful place as queen, and to take revenge against those who supported her evil mother.As one city after another falls into darkness and evil, Danielle (Cinderella) and Talia (Sleeping Beauty) search desperately for a way to rescue Danielle's son and free Snow from the demon's influence. The cost of failure is war and death.The cost of success might be the same.
The Social Psychology of Humor
by Madelijn StrickThis important new book provides a comprehensive analysis of humor from a social-psychological perspective, addressing questions about the use of humor and its effects in daily life. It examines the social psychology of humor on micro-level phenomena, such as attitudes, persuasion, and social perception, as well as exploring its use and effect on macro-level phenomena such as conformity, group processes, cohesion, and intergroup relations. Humor is inherently a social experience, shared among people, essential to nearly every type of interpersonal relationship. In this accessible volume, Strick and Ford review current research and new theoretical advancements to identify pressing open questions and propose new directions for future research in the social psychology of humor. The book explores fascinating topics such as humor in advertising, political satire, and the importance of a sense of humor in maintaining romantic relationships. It also examines how racist or sexist humor can affect personal and intergroup relations, and discusses how to confront inappropriate jokes. Offering new, precise, and operational conceptions of humor in social processes, this book will be essential reading for students and academics in social psychology, media, and communication studies.
The Society of Shame
by Jane Roper&“If you liked Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, read The Society of Shame by Jane Roper.&” —The Washington PostIn this timely and witty combination of So You've Been Publicly Shamed and Where'd You Go, Bernadette? a viral photo of a politician's wife's &“feminine hygiene malfunction&” catapults her to unwanted fame in a story that's both a satire of social media stardom and internet activism, and a tender mother-daughter tale.Kathleen Held&’s life is turned upside down when she arrives home to find her house on fire and her husband on the front lawn in his underwear. But the scandal that emerges is not that Bill, who's running for Senate, is having a painfully cliched affair with one of his young staffers: it's that the eyewitness photographing the scene accidentally captures a period stain on the back of Kathleen&’s pants.Overnight, Kathleen finds herself the unwitting figurehead for a social media-centered women&’s right movement, #YesWeBleed. Humiliated, Kathleen desperately seeks a way to hide from the spotlight. But when she stumbles upon the Society of Shame—led by the infamous author Danica Bellevue—Kathleen finds herself part of a group who are all working to change their lives after their own scandals. Using the teachings of the society, Kathleen channels her newfound fame as a means to reap the benefits of her humiliation and reclaim herself. But as she ascends to celebrity status, Kathleen's growing obsession with maintaining her popularity online threatens her most important relationship IRL: that with her budding activist daughter, Aggie.Hilarious and heartfelt, The Society of Shame is a pitch-perfect romp through politics and the perils of being "extremely online"—without losing your sanity or your true self.
The Sociology of the Absurd or the Application of Professor X
by Daniel J. BoorstinAnalysis of our assumptions.
The Soddit
by Adam RobertsBingo Sac Grabbins is asked by the coughing wizard Gandef and some (oddly Welsh) dwarves to help them relieve the great dragon Smug of his gold.SF author and Tolkien scholar Adam Roberts has written a parody that is both hilarious and intelligent. With knowing digs at the fantasy genre in general and the mystique that has built around Middle Earth in particular this will make Tolkien's 21st century readers laugh in a way that BORED OF THE RINGS made his fans of 1969 laugh.
The Soddit
by Adam RobertsBingo Sac Grabbins is asked by the coughing wizard Gandef and some (oddly Welsh) dwarves to help them relieve the great dragon Smug of his gold.SF author and Tolkien scholar Adam Roberts has written a parody that is both hilarious and intelligent. With knowing digs at the fantasy genre in general and the mystique that has built around middle earth in particular this will make Tolkien's 21st century readers laugh in a way that BORED OF THE RINGS made his fans of 1969 laugh.Read by Mark Perry(p) 2011 Orion Publishing Group
The Soddit: Or, Let's Cash in Again
by A.R.R.R. RobertsBingo Grabbins is a soddit who enjoys a comfortable life (apart from his feet, of course). But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandef, and a company of bizarrely Welsh dwarves drag him away on an adventure. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard (or so they say) guarded by Smug, a large and very tedious dragon. Bingo is reluctant to take part in this insane venture, but a dwarven dagger held to his throat soon surprises even himself and off the companions go on a quest that seems truly epic (well, until you read about what later happened to Bingo's cousin, at any rate). Oh, and Bingo finds this ring thing...
The Sofa Troll
by Paul JacobsonHave you ever been sat of your sofa and realised that your TV remote has gone missing? Have your sweets vanished into thin air? Maybe your grown-up can’t find their keys? Well, this book may hold the answer to all these and many more mysteries: The Sofa Troll. Sitting alone on your sofa will never be the same again, after going on an adventure with the crafty little critter, who is happily inhabiting your sofa. He hoards all sorts – from important receipts to your pocket money pound coins. However, after being sucked up in a harrowing hoover incident, the sofa troll’s future is in jeopardy – will he be dumped with the rubbish or can this cute collector relocate and get back to stashing his stuff?
The Software Developer's Career Handbook: A Guide to Navigating the Unpredictable
by Michael LoppAt some point in your career, you'll realize there's more to being a software engineer than dealing with code. Is it time to become a manager? Or join a startup? In this insightful and entertaining book, Michael Lopp recalls his own make-or-break moments with Silicon Valley giants such as Apple, Slack, Pinterest, Palantir, Netscape, and Symantec to help you make better, more mindful career decisions.With more than 40 stand-alone stories, Lopp walks through a complete job lifecycle, starting with the interview and ending with the realization that it might be time to move on. You'll learn how to handle baffling circumstances in your job, understand what you want from your career, and discover how to thrive in your workplace.Learn how to navigate areas of your job that don't involve writing codeIdentify how the aspects you enjoy will affect your next career stepsBuild and maintain key relationships and interactions within your communityMake choices that will help you have a "deliberate career"Recognize what's important to your manager and work on things that matter
The Solitary Twin
by Harry MathewsHarry Mathews’s last novel is one of his most accessible—and perhaps one of his best Harry Mathews's brilliant final work, The Solitary Twin, is an engaging mystery that simultaneously considers the art of storytelling. When identical twins arrive at an unnamed fishing port, they become the focus of the residents' attention and gossip. The stories they tell about the young men uncover a dizzying web of connections, revealing passion, sex, and murder. Fates are surprisingly intertwined, and the result is a moving, often hilarious, novel that questions our assumptions about life and literature.
The Solvers Book #1: A Math Graphic Novel: Learn Multiplication and Division! (The Solvers #1)
by Jon ChadThey multiply. POW! They divide. ZAP! They battle evil. HOORAY! Thanks to The Solvers, learning math has never been this fun! In this graphic novel series, a crew of crime-fighting kid superheroes teach readers ages 8 and up foundational math skills, such as multiplication and division, as they battle their evil nemesis, Null Void. All math concepts are presented with fully illustrated step-by-step instructions and tons of superhero themed visual examples. When the evil Null Void steals the DivMulti Ray (a laser gun that can multiply or divide anything it touches!) the Solvers must learn all about multiplication and division to stop the supervillain in her tracks! Throughout the action-packed narrative, clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrated, superhero-themed examples present essential multiplication and division concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Full of helpful math instruction—and epic superhero action—the first installment of this graphic learning series is perfect for the reader who loves math, the reader who hates math, the reader who needs a refresher, and the superhero enthusiast. Written by a seasoned comics artist and vetted by a math teacher, this is a brand-new way to get your child excited about math!
The Solvers Book #2: A Math Graphic Novel: Learn Fractions and Decimals! (The Solvers #2)
by Jon ChadFractions? Simple. Decimals? No problem! Evil villains? Bring &‘em on! Thanks to the Solvers, learning math has never been this fun! In this graphic novel series, a crew of crime-fighting kid superheroes teach readers ages 8 and up foundational math skills, such as fractions and decimals, as they battle their evil nemesis, Null Void. All math concepts are presented with fully illustrated step-by-step instructions and tons of superhero themed visual examples. When The Solvers accidentally drink a shrinking potion, the pint-sized superheroes must learn all about fractions and decimals to mix an antidote and stop supervillain Null Void from taking over the city! Throughout the action-packed narrative, clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrated, superhero-themed examples introduce readers to fractions and decimals and then teach how to add, subtract, multiply and divide them, in a super easy-to-understand way. Full of helpful math instruction that aligns with national math standards—and epic superhero action—the second installment of this graphic learning series is perfect for the reader who loves math, the reader who hates math, the reader who needs a refresher, and the superhero enthusiast. Written by a seasoned comics artist and vetted by a math teacher, this is a brand-new way to get your child excited about math!
The Somebodies
by N. E. BodeThere is a city beneath New York City, one made by and for Anybodies. There you can find Bing Chubb's Ballpark, Willy Fattler's ever-changing Underground Hotel, and a castle whose spire sticks up into the dirt-filled sky...dangerously close to the rear ends of unsuspecting picnic-goers in Central Park. It's an extraordinary place, but it is in danger of becoming ordinary because of the nefarious Blue Queen. Somebody has to stop her, and if anybody is going to, nobody is better than everybody's favorite Anybody. In her third quirky adventure, Fern takes on the biggest, baddest, bluest opponent ever. Yikes!
The Someday Jar
by Allison MorganReal-estate broker Lanie Howard figures she has the perfect man, the perfect job, and the perfect life. Then she stumbles across her old Someday Jar, the forgotten glass relic where she stashed all the childhood wishes--no matter how crazy--that her father encouraged her to write down on the backs of Chinese restaurant fortunes.<P><P> She used to be fun once! What happened to her?DON'T CHOKE ON THE RIND.Although Lanie is wary of uncorking her past, when an attractive stranger saves her from a life-or-death encounter with a lemon peel at the bottom of a martini glass, she realizes that life is way too short for regrets. Now, jar in hand, Lanie decides to throw caution to the wind, and carry out everything she had once hoped to do, even if it means leaving her perfectly "perfect" life behind...