"Prince Patrick" was a nick name given to me as a child by my family and parent's friends that reflected my attitude and desire to be treated in a manner befitting a little prince. A sign of endearment to humor my natural, idiosyncratic demeanor. I actually never thought of myself as royalty, rather, that I was "special," destined for greatness or to be famous, and should be treated as an incubating celebrity. But just how was I going to become a figure in history? A doctor or scientist that discovered a cure to a hideous disease or condition? An actor/artist that was going to define my generation? Or would I become infamous? Whereas, my innocent "hijinks" would lead to other more serious acts that would get me recognized for the wrong reasons. These stories of my eccentric exploits, told time and time again at family gatherings, have made both family and friends smile, giggle and laugh hysterically, with the words "no he did not" uttered more than once.

Acclaimed and beloved prize-winning essayist Roger Rosenblatt has commented on most of the trends and events of our time. His columns in "Time" magazine and his commentaries on PBS's News Hour with Jim Lehrer have made him a household word and a trusted friend of millions. With a wry sense of humor and inimitable wit, Rosenblatt offers here guidelines for aging that are both easy to understand and, more importantly, easy to implement.
More and more in the news today, we are hearing about phenomenal advances in the "fight against aging." But what Rosenblatt suggests to combat age is far more valuable than any scientific breakthrough-he breaks down the hardest part of aging, the mental anguish of growing older with fifty-four gems of funny, brilliant, wise, indispensable advice.
A book to savor, a book to keep, and a book for all ages.
This little guide is intended for people who wish to age successfully, or at all. . . . One may think of this work as a how-to book, akin to many health guides published these days, whose purpose is to prolong our lives and make them richer. That is the aim of my book, too. -from the Introduction
And this is just the start of Roger Rosenblatt's charming and thought-provoking guide to surviving the episodes that shamelessly shave years off of our lives. With a wry sense of humor and peerless wit, Rules for Aging provides guidance that is, hands down, the most practical, pleasurable and, most importantly, painless advice you'll ever receive. As Rosenblatt writes, "When I urge you to refrain from a certain thought or course of action, I do not mean to suggest that you are in any way wrong if you do the opposite. I mean only to say that you will suffer."
Rule #1: It doesn't matter
Whatever you think matters-doesn't. Follow this rule, and it will add decades to your life. It does not matter if you are late, or early; if you are here, or if you are there; if you said it, or did not say it; if you were clever, or if you were stupid; if you are having a bad hair day, or a no hair day; if your boss looks at you cockeyed; if your girlfriend or boyfriend looks at you cockeyed; if you don't get that promotion, or prize, or house, or if you do. It doesn't matter.

A Best Book of 2021 by NPR and Esquire From Kliph Nesteroff, "the human encyclopedia of comedy" (VICE), comes the important and underappreciated story of Native Americans and comedy.It was one of the most reliable jokes in Charlie Hill's stand-up routine: "My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem." In We Had a Little Real Estate Problem, acclaimed comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff focuses on one of comedy's most significant and little-known stories: how, despite having been denied representation in the entertainment industry, Native Americans have influenced and advanced the art form. The account begins in the late 1880s, when Native Americans were forced to tour in wild west shows as an alternative to prison. (One modern comedian said it was as "if a Guantanamo detainee suddenly had to appear on X-Factor.") This is followed by a detailed look at the life and work of seminal figures such as Cherokee humorist Will Rogers and Hill, who in the 1970s was the first Native American comedian to appear The Tonight Show. Also profiled are several contemporary comedians, including Jonny Roberts, a social worker from the Red Lake Nation who drives five hours to the closest comedy club to pursue his stand-up dreams; Kiowa-Apache comic Adrianne Chalepah, who formed the touring group the Native Ladies of Comedy; and the 1491s, a sketch troupe whose satire is smashing stereotypes to critical acclaim. As Ryan Red Corn, the Osage member of the 1491s, says: "The American narrative dictates that Indians are supposed to be sad. It's not really true and it's not indicative of the community experience itself...Laughter and joy is very much a part of Native culture." Featuring dozens of original interviews and the exhaustive research that is Nesteroff's trademark, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem is a powerful tribute to a neglected legacy.

Onthou jy nog die dae van donkiekarre, negosiewinkels, hanslammers grootmaak en tiekiedraai in die waenhuis? Die dae toe ’n Engelsman nog iets vreemds vir ’n Afrikaanse plaasseun was en ’n man moes kon briewe skryf om ’n nooi te bekoor? Met Daar doer in Duitswes roep Helm Jooste daardie dae met nostalgie en humor in herinnering. Hy vertel met selfspot van sy eie ervarings in onder andere die ou Suidwes: vertellings wat jou terselfdertyd laat lag en met heimwee en deernis vul. Kom dans op maat van die Rooiduin Orkes tot rooidag; skater en bloos oor die lywige Ant Maryntjie en die tandlose Toks – en droom saam met ’n bobaasverteller oor die “se nou maars” en verspeelde kanse in Jessica se blou oe. Verskeie humoristiese vertellinge van Helm Jooste word in hierdie boekie saamgevat. Meeste van die vertellinge handel oor die ou Suidwes.

For anyone who loved St Trinian's - old or new - or loves a cozy mystery on a grand estate filled with rather 'interesting' characters. When an American stranger turns up claiming to be the rightful owner of the school's magnificent country estate it could spell trouble for everyone at St Bride's . . . No one can believe it when the headmistress, Hairnet, instantly accepts the stranger's claim, not: the put-upon Bursar, ousted from his cosy estate cottage by the stranger the enigmatic Max Security, raring to engage in a spot of espionage the sensible Judith Gosling, who knows more about Lord Bunting than she's letting on the irrepressible Gemma Lamb, determined to keep the school open Only fickle maths teacher Oriana Bliss isn't suspicious of the stranger, after all she can just marry him and secure St Bride's future forever. That's if inventive pranks by the girls - and the school cat - don't drive him away first. Who will nab the stranger first? Oriana with the parson's noose? Gemma with sinister secrets? Or could this be the end of St Bride's? Previously published by Debbie Young as Stranger at St Bride's.

A light-hearted collection of drawings and rhymes that reflect the complex and multi-faceted nature of the human condition in a humorous manner. || Open our book and savour each page, | Join our Fantabunals on a sunlit stage, | Happily sharing their inner lives - | Feelings of joy, passion and strife. || That's all it is, yet so much more: | A flow of verses and colours galore! | Enter our world of hues and stanzas, | A show just for you, an extravaganza! || Here you might find that you're not alone | In your hopes and dreams or fears and groans, | And in reading our rhymes (strictly no prose!) | May you find a moment of gentle repose.

The latest installment in the popular, bestselling Useless Information series contains all the fun and fascinating facts no child needs to know, but would love to show off.