The fascinating and funny origins of everyday objects-bliss for history hounds, language lovers and trivia buffs. In this delightful volume, Harry Oliver reveals the most unusual and unexpected stories behind the household necessities, toys, common objects, technological advances, and everyday items we all take for granted. Who hasn't wondered: ?Whether Thomas Crapper really invented the toilet ?What accident led to the invention of the microwave ?Why it took nearly twenty years for someone to finally decide to slice bread ?How laziness resulted in the invention of the dishwasher ?Which discovery made the milkshake possible ?Which king's fancy for his mistress inspired the first elevator

Covering significant historical and cultural moments, public figures and celebrities, art and entertainment, and technology that influenced life during the decade, this book documents the 1950s through the lens of popular culture. On the surface, the 1950s was a time of post-war prosperity and abundance. However, in spite of a relaxation of immigration policies, the "good life" in the 50s was mainly confined to white non-ethnic Americans. A new Cold War with the Soviet Union intended to contain the threat of Communism, and the resulting red scare tinged the experience of all U.S. citizens during the decade. This book examines the key trends, people, and movements of the 1950s and inspects them within a larger cultural and social context. By highlighting controversies in the decade, readers will gain a better understanding of the social values and thinking of the time. The examination of the individuals who influenced American culture in the 1950s enables students to gauge the tension between established norms of conformity and those figures that used pop culture as a broad avenue for change—either intentionally, or by accident.

Kids say the funniest things, especially during Elementary Physical Education class! "I've Done Some REALLY Dangerous Things with Hula Hoops!" captures some of the wildly-entertaining interactions Skip Wood and his students engaged in over three years. "I've never played this game, but I already love it!" - Kindergartener"I'd get this game of 'Capture the Flag' going fast Mr. Woody, I have A LOT of sugar in me." -3rd Grader"I can tell you're chewing gum Mrs. Wood, but you're my favorite teacher so I'm not going to tell anyone!" -1st GraderThings move lightning-quick for elementary Phys Ed teachers and trying to keep up with 5 & 6-year-olds can be exhausting. Thankfully Skip was able to see the humor in many of his conversations with students throughout the school day and keep track of them! Enjoy. "Do yourself a favor and experience some hilarious commentary between an incredible PE Teacher and his elementary students. Pure honesty is demonstrated by these little ones and Mr. Wood is quick on his feet with his responses. A hysterical read that is sure to put a smile on your face." -Marisa Evans, Educator"Watching Skip teach PE to elementary kids is a classic case of 'edutainment'-they're learning the ins and outs of physical fitness and everyone is being entertained! This collection of those moments is a delightful read for all ages."-Nicole Coughlin, PTO Spirit Chair and wannabe student in Skip's PE class

Who loves young teens more than they could ever imagine? Who longs to give them self confidence and a strong identity, to help them be what they were meant to be? Jesus. Help youth workers introduce young teens to the radical messages of Jesus. This study points students to the supernatural power of Jesus Christ and the lessons He taught, which still ring true today for young people. From the miracle of raising Lazarus to Christ's own resurrection and ascension, students will be filled with awe and amazement that the eternally powerful Christ wants a personal relationship with them. Key themes throughout show the balance Christ showed between His power to heal and to cast out demons, and His tenderness to love and care for His disciples and followers, and for us. His parables communicate a spiritual truth or religious principle through simple, but powerful, stories that students can relate to. The three four-week modules explain who Christ is, and how each of us can follow His example to a fruitful and fulfilled life.

From fads, crazes, and manias to collective delusions, scares, panics, and mass hysterias, history is replete with examples of remarkable social behavior. Many are fueled by fear and uncertainty; others are driven by hope and expectation. For others still, the causes are more obscure. This massive collection of extraordinary social behaviors spans more than two millennia, and attempts to place many of the episodes within their greater historical and cultural context. Perhaps the most well known example of unusual collective behavior occurred in 1938, when a million or more Americans were frightened or panicked after listening to a realistic radio drama about a Martian invasion of New Jersey, based on an adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel "War of the Worlds." Less known but equally remarkable scares based on Wells' book occurred in Chile in 1944 (when Army units were mobilized), in Ecuador in 1949 (when riots broke out, leaving more than a dozen dead), as well as in Buffalo in 1968, Rhode Island in 1974, and Europe in 1988 and 1998. The modern civilized world is by no means immune to such peculiar episodes. In the late 20th century, scores of people in the U.S. and Europe were wrongly incarcerated following claims of Satanic ritual abuse by authorities untutored in False Memory Syndrome. This episode recalls the European witch terror of the late Middle Ages, when innocent people were tortured and executed for consorting with the Devil based on the flimsiest of evidence. OUTBREAK! THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EXTRAORDINARY SOCIAL BEHAVIOR is an authoritative reference on a broad range of topics: collective behavior, deviance, social and perceptual psychology, sociology, history, folklore, religious studies, political science, social anthropology, gender studies, critical thinking, and mental health. Never before have so many sources been brought together on the mesmerizing topic of collective behavior.

Nosetalgia is the first and only book of its kind in the world. And it literally stinks! It has 14 nostalgic scratch-and-sniff spots to take you back.In the hyper-protective, safety-conscious world we live in, we can consider it a badge of honor that as kids we breathed in the deliciously noxious smells of damp mimeograph paper, model airplane glue, Wite-Out, rubber cement, Magic Markers, and Superelastic Bubble Plastic and lived to tell about it. Very few things transport you in time like your sense of smell. It is the oldest, most primal sense and the one most tied to memory. And while we can identify over 10,000 individual smells, it is still the most underappreciated of all our senses. The authors of Nosetalgia: The Smells That Take You Back present a way to help release stored and oft-forgotten childhood memories. This unique book features 96 pages of vibrant, full-color photos of a wide variety of items from the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s, from Lip Smackers to Odorama memorabilia. To complete the experience, there are 14 scratch-and-sniff scent spots, from menthol (recalling Vick's VapoRub) to coconut (Coppertone suntan lotion and the smell of piña coladas) and a variety of bubblegums, perfumes, and colognes to help trigger smell memories for the reader. It is a scratch-and-sniff book for grownups who want to relive the glory days of their childhoods. People the world over continue to ride the wave of nostalgia that has swept the entire globe. Nosetalgia will be a coffee-table must-have. It is something people will flip through again and again and will tell their friends about.

In Hula Hoops, early fluent readers explore the physics behind this popular spinning toy. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they explore how a hula hoop works. An infographic explores how a hoop's weight affects its spin, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about hula hoops using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Hula Hoops also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Hula Hoops is part of Jump!'s Early Physics Fun series.