Party Weird

In 1839, Texas officials toasted their new capital of Austin, and its citizens never ran out of excuses for revelry. Austinites celebrate their homegrown and vibrant culture, renowned and innovative music, street life and collective quirkiness with pride. While world-class events now call the city home, in a culture that eschews conformity at every turn, Austin's underground social gatherings are what truly earn it bragging rights. Discover the grass-roots origins of the enigmatic eccentricity that has drawn people from all corners of Texas and now from the whole world. Feel the beat of drum circles at Eeyore's Birthday Party in April, sling puns at the annual O. Henry Pun-Off or share a meal with strangers at the monthly Perpetual Potluck Picnic--or Jim O's, as the locals say. Author Howie Richey explores the offbeat, exuberant culture and history of the city that started with a party that just didn't stop.

Beauty pageants, bad musicals, bizarre diseases, and more: it’s all covered in this collection of fascinating trivia and full-color pictures! It’s finally here: the book that Uncle John’s fans have been asking for: a full-color, illustrated edition featuring the most entertaining articles from the world’s bestselling bathroom trivia series! Hundreds of eye-popping photographs add a new dimension to Uncle John’s unique blend of trivia, humor, origins, history, science, and oddities. All the reader favorites are included—including dumb crooks, weird news, flubbed headlines, strange lawsuits, quirky quotations—and more. Now they pop off the pages like never before! So stimulate your visual cortexes as you read about . . . •Weird Beauty Pageants •40 Odd Uses for WD-40 •“Bagpiper’s Fungus” and other bizarre diseases •The Wild World of Weird Sports •The “putrified forest” at Tennessee’s Body Farm •The origins of Monopoly, the lava lamp, computer viruses, and B movies •World records that are so risky, Guinness won’t even report them •The all-time dumbest business decisions •Harrowing stories from history, including the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Pilgrims’ uncomfortable ride on the Mayflower •The Toxic Travel Guide •How to cook with roadkill, get your TV show on the air, and more •Whatever happened to Nikola Tesla’s death ray? •Real-life superheroes . . . and much, much more!

This guide to U.S. politics features surprising stories, hidden history, and clear explanations of how our government works—plus loads of weird but true facts! Why is the president called the "commander-in-chief"? And did you know that during a filibuster senators can talk about whatever they want? They have read the phone book, a recipe for fried oysters, and even Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss! In this next WBT Know-It-All, readers dive deep into the U.S. Capitol to uncover everything they need to know about our government—how things get done, who is who, and why things are the way they are. After reading this book, kids will walk away with a wealth of practical knowledge about our government, including the roles of each branch and how things get done. From the Senate to the Supreme Court and everything in between, readers will learn if a vote in Washington, D.C., really “counts,” how the two-party system got started, how many representatives each state has and why, and more. They’ll also be wowed by a ton of weird but true information, like funny laws in some states—in one, it’s illegal to kill Bigfoot!—how members of Congress ride their own mini-subways under the Capitol, and the surprising secrets of the dollar bill! Jam-packed with photos, illustrations, fun facts and info, the Weird But True Know-it-all series is the anything-but-boring way to boost your brain!

Issue #334 features IN THE CATACOMBS, by Charles L. Harness, plus new stories by Darrell Schweitzer, John Gregory Betancourt, W.C. Morrow, Myke Cole, and Joshua Rupp. Plus poetry and the usual features.

Uncle John is back with the 36th annual Bathroom Reader, an all-new collection of entertaining articles that explore the weird and wonderful world we live in. In this 36th edition of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, longtime fans and new readers alike will be astounded by a treasure trove of wonderfully weird (and true!) stories that explore the realms of pop culture, history, sports, science, and everyday folks, including the always popular misadventures of dumb crooks. Uncle John and his team at the Bathroom Readers’ Institute have reached into all corners of the world to bring you this all-new collection of entertaining and informative articles that include short reads for a quick trip to the throne room as well as longer page-turners for when you take an extended visit. You’ll also find a plethora of amusing lists, odd factoids, quotes, and quizzes that will tickle every trivia enthusiast’s fancy.

"I want to love my neighbor, but I don't know how." Most of us feel guilty about Christ's command to love our neighbor, but let's be honest--we don't even know most of the people living around us. How can we love people we don't even know? Besides, doesn't it count as "loving our neighbor" when we send money to missionaries and put out yard signs for our church? Are we supposed to just knock on our neighbors' doors and tell them about Jesus? "They'll think I'm weird." How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird helps you overcome fears about getting to know your neighbors and sharing your faith. You'll learn simple, practical ways to get to know your neighbors, using your God-given personality. As you venture out of the comfort of your living room and into the lives of your neighbors, you'll form authentic friendships, create a safer community, and find fulfillment in obeying Christ's #2 command. Loving your neighbor isn't a random command; it's God's perfect plan. "A very timely book for a very isolated culture. Amy Lively offers practical help and guidance in the neglected practice of hospitality."--Dr. Dennis Rainey, president, FamilyLife "This ministry is changing lives. Amy has followed God's leading into an untapped area of people that need Jesus. What a simple idea of reaching out to your neighborhood--the area that God placed you in for His purposes. Amy's ideas and excellent resources have offered a no-excuse zone for this ministry. The Lord said, 'Love me and love your neighbor.' He chose Amy to show us the way. Thank you for this amazing resource!"--Chrissy Dunham, director of women's ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas "Amy knows God has given each of us a corner of the world to share the love of Jesus and the hope found in His Word. Her book equips women, spiritually and practically, to answer this call and open their hearts and homes to friends and neighbors."--Wendy Blight, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and author "Amy's brilliant approach to engaging our neighbors is natural, fun, and life-changing! She provides every single thing you will need, including courage. This book and practice is a must for everyone desiring to honor and obey the Lord."--Debbie Stuart, church and leadership development director, Women of Faith " Amy gives us the keys to really connect with those who live around us--not with an agenda, but with a heart toward real relationships. A must-read for anyone who believes that 'Love thy neighbor' really starts at your front door."--Kathi Lipp, coauthor of The Cure for the Perfect Life and author of The Husband Project "With hundreds of friends on social media, why are we so lonely? In her amazing book, Amy Lively identifies the heart-need for deep connection that's not being met through a screen and offers a simple solution: Actually meet the people who live near you. Amy's openness to share her successes and failures at reaching out will inspire you to try it yourself.'"--Glynnis Whitwer, author of Everyday Confetti; executive director of communications, Proverbs 31 Ministries "Amy shows us, step-by-step, how to conquer our fears, connect with our neighbors, and have fun too! Highly recommend!"--Cindy Bultema, speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Red Hot Faith "What does 'love your neighbor as yourself' really mean? In this book, Amy Lively will give you the tips, tools, and techniques you need to love your neighbor in your own unique way."--Jennifer Rothschild, author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark; founder of Fresh Grounded Faith events and womensministry.net

The holidays are the best time to enjoy Christmas mysteries and classic ghost tales (for the fans of the genre) in the snuggling comfort of your home. This edition hence brings to you some of the finest literary gems together in one place to satisfy your cravings for some suspense. Enjoy: The Christmas Banquet (Nathaniel Hawthorne) What the Shepherd Saw: A Tale of Four Moonlight Nights (Thomas Hardy) The Wolves of Cernogratz (Saki) Markheim (Robert Louis Stevenson) A Chaparral Christmas Gift (O. Henry) The Flying Stars (G.K. Chesterton) The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance (M.R. James) Ghosts and Family Legends (Catherine Crowe) The Ghost: A Christmas Story (William Douglas O'Connor) Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions (Charles Dickens) The Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens) Thurlow's Christmas Story (John Kendrick Bangs) The Mystery of My Grandmother's Hair Sofa (John Kendrick Bangs) The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation (Louisa M. Alcott) A Christmas Tragedy (Emmuska Orczy) The Thieves who couldn't Stop Sneezing (Thomas Hardy) Mr Wray's Cash Box or, the Mask and the Mystery (Wilkie Collins) Wolverden Tower (Grant Allen) The Ghosts at Grantley (Leonard Kip) The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (Arthur Conan Doyle) An Exciting Christmas Eve or, My Lecture On Dynamite (Arthur Conan Doyle) Glámr (Sabine Baring-Gould) Mustapha (Sabine Baring-Gould) Told After Supper (Jerome K. Jerome)

This carefully crafted ebook: "THE WEIRD TALES of H. P. Lovecraft: At the Mountains of Madness, The Call of Cthulhu, The Whisperer in Darkness, The Shunned House, The Outsider, Pickman's Model, The Picture in the House, The Temple…" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. This edition represents a select collection of Lovecrafs's greatest horror & fantasy works. Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) was an American author who achieved posthumous fame through his influential works of horror fiction. He is now regarded as one of the most significant 20th-century authors in his genre. Some of Lovecraft's work was inspired by his own nightmares. His interest started from his childhood days when his grandfather stirred his interest in the weird by telling him his own original tales of Gothic horror. Table of Contents: Dagon The Statement of Randolph Carter The Cats of Ulthar Celephaïs From Beyond The Temple Nyarlathotep The Picture in the House Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family The Quest of Iranon The Moon-Bog The Outsider Herbert West—Reanimator The Hound The Rats in the Walls The Unnamable The Festival The Shunned House The Horror at Red Hook He Cool Air The Call of Cthulhu Pickman's Model The Strange High House in the Mist The Silver Key The Case of Charles Dexter Ward The Colour Out of Space The Dunwich Horror The Whisperer in Darkness At the Mountains of Madness The Shadow over Innsmouth The Dreams in the Witch House The Thing on the Doorstep The Evil Clergyman The Haunter of the Dark