Below is my review of The Everything Kids Riddles & Brain Teasers Book: Hours of Challenging Fun:
If you want to introduce your children to the world of brain teasers, puzzles, and riddles, this just might be the worst book you could give to them. It is chock full of wrong answers, ambiguous questions, factual errors, and logical fallacies. There are "brain teasers" that no one could possibly answer "correctly." There are questions whose premises make no sense whatsoever.
After we kept running across wrong answers, I confiscated this book from my son. I imagine most parents buy this for their children without reading it themselves. Let me save you the trouble. I read through 117 pages of this book and found 68 questions with errors (wrong facts, unworkable puzzles, etc.) Here are a few choice examples:
"Once upon a time, a little girl dressed in blue went to her grandmother's Swiss cottage. Why?" Answer: "She was hungry for some cheese."
"When Mini's family pulled up at the motel, Mini, her parents, and 12 brothers and sisters poured out of the car. How could that happen?" Answer: "Mini and her family are mice." Mice, of course, that drive. There couldn't be any other explanation, right?
"When Maddy started school, she was 5 years old. Now that she is in third grade, she is only 6. How can that be? Hint: Maddy's birthday is in February." Answer: "Maddy's birthday is on February 29th." Never mind the distinction between "having your 5th birthday" and "being 5 years old" -- by the premise of the question, Maddy would be 20 years old when she entered Kindergarten.
"It's Norma's 12th birthday. This year, her family gave her a boom box. If every year before were the same, how many does she have?" Answer: "One -- every year is not the same!" Have you heard of the subjunctive, Ms. Wagner? Do you know what an "If-Then" statement is? Do I want to throw your book out the window?
This book will make you stupid.
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| Reviews | Stupidity
Cross-posted from my Social Actions blog.
We here at Social Actions have been hard at work this summer trying to improve our serve. Not the tennis kind, the volunteering kind! And if you haven't heard already, it's time to sign up for a great opportunity to improve your serve -- Mozilla Service Week!
During Mozilla Service Week, tech-savvy volunteers all over the globe are going to help meet the technology needs of individuals, schools, community groups, and non-profits. If you're reading this on the web, you're qualified to help out. Teach your grandma how to use the Internet. Refit that old laptop in the closet with Linux and open source software and donate it to your local community center. Get together with your friends, find out what help non-profits need, and pledge your support!
Another way you can help is to spread the word to people and groups who might need technology help, so they can post a volunteer opportunity.
We've helped Mozilla bring together an amazing group of Friends to ensure the success of Mozilla Service Week:
Join in and improve your serve!
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We had a swell vacation in Block Island this year with the family. Rented the geodesic dome again. (Terrible joke I just made up: Why is a geodesic dome a great place to throw a party? Because no matter how many guests show up, it always seems Fuller!) Did our usual beach-going, biking, hiking, grilling, ice-cream eating. New this year: Entered a Toy Boat race for charity. Covered ourselves in mud. Went geocaching (my new geeky hobby).
I've got some changes planned for Ishbadiddle -- can you say "social media hub"? Watch this space!
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