As a refreshingly amusing and light read, CJ and I have been plugging away through a bunch of collections of Berk Breathed's comics. I'm amazed at what an excellent barometer of popular culture and politics Breathed's (the creator of Opus and Bloom County) comics are. In particular, the Penguin Dreams proves the adage of "same ol' same ol. originally published at the end of the Reagan era, the comic touches on being a liberal in a conservative world (liberal commentators screaming "VOLVO!" on a talk-radio show), the Jews hating the Arabs hating the Christians hating the secularists hating..., snarky commentary about no fan in their right mind waiting 15 years for a Star Wars sequel and needing to just go sit in the dandelions for a bit. Funny, articulate and amazingly clear-visioned. Ack!

Part Asian - 100% Hapa - Portraits by Kip Fulbeck Forward by Sean Lennon

I saw this little gem in the pop culture rack a few weeks ago and couldn't resist snagging it, despite my already precariously towering heap. Fulbeck's collection is a photo essay of hapa - people of part Asian, part "other" descent. The most recognizable hapa in American pop culture is probably Keanu Reeves. However, Reeves only gets one mention on the commentary cards that accompany the images filled out by the hapa subjects "Many of my ex-girlfriends were habitual half-Asian daters. Theses women considered half-Asian men 'exotic', 'sexy' and 'just-like-Keanu Reeves-in-the-Matrix.' I consider these stereotypes appropriate because I got laid." - a hapa man of Japanese/German/Romanian/Russian descent. Many of the subjects photographed in the collection to have the beautiful and exotic look that mixed-descent folks have. A few look truly bizarre, though not in a tangible "Oh look he has three nostrils" sort of way. The personal comments are equally fascinating. Some indicate they love their mixed looks, others feel that they never truly fit anywhere. Comments range from the deeply introspective and heartfelt, others are light and silly "I'm a grown man who just exposed my breasts to a complete stranger" says one large Hawaiian/Chinese/German man. A good Sunday brunch read to share with a group of friends.

Half-Moon Investigations - Eoin Colfer

This fun, silly young-adult book is by the author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, as of late being compared to the Harry Potter books in popularity. While I think that may be pushing things a bit, Colfer's books are amusing for readers of any age. His Half Moon Investigations sets itself up to be the first in a series, focusing on a geeky young detective Fletcher Moon. Often slipping into mock-noir style, the book is amusing and quick-witted. A good read for young kids and parents who enjoy keeping their brain cells intact.

Offbeat Museums - Saul Rubin

I can't begin to tell you how upset I was to discover the Madison Museum of Bathroom Tissue had closed a few scant years ago. Such a shrine, virtually in my own back yard! A well, there are plenty of other great places to visit - The Nut Museum (Old Lyme, CT), The Great Blacks in Wax Museum - famous black people wax sculptures (Baltimore. MD), Kam Wah Chung and Co. Museum - perefectly preserved frontier store and Chinese apothecary (John Day, Oregon) and the Children's Garbage Museum of Southwest Connecticut (Stanford, CT). Looks like good road-tripping to me!

Wintersmith - Terry Pratchett

Pratchett's new book in the Tiffany Aching series does not fail to amuse. Definitely built on the first two books (A Hat Full of Sky and The Wee Free Men) the story continues Tiffany's story as she studies to be a full-fledged witch. Various Nac MacFeegles litter the landscape, as do other favorite characters, the incarnation of Winter, a cornucopia that shoots strawberries like bullets and more. It's Pratchett, you know it'll be good. "Ach, where's ma coo? Is this ma coo?"

Cheap Laffs - The Art of the Novelty Item - Mark Newgarden

Following a short history of the creation of novelty gifts and subsequent "novelty gift wars" among various manufacturers, Newgarden displays various and sundry popular novelty gifts. Along with the old stand-bys, whoopee-cushions, joy buzzers, buck-teeth, there are also such wonder as a razor sharp device to be a ventriloquist, fake hypodermic needles and "rubber mouse looks real" - presumably. Commentary on the manufacturer, price and the target audience for the good are included "consumer in need of a rubber mouse." The perfect book for the consumer of gag gifts. Is that an oxymoron?