This weekend’s World Maker Faire 2010 brought out the scientist in all of us. We couldn’t help but be amazed at all the inventing and experimenting going on around us. Everywhere we turned we were greeted with flames, loud noises, and—FishBikez? (Yes, FishBikez.) All this fun, and all in the name of science! It was a curious person’s heaven.

So it’s no surprise that Potato Chip Science author Allen Kurzweil felt right at home, amongst all the makers and experimenters and amateur explosion enthusiasts! Allen and his son and co-author Max wowed the crowds with their special brand of interactive, do-it-yourself, potato chip-based science.

Prepping the Potato Propulsion Pipe.

Making some noise with the Sound Spinner.

A major highlight was the Potato Propulsion Pipe, which involved launching bits of—you guessed it—potato all over the tent (and the innocent bystanders). All it took was a potato knife, a pencil, a propulsion pipe, and a potato, and boom—instant physics experiment. We knew flying vegetables were fun, but who knew they were educational?! (Allen and son, that’s who.) Other projects featured at the event included the Chip-Tube Gobbler (It’s a turkey! It’s a chicken! It’s a chip tube!!) and the Sound Spinner, with which budding scientists Joe and his grandpa (above) proved that Potato Chip Science really is fun for the whole family.

Max and Allen with a young scientist.

The Kurzweils gave us a scientific experience that none who witnessed it will soon forget. But don’t worry if you missed them this weekend—Allen’s just beginning his book tour around the country! Check out the official Potato Chip Science website to learn when he’ll be in a city near you. Plus check out the site’s activities, videos, and much more.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more highlights from World Maker Faire 2010! Coming soon: 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer author Randy Sarafan breaks out the Squiggle Bot.

The actress Jamie Lee Curtis caught up with author and friend, Barney Saltzberg, and asked him to sign 20 copies of his new book, Beautiful Oops!. Someone took a photo, which Barney shared:

Not too surprising since Jamie Lee Curtis was already a fan, and had this to say about the book:

Everyone who has ever said the word ‘oops’ will be smiling when they see the masterpiece that Barney Saltzberg has created….funny and fun, Beautiful Oops! is the best gift to give anyone, any age, anywhere, anytime.”

To which we say, Thank you!

Those who volunteered or attended the World Maker Faire in NYC last weekend are still recovering from the awesomeness of the experience — it was a mixture of energy, enthusiasm, and whimsy — plus a touch of zany. Giant vats of Gerard’s paella, various grub trucks, and other fair food options kept us well fed. The Bust Craftacular maker tables made sure we have everyone on our holiday gift list covered. And the mix of rides (Jet Ponies, anyone?) at the alternative midway kept our hearts pumping and our ears ringing!

Workman’s Camp Make booth, nestled among all those attractions was a bustling hit! One of our highlights was hosting Debbie Stoller, author of the bestselling Stitch ‘N Bitch series. She stopped by both Saturday and Sunday, clicked her sticks a bit (of course!), chatted with fans, and signed books! And she met up with our friendly neighbors right next door from Red Heart yarns, who just happen to be the kind folks who produce the Stitch Nation line of gorgeous colorful skeins.

The Faire was decidedly and inspiringly stitch-friendly: Beyond Red Heart’s knitting and crochet center, Bust Magazine hosted a stitch lounge, National Needle Arts Association taught people how to knit, and Lion Brand was there, too, with knit sculptures celebrating iconic New York: the Coney Island Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel, and the Empire State Building, complete with King Kong, of course. Panels of knitwork hung from the base of the Rocket next to the NY Hall of Science.

And back at the ranch (the Workman booth), we kept pace by quietly drawing two names to win the Stitch ‘N Bitch gift baskets of yarn, project cards, and a Stitch ‘N Bitch book of the winners’ choice. Congratulations, Alison and Yasmeen, and thanks to everyone who entered!

PS: Did I mention that Beth learned to knit at Maker Faire?

PPS: For all you star pupils, stay tuned for Stitch ‘N Bitch Superstar Knitting, out this November!

Sure, babies love Indestructibles because they are easy to hold and safe to chew on. Lorca, daughter of two Workman employees, also finds the beautiful pictures and bright colors irresistible. After she devours all eight books in the Indestructibles series, Lorca tells us she will be sinking her gums into Sandy Boynton’s board books.

The Up Your Score 2011-2012 guest editor Alan Hatfield shares his own tips for scoring your best on the SAT. He knows what he’s talking about–he got a perfect score! For more tips from Alan, click here to watch him on the Today show.

A guest blog post from Susan Edmiston, co-author of The Cow in the Parking Lot: A Zen Approach to Overcoming Anger

2010 is shaping up to be the Year of Anger.  In addition to the egregious, destructive expressions of this deadly sin (Mel Gibson’s horrific rant, the Mets’ Francisco Rodriguez’s attack on his father-in-law, and the Tea Party’s rage which threatens to undermine, if not destroy, effective government), we’ve seen a few people harness the emotion in more creative ways.

We’ve written previously about Southwest flight attendant Steven Slater, whose leaving the scene via his plane’s emergency chute made him a national hero.  Now, the blue-eyed soul group, the Gregory Brothers, known for their Auto-Tune the News video series, has taken Alabama native Antoine Dodson’s righteous indignation when an intruder climbed in his apartment window and attempted to rape his sister and turned it into an iTunes Top-50 song. See/hear “The Bed Intruder Song” here:

The Cow in the Parking Lot does not condone “Don’t get mad; get even,” but it does approve “Don’t get mad; get effective” (and offers ways to do this) and now celebrates “Don’t get mad; get creative.”

Mark your schedules for the following activities and appearances by Workman authors at World Maker Faire this weekend in New York City! For more information, click here.

SATURDAY, September 25*

10:00 AM Fold Origami and World Record Paper Planes – Jillian Ceravalo & Liz Davis, Workman

11:00 PM The Kids Make It Better Activity Kit and Design Your Own Do Something! Superhero – Stefanie Rosenblum & Liz Davis, Workman

12:00 PM Stitch ’n Bitch Book Series Signing and Yarn Giveaway – Debbie Stoller, Stitch ’n Bitch

1:00 PM How to Make a Doodling Squiggle Bot (plus, take home a piece of original Squiggle Bot art!) – Randy Sarafan, 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer

2:00 PM Potato Propulsion Pipe Experiment and Giveaway – A. Kurzweil & Son, Potato Chip Science

3:00 PM T-shirt Refashioning Demo and Book Signing – Megan Nicolay, Generation T

4:00 PM Potentially Catastrophic Science Demo and Poster Giveaway – Beth Wareham, Workman

5:00 PM Play 1,000 Blank Cards from The Games Bible – Avery Finch, Workman

SUNDAY, September 26* †

10:00 AM Pop Bottle Science Experiments – Avery Finch, Workman

11:00 AM T-shirt Refashioning Demo and Book Signing – Megan Nicolay, Generation T

12:00 PM Stitch ’n Bitch Book Signing and Yarn Giveaway – Debbie Stoller, Stitch ’n Bitch

1:00 PM Play 1,000 Blank Cards from The Games Bible – Avery Finch, Workman

2:00 PM Make-and-Take Paper Bag and Butterfly Puppets – Noel MacNeal, 10-Minute Puppets

3:00 PM How to Make a Doodling Squiggle Bot (plus, take home a piece of original Squiggle Bot art!) – Randy Sarafan, 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer

4:00 PM Potato Propulsion Pipe Experiment and Giveaway – A. Kurzweil & Son, Potato Chip Science

*Free button-making all day!

†Special appearance by members of the Do Something! team

This weekend the World Maker Faire is coming to NYC for the first time. And Workman will be there! Stop by our “Camp Make” booth in the Craft Corral in Zone B at the former World’s Fairgrounds in Queens to meet and make with some of your favorite Workman authors! Make fashion, make explosions, make puppets, make yourself smarter, make robot art, make a difference, and more!

• Debbie Stoller will be signing books, handing out project recipe cards, and holding a yarn give-away in anticipation of her forthcoming Stitch’n Bitch Superstar Knitting.
• Allen Kurzweil (and son Max) of Potato Chip Science will demonstrate their Potato Propulsion Pipe experiment.
• Noel MacNeal will host a 10-Minute Puppets make-and-take where kids can decorate their own paperbag puppets, fluttery butterflies, and tiny elephants.
• Megan Nicolay will host a T-shirt refashioning demo and mini-workshop and sign copies of Generation T and Generation T: Beyond Fashion.
• Randy Sarafan and his sidekick, the adorable Squiggle Bot (one of the 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer) will be signing books and creating original Squiggle Bot artwork for attendees.
• Do Something will help attendees find that “thing” thing they’re passionate about and design their own personal Do Something! Superhero.
• And more! Play massive games from The Games Bible, fold origami, brainstorm new solutions for Kids Make It Better, take the Bananagrams challenge, experiment with Potentially Catastrophic Science, make-and-take a Papertoy Monster…plus visit our button-making station so you can walk away with your own Camp Make badge of honor!

World Maker Faire is a festival full of, well, making. In addition to the fun at Workman, there will be incredible feats of technology and stunning visual displays (ArcAttack’s Singing Tesla Coil as seen on America’s Got Talent), family-friendly activities (the BioBus!), delightful eats (gourmet truck food, anyone?), live music, and a crafty yarn bomb. If it can be made, it will be there: A 13,500-lb, 40-ft-tall Raygun Gothic Rocket, a life-size version of the game Mouse Trap, a bubbling Coke-Mentos fountain… In other words, it’s going to be epic.

If you are in the NYC area and decide to come (day and weekend passes are available for on-site purchase), please stop by the Workman booth and say hi!

What:

World Maker Faire at the NY Hall of Science at the former World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, Queens!

Where:

The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI)

47-01 111^th Street

Queens, NY 11368-2950

When:

Saturday,  September 25 10 am – 7 pm

Sunday,  September 26 10 am – 6 pm

Expert trainer Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, author of The Love That Dog Training Program, demonstrates top training tips, explains the best way to find a dog that fits your family’s needs,  gives advice for bringing a new dog into your home, and more in this informative video.

Emily Adams, Third Place Books, Lake Forest, WA

In the first installment of our bookseller spotlight series, we hail not only bookselling excellence but also a big fat dose of Workman-related ingenuity. We’re crowning Emily Adams as “Bookseller of the Moment” for the most awesome video that she created to promote our Indestructibles books at Third Place Books. The video, featured on the store’s blog and website, really displays Emily’s cinematic talents while simultaneously demonstrating the durability of Indestructibles.

Emily Adams Profile

3 favorite titles recently pimped
Agaat by Marlene Van Niekirk
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow

Songs on heavy rotation
“Street Signs” by Ozomatli
“You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” by Jim Croce
“Emphasizer” by Garage A Trois

Astrological sign: Gemini

Age: 37

Secret talent: I can stand on my head on a trampoline.

Quote to live by: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.” – Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night