As the only maximum-security prison in the state, the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) has housed some of the most violent criminals on the West Coast, including brutal serial killers Charley Panzram in 1915 and Jerry Brudos in 1969. Sixty men have been executed inside OSP. The prison was originally built in Portland in 1851 but moved to Salem 15 years later, after Oregon became a state. From that time forward, the Oregon State Penitentiary grew from 23 prisoners in 1866 to 1,912 by 1992. T...

Tupperware ladies, eighties people, and leisure concept salesmen beware: Dave Barry is on the loose and no one is safe! In this collection of eighty essays, the inimitable columnist observes everything that makes America the unique, special place you've grown to love: taxes, toilets, airbags, baseball, beer commercials, and numerous other American artifacts.With his beloved brand of zany humor, Barry covers it all, from lauding the little-appreciated characteristics of yeast to the...

Children the world over have believed in the legend of Santa Claus forever—until told differently. Now, there is no reason to think otherwise! Robert Sullivan, a senior editor at Life magazine, has diligently compiled documentation to prove that Santa and flying reindeer are anything but myths and that Santa Claus does, in fact, make his trek around the globe each Christmas Eve. With the expertise of some of the world's most renowned Arctic experts, wildlife biologists, historians...

Ever notice how bad song lyrics get stuck in your head? It's not just you. After Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry's column about this tendency, reader response was enormous. But Barry didn't know what he was getting himself into when he invited his Legion of Alert Readers to submit their nominees in the Bad Song Survey. "Song badness," he soon learned, "is an issue that Americans care deeply about."Encompassing such categories as "songs people always get wrong," "teen dea...

Hilarious selections from four of Dave Barry's most popular books, including the hysterical Complete Guide to Guys and Dave Barry in Cyberspace.Dave Barry is on the loose and no one is safe. For more than twenty years, Dave Barry's syndicated column tickled readers all over the U.S.—and beyond. And when it comes to making painfully funny observations, nobody does it better than Barry. This comic collection of more than three dozen essays are drawn...

This is the story of a magnificent wolf-dog, born in the wild, who struggles to survive in the harsh Yukon. White Fang is the lone survivor of his family and soon learns to follow the brutal law of the North— kill or be killed. Isolated and mistreated, White Fang becomes a mortal fighter, feared by all. Only through kindness and gentleness is this killer transformed into an animal capable of great love.

A useful guide about one of Dave Barry's favorite subject, guys—rivaled only by dogs (not that there's such a big difference).For more than twenty years, Dave Barry's columns often focused on one of his favorite topics: guys. In this collection of essays, Barry explores every facet of guyness, including the historical facet, the sociological facet, and the facet of why guys spit so much. As the American male continues to face extinction due to feminism, the men's m...

These classic stories of magic, imagination, and inspiration will capture children’s interest and spark their imagination story after story.“Jack and the Beanstalk” is read by John Ritter. “Puss in Boots” is read by Robby Benson. “A Day at Santa’s Workshop” is read by Betty White. “Elfis, the Elf Who Saved Christmas” is read by Brian Austin Green. And “The Elves and the Shoemaker” is read by Michael York.

This collection of children’s stories offers a mix of some best-loved tales as well as newer favorites. Included are: “Puss in Boots,” read by Robby Benson; “A Day at Santa’s Workshop,” read by Betty White; “Elfis, the Elf Who Saved Christmas,” read by Brian Austin Green; “Jack and the Beanstalk,” read by John Ritter; “Peter Pan,” read by Sandy Duncan; “Wild Swans,” read by Michael York; and “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” read by Michael York.

In yet another collection of essays, investigative journalist Dave Barry is on the job, hard at work between lunch and naps researching and compiling out-of-the-ordinary news stories from his legion of loyal readers all across the country. Reported as only Dave's wit and wisdom can accomplish, Barry covers everything from exploding municipal toilets to spontaneous human combustion (over 200 cases) to humor impairment—citing Exhibit A, former President Richard Nixon. No one is exempt: Barry...

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, bestselling author, and failed Wheel of Fortune contestant Dave Barry has questions—lots of them—and sets out to find the answers. If you've ever wondered things such as, "Just how does Oprah have the power to turn a 1957 Hotpoint toaster manual into a #1 bestseller?" or "What makes people want to eat animals they would never consider petting?" then this book is for you.Barry fans will appreciate this best-of collection of his syndicated ...

Since Dave Barry writes about weird things, you might be tempted to think he has a weird brain. He does, of course, but that's not the whole explanation: A lot of the things he writes about—exploding Pop-Tarts, for example—are real. Join Dave as he examines UFO thrill-seekers and Elvis-worshippers, runs for president, and plays Claptonesque guitar in the world's most literary band that includes Stephen King (The Rock-Bottom Remainders).In Dave's world, amazing but true adventures o...