"King me!" Just see how many kings you can get with this classicboard game from Pavilion. The set includes a folding checkerboard, 24interlocking plastic checkers, and instructions for a game oftraditional checkers as well as eight other games. This simple set haseverything to get the young child started or get the adult reacquaintedwith the game. This is not a set for a life-long player or for onelooking for a collector's item, but it will function perfectly as abasic set. --Heather Hawkins ... Read more

Asin: B00004YRPQ
Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Strategy Games   

Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
by Spencer Johnson, Kenneth H. Blanchard
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 September, 1998)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $12.03
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Dr. Johnson, coauthor ofThe One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out. --Lou Schuler ... Read more

Reviews (1275)

OK, but overpriced
An "interesting" idea of teaching adults by anecdotes and fairy tales... I don't want to be too harsh but I find this book overpriced. I also think that this is not a book that you will want to keep.

To give an example of a book that everyone will want to keep, which at the same time is under-priced, consider Can We Live 150 Years? by Dr. Tombak. A different kind of read, but a gem it its genre (health, longevity).

Figure it out for yourself
AND then act on what you know!!

That is the message I got from this book.Simple, and straight forward.If you have ever gone through a company shake-up then this book is for you.I suggest you buy the audio version and listen to it for full impact.Because the message is short and to the point maybe buy it used to save a little cash.It is only 1 hour long - perfect for a trip to and from the office in one day.
Buy this audio book for one reason - the change it will make in your overall thought process.

Simple Story/Profound Marketing
I chose to review Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D. because it was recommended for a Leadership Workshop.
Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal With Change In Your Work And In Your Life, Published 1998 by Putnam. 94 pages, $19.95 ISBN 0-399-14446-3.

Who Moved My Cheese is a parable that addresses the concept of change and the ways in which we deal with change. This book is for everyone because everyone encounters change in personal and professional endeavors. The four characters in this story are the mice Sniff and Scurry and the little people Hem and Haw. Cheese represents whatever object of desire the reader may have in mind, such as a job or a relationship. For the simpleminded rodents Sniff and Scurry, cheese is cheese, and their desire for cheese is an instinctual hunt for nourishment. When their cheese is devoured, they merely move through the maze to find new cheese. The maze is the metaphor for the paths of change we must navigate on our journey through life. To get through the maze, Hem uses the "paralysis by analysis" method due to fear of change while Haw adventurously adapts to change. Anyone can relate to the super simple sentences, such as when Hem says, "I like it here. It's comfortable. It's what I know." He has no more cheese to eat, and he would rather get weak and dizzy than move through the strange maze to find new cheese. Even destructive familiarity can be comfortable when the ultimate result of a change is unknown. Haw uses the technique of visualization to prepare himself for finding and enjoying new cheese. He is willing to risk the unknown by venturing out of his comfort zone. Haw puts the handwriting on the wall in instant messages for Hem, such as "If you do not change, you become extinct." The overall theory Spencer conveys is that humans have emotions, and it is the negative feelings and resultant lack of action that can prevent us from moving to meet with the cheese. Or, we can use positive energy to propel us toward our desire and find new cheese or make our own!

Dr. Johnson's previous publication The One Minute Manager (with Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D) made the bestseller list in the 1990's by promoting the concept of working smarter, not harder. So, there was promise that Dr. Johnson had revealed new principles for paradigm shifts in Who Moved My Cheese? In the forward to Who Moved My Cheese, Johnson's former writing partner, Blanchard, says, "This brief parable takes little time to read but its impact can be profound." Well, that's overstating the result. I'm okay with this book as a recommendation for discussions about change, but I'm glad I didn't let a bookstore nibble at the $20.00 bill in my wallet.

Review completed by Lynn C. Tolson, author of Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story.
... Read more

Isbn: 0399144463
Subjects:  1. Adjustment (Psychology)    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Life - General    4. Change (Psychology)    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Personal Growth - Success    7. Self-Help    8. Stress Management   

Nissan 1.69-Quart Stainless Steel Insulated Wide Mouth Food Bottle
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $50.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

This simple, lightweight, and virtually unbreakable vacuum-insulated steel wide-mouth bottle by Nissan is perfect for storing a variety of hot or cold foods or beverages. In Nissan's exclusive manufacturing process, the bottle is assembled and joined in a vacuum chamber, producing a superior vacuum while eliminating leakage. The patented vacuum technology delivers superior insulating performance: six hours to 172 degrees F (78 degrees C), 24 hours to 127 degrees F (53 degrees C). A detachable, heavy-duty shoulder strap and a retractable handle that lies flat without rolling makes it easy to carry and store. --Jane DePaolo ... Read more

Features

• Five-year warranty
• Perfect for storing a variety of hot or cold food or beverages
• 1.69-quart capacity
• Unbreakable stainless-steel liner and outer shell
• Superior insulation performance with patented vacuum technology

Reviews (5)

The next best thing since the microwave!
Just got mine and I have been using it for a couple of weeks.I wanted to give it a good test before writing this review.

I have used mine to carry hot tea to work at 8AM, by 5PM the tea is still hot, this far exceeded what I was demanding for in this type of bottle.I have also used it to carry cold beverages like fruit juices and it does keep them cold for several hours.

One observation: the instructions point out that the bottle might be "damaged" if you clean it in a dishwasher, I thought: "how can this be when it is designed to hold liquids at over 100 degrees F?" so I gave it a try and no problems!The only thing that I hand-wash is the rubber gasket from the main lid and a small plastic cover that fits on top.

I highly recommend it.

Greater than it looks
I a bought this for work to carry coffee. At the end of the day coworkers complain it's too hot to drink. [the donut shop] has ruined my tongue so it's perfect for me.

Just remember it's bigger than it may appear. I holds 1.69 quarts, or 9, 6oz mugs, or 3.5, 15oz mugs just a tad above a personal thermos.

Terrific for many purposes
I, being one person, am often unable to consume an entire pot of coffee. This thermos, however, allows me to brew a full pot of coffee *AND KEEP IT ON MY DESK FOR TWO DAYS* -- it remains steaming hot. Furthermore, I have found that after the coffee is no longer hot, it goes well with kahlua, ice, and cream. -grin-

The thermos itself is larger than the picture really lets on. It's big-ish, about a third the size of the briefcase I carry to work. It does come with a shoulder strap however, and i can comfortably carry it under my arm with the briefcase on the same shoulder.

I haven't tried using it for soup or the other things the manufacturer suggests. It is simply fabulous for coffee however. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S1D1
Subjects:  1. Travel Mugs    2. Commuter Mugs    3. Commuting    4. Tumblers    5. Nissan    6. Thermos   

The Budget Kit : The Common Cents Money Management Workbook (3rd Edition)
by JudyLawrence, Judy Lawrence
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 2004)
list price: $18.95 -- our price: $18.95
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (18)

A Great System for Budgeting/Eliminating Debt/$$$ Planning!!
This is a great book if you want to get your financial life in order! It offers practical information, easy-to-follow instructions, and more than 25 worksheets that you use to organize, plan, track, schedule, and manage your financial life. Every area is covered. The book contains worksheets for tracking variable income, recording non-monthly expenses, recording subscriptions, recording credit card purchases, recording debt repayment, tracking debt payoff, tracking savings, planning gifts, planning holiday expenses, recording online and mail order purchases, recording wants and needs, recording financial goals, a Monthly Budget Worksheet, and more. Most people will not use all the worksheets.
The book is 8 ½" x 11" (standard letter size), 3-hole punched, and the inside pages are perforated so each worksheet can be torn out and placed in a binder. The book contains a year's worth of monthly worksheets; you can start using it at any time of year.
The book is actually a whole money management system. You can use it to figure out your debt and create a get out of debt plan. You can use it to manage everyday spending. You can use it to plan for financial goals. I really loved how easy the worksheets are to get started using. The instructions walk you through the process. I have looked at a lot of systems for tracking money and this is definitely the best!

Sometimes simple is the best...
If you are looking at these reviews I think its safe to assume you've tried an failed at budgeting, whether it be self monitoring or a grandiose computer program, i.e., Money and Quicken.I've ued them both and keep coming back to this Workbook, because it works on seeral levels!

"Know Thyself".You have to ask yourself what am I trying to accomplish in my budgeting.

You have to have your own system to manage you spending habits, which could be keeepng reciepts and entering them daily or weekly receipts.For me, this was entering my expenses daily or every other day at the msot.You don't have to boot up your computer and its not a chore.Place the workbook on your nightstand and pencil it in for your daily expenses.This sounds like a hassle but it takes 1 minute tops daily.Couple that with setting up a budget for your fixed expenses at the beginning of the month (15 minutes)and your set.

Another great addition is that this workbook helps you budget for one-time expenses, christmas gifts,a nd on an on.If you don't want to go into this much detail, then don't.Pick something you know you can stick to and graduate from there.

Ultimately, this book achives where all computer progrmas fail.Accessibility, reality, and ease.Come'on I know what your thinkng "what if I want expense reports" we've all become LAZY!Its good to break out a calculator and get those brain juices going or you can plug your reports in Excel--see that computer is good for SOMETHING.

The "budget maker friendly" solution
Plenty of folks know budgeting is an important skill: but just how to go about creating and managing one is often the crux of their financial problems - and Judy Lawrence's The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook is the "budget maker friendly" solution. Learn how to organize and maintain daily and monthly financial records, plan finances even with irregular funds, and reduce debt through a kit which is in its fourth edition and which includes software to back up the budgeting principles within.
... Read more

Isbn: 0793141281
Sales Rank: 198812
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Finance, Personal    5. Home economics    6. Personal Finance - Budgeting    7. Personal Finance - General    8. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / Budgeting    9. Personal Finance - Money Management   

Norma Rae
Director: Martin Ritt
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (31 December, 1996)
list price: $5.98
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Veteran director Martin Ritt (Sounder) directed this earnest and very popular tale of a naive textile worker, widow, and mother in the U.S. South who becomes empowered by standing up for her rights in the workplace. Sally Field stars in the Oscar-winning title role as a woman who has been content to go along with the status quo until she realizes that she is entitled to more and can succeed if she stands up for herself. Her fight to improve deplorable working conditions at the textile plant causes a rift between her and the people closest to her, but her determination brings a new awareness to her and to all the women with whom she works. Ritt's typical, socially conscious story uses the politics of Norma Rae's struggle and also its emotions to build the film to a rousing climax. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Features

• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (14)

Fantastic Performance by Sally Field
This film was released when I was very young.I remembered hearing all about it but never watched it until now.Sally Field's Oscar win was well deserved.

Unfortunately, the current industrial situation in the US has put a major damper on the feel good ending of this movie.There are almost no textile mills in the US now.It is sad watching Norma Rae live thru this incredible struggle only to know that in 10 to 15 years it will no longer matter.

As well as being about labor unions, this movie is also a love story.Sally Field has wonderful chemistry with her two male costars, Ron Liebman and Beau Bridges.Both of their characters fall in love with Norma and throughout the movie they fight for her attention.Bridges pulls out all the stops and proposes.Liebman's Reuben tells fantastic stories about his Union Job, life in the big city and is generally exciting, almost enticing Norma to leave her small town life.Liebman is great as Reuben and he embodies NY cool to the nth degree.He makes Reuben stand out like a peacock in the small town and Norma is fascinated by him.In one great scene, Liebman enters a local bar where Field and Bridges are on their first date.Field's Norma immediately becomes Flirty, flighty and giggly over the appearance of her NY crush.As Liebman turns on the charm, Bridges fades into the background, his face falling to the floor in defeat.My heart went out to Bridges' character and it reminded me of all the times I was in the same situation.

But this film is owned heart and soul by Sally Field.From the time she fights for her Mother's health to when she stands up with her Union sign, I was cheering for her.

I just wish the film was longer because I wanted to find out what Norma's next adventure would be.

A textbook example of how to organize in your workplace!!
I finally got the chance to watch this movie after missing out for almost 20 years.I should have watched this film years ago.Not only is Sally Field's acting great, but the screenplay was just as great as well.My only problem was the length of the movie as I thought 20 minutes could have been chopped off.With that said, this movie should be mandatory watching for all workers.If you care about the conditions in your workplace, watch it and learn how to organize your workplace!!It's a film much needed for required viewing in our society today!

One of the 10 Best Performances by an Actress Ever!!!
"Norma Rae" contains the thrilling performance by Sally Field as a woman on the wrong side of the tracks of life who decides it's time to stand up for the rights of her co-workers at a small textile plant.

She is offered and accepts a promotion when the plant's management tries to divert her, but a supervisory role doesn't appeal to her when her mother loses her hearing and she has to chastise her father for poor performance. Logically, inevitably she becomes more committed to fighting for a better life for herself and her loved ones and joins forces with a union organizer who came down from NYC. She ends up sacrificing all, including her self esteem, to give the workers more control over their working conditions.

Chills ran down my spine during the scene where she held up the "union" sign and another where she rebuked her husband for being non-supportive of her union efforts. I am not a union supporter, but I know good drama, strong performances, and a logical and interesting plot when I see it, so I recommend this fine film to all.

Hopefully they will give as much time and attention to dubbing and subtitling this movie into languages of third world countries because that's where this textile plant probably relocated a year after the events this film portrayed. A sad, sad outcome to an ideal.

No matter what the outcome, Sally Field delivers one of the finest performances in film history so "Norma Rae" gets only my highest recommendations! ... Read more

Asin: 6300247139
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-drama