Issue 02
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September-October 2015
A MANS GUIDE TO TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN
www.genericpuzzles.com
GENERIC PSYCHOLOGY NEUROPLASTICITY
SHOES 101
SOLUTION OF LINDBERGH'S SPIRIT
UP YOUR STYLE GAME
THE EDITOR
THE QUOTE
The Generic ge•ner•ic/ Noun: (1) A self-proclaimed cornucopia of tall tales, long mustaches and short back-and-sides. (2) An educational salad, tossed with the finest in style, gentry and general bad assery; prison breaks, tiger killers & Theodor Roosevelt* are mandatory. (3) A collection of the finest puzzles known to man, harnessing the power of Tesla’s X-Ray gun & Thor’s Hammer. Example Sentence: Can’t tell your Blue label from your Red? Your Maduro from your Claro? Your French Fork from your Mutton Chops? You need The Generic. *Remember, it takes more than that to kill a bull moose!
THE CONTENTS
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4
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10
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THE SHOP
THE ARTICLE
THE STYLE
THE ARTICLE
THE SOLUTION
Recommend Puzzles
A Mans Guide to Travelling with Children
Shoes 101 Up Your Style Game
Generic Psychology Neuroplasticity
Lindbergh's Spirit
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ABOUT GENERIC PUZZLES Established in 2013. Tasked with emancipating the imagination of puzzle aficionados everywhere. The boffins say our puzzles are Sisyphean tasks; created on a level of incomprehensible magnitude, complexity and savant-like creativity. "It's the only way", they say. We think they are just a right good laugh…..Generic Puzzles - not here for bravado. All Items Shipped for Free.
THE SHOP
GET YOUR PUZZLE
FIX TODAY! NO-NONSENSE WOODEN PUZZLES FOR GROWN UPS! www.genericpuzzles.com
BATTLEFIELD PEG PUZZLE
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PEG PUZZLES
CHECKERS
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SOLITAIRE TREE
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SOLITAIRE
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SWITCHBOARD
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FOXES & SHEEP PEG PUZZLES
CHINESE CHECKER STAR PUZZLE
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THE ARTICLE
A MANS GUIDE TO
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN ARE WE THERE YET:
If one thing is certain it is lack of perpetration will lead to the relentless chanting of: “Are we there yet?!”; a whole number of tantrums from young ones and even greater number of strops from the big ones – time to get organized:
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Stay-away from motorways “I spy” possibilities are restricted, so is the personal space. The humor is centered round a heavy dose of schadenfreude – nobody likes the family sweepstake on “who can guess the length of the tailback?”.
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Bus and train journeys offer a major advantage, here’s an equation: Rule of thumb: The more opportunities for them, the less obligations for you. If you’re feeling particularly risqué – there is hide and seek – however this is not recommended unless you’re travelling to the final destination directly, things could go south if little Jonny decides to get off in search of platform 9 3/4…
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Time to crack out the pencils and crayons. Hangman, knots and crosses and even battleships (simple 10 by 10 grid marked 1-10 and A-J). Winner, winner chicken dinner.
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Money is an excellent bargaining tool. A simple transaction of quarter for every hour of good behavior; or get creative - a bonus for every Greyhound Coach they see – do your research and don’t pass a depot, this could end up costing you a small fortune… so a friend said.
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If cash prizes aren’t for you – then how about candy on a rotation system say…. every 30 minutes. Make sure they only get one if they are being behaved – Pavlov’s dog and all that jazz. You need to sail a tight ship on this, dolling out sweets to appease badly behaved children will result in chaos and inter-car relations will be strained for the duration of the journey. You are politician now, use your power astutely.
THE ARTICLE
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When you can; always, always, always, drive at night – this is a sure fine winner all day every day. Driving at night is probably among the most tranquil and relaxing time you will ever spend as a parent.
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Printable travel bingo – it’s a classic for a reason: It ticks most of boxes – time consuming , fun for all ages , easy to set up and relatively mitigating the risk of tears…. . However! It is demanding for you the chef, policeman, politician, gamekeeper and now bingo host – just a disclaimer, but it probably beats the 23rd “rendition of wheels on the bus”.
Two-birds; one stone: Now the ideal situation here is that 2,3 or even 4 kids can play harmoniously over a good game of connect 4 or checkers – the reality is probably somewhat different and the conclusion is normally the same, tears. BUT, When the going is good on this, it’s great – when it’s bad, it’s disaster – are you feeling lucky? For older kids – chess is a sure fire winner, backgammon too – just make sure to keep the steering wheel steady and avoid potholes or you will be at the sharp edge of their angst.
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If you’re not imaginative enough to make up your own story, listen to Harry Potter tapes, they seem to be never ending. Stay away from Roald Dahl though, Witches may result in you guessed it… tears.
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If you need any further games, puzzles techniques or assorted bribery you are probably on an expedition rather than a day out. Our advice to you is to Fly or leave your kids at home.
THE STYLE
SHOES 101
UP YOUR
STYLE GAME #Genericstyle
Explaining the finer points of men’s shoes is a sticky situation. The nuances often come down to the smallest detail on a strangest part of the shoe. We're here to help you understand these variances and #UPYOURSHOEGAME GenericPuzzles is here to help you unravel the brain bending world of shoes. 6
THE STYLE
Traditionally there are 7 varieties of shoes – we’re here to explain them all. Time to get you style game on form.
OXFORD SHOES Many men in the US call all laced dress shoes an Oxford, it has become a branded term – like Kleenex or Wrigley’s - technically however this is incorrect. An Oxford is characterized, by the eyelets being stitched into the shoe, as opposed to sitting on the shoe. It also possesses a tightly intertwined lacing system, low heel and exposed ankle. There is a pretty clear distinction between the Oxford and a Loafer, as opposed to a Derby or Brogue - which is more nuanced. Essentially the Oxford's design is meant to give the impression of a sleeker, classier shoe tailored to formal situations. Oxford's first originated from Scotland and Ireland, where they were called Balmoral's. Stylistically they were plain, formal shoes, made almost exclusively from leather. In modern times designers got more exotic and creative with their design work and Oxfords are now made from calf leather, patent leather, suede and canvas. It may seem bizarre, but the idea of wearing Oxford's initially was rebellious – they were the Doc Martens of their day. Yes on the mean streets of Oxford University a rebellious shoe was designed. During the 17th century male footwear was dominated by boots – often going up to knee length – which seems outrageous today. They were also super-tight fitting with buttons instead of laces (what a drag). More often than not these boots featured rather high heels, a style that was popularized by King Louis XIV due to his small statue. At that time France was defined as the epicenter of the fashion world and as such most European gentleman aligned themselves with the choices of the French establishment. Slowly England became the trend setting hub of the universe, much to the disdain for the French.
THE BROGUE Modern Brogues' trace their origins back to a rudimentary shoe, originating from Ireland and Scotland where they were made from untanned hide. Far from exotic, the initial perforation (those dainty dots) were designed as a drainage system allowing water to drain from the shoes when the wearer walked across bogged terrain - lovely. There was nothing romantic about the brogue back then, the name is derived from the Gaelic “brog” which means ‘ a rough or stout shoe’ – the world Merriam-Webster dictionary describes 'broguing' as an ornamentation of shoes employing heavy perforations and pinking. A true union of fashion and function! Of course at that time the brogue was not considered an appropriate style of shoes for casual or formal situations. How time flies – the ugly duckling turned into the beautiful swan, from Irish farmers to the red carpet. Nonchalant! Although Brogues are similar to the “Oxford shoe”, they are two completely different types of shoe and are not to be classified into the same family, just so you don’t get it twisted. Brogues are most commonly found in one of four toe-cap styles (full or “wingtip” brogues, semi-brogues, quarter brogues and long-wing brogues). The brogue is a super versatile shoes and can be worn in a variety of occasions – it is also ultra in trend and has remained a classic style for decades.
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THE MONK STRAP Monk strap shoes are becoming increasingly popular with the style set, year-on-year and its heritage comes from exactly as you might imagine. The monk strap shoe found popularity with monks in Europe because it was more protective than the sandals that were traditionally worn. They were hard wearing and long lasting, making them a solid choice as a work shoe and durable for heavy walking. The obvious hallmark of a monk strap shoe is the lack of lacing – the shoe itself is very similar to a standard brogue shoe, traditionally, monk shoes are ranked as a middle of the road for shoes – they are considered too informal for suits. However, it is the detail that sets – the incarnations of the monk shoe are endless, single strap or double – made from suede or leather and can be worn with socks or without.
THE STYLE
BOAT SHOES
LOAFER SHOES The characteristics of a loafer – a completely laceless shoe, low cut with ankle exposed, separate sole, low heel and usually upper vamp (where the laces would be). Classically the loafer has a moccasin, which is frequently of a contrasting fabric or color across the vamp. Loafer shoes are unique as they have developed on different continents. Loafers in their earliest incarnation are believe to have developed from Native American moccasin style by a Norwegian designer. The contemporary loafer style we know today, dates back to the 20th century, where they were made to be a casual take on the Oxford shoes – consisting of a basic Oxford design, without the laces – et voila the Wildsmith loafer was born. Many people confuse a slip-on with a loafer – however they are not the same. Slip-on shoes do not require a moccasin seam on the upper (which a loafer most certainly does)– and can look like an oxford or brogue. Due to its heritage, a loafer will never be a formal shoe, it’s regarded as an inappropriate shoe to wear with a classic 3 piece as it’s simply too casual. For an informal and moderately formal situations loafers are appropriate, and are ideally worn for garden parties, with light and summer suits they can be complementary. You can sometimes wear a summer suit or casual suit with classic style darker loafers or with tassels.
Before the advent of the modern boat shoe, sailors and boatmen alike struggled to maintain a firm foothold on the slippery decks of their wave engulfed boats. The shoes available to them were simply not up to the arduous task of assisting sailors to keep balance on deck, of course this led to frequent accidents, not to a mention a regular stream of hilarious and embarrassing situations. In the early 1930's, Paul Sperry, an ardent sailor and boater was struggling with this problem in his everyday life. Luckily, he came across as very unlikely muse in his dog. Here's how the story begins: One winter day in Connecticut he took his dog, a Cocker Spaniel by the name of Price, where he was amazed at his dogs ability to grip the ice while running. The traction he managed to generate on slippery surface intrigued him – how did he manage it? Paul figured that it had something to do with the pads on Price’s feet. Upon closer examination of his dog’s paws he realized that Price’s feet had formed herringbone-like pattern that allowed him to grip wet surfaces remarkably easily. With this brain wave he started upon his million dollar idea. In 1935 the Sperry Top-Sider shoe with mid to calf-brown leather upper and white rubber sole, with herring bone mold were introduced to the market and quickly gained prominence among sailors. By 1939 the navy had recognized the benefits of the boat shoes and started to manufacture it for its sailors. The style and manufacturer has become some what of a heritage brand and they are still worn today, on the boat and off the boat. For obvious reasons the boat shoes should be avoided during winter, unless you live in a hot tropical climate. They are best paired with slim, clean lined jeans or shorts. Dark denims provide the best combination for boat shoes, especially when accompanied by with a polo shirt or oxford button down. Boat shoes are informal, casual footwear – so don’t go wearing them with a suit, sports jackets or blazers. Similarly, you should never wear these to dinner parties – these should be reserved for days relaxing in the park.
THE CHUKKA BOOT Chukka Boots are ankle-length leather boots with suede or leather uppers. Chukkas are usually made from calfskin or suede, although thy have been made by more unusual materials like crocodile skin. The style first became popular in the late 1940's through the 1960's as casual wear and were worn by British forces in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. Nathan Clark, was an officer in the royal army service corps, posted to Burma in 1941 with orders to help establish a supply route from Rangoon to the Chinese forces at Chongqing whilst also launching series of offensives throughout South East Asia. Although he did all this work you probably won’t recognize him from his military days, but instead from his shoes – Clark's – in shopping malls around the world. The desert boot has success in Italy and France and which was later released in England and US. In the US the desert boots became popular with the beatnik culture and was later adopted by the 1960's mods. The mod look is still strong today; Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher sport desert boots regularly. In its 60 year history Clark’s deserts boot has sold more than 12 million worldwide. Chukka boots are always casual, and should never combined with dress pants or suits. Suede Chukka boots with crepe soles should only be worn with denim or chinos.
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THE STYLE
CHELSEA BOOTS Chelsea Boots: you know the one close-fitting, ankle-high boots with an elastic side panel. They often have a loop or tab of fabric on the back of the boot enabling the boot to be pulled on. Chelsea boots are considered an iconic element of 1960's Britain, particularly in the mod scene and rock scene, they resemble renegades of a generation. The boot actually has deeply regal roots Joseph Hall who designed them for Queen Victoria. The Chelsea boot we know today however, owes much to the invention of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear’s. With the advantage being the development of elastic – the corner stone of a Chelsea boot. Joseph Sparkes Hall on filing his patent in 1981 claimed that Queen Victoria walks in these boots daily – giving his boots the social proof of the highest kind. They were initially called “elastic side ankle boots” which is a bit more wordy than the current branding – we’ll get more on that later. According to Chelsea boot's inventor they were popularized as walking boots, tailored to both men and women. Indeed ankle boots were the dominant style of shoe worn at day time. The style remained a staple up until WW1 – where it fell out of fashion. By the 1950's Chelsea boots renaissance was now under the wing of a plethora young artists, film directors and socialites that started to frequent the King’s Road area in London – the group was dubbed the “Chelsea Set" by the media. This group was well known and fashion forward including icons such a Mary Quant and Jean Simpson. Angello and Davide re-interpreted the Chelsea boots in the 1960's fitting with the Cuban heel. This was known as the Baba Boot – which was popularized by the world of rock and roll, where it was plugged enthusiastically by the Beatles, where predictably the popularity skyrocketed. This was then followed by the image conscious mods, who considered them the height of mod fashion, wearing tailored suits on customized scooters. It is not hard to ascertain why the Chelsea boot was so popular- wearers included a who's-who of fashion icons. Not only did well known rock bands, such as the rolling stones wear them but also French & Italian cultural influences fused for the popular American greaser look. As a style, Chelsea boots are popular due to their versatility and classic look. They can be dressed up, down and then back again very easily. Chelsea boots are a timeless look with a nod to the past. Their simple clean lines compliment virtually any outfit – they have been featured by designer across the spectrum from high-end couture to low-end budget fashion. Chelsea boots have 7 standard characteristics:
1. Ankle Length 2. Rounded Toes. 3. Low Heels 4. They are made from two pieces of leather and meet near the ankle. 5. The vamp and the quarters meet near the ankle where they are joined by a strip of vulcanized rubber or elastic. 6. The strip of elastic extends to just below the ankle but not all the way down to the sole (just above the welt). 7. The vamp and quarters are not sewn one on top of the other. Instead, they are sewn together in one plain below the ankle.
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THE ARTICLE
IT'S SCIENCE
At which point you perpetrate an unfathomable amount of stupidity that the mere notion of intelligence is thrown out the window.
At GenericPuzzles - we’re not here to spiel some psych 1-0-1, Freudian complexities.
It was assumed (to assume makes an ass out of u and me) that the brain, which consisted of nearly 100 BILLION with a B, neural cells never generated new ones… basically each one of us was born with a finite number of cells – that we had to use as best we could.
We’re the laymen’s psychologists – located just below armchair psychologist in the psych-knowledge-league table! But. We’re on the up…. Self-styled-pseudo psych came somewhat easy at the Generic Puzzles ‘laboratory’, amongst the tweed jackets, monocles and cigar smoke; it was a natural progression.
We all knew better of course: despite what he media tells you, your brain is not “programmed” to shrink and fail as you age. Good brain health comes down to a culmination of exercise activity and good diet and your brain can function at ever increasing standards.
So here we are, Neuroplasticity it is – fasten your seat belts, you’re in for a rough ride.
HAVE SMARTER CHILDREN – BEFORE THEY ARE BORN
Before we begin.... It’s time for a shameless plug. You know what helps exercise brain plasticity – you guessed it…. beer.
We now know that intellectual and mental activity can induce brain activity when applied to healthy adults – (yes, you and me) and older adults. Another curious fact - the brain is amendable before birth. Studies have shown that pregnant mothers put in stimulating environments, are more likely to have intelligent offspring. The future depends on it!
*cough*! I mean puzzles! First Rule - Your Brains are Plastic You’ve probably heard that your brain is plastic, if you took this literally - then yours could well be and in which case, you’ll need more than a few puzzles to help straighten you out. No, luckily your brain is not made of Tupperware, although many of Generics cohorts act as if theirs is.
Our complex reasoning skills continue to improve as we get older. Albert Einstein famously said:
Plasticity means the brain has the ability to change. Our brains constantly change as we learn new things – like it literally changes, both chemically and physically. By exercising your brain you can IMPROVE its functioning. I know, great right?
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking as when we created them.” Puzzles require a unique approach. The older brain is resilient and can be stimulated to innovate, create and contribute in phenomenal ways. Without the ball and chain of teenage chemicals.
NEVER COMMONLY BELIEVE Much of “commonly held belief” is not factual – research shows that the brain can actually improve with age, and we don’t mean new age science or guys trying to shift puzzles – we mean real-life guys in lab coats and spec with resplendent beards – like the UCLA.
Taylor Small UCLA Dean says: “Shake things up. Stay physically active. Keep doing different things. Challenge your assumptions. Become comfortable with ambiguity. Listen to differing points of view and develop the ability to accept differences. Travel. Learn different languages.”
When Generic, was a young whippersnapper it was believed that your brain would never change, except for ‘critical’ periods– like when you were a young ‘un to your angry teenage years…
It is no longer a matter of “losing” brain cells – the brain is more than a gas tank. These puzzle are a gift that keeps on giving.
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THE SOLUTION
www.g e n ericpuzzles.com/ pa ges/ solutions
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