Articles written by Matt Lau - Page 3

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About me - Matt Lau

"Born and raised in Hawaii-and yet remarkably articulate." New York Globe

"A genuinely nice guy that refuses to finish last." Boston Tribune

"An inventive and witty comic genious that can deliver an insightful message about life that can wake you up and make

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Jobs & Careers > Education Jobs The characteristics of a good teacher: 12 of 37
The first quality that is absolutely essential in a good teacher is knowledge. This seems like an obvious necessity, and yet the public school system does not even require that a high school teacher have a bachelor's degree in the subject they are teaching. I took trigonometry as a junior in high school from a teacher that d... More..
Hobbies & Games > Role Playing & War Games Role playing games explained: 4 of 12
To someone who is unfamiliar with role playing games, they may seem like some kind of strange secret ritual that is part wicca, part Star Trek. They may have images of cloaked teenagers in a dark basement, with alien dice, and books, and little metal icons. It's not really that weird (usually). The best phrase I've heard to ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Downloadable game reviews: Xena Sola: 4 of 10
Xena Sola 1/5 About twenty years ago, I played an old card game called Waterworks. It consisted of two players who I guess are supposed to be plumbers, who take turn laying down cards that consist of pieces of pipe with bends, forks, dead-ends, and of course leaking pipes to mess with your opponent's plumbing. Xena Sola is n... More..
Hobbies & Games > Role Playing & War Games The best current RPGs: 10 of 24
The idea of the "best" RPG is highly subjective. It really depends on what you and your gaming group prefer. Simple or complicated? High drama or comedy relief? Gritty realism or swashbuckling adventure? Then of course there are the genre choices: fantasy, pulp, sci-fi, horror, superhero, dark future, cartoon, anime, or GURP... More..
Education > Education (Other) The best school fund-raiser ideas: 7 of 16
I will assume that the purpose of a fund-raiser is to raise funds. Most of the fund-raisers I see in schools are actually just an innocuous way of collecting additional tax money from the parents of the students. Follow my logic here: I am already paying money for this school to operate by paying my property taxes. If the sc... More..
Arts & Humanities > Philosophical Concepts Science vs. religion: Understanding the differences: 10 of 21
So, the other day a friend asked me if I believed that the Big Bang theory was a pretty accurate representation of how the universe was formed. I said "Sure, it's pretty much been mathematically proven." And he was surprised by this because I'm a Christian-and like most people brought up in our public education system, he wa... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics Best excuses for calling in sick: 16 of 33
As an employee you have entered into a contract with your employer where you exchange your time and energy for a wage. While you are reasonably expected to attend every hour that you are scheduled to work, sometimes life gets in the way. An unfortunate oversight of most large employers, is that they do not have a system in p... More..
Jobs & Careers > Office Politics How to survive the workplace: 17 of 35
Guide to Workplace Survival Yes the office is a dangerous environment; Where only the fittest and strongest survive. But if you follow this simple guide, you will increase your chances of surviving. 1. Create a Shelter Make sure there is a location in the workplace that you feel secure and that you are familiar with (perhaps... More..
Hobbies & Games > Hobbies & Games (Other) Good brain teasers: 6 of 12
Three men arrive at a hotel and ask for a room for the night. The clerk finds a room for them and tells them that it is $30. The three men each chip in $10 for their share of the room and pay the clerk. The clerk takes the money, gives them a key, then calls a bellboy over to take their bags up to the room. Later, the clerk ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: My finest moment in a role-playing game: 4 of 8
I wrote in a previous article that your most memorable moments in role-playing games are usually the results of your most spectacular failures. This came to mind when one of my players asked me to create a top 10 list of the best moments of our campaign that had just ended. Strangely, nine of the ten, were blunders, mishaps,... More..