What do puffballs, dead man's fingers, fairy rings, soft drinks, destroying angels, powdery mildews, ringworm, corn smut, Beano, stink horns, morels, truffles, dandruff, beer, shiitakes, chestnut trees, bread, stone-washed jeans, and Roqueffort cheese all have in common? They all involve a fungus! Fungi are everywhere and affect us everyday. We eat and enjoy some. Others will kill us if eaten. Some fungi cause diseases. Some cure diseases. Many plants cannot live without fungi. Some plants cannot live because of them. Fungi have been recognized since antiquity, yet to most people they are little understood and somewhat mysterious. Neither plants nor animals, the fungi are considered to be a seperate kingdom of organisms. This presentation will explain what fungi are, survey their diversity, discuss their importance in ecosystems, and review how they impact our lives.