Round Up

R.I.P. Dick King-Smith-his book was the inspiration for the movie Babe.

Interesting book-The World Made Flesh-Literary Tatoos from Bookworms Worldwide (Harper Collins) by Eve Talmade and Justin Taylor.

Keith Olbermann-you will be so missed.

Just in case you were wondering-the 2011 Meteor Shower schedule.

The top 10 talking animals in literature. I'm so glad to see Toad listed.

What book was a best seller on your date of birth?

Look at all of these lovely tartan-themed books.

Book wagon for sale on eBay.

If the top 10 talking animals in literature didn't excite you, what about something a bit more hirsute-the 10 best literary beards in literature? Hey, what about Santa. His beard is fairly awesome. He's a literary figure and you know, he's also a real-life person as well.

I would love to visit these ice hotels-all of them.

I love finding these interesting architectural and geographic factoids. The buildings in the Carl Sandburg Village, located in Chicago, Illinois, are named after authors.

Why not combine your vacation with doing some good deeds-Global Action Atlas.

Very nice article on author/illustrator Jan Brett. I so envy people that are talented in such a way that they are able to do what they love and do it from the comfortable confines of their home.

One of my favorite catalogs is the King Arthur Flour Catalog. It's just filled with wonderful gadgets and really great recipes. They have a blog. A mouth-watering blog.

Lots of interesting geographical factoids about the Northwest Angle. More about the Angle here and here.

That's all for now.

"Chance favors only the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur

Round Up

I just have a few things this week. I have been taken over by some sort of plague. I swear I don't know what monstrous germ has attacked me, but it just won't leave me. It's like some invading army that won't leave. What is it? Age or are these germs uber!!!!

I have to read the new Annie Proulx (pronounced PROO) book Bird Cloud (Simon & Schuster). Must, must read.

Gorgeous Harlem Hospital WPA Murals.

Love timelines and this food timeline is really well done.

List of words unique to New England.

Want to go to Africa with Jada and Will? Charity: Water

I find it a bit sad that there is only one company in the United States that just manufactures bells, the Bevin Brothers. Love reading company histories. And who knew that East Hampton, Connecticut was such a center for tintinabulation. I have a call bell at home that I have had since I was a kid. I was a very sickly child and the bell came in handy to let someone know I needed something when I was too breathless to call out. I am going to check and see if it was made by the Bevin Brothers. I hope so.

Saint Paul, Minnesota has a wonderful public art project: Poems or a City Sidewalk.

Enjoy the rest of the week and the long weekend.



"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Round Up

Just a few items for my first 2011 entry.

R.I.P. Teena Marie-Incredible voice on Lady T. She was a huge part of my youth. M. and I used to cruise around listening to her music singing along at the top of our lungs, and when the occasion arose-dancing out (in those days) little behinds off.

R.I.P. Dr. Billy Taylor-jazz legend.

Very interesting site/exhibition on the History of Vaccines by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

I am falling in love with everything Wisconsin these days-the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center.

Explanation of airport identifier codes.

Oh my, embroidered Wonder Bread.

I haven't read Keith Richards' book Life (Hachette Audio) yet. I think I am going to forego reading it and listen to the audio version voice partly by Johnny Depp. I don't think I have to explain anything more. Of course, to have Johnny read it to me in family room would be even better, but who doesn't have that fantasy.

Are you looking for something to do in your spare time? Has the winter doldrums got you down? Perhaps volunteering for the Transcribe Bentham project will cheer you. Here is the site.

I'm thinking of so many uses for magnetic putty.

Watch people buy books at the Book Depository (WARNING: HIGHLY ADDICTIVE)

In these difficult economic times (and for some of us it has always been difficult) one is always looking for ways to "squeeze the buffalo and make him cry." I have been a huge fan of Paperback Swap over the years and using this service has saved me tons of money; plus it is fun. Here are a few more money savers:
Swap DVD
Swap.com
Swap Baby Goods
Cities on the Cheap
Timebanks

Any and everything that you ever wanted to know about the sugar maple is researched at the Proctor Maple Research Center.

I'm a huge fan of t-shirts and I have a ridiculous amount, but I am always on the lookout for more. I've found oodles at Talk Back Tees.

Love these electronic glossaries. My new fave-Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms. (I'm so happy it teaches us all how to pronounce these sometimes difficult words).

And then there is the Internet Slang Translator. Once again hours and hours of fun.

Book of interest: Let’s Bring Back: An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By (Chronicle) by Lesley M.M. Blume. This looks whimsical and evocative. If the name Lesley M.M. Blume sounds familiar Ms. Blume is the also the author of the delightful children's book Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters (Yearling/Random House Books for Young Readers) and Tennyson (Yearling/Random House Books for Young Readers).

Have a good week.

"January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,A frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow." - Edgar Fawcett