Sunday, January 20, 2013

The More-Than-Slightly Distracted Weekly Link Round-Up



You've undoubtedly noticed that posts here on Kittling: Books have been few and far between this week-- especially after Tuesday. Never fear! This book blogger is just as fine as frog hair-- and so is Denis-- I just had a good reason for going AWOL: a very special house guest that deserved all my time and attention. Although he had to leave far too soon, I now have the time to put myself into high gear and attempt to resume normally scheduled programming.

Oops! Since I have mentioned regularly scheduled programming, I may as well warn you ahead of time. Next week I know there will be no link round-up. It's the week of my birthday/ our wedding anniversary, and we have some special celebrating planned throughout the week. Sounds like I'm turning into a party girl, doesn't it?

Click to get a good look at that fierce beady little eye!
Phoenix recently experienced the longest, fiercest cold snap it's had since 1988. Bird baths and fountains were frozen solid, and I had to cover up the Arabian jasmine in hopes that it wouldn't freeze.

While the cold spell lasted, our wind chimes sported an extra hummingbird. This male Anna's hummingbird staked out the feeders hanging in front of the family room window as his and his alone-- probably because they got the most sun and thawed out quickest. When not guzzling at one of them, he spent the rest of his time perched on the beak of one of the metal hummingbirds so he was right there to chase away any other hummer that had the temerity to want to drink from his private reserve of Casa Kittling's Finest Nectar!


Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

Digital Reading
  • Thanks to an app called Field Trip, you'll be able to read a story and take a trip at the same time.
  • Three articles on Biblio Tech, the first bookless library in Texas: One, Two, and Three.
  • The "gamification" of children's books.
  • Total Boox hopes to change how we buy eBooks.
  • Advertisers are beginning to pay more attention to digital magazines.
  • McGraw Hill starts marketing eBooks to libraries.
  • Digital reading is on the rise for children, but there's a qualifier.

I  ♥  Lists & Quizzes

Book Candy

New to My Google Reader

That's it for this week. Stop by in two weeks when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!

 

12 comments:

  1. The Milky Way stuff was interesting, appeals to my sci fi nerd persona.

    I liked The Da Vinci Code too. And also the Twilight series. There. I said it. We can practise ducking together. ;-)

    Thank you for these weekend 'link' posts, I do look forward to them. I don't read everything but enjoy browsing whatever interests me.

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    1. That's the whole purpose behind these posts, Cath-- just read what piques your interest and leave the rest. I'm glad you found some interesting links in this batch-- and I'm glad that you'll be ducking with me. If there are two of us, it might throw the horde's aim off kilter! ;-)

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  2. Cathy - It sounds like you had a wonderful visit, and that's great. And you know, we had quite a cold snap too last week. It felt delightful - like real weather! Thanks for the lovely 'photo and of course, for the links. I like the thought of that '26 books to read before they're adapted...' It sounds interesting!

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  3. It does sound like you've become a party girl! I love the photo of the hummingbird - I know he was a lot of fun to watch.

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    1. He was a blast to watch-- and he played a tune on the wind chimes, too! LOL

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  4. I used to think I'd never read anything by Dan Brown...and then I found out he's writing the Richard Castle novels. Lol!

    Do you have other hummingbird feeders, or was he hogging the only ones?

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    1. He was hogging three. We have eight hanging all over the back garden. Evidently the other hummers preferred slightly warmed nectar, too, hence all the fussing and squabbling. I particularly liked the small "tink!" that sounded each time he launched himself from the wind chime. :-)

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  5. We thawed out!!! Wow, it was sure cold on this end of the valley too. As fun as it was to wear all of my sweaters I am thrilled to have a return of the warmth!! (Who would have ever thought I would say that?!)

    I am so glad that you were partying and having fun and not sick with the flu or something. My birthday was a blast - I hope yours is as well...so I am wishing you birthday smiles and anniversary hugs in advance.

    Thanks for all you do to keep me connected to what's happening in the world around. I am looking forward to more anniversary photos! :)

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    1. The one photo that I'm hoping to take would be a good anniversary one as far as I'm concerned: a good close-up of a sandhill crane!

      I'm so glad to hear that your birthday was a blast. I consider my birthday a success on two counts, and it's not even here yet: my house guest and my husband. With those two, my life is very good indeed! :-)

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  6. Neat photo of the hummingbird, wow! I liked DaVinci Code too, big time. But I didnt read any of his others. Did you like any of his others? cheers
    http://www.thecuecard.com/

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    1. I've read four of his books: Angels and Demons, The DaVinci Code, Digital Fortress, and Deception Point. I actually preferred Angels and Demons to TDVC... and I couldn't stand Digital Fortress.

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