Hiding in Plain Sight Weekly Link Round-Up

Denis and I were in the pool Thursday evening, wondering if the clouds moving in were going to produce any rain and just enjoying chatting and being in each other's company. We have several recently fledged hummingbirds exploring our back garden and chasing each other all over creation. Denis watched them zip around and around, and he pointed out an adult who'd taken a perch on an advantageous limb that gave him a clear view of any interlopers that might have the gall to fly up and sip from his feeder. Denis smiled and shook his head.

"You know, when I first came here, it took me quite a while before I could see where they'd flown off to. Now I think they're very easy to spot."

So much of the world around us-- especially the natural world-- is right in front of our noses. It's hiding in plain sight. All we have to do is to learn how to see it. When Denis and I were down in Bisbee, this little whiptail lizard in the photo busily rooted around in the leaves and twigs just a foot or two from my toes. He'd hidden between a couple of rocks and watched me for a while, and since I made no sign of having seen him, he thought his coloring and stripes were keeping him hidden from the human.  All you have to do is to know how to see. (Patience doesn't hurt either!)

Hmmm... I wonder if sight is on my mind because I just had my eyes tested and had to fork out the cash for three new pairs of glasses?  I hope I can find the links I've squirreled away for you... lemmee go look....

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

• Oscar Wilde's Clothes: the story of a writer's last shirt.
• In an economic downturn Spain is rediscovering its libraries.
• Gold Rush-era discards could fuel cell phones and televisions.
• An Israeli team of archaeologists say they've found King David's palace.
• Sunken World War II U-boats are turning into a bonanza for historians.
• Chocolate could save struggling bookstores.
• 61 tons of silver have been recovered off the coast of Ireland.
• An interesting interview with Stephen King, and another article about why he spends so much time crafting the opening lines of his books.

Living in the Digital World

• Clever hacks give Google Glass many unintended powers.
• SIM cards have finally been hacked, and it could affect millions of cell phones.
• Why the majority of newspaper paywalls will fail.
• I was more than happy to see that translated fiction continues to gain ground with global audiences.
• Kindle Singles is introducing an interview series that sounds intriguing.

I  ♥  Lists

• The 10 best underdogs in books. 
• The worst drivers by state.
• 7 horrifying ailments named after literary characters.

That's it for this week. Don't forget to stop by next weekend when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!