A Mummy of a Weekly Link Round-Up

You know what one of the biggest winter draws in the Valley of the Sun is? Baseball's spring training. And can I ever see a difference in the traffic! On my way to The Poisoned Pen last Saturday, the streets were clogged with out-of-towners going well below the speed limit because (1) they didn't know where they were going, and/or (2) they were scared to death of driving in a big city. Oh well. They bring lots of money, and I can sympathize with anyone who wants to get away from their horrid winter weather to soak up our balmy temperatures and brilliant blue skies.

Another progress report!

Remember that afghan I've been working on? It's finished! Since Denis laid claim to it, I made him "model" it for us. Following in my mother's footsteps, I decided to knit an afghan that you can really wrap yourself up in. It's soft and lightweight and warm. In fact, I had to be careful how I draped the thing as I worked on it so I wouldn't overheat. Look at the size of it-- I may as well start stitching a bedspread for our king-sized bed next! The other photo shows the afghan neatly folded and a project that I finished in two evenings. No, I have no need of a warm scarf here in Phoenix, but I have many friends and relatives who live in cold country, and I made suggestions and have taken some requests for color combinations, length, etc. From the looks of things, I'll be needing those 72 skeins of yarn I ordered last week!

Oops. Put down the knitting needles and round up those links, Cathy! Head 'em up, move 'em out!

Books, Movies & Other Interesting Tidbits

• I agree with Game of Thrones' Kit Harrington about the internet abuse of George RR Martin.
• Social media can be dangerous: how one stupid tweet blew up a person's life.
• Facebook users can now pick someone to manage their account after they die. 
• The lost letters of the alphabet. 
• Amazon's Sunday delivery service is having an effect on the U.S. Postal Service.
• Barnes and Noble wants to know-- What's your book nerd score?
• Libraries are experiencing challenges with generating revenue from eBooks. 
• The TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy topped the ratings in the UK. I can't wait for it to get over here!
• Here's a guessing game for you: Edgar Allan Poe or Goth song lyrics? 
• Princeton University has been bequeathed a $300 million rare book library.
• Why To Kill a Mockingbird won't die.
• Whoda thunk it? The three most desirable jobs in Britain are author, librarian and academic!

Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones

• This historic Indian sword was beautifully crafted.
• 200 years later, archaeologists are exploring what lies beneath the Waterloo Battlefield. 
• Night hawkers are threatening Hadrian's Wall.
• A house Billy the Kid once used as a hideout is for sale. 
• Employees at George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, are always being asked how much of the building is original. They decided to use lasers to find out. 
• A rare 1763 Scots dictionary went up for sale on eBay.

Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett

• I wonder if I'll be knitting sweaters like this when I'm 109?
• Some scientists are working on reviving extinct species. (Shades of Jurassic Park!) As much as I love critters, I don't think I want a wooly mammoth trampling my petunias.

The Happy Wanderer

• Here's a guide to India's first city of books.
• When traveling, you might as well stay in the best library hotels.
• Scientists think there could be life on Jupiter's moon Europa.

I  ♥  Lists

• 10 signs you have low book self-esteem.
• 24 DIY bookends to adorn your shelves.
• 14 must-haves for the perfect booklovers' night in. 
• The opposite habits of famous writers. 
• A look at banned books through history.
• 55 photos that will satisfy any perfectionist. Several of them are amazing!
• Here's a comprehensive list of free eBook websites for your eReader. 
• 10 authors who take/took themselves much too seriously.
• 18 books every woman should read when she's 18.
• 28 reasons you should stay inside and read a book.
• 22 pets who have no intention of letting you read your book.

That's all for this week. Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

Have a wonderful weekend, and read something fabulous!