Friday, July 02, 2021

An Alfalfa Sort of Weekly Link Round-Up

 

 
It's one of those weeks where nothing much is happening. Denis's eye is almost completely healed, and we are so happy about that. I'm still going to doctors and therapists in an attempt to force my leg to behave-- which it is showing signs of doing finally. We're even talking about making plans to visit places like the Heard Museum in order to get out, to experience something interesting and fun, and to enjoy someone else's air conditioning.
 
I did have something happen that shocked me, and it involves Twitter, a social media platform that I don't do much with. I barely have my head above the parapet. In fact, if I were to try to describe my "Twitter presence," I think it would be that I am like the cowlick on Alfalfa's head sticking above the ramparts, but that is probably a bit obscure for most of you who don't have a clue about The Little Rascals.
 
Author William Shaw saw my tweet about my giveaway for The Trawlerman and brought it to the attention of his US followers. When I replied, I mentioned the fact that his latest books are difficult to find here and I wanted to share my wealth. When I woke up this morning, I was stunned to see that none other than Sara Paretsky had replied, saying that she also loved Shaw's books and found it very frustrating that they were so difficult to find here. Sara Paretsky! Just goes to show that you never know who's out there taking a look at what you throw out into the ether.

Enjoy the links!


►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄
 
►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄
 
►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄
  • Meet Stella, the dog who learned to "speak" in sentences using a homemade communication device.
  • One thousand dormice were given new homes.
  • An arthritic penguin at the St. Louis Zoo was given special shoes to help him walk.
  • A pair of curious pet otters are baffled by their human's popcorn popper as it pops popcorn.
  • This gray whale broke a migration record with its 16,700-mile journey.
  • Gray wolf pups have been seen in Colorado for the first time in eighty years.
  • This photographer discovered a pair of sleepy bees snoozing in the middle of a flower.
  • A mysterious ailment is blinding and killing birds in the Washington, DC area.
 
►The Happy Wanderer◄
►I ♥ Lists◄

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.

Enjoy your summer with a good book...or three or four!

17 comments:

  1. Wow! Sara Paretsky! As you say, Cathy, it just goes to show you that you never know who might be listening... So glad to hear Denis' eye's almost healed up, and that your leg's doing so well. I hope you'll get the chance to get out and about again soon. Now, me, I'm going to get lost in that lost library...

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  2. :) Glad to hear both you and Denis are on the mend. How exciting to have a comment from Sara Paretsky, which may help make Shaw's books easier to find here!

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  3. You are a Twitter Queen now!

    I am always amazed at who reads my posts. Sometimes, most of the time I feel as if I am talking to myself on Twitter. Every now and then someone will reply or retweet something to their huge following and I am always shocked.

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    1. I am rather inept in the ways of Twitter, so I'm always shocked if someone pays attention to something I've thrown out there.

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  4. Wow, Cathy...what an amazing experience to have to favorite authors comment on your Tweet that way. It's a reminder of how small the digital world has become and that you just never know who's out there at any given moment. Selfishly, though, I'm now hoping that Mr. Shaw finds a way to make his books easier for his US fans to get their hands on. I still find that unbelievable for such a good series of books.

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    1. So do I. We need to start up some sort of hashtag movement!

      One thing I do have to say is that I'm usually tweeting about one of my posts, and I do it after midnight. I've found that it's a very good time for UK authors to be "listening." I'm in bed by 3 AM and sometimes I'm stunned (in a good way) at what's happened while I've been asleep-- as with Paretsky.

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  5. So many good links. Can't wait to read about Stella, the communicating dog. See, we always knew how smart they are.

    Elvis is so smart in many ways, but he can't speak, even using technology. But he's pretty close.

    And thanks for all these interesting book links, including about Black lives and Juneteenth and much more. Have to get snacks and take notes.

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    1. I'm glad you're enjoying the links, Kathy.

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  6. My Twitter presence is non-existent, so I'm impressed!

    Glad both you and Denis are doing well this week. I do hope you are able to get out and do something you enjoy soon.

    I've got to check out "Why Bother to Organize Your Books". I don't think I could stand to not have mine organized.

    Hope you have a great 4th of July weekend!

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    1. There's no way on God's green earth that I could have unorganized books. No. Way.

      Happy 4th!

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  7. That's great about William Shaw and Sara Paretsky. Your blog is definitely an "in" place for writers.

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  8. I organize my books by topic, international shelves, Asia in one place, AFrican-Aerican history, cookbooks, hiking and maps (like I'm doing that!),
    women's history and issues and health, fiction, crime fiction, art books and an atlas. Lots of pottery and my Dad's old bookends with a nautical theme. But (ahem), there is a stack of mysteries in a container in front of my huge bookshelf that won't fit.

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