I seem to be fully recovered from that awful pinched nerve in my hip, which is wonderful news. Even better, we've been getting some good soaking rains here in the desert. (I'm imagining spring trips to the Desert Botanical Garden.)
A momentary kerfuffle occurred when Denis backed his scooter into a table and broke one of my Christmas decorations. The poor man behaved as though he was going to be sent straight to the electric chair, but after a quick glance, I could see that he was nowhere close to such a dire fate. One, he hadn't broken anything that couldn't be easily replaced, and two, I get much madder at myself when I break something than if someone else breaks it. I don't know if that reaction makes me weird or normal, but either way, I'm not going to worry about it. One word of warning: If you happen to break a mercury glass candleholder, be prepared for a sound like the world is coming to an end.
With not much going on, I thought I'd share the passing of an old friend. Let me share a photo--
I bought the clock radio you see above in September 1976 from the now defunct K-Mart on I-17 and Northern here in Phoenix. It served me faithfully for forty-six years until it curled up its toes on December 15. In fact, it was so faithful that I'd begun to think it was going to outlast me. Rest in Peace, Old Friend. They don't make 'em like you any more. They haven't for a long time.
Enjoy the links!
►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄
- What makes swear words so offensive? Scientists have found a clue.
- For a month, Carina Pereira started reading her books at the end, and she reports on how her experiment went.
- Maureen Johnson's Guide to Not Getting Murdered in an English Country Manor House.
- How publishers make old books new again.
- A fifth of American adults struggle to read. Why are we failing to teach them?
- On choosing our #MeToo heroes: journalists or survivors?
- Should Goodreads users be able to review books before they're published?
- This woman read 266 books this year. Here's how she did it.
- Barnes & Noble is opening 30 stores in 2023, leading a big real estate wave.
- In the Shadow Library (unlicensed eBook databases).
- How the humble tote bag became a humble brag.
►Book Banning & Censorship◄
- The North Texas school district that secretly removed LGBTQ+ books is now being investigated.
- The Huntsville (Texas) Public Library has been privatized after the removal of two book displays.
- Here are the 79 books that could be banned in St. Tammany Parish (Louisiana) public libraries.
- A Tennessee all-volunteer textbook panel says it's ill-equipped to manage library book appeals.
- Pennsylvania District Attorney: There is no evidence to file charges against the teacher who brought a "controversial" book to class.
- The Darien Connecticut school board looks to craft a policy on challenging materials-- something every school and library board in the country should be doing as quickly as possible.
- Lansing (Michigan) schools remove a social justice unit from high school English classes due to the complaints of one person.
- The Gunnison County (Colorado) library district receives more requests to ban or relocate books.
►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄
- What happened to the rare books brought aboard the Titanic?
- Aerial investigation reveals 168 previously unnoticed Nazca Lines in Peru.
- Art collector Cliff Schorer located a stolen $10 million Hendrick Avercamp painting with the help of an $18 throw pillow.
- A 2,000-year-old lost "kingdom" with ball courts and pyramids has been discovered in Guatemala.
- The coolest archaeological discoveries of 2022.
- Israeli archaeologists are excavating "Jesus's midwife's" tomb.
- According to a recent study, Attila the Hun raided Rome due to starvation, not bloodlust.
- Protective gold idols and "rejuvenating" amulets are being found in ancient Egyptian burials.
►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄
- Scientists have discovered that snakes have clitorises. More from Live Science.
- Two species that were previously extinct on the Galapagos Islands-- cactus finches and geckos-- have reappeared.
- New York has banned the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores.
- Famed mountain lion P-22, known as the "Hollywood Cat", has been euthanized at the San Diego Zoo. Why Los Angeles fell in love with P-22.
- Watch an astute border collie memorize a disc golf course after the first run-through.
- This female zebra shark opted for a "virgin birth" even though she shares a tank with healthy males. (I shall refrain from any commentary.)
- Mumbai is embracing the 100,000 flamingos that winter on its coast.
- Watch this poor traumatized baby monkey ride on a dog's back for comfort.
►The Wanderer◄
- "Warm banks" at U.K. libraries invite locals to get cozy.
- Inside the Nisga'a Nation's fight to get a 36-foot totem pole back from Scotland.
- A statue of Henrietta Lacks will replace the toppled statue of Robert E. Lee in Virginia.
- Just for fun: the miniature mouse village of your dreams.
- Inside Notre Dame's restoration as Paris keeps the Christmas spirit alive after the fire. (for FR)
- It would be nice to add this to my bucket list: You could soon ride in historic carriages from the Orient Express.
►Fascinating Folk◄
- Onna-Bugeisha, the female samurai warriors of feudal Japan.
- Mesopotamian priestess Enheduanna was history's first named author.
- Who was Victoria Zielinski?
- How Susan Jonusas' research shed new light on the "Bloody Bender" mystery.
- The women who mapped the universe and still couldn't get any respect.
- Twelve-year-old Madison Checketts designed a water bottle you can eat.
- Why does author Stephen Spotswood think of murder so much?
►More End-of-Year Lists◄
- These were the most borrowed books from New York City's libraries in 2022.
- Kirkus Reviews' Best Indie Books of the Year.
- The top ten library stories of 2022.
- CrimeReads: Best Debut Crime Novels of 2022.
- The ten most ordered foods in 2022 according to Grubhub.
- Kirkus Reviews' favorite book-to-screen adaptations of 2022.
- Barack Obama's favorite books of 2022.
►I ♥ Lists◄
- Five books featuring (possibly) murderous children.
- 2023 book-to-screen adaptations to get excited about.
- The most popular social media networks, 2003 to 2022.
- 21 of this winter's most anticipated mysteries and thrillers.
- Books about books: Non-fiction for bibliophiles.
- The 25 newest additions to the National Film Registry.
- Authors who write outstanding mystery series and stellar standalones.
- Five books to read when you're lonely.
- A survey of Hitchcock films not directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
- Eight mystery series featuring librarians as amateur detectives.
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.
Here's to a New Year filled with marvelous books to read!
Happy New Year, Cathy! I discovered your blog sometime last year and have been lurking regularly, loving all the links and your crime and mystery reviews. I've definitely picked up a few good reads and shows from you, most recently 'Canticle Creek' by Adrian Hyland and the TV series 'Sherwood'. I so appreciate the light you shine on so many fascinating topics; I never know which link to click on first, they're always so enticing! One of my bookish goals for 2023 is to be more active in various online communities, so here I am, sending you a warm wave from Australia. Wishing you and Denis a happy, healthy and enjoyable year with many adventures and good reads!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love it when lurkers pop up out of the bushes. The very same to you and yours, Emma! Thank you for making your presence known!
DeletePoor Denis! I'm sure he must have felt terrible about it! I'm glad that all was well that ended well. Your clock story made me think of the alarm clocks my husband and I have. We bought them shortly after we were married (almost 39 years ago), and they still work just fine. And for years we had an RCA TV that we also bought when we married, and lasted for, I think 36 years. As you say, they don't make 'em like that anymore... Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm headed to Guatemala, and then Peru...
ReplyDeleteDon't forget your passport (and camera)!
DeleteSo sorry about Denis' incident. However, these things do happen. Ha! I think I mentioned in a blog post that my two snowmen cookie jars got broken in our move. We'll see if I can find replacements for the 2023 holiday season. I hope so. Glad you guys are getting some moisture! As you say, future trips to the botanical garden may show the results of it now. Have a good weekend, Cathy!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did read about the deceased snowmen. Good luck in finding replacements! Happy weekend (and New Year), Kay!
DeleteEnjoy your weekend, Cathy! :D
ReplyDeleteYou, too, Lark! :-)
DeleteSorry about your old friend Zenith. I have an alarm clock from 1983 that's still going strong. They sure don't make them like they used to. Now things are meant to last a short while and then be thrown away! Hope your weekend is a good one!
ReplyDeleteBuilt-in obsolescence, I think they call it. I hope your weekend is a good one, too!
DeleteI always spend WAY too much time reviewing the links on your Friday roundup! And I was surprised to learn about the kerfuffle at the Huntsville public library which is only about 60 miles from where I live. Well, more saddened than surprised, I guess. Some of my neighbors are extremely reactionary and would probably love it if all libraries closed or at least featured only books with ideas that they agree with.
ReplyDeleteI'm always saddened when reminded of the fact of just how many people follow wherever their knee jerks lead them.
DeleteMerci bien!! :)
ReplyDeleteDe rien! :-)
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