A Predator Passage Here We Come Weekly Link Round-Up

 

I'm writing this on Wednesday. Tomorrow, Denis and I have an outing planned for the Phoenix Zoo to check out their new Predator Passage exhibit. For a second, I thought we would have to cancel because I managed to catch a cold, but I'm recuperating so quickly that it shouldn't be a problem-- especially since the weather is supposed to be sunny with the temperature in the high 70s. It's going to be so nice to get out and do something non-medical!

Since I'm procrastinating (I can't get up the intestinal fortitude to completely reorganize my bedroom closet), I'll leave you with a photo of another person I'm very grateful for. This is Alex, the RN who comes to the house every Monday and Wednesday to change the bandages on my leg. He's a treasure.

Alex, cutting some of the bandaging to size.

I have some pumpkin spice muffins to take out of the oven, so enjoy the links!

►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

• From The Guardian: The US library system, once the best in the world, faces death by a thousand cuts.
• Did Shakespeare perform on these newly discovered floorboards?
• The Tattered Cover Bookstore filed for bankruptcy. How it plans to survive.
  
• Netflix plans to open brick-and-mortar stores in 2025.
• Why does reading to ambient sound make reading better?
• How do cold case investigators identify a body when DNA testing is not possible?
• The dawn of the bathroom.
• When a novelist carries on what another novelist started.

 

►Book Banning & Censorship◄

• Sitka (Alaska) High students introduced resolutions in support of mental health, men's volleyball-- and strong opposition to book bans.
• Inside the knock-down, drag-out fight over the soul of a Pennsylvania school district.
• What does school without librarians mean for students?
• A surge of book removal requests is turning Nebraska libraries into cultural battlegrounds.
• Wisconsin Democrats in the state legislature have proposed a state law to help limit book bans.
• The "book-banning crusade" across the U.S.: What does it cost American taxpayers?
• These are the right-wing ideologues taking over school boards in Texas.
• Residents sound off at Quarryville (Pennsylvania) Library board meeting after Fulton Twp. supervisors cut gift over LGBTQ+ content.
• Pink gives away 2,000 banned books at Florida concerts.

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

• A 100-year-old shipwreck has been discovered 800 feet below Lake Superior.
• A metal detectorist searching a carrot field stumbled upon an ancient jewelry set. More from Live Science.
  
• Failed projects sat in a medieval workshop for 800 years. Photos show the site in France.
• A 4,000-year-old rock has become a "treasure map" for archaeologists.
• Lost rooms have suddenly appeared in an ancient Egyptian pyramid.
• See gorgeous ancient Egyptian "mummy portraits" from nearly two millennia ago.
• Runestones are revealing the secrets of a powerful queen in Viking-Age Denmark.
• An ancient New Year's scene from Egypt has been uncovered on the roof of a 2,200-year-old temple.

 

►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄

• The world's highest ranking penguin has been promoted to major general in the Norwegian King's Guard.
• Watch an outgoing dog make friends during train rides.
• See the new electric blue tarantula that was discovered in Thailand.
• Orcas are harassing and playing with baby porpoises in a deadly game that has lasted 60 years.
• Watch wolf pups try to take down a trail camera.
• Dog walker Tim Pink teaches his dogs to behave as a united pack while walking up to 20 dogs at a time.
• Watch a homeless hermit crab steal a shell from a robotic spy.
• How a lonely mountain lion led to the creation of the world's largest wildlife overpass.

 

►The Wanderer◄

• What we can learn from the oldest living trees.
• This is what AI thinks people from each of the 50 U.S. states look like.
• The Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City, South Dakota, was once the home of Alfred Hitchcock.
• Eleven Native American names for modern U.S. cities.
• Crime and the City: Monte Carlo.
• Why North Carolina is the most linguistically diverse U.S. state.
• A closed Swedish library left its door open. The community reacted with pure goodness.
• Bisbee, Arizona was just named a top place to visit in 2024. (No surprise to me!)

 

►Fascinating Folk◄

• How the Federal Writers' Project shaped a generation of authors.
• Why Shirley Jackson's horror speaks to our times.
• Giulia Tofana, the 17th-century Italian woman who poisoned 600 men using her unique makeup.
• A new discovery uncovers a forgotten Viking queen more celebrated than kings.
• Vanessa Lillie on writing a thriller that explores Native American issues and environmental justice.
• Dr. Gladys West: the "hidden figure" who pioneered GPS technology.
• A journey into the mind of Stephen King.
• LeVar Burton is still fighting for your right to read.

 

 

►Year-End "Best of" Book Lists◄

• Kirkus Reviews: Best Fiction Books of the Year.
• Kirkus Reviews: Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2023.
• Kirkus Reviews: Best Book Club Fiction.
• Kirkus Reviews: Best Historical Fiction.
• Kirkus Reviews: Best Fiction in Translation.
• BookPage: The Ten Best Books of 2023.
• BookPage: The Best Fiction.
• BookPage: The Best Non-Fiction of 2023.

 

 

►I ♥ Lists◄

• 25 facts about Love Actually for its 20th anniversary.
• Ten great 2023 mysteries you nay have missed.
• Sixteen highly acclaimed international bestsellers.
• The 100 greatest film books of all time.
• Thirteen old and obscure terms for the butt.
• Twelve mysteries and thrillers about going undercover.
• Ten books like Killers of the Flower Moon.
• The best bookish holiday sweaters.

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.

No matter how busy you may be, don't forget that quality Me Time curled up with a good book!