A Getting Ready Weekly Link Round-Up

 

Nothing much to report here. Another storm system swept through, leaving quite a bit of lovely rain and creating havoc at the Phoenix Open golf tournament. The old birdbath that the starlings loved to splash all the water out of broke, and Denis replaced it with a new one. The new one is deeper-- deep enough that the starlings are too chicken to get into for their thrice-daily flaps-- so it's working out quite well. Now all the birds that just want to drink can all slake their thirst. Since there are other birdbaths that the starlings can use, I call this one a win.

The purchases of bedding, mattresses, and a chair have been made, so we'll be ready for our houseguests next month. Do I wish that I hadn't taken minimalism so far? A tiny part of me says yes, but we did (and do) need the space, so I have to say that I'm unrepentant.

I'll leave you with a photo of The Poisoned Pen birthday book splurge that I'd saved up for. (I'm reading one of them now.) It goes without saying that my two favorite boxes to open contain books and yarn.

Enjoy the links!

►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

• Why do we cross our fingers for good luck?
• The comfort of cozies.
• Gen Z is "rediscovering" the public library.
• On book hoarding and the perilous paradox of clutter.
• A couple working as chauffeurs are accused of stealing $34 million from an Oregon publishing giant in exaggerated and bogus charges.
• Author J.D. Barker apologizes after being dropped by his agent after a "creepy" BookTok request.
• The accidental invention of bubble wrap. (I love bubble wrap...)
• Russia places best-selling novelist Boris Akunin on its wanted list.

 

►Book Banning & Censorship◄

• One community member has filed more than 600 book complaints in Dorchester School District 2 (South Carolina) despite knowing that only 170 are actually in the district.
• Citizens stand up for reading in Lee County (Florida) as 88,000 books are being reviewed.
• Book challenges may cost Polk County (Florida) public schools $25,000 this year.
• Colorado District 20 has proposed a library review board: "Parent choice is an important value for us."
• Idaho librarians contemplate leaving work-- and the state.
• The Utah House of Representatives has okayed a "sensitive materials" bill governing the removal of books from school libraries.
• Pressed by Moms for Liberty, a Florida school district adds clothing to illustrations in classic children's books. More about this ridiculous business in The New Republic.
  
• How African-American museums are navigating book bans.
• Cast as criminals, America's librarians rally to their own defense.
• A bill in Virginia would ban book bans by school boards.
• Educators and students get creative in evading book bans.
• Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says the library service can withhold funds if libraries don't follow age-appropriate guides.
• A candidate running for Missouri Secretary of State promises to burn books.

 

 

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

• A "treasure hunter" damaged a 1,000-year-old historical site in Utah.
• Archaeologists unearthed rare 14th-century armor near a castle in Switzerland.
• "Incredibly rare" 2nd-century Roman armor has been pieced together like an "ancient jigsaw puzzle" in the UK.
• For Sale: A mouse-infested Roman helmet that's stumping historians.
• A hoard of Bronze Age jewelry discovered in Poland was part of an ancient water burial ritual. More from Smithsonian Magazine.
  
• A 5,000-year-old food-scorched clay pot reveals that even Stone Age people burned their porridge.
• 90,000-year-old human footprints found on a Moroccan beach are some of the oldest and best preserved in the world.
• Denmark's oldest runes are inscribed on an ancient knife.

 

►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄

• Fifty years under the Endangered Species Act.
• Ten fun facts about butterflies.
• Giraffes are notoriously hard to track, but new technology is helping scientists protect the beloved species.
• Should endangered turtles have legal rights?
• These ants can diagnose and treat their comrades' infected wounds.
• Meet "Hercules," the largest male funnel-web spider ever found.
• How Highland cows are restoring Culloden Battlefield's historic bog.
• "This is unlikely to be an isolated event": The first polar bear death from bird flu spells trouble for the species.

 

►The Wanderer◄

• Here are fifteen places in the U.S. that people say are the prettiest.
• How a medieval murder map helped solve a 700-year-old London cold case.
• Switchgrass: an old grass gets a new use.
• This camera is taking a 1,000-year-long exposure photo of Tucson's desert landscape.
• A controversial Egyptian pyramid renovation is likely to be rolled back.
• Crime and the City: Chennai, India.

 

►Fascinating Folk◄

• Jackie Mitchell, the woman who (maybe) struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

 

►I ♥ Lists◄

• The 20 best, worst, and strangest Hercule Poirot portrayals of all-time, ranked.
• Mysteries and thrillers set in the Pacific Northwest.
• 14 thrillers set in Egypt to satisfy your craving for adventure and intrigue.
• The best quilting cozy mysteries to bundle up with this winter.
• The most anticipated cozy mysteries of 2024.
• 9 unforgettable breakup letters from history.
• 100 must-read new books by Black authors.
• The literary film and TV you need to stream in February.

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!