I've been alerted by Captain Elizabeth at the Leaky Dinghy of a crucial issue that needs your vote. Greenpeace are naming a research whale and the list of names they have up includes gems such as Atticus (from To kill a mockingbird), Aiko (Japanese for "little love") and Aurora.

Please, go vote for Mister Splashy Pants. Save a whale today.

Tags: links ahoy

I read this story earlier today and haven't gotten over my disbelief yet. Putting aside the whole pandering to the societal fiction that ugly people are unworthy element, I can't believe the publisher 1) randomly changed Jane Austen's picture - isn't that kind of like an author photoshopping their photo? and 2) thinks that Jane Austen's image has anything to do with how her books sell. Are there really people who are out cruising the classics section who check the author's picture before purchasing?

Thanks to Bookshelves of Doom for the link!

Tags: links ahoy

John Green (author of the excellent Looking for Alaska - I should have had a best first book category and then he could have won it - and An abundance of Katherines, which sounds great but isn't out here yet) and his brother Hank have kindly provided me with an additional blog to watch when I want to procrastinate. That's right, watch. They are running a Brotherhood project where they take turns on weekdays to make a video blog for the other. The brothers are both very funny and there are few enough entries that it's easy to catch up now!

They are also very brave. I can just imagine what the world would think of a Sisterhood video blog that my sisters and I would make. After a round of madder than usual emails between the family my mother crossly commented You are all acting like Monkeys. No wonder you like bananas! (direct quote).

Tags: family, green, links ahoy

A recent comment from checkers65477 about how you can have a quiet day and then the mobile and landline ring at the same time made me remember I have not posted a link to the complaints choirs. The Helsinki one has been going around the circuit for a while, but I hadn't seen the others from cities such as St Petersburg until this week. It is very consoling to hear your own complaints echoed in other countries. And fun to think up complaints for a local choir!

Tags: grumble grumble, links ahoy

I'm a big fan of lego stories. I never realised until I read Luck in the Legos and then Checker's The king of Legottolia that there was so much cool lego out there. So I was not surprised to discover someone has created the The brick testament (I've only really looked at some of these Exodus stories but there's lots more. A scary amount more). Kathleen liked the Second Plague with all the cute frogs but I recommend you also read The Ten Commandments, especially if you are inclined to say "Yahweh Shmahweh", and let's face it, who isn't?

Continuing in Old Testament theme is Ten things I hate about commandments. It's the classic movie marketed as a teen romance - very funny!

Tags: links ahoy

I am jealous over all of the people writing about Thanksgiving holidays and yummy food. It sounds like a good tradition although perhaps not up there with Halloween due to the lack of jack-o-lanterns. Seeing as I don't have any large family functions to attend to (although the Christmas/silly people with December birthdays social rush is already starting) I thought I'd help entertain the rest of us who don't have Thanksgiving.

Bookshelves of Doom linked to cool map recently. It lets you see where you'll end up if you dig through the Earth from where you are. I end up in the Atlantic ocean. Unfortunately most of the planet is covered in water so I suspect lots of you will share this fate.

Ages ago blackholly linked to this very funny Black Books clip a while back but some of you may not have seen it. It speaks eloquently of the despair of rejection by a publisher. I am watching it in preparation for submitting journal articles next year.

For those of you who like cooking (don't worry I'm not looking at you rowana) our public TV channel has this great recipe database. You can search by combination of ingredients which I like because often I feel like something with, say, fish and capers, but lack further inspiration. The recipes are from a range of sources, from the many national and BBC cooking shows to recipes people end in to radio stations.

Hmm, running short of inspiration for fun links. If anyone wants to help proofread and edit a PhD thesis let me know. It's fun, really!

Tags: food, links ahoy, recipe

A quick entry to point out this sweet pumpkin carving simulator (stolen from the pumpkincarving community). I have never carved a pumpkin, and no doubt would not be particularly good at it due to my lack of craft ability, but have always loved the idea of making jack-o-lanterns. In fact the whole dressing up + pumpkin carving + cool decorations is enough to ensure any future holidays to the US will be around Halloween!

Tags: links ahoy

Today be Talk Like A Pirate Day! Nay I dasn't be havin' anythin' t' write o' substance, I jus' wanted t' use this beauteous website as a translater! Arrrr, what be ye waitin' fer ye scurvy dog, go check 't ou'! I be havin' t' go make me dinner but be aft in a couple o' days t' update wi' more book news.


PS: I know Calamity Jane t'ain't a sea dog but th' spirit seemed appropriate!

Tags: links ahoy

If you love books you need to see these lovely photos - but be wary of the inevitable drool!

I want the book!

Thanks to angorian for the link!

Tags: books, links ahoy

And this website lets you look at the top 100 names across the USA, Canada, Soctland, Ireland, England and Wales, and Sweden (for some reason) for different time periods. I am disapproving of all the babies called Emma.

Tags: links ahoy