Something new I want to try, as a round up of my week around the web, things I don’t want to post about individually but want to share with you, including some highlights from my Shared Items. Let’s see how long I can keep this up. Or if anyone is interested.
First up is something that I hope everyone is aware of by now since it’s been a topic of conversation around the internet for at least a month. Beginning February 10th, a new law will go into effect which requires ALL products for children under the age of 12 to be tested for lead. I think some might not think this is a big deal, but if you buy homemade products, buy used from resalers, consignment stores or thrift stores, or buy from local sources, Etsy, etc, this is going to affect you. Mommy Needs a Cocktail has the best post on this that I’ve read so far. Go read it here, and you might also find yourself on the receiving end of a bonus (she’s put her products on sale to move them out before the February 10th deadline. Then, consider writing a letter to your congressmen and women letting them know how you feel about the broad language of this law. Here’s another by jcaroline that I had in my Shared Items this week.
In the Kitchen:
You all know that allrecipes.com is one of my favorite places to get recipes as I often post my version here, that I’ve gotten from there. This week, allrecipes revealed a new and improved website that includes some new ways of printing recipes (which I love) and, yay! a subscription service that allows you to modify the recipes and then save them to your recipe box or print them with the changes. I LOVE this, and yes I did join, because I modify every recipe and now I can modify and save it all in one place. Even if you’re not interested in their subscription service, you should check them out if you haven’t. It’s a great resource for tried and true recipes with comments from users about suggested changes and modifications (which is another reason it’s nice to be able to modify the recipe yourself–usually I print the recipe and then have to run back and read the comments multiple times to remember the changes to make).
After some discussion with my friends Maria and Jennifer at a night out last weekend, I’ve decided to try making friendship bread. I’m only on day 4, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
I thought of my blog readers when I saw this blog, which is new to me, because I know some of you are gluten free. It looks amazing and I hope you’ll check it out. Karina’s Kitchen: a gluten-free blog
Have an Obamatini
Politics:
It’s no secret I’m a Democrat, and I haven’t always been a George Bush fan, but I appreciated this slideshow video from the two photographers who’ve spent the last 8 years photographing George Bush. I also thought this letter from the Bush twins to the Obama daughters, with this last paragraph, was very poignant.
The twins turned serious at the end, recalling how the public image of their own father got distorted over the years.
“He is our father, not the sketch in the paper or part of a skit on TV,” they wrote.
As for the Obama girls’ dad, they added, “Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is.”
Surely you’ve seen this by now, but for a good laugh, go check out this short video clip of someone talking about the “Obamas fisting” (ahahaha, oops)
And one more time because I love it: the Obamas first dance as a presidential couple.
For Readers:
Agent Rachelle Gardner has a post about her experience with the Kindle.
Jan of Dear Author gives her thoughts on the Sony Reader.
Agent Lucienne Diver did a roundup of all the releases her clients have coming in 2009. This is just one post, check her blog for the whole of them.
Shannon Stacey has a great post up on Romancing the Blog talking about some of the different gadgets out there!
What kind of books would you like to see on the shelves? Agent Jennifer Jackson wants to know.
For Authors:
AAR weighs in about the petition to RWA circulating
Agent Kristen Nelson has a fantastic series going on query letters from the past (that have led her to sign the author).
Here’s a great post on what not to have on your website: (I would include that you shouldn’t have a picture of your cleavage or other inappropriate pictures)
Paperback Writer had a suggestion for using wordle to find overused words, or also to get title ideas for that hard-to-title book!
Thinking of targeting Dorchester? Editor Leah Hultenschmidt has a post up about what she’s looking for!
The editors of Red Sage keep a blog that’s always a great resource for writerly information. I don’t always agree with some of what they say or recommend, but I’m always amazed by their perception and in-depth posts. They talked POV this week.
From my Shared Items (click on the link in the sidebar to browse through all my Google Reader Shared Items):
Pioneer Woman rocks. This week were at least four new recipes including Ranch Chicken, Fluffy New Potatoes and Cajun Meatloaf. Yum!
Jen wants to talk about masturbation in m/m books
Create custom themes for Firefox with Personas
Get the most out of Netflix
This made me laugh out loud. (not safe for work or children)
Favorite image of the week.
This was hard to choose, because there was so much to love in photos this week, but I thought this one summed it all up the best. Via the Huffington Post
So, if you made it this far, what do you think of the Friday Confessional? Want to see it again next Friday?
Thanks for the heads up on the AAR blog. I hadn’t seen that yet.
WOW! Great post with incredible links. Thanks!
Yes!
I found some posts/articles I hadn’t seen.
Yes.
I like the Friday confessional. Lots of things on which to spend time procrastinating on work….
Since you mentioned the Kindle and other e-devices, I’d love to ask a question about Samhain books. Is there a schedule or specific timeline for Samhain books to be released for the Kindle? Are *all* books at some point available for Kindle, or only ones that are “proven sellers” on, say, My Bookstore and More first?
I’m also curious about the availability of Samhain books at fictionwise. I prefer to buy some books for my iphone at fictionwise because of their rewards program, but apparently Samhain books on fictionwise are only availabe in secure mobi/lit format. I’m kind of on a book-buying diet until my credit at fictionwise is gone, so it’s a bummer.
I know i’m late to the party but I missed all of the inauguration balls because I was flying that day and I haven’t had time to look up video. That first dance video made me tear up. sighs…
Thanks for posting it.
This was fun!! Of course, now I need to read the sites I just opened….
Love the confessional! Yes, please repeat on Fridays!
I think it rocks. Even if you and I do talk about alot of it during the course of the week so I know many of these, it’s an awesome feature that I might steal from you for my own blog.
tee hee
I love the Friday Confessional. Yes, I want to see it again. Jan packed full of fun stuff. Thanks.
I like it! It reminds me of some of the posts over at Literary Escapism where she points out various things on the Web… and those are my favorite posts over there so far!
Oh I like it–these link roundups from different people are great, IMO. Thank you!
Yes! I would love this as a regular feature!
I especially liked the gadget review. Me likey gadgets.
I like it! and Thanks to for some links I’ve been wanting to find. Happy weekend!
I liked it. It showcased many things I didn’t know, but am now interested in knowing more about. Thanks.
Resale stores won’t have to test their stuff. However, they can get seriously fined if it turns out they happened to sell anything with too much lead in it.
Love the new Friday Confessional. Favorite things are the link to Amish bread & the book publicity blog post about effective websites.
Hi Angie, I like this Friday Confessional and it gave me a lot of info that I would never have come across. I would love to see it added to your blog regularly.