Sorry for the delay! What is time?!
Things have been both agonizingly slow and like a runaway train. I told a friend yesterday that January was just bad vibes and brought nothing to the function. I’m sure many of you feel the same.
In other news, Hello Kitty Island Adventure came out on other platforms last week. It’s been a great “cozy wind down before bed” activity. It scratches that Animal Crossing itch slightly, but has more quests and focuses on building relationships with the villagers. I’m still searching for something that makes me feel the same way ACNH did when it first launched but I think that launch had something to do with the current state of the world. Perhaps an impossible ask.
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Special elections are slated for NY and FL. LGBTQIA+ activists and allies are invited to phonebank from home to recruit volunteers and to turn out Congressional special election voters. You can see open slots and sign up here!
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EC Spurlock sent this in and mentioned this in last week’s comments. You can get yourself some cozy fantasy just for writing to your representatives.
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From Tara (not site Tara):
I heard on a podcast that Project Gutenberg’s most popular download right now is the Simple Sabotage Field Manual which is a declassified WW2 manual on how normal citizens can frustrate their own government to the benefit of the United States. The theory as to why it’s popular now is that people are using it as inspiration for some civil disobedience. I don’t know if it’s true, but I love the premise. As a bonus, it was written by a man who called himself “Wild Bill.” I checked out PG, and sure enough, the book is number 1!
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Lastly, if you’re stuck on how to treat yourself or a loved one for Valentine’s Day, I know I’m eying this DIY pickle bouquet from Grillo’s. Whenever I go to Costco, I make sure to stock up with their quart bucket.
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Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
After I linked to LitHub’s bookmarks in last week’s comment, I realized I should also have linked to ILRC’s red card templates when I mentioned them. These can be double-side printed or cut and folded into business-size cards invoking Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights and what to do in case of ICE action (equally valid whether or not you’re a US citizen). Scroll down for links to the language of your choice:
https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
I just found out that Erin Reed has a directory of trans and NB scouts you can order your Girl Scout cookies from this year! (Safely and securely and with relative privacy and no contact between purchasers and the scouts. More details are in her post.)
This is such a lovely and easy way to support trans and nonbinary kids and give them some joy right now.
If you’d like to CTRL+F, these are the scouts who have still yet to reach their goals when I last checked: Koi, Ollie, Tanner, Avery, Isobel, Adrian, Steele, Lync, U, Blossom, Sage, & Wren, Ace, Dorian, Carmel, Lucas, Lexi, Josie, Elvie, Lucien, Will, Lucy, Wxy, Zadie, Ezri, Cedar, Anderson, Lily, Marc, Gabby, Stitch, Rapunzel, Jay, Hannah, Sam, Ruby, Simon, Rowan, Ariel, Felix, Parker, Elliot, Amelia, and Loki.
I know the Bitchery would love to help!
There is a fun article by Olivia Waite on (in? at?) NYTimes today, “Classic Romance Novels: A Starter Pack. These vintage books introduce the archetypes, settings and lavishly bonkers sensibility that are the hallmarks of great romance.” The article, in addition to some sharply funny plot descriptions, is beautifully presented with large cover photos, and lots of space between books. A good example, I think, of how electronic articles can shine.
This gift link might work.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/05/books/romance-books-love.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uk4.htes.ho_kRJyanVEx&smid=url-share
I got this as an ad in Instagram but I think I’m going to back it on Instagram
A Place for All My Books – a game where your an introvert and just go out and collect books. I mean – how perfect is that? It’s a game about TBRs! And I think the little book game pieces are adorable. 🙂
It’s only going through 2/9 and is fully funded already
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smirkanddagger/a-place-for-all-my-books
I have no affiliation to this but think it’s really cool
*Back it on Kickstarter
*facepalm*
@Layla: Thank you so much for this! I bought 16 boxes and am sharing the link far and wide. As a former Girl Scout, this really warmed my heart and I was overjoyed to buy from a Florida scout (my home state).
I recently bought GS cookies from a friend’s NB child. They’ll arrive on Monday.