Rat Island Can Be Yours (or Mine, If You'll Lend Me a Few Hundred Thousand Dollars)!!!!

(Map borrowed from one of my favorite websites, Ephemeral New York.)

This is my dream. I'm at a cocktail party somewhere in New York. The conversation turns to the subject of vacation homes. Everyone else has a fabulous holiday pad. Do you have a second home? someone asks me. Oh, it's really just a little cottage, I reply. On my private island a few miles outside of the city. Maybe you've heard of it? It's called RAT ISLAND.

Rat Island is a two and a half acre chunk of rock in the middle of Long Island Sound. (Just north of NYC.) And I want it. It's going up for auction soon, and though it's estimated to be worth over $425,000, it may end up going for a song.

According to a NY Times article:

Much of [Rat Island's] history is lost and shrouded in folklore; the name is said to relate to prisoners, called rats, escaping from Hart Island, swimming with cardboard boxes over their heads to look like bobbing trash, but it is not clear if that is true. Legend also holds that the island was used as a so-called pest house in the 19th century to quarantine people infected with yellow fever, but Bronx and City Island historians have said that was unlikely because the city already had a quarantine hospital on Hart Island, now known as the site of the city’s potters field.

Rat Island, said to have served as an artists and writers colony, has supported at least one cottage; the remnants of a stone foundation still sit on a peak. Within its perimeter on Thursday was a lone rubber glove and a single green-and-gray Aldo men’s size 42 deck shoe with socks scrunched inside. Whether they had been discarded there or washed ashore was not entirely clear.

It sounds so lovely!!!

Verbal Pyrotechnics

They call it the BEST TEEN LITERATURE MAGAZINE ON THE PLANET, and I'm certainly not going to argue! I love the Verbal Pyrotechnics blog and magazine. They're both filled with awesome. Including an interview with me! (Subtle, right?)

The Murder Club

On the third Thursday of every month, a group of crime-solving savants from around the world gathers in Philadelphia to solve forgotten homicides. For over twenty years, the organization has been known as the Vidocq Society, and its members include forensic pathologists, police detectives, psychologists, and a forensic artist whose specialty is bringing skulls back to "life."

According to Wikipedia:

Vidocq will only consider cases that meet certain requirements: they must be unsolved deaths more than two years old, the victims cannot have been involved in criminal activity . . . and the case must be formally presented to [the Society] by the appropriate law enforcement agency. The Society does not charge for its services, and pays for the travel expenses of the law enforcement agents who come to present cases.

It sounds like something cooked up by a writer of paperback thrillers, doesn't it? But the Vidocq Society is real, and you need some serious skills if you want to join. I wonder if my superior sense of scent and my undying love for Sherlock Holmes would qualify me for membership. Doubt it.

The Quickest Way to a Librarian's Heart

If you want to win over some bookish lads and ladies, I suggest making an anonymous gift to their favorite book-lending institutions. Perhaps a magnificent and mysterious paper sculpture?

That's what's been happening in Scotland. For the past year, remarkable works of art (such as those above) that have been appearing in libraries all over the country. The artist has not been identified, which is even more remarkable given the quality of his/her art!

Read more here.

I Really Think People Should Wear Pants When They Visit an Underground Park

That's right, lady. (Above.) I'm talking to you.

There are two great things about today's post. First, there's an enormous, abandoned, underground trolley station beneath Delancey Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. That knowledge alone could make me happy for the rest of the day. But it gets even BETTER.

There are people (hopefully very well-connected people) who want to turn the space into an underground park. Click here to see a slide-show of the proposed subterranean playground.

Pretty cool. But rather optimistic, I think. The illustrations show how the park might look on sunny days. What happens during New York's dark, dismal winters, when the sun can disappear for weeks on end? What's going to be lurking in the shadows underneath Delancey Street. Woman-eating rats? Or worse?

The Rookie

Remember Tavi, the teenage fashion maven? I wrote about her last year, and it seems she's been quite busy over the past twelve months. Her influential fashion blog, Style Rookie, is still going strong. And she's just started her own teen Internet magazine. It's called Rookie, and it's pretty darn amazing.

I may not belong to Tavi's target audience, but she's one of my personal heroes. She's proof of what can be accomplished with brains, confidence, and a whole lotta moxie. As you probably know by now, the world is filled with cynics and naysayers. It doesn't matter how old you are--if you're going to do something fabulous, you'll have to put on a pair of funky dark sunglasses and pretend you don't see them.

Thanks to JAY for the heads-up!

Be Your Own Bloodhound

(Above: Love the picture of the "Old Sleuth." Very creepy.)

I have an amazing nose. (Don't go Googling pictures of me. That's not what I'm talking about.) My sense of scent is incredibly powerful. How powerful? I can walk into an empty room and instantly know if a friend or acquaintance has recently been there. It's a gift that's helped me solve countless petty crimes over the years.

But today I feel a little less special. (This happens to me quite often, I'm afraid.) A recent study by scientists at Berkeley has shown that many of my fellow humans possess similar abilities. You, too, have an amazing nose. But if you want to put it to work, you'll have to risk looking a little silly.

Get down on your hands and knees. Sniff the ground. You may find you're able to track a scent all the way across a grassy field. Yes, the opportunities to use your newly-discovered superpower may be few and far between. However, according to one Yale neuroscientist, "if we go back on our four legs and get down on the ground, we may be able do things we had no idea we could do."

Interesting. Very interesting.

Bank St. Irregular Salutes . . .

Brooke Collins of Juneau Alaska. You gotta be tough to punch a bear.

I've heard punching sharks works, too.

Terrizing Evil Rat of Spring

Don't understand the title of this post? Sigh. I do wish people would read more poetry. Click here for an explanation.

Edward The Hamster. BBC Radio4 from Craig Wilkinson on Vimeo.

Back to the Bizarre

Let's kick off a new season of blogging with a tasteful link. There. Got it out of my system. Ha.

Now for something a little more . . . dangerous. You know what's always bugged me? (To be honest, the list of things that bug me is extremely long. But let's start with a single pet peeve for now. I'll get to the rest later.) I can't stand to see an otherwise admirable female superhero or woman warrior dressed in skimpy clothes. Not that I have anything against spandex. It just doesn't offer much protection from swords, bullets, nunchaku, or medieval maces. Why oh why do most artists insist on sending their heroines into battle with so little armor? (Okay, the answer is kinda obvious. Let's move on.)

So I was thrilled to discover the website Women Fighters in Reasonable Armor. As you might imagine, the site is devoted to art that depicts women warriors in clothing that warriors MIGHT ACTUALLY WEAR. Love it. (There's a wee bit of bad language on the site. And a wee bit of blood. So don't click through if those things offend you.)

The site reminded me of the wonderful image of Kiki Strike at the top of this post. The artist sent it to me a while back, and a Facebook friend recently rediscovered it. The guy responsible for this masterpiece is not only unbelievably talented, he also gave Kiki PERFECTLY REASONABLE ARMOR. And I shall be forever grateful.

Soooo Close!

Hey everyone. I'm almost finished with my latest project, which means I'll be back to blogging full speed after Labor Day! (I promise--it has been a VERY productive summer!)

In the meantime, check out this "dark faerie tale" I wrote for the fabulous blog Dark Faerie Tales! I'm quite proud of it.

Also, a few more reviews. . .

The Eternal Ones

and All You Desire (More to come!)

And There's More!

(Art by AJ Hateley. Ms. Hateley, I'm your biggest fan.)


My second guest post at the Penguin blog!


A review and MORE from RT Book Reviews!

All You Desire is OUT Today!!!

(Above: Yes, that's me.)

I'm going to be guest blogging on the Penguin blog this week. Check out the first installment!

And if you'd like to know even MORE about me. (And you know you do! Ha.) Have a look at my interview with the wonderful Nocturne Romance Reads!

Plus, a couple more reviews. (I swear, I'm not just linking to the good ones.)

Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Lost in Believing Blog

All You Desire is Out This Week!

Hi there! Another quick update on All You Desire, which has been chosen as the latest "Summer Beach Read" by Seventeen Magazine!

And here are links to a couple of reviews:

The Book Mermaid

I Like These Books

My Bookish Fairy Tale

And readers in Mexico should visit The Itzel Library for news about Eternos giveaways and a virtual tour of All You Desire!

There will be more to come this week! (And if there are any bloggers out there who'd like me to link to their reviews, please send me a note!)

Bavaria's Mysterious Underground Chambers

From Der Spiegel (thx, anonymous):

There are more than 700 curious tunnel networks in Bavaria, but their purpose remains a mystery. Were they built as graves for the souls of the dead, as ritual spaces or as hideaways from marauding bandits? Archeologists are now exploring the subterranean vaults to unravel their secrets.

Wow. Just WOW. Check out the article and pictures here!

Let's Chat

Wow. I've been gone a while, right? I figured I should check in just to let you know that I haven't been sitting on my rump watching Bigfoot shows on television. (OK, I have watched a couple.)

So here's what's going on . . . First of all, The Eternal Ones has a fabulous new website. Gorgeous, isn't it? As you know, the first book in the series is out in paperback right now. And the sequel, All You Desire, will be in stores AUGUST 9th! I'm really proud of both books, but I do have a soft spot for the sequel. And I've been getting some wonderful feedback. So have a read and let me know what you think!

I've also been hard at work on my new, super-secret project. (Which I love, love, love!) It should be finished by the end of August. Then I will resume blogging with gusto. I've been keeping track of all the bizarre things that are happening around the world. And let's just say we're going to have a lot to discuss!

I also have some Kiki Strike news. The Darkness Dwellers is finished. And it is, in my humble opinion, the best of the bunch. Unfortunately, it won't be in stores until late next year. That's right. Fall 2012. It wasn't my decision, but there is a good reason for the delay. (My publisher is planning something special for all three books.) But I know a lot of you have been waiting A VERY LONG TIME for Book #3.

So I'm going to make you a promise right here and now. You will be hearing from Ananka, Kiki, and the Irregulars soon. There's a certain adventure that they're eager to share. And they refuse to wait another year.

Ghoulish, but AWESOME

You never know when you might stumble across a crime scene. Fortunately, I recently came across a handy guide to blood-splatter analysis that I intend to keep in my wallet at all times.

Ordinarily, I would embed the image in a post, but it might be a little ghoulish for some of you. (It's not really that gross, but I know some people are sensitive.) But if you're planning a career in forensic nursing, police work, or crime, you should definitely click HERE!

So You Want to Be a Writer

Have a look at author Molly Backes's wonderful response to the mother of a teenage girl who wants to be a writer. I can identify with every point.

The Eternal Ones is Out in Paperback!

The very best thing about paperbacks? They're easy to read in the bathtub!

Next month . . . All You Desire! (There was a little confusion surrounding the pub date, but it's still in August!)

Two Suspects in My Ghost Hunt

Okay, so I've taken your advice, and I've done a little research on the history of my building. So far, I have two potential ghosts:

1. Claudius, who died in my house in 1893.
2. Blanche, who died here in 1915.

It's also quite possible that Claudius's wife, Ann, may have died here as well.

But I haven't uncovered any evidence that either of my suspects died violently. They were both quite old when they passed away. But who knows? Maybe one of them wasn't ready to go!

I'm going to keep searching. I'll report back to you soon!

Book News!

This is pretty amazing. I recently did an interview with the online book magazine, Requiem de Libros. What a cool site! Take a look, and be sure to check out my interview on pages 15-17. Thanks to everyone at Requiem de Libros!

And Pamela, one of my Facebook friends, has started an Eternos-themed blog! Have a look at the amazing pendant you get if you order the book in Mexico. (I borrowed the pic from Pamela's blog.) Thanks, Pamela!

Last but not least, you may notice that my blogging has become a bit . . . irregular. (HA) I'm hard at work on a new project, and I'm so unbelievably inspired that it's hard to pull myself away sometimes! But I am still here, and the project will be finished soon, so don't go away!

I'm also going to be working on something very SPECIAL for Kiki Strike fans. Something handy. Something dangerous (in the right way, of course). You're going to like it. And that's all I'm going to say!!!

Interview with the Itzel Library

All I needed was one look at the Itzel Library blog to know that I'd found some kindred spirits. (You'll see what I mean.) So when I was invited to chat with the fabulous, mysterious YEL, I seized the opportunity.

Here's my interview, in both Spanish and English! Thanks, Yel!

Hello, Mexico!

A couple of days ago, I found out that The Eternal Ones is VERY popular in Mexico. I love it when one of my books receives a warm welcome in another country, but Mexico happens to be one of my favorite places on earth. (Not to mention the country where I saw THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER.) So this time, I'm absolutely thrilled.

Maybe the book's popularity has something to do with the awesome Spanish title . . . Eternos. Who wouldn't want to read a book called Eternos? Or maybe it has something to do with the mysterious videos and newspaper ads that have popped up around the country . . .

Whatever the case, I'm ecstatic. And I hope Eterno's Mexican readers stop by Bank St. Irregular to say hello! And all of you Spanish speakers out there should definitely pay a visit to the Eternos Facebook page. I'm going to be giving away signed copies of the book soon!

Ghost Update

The weather was terrible in New York yesterday, so I spent the afternoon indoors watching a marathon of the super-cheesy, but highly-entertaining show Hauntings. (Yes, I know. I should be doing more with my spare time.)

Anyway, the show reminded me that I haven't shared my latest ghostly experience with you.

If you've been reading my blogs, you already know that there's a ghost in my house. I haven't actually seen her (as previous occupants have), but I know she's here.

About a month ago, I was cooking dinner. Garlic was involved. I stepped out of the kitchen for a moment to set the table in the nearby dining room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something come flying through the kitchen door. Then I felt it hit me--right on the butt. I looked down, and there was a garlic clove lying on the floor of the dining room.

There was no one else around. The rest of the garlic was still sitting on the counter where I'd left it. In order to whack me on the butt, the clove in question had somehow managed to pick itself up, turn a corner, and fly approximately twenty feet.

I was surprised, but I wasn't frightened. It actually seemed pretty funny at the time. I'd like to know more about my ghost, but I don't want to tick her off. Ouija boards seem rather silly and impersonal. Any suggestions for making contact?

How to Stay Creative

One of the questions I'm often asked is: What's the best way to overcome writer's block. As I recently said in an interview (which you can check out here), I don't believe in writer's block. (When was the last time you heard a doctor say she had "doctor's block?") However, I'll admit that there are times when I feel rather uninspired.

This afternoon, I found the video posted below. It offers "29 Ways to Stay Creative." The tips may seem unbelievably simple, but I know from experience that they work.

I'm particularly fond of #23: READ A (RANDOM) PAGE FROM THE DICTIONARY. Why? Allow me to explain. In my opinion, the Internet has one very serious downside. (No, I'm not talking about people who review books that they couldn't POSSIBLY have read unless they somehow managed to hack into my computer. And no, I don't think anyone has hacked my computer.)

The problem with the Internet is that it gives us exactly what we want. Lots of sites are designed to remember our past purchases and spit out a list of books, music, and products that we're likely to enjoy. So it's easy to get stuck in a rut--reading the same kind of books, listening to the same kind of music, buying the same stuff that we've bought in the past.

This isn't the way to be (or stay) creative. More often than not, inspiration comes from new, different, and surprising experiences. Go to the library and find a section you've never explored. Listen for strange new songs as you walk down the street. Visit a part of town that you've never seen before. Flip through the dictionary and find an unfamiliar word. Do something completely random.

You never know what's going to provide the inspiration you're seeking. And that's the whole point. You never know. But it probably won't be something you do every day. Otherwise, you'd be inspired already.

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Manhattan's Secret Magic Library

CH Presents: The Conjuring Arts Research Center from Cool Hunting on Vimeo.

Hidden somewhere on the island of Manhattan is a library with over 12,000 books on the subject of magic. If you can find it, you're welcome to visit.

This is just the sort of place Ananka Fishbein would stumble across. Don't you think? On a personal note, I'd love to take a peek at the book Valuable Secrets. What kind of secrets, I wonder? And how valuable are they?

Congratulations to Our Winners!

(Above: Art by Ray Ceasar)

Finalists 3 & 4 are the winners! But I would have been thrilled if All You Desire had ended up with any of these covers. So you're all winners to me! (Isn't that sweet?)

Another talented artist has asked me to post her entry, so have a look below!

I'm going to be working on a secret project until June 10th, so I won't be able to blog for the next week. But please meet me here on June 11th, and we'll take another trip into the bizarre.

Here Are the 5 Finalists & 1 Honorable Mention!

Once again, I was absolutely blown away by your talent and creativity. You guys all deserve to be finalists. And if I had more than 2 ARCs to give away, I would send one to every person who entered. There was not a single entry that wasn't new, different, and eye-catching.

Alas, we can only have five finalists. Choosing them was one of the most difficult tasks I've ever been given. If your cover is not one of the finalists, and you would like me to post it on the blog, just send me a note. Once the blog readers choose two winners, I will be happy to share other entries!

So here's how this works. Look for the poll on the upper right side of this blog, and choose the cover you like best. Feel free to vote for yourself, but please . . . ONE VOTE PER PERSON. And as always, only regular blog readers are allowed to vote. Please do not ask your grandma to vote for you. (Unless she's a reader of the blog!)

You have twenty-four hours to place your vote. VOTING WILL END AT 9:00 AM (NY TIME), JUNE 4th!

The two covers with the most votes will each win an ARC of All You Desire! Good luck to all the finalists!!!

Finalist #1

Why was it chosen? I think it goes without saying. Simply amazing. The detail, the artistry, the colors. I'm awestruck.

Finalist #2

Why was it chosen? I love the simplicity of this cover. The silhouettes communicate everything . . . true love, destiny, and danger. Brilliant.

Finalist #3

Why was it chosen? It's gorgeous for starters, and I love the 1920s-style silhouettes. Two touches I really appreciated . . . the figure spying on the couple and the Snake Goddess on the Greek vase. Very cool.

Finalist #4

Why was it chosen? The colors are arresting, and the design is both simple and lovely. The symbol in the center is another symbol of eternity. (As you recall, I didn't insist that entries use an ouroboros.) I would definitely pick up this book if I saw it in a bookstore.

Finalist #5

Why was it chosen? It seems simple at first glance, but there's so much hidden in this image. Haven's ouroboros armlet. The snakes slithering out of the heart. And I think it really captures how it feels to fall in love, when you're not quite sure if you're floating or sinking. It makes me happy just looking at this cover.

Honorable Mention:

Why did this entry receive an honorable mention? It would have been a finalist, perhaps even a winner. But I'm afraid it's for the wrong book! However, that doesn't make this entry any less brilliant. I would have been thrilled if this had been the cover of The Eternal Ones!

Today is the Day!

Submit your covers by 11:59 PM (New York time) tonight! Good luck to all!

(That girl on the right looks pretty tough, huh? I bet her monkey won.)

Deadline Extension!

Hi Guys! So I forgot that today is Memorial Day here in the USA. I have a feeling quite a few of you are out of town having something called . . . fun. (How could you!?! Ha.) So I'm extending the deadline for the cover contest to 11:59PM (New York time), THURSDAY JUNE 2ND!

We have quite a few FABULOUS entries so far. I'm looking forward to seeing YOURS!

I Wish I'd Found This BEFORE Mother's Day!

Instructions for making Zombie Truffles! My mother (Big K) simply adores brains.

You Guys are GOOD

The cover contest entries I've received so far are VERY impressive! I can't tell you how fabulous it is to have such talented friends/readers/correspondents.

Just to clear a few things up:

1. Let's stick to one entry per person this time. (If you send one, then come up with an idea you like even better, just let me know, and I'll make sure the right cover is entered in the contest.)

2. Feel free to use photos or art from other places, as long as they're used in a new and interesting way. But you might want to avoid celebrity photos.

3. Classic movie posters are also a good source of inspiration. (I love the one above. So simple. So arresting. Even though it's not my favorite Hitchcock film. I think the one below--a new poster for an old film--is also amazing.)

4. Have fun!

Happy Birthday!

(Above: Art by Matt Sartain)

Katy!!!

I think this will be my last birthday post for a while. So I hope you ALL have fabulous birthdays!!!!

Here's Your Contest!!!!

(Above: New covers of classic novels by Ruben Toledo.)

Lots of great ideas! Thanks, guys. But as I was reading the suggestions, I happened to stumble upon this article in the New York Times about "Book Covers That Got Away." As many of you know, we've gone through a few different covers for The Eternal Ones series. I love the cover of All You Desire, but who knows? Maybe there's an even BETTER cover idea that's stuck somewhere in a blog reader's brain!

So, here's the contest. Design an alternate cover for All You Desire. You don't have to draw it. You can use a photo, scrap art, typography, collage, needlepoint . . . just about anything. (The NYT article linked to above shows a range of different possibilities.) The cover must convey the following:

1. That it's a dark, twisted romance
2. That it's for a teen and adult audience
3. That it's part of a series

(I almost required that you make use of the ouroboros. But I'm going to leave that decision up to you.)

Entries will be judged on their creativity and how well they fit the book!


All entries must be sent to kikistrike@gmail.com by 11:59 PM, MAY 31ST!

Contest Ideas?

(Above: It may not fit the subject, but I love this poster.)

Okay, now's your chance to show the world (and by the world, I mean this blog's readers) how brilliant you are. I have two ARCs of All You Desire to give away, and I need a contest idea. So send me your suggestions!

Like The Eternal Ones, All You Desire is intended for readers 13+. But everyone is welcome to enter the contest. If you win, and you don't feel you're ready for a teen book, I will come up with another fabulous prize!

Happy Birthday!

(Above: Art by Hans Peter Feldmann.)

Isabel and Katherine!!!! Sorry this is late! The day the post was scheduled, Blogger went down. Hope you had a great birthday!

KIKIPEDIA!

Blog reader (and genius) Ju L. recently started an online Kiki Strike encyclopedia! This is a fabulous idea for many, many reasons . . .

1. With The Darkness Dwellers coming out soon, a "Kikipedia" will help refresh readers' memories. (What IS the Fu-Tsang Gang? How DO you defeat man-eating rats? Who WAS Angus McSwegan?)

2. It will keep me honest.

3. It sounds like a blast.

Want a look? Go here. Want to contribute? EVEN BETTER! All you have to do is write up a profile of your favorite character, villain, or place.

You'll have to sign up for wikia, but it's safe and takes about 5 seconds. (I did it myself!) Just make sure you have permission from the authorities!

I HAVE COPIES OF ALL YOU DESIRE!

(Above: The cover without the new blurb.)

I just received a box of All You Desire ARCs (Advance Reading Copies)! I gotta say--they look GORGEOUS!

The best part? A blurb from the brilliant, charming, impossibly wonderful author Andrea Cremer! There wasn't enough room for the full blurb on the cover, so my publisher trimmed it a bit, but I've posted the entire blurb below.

By turns beautiful and chilling, Kirsten Miller conjures a mesmerizing world of unsettling pasts, undying loves, and unthinkable futures. This book is a dream, wonderful and frightening, from which I didn’t want to wake.

There are few things in life that are more thrilling than praise from colleagues you admire. I am eagerly awaiting the release of Andrea's second book, Wolfsbane, this fall. (And I bet all of you who read Nightshade are counting the days as well!)

I'm going to give away a few All You Desire ARCs soon. (Perhaps as contest prizes?) But if you're one of the people to whom I've already promised a copy, please don't hesitate to remind me!

Where Are My Posts!

Blogger appears to have deleted all of my posts from yesterday. I'll see if they're somehow magically recovered. If not, I'll post them again later today. (And figure out some way to get my revenge.)

In the meantime, CHECK OUT MY INTERVIEW at the fabulous Writer, Writer Pants on Fire Blog! There's a shout-out to all my wonderful blog readers, of course. (Thanks for the interview, Mindy!)

More News from the Animal Kingdom

The horror! Apparently there's an insect in Sweden that masquerades as a bee and shoots larvae into people's eyes! This article gives you the very disgusting scoop.

Can you identify Dimples, the Rochester mystery beast? Kind of cute.

Soon, you may be able to talk with dolphins using an underwater translation device! What secrets will they share with mankind?

Why didn't anyone ever teach ME how to mummify a chicken? (The man being interviewed sounds like a pretty amazing guy.)

Fit for a Very Mad Hatter

Hey Everybody! Sorry for going AWOL for the past week. I had family visiting from out of town. But now it's back to business!

Let's start with this ADORABLE tea set. (Okay, it's a coffee set. But I'm a big fan of tea parties. If I could live on cucumber finger sandwiches and scones with clotted cream, I would.) However I'm not sure if my appetite could survive a date with this "provocative' porcelain. Though it would be rather entertaining to bring it out for guests. Too bad it's out of stock.

You're My Kind of Kid

The greatest picture of all time was taken by William West/AFP/Getty Images.

Would You Eat It?

It's kind of pretty, don't you think? And it certainly qualifies as a luxury--a kilo costs around $1600. Ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians adored the earthy flavor. But would you eat it? (I'd certainly give it a try.)

A Few Things You Might Want to Know

(Above: Art by Jenny Holzer.)

1. Teenagers who read for pleasure are more likely to have good jobs as adults. Does this seem a bit obvious to you, too?

2. It recently rained worms in Scotland.

3. Technology may be wiring teens to have better brains. So that's why you're all so special. Ha.

4. My favorite word is sprezzatura.

5. Knitters are strange and wonderful people.

This is Why Boring Classes are Dangerous

The doctor in this video is super-cool. How did she know how to fix the problem? She reminds me of DeeDee, but with a great accent. (I'm an American. It's an accent to me.)

More here.