♥ … like these etymological origins of words related to insults. Did you know the word cretin is related to the word Christian? Now you do! Go forth and learn more.

♥ … and these authors’ handwritten outlines of great literary works. I am FASCINATED by J.K. Rowling’s handwritten spreadsheet for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

♥ … and this rundown of all of Cosmo Kramer’s jobs on Seinfeld. This is what the Internet is for, y’all!

♥ … and finally, I’m looking forward to this new site, The Roving Librarian:  A Library-themed Travel Blog. The home page states that the first post will be up and running in a month or two, so fingers crossed! I think I would like to contribute to it, as Sam and I have made a point of visiting a library in every new country we visit. Check out the “Library Photos” link above for photographic evidence.

♥ … like this collection of incredible, one-of-a-kind bindings for classic works. They’re all quite clever, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. I smiled the most at the cover for Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

♥ … like this list of banned baby names in New Zealand. I get why certain names, like Lucifer or 89 or Mafia No Fear, would be on the list. But what’s wrong with Honour and A.J.?

♥ … like this project re-imagining historical figures as they would look today. A modern-day Elizabeth I reminds me of SWINTON… which is really cool, actually. Screenwriters, get on that.

♥ … like this other art project of graphing color schemes of classic novels according to their color references. The artist is willing to take requests… might I suggest some Jane Austen?

Can you guess which book this is?

♥ … getting misty over this obituary of E. L. Konigsburg and these 10 life lessons from the book From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I loved almost everything Konigsburg wrote, and even as a kid reading From the Mixed-Up Files…, I said to myself, “THIS is what writing is.”

♥ … gasping out loud at this collection of lunch sandwich bags this dad (and graphic designer) has decorated for his kids since 2008. And at these amazing portraits drawn on maps. Art is so cool. Especially when you find it in unexpected places.

♥ … agreeing (or not) at this extensive ranking of 76 guest stars on “The Good Wife” TV show. My personal faves are Carrie Preston, Michael J. Fox, and Mamie Gummer. And Denis O’Hare and David Fonteno. Oh, and Linda Emond. Well, just watch the show and then we’ll talk some more.

♥ … chuckling my way through this Flavorwire gallery of 25 vintage photos of librarians being awesome, sent my way from another librarian friend and colleague. HiLARious. Especially the hairdo on slide #6, and the general future-forward awesomeness of #25. I was also quite impressed at the range of featured librarians (gender, age, and ethnicity), as well as the range of featured libraries (medical, legal, public, school, bookmobiles, and more!). Now THAT’S being awesome.

Male librarian at the turn of the century

Although he’s not a librarian, my husband Sam also looks pretty cute good cleaning the bookcases at my mother’s school library, ca. 2001.

♥ What causes “old book smell”? You know you want to know.

You can’t judge books by their covers, but the researchers think you can learn a lot from their odor.

♥ My husband sent this wind map of the United States my way. It is hypnotic.

♥ Jon Hamm teaching kids about sculpture? LOVE.

♥ A peek inside Dr. Seuss’s crazy hat collection? Yes, please!

♥ Did you know the first superhero in comics was a woman?! You go, Girl (with the X-Ray Eyes)! Also, here’s an interesting look at the history of Wonder Woman.

♥ Memes as mediums for cultural messages and archive collections? I don’t know how Grumpy Cat would feel about that…

Ο … this vintage Cosmo cover illustration that looks exactly like Amy Poehler. So Amy now joins Nicolas Cage in the illustrious (?) group of rumored celebrity vampires.

Ο … speaking of creepy, check out these series of photos from abandoned theme parks. There’s always something so majestically sad and soul-stirring about photos like these, especially from places that have been hit by natural disasters, like the theme park near Chernobyl or the New Orleans Six Flags destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Ο … and hitting another note of nostalgia, here’s an interesting analysis of the Japanese pop album Alyssa Milano made as a teenager. “[S]he flew in and recorded her parts in five days.” Yes, one can tell.

Ο … more vintage goodness with this essay on the “delightfully sinful history” of canoes. Puts a whole new spin on ”canoedling,” right?!

Ο … and finally, an intriguing perspective on ghostwriting from a former ghostwriter of the Sweet Valley High series. Yes, I read and loved that series, so this was another personal flashback moment for me!

Bill Cosby’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Wikipedia)

♥ A couple of weeks ago, I highlighted this article about Cosby sweaters. And now, Bill Cosby’s asking us to vote for our personal faves. Yes!

♥ Cosby sweaters are awesome, as we have already determined. So are these 18 obsolete words, which never should have gone out of style. Who knew that I have been a California widow, as well as married to man who’s both a snoutfair and a bookwright?! ;)

♥ This headline reads: “People Seem Really Excited About Tilda Swinton Sleeping in a Box at MoMA.” I am one of those people. SWINTON!

♥ And last, but not least, every day is a little bit better with a bit of Tina Fey in it. You’re welcome.

♥ This blog post about these mysterious beach huts along the Dubai beaches definitely intrigued me. I was born in Dubai, and my husband and I lived and worked in Abu Dhabi from 2008-2011. And y’all know how I love a good mystery…

♥ Which Wes Anderson character are you? Follow this infographic to find out! Turns out I’m a character from a West Anderson film I haven’t yet seen. Can you guess which one?

♥ Why this man thinks you should read Jane Austen (and everyone else). I concur, dear sir.

♥ You know those Proust-inspired questionnaires that James Lipton asks every guest on Inside the Actors Studio (whose title really should have an apostrophe)? They were all the rage in the late 1800s. And Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s droll, taciturn responses to this questionnaire are hilarious.

When asked “If not yourself, who would you be?” Doyle contributed an answer, crossed it out elaborately, then puckishly noted in a parenthetical: “Hope this is clear.”

Anyway, here are some things on the interwebs that have been making me smile, or laugh, or cry, or sometimes all three.

♥ Love, reunited. So simple. So silent. So moving.

♥ The American Government’s Advice for Yeti Hunters, 1959. You had me at “Yeti.”

♥ In this article, Bill Cosby dismisses the influence of all those Cosby sweaters, but the author makes some interesting observations about the deeper meaning stitched into all those crazy-quilt patterns.

♥ I am finding Mila Kunis simultaneously funny, smart, charming, and relatable. All of which is on display in this hilarious interview clip!

♥ This article — with charts! — raises an interesting question:  When box-office hits get nominated, do Oscar ratings go up?

♥ Poor Greer Garson and her oft-maligned record for longest Oscar acceptance speech (clocking in at reported times ranging from 5 1/2 – 7 mins), for her Best Actress win for 1942′s Mrs. Miniver. You can catch a clip of her speech by clicking here or watching below.

♥ For Oscar acceptance speeches that are memorable in a more positive way, there’s a list here of the top 20 of the last 20 years, and a list here featuring the top 12 in Oscar history. Any crossovers? (Hint:  Emma Thompson, I ♥ you.) Do you agree or disagree?

♥ This inside look at an Oscar voter’s ballot is brutally honest and quite illuminating.

♥ I suspect Argo will win Best Picture tomorrow night, and this essay muses what that triumph really reveals about Hollywood and the popular reception to this film. My fave line:

It reignited the notion that serious movies for adults could be popular again.

♥ And last, but not least, I had a big smile on my face going through this delightful menu of Oscar-themed foods. Spiced ceviche boats with tiger’s milk to celebrate Life of Pi? Wild boar hush puppies for Beasts of the Southern Wild? Genius!

Related articles:

• Oscars: Best since ’39? (guidingstarcinema-blog.com)
• Website reveals trends in Oscar acceptance speeches (popwatch.ew.com)
• The Do’s and Don’ts of the Oscar Acceptance Speech (fox4kc.com)
• Top 10 Interesting Facts About The Oscars (toptenz.net)
• What’s an Oscar Worth at the Box Office? (business.time.com)
• Learn Every Oscar Acceptance Speech Stat Imaginable (vulture.com)