Blingo!

Blingo, as some of you know, is a Google-powered search engine that also lets you win prizes. And if you win a prize, so does the person who referred you. The fantabulous Zarhooie won a $5 Amazon gift certificate this weekend, which meant that I won one too! Yay!

You can join Blingo by clicking here.

Rudolph Spruengli, R.I.P.

The man behind Lindt's expansion into the US has passed away. It's easy to dismiss Lindt in light of other companies like Vosges, but they really raised the bar for chocolate in this country.

Also, for anyone who has ignored Lindt for years, they've done some amazing stuff recently, coming out with bars filled with things like creme brulée (even with bits of burnt sugar!) and pears that are delectable.

Ken Jennings's Tuesday Trivia

Wow. I've never had a week in which I knew all seven answers off the top of my head. Probably the easiest question 7 yet.

Tuesday Links

1. Japan has chocolate and strawberry-covered Cheetos!

2. Yet another wonderful Sarah Beth Durst fairy-tale-with-commentary: Snow White and Rose Red (which I don't consider as obscure as she does, but I love the commentary).

3. February 2 is Free Pretzel Day (at Auntie Anne's, that is)!

4. Re-Animator 4 is a go! With Bill Macy! I expect it to be way funnier than Wild Hogs.

5. Mechanical Squids and Elephants in France!

6. AnthologyBuilder is essentially a roll-your-own anthology-printing service, but unlike POD, it seems to have money rolling up to the authors, and some decent folks represented (Tobias Buckell, eugie, Jim Hines).

7. The new Gnarls Barkley song has leaked!

8. GW has killed of Black Industries. That sucks. No Talisman for you. Or me.

9. A new cop show starring Enrico Colantoni? I'm there. And it has the crazy preacher from Ginger Snaps Back (and Craig's abusive dad from Degrassi: TNG).

10. Finally, don't forget to pay a daily visit to Yendiopolis, where we're looking for new factories, better roads, and more residents.

Hee!

Anyone who has read Joe Abercrombie's nifty The Blade Itself should check out Sunday's Unshelved.

Santana!

Holy shit! We pulled it off without giving up Pelfrey or F-Mart!

Mind you, I'm still devastated at the idea of losing Gomez, who will make Twins fans forget about Hunter within about a year, and Mulvey and Humber both have tons of potential. But keeping our best outfield prospect and not giving up Mulvey, Church, or any of the other names thrown out there is pretty damned good.

(And yes, I know this depends on the contract extension working out.)