Targetful:

Forgetful + Target = the act of going to Target and buying everything but the one item you originally needed in the first place.

Amazon, in a never-ending quest to bring authors more crack information, launched access to BookScan numbers. The LA Times has an article on it here. In a related note, Darcy and I would like to thank the City of Angels for its apparent love of Geek Girl.

Google, in a never-ending quest to bring everyone more crack information, brings us the Google Books Ngram Viewer. Not impressed? Just watch. Let’s search on Geek Girl:

It doesn’t look like it, but let me assure you, it’s the time suck of the day. Have fun.

From the blog Should be Reading comes Teaser Tuesday. What fun! I’ve seen this one a round for a while and finally decided to give it a try.

The rules:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Judging by his car, which is about a third of the size of Nana Dottie’s and looks like it only drives one speed–fast–Papa Harry must’ve been very fun. Momma’s never really talked about him, and whenever I ask any questions, she simply kisses my head, says that sometimes grown-ups do very silly things, and offers to make me a double-decker grilled cheese sandwich.

~ p. 51, Ruby’s Slippers, by Tricia Rayburn

This week around the web, in case you missed it:

Over at The Epic Rat, which is an epic name for a blog, comes this epic review of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. I think this may actually be one of my favorite reviews of all time. I’m still grinning about it.

And speaking of epic, this is a pretty epic visual poem, presented by Radiolab and NPR:

All you Nerd Fighters have probably seen this one already, but I have to post because it’s, you know, epic. John Green on Looking for Alaska at My High School:

Around the web this week, in case you missed it:

Great blog post by literary agent Nathan Bransford on the television show Lost and the High Narrative Price of WTF. And if that title doesn’t tempt you, I don’t know what will. Good message for writers–good message for all of us.

In Nerd News: Remember Windows 3.1? Or maybe you’ve never even seen Windows 3.1 (!). Why not take a stroll down virtual memory lane with the Windows 3.1 online emulator. Prepare yourself for a visual shock, and while you’re there, you can even play Mine Sweeper. (Go on, click through. You know you want to.)

And what post would be complete without a YouTube video. From the fine, fine people who brought us Do You Wanna Date My Avator comes this new music video:

Around the web this week, in case you missed it:

Have you ever wondered what the sparkly Edward Cullen did before he met his Bella Swan? Of course you have. And have you wondered, in particular, what he was doing during the 1980s? Certainly, as he is +100 years old, the dude was around, right?

Over at QUERYPOLITAN, they may have stumbled upon the answer. In fact, I think their proof is indisputable. Have a read (and for those of you of a certain age, I apologize in advance for the ear worm that has plagued me ever since reading this entry).

And from SlushPile Hell, which is the literary equivalent of Glamour’s “Fashion Don’ts,” we have the results of the Twitter contest: THE WORST SELF-HELP BOOK…EVER. Love self-help books? Love to hate them? Either way, you’ll love this post.

Geek Girl Darcy’s niece and nephews have been visiting her. Besides being all around groovy – they’re gamer kids. Just about every day they fire up the X Box and play Call of Duty, Halo3, or one of the sports games.

The realism in today’s video games is amazing but it makes me long for a simpler time …

FOGG (Friends of Geek Girls) Marianne and Judy have a “new” review site included in their already huge romance review site. It’s Aurora and to get the word out about the site, they’re hosting a very cool (and easy to enter) contest: 

We’re having an Aurora Reviews Awareness Promotion – win an Aurora Reviews tote bag and a $25 Amazon/BN.com GC!!

Did you know that The Long and the Short of it now does reviews for Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction?  Did you know we interview a new published author every week?  Did you know we’re actively seeking short (1000 word) juvenile fiction short stories?   

We don’t want you to miss another review or interview or author chat, so we’re holding a contest from now through July 31, 2010 to raise awareness of this new site.  What’s the prize?

A huge Aurora Reviews canvas tote bag “stuffed” with your choice of either a $25 Amazon or BN.com gift certificate!

It’s easy to enter!  Get on entry for each of the following:

• Follow our reviews blog – http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/
• Follow our interviews/story blog – http://aurorareviewsarchives.blogspot.com/
• Join Aurora Reviews Yahoo group & post a message – http://tinyurl.com/36hupob
• Like us on Facebook -  http://tinyurl.com/yj644or
• Tweet the contest info (and send us the link).
• Blog about the contest and send us the link.

How much easier can we make this for you?

Drawing will be held on August 1, 2010 and the winner notified via email (so make sure you have an email account associated with your entries!).

Questions?  Email us at lasreviews AT gmail DOT com

Marianne and Judy

http://www.longandshortreviews.com

So … what are you waiting for? A little something for everyone. Looking for something to read? Check out the reviews. Looking to break into print? I know they’re looking for story submissions.

At long last, the plot for our next book, as provided by my seven-year-old daughter. Here’s the premise:

A girl has four (!) boyfriends:

• Two strong ones (by which I think she means jocks/athletes)
• Two nerd ones (self-explanatory)

The title for this magnum opus?

Boy Trouble

Yes, I think that (almost) goes without saying.

But seriously, this thing is going to write itself. Write. Itself.

I love this: