I spent the entire day working from home yesterday because Sears said it would deliver my new washer and dryer “in the morning”. Apparently in Newfoundland “in the morning” means “around 2:30, b’y.” Then I had to wait for the guy to arrive to install and balance it, which I could have just done myself, but he said he’d be here at 8am this morning, which of course means 10am. So I am behind at work and offer you only a set of roundups for your daily browsing pleasure. Here’s some misc news.

• Israeli writers show more sense and compassion than Israel (much like American writers – minus Ray Bradbury and Orson Scott Card – show more sense than the US government) by calling for cease fire with Hamas
• Google launches new search engine for older folks (and Bush) – “The Google“
• Spanish bookstore closes in NYC
• Bizarre plot twists in the lives of real life authors (from Maud)
• RIP: Alootook Ipellie, Inuit author, dead at 56
• RIP: Anna Livia, feminist author, dead at 51
• British library in trouble
• A look at the NYT TPO bestseller list
• Seeking out the right title (from Ed)
• Pooh suits