Three events today.

Up at the Ballard branch of the SPL, Paul Bannick reads from his book The Owl and the Woodpecker: Encounters with North America's Most Iconic Birds. I question whether either of these birds are North America's most iconic birds—eagles, bluejays, and turkeys all come to mind—but owls fascinate the hell out of me, so there's that.

And up at the University Book Store, Adam Woog discusses his book about the history of the Ballard Locks. How do you even build locks, anyway? You can find out at this reading.

Finally, up at Third Place Book, Beth Whitman signs from Wanderlust & Lipstick : For Women Travelling to India. I don't doubt the importance of travel books for women, but I really wish this book didn't have the word "lipstick," in the title, as though makeup is completely necessary for women's survival as they travel the world. My distaste for "lipstick" in a title goes further back than Sarah Palin: lipstick in a title is always shorthand for 'women's issues.' Type "lipstick" into Amazon and you'll see what I mean. And while we're at it, I wouldn't mind seeing an end to knitting books with sex in the title: The Yarn Harlot, DomiKNITtrix, etc. etc. What's next? Stitch Whore: A Cum Dumpster's Guide to Proper Sewing?

Or it could just be that I am slowly turning into Andy Rooney.

The full readings calendar, including the next week or so, is here.