My sister passes along some neat links… they’re a little on the “girly side”, so consider yourself warned.

Nancy Drew Review: Growing up as transplanted New Jersey kids in 1980s Taiwan, my sister and I shared what books we checked out from the library out of necessity. She checked out the Nancy Drews, and I got the Hardy Boys. When we finished, we’d swap books before returning them, so we’re both familiar with the series. Anyway, Keith and Lulu from FredFlare.com get together to review the series from the start in an engaging diary format. For some reason I find it really funny. Why is ND so caring and sympathetic, yet so distant? Does ND have commitment issues? And can she eat or what?

As an additional treat, each review also links to an item for sale that’s related to the book in some way. For example, in review of “The Mystery of the Old Clock”, you can also buy a nifty clock! I admire the cross sell :-)

Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi: Em told me to tivo this show from the Cartoon Network because it was fun. I finally got around to watching it, and it sort of grew on me. The animation is contemporary American with Japanese manga-like influences. It makes sense because it’s an American cartoon based on the two stars of Japanese mega group Puffy (“Puffy Ami Yumi” here in the States). I’d never heard of them before, but Em has been into them for a while and they’re pretty neat. They’ve been slowly gaining an American foothold.

The cartoon itself doesn’t quite grab me yet, but it’s bizarre enough that I think I’ll keep watching. It seems to have more staying power than, say, “Drawn Together”. And the real-life Ami and Yumi are rockers, cute, and full of energy, and I can’t say no to that.