There have been no recent posts in this blog because the webmistress was tragically dragged from her computer by surgery, but hopefully the normal posting schedule will resume now!

Finished reading any books lately? Release them into the wild withBook Crossing, an amazing website that allows you to donate books to other keen-eyed readers and track their progress from person to person, and even read their reactions on the built in the blog. Although of course such systems are not foolproof, and you may never hear from your book again, this is a wonderful idea, and inspires me to keep my eyes peeled for books wherever I go. And of course drop of the odd one in places where I think people might like to find them.

As a self-confessed Nintendo addict, I am so excited by the E3 press conference – that time of year when we find out about all the best new releases for the next year! And this year’s lot has left me rather excited.

Wii Animal Crossing! If anyone isn’t familiar with Animal Crossing, it’s an adorable and addictive life simulator, which is… pretty hard to explain in all its sweetness. And of course it’s ability to consume hours of your life. But the new features for the Wii! The ability to send messages to people in other towns, and even people’s emails and phones! The fact that you can actually visit your friends, and communicate with them via this cool new voice feature… this is amazing for girls like me, Nintendo addicts who can’t wait to try this adorable new way of keeping in touch with fellow addicts when separated by real life!

And if that isn’t enough of an exciting new game, check out the new Wii Music!

I’ve been a fan of Nintendo for about 15 years now, and I am so excited that everything continues to be so innovative! Oh technology, how I love thee.

A brand new Joss Whedon musical production that’s two of my favourite “f” words: funny and free. Not only is it inventive, it’s a very enjoyable, high-quality internet production – possibly the first I’ve seen that was actually made by professionals. Clearly, not everyone’s a money grabber in the entertainment business.

Anyone who loves musicals, comic books or Joss’s previous work (or, hey, is just bored!) should definitely check it out.

A man dances his way around the world. Wonderful, feel-good YouTube, pure and simple.

Charity workers rescue final evasive cat from the London 2012 Olympic site.

After evading workers for months, he was finally caught, preventing him from facing death by starvation or crushing as his home was bulldozed for the new Olympic site.

Cute cat. Dedicated and generous rescue workers. Happy ending. Drinks all around, I say!

A small community in Eastern Japan have turned their town, Kamikatsu, into a Zero Waste Zone.

In short, this one town has achieved what people have been discussing for years, and eliminated waste from their lives. Everything is recycled, re-used or naturally returned to the earth.

Considering that every day we hear more about the damage humanity has on the planet, complete with heartbreaking tales of drowning polar bears, I think this is a wonderful example of the good people can achieve with a little bit of effort.

And, beyond the moralising, this story is incredibly inspiring, as one tiny area in rural Japan becomes, as the BBC put it, the “world leader” in one of the world’s most important issues. 

Will the rest of the world follow suit? I severely doubt it. But at least we can say that someone in the world has stopped tutting about pollution and instead made an effort to eliminate it.