Today is the first day of a short but busy week here at the University of Nebraska Press. Tomorrow (Tuesday) evening is a launch party for our book Louise Pound: Scholar, Athlete, Feminist Pioneer, which is (as the title implies) a biography of linguist and notable Nebraskan Louise Pound. The book launch party, which happens to coincide with Louise Pound’s birthday, is at the Antlers Center, at the corner of Sheridan Boulevard and South Street here in Lincoln, from 5 to 7 p.m. Bonus: Some of Pound’s athletic equipment – including skates, golf clubs and tennis racquets – will be on display at the party, which is free and open to the public.

Thursday is the UNP’s inaugural pie-baking contest. This is something I’m looking forward to, as the employees of the UNP are a talented bunch in the departments of both creativity and culinary skills. Look for photographs and recipes on the blog late this week or early next.

And Friday is a holiday – sort of. It’s the day we state employees have off, since July 4 is on a Saturday this year. Bit o' Nebraska trivia: It’s also the day the City of Lincoln is putting on its fireworks display (so as not to interfere with Larry the Cable Guy’s appearance at Memorial Stadium on July 4).

In other news, the Inkwell Bookstore blog has posted images of numerous books featuring Michael Jackson on the cover. Some are pretty cool-looking in terms of cover design, some a pretty cool-looking in terms of content, and some are just plain strange. Also, today’s PW morning report mentions a Jackson bio that was already in the works is set to go to press tomorrow. Wow.