There is so much going on in the travelverse right now, that this week’s Shiny Travel Objects is going to look a bit different than it normally does.  I have some housekeeping news for you, information about some great travel books and e-books, exciting contests/giveaways and more. Let’s dive in:

First, a little housekeeping:  You can now sign up to receive my blog posts via email.  Sign-up is located in the right sidebar. Just enter your email address, click “subscribe”, complete the sign-up process, and every time I publish a new article, it will automatically be emailed to you.  If you decide in the future that you don’t want to receive the posts any more, there is a link in each email on how to unsubscribe.  How often do I post? 3 times per week as a rule, possibly more if some earth-shattering travel news compels me.

In the “in case you missed it” category, last week’s Five Hundy By Midnight podcast (#257) had some very kind words to say about VegasSolo.com, my new website about solo travel to Las Vegas, as well as about SoloFriendly.com. (Commentary about my sites appears about halfway through the podcast.)  I was incredibly honored.  FYI, if you have an interest in  Las Vegas (and I know some of you do), this podcast is a must-listen.  It contains news and commentary about what’s happening in Las Vegas right now, and includes feedback and information from callers.  It’s both informational and entertaining. Give it a listen.

Speaking of Las Vegas, my good friends over at Why Go Las Vegas have a great giveaway going on right now:  Sign up to win a 2-night stay at the Paris Las Vegas.  Contest runs through May 31, 2010.  I have stayed at the Paris Las Vegas before, and it is très nice. I imagine it would be even nicer if you didn’t have to pay for it. What are you waiting for?  Go enter the contest, and maybe you’ll be winging your way to Vegas this year.

I have two more giveaways to report to you today: The first is from Hostelbookers, which is celebrating its position as the price leader in hostel bookings (8.7% cheaper than the competition, with no service charges or booking fees) by running a contest where you could win a Travelex cash passport loaded with £1,000 (1st prize), a Panasonic Lumix TZ8, or a 32gb iPod touch.   That’s not all. They stand by their price guarantee:  If you find the same deal cheaper anywhere else, they will now refund double the difference!  Nice.

NomadicChick is offering an opportunity to win Zoe  Zolbrod‘s new novel, Currency.  I’ve mentioned Zoe’s writing here before; she is a terrific writer.  Currency is set in Thailand, a country Zoe has visited and knows well. It tells the story of two lovers, Piv, a small-time Thai hustler, and Robin, a twenty-something backpacker from the United States. Desperate for money, the two get involved in exotic animal smuggling and find themselves in a precarious situation. Sounds like good summer reading to me.

Looking for some great travel tips?  TripBase has released a series of free Travel Secrets e-books based on the top travel secrets of hundreds of travel bloggers (including me).  The best part about this is that you get the free tips AND make a difference in the world at the same time. How? For every person who downloads an e-book, TripBase will make a $1 donation to Charity Water, an organization that provides clean drinking water to people in developing nations.  Download your Travel Secrets e-books now.

Speaking of e-books, The Art of Solo Travel: A Girl’s Guide by Stephanie Lee, brought to you by the Indie Travel Podcast, is being launched on June 1.  You can sign up now for a 20% discount.  Stephanie Lee has traveled to 20 countries and has written her advice for women who are interested in solo travel for themselves.

Finally, I am sad to report that I totally screwed up and didn’t make it to last weekend’s Spartan Race in Burlington after all.  I got distracted with some work at home and didn’t leave the house until after the first two heats had started. I knew I had underestimated how popular the event would be when I saw cars parked all along the sides of the road leading to the Catamount Family Center (which wasn’t even in sight yet).  I was SOL at finding a parking space.  I am really bummed about that.  But here are some great photos from the Burlington Free Press of the event and a word of advice: If you plan to attend one of the Spartan Races, get there early.

Photo credit: Shiny Penny Macro by stevendepolo.