Thunderbird doesn’t load remote images

Standard

And I don’t mind. Actually, I prefer it, even with email newsletters I’ve been receiving for a long time, like the Del Rey Internet Newsletter.

But here’s the funny thing: The latest issue of the DRIN has the announcement of all the Del Rey books that made PW’s Best of 2009 list (yeah, I know–I’ll stop talking about it eventually) but because I have Thunderbird set not to load those remote images, I saw the alt text instead. Here’s a screen cap.

Last Night in Twisted River

If you click on the image, you’ll see a larger version. Essentially, there are three novels listed there. the alt text for Daryl Gregory’s The Devil’s Alphabet is “The Devil’s Alphabet.” The alt text for China Mieville’s The City & The City is “A Prayer for Owen Meaney” (!). And right beside that, where the cover for Child of Fire should have been, it read “Last Night in Twisted River.” (!)

Now, I’d be happy to have John Irving’s Amazon.com sales ranking, but I’m sure not likely to have written a book like his.

I don’t have a point about this. I imagine Random House has a form different imprints use when they compose these things, and it doesn’t bother me at all. I was just startled to see it, and since I have a blog I’m sharing it with you.