It's been a struggle finding articles of interest that are not related to coronavirus. Some of this week's selections are somewhat related to the pandemic while others are not. Hopefully they will be of sufficient distraction.
Last week I mentioned that Capitol Hill Books in Washington, DC was allowing customers to browse through the store by themselves. Now they are going one better by sending mystery packages to customers.
The pandemic has been hard on independent booksellers. Here are some great ways to show them some love during these difficult times.
What is it like to be an independent bookseller in a remote part of the country? Check out this article: Bookselling at the End of the World.
You can't get out of the house and the libaries are closed anyway. Not to worry you can still borrow books online.
Stuck at home? Get caught up on some classic mysteries. If you prefer to stream your mysteries, check out this list of classic cozy British mysteries.
It's also a good time to join an online book club. Here's the information on the P. G. Wodehouse Book Club. We'll be discussing The Inimitable Jeeves this week.
You can now virtually explore the Smithsonian Institution museums.
Did a letter from a boy with toy bullet enclosed lead to a famous publicity photo by Don Knotts in his Barney Fife uniform? You decide.
This is neat: an architect repurposed an old baseball stadium into apartments.
If you are missing baseball (like me) you can always check out the MLB Vault on YouTube.
Yesterday was supposed to Opening Day for the 2020 baseball season. Thomas Boswell has some thoughts on missing Opening Day as well as other sports.
There's no doubt in my mind that Vin Scully is the voice of hope and optimism that we need. (audio embedded in the article)
If you've seen The Natural you are familiar with the scene where Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) knocks the cover off a baseball. But what do the rules say about when that actually happens? It has and the answer might just surprise you.
Podcasts of the week: with so many people now working from home for the first time I thought these two podcasts would be particularly helpful. In the latest episode of Focus on This tips are shared on how to be more productive at home. The latest episode of Lead to Win addresses the challenges of working from home while balancing family responsibilities.
Tweet(s) of the week: take time to read this whole thread. I love that this guy felt compelled to get answers to his questions.
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Friday, March 27, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
Weekend Links 3-20-20
This week was a strange one to say the least. I really had hoped to avoid any mentions of coronavirus but its effects are so far reaching that it's been hard to escape from it. Practically every aspect of our lives is now touched by it and that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon. I hope every one heeds the cautions being given and stays safe. In the meantime, here are a few articles of interest.
I saw this sentence on Twitter and was drawn to the article.
A strange history of one of the crime wages of the early 20th century: the poisoned pen letter.
Answering the important questions: What makes a breakfast "continental"?
Stuck at home? How about visiting a museum online.
When exactly did we start calling baseball the national pastime? John Thorn is on the case.
Since there is no baseball for the forseeable future, here is a list of recommended baseball books and movies to help pass the time.
This is a booklover's dream: Capitol Hill Books in Washington, DC is allowing customers to have the whole store to themselves for an hour at a time.
Tweet of the week #1:
Meet the man who is a pull-tab connoisseur. Seriously.
This is a good way to pass the time: BBC Radio's adaptation of Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie.
How a mystery writer and book collector created the biblio-mystery genre.
Tweet of the week #2:
I saw this sentence on Twitter and was drawn to the article.
It was no small thing to evaluate the holdings of a seasoned dealer, a generation older than me, and pronounce his material fake.As they say, read the whole thing. And yes, it's yet another book to go on my To Be Read list.
A strange history of one of the crime wages of the early 20th century: the poisoned pen letter.
Answering the important questions: What makes a breakfast "continental"?
Stuck at home? How about visiting a museum online.
When exactly did we start calling baseball the national pastime? John Thorn is on the case.
Since there is no baseball for the forseeable future, here is a list of recommended baseball books and movies to help pass the time.
This is a booklover's dream: Capitol Hill Books in Washington, DC is allowing customers to have the whole store to themselves for an hour at a time.
Tweet of the week #1:
Sounds like a good plan to me.Today me will live in the moment, unless it’s unpleasant in which case me will eat a cookie.— Cookie Monster (@MeCookieMonster) March 15, 2020
Meet the man who is a pull-tab connoisseur. Seriously.
This is a good way to pass the time: BBC Radio's adaptation of Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie.
How a mystery writer and book collector created the biblio-mystery genre.
Tweet of the week #2:
This looks like it's going to be fun:You know who’s really gonna suffer during this social distancing?— Kaitlyn McQuin (@kaitlynmcquin) March 15, 2020
Dudes on dating apps
Welcome back to courtship, Brad. Welcome back to talking to a gal for WEEKS prior to meeting.
We’re pen pals now, my dude.
We bout to get Jane Austen up in here.
Now, write me a poem.
I look for virtual book clubs to become a bigger thing in the coming weeks.The P.G. Wodehouse Book Club -- a haven in troubled times -- is open and ready to welcome you. Follow the link to join and vote on our first book. https://t.co/UJTJXanOfL— HonoriaPlum (@HonoriaPlum) March 18, 2020
Or just follow the conversation on Twitter as #PGWClub pic.twitter.com/EW1Yrya1L7
Friday, March 13, 2020
Weekend Links 3-13-20
Doing my best to find entertaining weekend reading to help you take your mind off pressing concerns. Forgive the brevity of this week's post. Interesting stories were harder to come by for some reason. Could be because certain topics are dominating the news these days.
The pictures tell the story: a beautiful bookstore filled with optical illusions.
Talk about finding a bargain: original Salvador Dali artwork found in an Outer Banks thrift store.
Miles Wolff, the man who led the resurgence of Minor League Baseball in the 1980s, is calling it a career.
Speaking of baseball, it might surprise you to know that all Major League Baseballs are stitched together by hand. Given the controversy in recent years over the construction of the baseball it's reasonable to assume that MLB would want a uniform baseball. Here's why that's not going to happen.
Double Indemnity is without a doubt one of the best movies to come out the noir era in Hollywood. The story is fairly straightforward: an insurance salesman (played by Fred MacMurray) falls for a femme fatale (Barbara Stanwyck) and engages in an illicit affair. She convinces him to help her murder her husband so she can collect the insurance money. But not only is this film about a crime gone wrong it's ultimately a story of redemption.
James M. Cain's novel Double Indemnity, which was the basis of the film, made a list of perfect murders in literature assembled by Peter Swanson as part of his new novel. And yes, this book immediately went on my To Be Read list.
Ever wonder why books come out in hardback before paperback?
I've never read any Dean Koonz novels but I am far more likely to after reading this interview. It's intriguing to me to hear about his writing process, the publishing industry, and why he doesn't spend any time online (among other subjects).
The pictures tell the story: a beautiful bookstore filled with optical illusions.
Talk about finding a bargain: original Salvador Dali artwork found in an Outer Banks thrift store.
Miles Wolff, the man who led the resurgence of Minor League Baseball in the 1980s, is calling it a career.
Speaking of baseball, it might surprise you to know that all Major League Baseballs are stitched together by hand. Given the controversy in recent years over the construction of the baseball it's reasonable to assume that MLB would want a uniform baseball. Here's why that's not going to happen.
Double Indemnity is without a doubt one of the best movies to come out the noir era in Hollywood. The story is fairly straightforward: an insurance salesman (played by Fred MacMurray) falls for a femme fatale (Barbara Stanwyck) and engages in an illicit affair. She convinces him to help her murder her husband so she can collect the insurance money. But not only is this film about a crime gone wrong it's ultimately a story of redemption.
James M. Cain's novel Double Indemnity, which was the basis of the film, made a list of perfect murders in literature assembled by Peter Swanson as part of his new novel. And yes, this book immediately went on my To Be Read list.
Ever wonder why books come out in hardback before paperback?
I've never read any Dean Koonz novels but I am far more likely to after reading this interview. It's intriguing to me to hear about his writing process, the publishing industry, and why he doesn't spend any time online (among other subjects).
Friday, March 06, 2020
Weekend Links 3-6-20
Happy Friday! Here's an assortment of links for your weekend reading.....
Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors. Any time he has a new book I am reading it. His latest is on life in London during the Blitz. Here he answers a few questions about the book.
Rabbit hole alert: the Smithsonian Institution is digitizing images in its collection and has already made 2.8 million images available in the public domain.
Nine things you didn't know about the semicolon.
Ikea hacks are a popular DIY. But did you know that Ikea has its own official hacks site?
It's okay to have an inbox full of emails. Here are some tips on managing your email.
Long read of the week: the story of the Hollywood con queen.
Punditry abounds on the internet. How do you evaluate pundits online?
I don't follow hockey and didn't know there was such a thing as an Emergency Backup Goaltender. But the story of David Ayres being pressed into service is in and of itself fascinating. But even more interesting is the lessons we can draw from Ayres' experience.
Here's one for baseball fans: how a terrible college team invented the shift.
Another enjoyable long read (and yes, this is the headline): That Time Obama Pardoned The Guy Who Stole Charlie Sheen's Honus Wagner Card. It's well worth your time.
Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors. Any time he has a new book I am reading it. His latest is on life in London during the Blitz. Here he answers a few questions about the book.
Rabbit hole alert: the Smithsonian Institution is digitizing images in its collection and has already made 2.8 million images available in the public domain.
Nine things you didn't know about the semicolon.
Ikea hacks are a popular DIY. But did you know that Ikea has its own official hacks site?
It's okay to have an inbox full of emails. Here are some tips on managing your email.
Long read of the week: the story of the Hollywood con queen.
Punditry abounds on the internet. How do you evaluate pundits online?
I don't follow hockey and didn't know there was such a thing as an Emergency Backup Goaltender. But the story of David Ayres being pressed into service is in and of itself fascinating. But even more interesting is the lessons we can draw from Ayres' experience.
Here's one for baseball fans: how a terrible college team invented the shift.
Another enjoyable long read (and yes, this is the headline): That Time Obama Pardoned The Guy Who Stole Charlie Sheen's Honus Wagner Card. It's well worth your time.