Weekend Links 5-28-21

 Here's an assortment of interesting links for your long holiday weekend reading. Hope you enjoy!

The thing I love most about baseball is that on any given day you are likely to see something you have never seen before. That was certainly the case yesterday afternoon as Javy Baez of the Chicago Cubs pulled off the greatest baserunning play ever. I have never seen anything quite like it. 

The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II is definitely not one of America's proudest moments. But baseball played a crucial role in the camps. 

Why Line of Duty is unlike any other police drama on television. It has to be hands down one of my all time favorite shows. 

Did you know that in 1930 John Steinbeck penned a werewolf murder mystery? The battle with his estate to get the book published. 

Answering the important questions: what is the origin of the term red tape to describe bureaucratic processes?

It's common knowledge that Richard Nixon taped conversations in the White House during his presidential terms. The extent that his administration went to record meetings has not been as well known until now. 

Finally, a job I could really get into doing: book butler. 

Weekend Links 5-21-21

 Hard to believe we are almost through the month of May. Where has this year gone? Hopefully you have something fun planned for the weekend. Perhaps some of these links will provide you with some enjoyable weekend reading. 

Meet Effa Manley, the only woman (to date) to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Secrets of MLB umpires.

The strange story of Richard Montanez, the man who didn't invent Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

How H Mart has revolutionized the way Asian-Americans shop and eat. I don't have one close where I live but have visited one once and can attest to the fact that it is a wonderful place to shop. It doesn't hurt that we also cook a lot of Korean dishes. 

Fans of John Le Carre have reason to celebrate: the late novelist's last book will be published in the fall. 

How a novelist discovered that spying ran in the family. 

How the homes of Jane Austen influenced her novels.

Chances are that if you were ever in need of a padlock you would have bought a MasterLock. Here's how the company turned itself into an iconic brand with it's patented padlock. 

Debunking common food myths found on the internet. 

Weekend Links 5-14-21

One of the occupational hazards of compiling these weekly posts is I frequently run across book excerpts. This week is no exception. The worst part is the books end up on my endless TBR list. Readers' problems. 

Here are this week's articles of interest:

The true story of a daring prison break that Alfred Hitchcock spent the last decade of his life trying to film. 

Hidden History: The crucial role that Iceland played in the outcome of World War II. 

Say this for the Swedes: they really love candy. 

This has now been scientifically proven: why cats love empty boxes. 

A deep dive into what words can be used in Scrabble. It's not as straightforward as you might think. 

The country house plays an important role in Agatha Christie's novels. Chances are that a fictional home is based on a real place. 

Podcast of the week: I just stumbled across the True Spies podcast. Hosted by Hayley Atwell and Vanessa Kirby, the podcast features interviews with actual spies recounting some of the biggest cases in the history of espionage. I've only listened to three episodes so far but am completely hooked. 

Destinations for a baseball road trip in every state and Ontario. I have actually visited a couple of the places on this list. I'd love to visit some of the others. 

Why it is tougher than ever for Major League hitters. The only thing I would add is that too many hitters are focusing on home runs and not emphasizing contact enough. 

Declining offense is not the only problem that Major League Baseball is facing. Here's a great roundup of all the other issues our national pastime must fix in order to survive. 

Weekend Links 5-7-21

Spanning the globe to find links of interest for your weekend reading.....

Here are some really cool libraries built to look like books. Makes me want to visit them. 

Why aluminum bats are not allowed in Major League Baseball. It's common sense if you think about it. 

From How to Write A Mystery: A Handbook from the Mystery Writers of America edited by Lee Child with Laurie R. King: Nine Things Your Thriller Needs to be Lean, Mean, and Exhilarating. 

With the publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920, Agatha Christie introduced us to Hercule Poirot, one of the greatest fictional detectives ever created. 

Liquid Paper is one of the most ubiquitous office supplies ever created. Here's the story of the secretary who was the creator of the iconic correction fluid. 

It's been 80 years since the premiere of Citizen Kane and all these years later we are still trying to solve all its riddles. 

Examining the artistry of Alfred Hitchcock. 

Long read of the week: Finding My Father Among the Astronauts. This piece made me think a lot about my own father.

What makes a TV show theme song great? 

How Norman Granz used jazz for social change.  If you look at the credits of the most iconic jazz albums you are likely to find a connection to Granz. 

Last week, a computer won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. But that in and of itself is not the most interesting part of the story. 

How to ignore your phone and read more. 

I haven't read any of Harlan Coben's books (yet) and am only acquainted with a a couple of Netflix series adapted from his novels. But I did find this interview fascinating on many levels. Especially that looking at his background and education he is not someone you would think would become a bestselling author.