Weekend Links 12-15-17

A roundup of interesting links for weekend reading:

I've been reading a lot of crime fiction lately particularly from the Golden Age of Crime Fiction in Britain (think Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and G. K. Chesterson, for example). Naturally then this book is of great interest to me and appears to be must reading for anyone interested in the genre.

This is surprising: it's a good thing to stockpile more books than you'll ever actually read.

It's time to be honest about men. And about human nature.

Comedy doesn't need to mean anything. It's okay for it to just be silly. 

"We should not assume that doing what is best for one's country is always synonymous with doing what is best." Fascinating insight into the Netflix series The Crown.

This is a fun fact:

Full story here. Video here. 

I can relate to this: Why I Can No Longer Call Myself an Evangelical Republican.

Russell Moore: “American evangelicalism is old and sick and weak, and doesn’t even know it.”

This is fun: 20 Calvin and Hobbes comics to get you into the Christmas spirit.

History lesson: the true story of the women who became codebreakers during World War II.

Finally, a little something you'd probably hear playing at our house this time of year: 

Daily Links 5-2-14

A huge roundup of links for your weekend enjoyment. In today's edition: learning from Calvin and Hobbes, rethinking the grind, moon shots, Disney and God, and more.

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What Calvin and Hobbes has to teach us about the medium and the message. Some really good points in this article particularly in how we share the message of the gospel.

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Putting things in perspective: how differently famous landmarks look from a distance (hat tip: Challies)

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Some advice on how to write about writing.

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The power of doing less: how you can increase productivity by saying no more often. I do think there is something to this idea that we have to force ourselves to be less busy and focus on tasks that are most important and most deserving of our time and energy.

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Moon shots:: NASA's Lunar Orbiter Recovery Project has been working since 2009 to recover images taken during the the agency's lunar exploration programs. Some very cool photos in this slideshow.

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Helpful hints on how to protect your privacy online.

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Say it ain't so: is the Oxford English Dictionary disappearing (at least in print)?

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Did Disney prohibit the Frozen songwriters from using the word God in their songs? Not exactly. In fact, the real story is more interesting.

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Baseball continues to be a fascinating game. In fact, it's remarkable how in some ways it can be so very predictable. 

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And then there is this:

Daily Links 1-27-14

Good morning. Here are a collection of links to help get your week off to the right start. In today's edition: planning for the worst, too much media is bad for your brain, classic time management advice, and more.

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Some sage advice on dealing with temptation from Tim Challies:

Some time ago we implemented a plan in our home to protect the kids from some of what lurks out there on the Internet. We removed Internet access from some devices, limited it on others, and applied filters that keep tabs on what we are doing online. It has been very smooth from a technological perspective, but a little less so on the interpersonal level. 

Recently my son said, “Dad, you’re treating me like I’m addicted to pornography. But I haven’t ever seen it and don’t want to see it!” And he’s right, to some degree. If I’m not treating him like an addict, I am at least treating him like a pre-addict, someone who has the inclination, or who may well have it before long. In this way I think I understand him a little better than he understands himself. Of course our Internet plan is not designed only to protect the children from exposure to pornography, but that is still one of its major purposes. 

But his exasperation and hurt feelings gave us opportunity to talk about one of the principles I have found helpful in my own life: When you are at your best, plan for when you are at your worst. I see this as an application of 1 Corinthians 10:12-13: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Be sure to read the whole thing,

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Kathy Harris has a wonderful interview with one of my favorite historians, Jane Hampton Cook, about her book American Phoenix.

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More proof that too much media consumption can make you crazy: five mental disorders caused by media.

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Some classic time management advice worth revisiting. I've heard this same speech given by a time management guru and have long thought it was one of the best pieces of advice I had ever heard.

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This is spot on:

This describes our education system perfectly. pic.twitter.com/5I0gvW21eW
— Calvin and Hobbes (@Calvinn_Hobbes) January 21, 2014

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Timeless advice from famous authors on writing. The cool thing about this page is that it is constantly being updated with additional links.

Daily Links 12-17-13

In this morning's roundup: how to deal with a job you don't like, responding to the "In Christ Alone controversy", lessons from It's A Wonderful Life, and more.

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From the indispensable Art of Manliness, how to deal with a job you don't like. These are some really good tips that anyone in the workplace should consider since it's more than likely you're going to have at least one job you're not going to enjoy over the course of your career.

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Some thoughts on developing skills in critical thinking. This is something that's not only confined to reviewing books but in other areas as well. By the way, I agree with the author's assertion that it's a good idea to occasionally read books that I am not likely to line up with theologically. It is a helpful process.

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Bull Durham on Broadway? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

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Mark Driscoll has been a hot topic of conversation in Christian circles over a lack of citation of sources in his latest book. But that's not the real problem. Nor is plagiarism. The real problem is the lack of attribution for those who helped him write the book. 

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Keith Getty, co-writer of "In Christ Alone" responds to criticism of the song. Two groups had wanted a lyric changed that dealt with the fact that God's wrath was satisfied through Christ's death on the cross. Here is Getty's succinct answer on why it was important that the lyric was not changed:

First, it's important to express how truly honored we feel that these groups would consider adding "In Christ Alone" to their hymnals. We support the approach they take of studying the lyrics of hymns as they select music worthy to be sung and preserved. 

However, we believe altering the lyrics would remove an essential part of the gospel story as explained throughout Scripture. The main thread of what we see revealed throughout the Old and New Testament is the need for man to be made right with God. The provided path toward reconciliation came through Christ's predetermined and perfect sacrifice on the cross, satisfying God's wrath once and for all. The two hymnal committees wanted to change the lyrics to focus on how Christ's death on the cross magnifies God's love for the world. And indeed, God's love was magnified on Calvary's hill. Yet the way this occurred was through Christ doing for us what we could not do for ourselves—shedding his own perfect blood to atone for our sins.

Be sure to read the whole thing. (Hat tip: Challies)

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7 enduring lessons from It's a Wonderful Life.

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Finally, a little Calvin and Hobbes:

Daily Links 11-26-13

In today's link roundup: tech companies that turned down merger offers, using a procrasination pad, remembering Apollo 11, and much more.

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A fascinating list of 8 tech companies that turned down merger offers. Not all of the stories ended well. Some of the companies, however, thrived.

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From Art of Manliness, a wonderful collection of spy concealments.

During World War II, a British publisher used Monopoly sets to smuggle maps, compasses, and money to prisoners of war.

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From Lifehacker, how to stay focused on your current task with a procrastination pad. Personally, I like working from to-do lists and this seems like a great way to manage my free time.

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An online gallery of the objects from Apollo 11 that are currently housed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

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Here's a real piece of cinematic history: Audrey Hepburn's screen test for Roman Holiday.


Hat tip: Open Culture

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An assortment of vintage advertisements starring notable authors (hat tip Book Riot). Yes, it's true that there was a time when authors would endorse different products. Nowadays authors aren't as well known so it's unlikely that you would see these kinds of ads.

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A review of the new documentary profiling Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson, Dear Mr. Watterson, at Christianity Today.

Daily Links 11-25-13

In today's roundup: game theory and The Price Is Right, classic children's books that started out as bedtime stories,

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Who says there is no profit in studying math? A mathematician used game theory as a way to increase the odds of winning on The Price is Right.

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Mental Floss has a wonderful list of 15 classic children's books that started out as bedtime stories. Some of these titles will surprise you.

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The new documentary Dear Mr. Watterson is another great Kickstarter success story. It's also the story about a passionate filmmaker cut through all the traditional distribution channels to get his production directly to his audience. Calvin and Hobbes fans rejoice.



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A collection of luxury homes with libraries worth splurging for.

This luxury Wisconsin home has a two-story library that can be accessed directly from the master bedroom. It can be yours for a mere $8,750,000.