Daily Links 1-7-14

A daily roundup of links of interest from the web. In today's edition: how to jumpstart your journaling, alternate covers for books, building a library of literary classics, and more.

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A guide to jumpstarting your journaling. This article is chock full of great ideas how to get started on keeping a journal. If you've never tried it before I highly recommend it.

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Some artistically reimagined book covers. These are pretty amazing.

A reimagined cover for Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451.

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An illustrated guide to buying classic books (even if you're on a tight budget). The best thing about some of these collections is that they can easily purchased to help decorate your bookshelves and make them look nicer even if you don't intend to read the books.

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Dr. Albert Mohler offers some great suggestions on how to become a more effective and prolific reader.

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There is a Calvinist revival going on in evangelical churches and The New York Times takes notice with a remarkably good article.

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The results of Baseball Hall of Fame voting will be announced soon but before we get to that we can look at a list of 50 best players not currently in the Hall.

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From Art of Manliness, a terrific article on how to gain the respect you deserve at work.

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How to build the perfect snowman.

Daily Links 10-24-13

Duck Dynasty is a biblical sex-saturated reality show, why you should keep a journal, finding libraries in unusual places, and more in today's roundup of links.

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Duck Dynasty is one of the most popular reality shows on television. Part of its appeal is the fact that it shows the Robertson clan as the real down home folks that they are. It's a show that is steeped in family values. It also is a biblically sex-saturated show. That's a good thing.

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Seven reasons for keeping a journal. (Hat tip: Challies)

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Finding libraries in unusual places (even on the back of a donkey!)

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Stories like this one make me feel old: 10 things that are disappearing from elementary schools.

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I definitely need this: how to quit wasting time on the internet.

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I don't need encouragement to read more books but this doesn't hurt either: 7 unconventional reasons you should read more books. (Hat tip: Trevin Wax)

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One father shares about removing his children from the internet. (Hat tip: Challies)

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It's time to emphasize winning with our kids and sports:

My son will play in soccer tournaments today. And I want him to win

I feel like I’m going against the tidal wave of parental niceness to even say such a thing, but it’s true. During this game, I don’t want him to just have fun or play safely. I want his team to win.

And I hope every dad cheering from the sidelines for the other team feels the same way.

I believe we should resist the fashionable tendency to take competition out of sports. 

That’s why, at the beginning of the soccer season, I asked my son: ”What’s more important? Having fun or winning?" He answered: “Having fun?”   

No,” I replied. “Winning. Because if you’re not winning, you’re not having fun.”

What do they teach children in school these days?

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Calling all writers: 41 redundancies you should ditch.