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.
Showing posts with label Smithsonian Institution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smithsonian Institution. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2020
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.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Daily Links 11-20-13
Stories of amazing photographs, American Girl dolls, objects that made America, the guitar as an American icon, and more in today's link roundup.
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The story behind Dorothea Lange's iconic Migrant Mother photograph and how she almost didn't take it.
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Tracing the history of an American icon which is also a work of art: C. F. Martin Guitars.
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The Smithsonian has selected 101 Objects that made America. Which ones would make your list?
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American Girl dolls are changing and it's not for the better.
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This photograph may not look like much. It was taken in the South Pacific in the early days of World War II.
The photo was the result of a team effort of nine men. It is arguably the most decorated photograph in history. Read the fascinating story here.
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Aaron Armstrong has an excellent review of John Piper's new book on Calvinism. It looks like a great read.
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Amazon to start delivering packages on Sundays utilizing the U. S. Postal Service. Could this help the Post Office make its way back to solvency?
*****************
The story behind Dorothea Lange's iconic Migrant Mother photograph and how she almost didn't take it.
******************
Tracing the history of an American icon which is also a work of art: C. F. Martin Guitars.
******************
The Smithsonian has selected 101 Objects that made America. Which ones would make your list?
*****************
American Girl dolls are changing and it's not for the better.
*****************
This photograph may not look like much. It was taken in the South Pacific in the early days of World War II.
The photo was the result of a team effort of nine men. It is arguably the most decorated photograph in history. Read the fascinating story here.
***************
Aaron Armstrong has an excellent review of John Piper's new book on Calvinism. It looks like a great read.
***************
Amazon to start delivering packages on Sundays utilizing the U. S. Postal Service. Could this help the Post Office make its way back to solvency?
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Who To Follow On Twitter: Don't Know Much About History
Of all social media platforms I consider Twitter to be my favorite in part because it's a useful way to find out things that are of interest to me on the web. But it can be a little overwhelming to know exactly who to follow. In this series, I'll share some of the feeds that have become my favorite feeds to follow. The following is a list of authors with a bent towards history as well as a couple of historical feeds that are worth a follow:
1. Eric Metaxas (@EricMetaxas)
The New York Times Bestselling author probably wouldn't consider himself a historian or biographer but he has shown himself adept at both roles. His books include Bonhoeffer, Amazing Grace, and most recently 7 Men. He is also host of Socrates in the City in New York. He is also the host of Breakpoint Radio. In addition, he's an incredibly funny guy and definitely worth a follow.
2. Amity Shlaes (@AmityShlaes)
She is the author of the excellent biography Coolidge as well as the previous bestseller The Forgotten Man about the Great Depression. She frequently shares links of a historical nature particularly connected with her books. Both books should be on your must read list. My interview with her about The Forgotten Man is here.
3. Stephen Mansfield (@MansfieldWrites)
Most recently the author of Killing Jesus as well as faith biographies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he is another author to definitely follow on Twitter. His tweets are often about a variety of different subjects with links to articles of note. Among books of his I would recommend are Ten Tortured Words about the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment and More Than Dates and Dead People which deals with restoring a Christian view to history.
4. Jane Hampton Cook (@janehamptoncook)
Formerly a webmistress during her time in the Bush White House, Cook has always had an interest in history. She is a frequent contributor on cable news as well as a prolific author. Her latest book is American Phoenix, a biography of John Quincy and Louisa Adams.
5. Joel C. Rosenberg (@JoelCRosenberg)
Few people understand biblical prophecy and Middle East politics as well as Joel Rosenberg. He blogs about events in the Middle East at his Flash Traffic blog. He is also the author of numerous political thrillers, all of which I would heartily recommend. His latest book is Damascus Countdown.
6. Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC)
He's best known as a presidential historian and author of a number of books. But he's also proprietor of one of the coolest Twitter feeds out there. Don't take my word for it: read this Washington Post profile. His accidental entry into Twitter has been one of the best feeds to come along in a while. The reason? He tweets nothing but photos many of which had never before been published. I have no idea where he finds them but they are always worth checking out.
7. Life (@LIFE)
In its heydey, LIFE Magazine was the penultimate historical photo album. If it happened, LIFE photographed it. Now the vast archives of photos is being posted on the internet. Many of them weren't even published originally in the magazine. They tweet out whenever they post a new album on their site. You could easily spend hours and hours looking through their pictures.
8. World War II Tweets (@RealTimeWWII)
Imagine what it would be like to have Twitter cover a major geopolitical event like World War II and you have what this feed is all about. Started a couple of years ago, this project documents events as they happen on a particular date. As I am writing this, they are tweeting through 1941 and intend to continue all the way through the end of the war. They also frequently post photographs that are absolutely amazing.
9. Smithsonian National Museum of American History (@amhistorymuseum)
The largest repository of historical artifacts, the American History museum is a must-see for any history buff. They also frequently blog about their collection and send out tweets about new posts. If you want to know more about American history it's definitely a feed to follow.
1. Eric Metaxas (@EricMetaxas)
The New York Times Bestselling author probably wouldn't consider himself a historian or biographer but he has shown himself adept at both roles. His books include Bonhoeffer, Amazing Grace, and most recently 7 Men. He is also host of Socrates in the City in New York. He is also the host of Breakpoint Radio. In addition, he's an incredibly funny guy and definitely worth a follow.
2. Amity Shlaes (@AmityShlaes)
She is the author of the excellent biography Coolidge as well as the previous bestseller The Forgotten Man about the Great Depression. She frequently shares links of a historical nature particularly connected with her books. Both books should be on your must read list. My interview with her about The Forgotten Man is here.
3. Stephen Mansfield (@MansfieldWrites)
Most recently the author of Killing Jesus as well as faith biographies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he is another author to definitely follow on Twitter. His tweets are often about a variety of different subjects with links to articles of note. Among books of his I would recommend are Ten Tortured Words about the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment and More Than Dates and Dead People which deals with restoring a Christian view to history.
4. Jane Hampton Cook (@janehamptoncook)
Formerly a webmistress during her time in the Bush White House, Cook has always had an interest in history. She is a frequent contributor on cable news as well as a prolific author. Her latest book is American Phoenix, a biography of John Quincy and Louisa Adams.
5. Joel C. Rosenberg (@JoelCRosenberg)
Few people understand biblical prophecy and Middle East politics as well as Joel Rosenberg. He blogs about events in the Middle East at his Flash Traffic blog. He is also the author of numerous political thrillers, all of which I would heartily recommend. His latest book is Damascus Countdown.
6. Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC)
He's best known as a presidential historian and author of a number of books. But he's also proprietor of one of the coolest Twitter feeds out there. Don't take my word for it: read this Washington Post profile. His accidental entry into Twitter has been one of the best feeds to come along in a while. The reason? He tweets nothing but photos many of which had never before been published. I have no idea where he finds them but they are always worth checking out.
7. Life (@LIFE)
In its heydey, LIFE Magazine was the penultimate historical photo album. If it happened, LIFE photographed it. Now the vast archives of photos is being posted on the internet. Many of them weren't even published originally in the magazine. They tweet out whenever they post a new album on their site. You could easily spend hours and hours looking through their pictures.
8. World War II Tweets (@RealTimeWWII)
Imagine what it would be like to have Twitter cover a major geopolitical event like World War II and you have what this feed is all about. Started a couple of years ago, this project documents events as they happen on a particular date. As I am writing this, they are tweeting through 1941 and intend to continue all the way through the end of the war. They also frequently post photographs that are absolutely amazing.
9. Smithsonian National Museum of American History (@amhistorymuseum)
The largest repository of historical artifacts, the American History museum is a must-see for any history buff. They also frequently blog about their collection and send out tweets about new posts. If you want to know more about American history it's definitely a feed to follow.
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