Daily Links 10-8-13

What happens to retired school buses, secret passageway bookshelves, Walt Disney, Winston Churchill, and more in today's roundup of links.

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Ever wonder what happens to school buses when they are retired? Well, wonder no more.

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A collection of 10 really cool secret passageway bookshelves.

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Arguments continue over baseball's current one-and-done wild card game. Peter Gammons is the latest to weigh in and he's arguing that the system worked the way that it was supposed to. I am inclined to agree. (Hat tip: Right Field)

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Why Walt Disney chose to build a theme park on swampland.

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One of my all-time favorite Winston Churchill quotes:

More here and here.

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Mark Twain's advice to young girls of 1865.

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Free audio versions of the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.

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Could it be that we're spending too much time with earphones in our ears?

I had an earphone wake-up call the other day when I was being one such bad mom. I vaguely noticed the traffic policeman talking to himself and smiling and thought, “Yikes they let crazy people direct traffic?” About two blocks later it hit me: He was talking to me. Whoops.

I felt like a total jerk. I also realized that I am probably missing a lot of spontaneous verbal interactions with the other human beings that populate this earth, and that while perhaps my iPhone makes my dull afternoon walk feel a little more gangster or a little more like I’m in some cool movie, I’m missing a whole dimension of life.

We don’t need a poll or statistic to tell us that people are spending an enormous amount of time with their headphones on. We see it everywhere. The family out touring while the sullen teenager slumps along, hand in pocket, smooth, white nuggets blocking out the world. The eerie silence on the subway as everyone stares blankly ahead, iPhones cradled in their palms, the awkward elevator moment where you say “Hello!” only to realize your fellow passenger didn’t hear it, the muffled screechy wails of music interspersed with breathing on busses.

Daily Links 10-4-13

Monopoly street view, how to clean up bacon grease, combating busyness, some interesting facts about The Princess Bride, and more in today's roundup of links.

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Ever wonder what the streets in the Monopoly board game actually look like? One blogger decided to take a trip through Atlantic City and put together a photo tour of the city.

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There have been quite a few complaints about the "one and done" format of baseball's wild card game. One proposal to make it better comes from Bob Costas (via Theo Epstein): schedule a day-night doubleheader and make the wild card teams play a best two out of three. The more I think about this idea the more it seems to have merit.

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After you've fixed your bacon and eggs for breakfast, how do you clean up the bacon grease? This is a clever tip on how to make your job easier. 

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Some practical tips on combating busyness. This is an area I struggle with all the time. (Hat tip: Challies)

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Without a doubt, The Princess Bride is one of the best movies ever made. Here are 26 interesting facts you may not know about the classic film.  (Hat tip: Mental Floss)

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One of my favorite songwriters is Sara Groves. In connection with her newest release, she recorded an acoustic version of one of her best known songs, Painting Pictures of Egypt. Check out the song here and find out a little more about the song.

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Five types of friends every guy should have. 

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I hadn't realized this until it was pointed out to me: five bookish moments from Person of Interest.

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Lancaster, PA is a lovely place to visit. Did you also know it once served as the nation's capital? Full story here. 

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Daily Links 9-18-13

Lessons from a breakup, guarding your heart against Satan's tactics, stalling cohabitation rates, the classiest McDonalds in America and more in today's roundup of links.

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Not all relationships end well. But that doesn't mean there aren't lessons to be learned from a breakup.

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When a couple is preparing to get married, Satan will do everything he can to destroy it before it begins. So it's best to know what tactics he will use so you can guard your heart against them.

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Cohabitation rates are stalling. Is that good news? Well, yes and no.

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A three-way tie for the National League Central Division (and Wild Card) is not beyond the realm of possibility. So how in the world would such a tie be broken? Jayson Stark has the answers.

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A peek inside the classiest McDonalds in America. It's a fun story.

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Why theology matters to musicians (via Worship Ideas)