Each week, members of the WFPL News team spotlight interesting stories we've read and enjoyed, for your weekend reading pleasure:
Gabe Bullard:These days, when you hear there's been an odd flash of light and explosion in the sky over Russia, you turn to YouTube. If this were 1492 (before Gutenberg's newly-invented moveable GIFs had reached the peasantry), you'd instead fear it was a Thunderstone sent from God and chain the rock up in a church to ward off evil. Or, at least you would if you were one of the people in this true account from The Atlantic (also not widely available in 1492). Read Thunderstone: What People Thought About Meteorites Before Modern Astronomy.Rick Howlett:On this Oscars weekend, one Academy Awards voter shares the snark he wrote on his ballot. Read Oscar Voter's Brutally Honest Ballot.Joseph Lord:Ever watch Game of Thrones and think, Where can I get a sword like that? Me neither. Regardless, Fast Company has the answer. Tony Swatton makes weapons for all sorts of films and TV shows, including Hunger Games, GOT and Pirates of the Caribbean. Read Living By the Sword.Bonus: Pope Benedict XVI's shocking decision to resign opens up endless speculation on who'll be his successor. The National Catholic Reporter's John L. Allen Jr. wrote the book on the Conclave. (It's called Conclave.)In the lead up to the selection of a new pope, Allen is blogging in-depth about all the contenders. Read Papabile of the Day.
