Friday links

It's the anniversary of the 20th of July plot, the unsuccessful bomb attempt to kill Hitler in 1944.

A brief history of prosthetic limbs.

The Bayeux Tapestry with knobs on: what do the tapestry’s 93 penises tell us?

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. 

The Scientific Quest For the Perfect S'more.

Ye Oldest Public Library in the English Speaking World.

ICYMI, Monday's links are here, and include the physics of how lawn mower blades cut grass (at 50K frames per second), spiders flying by using electricity, and the anniversary of the beginning of the atomic age (the 1945 Trinity nuclear test).

Friday links

It's V-J Day, the anniversary of the date of Japan's surrender in 1945 and the end of WWII.

How Private Investigators Use the Internet to Track You

Did Americans know FDR couldn’t walk?

Remember this? Digital hell: Kansas farm is the default location for 600 million IP addresses. Well, now they're suing the mapping firm.

The Fierce, Forgotten Library Wars of the Ancient World.

How to Fight Multiple Assailants.

ICYMI, Wednesday's links are here, and include Japan's electric baths, flying to Africa from Ireland via lawnmower, Gracie Allen's (of George Burns and Gracie Allen fame) excellent 1940 Presidential campaign, and why the reason for the "work of fiction" disclaimer at the end of almost all films is... Rasputin.

New Zealand Woman Returns Library Book 67 Years Late

In the U.S. this would be a story about how this elderly woman was hauled off to jail. 

A library book that was due more than 67 years ago was finally returned to Epsom Library in Auckland, New Zealand. 

“Myths and Legends of Maoriland” by A.W. Reed is a collection of indigenous tales, and it remains in print today under the title “Maori Myths and Legendary Tales.” The volume was due on Dec. 17, 1948, as the stamp on the old-school library card showed,

Epsom Library wrote on Facebook:

“A wonderful customer came to see us with a confession today! As a child she was a patron of Epsom Library until she moved out of Auckland — and accidentally took a library book with her! Today she finally managed to return it to us. It’s a fair few years overdue but in excellent well-read condition.”

Auckland Libraries said this was the longest overdue book it had ever seen returned. The organization was not sure what to do with it, but the book may go on display at Epsom Library. 

Compare and contrast with the recent story about the couple facing jail time for two books borrowed last year:

Although the couple admitted they were negligent in returning the books, they think it's unfair to each be charged a $105 "diversion fee" to the Lenawee County Economic Crimes Unit in addition to fines owed to the Tecumseh Public Library.

Similar stories here.

More here: New Zealand Woman Returns Library Book... 67 Years Late