Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 8/24/2009

Pouncing on the chance to sign free agent slugger Frank Thomas at a bargain-basement salary after he was released by the White Sox, Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane explained: "Frank was like a piece of vintage furniture. You just had to look through the dust and shine him up a little."

Birthdays:
Mike Shanahan b. 1952
Cal Ripken Jr. b. 1960
Reggie Miller b. 1965
Tim Salmon b. 1968
Rafael Furcal b. 1980

Packers Fact:
The first time that the Packers had two players each run for more than 100 yards in the same game was in 1973. John Brockington gained 142 yards and MacArthur Lane added 101 yards in a 21-0 victory over the Chicago Bears.

A TANGLED WEB

A car wreck, a serial murder, estrangement, and a disappearance open this thriller drama. Anne seeks her daughter, Miranda (Randa), though their relationship has been very strained since the death of Randa’s father. The search for the daughter, who is in danger, inevitably revives questions about the dead husband. A coruscating tale of dark family secrets and perilous situations. Publishers Weekly starred review.

LAST SEEN LEAVING, by Kelly Braffet (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)