Israel Politics Explained: A new installment breaks down why Israel’s small parties punch above their weight in coalition governments—because a handful of seats can make or break the 61-member majority. Horror & Publishing: A Minnesota school psychologist’s novella, “A Thin Place,” turns a childhood basement door ritual into a creeping, knocking-back nightmare. Animal History in Books: “Discovering the Okapi” revisits the animal’s surprising past through rare records and a conservation-scientist’s obsession. Israel-Gaza Media Controversy: A critique targets The New York Times for a Gaza photo story that allegedly repeated a harmful claim, with calls for acknowledgment and apology. Crime Writing Events: Jackson Memorial Library hosts a multi-author crime and thriller panel on craft and storytelling. Publishing Meets Faith: A Torah book pairs each parsha with a QR-linked video, aiming to pull more people into weekly study. Tech & Games Money: ZBD unveils embedded financial infrastructure for game economies, pitching two-way player payments. Memoir & Local Law: Tom Kimball releases “The Adventures of Tom Lawyer,” with an Athens library signing. Book Culture & Adaptation Talk: Reviews and commentary keep circling “Lanterns” and other screen-to-page conversations, plus fresh fiction picks for summer readers.