Thursday, March 30, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/30/23)

Today is Thursday! Almost there!

Russia arrests Wall Street Journal reporter on espionage charges (The Guardian)

This is great news: The FDA approves the overdose-reversing drug Narcan for over-the-counter sales (NPR)

Uprooted from Ukraine, promising tennis player finds her footing on the court in NH (NHPR)

The Met Is the Latest Museum to Reclassify Russian Art as Ukrainian (Smithsonian)

This is... incredible: Disney sidesteps DeSantis board with royal clause (BBC)

From formula to medications and child care, parents are being crushed under a wave of shortages (The 19th*)

Electricity generated from renewables surpassed coal in the U.S. last year (PBS)

Uber Eats is shutting down thousands of virtual restaurants to make the app less spammy (The Verge)

William A. Wulf, Pioneering Computer Scientist, Dies at 83 (NYT)

Phytoplankton, a key food source for sea life, is declining in the Gulf of Maine (Maine Public)

And some longer reads:

Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case (NYT)

Of course: Serbia’s far right seizes on Putin’s war to push retaking Kosovo (Politico EU)

The Salton Sea, an Accident of History, Faces a New Water Crisis (NYT)

For the Enslaved Potter David Drake, His Literary Practice Was His Resistance (Smithsonian)

Happy Opening Day! MLB in 2023: 9 numbers that will define a transformative season with new rules (The Athletic)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/29/23)

I guess today is Wednesday?

‘They’re killing us’: anger grows after deadly fire at Mexican migrant centre (The Guardian)

Pence Must Testify to Jan. 6 Grand Jury, Judge Rules (NYT)

Alibaba’s restructuring and Jack Ma’s homecoming are all part of China’s plan (CNN)

Ugh I guess this makes sense, but... Adnan Syed’s conviction reinstated by Maryland appellate court panel (WaPo)

Rising Rate of Drug Shortages Is Framed as a National Security Threat (NYT)

Oh no: ‘Horrific’ form of mpox found to affect people with advanced HIV (The Guardian)

Community power programs to launch in 14 New Hampshire towns, offering cheaper electricity than major utilities (NHPR)

Monica Roberts chronicled the lives — and deaths — of trans people as only she could (The 19th*)

One of Europe’s Last Free-Flowing Rivers Declared a National Park (Smithsonian)

New study estimates 55% of New Hampshire’s groundwater probably has elevated radon levels (NHPR)

And some longer reads:

The proud Pakistani tradition of feeding the hungry is strained as food prices soar (NPR)

Science Museums Take Stock of 1.1 Billion Objects From Around the World (NYT)

Florida’s Love-Hate Relationship With Phosphorus (Smithsonian)

Raphael’s School of Athens: Greek Philosophy in the Italian Renaissance (Antigone)

Seven Crime Novels Centered on Musicians Out in 2023 (CrimeReads)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/28/23)

I guess it's only Tuesday.

This is so awful and, again, the problem is the guns. Heavily Armed Assailant Kills Six at Christian School (NYT)

Netanyahu halts judicial overhaul but fight is far from over (The Guardian)

Fired Fox News producer says she'd testify against the network in $1.6 billion suit (NPR)

'You belong here': Minnesota House passes trans health refuge bill (MPR)

...of course. NH Supreme Court overturns former state Sen. Woodburn’s domestic violence conviction (NHPR)

TV's LGBTQ Representation Is Down, and Mass Cancellations Aren't Helping (TVLine)

New England grid operator says small-scale solar is driving down electricity demand on some days (NHPR)

Wow: Vinyl Records Outsell CDs for First Time Since 1987 (Smithsonian)

lol yes what could that object possibly be? It’s not a darning tool, it’s a very naughty toy: Roman dildo found (The Guardian)

Oldest Schoolhouse for Black Children Moves to Colonial Williamsburg (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

‘A war society doesn’t see’: the Brazilian force driving out mining gangs from Indigenous lands (The Guardian)

Viktor Orbán’s battle for EU funds reveals existential clash (Politico EU)

A kid in Guatemala had a dream. Today she's a disease detective (NPR)

The River That’s Kept Alaska Guessing for More Than a Century (Smithsonian)

11 Speculative Fiction Titles Out in 2023 Perfect for Crime Fans (CrimeReads)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/26/23)

 Happy Sunday! In a few hours I'm starting the Knit for Food knitathon!

Ukrainian refugees increasingly targeted for sexual exploitation, research finds (The Guardian)

I cannot stress enough how bad these bills are! And this one is federal! House passes GOP education bill that aims to provide additional oversight for parents (CNN)

Meanwhile, some slight good news here: Parental bill of rights narrowly fails in NH House, but debate isn’t over yet (NH Bulletin)

But it's still really scary: How the debate over 'parental rights' in schools is playing out in New Hampshire (NHPR)

Angry Starbucks Union Workers Rallied Outside of Corporate HQ (Eater)

Has the Biden administration made gender-affirming surgery accessible for federal prisons? Officials won’t say. (The 19th*)

The U.S. Program That Brought H.I.V. Treatment to 20 Million People (NYT)

World in Photos: Venice’s dried-up canals (Grid)

Race, gender, romance — and guns: ‘The Survivalists’ explores creating control in life’s daily chaos (The 19th*)

Shipwreck Carrying Rare 19th-Century Ceramics Gets Government Protection (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

Ron DeSantis doesn’t think supporting Ukraine is a core U.S. interest. Here’s what that means for Putin, Zelenskyy and the Republican Party. (Grid)

Practical Magic: COVID Is Here to Stay — So What Does It Mean to Keep Each Other Safe? (Autostraddle)

The U.S. Has Billions for Wind and Solar Projects. Good Luck Plugging Them In. (NYT)

If You Give a Woman a Cookie (Eater)

The 2023 Aces Project: MLB insiders rank starting pitchers by tiers, from No. 1s to ‘guys’ (The Athletic)

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/25/23)

Today is Saturday, and tomorrow I am participating in the Knit for Food knitathon for hunger charities! Click here to sponsor me!

Conflict in Syria Escalates Following Attack That Killed a U.S. Contractor (NYT)

‘Over my dead body’: How Georgian protesters beat a Russian-style legal threat to their freedoms (Politico EU)

Horrifying: Oklahoma legislature censures nonbinary lawmaker as proposed gender-affirming care bans move forward (The 19th*)

LAUSD Reaches Deal With Support Staff On Salary Increases, Other Benefits, After Three-Day Strike Ends (LAist)

The Senate might go for . . . part of this? Maybe? NH House votes to codify abortion rights, remove penalties from 24-week ban (NHPR)

I’m a Covid researcher – and I have long Covid. That’s why I have to be part of the fight against it (The Guardian)

Male Birth Control Drug ‘Stops Sperm in Their Tracks’ in Study of Mice (Smithsonian)

Will Baseball’s New ‘Pitch Clock’ Threaten Ballpark Beer Sales? (Eater)

Severe Drought May Have Contributed to the Decline of the Hittites (Smithsonian)

How Reading Fairy Tales Influenced My Queerness (Book Riot)

And some longer reads:

Calculated evil: How Putin’s forces use war crimes and torture to erase Ukrainian identity (Politico EU)

Who is Guo Wengui? A Chinese billionaire, a friend of Steve Bannon’s and now an accused felon. (Grid)

NPR’s Michel Martin heads to ‘Morning Edition’ with a focus on ‘the stories that we don’t want to talk about’ (The 19th*)

The First Fossil Finders in North America Were Enslaved and Indigenous People (Smithsonian)

This was a useful overview: The 9 tiers of contenders in 2023 (MLB)

Friday, March 24, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/24/23) - Friday Happy Links!

This was a VERY long week but we made it to Friday! Time for some happy links!

WHAT A QUEST: One Woman’s Quest to Eat 244 Scones Across U.K. Is Now Complete (Smithsonian)

They've announced the International Booker Prize Longlist! (Booker Prizes)

Just call it speed-dating, you cowards: For catchers, Spring Training means speed-friending (MLB)

Scientists Breed Sea Dragons, but Not by the Seashore (NYT)

This is adorable: ‘The Night Manager’: Tom Hiddleston Meets His Indian Counterpart Aditya Roy Kapur On Video Call During London Screening (Deadline)

Once Upon a Time: Magical Items for Fairycore Lovers (Book Riot)

Fave Five: Sapphic Hollywood Romance (LGBTQ Reads)

Ooh, yum: Double Strawberry Sugar Cookies. (Half-Baked Harvest)

Remains of Roman aristocrat unearthed in ‘extraordinary’ cemetery near Leeds (The Guardian)

Steve Berry Talks History, Research, and Preservation (CrimeReads)

And some longer Friday reads:

See 15 Amazing Wildlife Images From the Sony World Photography Awards (Smithsonian)

114 Queer and Feminist Books Coming Your Way Spring 2023 (Autostraddle)

How NHL players on the move get housing assists — and gifts — from the guys they replace (The Athletic)

X Marks the Spot: Literary Treasure Hunts (CrimeReads)

8 Cozy Video Games That Feel Like Reading a Book (Book Riot)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/23/23)

Today is Thursday and I am sleepy, but I stayed up too late reading so it's entirely my own fault.

Appeals Court Orders Trump Lawyer to Hand Over Records in Documents Inquiry (NYT)

Nato chief: west must brace to support Ukraine in a long war (The Guardian)

After a year of war, why is Russian gas still flowing through Ukraine? (Grid)

TikTok's US future at stake as boss faces Congress showdown (BBC)

He's trying to ban us from public life completely. In general. That's the end game here. DeSantis moves to expand 'Don't Say Gay' law to Florida high schools (NBC News)

This is VERY BAD: NH lawmakers consider bill to remove ballot affidavits for voters lacking ID (NHPR)

What worries medical charities about trying to help Syria's earthquake survivors (NPR)

Traute Lafrenz, Last Surviving Member of Anti-Nazi Resistance Group the White Rose, Dies at 103 (Smithsonian)

Malaria mosquitoes are moving quickly into new territory as climate warms (Grid)

Medieval Pantry Stocked With Spices Found in 500-Year-Old Shipwreck (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

Is a ban on TikTok possible — and what would happen if it disappeared? (Grid)

Too close to the sun: The making and unmaking of Eva Kaili (Politico EU)

Inside Taiwanese Chip Giant, a U.S. Expansion Stokes Tensions (NYT)

At the MFA, a changing of the guards? (Boston Globe)

1st Black NL umpire Art Williams 'knew he was making history' (MLB)

Monday, March 20, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/20/23)

Monday again. The WBC keeps keeping me up past bedtime. Oh, here's my weekly TV news roundup at The Televixen.

Global Banks Under Pressure as Investors Eye Fallout From Credit Suisse Rescue (NYT)

Thailand: Parliament dissolved ahead of May election (BBC)

‘Hostile, authoritarian’ UK downgraded in civic freedoms index (The Guardian)

Maternal deaths in the U.S. spiked in 2021, CDC reports (NPR)

Finally: Dept of Veterans Affairs updates mission statement to include all genders & caregivers (LGBTQ Nation)

NASA unveils new spacesuit design, updating decades-old tech for upcoming moon missions (Grid)

Testing well water in warmer months could lead to different results, says UNH research (NHPR)

Just nine out of 116 AI professionals in key films are women, study finds (The Guardian)

California Lost 36 Million Trees to Drought Last Year (Smithsonian)

The New ‘Great British Bake Off’ Host Might Just Save the Show (Eater)

And some longer reads:

Russia’s biggest celebrities are taking sides on the Ukraine war - and the Kremlin is crushing the dissenters (Grid)

Trump doesn’t need a majority of the GOP to win the nomination. Just a third. (Grid)

Fountain Society (Places)

For the First Time, Genetically Modified Trees Have Been Planted in a U.S. Forest (NYT)

Discovery of 4,500-year-old palace in Iraq may hold key to ancient civilisation (The Guardian)

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/18/23)

Today is Saturday and I'm going to walk downtown and see what's going on at the bookstore and spice store and cafe, because . . . <gestures at everything>

Putin arrest warrant: Biden welcomes ICC's war crimes charges (BBC)

Rural populist party emerges as big winner in Dutch elections (The Guardian)

This will kill pregnant people: Wyoming Becomes First State to Outlaw Abortion Pills (NYT)

This will kill children: New Hampshire Senate passes GOP-backed parents' rights bill (NHPR)

Speaking of killing people: FDA offers radio silence on question of spring Covid boosters, as other countries push ahead (STAT)

Threats against Michigan women leaders highlight ongoing concerns over political violence (The 19th*)

The Silicon Valley Bank collapse changed the way Washington works with small and mid-sized banks (Grid)

The EPA's new 'good neighbor' rule targets downwind pollution by power plants (NPR)

Congratulations to the 2023 Lammy Finalists! (Lambda Literary)

Launching Dust From the Moon Could Help Cool Earth, Scientists Say (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

Why joining NATO and the EU are life or death issues for so many Ukrainians (Grid)

The Strongest Evidence Yet That an Animal Started the Pandemic (The Atlantic)

The truth is there's little the government can do about lies on cable (NPR)

The truth about caffeine: how coffee really affects our bodies (The Guardian)

Why Ohtani is the ace who's too nasty to catch (MLB)

Friday, March 17, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/17/23) - Friday Happy Links!

The time change made this feel like a VERY long week, but it's finally time for Friday happy links!

The WBC is awesome, actually: Watch Ohtani hit 102 on the radar -- his fastest pitch (MLB)

Long-lost shipwreck found with help from New Hampshire researchers (NHPR)

This sounds amazingly horrifying: Amazon's New Identical Twin Dating Show Sounds Like Double Trouble (TVLine)

!! Sufjan Stevens ‘Illinois’ Stage Musical Sets World Premiere; ‘West Side Story’ Choreographer Justin Peck To Direct (Deadline)

The Lincoln Memorial Is Getting a New Underground Museum (Smithsonian)

Exclusive Cover+Excerpt Reveal: The Manor House Governess by C.A. Castle (LGBTQ Reads)

‘Startling’ new evidence reveals gladiators fought in Roman Britain (The Guardian)

Whoa, I may have to try these this weekend: Coffee Chocolate Chip Blondies. (Half-Basked Harvest)

Ooh, interesting: Nicole Kassell, Nicole Perlman Tackling ‘Medusa’ for Amazon Studios (THR)

Mermaids, sirens and Alexander the Great (Medieval manuscripts blog)

And some longer Friday reads...

Larry the Cat’s 12 Years as Chief Mouser (The Atlantic)

‘It’s like finding needles in a haystack’: the mission to discover if Jupiter’s moons support life (The Guardian)

I love everything about this: Meet the TV Star Who Slings Pizzas in Santa Monica When the Camera Stops (Eater)

30 Must-Read SFF Books by Black Authors (Book Riot)

The Birth of Superman: How Two Jewish Kids in 1930's Cleveland Altered the Course of American Pop Culture (CrimeReads)

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/16/23)

Good news, we've made it to Thursday!

This is just breaking as I'm writing this: US military releases footage of Russian fighter jet forcing down American drone over Black Sea (CNN)

The Biden administration demands that TikTok be sold, or risk a nationwide ban (NPR)

Ugh, I was watching and this was awful, I hope he's okay. Puerto Rico ousts Dominican Republic at WBC, but Edwin Diaz hurts knee celebrating (ESPN)

Biden expected to sign new executive order on gun control (NHPR)

This is terrifying: An Oklahoma judge just transferred a lesbian mom’s parental rights to her son’s sperm donor (The 19th*)

Fifteen Million People at Risk of Severe Floods From Melting Glaciers (Smithsonian)

How Climate Change Is Spreading Malaria in Africa (NYT)

Equal Pay Day 2023 is a reminder that women still don’t receive equal pay for equal work (Grid)

How one Derbyshire museum took initiative in returning Indigenous artefacts (The Guardian)

Ancient Statue of Emperor Dressed as Hercules Discovered During Roman Sewer Repairs (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

Takeaways from China’s People’s Congress: Xi’s new appointees, economic reboot, and a ‘Great Wall of Steel’ (Grid)

The 4-metre-wide board detailing the entire Russian military chain of command in Ukraine (The Guardian)

Scientists Get a Close-Up Look Beneath a Troubling Ice Shelf in Antarctica (NYT)

Fascinating on several levels: The Archives of the East Village Eye Go to the New York Public Library (New Yorker)

I love logistics! What happens after an NHL trade? Inside the ‘whirlwind’ of logistics, from pickup to per diems (The Athletic)

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/14/23)

Today is Tuesday and it's snowing!

Aukus deal: US, UK and Australia agree on nuclear submarine project (BBC)

The FDIC decision on Silicon Valley Bank isn’t a typical bailout — but it’s not a typical bank resolution either. Here’s what just happened. (Grid)

Elizabeth Warren: Silicon Valley Bank Is Gone. We Know Who Is Responsible. (NYT)

New Hampshire Senate rejects codifying abortion rights (NHPR)

On the road to healing, tribal citizens are speaking out about boarding schools (NPR)

‘Crazy interesting’ findings by Australian researchers may reveal key to Covid immunity (The Guardian)

To diversify STEM fields, colleges should replace ‘weeding out’ with ‘welcoming in’ (STAT)

Ring discovered around dwarf planet Quaoar confounds theories (The Guardian)

Seven-Foot Sword Unearthed From 1,600-Year-Old Burial Mound in Japan (Smithsonian)

How Writing a Genderfluid Mystery Helped Me Understand Myself as Genderqueer (CrimeReads)

And some longer reads:

Why prosecuting Russian war crimes in Ukraine may be awkward for the US (Grid)

She Helped Unlock the Science of the Covid Vaccine (NYT)

Oldest Living Aristocratic Widow Tells All (New Yorker)

Ooh, interesting: With strong-armed catcher Sean Murphy, Braves could back-pick to offset new rules (The Athletic)

This is exactly who I want to hear from on this: Can Detective Novels Withstand the Moonlighting Curse? (CrimeReads)

Monday, March 13, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/13/23)

Ugh, it is Monday and I am DEAD after the stupid time change. Here's my weekly TV news roundup at The Televixen. 

Hm: Pence says Trump was 'wrong' about Jan. 6 and that history will hold him accountable (NPR)

Ugh: Administration to Approve Huge Alaska Oil Project on Monday, Two Officials Say (NYT)

Good: Biden’s new strategy to protect US cybersecurity: Hold software companies accountable (Grid)

It is 2023!! Michelle Yeoh Makes Oscars History as First Asian Lead Actress Winner (Variety)

Awful: In Florida, 1 in 10 minors are denied abortions by judges (The 19th*)

SIGH: BBC will not broadcast Attenborough episode over fear of ‘rightwing backlash’ (The Guardian)

French Museum Will Return ‘Talking Drum’ to Ivory Coast (Smithsonian)

For the first time in decades, The Old Farmer's Almanac is looking for a new editor (NHPR)

Orca Moms Pay a High Price to Feed Large Adult Sons (NYT)

Drought may have doomed ancient Hittite empire, tree study reveals (The Guardian)

And some longer reads:

From ‘Hitler’ to ‘Sharing One Fate’: Saudi-Iran Pact Could Transform the Middle East (NYT)

Britain is rationing vegetables. What’s driving the great produce shortage? (Grid)

Sending Help Instead of the Police in Albuquerque (New Yorker)

The NHL’s Russia-Pride jersey problem, explained: Why Wild became latest to scrap plans (The Athletic)

This Indycar announcer learned to love autonomous car racing by embracing AI’s humanity (Grid)

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Friday, March 10, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/10/23) - Friday Happy Links!

Yay, it's Friday! Time for some happy links!

!? ‘The Night Manager’ Season 2 In Works At Amazon & BBC With Tom Hiddleston Returning (Deadline)

This is very fun to play with: Statcast Catcher Blocking Leaderboard (Baseball Savant)

See Jude Law as Captain Hook in First ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ Teaser (TV Insider)

Home village hopes ‘greatest Welsh thinker’ finally receives his dues (The Guardian)

Didn't even have to deliberate slant my answers this time: Quiz: Which Actress From Early Hollywood’s Sapphic “Sewing Circle” Are You? (Autostraddle) 

Diane Warren Performs Her 14 Oscar-Nominated Songs in Six Minutes (THR)

Fug Nation Loves Unhinged (And Not) Items For St Patrick’s Day! (GFY)

Archaeologists Find Elite Residences at Mexico’s Chichén Itzá (Smithsonian)

Five Books to Pair With a Good Cup of Tea (Tor)

YES: Bring Back the Giant, Loaded Baked Potato (Eater)

And some longer Friday reads:

I love him: Meet Spencer Strider: The mustachioed, tofu-loving Cy Young contender (Fox Sports)

Oh god I want ALL of it: Are You a Samantha? A Molly? An Addy?: Deck Out in American Girl Nostalgia Goods (Book Riot)

These are amazing: The Timeless Draw of Decorating Cookies (Smithsonian)

17 Things That Glow To Add a Little Light and Kitsch to Your Workspace or Bedside (Autostraddle)

What Is It That Makes Used Bookstores So Wonderful? (CrimeReads)

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/9/23)

Thursday! But it's my Friday and I'm very excited.

Deadly Russian missile barrage slams targets across Ukraine (NPR)

Putin’s Russia summons Stalin from the grave as a wartime ally (Politico EU)

Justice Dept. Finds Pattern of Discriminatory Policing in Louisville (NYT)

The real reason Larry Hogan decided not to run for president: Winnowing the field to stop Trump (Grid)

Meanwhile: Ron DeSantis has his next target in his sights: freedom of the press (The Guardian)

In testimony and rally, crowds oppose Republican-backed bills targeting LGBTQ youth (NHPR)

Biden administration releases first-ever report on diversity in federal government (The 19th*)

Good! CDC Includes Covid-19 Shots in Routine Immunization Schedule (Smithsonian)

Speaking of the CDC, huh! Most Americans want to ban cigarettes and other tobacco products, per new CDC survey (Grid)

Vikings Brought Horses and Dogs to England, Study Finds (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S. (NYT)

How drag queens became the latest far-right target — in Tennessee and across the US (Grid)

Revealed: the hacking and disinformation team meddling in elections (The Guardian)

Crime and the City: Cork, Ireland (CrimeReads)

As MLB cracks down on balks, rule change ‘poster boy’ Kevin Gausman taps new delivery (The Athletic)

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/8/23)

Today is Wednesday, but I definitely just had to stare at that date for a minute to make sure I had the right month.

N.T.S.B. Will Investigate Norfolk Southern’s Safety Practices (NYT)

As Israel’s democracy erodes, its government delegitimizes criticism (Politico EU)

Bans on gender-affirming care would have a 'catastrophic' impact on LGBTQ youth in NH, health providers warn (NHPR)

Fox News hit with election complaint after Biden ad given to Trump son-in-law (The Guardian)

How D.C.’s criminal code became a political headache for Joe Biden (Grid)

1 in 4 parents report being fired for work interruptions due to child care breakdowns (The 19th*)

The Rumble Over Russian Composer Tchaikovsky At An Elite Ukrainian Conservatory (RFE)

What Made Judy Heumann, Mother of the Disability Rights Movement, an American Hero (Smithsonian)

The second most forested state, NH may end its forester licensing program (NH Bulletin)

Love this: Bolts source Pride puck design from local artist, Chad Mize (NHL)

And some longer reads:

Why Russia’s manpower advantage may not be enough to win the war in Ukraine (Grid)

As the Colorado River Shrinks, Washington Prepares to Spread the Pain (NYT)

U.S. kids face a ‘hunger cliff’ as pandemic aid programs end (Grid)

When Americans Lost Faith in the News (New Yorker)

My favorite nerdy boy: The Spencer Strider conundrum: Can a starting pitcher dominate with two pitches? (The Athletic)

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/7/23)

Tuesday, I guess!

This is long but important news so I'm putting it up here: Five Women Sue Texas Over the State’s Abortion Ban (NYT)

Related, this is very bad! Americans don’t know if abortion is legal in their state, new poll shows (The 19th*)

The impact of the Ukraine war on food supplies: 'It could have been so much worse' (NPR)

8 items in Sununu’s budget that didn’t make his address (NH Bulletin)

Jesus Christ: Marianne Williamson begins longshot 2024 challenge to Biden (NHPR)

Rupert Murdoch’s deposition in $1.6 billion defamation case is ‘a nightmare’ for Fox News, legal experts say (Grid)

Space Officials Want a Time Zone for the Moon (Smithsonian)

French, Swiss groups can’t restrict ‘gruyere’ cheese label, US court says (Politico EU)

‘Less clumpy’ universe may suggest existence of mysterious forces (The Guardian)

Archaeologists Find 2,000-Year-Old Gemstones in Drain Beneath a Roman Bathhouse (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

How CPAC went from launching the Reagan era to “Schlapp Inc. and the Trump grifters (Grid)

This city shouldn’t be here (Politico EU)

‘We see misogyny every day’: how Andrew Tate’s twisted ideology infiltrated British schools (The Guardian)

The Promise of a New Alzheimer’s Drug (New Yorker)

Marcia Muller: A Crime Reader's Guide to the Classics (CrimeReads)

Monday, March 6, 2023

Book Review: Diamond Ring by KD Casey

Diamond Ring by KD Casey
Adult LGBTQIA+ contemporary sports romance
Harlequin Carina
April 11, 2023

Jake Fischer has been here before: pitching for the Oakland Elephants, hiding his worries behind a smile, hoping to win it all. Ten years ago, it didn’t turn out the way he wanted. Nothing in his life did. But now he’s back—and so is the one teammate tied inexorably to his past.

It doesn’t matter how many times catcher Alex Angelides replays that moment during the Fall Classic over in his mind, the outcome never changes. He’s not sure what happened to make that pitch glance off his glove, or what happened with his relationship with Jake—and he’s not going to be the one to ask.

A whole lot may have changed in the last decade, but some things have stayed the same. Jake and Alex still can’t stay out of each other's faces on the field, or out of each other's beds off of it. They’ve got a second chance to win it all…but only if they realize what they lost.

Anyone who has listened to me talk about books at all in the last year has probably heard about how much I've been loving KD Casey's queer Jewish baseball romances, and I'm going to be super honest here: I had a mental block trying to write this review for weeks because I just loved this one so much that I'm getting intimidated trying to put it into words. It's somehow the softest and saddest and hottest book of the series, which is really quite a feat to pull off.

Casey has done some different configurations of players in their books, and while they've all been good, this pitcher/catcher pairing was my favorite because of that unique dynamic and closeness they have in the game and the way it transfers - or doesn't - to their personal lives. Jake and Alex are thrown together as rookies, build up a closeness that is then interrupted, and then wind up on the same team again years later. This time jump was really interesting because several aspects of both of their lives and careers wound up going in a different way than you'd expect, but in a way that really worked and took into account the effects that luck in both health and contracts have on players' lives. The golden boy rookie is not necessarily going to have the perfect career.

My favorite kinds of romances are the ones about people learning to take care of themselves and each other, and Casey does this so well. The main characters are both just really good people who make plenty of mistakes but are trying their best, and really learn and grow a lot over the course of the book. I jokingly call these books Sad Soft Baseball Boyfriends, but I love seeing the space given to both the sadness and the softness, especially in a genre like m/m sports romance where sometimes things can feel a bit macho. And while I think this is the spiciest of the series, as I mentioned above, I was also really impressed with the way the sexual dynamic felt so organic to the characters.

A particular strength of this book is its exploration of mental health and how it affects relationships, and Casey does a great job of avoiding all the pitfalls so many books fall into in this area. Again, I don't want to go into too many details that might spoil you, but the portrayal of Jake's anxiety was extremely relatable (including a coping technique I use that I'd never actually heard anyone mention before!), and I love love love the way Alex approached it. Without saying too much, I think I can say that it wasn't a "love magically fixes everything" situation like too many books do, but also wasn't presented as a Relationship Obstacle in and of itself.

Friends to lovers and second chance romance are two of my favorite tropes, and obviously this book is a perfect illustration of both of those, but there's another specific trope I LOVE that this book does EXTREMELY well, and I cannot think of any way to say more that wouldn't mess with the COMPLETE GLEE that I hope you have when you get to that point in your reading, so I guess I will just stay maddeningly cryptic about that. Also stay tuned for a TRULY AMAZING scene set at an important New York landmark.

This is the third in Casey's series for Carina, and while it stands perfectly fine alone - and is the best of the three, I think - they're all extremely good and I definitely recommend starting at the beginning with Unwritten Rules, because a lot of the stuff going on in this one with secondary characters will mean so much more to you if you know their history. I'm not sure if this will be the last in the series, but the ending feels incredibly well-earned, and fans of the previous books will be happy to see the updates on everyone's lives. This was truly one of the most satisfying reading experiences I've had in a long time.

Author's Site | Amazon

Note: I received a review copy from NetGalley and am friendly with the author, but I'd never tell you I liked a book if I didn't.

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/6/23)

It's Monday again! Here's my TV news roundup for the week at The Televixen.

Pakistani Police Say Khan Not At Residence But Arrest Warrant Issued Through PTI Leaders (RFE)

Ukraine’s reporters adapt amid media restrictions and pressure of war (The Guardian)

I believe everyone deserves legal defense but also LOL: NSC-131 members say they can't find a NH defense lawyer for pending civil rights case (NHPR)

More than half of queer Florida parents have considered fleeing the state in the wake of ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ study finds (The 19th*)

Two Native Hawaiians get prison in a crime that exposed the state's racial complexity (NPR)

Covid-19 surveillance added new burdens on essential workers — and gave them little data to protect their health (STAT)

Early springs and harsh winters are hitting many parts of the U.S. Here’s why. (Grid)

High-Altitude Balloons Aren’t Just for Spying. Here’s How Scientists Use Them (Smithsonian)

Plant toxin hailed as ‘new weapon’ in antibiotic war against bacteria (The Guardian)

8 Books About the History (and Digital Legacy) of the Oregon Trail (Book Riot)

And some longer reads:

'We Have No Choice': Ukrainian Judge Turned Soldier Says Justice Is Impossible Without Victory (RFE)

How the Energy Department’s covid report fits into the lab leak vs. natural origin debate (Grid)

The Trump world-Fox News war gets nasty (Politico)

Where is Physics Headed (and How Soon Do We Get There)? (NYT)

Colette Revolutionized French Literature With Her Depictions of Female Desire (Smithsonian)

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (3/4/23)

It's a very snowy Saturday morning!

Ales Bialiatski: Nobel Prize-winning activist sentenced to 10 years in jail (BBC)

One year later, Russia’s misinformation war is still getting help from Western companies. (Grid)

How Do You Stop Lawmakers From Destroying the Law? (The Atlantic)

Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to 2 life terms for the double murder of his wife and son (NPR)

‘If You Took the Drag Away, Then It’s Just Another Boring Bar’ (Eater)

NH Supreme Court deadlocks on whether governor’s office must turn over emails (NHPR)

We are all playing Covid roulette. Without clean air, the next infection could permanently disable you (The Guardian)

The topic is serious but the wording of the headline made me laugh: Amnesty asks Premier League to re-examine assurances that Saudi state do not control Newcastle (The Athletic)

Alarmed by Satellite Constellations, Astronomers Petition the UN for Help (Gizmodo)

5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads...

World in Photos: From Ukraine and Beyond, One Year of War (Grid)

NH AG’s pursuit of hate group marks a turning point in officials’ response to extremism (NHPR)

Why Elly Schlein is freaking out Italy’s ‘soft’ socialists (Politico EU)

Advocates, lawmakers warn that Biden telehealth rule will worsen opioid crisis (STAT)

America’s Next Great Speedskater Is Coming for the Dutch (NYT)