These are gorgeous: To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voyager missions, NASA made these stunning, free posters
The Women Who Rode Miles on Horseback to Deliver Library Books
Don't worry; it's about a different one: When a New York Baron Became President
Solving the Mysterious Disappearance of Two 18th-Century French Frigates
The Two Best Dutch Anatomists of the 17th Century Hated Each Other
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
A Brief List of Elderly Strangers Who Are Never Allowed to Die
John le Carré's new novel is out today, and I've read a bunch of reviews of it, and a very common subtext - and in some cases text text - is just pure relief at the fact that le Carré, who turns 86 next month, is still alive and writing (coherently and well!). AND I AGREE. We cannot possibly be expected to deal with the world, especially in its present state, without knowing that he and his characters are out there. Stay well, Mr. Cornwell.
Also in this category for me:
Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer - Yes, I need both of them. The Sound of Music was very formative for me, okay?
Maggie Smith - Don't worry; I'm sure McGonagall will figure out immortality if she wants.
Beverly Cleary - She's 101. I know we should be grateful we've had her for so long. Still.
Derek Jacobi - I feel better just knowing Cadfael is in the world.
Jimmy Carter - I mean, seriously. I know he can't actually do anything official but I just feel like we need all the decent ex-presidents we can get for some kind of karmic balance.
Her Majesty the Queen - I don't even want to talk about it.
EDITED TO ADD: Ruth Bader Ginsberg - My friend Abby just reminded me and I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT HER.
Also in this category for me:
Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer - Yes, I need both of them. The Sound of Music was very formative for me, okay?
Maggie Smith - Don't worry; I'm sure McGonagall will figure out immortality if she wants.
Beverly Cleary - She's 101. I know we should be grateful we've had her for so long. Still.
Derek Jacobi - I feel better just knowing Cadfael is in the world.
Jimmy Carter - I mean, seriously. I know he can't actually do anything official but I just feel like we need all the decent ex-presidents we can get for some kind of karmic balance.
Her Majesty the Queen - I don't even want to talk about it.
EDITED TO ADD: Ruth Bader Ginsberg - My friend Abby just reminded me and I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT HER.
Morning Coffee (9/5/17)
Now that people are back from long weekends, I'm going to mention again: there are some changes around here and on my Patreon! As the month progresses I'll be highlighting some of the specific goals and rewards, but please check it out if you have a moment. Patreon really helps me devote the time necessary to put together link posts, and gives me some writing time too!
The questions that 800,000 people are waiting for Trump to answer about DACA
U.N. Group Accuses Burundi Leaders of Crimes Against Humanity
The N.F.L. Star Appealed for Donations. Then His Mom Got to Work.
Sad news: Poet John Ashbery has died.
And so has Walter Becker of Steely Dan.
Year of the woman: the Democrats inspired by Trump to run for office
A young girl pulled a sword from the lake where Arthur threw Excalibur!
Wow: A camera store shows off gear wrecked by the solar eclipse
Ruined ‘Apartments’ May Hold Clues to Native American History
Found: 381 New Amazon Species
The questions that 800,000 people are waiting for Trump to answer about DACA
U.N. Group Accuses Burundi Leaders of Crimes Against Humanity
The N.F.L. Star Appealed for Donations. Then His Mom Got to Work.
Sad news: Poet John Ashbery has died.
And so has Walter Becker of Steely Dan.
Year of the woman: the Democrats inspired by Trump to run for office
A young girl pulled a sword from the lake where Arthur threw Excalibur!
Wow: A camera store shows off gear wrecked by the solar eclipse
Ruined ‘Apartments’ May Hold Clues to Native American History
Found: 381 New Amazon Species
Monday, September 4, 2017
Afternoon Tea (9/4/17)
This is fascinating: This 19th Century Lady Doctor Helped Usher Indian Women Into Medicine
A Neural Network Wrote the Next 'Game of Thrones' Book Because George R.R. Martin Hasn't
The Prehistoric Puzzle of How Plesiosaurs Swam Through the Oceans
Did Benedict Arnold’s fleet plunder an American settlement?
The True Story of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond—And Why the British Won’t Give It Back
A Neural Network Wrote the Next 'Game of Thrones' Book Because George R.R. Martin Hasn't
The Prehistoric Puzzle of How Plesiosaurs Swam Through the Oceans
Did Benedict Arnold’s fleet plunder an American settlement?
The True Story of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond—And Why the British Won’t Give It Back
Morning Coffee (9/4/17)
Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.
This is terrible: Trump has decided to end DACA, with 6-month delay
How to Get Away With Murder in Small-Town India
A taxonomy of American far-right hate groups
Good for him: Pepe the Frog Cartoonist Stops Distribution of Children’s Book
Beer-Brewing Monks Are Helping Rebuild Earthquake-Devastated Town In Italy
Okay, some happy news: new royal baby on the way!!
And more new Taylor Swift!
Huh, interesting: Dr. Phil Video Leads to Novel Copyright Decision Involving Woman Alleging False Imprisonment
Ancient Romans Were Using Lead Pipes Earlier Than We Thought
This is terrible: Trump has decided to end DACA, with 6-month delay
How to Get Away With Murder in Small-Town India
A taxonomy of American far-right hate groups
Good for him: Pepe the Frog Cartoonist Stops Distribution of Children’s Book
Beer-Brewing Monks Are Helping Rebuild Earthquake-Devastated Town In Italy
Okay, some happy news: new royal baby on the way!!
And more new Taylor Swift!
Huh, interesting: Dr. Phil Video Leads to Novel Copyright Decision Involving Woman Alleging False Imprisonment
Ancient Romans Were Using Lead Pipes Earlier Than We Thought
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Morning Coffee (9/3/17)
Want more links? Join me on Patreon!
Oh. North Korea Says It Tested a Hydrogen Bomb Meant for Missiles
Wow: How Canada has been secretly giving asylum to gay people in Chechnya fleeing persecution
These people are doing amazing work: How the Houston Chronicle is covering the city's historic disaster
“Sexualized fascism”: how the taboo nature of Nazi imagery made the alt-right more powerful
The Fake-News Fallacy
Hedge funds: Game of Thrones location spurs rise of business empire
Life in Kyrgyzstan, 26 Years After the Collapse of the Soviet Union
Found: Hidden Examples of Long-Lost Languages in Centuries-Old Palimpsests
TRUE AND IMPORTANT: The Hayley Mills Parent Trap Is Way Better than the Remake
Heh: From Napkin to Notoriety: The Meteoric Rise of That Writer You Can’t Stand
Oh. North Korea Says It Tested a Hydrogen Bomb Meant for Missiles
Wow: How Canada has been secretly giving asylum to gay people in Chechnya fleeing persecution
These people are doing amazing work: How the Houston Chronicle is covering the city's historic disaster
“Sexualized fascism”: how the taboo nature of Nazi imagery made the alt-right more powerful
The Fake-News Fallacy
Hedge funds: Game of Thrones location spurs rise of business empire
Life in Kyrgyzstan, 26 Years After the Collapse of the Soviet Union
Found: Hidden Examples of Long-Lost Languages in Centuries-Old Palimpsests
TRUE AND IMPORTANT: The Hayley Mills Parent Trap Is Way Better than the Remake
Heh: From Napkin to Notoriety: The Meteoric Rise of That Writer You Can’t Stand
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Morning Coffee (9/2/17)
I made some changes around here yesterday! If you missed it, take a look at my post explaining everything. And please consider supporting my Patreon - if all my regular readers gave just a dollar or two per month, we'd easily fund the next goal, which includes PAYING PEOPLE (you??) to write guest posts!
Extremely useful: Six Charts To Help Americans Understand The Upcoming German Election
This seems, you know, important: Russian Election Hacking Efforts, Wider Than Previously Known, Draw Little Scrutiny
"The president, for his part, has marveled at the installation of management controls that would have been considered routine in any other White House."
The Onion in the age of Trump: ‘What we do becomes essential when its targets are this clownish’
I wish the need for this were surprising: These Women Entrepreneurs Created A Fake Male Cofounder To Dodge Startup Sexism
Todd VanDerWerff is a delight, as usual: Should you spend $20+ to see Marvel’s Inhumans in IMAX? Look, it’s your money.
A New Statue Remembers A Forgotten, Working Class Suffragette
Why African-American Soldiers Saw World War II as a Two-Front Battle
I was just wondering about this: Why Are We All Supposed to Be Excited to Eat Charcoal?
Inside One of Tinder’s Controversial Hamptons Parties
Extremely useful: Six Charts To Help Americans Understand The Upcoming German Election
This seems, you know, important: Russian Election Hacking Efforts, Wider Than Previously Known, Draw Little Scrutiny
"The president, for his part, has marveled at the installation of management controls that would have been considered routine in any other White House."
The Onion in the age of Trump: ‘What we do becomes essential when its targets are this clownish’
I wish the need for this were surprising: These Women Entrepreneurs Created A Fake Male Cofounder To Dodge Startup Sexism
Todd VanDerWerff is a delight, as usual: Should you spend $20+ to see Marvel’s Inhumans in IMAX? Look, it’s your money.
A New Statue Remembers A Forgotten, Working Class Suffragette
Why African-American Soldiers Saw World War II as a Two-Front Battle
I was just wondering about this: Why Are We All Supposed to Be Excited to Eat Charcoal?
Inside One of Tinder’s Controversial Hamptons Parties
Friday, September 1, 2017
Things are happening!
Happy September! Again. I know I said that this morning, but I'm REALLY happy about it. So I figured September 1st was the perfect time to make some changes. As soon as the weather turns, I start waking up with energy and ideas and ambition. I love the back to school feeling, even though I'm not going back to school. So I figured I'd try to capture that feeling and that energy and channel them into making this blog and my Patreon into what I'd love them to be. (Plus, it gave me an excuse to use dorky school-themed names for the reward levels.)
I'm telling you about this here partially because the Patreon changes will mean a few changes you'll see on the blog as well, and partially to encourage blog readers to consider joining me on Patreon. I've never wanted readers to feel pressured about this, because I want these link posts, especially, to be available to everyone regardless of ability to pay, and because I really do enjoy putting them together - but it is a not insignificant time and energy commitment for me, and getting compensated for that time means I can continue prioritizing those posts and will be in less danger of burning out. The great thing about the Patreon model is that for most people, a $1 or $3 per month contribution wouldn't even be noticeable in their own finances, but they build together to make a small but steady stream of income I can depend on. And it's (I hope!) not all one-sided - patrons get all sorts of extra exclusive content at the various levels. So please head over and check it out!
Now, what's changing on the blog, you ask?
First of all, the links aren't going anywhere. Don't worry.
But! In addition to the links, you'll now get at least two non-link posts a week. One of these will be a recommendation of something I'm liking (book, movie, show, music, food, app, whatever!), and the other will be whatever grabbed my interest and made me want to write about it that week - something related to current events or pop culture or whatever else I'm thinking about.
Ads are gone. They went away today. Frankly, the TINY bit of money I got from them wasn't worth making you guys look at them every day.
New colors and layout! I like the blue but I'm still considering whether I like the new left sidebar. If you have strong opinions either way, let me know in the comments!
My next Patreon goal will mean a big change for the blog as well: When I get to $100 a month, I'll start publishing a guest post or interview each month. I really love the idea of getting some voices other than mine on here, and I have all sorts of ideas for who to get to talk to you. Look for a whole post about this next week, but for now let me say that I have an AWESOME holiday-related interview lined up... so let's try to get to $100 in time, okay??
I changed up the Patreon rewards today too. One big change is that ALL levels $3 and up will now have a monthly Skype hangout! I'm looking forward to that - sign up soon to get in on the poll for September's scheduling. The monthly recipe reward is now just $10, and there are some new higher levels: everything from exclusive playlists to peeks at my novel in progress to ASSIGNING ME HOMEWORK (blog posts) to getting my help editing YOUR writing. You can see them all in the right column here!
I'm going to be plugging all this a bit this month to get it off the ground; I'm apologizing in advance because I HATE marketing myself and I'm sure it's annoying to read. But you can absolutely help (and make me quiet down about it sooner) by sharing - sharing the Patreon and blog in general, sharing the link posts with your friends who might find them useful, sharing other posts that catch your eye.
As always, thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or suggestions, let me know!
I'm telling you about this here partially because the Patreon changes will mean a few changes you'll see on the blog as well, and partially to encourage blog readers to consider joining me on Patreon. I've never wanted readers to feel pressured about this, because I want these link posts, especially, to be available to everyone regardless of ability to pay, and because I really do enjoy putting them together - but it is a not insignificant time and energy commitment for me, and getting compensated for that time means I can continue prioritizing those posts and will be in less danger of burning out. The great thing about the Patreon model is that for most people, a $1 or $3 per month contribution wouldn't even be noticeable in their own finances, but they build together to make a small but steady stream of income I can depend on. And it's (I hope!) not all one-sided - patrons get all sorts of extra exclusive content at the various levels. So please head over and check it out!
Now, what's changing on the blog, you ask?
First of all, the links aren't going anywhere. Don't worry.
But! In addition to the links, you'll now get at least two non-link posts a week. One of these will be a recommendation of something I'm liking (book, movie, show, music, food, app, whatever!), and the other will be whatever grabbed my interest and made me want to write about it that week - something related to current events or pop culture or whatever else I'm thinking about.
Ads are gone. They went away today. Frankly, the TINY bit of money I got from them wasn't worth making you guys look at them every day.
New colors and layout! I like the blue but I'm still considering whether I like the new left sidebar. If you have strong opinions either way, let me know in the comments!
My next Patreon goal will mean a big change for the blog as well: When I get to $100 a month, I'll start publishing a guest post or interview each month. I really love the idea of getting some voices other than mine on here, and I have all sorts of ideas for who to get to talk to you. Look for a whole post about this next week, but for now let me say that I have an AWESOME holiday-related interview lined up... so let's try to get to $100 in time, okay??
I changed up the Patreon rewards today too. One big change is that ALL levels $3 and up will now have a monthly Skype hangout! I'm looking forward to that - sign up soon to get in on the poll for September's scheduling. The monthly recipe reward is now just $10, and there are some new higher levels: everything from exclusive playlists to peeks at my novel in progress to ASSIGNING ME HOMEWORK (blog posts) to getting my help editing YOUR writing. You can see them all in the right column here!
I'm going to be plugging all this a bit this month to get it off the ground; I'm apologizing in advance because I HATE marketing myself and I'm sure it's annoying to read. But you can absolutely help (and make me quiet down about it sooner) by sharing - sharing the Patreon and blog in general, sharing the link posts with your friends who might find them useful, sharing other posts that catch your eye.
As always, thank you for reading, and if you have any questions or suggestions, let me know!
Afternoon Tea (9/1/17)
100 Books Across America: Fiction and Nonfiction for Every State in the Union
This is cool: Inside Netflix and Marvel’s heroic efforts to keep track of all the injuries to their superheroes
This photoessay about similar Hilton rooms around the world is actually pretty soothing.
Mozart’s Visit to what became Buckingham Palace
Did German U-Boats Smuggle Alcohol Into the U.S. During Prohibition?
This is cool: Inside Netflix and Marvel’s heroic efforts to keep track of all the injuries to their superheroes
This photoessay about similar Hilton rooms around the world is actually pretty soothing.
Mozart’s Visit to what became Buckingham Palace
Did German U-Boats Smuggle Alcohol Into the U.S. During Prohibition?
Morning Coffee (9/1/17)
Happy September! You may have noticed that things look a little different around here this morning! I thought it was time for a change. I've got a few other changes in the pipeline too, so check back this afternoon to read all about it!
But first some Friday happy links...
Isabel Allende is going to be on Jane the Virgin!
This made me want to do a rewatch immediately: When Gossip Girl Ruled the World
Aaaah, Sesame Street made "Despacito" except about Rubber Duckie!!
From the Fug Girls: Queen Elizabeth Plots Some Twists For the Next Season of the Royal Family, TV's Longest-Running Soap Opera
!! Inside the Massive New Bookshop That Could Be the World’s Biggest
Hahaha: Things I Have Googled Trying to Guesstimate Men’s Heights from Their Tinder Photos
Sue Grafton from A to Z
Ooh fun: 20 Back to School Romance Novels
LET'S GO: New York’s fanciest – the city's increasingly dazzling ice-creams
The Search for the World’s Most Enchanting Greenhouses
But first some Friday happy links...
Isabel Allende is going to be on Jane the Virgin!
This made me want to do a rewatch immediately: When Gossip Girl Ruled the World
Aaaah, Sesame Street made "Despacito" except about Rubber Duckie!!
From the Fug Girls: Queen Elizabeth Plots Some Twists For the Next Season of the Royal Family, TV's Longest-Running Soap Opera
!! Inside the Massive New Bookshop That Could Be the World’s Biggest
Hahaha: Things I Have Googled Trying to Guesstimate Men’s Heights from Their Tinder Photos
Sue Grafton from A to Z
Ooh fun: 20 Back to School Romance Novels
LET'S GO: New York’s fanciest – the city's increasingly dazzling ice-creams
The Search for the World’s Most Enchanting Greenhouses
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