Morning Coffee (4/29/15)

This broke late-ish last night, so if you didn't see: Seinfeld is coming to Hulu! Eee!

How to Read the Ups and Downs of Polling in the G.O.P. Race

Oops: Politician Caught Googling “Historical Figure” After Being Asked to Name Admired Historical Figure

In which my friend Jonny continues to be hilarious: Introducing the Waterstones Watch

Adolescence is Strange: Where Are All the YA Games?

Have you read about Wings of Rescue?

Why Star Trek ships always meet nose-to-nose.

The Onion: Content Writer Awkwardly Shows Parents Around Website Where He Works

Morning Coffee (4/28/15)

I'm just catching up on the news from Baltimore over night, but as usual, Vox is a good place to start for running updates.

An important read: Report from the Field: On (Not) Reporting Sexual Violence

They're moving the pumpkin festival to Laconia, where there aren't any college kids or, you know, people.

A good explainer, if you're wondering what's going on with the Hugos: How conservatives took over sci-fi's most prestigious award

Bourbon mystery solved! There's a softball team involved. It's all quite intriguing.

World's oldest stone tools discovered in Kenya

I think Gary Hart has forgotten house endorsements work. "I'm obliged to, if nothing else, because he supported me." Well, I'm convinced!

The Onion: Baby Has Sinking Feeling He Left Home Without Oversize Multicolor Plastic Keys

"This is not Greece! Amazons do not wear top hats nor corsets into battle! That top hat is pretty great, though!"

Morning Coffee (4/27/15)

Me elsewhere: TV news roundup.

Armenia, on Day of Rain and Sorrow, Observes 100th Anniversary of Genocide

The Armenian rugs that tell two stories

Sid Tepper has died. You might not know his name, but I bet you know some of his music.

The model for Rosie the Riveter has also died.

"Intentions are not magic, but they are data."

"All books with words in them teach us about writing."

Wow, this is right on: Here Is When You'll Get Over Your Ex

And on a lighter note than . . . most of that . . . let's get your Monday started with a bearded half-naked Tom Hardy with a puppy.

Morning Coffee (4/24/15)

Happy Friday!

Check out this great project funding a camp for girls that combines story and STEM skills.

Have you seen the new GeekyCon music video "Get Your Geek On" yet? No? You should probably do that. (I love that I get to work with a company that comes up with stuff like this.)

Aww, this is awesome: Sign Of The Times: Straight High School Student Asks His Gay Best Friend To The Prom

This Robin Hood situation is out of control but I can't exactly say I MIND.

Neat idea for a fundraiser: Scale model of Chester Cathedral to be made in Lego

The Real Deal on Tartan, Kilts, and Outlander Costumes

Speaking of costumes: Dress worn by Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind sold for $137,000

This actually is hilarious: 25 Hilarious Tumblr Moments That Sum Up Classical Music

Morning Coffee (4/23/15)

TV has been readying Americans for a Hillary Clinton presidency for a decade

This is almost always my favorite genre of news story: Lost toy lion returned after Hughenden Manor 'adventure'

Ooh: Replica of Lafayette’s Frigate to Set Sail From France for a U.S. Visit

If it comes down to democracy vs. ice cream cathedrals . . . I mean, why don't WE have ice cream cathedrals???

This isn't really "surprising" to anyone who knows much about Madeleine L'Engle, but it's still interesting.

I didn't know about T.H. Tsien, who died this week, but his story is fascinating.

I'm learning that the ABA Journal is right up there with the Chronicle of Higher Ed in the "secretly hilarious" category: Squished-together words don't count as one, Federal Circuit says; appeal is tossed

The Reasons That Everything Happens For, In Order

Morning Coffee (4/22/15)

Marooned in an overgrown tea garden

The 2016 election so far, in 6 Onion headlines

Ooh: New mass extinction event identified by geologists

Oh, New Hampshire: Wandering cows herded from Mall of NH back to home property

Elsewhere in weird animal news: Be careful when flying with your wolverine.

And: Wind apparently propels turkey through law firm window

Heh, Google now has Loch Ness Street View.

Adorable: "On being told his daddy was 'in China' he trotted over to the china cabinet, looked inside and pronounced, 'Daddy is not here.'"

Morning Coffee (4/21/15)

Jon Stewart's last day on The Daily Show is August 6th. :(

Related: A worthwhile, nuanced read on the Trevor Noah controversy: Necessarily the News

The new Mr. Holmes trailer is intriguing.

I absolutely want to read this story by ten-year-old future Queen Victoria.

Magna Carta: Runnymede Eco-Village 'hippies not wanted'

Aww: 7-Year-Old Writes George Lucas To Change The Rules So Jedis Can Get Married, So He Can Get Married

The eeriness of the English countryside

Perfect: When I win this fucking award, I won’t even know what award they’re talking about at first. “No, I’m serious,” I’ll say. “What award?”

Morning Coffee (4/20/15)

Me elsewhere: Your TV news for the week.

Sad news: Jonathan Crombie (who played Gilbert Blythe) passed away over the weekend.

Dear Marco Rubio, This is not how to win friends in New Hampshire.

This is not how you archive.

If you have Henry VII's bed, maybe don't leave it in a car park.

Elsewhere in famous bed news: Bedspread thought to be from Abraham Lincoln's deathbed to be tested for blood

Maureen Johnson says good things about teachers, sexism, and more.

Fascinating: The lavish lifestyle of India's royalty

Heh: A Day in the Life of a Fictional Female Reporter

Morning Coffee (4/17/15)

Happy Friday!

From the people who brought you the Kitten Bowl: The Paw Star Game, coming July 12th. Somehow the idea of kittens playing baseball is even sillier than kittens playing football. I can't wait.

I love this Alan Sepinwall piece on hope-watching vs. hate-watching.

The first all-girl quintuplets have been born in the United States, and one of them appears to be named after a John Green character.

The Morgan Library has a new director. I love the Morgan Library.

My new favorite thing: We Turned Eight Republican Presidential Candidates Into Sims and Dropped Them In The White House

Your Friday shirtless man: Poldark: Could Aidan Turner spark a surge in scything?

19 Emojis All Thirtysomethings Wish Existed

Hundreds Of Corgis Got Together For Corgi Beach Day And It Was Adorable

The Sequel To Beauty And The Beast Those Hot Blonde Triplets Deserve

Morning Coffee (4/16/15)

Here's a profile of a Danish politician that involves both knitting AND Borgen so obviously she is now my favorite.

This article about jury selection for the Colorado theater shooting trial is fascinating. (I know one of the victims - he lived, thank goodness - so you may be seeing more links about this trial.)

Elsewhere in terrible but interesting things: Milk teeth of Irish famine's youngest victims reveal secrets of malnutrition

These issues of dementia and consent are so complicated: Sex, Dementia and a Husband on Trial at Age 78

Okay, let's move on to less depressing things, like the 404 error page primary.

Rand Paul has some . . . interesting . . . things in his online store, and my friend Jack has a rundown.

In Silicon Valley, Auto Racing Becomes a Favorite Hobby for Tech Elites

How to Tell If You Are in a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta

Morning Coffee (4/15/15)

(Political links will probably only increase from here on out to the election. You're welcome/I'm sorry. But it'll never be more than a few a day.)

Don't underestimate Marco Rubio

I joke that I can't pick a candidate until they all come to my office and/or buy me breakfast, but that's really not far from the truth in New Hampshire and Iowa, and that may be a problem for Clinton.

Also a potential problem: Scott Walker's dog allergy.

When the Onion is just truth: Nation Hopeful There Will Be Equally Random Chance Of Justice For Future Victims Of Police Abuse

This is one of those things that's simultaneously awesome that it exists and sad that it has reason to exist: Women-only 'pink rickshaw' hits the road in Lahore

Nifty: How to Build a Cocktail, Visualized

Can We Guess Your Age Based On Your Taste In Books? (They got pretty close for me!)

HENRY VIII: who let all these dang wolves in my hall

WOLF IN TUDOR HAT: aaroo

Morning Coffee (4/13/15)

Me elsewhere: Here's your TV news for the week.

In case you missed it, here's Clinton's announcement video with some interesting commentary by Todd VanDerWerff. Also, I just realized there's a shot of my city at 1:42, which is what you get when you live in New Hampshire, I guess.

Speaking of, here's a big profile of Robby Mook.

John Dickerson will be the new host of Face the Nation! Maybe I'll actually watch!

Thursday was not a good day for the state government.

Hijacking the Hugo Awards Won't Stifle Diversity in Science Fiction

Heh: How to Survive Henry VIII

Still no taco emoji. Sigh.

Women Praying Furiously in Western Art History

Morning Coffee (4/10/15)

I suspect your Friday morning could use Prince Harry flying a Spitfire.

And also Bill Nye kidnapping people and taking them to national parks.

This 3D printed violin is terrifying.

My main question here is why Poland wasn't ALREADY trying to capitalize on Chopin, but . . . okay.

Speaking of Chopin: Elizabeth Berg has a George Sand novel coming out!

Oooh: The colors of 94,526 paintings since 1800, charted

People named Burger and King are getting married and Burger King is paying. Aww.

ETHAN FROME: lets go sledding right now

Morning Coffee (4/9/15)

Yesterday Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on all charges.

40 maps that explain the Middle East

A title referencing John Le Carre is in fact the way to make me read your story about a spy and al-Qaeda, but it was fascinating anyway and I recommend it!

Why Did A Group Of Medieval Monks See Part Of The Moon Explode?

Perfect: Things My Male Tech Colleagues Have Actually Said to Me, Annotated

I roll my eyes at this kind of thing but also . . . I love swings.

The Onion: Avoiding Popular Songs Somehow Accomplishment For Local Man

Reasons Why I Am Furious With Everyone Today God, I love Mallory Ortberg.

Morning Coffee (4/8/15)

Here's the 2014 VIDA Count - annual statistics on women in literary publications.

Yay, the brontosaurus is back!

Ancient Chinese Community Celebrates Its Jewish Roots, and Passover

I'd never really thought about this: Why No Century Will Ever Start on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday

Gamers confess the worst things they've done in The Sims

Well, this is horrifying.

Heh: English Monarch Signatures, Ranked

Every New England Novel Ever is perfect.

Morning Coffee (4/7/15)

ISIS is really obsessed with the apocalypse

Fascinating: At Success Academy Charter Schools, High Scores and Polarizing Tactics

The Tehran Symphony Orchestra has been revived.

Headline of the day: Bride abandons wedding after groom can't solve arithmetic problem

"The monster is blue and full of errors." Hahahahaha.

Call the Midwife paper dolls!

Wow: Florida Hotel Wakes Guests by Blaring 'Lion King' Tune "Circle of Life"

“I think the yellow wallpaper looks best,” she said.
“How right you are.”
They were always happy afterwards that they had chosen the yellow wallpaper. It looked so much better than the green had.
– The Yellow Wallpaper

Morning Coffee (4/6/15)

I haven't had a chance to read this yet, but: Rolling Stone and UVA: The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Report

Well. Mike Pence thought Titanic was popular because it symbolized the US abandoning its values.

Author Alexandra Duncan has good things to say about gender and science fiction. (I highly recommend her novel Salvage.)

Oops. Salman Rushdie rated books on Goodreads not realizing it would be public.

Madame Tussauds Hires ‘Tissue Attendant’ For One Direction Statues

2-Year-Old Girl Breaks Archery Record, Reminds Us We're Failures

Heh: Man Who Baked Banana Bread Spends Entire Party Anxiously Watching It Go Uneaten

The Boxcar Children, Redux

Morning Coffee (4/3/15)

My normal cheerful "Happy Friday!" seems a bit weird on Good Friday, but here are your happy Friday links:

EXCITING BREAKING NEWS (really, like ten minutes ago): Deanna Raybourn's awesome Lady Julia mysteries have been optioned for British TV. I LOVE THESE BOOKS. I AM BESIDE MYSELF. LET'S FANTASY CAST.

Awesome: JOURNEY Drummer To Donate $10,000 To Replace Instruments Lost In Oregon High School Fire

BuzzFeed interviewed Kermit the Frog and it was great. Thing I had never considered: the Kermit/Piggy ship name.

The X-Files Could Have Ended With a West Wing Crossover?!?!?!

The Audobon Society is taking on Jonathan Franzen and it's basically the best thing ever.

You can 3D print Paul McCartney!!!!! The best part is that this is OFFICIAL.

Perfect: Excerpts from the April 2015 Vogue, Presented Without Commentary

Maps pretty.

Songs From A Tom Waits Album Where No One Gets Drunk At A Diner

Morning Coffee (4/2/15)

Everyone survive yesterday? Yes, that Classic Alice thing was a joke and here I remember the last April Fools thing I participated in. Cats were involved.

The Goodreads dating app was ALSO a joke but I WISH it were real.

And the Post has a roundup of the various online and corporate pranks.

Sad news: Cynthia Lennon has died.

Yulin Kuang - who did the great I Ship It, webseries Kissing in the Rain, and more - is one of the directors of the new Twilight shorts. Congratulations!

Someone who grew up at the Algonquin wrote a book about it and that is absolutely a book I would read.

Hugh Jackman is doing Apostle Paul because . . . sure?

David Duchovny is releasing an album because of course he is.

The Two Medieval Monks are back! "you know more about goats than you give yourself credit for"

Morning Coffee (4/1/15)

REMINDER: Trust no one today. That said, I sincerely promise all these links are real, so far as I have been able to determine.

The FBI says they've solved the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist and John Kerry is tangentially involved. !!!

I don't know if you've been following this Missouri political suicides story, but it's so sad.

Hmm: Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Xinjiang Article and Related Apology

Proof we are living in the future: Amazon's Dash button. And I appreciate the lengths The Atlantic went to to confirm that it's not a joke.

They've released the title and cover and date of the new Lisbeth Salander book and apparently I'm excited, because I bookmarked no fewer than three links about it. Here's the U.S. version and U.K. version.

Ooh, PBS has a Henry VIII special airing next week.

I just deeply enjoy this headline: Prince Charles and Camilla cheer on sheep at charity race

15 subway-style maps that explain everything but subways

A Conversation Between The Two People I Assume Design All Restaurant Bathrooms