An Open Letter to the Toronto Blue Jays

You can send the Blue Jays your own feedback at fanfeedback@bluejays.com.

Hi Blue Jays! I'm a queer baseball fan who subscribed to MLBTV this year to be able to watch a larger variety of games, and I have enjoyed watching a whole bunch of Blue Jays games so far this season. I usually pick which game to watch on any given day in part based on my feelings about the pitchers involved. Now, usually - and preferably - those feelings are based on their actual pitching abilities. Unfortunately, now when I'm deciding whether to watch a Blue Jays game, you've put me in the position of thinking "Sure, I'd like to watch a Kevin Gausman or Chris Bassitt start, but does that mean I'm going to end up watching a reliever who thinks I'm evil and demonic?"

It's one thing, I suppose, to continue employing a player who amplifies hate speech and then - in his so-called apology! - doubles down on the fact that yes, according to his beliefs it is evil and demonic to support a segment of the fan base who belongs to a marginalized group. But it's quite another to center this person at a Pride event by having him catch the first pitch. Pride should center LGBTQIAP+ people. Pride should not be used as a mere vehicle for the PR rehabilitation of a straight cis man who has shown no hints of reconsidering his homophobia and transphobia. I genuinely hope that Anthony Bass does learn and grow in his beliefs, but there has been no evidence of that as yet.

I live in New Hampshire and have been looking forward to attending some Fisher Cats games this season - including their Pride Night in a few weeks - but now their affiliation with the Blue Jays is making me wonder whether that event will actually be a safe and welcoming place for me and my friends.

Thanks,

Katherine Welsh

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/9/23)

Well there has certainly been NEWS but it is FRIDAY so we are RESPECTING THE HAPPY LINKS. News tomorrow!

I am SO excited for this: Fellow Travelers: Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey Make Love Across Four Decades in Sweeping Showtime Limited Series — Watch First Trailer (TVLine)

Also excited for this new monthly column by Dahlia Adler! June 2023 Queer Romances (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books)

In Nashua, one group is trying to nurture residents’ curiosity to grow their own food (NHPR)

Hallmark Reveals 2023 Christmas in July Lineup, Including 2 New Movies (TV Insider)

This is so cute and I will definitely be buying it for kids in my life: Exclusive Cover Reveal: It’s Pride, Baby! by Allen R. Wells and Dia Valle (LGBTQ Reads)

!! ‘The Constant Gardener’ Limited TV Series In The Works (Deadline)

The Best Road Trip Nonfiction to Get You in the Mood for Summer (Book Riot)

This is so cool: Watching over the watchers (WaPo)

When You Wish Upon a Jewish Star (Bookishly Jewish)

The Country House Murder Mystery . . . in America (CrimeReads)

And some longer Friday reads:

Dylan Mulvaney Is Ready for Life After “Girlhood” (them)

The Most Anticipated LGBTQ YA Books of Summer 2023 (Paste)

The Stealth Campaign That’s Getting Your Kids Hooked on Chess (NYT)

Correct: These 12 Instagram Accounts Will Make You Want To Visit London Right Now (SSoP)

Fascinating if you're, uh, into this kind of thing: How Bryce Miller, the Mariners’ newest young pitcher, honed his arsenal (The Athletic)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/8/23)

I kept thinking yesterday was Thursday, but NOW it's Thursday.

Prosecutors Tell Trump’s Legal Team He Is a Target of Investigation (NYT)

Ukraine launches counteroffensive against Russia (WaPo)

What to Do When the Sun Turns Red (Slate)

Ugh: Judge dismisses civil rights case against NSC-131, a blow to prosecutors seeking to rein in white supremacist group (NHPR)

I see: Supreme Court justices, minus Thomas, and Alito, file financial disclosure reports (NPR)

Montana Officials Canceled a Trans Woman’s Library Event Citing Anti-Drag Law (them)

Diamond Sports vs. MLB: Breaking down details of last week’s marathon hearing (The Athletic)

New England's electric grid operator says it's ready for summer, but severe heat could prompt calls for conservation (NHPR)

Weed-spliced concrete block at flower show highlights green space disparities in Chelsea (The Guardian)

On the Enduring Charms and Sly Wit of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey (CrimeReads)

And some longer reads:

How the far right tore apart one of the best tools to fight voter fraud (NPR)

U.S. had intelligence of detailed Ukrainian plan to attack Nord Stream pipeline (WaPo)

Chris Licht Is Out at CNN, Leaving Network at a Crossroads (NYT)

How one group is bridging the gap on gender-affirming resources in New Hampshire (NHPR)

Crime and the City: Lhasa (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/7/23)

Today is Wednesday, I guess!

This is so so scary: Glendale school district meeting about LGBTQ studies gets violent (LA Blade)

Trump Is Telling Us How He’ll Respond to Future Indictments (Slate)

Warning that a crowded GOP field helps Trump, Sununu says he's not running for president — but he'll back the nominee (NHPR)

I cannot believe (that's rhetorical; I can totally believe) we're at "he'll be fun to watch!" again. ‘A Guided Missile Aimed Rhetorically at Trump.’ Our Columnists and Writers Discuss Chris Christie. (NYT)

How Canadian wildfires are worsening U.S. air quality and what you can do to cope (NPR)

NTSB examines wreckage of plane intercepted after F-16 sonic boom (WaPo)

PGA’s ‘merger’ with LIV can’t be seen as anything other than a Saudi victory (The Guardian)

So glad she did this: Pelosi throws out first pitch during Nationals’ LGBTQ Pride event (Politico)

Rachel Maddow Expands Her NBCUniversal Podcast Empire With New Show: “Déjà News” (THR)

Astrud Gilberto, 83, Dies; Shot to Fame With ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ (NYT)

And some longer reads:

Damage to Russian-held hydroelectric plant floods south Ukraine battlefield (WaPo)

Can Africa Get Close to Vaccine Independence? Here’s What It Will Take. (NYT)

How the Pirates’ Mitch Keller transformed himself from one of MLB’s worst pitchers (The Athletic)

Why Is Everyone Watching TV With the Subtitles On? (The Atlantic)

The New Classics of Southern Crime Fiction (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/6/23)

I guess somehow it's only Tuesday.

Nova Kakhovka dam destroyed on Ukraine’s front lines, causing flooding and evacuations (WaPo)

Jamelle Bouie: There Is One Group the Roberts Court Really Doesn’t Like (NYT)

Thanks I hate it: Oklahoma approves first US taxpayer-funded religious charter school (BBC)

Good: NH Senate votes to legalize fentanyl, xylazine test strips (NHPR)

Child Labor Is on the Rise (New Yorker)

SAG-AFTRA members approve strike authorization by overwhelming margin (LA Times)

Also: DGA Deal Provides Pay Hikes, But Streaming Residual Still Not Tied to Show’s Success (Variety)

Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who was convicted of spying for Russia, dies in prison (NPR)

Wealthy firms buying Scottish land pose risk of greater inequality, study warns (The Guardian)

I watched this on replay last night and I'm just so happy for him: White Sox’s Liam Hendriks earns first win of season on National Cancer Survivors Day (The Athletic)

And some longer reads:

Fake Signals and American Insurance: How a Dark Fleet Moves Russian Oil (NYT)

Inside the Meltdown at CNN (The Atlantic)

The revolt of the Christian home-schoolers (WaPo)

The Swarm of Relievers (Baseball Prospectus)

How Ian Fleming Wrote Casino Royale and Changed Spy Fiction Forever (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/5/23)

Oof, Monday again. Here's my TV news roundup at The Televixen.

Ukraine: significant escalation in fighting reported in Donetsk region (The Guardian)

China tightens access to Tiananmen Square while 32 are detained in Hong Kong (NPR)

Sonic boom in D.C. region caused by F-16s intercepting Cessna (WaPo)

The Supreme Court Has a New Bold Lone Dissenter (Slate)

Ron DeSantis’s Joyless Ride (The Atlantic)

Alabama Discriminated Against Black Residents Over Sewage, Justice Dept. Says (NYT)

Judge orders NHPR to turn over unpublished reporter material in defamation lawsuit (NHPR)

Pre-Recorded Tracks In David Byrne’s ‘Here Lies Love’ Pit Broadway Musicians Against Producers (Deadline)

A mysterious rare orchid makes its home in New Hampshire’s forests (NH Bulletin)

This was WILD: Aaron Judge breaks through Dodger Stadium gate for catch of the year candidate (Yahoo! Sports)

And some longer reads:

How a Fringe Legal Theory Became a Threat to Democracy (New Yorker)

He Told Followers to Starve to Meet Jesus. Why Did So Many Do It? (NYT)

Arizona’s water troubles show how climate change is reshaping the West (WaPo)

Prestige TV Has Taken a Page Out of Sportswriting’s Media Playbook (The Ringer)

7 Historical Novels with Mysteries at Their Center (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/4/23)

Today is Sunday and I DEFINITELY stayed up too late reading a good book last night.

India train disaster: signal fault blamed as wreckage cleared from track (The Guardian)

NATO-trained units will serve as tip of spear in Ukraine’s counteroffensive (WaPo)

Texas Is Silencing the Will of Millions of Voters (NYT)

Good news: A federal judge rejects Tennessee's anti-drag law as too broad and vague (NPR)

I see: YouTube stops deleting false 2020 election claims (BBC)

Sure, I guess. Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington announces campaign for NH governor (NHPR)

How do you define God’s work? In defense of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (The Athletic)

Five ways the Senate budget would affect school funding (NH Bulletin)

Directors Guild Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios and Streamers (THR)

How to Freeze Pretty Much Anything (Eater)

And some longer reads:

A night in Ukraine’s sleepless capital, taking cover from Russian bombs (WaPo)

The Sound and Fury of the House Freedom Caucus (New Yorker)

A Korean American connects her past and future through photography (NPR)

The Land Beneath This Stadium Once Was Theirs. They Want It Back. (NYT)

8 of the Best LGBTQ-Inclusive Books About Parenting and Pregnancy (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/3/23)

Today is Saturday, and my plan is to do a million errands so I can finally start my garden!

This is awful: ‘Wailing for help’: passengers and bystanders tell of India train crash horror (The Guardian)

Eyes emoji: Lake Maggiore boat accident: Questions remain over spy deaths (BBC)

Oath Keeper who breached Capitol as part of 'stack' formation is sentenced to 3 years in prison (NBC News)

Twitter Faces Potential Ban In Europe After Elon Musk’s Company Pulled Back From Disinformation Rules (Deadline)

The Bad Thing Henry Kissinger Did That You Don’t Even Know About (TNR)

Fort Bragg drops Confederate name to become Fort Liberty (WaPo)

Amazon must pay over $30 million over claims it invaded privacy with Ring and Alexa (NPR)

Churchill Downs to Cease Racing as It Investigates Deaths of Horses (NYT)

Ugh: Granite Staters should expect higher-than-normal temperatures this summer (NHPR)

I've been following him since he came out a few months ago and I'm so glad he seems to be doing well: White Sox minor leaguer Anderson Comás on coming out as gay: ‘Just felt like now is the right time’ (The Athletic)

And some longer reads:

Trump Lawyer’s Notes Could Be a Key in the Classified Documents Inquiry (NYT)

‘You don’t have another option’: Inside the Biden, McCarthy debt ceiling deal (WaPo)

Pakistan’s Powerful Military Faces New Resistance From Courts (NYT)

The A’s are the Rays, and Vice-Versa (Baseball Prospectus)

I am reading this book now and this piece is so fascinating! The Lesser-Known Novel of the 1950s That Presaged Queer Liberation (LitHub)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/2/23) - Friday Happy Links!

Whew, we've made it to Friday! Let's take a break from the news for some happy links!

PSA: Free Doughnuts This Friday (The Takeout)

Nashua recognized for historic role in racially integrating baseball in the 1940s (NHPR)

Yay Amy! Exclusive: At Her Service by Amy Spalding Cover Reveal (frolic)

JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL: Raylan Encounters a Chilling New Foe in New Trailer (GMMR)

Ahaha: 40 years ago, NPR had to apologize for airing 'Return of the Jedi' spoilers (NPR)

Eee: ‘Endeavour’: Shaun Evans & Roger Allam on ‘Terribly Emotional’ but ‘Very Right’ Series Finale (TV Insider)

Trader Joe’s Is a Frozen-Foods Fantasyland (Eater)

Fave Five: MG Fantasy with Nonbinary MCs (LGBTQ Reads)

‘Mad and offensive’ texts shed light on the role played by minstrels in medieval society (The Guardian)

Books and Murder: The Perfect Match (CrimeReads)

And some longer Friday reads:

How Queer-Owned Bookstores Are Celebrating Pride Month (Book Riot)

My friend KD is in this and I'm very proud!! Summer Books 2023 (NYT)

This is always fun: The 2023 Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling Race (The Atlantic)

The Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Summer 2023 (CrimeReads)

Maybe you need to spend your Friday morning just watching a bunch of homers. I get it. Every team's hardest-hit home run (MLB)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (6/1/23)

Today is Thursday and June 1st! Happy Pride!

House approves the Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling bill as default deadline looms (NPR)

Investigators have recording of Trump acknowledging he held onto sensitive document: Sources (ABC News)

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules two abortion laws unconstitutional (KOSU)

Seoul Awoke to a Dire Alarm: ‘Prepare to Evacuate.’ Whoops. (NYT)

Indigenous leaders warn that ‘hate is raining down on us’ as voice campaign ramps up (The Guardian)

Pansexual, intersex and transgender people worst represented in LGBTQ+ media, damning survey finds (PinkNews)

Latest bid to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire bogs down in House committee (NHPR)

As NH marks Black Birders Week, organizers aim to educate about lived experiences (NH Bulletin)

The A’s Are Bad (Complimentary) (Baseball Prospectus)

Happy Pride! This company is definitely not a fair-weather ally who just wants your money! (WaPo)

And some longer reads:

Iran plans to escalate attacks against U.S. troops in Syria, documents show (WaPo)

What’s Behind Rising Tensions in Kosovo? (NYT)

Is a 1960 treaty between Pakistan and India killing the mighty Ravi River? (NPR)

Bowden’s MLB power rankings entering June and early trade deadline takes on all 30 teams (The Athletic)

8 Romantic Queer YA Books to Add to Your Reading Shelf Right Away! (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/31/23)

Today is Wednesday and somehow it's already the last day of May.

Debt limit deal clears 1st hurdle as McCarthy works to tamp down dissent (WaPo)

Sudan’s rival factions agree to extend shaky ceasefire after rebuke from mediators (The Guardian)

It Took Alito Barely a Month to Violate the Supreme Court’s New Ethics Rules (Slate)

Trump White House Aides Subpoenaed in Firing of Election Security Expert (NYT)

Ugh: A landmark appeals court ruling clears way for Purdue Pharma-Sackler bankruptcy deal (NPR)

Don’t visit Florida if you’re LGBTQ+, Human Rights Campaign warns: ‘It’s dangerous’ (PinkNews)

New NH federal prosecutors to focus on civil rights, domestic terrorism and violent crime (NHPR)

Welp, the effects of Diamond Sports not paying their bills are starting: MLB Relieves Bally Sports, Will Take Over Broadcasting of San Diego Padres Games (NBC San Diego)

Veronica Alvarez to manage World No. 4 USA at IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup (WBSC)

Pizza From Pete Davidson and Doughnuts From Jay Leno: Eating on the WGA Picket Line (Eater)

And some longer reads:

This is TRULY AMAZING: Here’s What Happens When Your Lawyer Uses ChatGPT (NYT)

How the U.S. wants to pressure China to help avert climate catastrophe (WaPo)

The Future of Classic New York Slice Shops Hangs in the Balance (Eater)

Domicide: Burying Prehistoric Dwellings (Places)

Future Shock: 8 Crime Novels That Blur the Lines Into SciFi (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/30/23)

Today feels like Monday, but it's Tuesday!

Large-scale drone attack hits Moscow for first time in Ukraine war (The Guardian)

What to Know as Opening Statements Begin in Tree of Life Massacre Trial (NYT)

What Could Trump Possibly Get Out of Attacking Special Prosecutor Jack Smith? (Slate)

It'll take 300 years to wipe out child marriage at the current pace of progress (NPR)

'Liam! Liam!' Hendriks welcomed back to mound with thundering ovation (MLB)

A unique whale species washed up in New England, giving a rare glimpse of a deep sea diver (NHPR)

! Lost story by ‘poet of the tabloid murder’ James M Cain discovered in Library of Congress (The Guardian)

An archaeologist saw shapes in the water. They led to a submerged grave. (WaPo)

Saturn’s Rings May Be Younger Than Thought—and Disappearing (Smithsonian)

Scones in the Time of Agita (Eater)

And some longer reads:

Start-Ups Bring Silicon Valley Ethos to a Lumbering Military-Industrial Complex (NYT)

Death in Istanbul: The Untold Story Behind Syria's White Helmets (Politico)

This is just a great piece of writing: Aníbal Sánchez Floats On (Baseball Prospectus)

At Indian American Weddings, More Is More (Eater)

15 Excellent 2023 Short Story Collections by Asian Authors (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/29/23)

Today is Monday. Here's my TV news roundup from The Televixen.

Ukraine war: Fresh attacks on Kyiv after intense drone barrage (BBC)

Erdogan cements his power with a victory in Turkey's presidential runoff election (NPR)

Uganda's president signs into law tough anti-gay legislation with death penalty in some cases (ABC News)

Jamelle Bouie: The Real Threat to Freedom Is Coming From the States (NYT)

Pride in London dedicates 2023 campaign to defending trans people: ‘We stand with you’ (PinkNews)

Whee! Spencer Strider is the fastest pitcher to 100 strikeouts in a season since 1893 (SI)

How the future of sustainable fashion is rooted in the fight for garment worker protections in Los Angeles (The 19th*)

A new law aims to make it easier to set up a nano-brewery in New Hampshire (NHPR)

Discovered in the deep: the superbuilder sea anemones that make verandas (The Guardian)

Back Then, Baby Galaxies. Next, a Super-Mega Galactic Cluster? (NYT)

And some longer reads:

In Parkland, a special high school baseball program deserves your attention (The Athletic)

People with disabilities aren't often seen in stock photos. The CPSC is changing that (NPR)

Welcome to Nusantara (NYT)

The Brain-Computer Interfaces That Could Give Locked-In Patients a Voice (Smithsonian)

These books are so good: Don Winslow on the Aeneid, Hollywood, and Reaching the End of His Career as a Novelist (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/28/23)

Today is Sunday, but tomorrow is a day off too! (For many of us.)

Ukraine war: Kyiv hit by new massive Russian drone attack (BBC)

Polls open in Turkish election runoff as Erdoğan hopes to retain power (The Guardian)

White House and GOP reach a deal in principle to stop the nation from defaulting (NPR)

Takeaways From the Impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (NYT)

This is so awful: Cold snap may have wiped out Upper Valley apple crop (NHPR)

Memo to Target... Outdoor retailer The North Face affirms commitment to inclusivity (LA Blade)

Women are almost half of lieutenant governors. Could it pave the way to higher office? (The 19th*)

I see: Buckingham Palace Refuses to Repatriate Remains of Ethiopian Prince (Smithsonian)

Please read this even if you don't care about baseball: The Man Who Got the Disabled List Changed to the Injured List (Baseball Prospectus)

How to Dine Outdoors, Minus the Bugs (Eater)

And some longer reads:

Objection to sexual, LGBTQ content propels spike in book challenges (WaPo)

Hundreds of Thousands Have Lost Medicaid Coverage Since Pandemic Protections Expired (NYT)

The ‘open secret’ in most workplaces: Discrimination against moms is still rampant (The 19th*)

Mass Support (Places)

A Reading List of Multi-Generational Mischief (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/27/23)

Happy Saturday!

Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers founder, sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy (NPR)

Oleksiy Danilov interview: Ukraine counter-offensive 'ready to begin' (BBC)

Mar-a-Lago Worker Provided Prosecutors New Details in Trump Documents Case (NYT)

Samuel Alito’s Assault on Wetlands Is So Indefensible That He Lost Brett Kavanaugh (Slate)

Debt ceiling negotiators race to cement deal before June 5 deadline (WaPo)

I'm mildly agog that this is finally actually happening, though who knows if it will succeed: Ken Paxton updates: Texas House impeachment vote will be an intra-GOP showdown (Texas Tribune)

New mpox cases found in UK: ‘The infection has not gone away’ (PinkNews)

Yay! Rochester Starbucks becomes first NH location to unionize (NHPR)

For real: Sarris: Let’s figure out a better way of checking pitchers for sticky stuff (The Athletic)

Maybe it was having a party!! Black bear takes 60 cupcakes from US bakery, scaring staff (The Guardian)

And some longer reads:

U.S. debt default could hit Social Security payments first (WaPo)

US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ+ attacks: A timeline of hate (PinkNews)

This was written before the impeachment articles were filed, but has some good background: Texas G.O.P. Leaders Clash Over Accusations of Corruption and Drunkenness (NYT)

'It's not for the faint-hearted' — the story of India's intrepid women seaweed divers (NPR)

Wildly entertaining, wonderfully profane: The Liam Hendriks experience is about to return (The Athletic)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/26/23) - Friday Happy Links!

It's Friday! Let's take a break from . . . all the news for some happy links!

!!!! THE WHEEL OF TIME: Prime Video Sets September Season 2 Release (GMMR)

New Hayley Kiyoko single!! (YouTube)

This is cute: Charlie ‘Clutch’ Culberson is back with Atlanta, and teammates and Braves fans love it (The Athletic)

Get Your First Look at the Lower Decks Crossover in the New Trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Tor)

4 new books by Filipino authors to read this spring (NPR)

Relevant to my interests: Countdown to Pride: Okay Gays, What Flannels Are We Tying Around Our Waists This Year? (Autostraddle)

Ahaha: Blue Jays fans are eating hot dogs at a frankly alarming rate (SBNation)

Why Researchers Turned This Goldfish Into a Cyborg (NYT)

Fug Nation Loves Fun (and Maybe Slightly Unhinged) Items For Summer! (GFY)

News you can use: You Don’t Need a Knife to Cut a Cake at a Picnic (Eater)

And some longer reads:

‘Everybody Is Welcome Here’ (NYT)

This made me check the next book in my series readthrough out of the library immediately: “Holmes and Watson in Manhattan”: Musings on the Creation of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin (CrimeReads)

Aw, he's been fun to watch: Appreciating Jake Burger’s breakout: ‘I could write a whole book about how cool it is’ (The Athletic)

The Next Generation of American Cheese (Eater)

13 Hockey Romances to Read During the NHL Playoffs (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/25/23)

Today is . . . Thursday! Right. I'm very discombobulated.

Ukraine war: Wagner says Bakhmut transfer to Russian army under way (BBC)

Rwandan ex-police chief arrested in South Africa over 1994 genocide (The Guardian)

Chinese Malware Hits Systems on Guam. Is Taiwan the Real Target? (NYT)

Ron DeSantis debuts presidential bid in a glitch-ridden Twitter 'disaster' (NPR)

Imagine if the Press Covered the Supreme Court Like Congress (Slate)

Of course: Target pulls some LGBT+ items days after CEO talks up inclusivity (WaPo)

ACLU sues federal government for state-level data on Canadian border crossings (NHPR)

Study Offers New Twist in How the First Humans Evolved (NYT)

How two museums are resetting for a post-pandemic world (WBUR)

Inventing a royal past (Medieval manuscripts blog)

And some longer reads:

The deepening radicalization of Donald J. Trump (WaPo)

(Anti-)Wokeism as a Rorschach Test (Aaron Ross Powell)

Drug Shortages Near an All-Time High, Leading to Rationing (NYT)

Juan Soto is Still Juan Soto (Baseball Prospectus)

Elly Griffiths on Knowing When to Say Goodbye (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/24/23)

Today is Wednesday and it's my brother's birthday! Happy birthday, Dave!

Russia controls Bakhmut, for now, but holding it will be difficult (WaPo)

Race against time to stop ‘humanitarian disaster’ among Sudan refugees in Chad (The Guardian)

Of course: DeSantis Set to Announce 2024 Run on Twitter With Elon Musk (NYT)

South Carolina legislature sends 6-week abortion ban to governor's desk (CNN)

Debt ceiling talks aren't going well. Here's where they stand (NPR)

I don't want Target employees to be put in danger, but also, this really sucks: Target pulls some Pride collection items after threats to employees (NBC News)

Why Republicans and Democrats alike are concerned about a No Labels presidential nominee (KJZZ)

Chip war: Apple strikes major US-made semiconductor deal (BBC)

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole records 2,000th career strikeout, third fastest MLB pitcher by games and innings (CBS Sports)

Vatican experts uncovering gilded glory of Hercules statue struck by lightning (NHPR)

And some longer reads:

A year after Uvalde, officers who botched response face few consequences (WaPo)

Will A.I. Become the New McKinsey? (New Yorker)

Apocalypse Sow: Can Anything Stop the Feral Hog Invasion? (Texas Monthly)

Eat more beans. Please. (Vox)

Baseball Returns to the ‘Hallowed Grounds’ of a Negro Leagues Stadium (NYT)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/23/23)

Today is Tuesday! I'm traveling, so I wrote this last week. Back to normal tomorrow!

It's not just about "drag nuns," it's a non-profit that has raised a ton of money: LGBTQ+ Angelenos slam Dodgers for dropping “drag nun” activists from Pride event (LGBTQ Nation)

Ranked-choice voting is gaining momentum. So are efforts to stop it. (The 19th*)

Two UNH studies to explore nutrition and food insecurity in Latino communities (NHPR)

Hospitals create police forces to stem growing violence against staff (NPR)

Denials of health-insurance claims are rising — and getting weirder (WaPo)

Climate Change Made East Africa’s Drought 100 Times as Likely, Study Says (NYT)

Polynesian snails release is biggest ever of ‘extinct in the wild’ species (The Guardian)

A 19th-Century Textile Stitches a Tale of Women’s Liberation (Smithsonian)

One of Evolution’s Biggest Moments Was Re-created in a Year (The Atlantic)

When the Setting Is as Creepy as the Story Itself (CrimeReads)

And some longer reads:

This is so important: ‘Way more common than people realize’: How some in MLB are bringing mental health into focus (The Athletic)

The voices of NPR: How four women of color see their roles as hosts (The 19th*)

She’s More Than the Creator of Peter Rabbit (NYT)

How Alberghi Diffusi Turn Villages Into Hotels (Smithsonian)

Clementine Paddleford’s ‘How America Eats’ Chronicled the Tastes of a Nation (Eater)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/22/23)

Today is Monday! I'm traveling, so I wrote this last week. Back to normal on Wednesday!

Ron DeSantis Signs Law Allowing Trans Kids to Be Taken From Their Families (New Republic)

Trump May Have Just Cooked Himself in the Mar-a-Lago Case (Slate)

As G-7 approaches, Japan remains an outlier on LGBTQ rights (WaPo)

Why the lack of housing in NH? New map of local zoning offers answers. (NH Bulletin)

How do you get equal health care for all? A huge new database holds clues (NPR)

Native American remains discovered at Dartmouth College spark calls for accountability (NHPR)

Jordyn Zimmerman is redefining communication as a nonspeaking advocate for disability rights (The 19th*)

Martha Stewart, 81, becomes oldest Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model (The Guardian)

For New England farmers, silvopasture could be a key adaptation to a changing climate (WBUR)

Black Hole Hurtling Through Space Leaves a Trail of Stars in Its Wake (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

The War on Poverty Is Over. Rich People Won. (The Atlantic)

A Tech Industry Pioneer Sees a Way for the U.S. to Lead in Advanced Chips (NYT)

North Carolina beach houses have fallen into the ocean. Is there a fix? (WaPo)

Realmuto is undisputed king of catching guys stealing (MLB)

Magic, Memory, and Power: The Storytelling Brilliance of Isabel Allende (Tor)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/21/23)

Today is Sunday! I'm traveling, so I wrote this last week. Back to normal on Wednesday!

The Republican Embrace of Vigilantism Is No Accident (NYT)

Coverage of Gender-Affirming Care Is an Unequal Patchwork (ProPublica)

Trump Was Implicated in a Vote Machine Theft. Why Isn’t DOJ Investigating? (Slate)

Philadelphia Inquirer severely disrupted by cyber-attack (The Guardian)

FDA advisers support approval of RSV vaccine to protect infants (NPR)

Beijing LGBT Center closes its doors, a blow for diversity in China (WaPo)

Ugh: NH removes historical marker for Concord-born labor activist, Communist Party leader (NHPR)

Epic drought in Taiwan pits farmers against high-tech factories for water (NPR)

How did the Aaron Judge sign-stealing dialogue miss the fact that no one did anything illegal? (Yahoo! Sports)

DNA Evidence Sheds Light on One of America’s Oldest Black Churches (Smithsonian)

And some longer reads:

‘Kids Can’t Read’: The Revolt That Is Taking On the Education Establishment (NYT)

Fighting Fire With Fire in California (Smithsonian)

Is This Heaven? No, It’s Vancouver. (NYT)

Everything Is Open (Hazlitt)

Mysteries and Thrillers That Juxtapose Violence Against Idyllic Settings (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/20/23)

Today is Saturday! I'm traveling, so I set this up a few days ago and it won't reflect recent news. Back to normal on Wednesday!

Rebuilding Ukraine’s Cultural Sector Will Require Nearly $7 Billion, UNESCO Says (Smithsonian)

Judge finds Weare teen who participated in racist graffiti violated NH civil rights law (NHPR)

Oklahoma officials recorded making racist and threatening remarks (The Guardian)

Florida is investigating a teacher who showed a Disney movie with a gay character (NPR)

IRS audits Black taxpayers more often than other groups, agency confirms (WaPo)

Heat Will Likely Soar to Record Levels in Next 5 Years, New Analysis Says (NYT)

SNAP work requirements don’t get more people working – but they do limit availability of food aid (NH Bulletin)

Arm Injuries Have Increased, and It Might Be the Pitch Clock’s Fault (Baseball Prospectus)

Things Just Keep Getting Worse for Beyond Meat (The Takeout)

With coveted wood facing restrictions, musicians who use bows face a choice (NHPR)

And some longer reads:

Why Ron DeSantis Is Limping to the Starting Line (NYT)

Not just development: Why farm directors are hyping their players on Twitter (The Athletic)

Can Intelligence Be Separated From the Body? (NYT)

The Live Oak Tree Has Withstood the Ravages of History (Smithsonian)

20 Must-Read Indigenous Historical Fiction Books Set in North America (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/19/23) - Friday Happy Links!

Today is Friday, so let's take a break for some happy links!

See the James Webb Telescope’s Stunning New Snapshot of an Exploded Star (Smithsonian)

Mega-cycle: Colt Keith hits milestone and then some (MLB)

This book sounds so good: How to Overturn Gender: Nonbinary Sexuality in Felicia Davin’s The Scandalous Letters of V and J (Tor)

Couple unearth one of world’s greatest fossil finds in mid-Wales (The Guardian)

Five Speculative Novels Set in World Full of Books (CrimeReads)

Quiz: Which Queer Short Story Collection Should You Read? (Autostraddle)

YA Romances That Take Inspiration from Classic Romcom Movies (Book Riot)

Why Do Apes Like to Spin? Maybe for the Same Reasons as People. (NYT)

Lady Lumley’s literary endeavours (Medieval manuscripts blog)

Fave Five: Queer Adult Space Opera Series, Part I (LGBTQ Reads)

And some longer Friday reads:

World Penguin Day 2023 (The Atlantic)

The History of the Baseball Cap (MLB)

13 Unforgettable Nancy Drew Stories (And the New Action Figures Inspired by Them) (CrimeReads)

Spring Edit: Must-Have Accessories for Your Next Queer Picnic (Autostraddle)

The Most Creative and Unique Bookmobiles from Around the World (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/18/23)

Today is Thursday! I'm headed off on a family trip for a few days, so I may not be able to share posts to social media like usual, but the posts will be here for you. You can always see the most recent ones by visiting the home page.

Guillermo Lasso: Ecuador's President dissolves parliament (BBC)

U.S. Wires Ukraine With Radiation Sensors to Detect Nuclear Blasts (NYT)

This will hurt so many children: Bill banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids sent to Texas governor (Texas Tribune)

Finally! PEN America, Penguin Random House Sue Florida School District Over 'Unconstitutional' Book Bans (PW)

Prince Harry and Meghan in near catastrophic car chase with paparazzi, spokesperson says (The Guardian)

Elizabeth Holmes loses her latest bid to avoid prison (NPR)

Good: Woman accused of hitting election worker in Raymond, NH, faces felony assault charge (NHPR)

Post-9/11 wars have contributed to some 4.5 million deaths, report suggests (WaPo)

I actually do like Little Leaf (for non-shape-related reasons) but lol: Can you really trademark the shape of lettuce? We’re about to find out (Fast Company)

Speaking of lol: Rosenthal: Blue Jays pitcher admits he was tipping pitches when facing Aaron Judge (The Athletic)

And some longer reads:

Gains Near Bakhmut Raise Ukraine’s Hopes of a Turning Tide (NYT)

Zooey Zephyr Explains What It Was Like to Be Banned From the State House, and What’s Next (Slate)

Spain’s water war gets political (Politico EU)

How MLB's most dominant reliever right now came out of nowhere (MLB)

Jackie Robinson’s Legacy Stretches Beyond the Baseball Field (NYT)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/17/23)

NOW it's Wednesday.

Phew: Democrats keep Pa. House majority following Rep. Mike Zabel’s resignation (Philadelphia Inquirer)

I'm not convinced this will last, but I guess it's something: MO AG Bailey withdraws rule banning gender-affirming care for trans adults, children (Kansas City Star)

On the other hand: North Carolina’s GOP-led General Assembly overrides Democratic governor’s 12-week abortion ban veto (CNN)

Ukraine intercepts missiles as Russia steps up strikes on Kyiv (WaPo)

Masha Gessen Resigns in Protest From PEN America Board (The Atlantic)

This was yesterday and I don't see any news stories with results yet but I hear that Plamondon won, phew. Special election puts focus on Nashua House district that's been under-represented in Concord all year long (NHPR)

UK is a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ journalists, study suggests (The Guardian)

The Met Will “More Thoroughly” Investigate Artwork Origins With Hire of Provenance Researchers (ProPublica)

Chief Standing Bear, Native American civil rights icon, is honored on a postal stamp (NPR)

Managing a medieval household (Medieval manuscripts blog)

And some longer reads:

The North Carolina governor’s race will be fought over abortion and LGBTQ+ rights (The 19th*)

How A.I. and DNA Are Unlocking the Mysteries of Global Supply Chains (NYT)

Inside the 3D-printed box in Texas where humans will prepare for Mars (The Guardian)

Memories of Water (Places)

SABR's 'Baseball Memories' keeps people with memory disorders connected to the game (MLB)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/16/23)

I was about to say it's Wednesday but I guess it's only Tuesday.

Russia attacked the hometown of Ukraine's Eurovision band just before its performance (NPR)

Turkey Election Maps: Why Erdogan Is Headed For a Runoff (NYT)

Democratic congressman’s staff attacked by man with baseball bat (CNN)

Giuliani accused of offering to sell Trump pardons for $2 million each in new lawsuit (NBC News)

DeSantis signs bill to defund DEI programs at Florida’s public colleges (WaPo)

How Republican lawmakers are using custody threats to eliminate gender-affirming care for trans kids (Xtra)

What E. Jean Carroll Won (Slate)

NH Housing estimates 60,000 units needed by 2030 (NHPR)

Second ‘Impossible’ Ring Found Around Distant Dwarf Planet (NYT)

Aw: MLB players find less time for small talk with pitch clock (PBS)

And some longer reads:

Durham Finds Fault With F.B.I. Over Russia Inquiry (NYT)

How the Fight for Birthright Citizenship Shaped the History of Asian American Families (Smithsonian)

Green, Gold, and Blue (Baseball Prospectus)

A Swedish Warship Sank in 1628. It’s Still Yielding Secrets. (NYT)

Five Nonfiction Books That Mix True Crime and History (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/15/23)

Monday again! Here's my TV news roundup from The Televixen - as usual, Mother's Day week was a big week for TV news.

Nail-Biter Turkish Election Heads for Round 2 as Majority Eludes Erdogan (NYT)

Wagner chief offered to give Russian troop locations to Ukraine, leak says (WaPo)

Thailand's voters overwhelmingly support opposition parties in elections (NPR)

Of course: Sununu joins GOP governors to oppose Biden proposed rules on transgender athletes (NHPR)

Why the Supreme Court Keeps Unanimously Gutting Anti-Corruption Laws (Slate)

I just read one of these books last night (Even Though I Knew the End) and it was great! SFWA Announces the Winners of the 58th Annual Nebula Awards (Nebula Awards)

This is all just such . . . a mess. Cardinals reverse Willson Contreras’ demotion from catcher after … 6 days (Yahoo! Sports)

How an Arctic snow school aims to respond to climate crisis with Inuit help (The Guardian)

The Sea-Urchin Murderer Has Finally Been Apprehended (The Atlantic)

The Case for Complex Characters of Color (CrimeReads)

And some longer reads:

A police chief got rid of a neo-Nazi. Then came the hard part. (WaPo)

Chinese Censorship Is Quietly Rewriting the Covid-19 Story (NYT)

When It Comes to Balls in Play, MLB Is Striking Out (The Ringer)

In a Roman Tomb, ‘Dead Nails’ Reveal an Occult Practice (NYT)

8 of the Best Books About the Moon (Book Riot)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/14/23)

Today is Sunday! And Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Erdoğan’s grip on power tested as Turkey votes in pivotal election (The Guardian)

As Ukraine Makes Inroads in Bakhmut, Devastation Still Reigns (NYT)

Israel and Islamic Jihad reach cease-fire to end 5 days of fighting (NPR)

Cyclone Mocha: Deadly storm hits Bangladesh and Myanmar coast (BBC)

At New Hampshire Supreme Court, a debate over what constitutes a fair political map (NHPR)

Covid May Increase the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Researchers Find (NYT)

How Brockton school interpreters build connections with parents (WBUR)

Climate change is affecting NH’s streams and rivers. Dartmouth researchers are tracking how. (NHPR)

Lane Tredger is Yukon’s first out non-binary MLA (Xtra)

Flipping the Script (Baseball Prospectus)

And some longer reads:

Zelensky, in private, plots bold attacks inside Russia, leak shows (WaPo)

Geothermal Power, Cheap and Clean, Could Help Run Japan. So Why Doesn’t It? (NYT)

The Parsonage (Places)

The Cardinals Have Lost Their Way (Baseball Prospectus)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Saffron (Eater)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/13/23)

Today is Saturday and my coffee is not ready yet but I am very ready for it.

Good: Daniel Penny Arraigned on Manslaughter Charge in Jordan Neely’s Killing (NYT)

Fear and confusion, but not chaos, along the southern border after Title 42 ends (NPR)

Progress! More gay and bisexual men can donate blood under new FDA rules (NBC News)

Imran Khan leaves court after being granted bail (BBC)

What are China’s alleged ‘secret overseas police stations’? (PBS)

The exception to live free or die, I guess: State Senate kills bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire (NHPR)

In counties with more Black doctors, Black people live longer, ‘astonishing’ study finds (STAT)

Let Me Be in My Queer Italianx Feelings for a Minute (Autostraddle)

An overlooked brain system helps you grab a coffee — and plan your next cup (NPR)

Inside Corbin Carroll's rise to stardom with Diamondbacks (ESPN)

And some longer reads:

‘Death Is Everywhere’ in a Once-Jubilant Ukrainian City (NYT)

Virginia hid execution files from the public. Here's what they don't want you to see (NPR)

Florida Democrats can’t stop the GOP right now. But Nikki Fried says they’re willing to fight. (The 19th*)

Obsidian Cliff: Humanity’s Tool Shed for the Last 11,500 Years (NYT)

This was extremely fascinating: Baseball’s Pitch Clock Has Transformed Game Length—and Not Just in the Obvious Way (The Ringer)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/12/23) - Friday Happy Links!

Today is finally Friday, and we're taking a break from the news for some happy links!

Aw I love this: Lawmaker Zooey Zephyr Proposes to Girlfriend at Queer Prom, Calls It “A Love That Feels Like Home” (Autostraddle)

And this! Chrishell Stause and G Flip Are Married After 1 Year of Dating (People)

This is so cute: These MLB teammates have a road trip ritual: Appreciating the view (WaPo)

! Jonathan Groff to Join ‘Doctor Who’ in Guest Role (THR)

New Mars Map Lets You ‘See the Whole Planet at Once’ (NYT)

eyeballs emoji: Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal In Talks To Star In ‘Hamnet’ Adaptation From Amblin Partners And Chloé Zhao (Deadline)

Fave Five: Queer Cozy Fantasy (LGBTQ Reads)

Thank God, Veggie Burgers With Actual Vegetables Are Making a Comeback (Eater)

Jacqueline Winspear Considers the Art of Historical Fiction (CrimeReads)

This 16th-Century Cloth Is Scotland’s Oldest-Known Tartan (Smithsonian)

And some longer Friday reads:

Aww: Meet the 56-year-old rookie: His big break in The Show took 30 years (The Athletic)

(This book is in fact amazing.) An Interview With the Author Whose Novel Is Rocketing up the Amazon Charts Thanks to a Tweet From Someone Called “Bigolas Dickolas” (Slate)

Take a Peek Inside the Candy Wrapper Museum (Smithsonian)

Top Ten Espionage Novels Centering Women's Stories (CrimeReads)

Everything you didn't know about home runs (MLB)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (5/11/23)

Today is Thursday and it's my niece's first birthday!

Trump continues lies about election and lashes out after N.Y. verdict in town hall (NPR)

Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to 13 counts of financial crimes (WaPo)

This will kill people, which is of course their goal: Missouri lawmakers ban transgender care for minors, restrict coverage for adults (PBS)

Belarus sentences journalist Raman Pratasevich to eight years in jail (The Guardian)

Okay, some good news: FDA advisers vote unanimously in support of over-the-counter birth-control pill (CNN)

Vermont bans owning, running paramilitary training camps (NHPR)

Good: They’re raising other people’s kids. They may finally be eligible for assistance. (NH Bulletin)

Even when women make more than their husbands, they are doing more child care and housework (The 19th*)

As World Warms, Droughts Come On Faster, Study Finds (NYT)

On Fusion, Forced Migration, and Somali Food (Eater)

And some longer reads:

TRULY wild: The Wild Backstory to George Santos’ Arrest (Slate)

Photojournalism is dominated by men. Women Photograph seeks to change that lens. (The 19th*)

DNA From Beethoven’s Hair Unlocks Medical and Family Secrets (NYT)

The St. Louis Cardinals are blaming Willson Contreras for their failures to adjust to life after Yadier Molina (Yahoo! Sports)

The Secret Behind Japan’s Delicious Strawberries: Kerosene (NYT)