Morning Coffee (6/15/18)

Phew, time for some Friday happy links.

THIS IS AMAZING: High school pitcher holds off celebrating so he can console childhood friend

As corporate gimmicks go, I like this one: Country Time Takes a Stand with Legal-Ade

!! KFC Will Test Vegetarian ‘Fried Chicken,’ Original Herbs and Spices Included

Excited about this: The Eldest Curses: Cassandra Clare teases what to expect from hot new series

And this: New details of Marlon James' epic, Game of Thrones-tinged fantasy series announced

Aaaah: Watch Domhnall Gleeson face off against a haunted 18th-century estate in The Little Stranger trailer (I just realized that I read half of that book and then it had to go back to the library and I never finished? I SHOULD DO THAT.)

7 Best Cheeses to Melt on Your Burger

Oprah Said She Invited Meghan Markle's Mom To Lunch At Her House And Gave Her Kumquats

Can You Recognize These Very Dark TV Dramas?

Hmm: 'Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan': First Look at the Official Trailer for the Amazon Series

Morning Coffee (6/8/18)

Time for some happy Friday links!

VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to co-produce their own cross-Canada ‘thank-you’ tour

This is great: Baltimore's Pratt Library goes fine free for overdue books

I kind of can't believe this didn't exist yet: Official Sherlock escape room to open in London this fall

Awesome: Coming Soon to B&N Stores: Cassandra Clare Picks Your Next YA Reads

...huh! Sara Bareilles-J.J. Abrams Musical Dramedy Gets Apple Series Pickup

Ooh, I needed this: Fug Nation Loves Cute Work Tops!

The Vast World of Islam, in 300 Recipes

Who Said It: Philip and Elizabeth From The Americans or Philip and Elizabeth From The Crown?

THIS IS QUITE THE CAST.

Useful! Ask the Monger: How Long Can Cheese Sit Out of the Fridge?

Morning Coffee (2/2/18)

Boy do we need a break for some happy links this Friday!

ICYMI, yesterday's Oscar post: I loved Phantom Thread.

A good post to start your Friday: Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet Dance in the Streets of Italy With Call Me by Your Name Fans

Elena Ferrante's first Guardian column is up! (I finally started reading My Brilliant Friend this week. In Italian, so it's gonna take me a while.)

Whee, my friends doing awesome things: Cassandra Clare Launches 'One-Shot' Publishing Collaborative

This is very interesting and the Brits among you may be able to make some of these events! Suffragette cities: events to mark the centenary of voting rights for women

Not surprising but still delightful: Royals: They're just like us: The Royal Family Have Their Own WhatsApp Group

In other royals news, this is fun but I'm sorry this lady had to delete her Instagram because of it: Kate Middleton's Hairdresser Instagrams What She Packs For A Royal Tour With The Duchess

Amazing: Michelangelo the Ninja Turtle Went to a Michelangelo Exhibit and Thought It Was Radical

It me, as the kids say: My Self-Care Is Just Me Sorting Myself Into Ravenclaw Over and Over Again

I just BOUGHT a bag of this description so I shouldn't even look at this: 15 Office-Friendly Bags That Are Big Enough to Hold Your Laptop (I actually considered the Kate Spade one listed there but I wanted something that zipped, so I wound up at the Coach outlet and am very happy with my choice.)

Nothing has ever been more For Me than THE MATH OF MEDIEVAL TIMES.

Morning Coffee (12/5/17)

Me elsewhere: I guested on The Parabatai Podcast (which is about the books and show of the Shadowhunters universe)! You can hear my episode here. I answered questions about how things work in TV and in YA publishing and got to say "That's not how anything works!" a lot. Also there's a cat.

This isn't quite as bad as initial headlines made it sound - it's in effect WHILE challenges continue - but it's still terrible! Supreme Court Allows Trump Travel Ban to Take Effect

The level is cartoon evil is still a little surprising, somehow: Trump Slashes Size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Monuments

And on a local note, this is ALSO awful: A Poll Tax in New Hampshire

Arab warnings mount as U.S. suggests move to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel

Uh, oops? The Senate GOP Accidentally Killed Some of Its Donors’ Favorite Tax Breaks

Manafort Associate Has Russian Intelligence Ties, Court Document Says

Hmm: Venezuela wants to solve its economic crisis with an imaginary new currency

This piece about Meghan Markle's tax situation when she marries Prince Harry is truly fascinating.

The Oscars are starting half an hour earlier this year and I'm THRILLED.

Guacamole Gets You More Messages on Dating Apps

Morning Coffee (11/29/17)

Whoa, this just broke as I was writing this: NBC Fires Matt Lauer Over Misconduct Allegations

And this broke as I was waking up: Praljak trial: Bosnian Croat war criminal 'takes poison' in court

New NSA leak exposes Red Disk, the Army's failed intelligence system

The Damage to Children's Health Insurance Is Already Being Done

Of course: Trump Paid $1 Million–Plus Settlement to Undocumented Immigrant Workers on Trump Tower Project

How Bots Broke the FCC's Public Comment System

Okay, back to good news for a moment: Prince Harry to marry Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May

Aaah, the Love, Simon trailer looks so good!

Also excited about Cassie Clare's book announcement.

Whoa! 100 Stolen John Lennon Items Found in Berlin

Morning Coffee (6/12/15)

New Robert Galbraith pub date!!!

I couldn't decide what to quote from this interview with Cassie Clare and Maggie Stiefvater about fandom, because there was so much good and important stuff there, so you should probably just read it.

What a world: Twitter and Medium Announce They've Invented Email

Did you all see this terrible thing about Goodfellas? Yeah. Sigh.

Fascinating: I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss. Here's How. And this is so, so true; I do it myself and am always astonished when it works: "If you lay out the information just right, you can shape the story that emerges in the media almost like you were writing those stories yourself. In fact, that’s literally what you’re doing, since many reporters just copied and pasted our text."

2 million misinformed Internet-shamers just upstaged a bride at her own wedding

What Coca-Cola's logo reveals about the history of writing in America

Huh: The words every state finds hardest to spell

Perfect: Oh No! I Thought You Were Interesting But

What I Read: September 2014

(Sorry this is a little late. Reviewing all the new TV shows is eating my brain.)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: I read this partially because of Frankenstein M.D., and it made me very worried about what's going to happen on the show. But anyway. This was very good, which I expected, but also very different from what I expected, somehow. It's clearly an essential book in a history-of-literature contextual way, but it was also an entertaining and surprisingly quick read. Give it a try, if you haven't!

Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries #3): This was a strong entry in the series, with a mystery that spanned generations and yet all tied together in a satisfying way. Clare is a compelling, complex main character, and her relationship with Russ is developing in an interesting and somewhat unexpected - if excruciatingly slow - way.

Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery (Emily Byrd Starr #1): An old favorite, reread this month for book club. Still love it!

Conversion by Katherine Howe: This one enthralled me from the start, with its combination of an historical Salem witch trials story and a contemporary mystery involving an outbreak of what seems like hysteria at a girls' prep school. I was slightly surprised to find that I liked the modern sections better - the historical chapters were fine, but I was always eager to get back to the modern story, and I think that's mainly because this was one of the most realistic-feeling portrayals of high school that I've read recently. I was also extremely impressed by both the book's fluency with social media - I don't think I've ever seen the term "subtweet" casually used in a novel before - and its depiction of a New England winter; it got the constant on-and-off of boots and coats exactly right.

The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black (Magisterium #1): First of a very promising new series. Compelling, diverse characters, interesting magic system, and plenty of plot twists. Plus boarding school! I love boarding school books. Can't wait for the next one.

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan (The Lynburn Legacy #3): A perfect end to the trilogy. Hilarious, heartbreaking, swoony. I already can't wait to reread them all. I don't want to say anything specific and risk spoiling the earlier books, because I want you all to read them. Start with Unspoken.

(Disclaimer: I know Sarah Rees Brennan, Holly Black, and Cassandra Clare. All books this month were either purchases or from the library.)

Morning Coffee (6/5/14)

The Senate has confirmed Keith Harper, the first Native American to be a U.S. Ambassador.

And the U.S. has appointed its first ambassador to Somalia since 1993.

I love New Yorker profiles, and reading one of someone I know is a really weird experience.

The Hairpin is starting a series on female killers with Erzsebet Bathory, and it's fascinating.

Crimean Vineyards of Last Czar Withstand Time and Tumult

"Here, money is weightless. Social connections, on the other hand, are commodified."

Author Cassandra Clare and audiobook narrator Jason Dohring interview each other and it's freaking adorable.

How to Wait Out Your Friend's Boyfriend

Morning Coffee (3/28/14)

I usually reserve Friday for fun or at least pleasant links, but there are a few things I cannot let pass without comment. First: Television Without Pity is closing. Wow. End of an era.

And yesterday's other big entertainment media story: Entertainment Weekly wants you to write for it for free. Don't do it.

Okay, on to the fun stuff. I like the new Black Keys song.

Today's Woot shirt is adorable.

I'm not sure I have any strong feelings about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer, but perhaps you'd like to see it? Here it is.

Headline of the week: Why 18th Century Biologists Made Copulating Frogs Wear Tiny Pants

Here's the cover and an excerpt from Cassie Clare and Holly Black's forthcoming book The Iron Trial.

I hadn't realized quite the extent to which Ryan Tedder writes all the songs.

Ben & Jerry's Heath bar flavors are now toffee bar, as they move to fair trade ingredients. Good for them.

The Secret Life of Kermit the Frog

Game of Bones: Corgi Edition

Which Actress Would Play You in the Movie Version of Your Life?

Morning Coffee (1/9/14)

Would you like to hear Jamie Bamber narrate The Bane Chronicles? Of course you would.

Department 56 (the Christmas village company) is making Downton Abbey!!!

The Bridge (the original one) is finally coming to Hulu and I am so excited.

Salem continues to look ridiculous and I can't wait.

Fascinating: Remote Control: Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and the Spectacles of Female Power and Pain

Written Off: Jennifer Weiner's Quest for Literary Respect

Some of the Earliest Maps of Stonehenge, Made by a Druid-Obsessed English Vicar

Permission to Play Devil's Advocate Denied

Morning Coffee (2/19/13)

Cult premieres on the CW tonight. Here's my take.

Ooh, I hope this Queen Elizabeth documentary makes it to this side of the pond.

Ugh: Fashion Week's Models Are Getting Whiter

A great read from Glen Weldon: Man Of Tomorrow: Superman, Orson Scott Card And Me

Eee, Bane Chronicles info!

9 Very Specific Rules from Real Libraries

How "I Saw Her Standing There" Brought Rawness Back to Rock

A Multiplicity of Voices: On the Polyphonic Novel

Morning Coffee (12/11/12)

It Matters If You’re Black or White: The Racism of YA Book Covers

A Saving Francesca movie? YES PLEASE.

Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan are teaming up to write stories about Magnus Bane. Eeeeeee.

Solving the Broken Crossword Puzzle Economy

Ooh, here's an interesting feature on costume design in The Hour.

HALLMARKGATE: Or, A Lesson On How The Internet Works

Trailer: City of Bones

SO EXCITED.

Morning Coffee (10/15/12)

This weekend at TheTelevixen: My weekly news round-up (Coulson lives!) and recap of the most recent Castle, "Secret's Safe With Me."

I'm increasingly unconvinced that there's a way to make football acceptably safe, but standardizing concussion evaluations would be a start.

HOLIDAY. PRINGLES.

This Torah fraud case is fascinating.

If TV Shows Were Relationships

You must read Cassie Clare on cyberbullying.

Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights recognizes that it "isn't really a romance at all" and now I can't wait to see it.

Morning Coffee (4/20/12)

Busy busy busy. Wait, I said that yesterday, huh? This week is really busy!

I'm so glad this news is finally public, because it's been so hard not to blurt it out everywhere: Holly Black and Cassie Clare are co-writing a middle grade series. WHEEEE.

The one thing you need to know about the Magic Mike trailer is that it has an appalling lack of Matt Bomer. But you should also read Linda Holmes's take.

Leo DiCaprio! Dennis Lehane! Prohibition! It's like we're playing "Movies Kate Likes" Bingo. Does it also involve spies? Or the mob? That would make it perfect.

If FOX puts both Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff back on my TV regularly and picks up Kevin Williamson's new show, they may be back in the running for "favorite network."

You must read Sarah Rees Brennan on Miss Marple.

The Vampire Diaries: Don't Hurt My Brother! + Why I Hate Shipper Wars

(Very mild spoilers through last night's episode...)

Last night's Vampire Diaries episode made the essential truth of the show all the more clear: It's all about family, and especially love between siblings. Some people seem surprised by the idea that Stefan's love for Damon might be stronger than his love for Elena, and to these people I can only say, "What the heck show have you been watching for two and a half years?" Last night brought us some great sibling moments between the Salvatores and between the Originals, and geez, Elena, go hug your brother! Um, anyway.

After that episode all about sibling love, I woke up to this post from YA author Cassie Clare about love triangles and women in fiction, and though her examples all reference her characters, a lot of what she says is applicable to fiction in general and TVD in particular. Here, she gets at my main issue with 'shipper wars:

I think character love is a wonderful thing — where would we all be without the fictional characters we adore? — but it needn’t require that the character you love be flawless and/or blameless. I actually think trying to lay blame in this situation is a mistake. When you have three people all of whom would die for each other, they wouldn’t thank you for taking their part if it meant cutting the other ones down to do it.

YES, YES, A THOUSAND TIMES YES. This is what gets me about Stefan or Damon fans hating the other one, or anyone hating Elena for her interactions with one or both of the boys. They all love each other. They trip over themselves to try to die for each other, on a regular basis. And yet fans feel so . . . what, defensive? insecure? . . . that they have to tear one or two members of the triangle down instead of recognizing that they are all complex characters who need and love each other.

And I wish the Elena haters would think about this too:

Why is Tessa seen as responsible for the boys’ feelings, and indeed, their actions? She can’t help what either boy feels for her, and isn’t responsible for their emotions. If she acts in a way intended to protect herself from harm, acts as if she deserves and wants love, acts as her heart tells her — acts in any way at all as long as she doesn’t maliciously intend either boy harm — and it hurts either of the boys, that isn’t Tessa’s fault.

And this is something I just think everyone who complains about female characters needs to ask themselves:

But next time you find yourself deciding that such and such female character is a bitch because her actions, even when reasonable or inadvertent, have caused a boy character pain, pause to consider if you’d feel the same way if she were the boy.

But whatever you do, don't mess with my brother.