Morning Coffee Link Roundup (12/25/22)

Merry Christmas! We're sticking with the theme today. (And it's Sunday, to the best of my reckoning.)

‘It won’t be like before’: Christmas in Ukraine transformed by war (The Guardian)

At a holiday celebration in southern Ukraine, ‘kids still need miracles.’ (NYT)

US winter storm: Americans and Canadians face mass outages on Christmas Day (BBC)

Christmas preparations for traditional Mexican dishes begin at a Nashua butcher shop (NHPR)

So cute: Willow The Cat Celebrates First Christmas In Biden White House (HuffPost)

How a century-long Russian conspiracy hid that the beloved “Nutcracker” composer was gay (LGBTQ Nation)

Is this the future of Christmas trees? (Grid)

Charmaine Wilkerson’s ‘Black Cake’ Uses a Beloved Christmas Food to Reveal Untold Family Stories (Eater)

An Eggless Christmas (History Today)

This Family Gave the World the Snow Globe (Atlas Obscura)

And some longer festive reads:

Taking to the Woods With Maine’s ‘Tree Tippers’ (NYT)

Why Hot Wheels are one of the most inflation-proof toys in American history (NPR)

Jokes of Christmas Past: The History of Crackers… With Some Jokes Thrown In (History Hit)

Frankly I was not expecting so much Bobby Kennedy in this piece: How the Union Army’s Beloved Marching Song Became a French Christmas Favorite (Slate)

Chi-rho pages for Christmas (Medieval manuscripts blog)

Morning Coffee Link Roundup (12/24/22)

Today is . . . Saturday. Happy Christmas Eve!

With Detailed Evidence and a Call for Accountability, Jan. 6 Panel Seeks a Legacy (NYT)

The Power of Volodymyr Zelensky’s Charm Offensive (Slate)

A Christmas far from home: Ukrainian families’ hopes and fears amid their new lives in Europe (The Guardian)

Some Iranians Move Their Protests To Rooftops, Windows As Demonstrations Enter Fourth Month (RFE)

Good: FDA changes Plan B label to clarify 'morning-after' pill doesn't cause abortion (NPR)

Brittney Griner is home, but the work isn’t over (The 19th*)

NH expects 2.9M visitors this winter (NHPR)

How to Feast Like a Hallmark Christmas Movie Character Across New England (Eater)

A Beautiful, Haunting Poem About Snow by Emily Dickinson (SSoP)

I'm listening: Aperol Spritz, But Make It Hot (Punch)

And some longer reads:

'Tis the Season for Sufjan (Vulture)

What Nativity Scenes Tell Us About the Evolution of Christianity (Smithsonian)

In case you're playing bartender this weekend: Hack the Classics for the Holidays (Punch)

Or maybe you need this, I don't know your life: For the Wallowers Among Us: The 15 Saddest Christmas Songs Ever (Jezebel)

In case you need some entertainment tonight: Yes, Incredibly, Another 10 Crime Movies You Forgot Take Place at Christmas (CrimeReads)

Morning Coffee (5/24/19)

There are a million things going on but it's time for Friday happy links, darn it!

Aaah, Star Trek: Picard teaser!

And Downton Abbey movie trailer!

Send Your Name to Mars with the 2020 Rover

This sounds great: Exclusive: Captain Marvel Becomes a Bodega Avenger in a New Series from IDW

Oh interesting: First look: Patricia Cornwell on launching a new thriller series with Quantum

Exclusive: Nora Roberts on her J.D. Robb In Death series getting its 50th book

I love this cover and the book sounds interesting: Exclusive Cover Reveal: Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller

I really need to try these Cold Stone Reese's Ice Cream Cups.

Baby-Sitters Little Sister Books to Get Graphic Novel Treatment

Freeform To Launch Christmas Wrapping Competition Reality Series ‘Wrap Battle’

Morning Coffee (4/9/19)

U.S. Strips Visa From World Criminal Court Prosecutor Pursuing War-Crimes Inquiry

Trump’s flailing shake-up of the Department of Homeland Security, explained

Mystery Man in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago/China Scandal Prompts Counterintelligence Concerns

They just PUT THE FLASH DRIVE IN A SECRET SERVICE COMPUTER??

Yes, It Matters That Pete Buttigieg Is Gay

Suspicious blazes destroy three predominantly black Louisiana churches

Egypt tomb: Mummified mice found in 'beautiful' ancient chamber

Maury Laws, Rankin-Bass Composer-Arranger, Dies at 95

Sigh: What makes Green Day think four men are the perfect authors for a book about female empowerment?

Heh: All Right. Some Cats Do Fetch

Morning Coffee (4/5/19)

We made it! Time for Friday happy links!

This is great: School turning unused food into take-home meals for students

Pete Buttigieg’s 10 Favorite Books

Captain Marvel is officially a $1 billion box office hit

See the faces behind the 19th Amendment at the National Portrait Gallery

CASTING DIRECTLY TO MY INTERESTS: Veronica Mars: Mary McDonnell Joins Hulu Revival in Mystery Role

Excited about this! Booksellers Announce First Annual Romance Bookstore Day

!! Hallmark will air a record 40 new Christmas movies this year

Aww, this skating story: ‘Doing what I love.’ Meredith Hall to return to her childhood roots

This stuff is amazing: Her Universe Honors “Sisters of the Force” in New Collection at Star Wars Celebration Chicago

Hahaha: Imagine if nature documentaries focused on this elusive species: the city snowplow

Morning Coffee (2/8/19)

Not that we ever DON'T need Friday happy links, but we REALLY DO this week.

I love this: Rosalind Franklin: Mars rover named after DNA pioneer

There are some great ones this year, including non-binary people and a bunch related to disabilities! 230 New Emojis in Final List for 2019

Aww: San Diego Bookseller Undergoes Surgery, Other Booksellers Keep His Store Open

Michael B. Jordan, Warner Bros. Nab Film Rights to ‘Black Leopard, Red Wolf’

Ooh, this Sonja Henie movie looks interesting.

!! Hallmark will now air Christmas movies all year long

How to Make the Best Hot Chocolate From Scratch

Billy Eichner is making a gay rom-com with Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller

LET'S GO: The V&A Unveils Queen Victoria’s Most Precious Jewel

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Lead One-Night ‘Camelot’ Benefit Concert

Morning Coffee (1/18/19)

Time for Friday happy links! Almost all books and movies and royals today. Sorry not sorry?

Aaah, Let It Snow cast!

Spider-Man: Far From Home Is First Marvel Film to Cast Out Trans Actors

Here's a look at Sarah Rees Brennan's Sabrina prequel novel!

Look, ballet logistics! Kate Visits the Royal Opera House in Oscar de la Renta

And: Behold, Kate Middleton Making Pizza

I Can Already Tell Who My Favorite Captain Marvel Character Is: Goose the Cat

This is gorgeous and sounds great: 'This Time Will Be Different' Is A New YA Novel About Family History, A Flower Shop, And Moving Forward

A+E Studios Partners with Swoon Reads to Develop YA for TV/Film!

Oh, this could be good: Disney Rings ‘Hunchback’ Bell: David Henry Hwang To Script Live Action Musical, Alan Menken/Stephen Schwartz Writing Music

Afternoon Tea (12/28/18)

It’s Cold, Dark and Lacks Parking. But Is This Finnish Town the World’s Happiest?

A brief history of the gingerbread house

The True Story of the Case Ruth Bader Ginsburg Argues in ‘On the Basis of Sex’

A Christmas gift for Charlemagne

And the follow-up to the one I linked yesterday: 35 of Our Most Anticipated LGBTQAP YA Books of 2019: May-June

Morning Coffee (12/25/18)

Merry Christmas!

Carols at Tornillo: protesters sing for children held in Trump's tent city

I love this: A girl in Mexico attached her Christmas list to a balloon. A man across the border found it.

This is interesting: Santa gets pushed out as China’s leaders emphasize tradition

Like Moths To A Flame: Why Modern-Day Guests Always Gather In The Kitchen

The elite cabal of mall Santas making up to $20,000 every Christmas season

Find Your Signature Holiday Cocktail With This Be Your Own Bartender Flowchart

Sorrel: The Ruby-Red Caribbean Christmas Drink Flavored With Black History

A medieval Nativity

Which Christmas Classic Is the Most Noir?

A Bioluminescent Christmas

Morning Coffee (12/24/18)

Happy Christmas Eve!

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

How Trump Is Stripping Immigrants of Their Citizenship

Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood Join Paul McCartney Onstage in London

Houseplant with added rabbit DNA could reduce air pollution, study shows

An Eye-Opening Look at the Feast of the Seven Fishes

How Hallmark takes over your TV every Christmas

Christmas Mysteries: A Tradition Revived

I . . . love this song: How “Coventry Carol,” a lullaby about killing babies, became a Christmas song

How Dutch Edam Became a Christmas Tradition in the Philippines

10 Thrillers You Forgot Take Place During Christmas

Afternoon Tea (12/21/18)

!! The Lost Christmas Recipes of Gourmet—and How We Found Them

Wills and Kate and Harry and Meghan Have Sent Out Their Holiday Cards

Ice Hotel opens with new designs in Swedish Lapland – in pictures

12 of the Best Romance Novels, According to the Author of The Proposal

A ‘Time Capsule’ for Scientists, Courtesy of Peter the Great

Afternoon Tea (12/14/18)

Oh happy day! Queens of Infamy: Zenobia

ALWAYS MY FAVORITE: The 2018 GFY Holiday Gift Guide Is Here!

This exhibit sounds amazing: Armpit Pads, Petticoats, and Porcelain: How Stylish Dolls Taught Girls to Be Victorian Women

This story is WILD: How one man's quest to spread Christmas cheer led to a miserable four-year war with his neighborhood

Eight Dazzling Toy Train Displays to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

The CORRECT List of Best Christmas Movies

As you may have seen, Vulture put out a list of the best Christmas movies of all time and IT IS VERY VERY WRONG. Here is the correct list, using their inclusion criteria. You're welcome.

10. Love Actually
9. Little Women
8. Carol
7. The Holiday
6. Christmas in Connecticut
5. Miracle on 34th Street
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
3. White Christmas
2. Goodfellas
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol

I am not taking questions at this time.

Afternoon Tea (11/30/18)

NPR'S BOOK CONCIERGE IS BACK!!

This feature is always fun and Philadelphia is a place I've been known to visit so I was particularly interested in this one: A History of Philadelphia in 10 Dishes

The Glamorous Grandmas of Instagram

Useful list! 2018 Holiday RomComs Starring People of Color

Ooh: The 100 Best Pens, As Tested by Strategist Editors

Morning Coffee (11/30/18)

Time for Friday happy links!

YAY: Small bookstores are booming after nearly being wiped out

Rachel is a Twitter pal and I'm very excited for this one: A queer romance in the royal family? Her Royal Highness will make you swoon

AWWW: Barack Obama surprises wife Michelle at book tour stop

Oh, this sounds great! Introducing Carina Adores, a trope-driven LGBTQ+ contemporary romance line, now open for submissions!

Phew: ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Sequel in the Works

I am cautiously optimistic: ‘The ABC Murders’: John Malkovich & Rupert Grint In BBC/Amazon Drama – First-Look

Whoa: Rosé Cider Cheese From Angry Orchard & Crown Finish Caves Will Dazzle Your Cheese Board This Holiday Season

Create Your Own Hallmark Christmas Movie and We'll Tell You Which One to Watch

Heh: Christmas movies would be better if all of them starred Gritty

Star Trek Beyond crew assemble in Fleet Command game footage

Weekly Rec: The Grinch

Now, let me start by saying that new animated movie The Grinch does not need to exist. The book is great! The 1966 animated TV special is great! (We don't accept the Jim Carrey movie as a real thing.) There was no hole this was filling. We don't need to remake things over and over if there's no particular new point of view. (There's some backstory here, but it doesn't at all change the impression of the story you have from the earlier versions.) This movie certainly isn't necessary, and it's fairly redundant.

But all that said . . . I saw it and it was pretty good! It's a very cute Christmas movie with a few different nice messages and if you're looking for something to see with your family you could certainly do much worse! The voice cast is solid, though I remain confused about Benedict Cumberbatch's choices, and the animation is also . . . solid, though I thought the Whoville stuff was REALLY GOOD. It looked like a Department 56 village come to life and I would have happily watched a whole movie about life there that did not have the Grinch in it at all, honestly. I would also read a sociological article about this culture. (Also, the Whos are no longer all white and that is great.) The writing was better than I expected for faux-Seuss. The whole thing was better than I expected! Hey, for 2018, that's pretty good.

Afternoon Tea (11/16/18)

Romance Unlaced: It's time for historical romance Christmas anthologies

A Guide to the Met for the Crowd-Averse

The overview effect: what Earth looks like from space – in pictures

Hogarth’s London in the 18th century Latin poetry of Benjamin Loveling

The Best Cheese Events for Winter 2018

Afternoon Tea (11/9/18)

Chrissy Teigen on Kanye, Getting Blocked by Trump, and Actually Caring About Her Comments

A Definitive Guide to 2018’s Made-for-TV Christmas Movies, Divided by Trope

Stress Purchase of the Week: A Brush Fit For a Princess

Excited for this one: Read an Exclusive Excerpt of Emily A. Duncan’s Bloody Gothic Fantasy, Wicked Saints

Rome's Heroes and America's Founding Fathers

Morning Coffee (11/3/18)

Young and new voters surge in early voting

I don't know how I'm still astounded every day, but . . . Trump complains GOP momentum faltering after deadly synagogue shooting

Donald Trump’s race-baiting closing argument going into Election Day, explained

Related: Nigerian Army Uses Trump’s Words to Justify Fatal Shooting of Rock-Throwing Protesters

Sigh: Border Patrol agents now have to ask everyone they catch if they’re part of the caravan

Wow: The Trump Administration Flunked Its Math Homework

What If Only Men Voted? Only Women? Only Nonwhite Voters?

This is HORRIFYING: Middleton school district to investigate staff dressed as border wall, Mexicans

We knew this but the fact that it's in Nature is big: US proposal for defining gender has no basis in science

Oh: Rockettes To Incorporate Intel’s Drones In Traditional Christmas Spectacular Show

Morning Coffee (11/2/18)

FRIDAY HAPPY LINKS!

Oh gosh, look at this Get Out the Vote letter from JFK to Madeleine L'Engle.

!!! 'Penny Dreadful' Revived at Showtime

This is great: Tokyo 2020 Medal Project To Turn Scrap Metal Into Precious Olympic, Paralympic Medals

Watching Jenny retweet all these was great: 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' Costumes Make Jenny Han Cry — In A Good Way

I love them: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen will host 'legendary' Christmas special

! Harrods, Now Available at Williams Sonoma

I did not expect to read about a Thomas & Friends and the United Nations collaboration.

YAY: Lionsgate Boards Helen Hoang Romance ‘The Kiss Quotient’ From Pilgrim Media Group — AFM

Ben & Jerry's Just Released an Anti-Trump Ice Cream Flavor

10 of the Best Bookish Knitting Patterns