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 (1/9/19)

Manafort Shared Trump Campaign Data With Russian Associate, Prosecutors Say

“He’s not hurting the people he needs to be”: a Trump voter says the quiet part out loud

Why Men Find the New Congresswomen So Frightening

I Was Sexually Harassed On Bernie Sanders’ Campaign. And No One Cared.

Yay! Ex-felons can now sign up to vote in Florida

Of course: Trump administration considers rollback of anti-discrimination rules

'It's like 1984': Venezuela targets human rights defenders

Another Black Man Has Died in the Home of Democratic Donor Ed Buck

!! Lin-Manuel Miranda and Friends Purchase Drama Book Shop

The Americans finally wins a Golden Globe for best drama

Morning Coffee (12/22/18)

The correct take on Mattis, I think: There never were any “adults in the room”

U.S. Exit Seen as a Betrayal of the Kurds, and a Boon for ISIS

Oh no, GET WELL SOON: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Been Treated For Lung Cancer

The Republican Party versus democracy

Are Trump’s Immigration Policies Literally Making Us Sick?

Yay! Nevada Becomes First State With Majority of Women in Assembly

Of course: Trump Officials Plan to Rescind Obama-Era School Discipline Policies

CRYING FOREVER: Listen to Barack Obama on Lin-Manuel Miranda's new Hamilton remix

Gladys West, the 'hidden figure' of GPS, inducted into Air Force hall of fame

Simply Having a Gay Straight Alliance Reduces Suicide Risk for All Students

Morning Coffee (7/28/18)

I'm away, so this was written in advance. Back to normal in a few days!

Cohen claims Trump knew in advance of 2016 Trump Tower meeting

The Trump GOP-Russia Alliance Is A Natural Alliance

Whistleblower Provides Emails That Show Stormy Daniels' Arrest Was Pre-Planned

Montana Governor Sues I.R.S., Warning of ‘Foreign Money’ in Elections

ISIS Is Shaking Britain’s Anti–Death Penalty Resolve

!!! New Evidence for a Hidden Lake on Mars

Wow: Ta-Nehisi Coates Is Leaving The Atlantic

Eee! Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michelle Williams, Sam Rockwell Team for Fosse-Verdon Series at FX

Seagram’s heiress arrested for role in controversial “sex cult”

Women, Stop Volunteering for Office Housework!

Morning Coffee (7/20/18)

Phew, time for some Friday happy links.

Michelle Obama's funny, star-studded video reminding you to vote is downright delightful.

The Colette trailer looks so great!!!

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonny Sun have a book coming out!

Black Panther's Sister Shuri Is Getting Her Own Comic Book Series & It's Happening So, So Soon

'Lost in space' Bakewell pudding found in Lincolnshire

Your Friday may need Prince Louis' christening photos. They're REALLY CUTE. (Shocker.)

Ooh, first images of the new cast of The Crown: Olivia Colman as the Queen and Helena Bonham Carter and Ben Daniels as Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden.

!!!! Trogdor!! The Board Game

Hot Topic's new Disney princess collection is actually really cute.

10 Fun Ways To Wear Pigtails As An Adult

Morning Coffee (4/16/18)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

Check your eggs! 200 million eggs recalled after nearly two dozen were sickened with salmonella, officials say

James Comey’s Interview on ABC’s ‘20/20’: Annotated Excerpts

Here we go again: Eyeing 2020, Trump Fund-Raisers Return to Familiar Well: Small Donors

How Often Do People Use Guns In Self-Defense?

You don't say: Researchers Conclude Google's Play Store Is Likely Chock Full of Apps That Improperly Track Children

Hmm: Gmail is getting a redesign that includes a 'Confidential Mode'

...what. Dire Straits’s Rock Hall Induction Was a Weirdly Beautiful Mess

Harry Potter books unveil seven new 20th anniversary covers

Oooh: American Girl to Launch Live Musical Production This Fall

Lin-Manuel Miranda Makes His Debut as Gizmoduck in Disney's 'DuckTales'

Morning Coffee (2/4/18)

Today's must-read: I Hate The Patriots And All Their Fans But I Live Here And Need Them To Win

ISIS Is Weakened, but Iraq Election Could Unravel Hard-Won Stability

Long, uneasy love affair of Israel and U.S. evangelicals may have peaked

The Republican Plan for Trump Impunity

Ooh interesting: National Book Awards Add Category Honoring Works In Translation

Good: Songwriters are getting a huge pay raise from streaming services

Meet the amateur astronomer who found NASA’s lost satellite in space

So excited for this: Watch the opening credits for new AMC drama McMafia

Hmm: Sam Raimi to Direct ‘Kingkiller Chronicle’ for Lionsgate and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Cremation urns' dusty bones tell tale of death in Roman London

Morning Coffee (11/11/17)

In Egypt, a Contender Emerges to Challenge President Sisi

The Worrisome Future of Abortion Rights

Lindy West, great as always: Brave Enough to Be Angry

Don’t call this man the “next Obama”

GLAAD TV Study: LGBTQ Characters Hit Record High but Still Lack Diversity

I would read this novel: After Night of Drinking, F.B.I. Supervisor Wakes to Find a Woman Stole His Gun

Amazing: Study Finds That Sheep Are Surprisingly Good at Recognizing Photos of Celebrities

Aw, this is great: Lin-Manuel Miranda to reprise his Hamilton turn in limited Puerto Rico run

3D printing has gone metal

Lenin the cat lover: rare photos of Soviet leader go on show in Oxford

Morning Coffee (11/10/17)

PHEW, we have survived another week. Time for some happy Friday links.

!!! Hillary Clinton Guest Edits Teen Vogue Volume IV

Make sure you click through for the pictures: Little girl's stolen puppy returned by thieves

In other important dog news: Stunned farmer finds flock of sheep in her home thanks to overzealous sheepdog puppy

Ooh: Bath And Body Works Dropped Two New Holiday Scents, Giving Us Even More Festive Cheer

Aw: Lin-Manuel Miranda brought his son to see Hamilton and his review is adorable

Romance Novels to Get You Through Tough Times

Okay, Advent and the Twelve Days of Christmas are TOTALLY DIFFERENT but I may need to buy one of these: Harry Potter, Star Wars and Disney Sock Advent Calendars Are Now Available at Target

Now I also want some plaid shoes.

I'll definitely be making this for some holiday event: A Cranberry and Scotch Cocktail Perfect for a Holiday Crowd

William Sonoma has Hogwarts house aprons and spatulas!

Morning Coffee (10/29/17)

This is long but worth reading: We're All Mad Here: Weinstein, Women, and the Language of Lunacy

What declaring a national emergency over the opioid epidemic could actually do

Of course: US ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown faced complaints over 'cultural misunderstanding' (Hint: they're talking about how he talks to women.)

The GOP’s Abortion Ban Is About Politics, Not Science

The Ghost of Munich

I LOVE THIS: Homecoming queen kicks dramatic game-winning field goal over rival

Oooooh: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Kingkiller Chronicle’ Series Set At Showtime

!! World's first 3D-printed bridge opens to cyclists in Netherlands

‘Darkest Hour’ Gets Endorsed by Churchill Family and Experts

The World’s First Trees Were More Structurally Complex Than Trees Today

Morning Coffee (9/8/17)

It's Friday, so let's have some lighter links! Back to the miseries of the world tomorrow, I promise.

Prince George started school! SO CUTE.

The Man Who Invented Christmas, with Dan Stevens as Dickens and Christopher Plummer as Scrooge, looks more insane than I'd dreamed and now I'm pretty excited for it!

Ooh, trailer for the new Magic School Bus show! Yes, that's Lin-Manuel Miranda singing, because the man apparently doesn't need sleep.

Perhaps your Friday would be improved by ogling Matt Bomer's Todd Snyder ads. It's A LOT.

I want to go there: China’s Seaside Library Mimics the Rhythms of the Ocean

Whoa: World’s tallest sandcastle rises in Germany

Look at these amazing hotel bathrooms.

12 Cozy Blankets You'll Wanna Snuggle Under All Year Long

These Disney Villain Lip Smackers Will Make You Very Excited For Halloween

Awww: Sophie Turner Basically Just Adopted Her Own Direwolf

Morning Coffee (12/4/16)

Only Power Rules: Turkey After the Failed Coup

Go Jennifer Palmieri: “I would rather lose than win the way you guys did.”

This Single Concept Explains Trump’s Many Outrages

Hillary’s No-Makeup Face As Rorschach Test

How much could Trump’s education secretary damage public schools? Just look at Detroit.

Trumpcare Is Likely to Be Costlier, Less Efficient, and More Annoying Than Obamacare

Republicans can repeal Obamacare. They can’t repeal the logic of health insurance.

Jared Kushner Told Christie Ally Behind Bridgegate That Scheme Was ‘Badass’

I hate these people so much: What Will Become of the Dirtbag Left?

!!! Lin-Manuel Miranda to Produce ‘Kingkiller Chronicle’ Film, TV Series Adaptation

Was Superman Jewish?

Ugh, this Apple calendar spam recently is awful.

Morning Coffee (10/9/16)

"Mr. Trump is rape culture’s blathering id, and Sunday night Hillary Clinton (who, no doubt, has just as many man-made scars as the rest of us) has to stand next to him on a stage, and remain unflappable as she’s held to an astronomically higher standard, and pretend that he is her equal while his followers persist in howling that sexism is a feminist myth."

“Shame On You!”: Trump Supporters Clash With Republican Leaders

Why Republicans Are Probably Stuck With Donald Trump

Mike Pence enabled Donald Trump. Stop saying he’d make a good president.

Here's Lin-Manuel Miranda's Saturday Night Live monologue. It's pretty adorable. I know, you're shocked.

"This is about 'lesser evil' Hillary Clinton. But what if I don’t think Hillary Clinton is 'evil' at all? What if I like her real good???"

The Horror Is Everything the GOP Could Tolerate About Trump, and Why

"These rhetorical time bombs, in other words, could be the catalyst for actual intimidation and violence, before and after Election Day. And if that violence and intimidation strikes, it will be against the chief targets of Trump’s campaign: people of color."

Oh: US protests over Russian 'harassment' as diplomats allegedly given date rape drug

Spoiler Alerts: Any Story Worth Telling Doesn’t Need Them

Morning Coffee (8/17/16)

This is so scary: Scenes From the Terrifying, Already Forgotten JFK Airport Shooting That Wasn’t

Wow: "Mr. Trump is so reckless, the vice president said, that if his late son had planned to enlist in a Trump administration, 'I would have thrown my body in front of him.'"

Donald Trump's once-masterful "attention at any cost" strategy has turned into a disaster

The Very Strange Writings of Putin’s New Chief of Staff

This is a very important read from Dana Schwartz: Never Talk About Sexism (If You Want to Be Taken Seriously)

Seven questions the entertainment industry needs to answer about rape

Nifty: #ObamaJAMA: Obama Just Became the First Sitting President to Publish an Academic Paper

!!!!!!!!! ‘Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda & Alan Menken Duet On Disney’s Live Action ‘The Little Mermaid’

Also: Ben Whishaw in Talks to Join Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Mary Poppins Returns I'm all for Ben Whishaw being cast in anything and everything, but I'm a little wary of what they're going to do with Grown-Up Michael Banks here.

Shifting Sands Reveal 400-Year-Old Petroglyphs in Hawaii

Morning Coffee (8/12/16)

Let's take a break for some fun Friday links.

The President made us summer playlists. God, I'm going to miss him. Also, I'd been vaguely meaning to make a playlist all week and never got to it, so I am impressed, as the President is much busier than I am.

Simone Biles Has a Life-size Zac Efron Cutout, and Honestly, Zac Efron Should Be Flattered

I have never related so much to Michelle Obama, in that if I had the power to do so I would absolutely make Matthew Rhys sit next to me. I would probably also make him speak Welsh but I assume the First Lady's manners are better than mine.

Important military news: Italian Sailor Uses Mouth-To-Mouth to Revive Kitten

I'm a little burned out on essays about Hamilton but this one by Todd VanDerWerff is so lovely and the one I would recommend you read.

Speaking of: Lin-Manuel Miranda & The Rock teamed up to belt out a 'Beauty and the Beast' ballad for you. Of course they did.

This is perfect: Let me translate my emails for you.

I am relieved to report that Tonga's shirtless flag bearer seems like a good guy, as well as being hot.

The swimmers' grandmas continue being quite something: Watch Ryan Lochte's Grandma Carry an Olympic Torch in Her Nursing Home, Weep

PIKACHURRO.

Morning Coffee (7/25/16)

Me elsewhere: The week's TV news.

I woke to news of another nightclub shooting in Florida and I don't even know what to say at this point.

The "most damaging" DNC emails say the DNC was working against Sanders because . . . of course it was? He was trying to bring them down. Why would they be on his side? I find the whole conversation about this very frustrating - it feels like a lot of people think the DNC is part of the government or something, rather than a private organization that is literally only there to try to get actual Democrats elected.

"Johnson said he understood that the American people would expect him to be a substance-free Commander-in-Chief. 'As President, I will not indulge in anything,' Johnson vowed, as if he were J.F.K. promising not to take directions from the Pope."

Milo Yiannopoulos Does Not Deserve Twitter

Michael Caine has officially changed his name to Michael Caine, because apparently airport security got too annoying.

Here's our first look at the U.S.S. Discovery, from the new show Star Trek: Discovery.

Interesting: When Did the Media Turn Against Taylor Swift? (I am Team Taylor Controlling Her Own Narrative; I don't care to what extent it's "real".)

Celine Dion owns and wears a $900 Titanic sweatshirt, which somehow makes me feel better about the world.

A Brief History of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘West Wing’ Obsession

Okay, let's start Monday with Prince George's birthday pictures.

Morning Coffee (6/13/16)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

Donald Trump's Exploitation of Orlando

If you missed the Tonys, make sure you see Lin-Manuel Miranda's acceptance sonnet.

My first reaction to jurors refusing to serve on the Brock Turner judge's cases was "good for them!" but then a lawyer friend pointed out that those are exactly the people we want to have serving on juries, and that if only people who agree with that judge serve on his cases that will make everything MUCH WORSE.

A musical thriller starring Tom Hardy and Olivia Colman?!?!?! Amazing news.

This headline is funny but the story is actually important and interesting: How Witchcraft Harms Economies

This story is CRAZY: Yoga Twins Blazed Path of Destruction Off Hawaiian Cliff

Brilliant: Nivea Made a Waterslide That Applies Sunscreen to Kids, So Parents Don't Have to Do It

"What is it about romance novels that provokes such scorn? Many have argued that it’s the same features that also make it extraordinarily popular (romance is a billion dollar business, and according to the RWA’s statistics it accounts for 13% of the entire adult fiction market): romance is a genre written by, for, and about women."

I had no idea that the personalized emoji business was such a big thing.

A Shocking Find In a Neanderthal Cave In France

Morning Coffee (6/10/16)

Happy Friday!

This Hamilton algorithmic rhyme analysis is so cool.

I love a summer reading guide. (In that one, I second the recommendations for The Object of My Affection and The Name of the Wind.)

I had a very good perry recently, so this was suddenly of interest.

Stop the presses: Prince William ATE CAKE FROM PAPER PLATES IN PUBLIC. (No, it's cute how everyone's so excited.)

“Frog and Toad”: An Amphibious Celebration of Same-Sex Love

A Secret Tunnel Found in Mexico May Finally Solve the Mysteries of Teotihuacán

How Novels Came to Be Written in the Voice of Coins, Stuffed Animals and Other Random Objects

TOO REAL: 23 Things That Will Make Short Girls Say “Sounds Fake, But OK”

!!! Rare 'Baby Dragon' Hatches in Slovenia

All the Reasons Why People Did Not Reply To Your Party Invitation

Morning Coffee (6/8/16)

I woke up to the news from California and THAT was delightful.

(Me elsewhere: Feed the Beast was disappointing.)

This is really happening: Hillary Clinton will be the first woman presidential nominee — that's a big deal beyond symbolism

The meaning of Hillary, and the long, hard climb to the top of the ticket

Hillary Clinton Made History, but Bernie Sanders Stubbornly Ignored It

No concession, but the Times says Sanders is laying off half his staff.

And I just read this and it made me both furious and so so glad that he will not be president, as he would clearly be terrible at it: Inside the bitter last days of Bernie's revolution

Reporters covering Clinton report harassment following AP call

I'm not saying what it is here but reading this Cursed Child spoiler about a certain character last night of all nights made me start crying again.

Stop the Bots From Killing Broadway

This piece on Dancing with the Stars casting was interesting even though I don't watch the show, and obviously if they got Bill Clinton (their dream contestant) I would WATCH EVERY MOMENT.

The Lost Literature of Medieval England

Morning Coffee (6/7/16)

Well, last night was exciting. In case you were off doing other things: Based on a combination of pledged delegates and superdelegates, the Associated Press declared Clinton the presumptive Democratic nominee. Sure, it would have been more fun (and better optics) if this had happened on an election night - what changed Monday that allowed the AP (and then other news orgs) to do this was a combination of more results from Puerto Rico and previously unpledged superdelegates declaring themselves for Clinton - but this is still important, exciting, and historic - the first female major party nominee.

(But if you're in a state that votes today - go vote anyway!!!!)

Nate Silver has some good explanation and analysis: Hillary Clinton Will Be Nominated Because More Democrats Are Voting For Her

Related: "The nomination is won by adding up pledged delegates and superdelegates. Clinton has a large lead in pledged delegates, and an even larger lead in superdelegates. You could rely entirely on one or the other, or change the weights between them in any fashion, and Clinton would still win. Sanders simply refuses to accept the combination of the two, instead changing subjects from one to the other. Ask him about the pledged delegates, and he brings up the superdelegates. Ask about the superdelegates, and he changes to the pledged delegates. It’s an infinite loop of bullshit."

This seems like a good time to break for some celebratory Broadway Carpool Karaoke featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Audra McDonald, and more.

Welp: Florida AG Asked Trump for Donation Before Nixing Fraud Case

And: "Republicans working to elect Trump describe a bare-bones effort debilitated by infighting, a lack of staff to carry out basic functions, minimal coordination with allies and a message that’s prisoner to Trump’s momentary whims."

Good for BuzzFeed: "We don't run cigarette ads because they are hazardous to our health, and we won't accept Trump ads for the exact same reason." (I know this is, to some extent, a PR stunt, but honestly... so what? If we care about the public political stances companies take, then we should want PR stunts that mesh with our goals and priorities. Wondering what's truly in the heart of executives we don't know is a losing game.)

This is so good, especially about how we judge things young women are interested in: Why we're terrified of fanfiction

This piece on The Great British Bakeoff is delightful, as is the show: Let Them Bake Cake

Ooh: King Tut's dagger blade made from meteorite, study confirms