Morning Coffee (9/3/18)

Happy Labor Day! We're on a holiday schedule today, so just the one post.

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

Not good! U.S. to End Funding to U.N. Agency That Helps Palestinian Refugees

In Chemnitz, anti-fascists stand up to the Nazi salutes of Germany's far right

How Brett Kavanaugh Would Transform the Supreme Court

A grand jury will investigate whether Kris Kobach intentionally botched voter registration in 2016

The new Democratic plan to protect preexisting conditions ahead of the 2018 midterms

USA Gymnastics Is Imploding

Feeling Suicidal, Students Turned to Their College. They Were Told to Go Home.

Schindler's List will return to theaters for its 25th anniversary

George IV's restored Brighton pavilion saloon unveiled

Ugh: Shadowhunters Auction Accidentally Spoils Final Season Twists for Fans

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 (1/13/16)

Current events aren't getting into Happy Friday posts much these days, but THIS ONE DOES: Obama surprises Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

YAY: For the First Time, Lady Liberty Depicted as a Woman of Color on U.S. Currency

Daveed Diggs did "Rubber Duckie" and it is amazing.

Heeeee: A guide to giving your cats their annual performance review

Whoa: Europe's first underwater museum opens off Lanzarote

Jane Smiley Explores Ancient Ireland’s Mysterious Tombs

I am very much enjoying this Winter Classical Playlist.

I want to go there: A Restaurant That Only Serves Pickles Is on the Way

9 Rich and Silky Vegetarian Soups to Help You Weather the Winter

Let's look at some ice castles.

I enjoy when actors do interviews solely about their cats.

Your Friday probably needs the Best Beards of the Golden Globes.

Morning Coffee (1/6/17)

Time for some happy Friday links. It's been a weird week, huh? Remember, if you'd like to receive my thoughts on books in your email inbox, sign up here.

Ooooh: J.K. Rowling Says This Painting Is A Clue To Her Future Projects

I jumped up in the middle of writing this to try the Bookout app because it says it's like a workout tracker for your reading. SOUNDS GOOD.

Yeah, I absolutely want lip color that looks like Crayola crayons.

I don't often read actor interviews, but this one with Matthew Daddario of Shadowhunters is a COMPLETE JOY.

Aaah, look at this Hamilton hat knitting pattern.

Whoa: P.E.I. Lego aficionado recreates Anne of Green Gables out of iconic toy

Speaking of, let's have an Anne of Green Gables party.

I LOVED this stuff: Remembering Pepsi Holiday Spice, the Winter Tradition That Could Have Been

The Onion, BARELY: Man Not Accepting Any More Television Recommendations At This Time

The Ice-Skating Dandies of 18th-Century Paris

Striking New Maps Show the Beauty of Earth's Shadows

18 Book Bags (And Totes) You’ll Want To Spend Your Holiday Loot On

Morning Coffee (10/13/15)

Me elsewhere: Amazon's Red Oaks was okay. And new trailers and premiere dates for Shadowhunters and The Shannara Chronicles.

Whoa: Dell's takeover of EMC is the biggest tech deal ever.

Ha: Guy buys Google’s web domain for 1 minute, gives his reward to charity

Ooh, did they find Henry V's warship Holigost?

Useful! The One Podcast to Start With, Across 24 Topics

I'm one of those people who will read anything about Roanoke, and this look at how Virginia Dare has been co-opted over the centuries is fascinating.

Uh-oh: Wet Weather Causes Shortage of Pumpkins (and Pie)

Hallmark is going to have a Christmas float in the Macy's parade, so that's perfect.

On My Mother and the Person I Could Have Become

Interesting point: "The fact that servants used to be a fixture of domestic life and are now reserved for the wealthy is one of the key, but little discussed, reasons why contemporary middle-class men and women feel overwhelmed by responsibilities."

As usual, I'm skeptical of the ID of possibly famous bones.

Morning Coffee (10/12/15)

Me elsewhere: The week's TV news and the first Shadowhunters trailer.

The House Republican leadership crisis, explained

Sad and compelling: She’s 10. She has HIV. And she’s about to learn the truth.

Huh: This video game is designed to teach people to manage trauma.

Twitter polls? Hmm.

Heavenly Creatures is so good. "Murder, like love, exceeds the sum of the evidence."

Good news! New Research Says Overthinking Worriers Are Probably Creative Geniuses

"Alluring" is not a word I would have ever used to describe the Merritt Parkway.

!!! China unveils the world’s largest 3-D printed structure

I'm not sure how to feel about the Doctor Who YA spinoff.

Whoa: Attention Kmart Shoppers

Morning Coffee (5/4/15)

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

In case you somehow missed it over the weekend: The new British princess was born, and the Fug Girls have adorable pictures here and here.

Ooh, the Bartolomeo Cristofori Google doodle!

Only people who have read the Mortal Instruments series will care about this, but I am astonished by how like Simon the newly cast Alberto Rosende is in this video, and I continue to be astonished by the fact of TV shows based on books by people I know being REAL.

Sad news: Ben E. King has died. (And B.B. King is in hospice, which is also sad, and I mention here partially because I kept reading stories about these situations and thinking I must have misread or someone must have typoed the names or something but no, both.)

It's clearly time we all learn about Marilyn Mosby.

Britain’s Drift From the Global Stage Becomes an Election Issue

I'm pretty excited about the new Macbeth photos.

Gail Collins read Marco Rubio's books so you don't have to.