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 (3/3/19)

The recent spike in tensions between India and Pakistan, explained

Lawmaker promoting anti-vaxx bill suggests measles can be treated with antibiotics. (It can’t.)

Congress asked top experts for a plan to cut child poverty in half. Here it is.

Why White School Districts Have So Much More Money

A pediatrician exposes suicide tips for children hidden in videos on YouTube and YouTube Kids

The FBI raided a 91-year-old missionary’s home and found thousands of stolen Native American bones

...well, at least there's a new sponsor: Booker prize: Silicon Valley billionaire takes over as new sponsor

When It Comes to Stories about Racism, Why Does Hollywood Love a White Point of View?

Ava DuVernay’s ‘Central Park Five’ Gets Netflix Debut Date, New Name + Teaser

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez becomes comic-book heroine

Afternoon Tea (1/4/19)

The Lady Is a Detective

Nancy, a 1930s comic strip, was the funniest thing I read in 2018

Inside the Royal Gossip Machine

22 Hot Cocktail Recipes for Cold Winter Nights

The NFL’s Home-Field Advantage Is Real. But Why?

Morning Coffee (11/23/18)

Time for Friday happy links!

YAY: 'Becoming' Is Becoming 2018's Biggest Adult Book

I would like to read a novel based on this immediately: Revealed: the child Clement Attlee helped save from the Nazis

Oh interesting: Marvel Teams Up With Tupac Estate to Resurrect Rapper for ‘Black Panther’ Collab

JUST HIRE THEM: Curious cats bring fame to Japanese museum that won't let them in

‘Death & Nightingales’: Jamie Dornan & Matthew Rhys Battle It Out In First Trailer For BBC Period Drama

The Untouched 4,000-Year-Old Egyptian Tomb of Mehu Opens to the Public

This is not a RECENT link, but my family tried this festive cocktail recipe last night and WE RECOMMEND IT: Hot Maple Bourbon Apple Cider

Aw I love them: Coca-Cola’s Polar Bears, Now 25 Years Old, Return to Share Their Rules for a Loving Household

Romance readers will probably be interested in the Ripped Bodice Robe.

Answer These Teen TV Questions And We'll Give You A YA Novel To Read

Morning Coffee (11/13/18)

YAY: Democrat Kyrsten Sinema Wins Arizona Senate Race, Flipping Second GOP Seat

YES PLEASE: Democrats Say Their First Bill Will Focus On Strengthening Democracy At Home

This is horrifying: Veterans haven't received GI Bill benefits for months due to ongoing IT issues at VA

In addition to the obvious racism here, this shows that "good guys with guns" are not the answer: A black security guard caught a shooting suspect — only to be shot by police minutes later

Elections have consequences! Next Kansas governor to reinstate LGBT protections for state workers

What he said is actually even worse than this summary! GOP official resigns after saying Sharice Davids would be sent back to reservation

Democrats Flipped The House — All Thanks To Women

Macron denounces nationalism as avowed “nationalist” Trump stands steps away

Stan Lee, Marvel Comics' Real-Life Superhero, Dies at 95

Whee! Best-seller Sarah Dessen has new book, new publisher

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 (5/20/18)

This story about claiming Dreamers are gang-affiliated in order to deport them is unsurprising but completely horrifying.

Justice Department and F.B.I. Are Investigating Cambridge Analytica

Somehow this actual story is even more alarming than the headline makes it sound: Bill Gates Had to Explain to Donald Trump the Difference Between HIV and HPV

Trump personally pushed postmaster general to double rates on Amazon, other firms

Can Boring Win in 2020? (I WISH.)

Let's take a break for this amazing headline: Hotel Chocolat fires new salvo at Waitrose in chocolate war

Harry and Meghan’s New Titles are Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and there's some interesting history there.

I love today's Abraham Ortelius Google doodle.

Today in Oscar Bait Mad Libs: Leonardo DiCaprio Teaming Up With Steven Spielberg On Ulysses S. Grant Biopic

Lisbeth Salander Returns in 'The Girl Who Danced With Death' Comic

Morning Coffee (3/2/18)

WE MADE IT TO FRIDAY. Time for happy links!

ICYMI, yesterday's Oscar Project posts: My Nephew Emmett, War for the Planet of the Apes, The Big Sick

Oh good: Last Men in Aleppo producer gets last-minute visa to attend Oscars

I AM EXCITED: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery unveils new gameplay trailer

Aah, Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing Captain America!

This looks so good: ‘Final Portrait’ Trailer: Geoffrey Rush Paints Armie Hammer

Whoa, I've never seen a full list of what's in the Oscar gift bag before. It's . . . a lot.

Dolly Parton likes to give away books. She just donated her 100 millionth.

L’Occitane’s 2018 Solidarity Balm Helps Support Women In Achieving Their Professional Dreams (a. this is a good cause and b. I didn't know you could buy LITERALLY ANYTHING from L'Occitane for $6.)

Someone go and report back! Domesday Book is coming to the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition

Heh: Even Oprah Has to Spell Her Name at Starbucks

Yes, sure, I'll try rosé hard cider.

Morning Coffee (2/27/18)

ICYMI, yesterday's Oscar Project posts: DeKalb Elementary, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Blade Runner 2049

Supreme Court Turns Down Trump’s Appeal in ‘Dreamers’ Case

Donald Trump's Russia Accomplices

Angela Merkel Starts Grooming Successors, and One Stands Out

Ughhh whyyyy: Levi Sanders makes it official, he’s a candidate for NH’s 1st District House seat

2018! ‘Clueless’ Star Stacey Dash Files to Run for Congress in California

The donation part is good but UGH to the "women are intimidated" stuff: Diageo Introduces ‘Jane Walker’ Scotch in Bid to Attract Women

The Iceman Cometh Out

Ugh, I'm sure I'll give in and subscribe eventually: Turner’s FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Classic Films, As Warner Archive Service Winds Down

MILK BATTLES: Former Olympians to Air Regional PSA During Closing Ceremonies Urging Athletes to Give Up Milk

Well, this story took a turn: 50 Cent admits in bankruptcy document that he never actually owned any bitcoin

Morning Coffee (11/12/17)

Good news! Legal recognition for non-binary people planned in Scotland

Should we trust democracy ratings? New research finds hidden biases.

“This Is Total Surrender”: Is This the End of the House of Murdoch?

They're making a Pep TV show!! Amazon Teams With Manchester City for Behind-the-Scenes Soccer Series

!!! Aldi’s latest bargain is a 3D printer

Heh: Greta Gerwig Somehow Redeems Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash Into Me”

This project is fascinating: Visit Norway’s Future Library, Currently in the Form of a Baby Forest

'Once and Future Queen' Writers on Rethinking King Arthur: "The Future Isn't Straight White Men"

Found: A Celebratory Roman Sundial, Two Millennia Old

This sounds interesting: Tommy Mottola, Thalia Set Quinceañera Documentaries at HBO

Weekly Rec: Runaways by Rainbow Rowell

I should start by saying that I am not a comics person. Like, at all. I'm an extremely text-oriented person. (Please don't pivot to video.) Whenever I've tried to read comics or graphic novels in the past, I've felt very distant from the work as I constantly have to remind myself to pay attention and look at the pictures. Even when I could admire what they were trying to do, it wasn't a natural or fun reading experience for me.

However! Something that comes along with working and being friends with authors and other people who make things is the motivation to try things outside your own comfort zone so you can appreciate and support their work. (One of my friends has a horror novel coming out next week and I'm already pre-stressed about it.) So when news broke that my pal Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor and Park, Fangirl, Landline, etc.) was writing the new run of a Marvel comic, I figured I should give it a try.

And I'm actually glad I did! Runaways, which started this month, is a revival of an older series about the teen children of supervillains. I've never read the originals but this first issue grounds things pretty well: correct me if I'm wrong, people who know what they're talking about, but the characters have dispersed and are somewhat in hiding after taking down their parents, but now things are happening that are prompting them to get the band back together.

I'm sure my reading experience was helped by the knowledge that this was by someone I know, whose books I love, and that therefore I should find it more accessible - but I did! I enjoyed it! I know this sounds like faint praise - "Read this comic! I didn't hate it like I usually do!" - but honestly, I'm delighted. I didn't feel that detachment I usually do when I try to read this format. I'm already invested in the characters and looking forward to the next installment. So maybe you should check it out too!

Afternoon Tea (9/14/17)

I don't usually read comics but I'm going to try this one: Rainbow Rowell on her love of Runaways and the joys of comic collaboration

Ha: The Twelve Tiers of Fall Television!

The convoluted world of best-seller lists, explained

How the Unflappable Fred Astaire Survived the Fifties

Everything Serena Ever Wore on “Gossip Girl”

Morning Coffee (6/2/17)

Time for our traditional happy Friday links!

Aaah, we have a Murder on the Orient Express trailer! It's so gorgeous!

Victoria & Abdul also looks very pretty! JUDI DENCH EVERYWHERE.

Oh good - Hottest Heads of State has addressed Emmanuel Macron.

British GQ has a very cute new picture of Will and Kate and kids, and William is doing a really nice job of speaking out about mental health and his mother's death.

!!! Rainbow Rowell to write Marvel's new Runaways series (I don't have any particular Runaways feelings but yay Rainbow!)

In other exciting superhero news: The Flash and Supergirl to get middle-grade novels

This week in things I wish were relevant to my life right now: The best afternoon teas in London

Take a Long Walk Through the British Countyside With “Slow Radio” on the BBC

Wow: Architects have identified the 10 most beautiful gas stations in the world

! Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Professional Cat Cuddler?

New Year's Update & Morning Coffee (1/4/16)

Happy New Year! I know it's the fourth, but I was celebrating with family and friends and am just now getting back in the swing of things. A big project that took up a lot of my time in 2015 is winding down, so I'm hoping to have more posts in addition to link posts here for you in 2016. (I know, I know, it's 2016 and I'm saying I'm going to BLOG MORE, sheesh.) I'm not sure exactly what this will look like yet - please let me know if there are things you want to read about (or not) - but one thing I'll definitely add this year is a running list of the books I've read, with at least a few thoughts on each one, if not full-fledged reviews. Look for the first of those posts later today.

A few people have asked me recently if there's a way they can support this blog and specifically the link posts financially, and I'm looking into options for that. But don't worry - it will be completely optional and your reading experience won't change based on whether you pay or not.

Okay, on to the links!

Me elsewhere: There was barely any TV news this week but here's what we've got.

Wondering what's going on with the Oregon militia thing? NPR's piece is a good place to start.

Chris Christie is back in the presidential mix. But what about Bridgegate?

The White House's Year in Photographs is always worth a look.

Why That Study About How Vegetarians Are Killing the Environment Is Ridiculously Wrong

Awesome: Philadelphia woman opens comics shop that focuses on diversity and coffee

Author Maureen Johnson wrote a very good essay on dealing with illness: My Year on Space Mountain

This sounds so cool, provided they do it in a way responsible toward the ocean etc.: An Underwater Museum in Egypt Could Bring Thousands of Sunken Relics Into View

Lots of stabbings and 2 deaths by pie: every death in Shakespeare, in one chart

I don't agree with all the conclusions here, but I love reading about what and how people read: I read 164 books in 2015 and tracked them all in a spreadsheet. Here's what I learned.

Unnecessary Digs At Servants In Classic Vampire Novels

Morning Coffee (9/23/15)

New show reviews! I liked Life in Pieces. I did not like Scream Queens.

Sad news: Yogi Berra has died.

Huh. Serial's next season will be about Bowe Bergdahl.

There was clearly no GOOD way the Baby Doe case could end, but this story is just terrible.

Okay, some GOOD news: Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing a Black Panther comic!!

Alyssa Rosenberg's piece about world-building in Minority Report and The Man in the High Castle is fascinating. (My Minority Report review is going up today, so I'll link it for you tomorrow.)

At New York Private Schools, Challenging White Privilege From the Inside

"Happy Birthday" is now in the public domain and xkcd is on it.

Speaking of comics, I love Defunct's take on the Emmys.

Heh. The Onion: Pope Francis Reverses Position On Capitalism After Seeing Wide Variety Of American Oreos

Miserable Tambourine Players in Western Art History

Morning Coffee (8/25/15)

Trust me, you want to take three minutes out of your day to watch Hot Historical Maniacs. IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME.

You should also check out new web comic Defunct, about your discarded gadgets.

Taylor brought Alanis on stage to duet on "You Oughta Know" and IT IS EVERYTHING.

The August stock slide, explained.

The Right-Wing Hate Machine

Linda Holmes is writing some great stuff at NPR about the state of television.

Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes

And with it: The Best, And Perhaps Only, Response To An Article About One’s Family That Opens With “Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling False Hopes”

Morning Coffee (5/27/15)

There's a Classic Alice prequel with some news . . .

I love Joy Williams' new song.

Sigh: Denver ComicCon Had a Women in Comics Panel with No Women

They're putting Flannery O'Connor on a stamp!

500 Channels and Everything’s On: The Too-Much-TV Problem

I'm excited about Churchill's Secret.

A good primer: Did your favorite TV show get canceled? Here are 7 reasons it might have.

Texts From Hieronymus Bosch

Morning Coffee (7/16/14)

Here's the Massachusetts response to the Supreme Court's buffer zone ruling.

Wow: Ex-dictator Manuel Noriega sues Activision over 'Call of Duty' game

Son of Dead Sea Scrolls Scholar Is Sentenced to Two Months in Jail

Wondering what's up with this whole "Thor becoming a woman" thing? Vox has you covered.

New Hampshire Clarifies: D.C. Residents Live In The U.S., Can Buy Alcohol

How Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe hacked Metcalfe’s Law

'Human props' stay in luxury homes but live like ghosts

Your Female Characters Are So Strong

Morning Coffee (11/7/13)

Emily Bazelon's piece about the Nazi anatomists is a difficult but essential read.

Wow: Tanning Salon Is Super Thankful Native Americans 'Brought Sexy Color'

Nice: Kraft is adding whole grains to and taking away yellow dye from its character mac and cheese.

In Marvel Comics, Ms Marvel returns as Muslim teen

Evelyn Waugh's brother may have invented the cocktail party.

How Does Beowulf Begin?

I had no idea people read and wrote so much in Iceland.

I also didn't know the NYPL publishes monthly lists of its most popular books, but it's fascinating.

Morning Coffee (11/1/13)

Happy November! Because I was busy giving out candy last night, I don't quite have your normal Friday Happy links, but let's see what I can scare (hah) up.

Delightful news: Cougar Town will be back on January 7th.

Ooh, yay, PBS is going to air Vicious, a British sitcom starring Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi as a long-time couple.

In case you didn't see it yesterday, here is Patrick Stewart, dressed as a lobster, in a bathtub.

This is at least theoretically a positive step, though it could go very poorly: DC Comics to Reveal Native American Teenage Superheroine

15 Things You Should Never Say to a Crafter

Ooh, and this Craft in America holiday special looks interesting.

'Secret' WWI diary paints 'vivid and visceral' picture

These are not actually the least popular American baby names, since they're in the top 1000, but it's still a fun list.