Afternoon Tea (6/18/19)

A great profile by Emily Bazelon: Elizabeth Warren Is Completely Serious

This happened in my area and was so scary: The Day the Town Blew Up

Stop Using Phony Science to Justify Transphobia

The Invention of the "Beach Read"

The Ruin of Britain

Morning Coffee (3/29/19)

Whew, FRIDAY HAPPY LINKS time!

Important local news (seriously, read this article, the quotes are amazing): Market Basket: No Ghost In Wilmington Store

GOOD FOR THEM: Teen boys rated their female classmates based on looks. The girls fought back.

Awesome: Why We Created a Gender-Inclusive Stock Photo Library

A Previously Unknown Portrait of a Young Harriet Tubman Goes on View

AAAAH: 'The Queen Of Nothing' Is Holly Black's Heart-Stopping Finale To 'The Cruel Prince' Trilogy — Start Reading Now!

Ooh, neat: Saturn’s Rings Are Sculpted by a Crew of Mini-Moons

To All the Boys I've Loved Before Sequel Casts Jordan Fisher As the New John Ambrose

Solved: The 35-Year-Old Mystery of the Garfield Phones on a French Beach

This Sneak Peek of ‘The Meaning of Birds’ Will Both Break You and Heal You

Fug Nation Loves Cardigans! YES I DO.

Morning Coffee (3/19/19)

It still has to go through the Senate, but yay! N.H. House OKs Birth Certificate Changes in Transgender Cases

This is an important, moving read on the Christchurch attacks and Islamophobia in general: Our Brother, Our Executioner

Exclusive: 7 U.S. Military Members Identified As Part Of White Nationalist Group

Federal Authorities Raided Trump Fundraiser’s Office in Money Laundering Probe

The Summer Zervos sexual assault allegations and lawsuit against Donald Trump, explained

The headline sort of obscures that the prosecutor picked an older victim among DOZENS OF OPTIONS to lessen the punishment: Age of victim in prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein, long a source of confusion, eased his obligations to register as a sex offender

Facebook, Axios And NBC Paid This Guy To Whitewash Wikipedia Pages

lol: France’s EU minister names her cat ‘Brexit’ because ‘he meows loudly to be let out but won’t go through the door’

Ohh: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, 90, ‘Nate the Great’ Author, Dies

DNA on ancient tobacco pipe links Maryland slave site to West Africa

Morning Coffee (10/23/18)

Let's start with some VERY GOOD AND IMPORTANT local news: Judge blocks SB 3 voting law, saying it imposes 'unreasonable, discriminatory' burdens

Erdogan Says Saudis Planned Khashoggi’s Killing, and Demands Answers

This isn't funny but the phrasing made me laugh: Gorbachev Calls Trump’s Nuclear Treaty Withdrawal ‘Not the Work of a Great Mind’

Trump runs with absurd right-wing media lie about terrorists infiltrating the migrant caravan

Wow: Nation's Only Independent Gov. Drops Re-Election Bid In Alaska And Backs Democrat

GO VOTE: Republicans outpacing Democrats in early voting in key states, NBC News finds

Meanwhile: Uruguay passes law granting rights to trans people

This story is amazing: Joachim Roenneberg, Who Sabotaged Nazis' Nuclear Hopes, Dies At 99

I didn't know much about this groundbreaking female writer in the genre, and now I definitely want to read her: Evelyn Anthony, Writer of Spy Thrillers, Dies at 92

Well, this is a relief: Apple fixes its new bagel emoji with cream cheese and a doughier consistency

Weekly Rec: The Silver Unicorn Bookstore

Once in a while I recommend something that's really only useful to local-ish folks and today is one of those days, so you're welcome or I'm sorry, depending on where you live!

We don't have a ton of independent bookstores in my part of the world (though where does, really?), so I'm delighted have discovered The Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton. It's been there for about six months, and it's got a nice selection of books for all ages plus the kind of cool gifty items you'd expect from an indie. And even better, they're doing lots of events - I've gone to one middle grade and one young adult event so far. The owner and all the staff I've encountered have been great, and they have a membership program I'm probably going to end up joining. Go check it out, and keep an eye on their calendar!

Morning Coffee (10/10/18)

Trust me, this is GREAT: Unions Call for Coffman's Resignation

This is just evil: Migrant Children in Search of Justice: A 2-Year-Old’s Day in Immigration Court

Nikki Haley to Resign as Trump’s Ambassador to the U.N.

Flyers At Three Universities Blame Jews For Kavanaugh Assault Allegations

EPA Chief Andrew Wheeler Engaged With Racist, Conspiratorial Posts On Social Media

Neo-Nazi who attacked Amtrak train revealed as Unite the Right participant

New poll finds a 30-point gender gap going into the midterms

Jamal Khashoggi Disappears, a Mystery Rattling the Middle East

This is quite the set of co-chairs: Met Costume Institute Embraces ‘Camp’ for 2019 Blockbuster Show

Ancient Maya: Astronomers, Farmers ... And Salt Entrepreneurs?

Morning Coffee (8/11/18)

(I'm away for the weekend, so I compiled this in advance!)

Veteran N.H. Lawmaker Accused of Creating 'Intimidating and Abusive' Environment in State House

Airstrike by U.S.-backed Saudi coalition on bus kills dozens of Yemeni children

Wow. GOOD: Judge orders plane carrying deported mother and child turned around, blocks more removals

Puerto Rico Finally Revises Hurricane Maria Death Toll to More Than 20 Times the Official Number

Kansas governor’s race turns nasty as Kobach’s lead dwindles

Related: Kris Kobach won’t recuse himself from a recount in governor’s race. No law requires it.

Building a Trump-Free Barbecue

Uh... Alewife Garage Concrete Falls On Car, Down 500 Spots Today

Whoa: Oreo and Hydrox's 100-Year-Old Blood Feud Is Heating Up Over Claims of Hidden Cookies

Interesting: TV Time Launches Social-Analytics Tool to Break Down Fan Reaction to Shows

Morning Coffee (7/15/18)

Jamelle Bouie, great as always: Trump’s Trickle-Down Transgressions

Of course: Trump is getting free advertising for his golf course out of his UK trip

Jared Kushner lacks security clearance level to review some of the nation’s most sensitive intelligence in White House role

Women Might Save America Yet

Official: Renewed Emmett Till probe prompted by 2017 book

Study: male political reporters retweet other dudes 3 times more than their female colleagues

Meanwhile in New Hampshire: "Robert Bevill, a parent and lawyer, asked that the district overturn the school’s protocol to no longer grade homework and alleged that his daughter’s due process rights were violated."

Heh, of course: The new GOP tax “postcard” is double-sided and requires 6 supplementary worksheets

Policy allowing hate groups to meet at libraries comes under fire

5 beer-menu rules I wish all bars would follow

Morning Coffee (6/20/18)

If you're looking for a way to help the victims of Trump's family separation policies, join me at Kid Lit Says No Kids In Cages.

And then find your local Families Belong Together event.

Welp: “A cesspool of political bias”: the US announces it’s quitting the UN Human Rights Council

Exclusive: how asylum officers are being told to implement Sessions’s new rules

More than 600 United Methodists file formal church complaint against Jeff Sessions

And: Jeff Sessions tries to beat back Nazi comparisons, gets literally everything wrong

Meanwhile here in Nashua: Former BOE president sues city for $1.5M

Good: Federal judge blocks Arkansas law that effectively bans medication abortion

AMAZING: Kris Kobach ordered to attend legal classes for violating basic legal concepts

!!! Royal family's first same-sex wedding announced for queen's cousin

Support Nashua's March For Our Lives!

Like many cities, Nashua has a march for gun control and specifically to stop school shootings happening tomorrow. It's being planned by an awesome group of teens - I've worked with some of them on other things - and they're raising money to pay for the required police presence and printing costs. Can you help make sure they raise enough by tomorrow? As of this writing, they only need $130 more!

If you're local and planning to attend, let me know so I can look for you! And if you'd like to find a march in your own city, look here.

Morning Coffee (9/12/17)

(ICYMI, $3+ patrons, come vote on scheduling for our September Skype hangout! I'd like to get that firmed up by the end of the week.)

This situation is horrifying: NH Police Refuse to Release Information in Case of 8-Year-Old Biracial Boy Who Was Nearly Lynched

Trump Voter Fraud Commission Poised To Double Down On Debunked NH Claims

What a shock: Despite Pledge, Trump’s Biz Is Working With Chinese Gov’t-Owned Company

The Merkel Effect

A stunning new study shows that Fox News is more powerful than we ever imagined

SIGH: Miami Airport Corrects WH Social Media Director’s Fake Post About Irma

Hurricanes Like Irma Also Create Destructive Chaos Underwater

Celebrities Don’t Have to Pay You for Movie Ideas You Tweet at Them, Judge Rules

Ooh: Target Is Lowering Grocery Prices

!! Genetic Analysis Offers First Strong Evidence of Female Viking Warriors

Morning Coffee (9/9/17)

This is about a misreading of NH law and it makes me so mad: Trump’s “election integrity” chair says new data backs up his voter fraud claims. He’s wrong.

Immigrants gave the government personal details to get DACA. Will it be used to deport them?

South Korea Is Right

This is great: New York City Offers Free Lunch for All Public School Students

I'm very amused by this Clooney/Obama texting relationship.

Media Trade Group Tells NRA It’s Inciting Violence Against Journalists

Bletchley Park staff who helped defeat Hitler meet 78 years after war’s outbreak

This starts tomorrow and I was uninterested until I read Todd VanDerWerff: Two James Francos. Porn. 1970s New York. The Deuce could go so wrong — but it doesn't.

A Rare Yellow Lobster Joins a Boston Aquarium’s Lobster Rainbow

I love her: John Legend Once Tried To Break Up With Chrissy Teigen, And She Was Not Having It

Morning Coffee (8/2/17)

This is long but worth reading (and really well written): Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House

Ughhh: Nashua Telegraph’s Executive Editor Fired; City Editor Gives Notice "Bucknam said he was fired at 1:30 p.m. by publisher Heather Goodwin Henline for refusing to increase the hours of three salaried employees who are already each putting in about 60 hours a week to avoid paying overtime."

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ State Department considers scrubbing democracy promotion from its mission

Of course they are: "The Trump administration is preparing to redirect resources of the Justice Department’s civil rights division toward investigating and suing universities over affirmative action admissions policies deemed to discriminate against white applicants."

This is important to understand, especially given the incorrect stuff going around: John McCain did not kill Obamacare repeal for good. It could still come back.

Success of North Korean Missile Test Is Thrown Into Question

Awful: Premier League youth players targeted by Snapchat groomers posing as agents

Finally some good news! Britain's Best Cook: Mary Berry to judge new BBC cooking contest

Interesting: Amazon's race to make Alexa smarter

Ancient statue unearthed at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex

Morning Coffee (7/17/17)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

Aaah, A Wrinkle in Time trailer! It looks amazing.

Ooh, at long last: Our new Doctor (as in Doctor Who) is Jodie Whittaker!

This seems fine: White House Publishes Names, Emails, Phone Numbers, Home Addresses of Critics

Whoa: A Font Is at the Heart of Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Legal Troubles

This profile was an unending delight: Meet the Next President Kennedy (I have, in fact, met him, and he was impressive in person as well.)

The Alt-Right Branding War Has Torn the Movement in Two

Key takeaways on how Americans view – and experience – online harassment

Are people and apes the only ones that can plan ahead? Quoth the raven ‘nevermore.’

Toscanini, Trump, and Classical Music as a Tool of Power

The Site of the Salem Witch Trial Hangings Finally Has a Memorial

Morning Coffee (9/20/16)

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend says George H.W. Bush is voting for Hillary and his people haven't exactly contradicted her, so... ?

I'm so glad he's SAYING it: Obama: “there is a reason why we haven't had a woman president”

This is great: Indian acid attack survivor takes to the catwalk at New York Fashion Week

Gabrielle Union Is Carrying Nate Parker’s Water

A good read for premiere week: All 5 Broadcast Network Presidents Share Their Fall TV Playbooks

I love her: Sarah Paulson's Career Advice? Don't Succeed So Early

Tim Gunn: Designers refuse to make clothes to fit American women. It’s a disgrace.

Good for him! Lord Ivar Mountbatten is Bisexual, First Member of Royal Family to Come Out

Apparently my city is the 16th best place to live.

Ooh, it's the Danish Gretna Green!

Morning Coffee (7/20/16)

Wow: Twitter permanently banned Milo Yiannopoulos. For targeted abuse and harassment, not for conservatism, as that headline sort of implies.

The Racial Motivation for Putting Hillary in Prison

The States That Delivered Huge, Huge Numbers For Trump Got Tremendous Convention Seats

Melania's Fan Club (Hint: If you're calling Michelle Obama "inelegant," that's a pretty good sign that you're racist.)

It sure looks like Melania Trump plagiarized a Michelle Obama speech from 2008

This play-by-play at the Times really reinforces the fact that Trump and his people cannot be trusted to run anything, much less a country.

All The Different Excuses The Trump Campaign Made For Melania Trump’s Plagiarized Speech

Which Countries’ Terrorist Attacks Are Ignored By The U.S. Media?

Oh: New Hampshire police use Pokémon Go to lure fugitives to headquarters

Oooh: Huge Ancient Ship Graveyard Found Off Greek Islands

Morning Coffee (7/16/16)

One of those bodies found by Pokemon Go players? In my city.

Dahlia Lithwick has an interesting take on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's attacks on Trump.

Our Political Culture Doesn’t Know What to Do With Trump’s Explicit Prejudice

Donald Trump’s run for president is baffling — until you read The Art of the Deal

The Clintons and the press are caught in a pointless, toxic cycle of scandal

This piece on Iceland's new historian president is a great read.

If ‘Ghostbusters’ is a feminist victory, feminist pop culture is doomed

This seems like the time to look at vice presidents in order of hotness.

Ooh: Battle of Hastings memorial stone moved to reflect new research

British Soccer Teams Brace for the Impact of ‘Brexit’

Morning Coffee (6/18/16)

Ugh, New Hampshire: N.H. car dealership offers, ‘Buy a car, get an AR’

Bernie Sanders Officially Announces He Will Run for President Forever

This this this: "But a lot of Sanders’s rhetoric seems to simply erase these battles, as if the whole party were just sitting on its hands until Bernie and his political revolution came to town."

Sanders loses convention leverage

Important and heartbreaking: Interview With a Woman Who Recently Had an Abortion at 32 Weeks

This is fascinating: Fighting ISIS With an Algorithm, Physicists Try to Predict Attacks

A Brief History of Tweets Worse than Femme_Esq’s Trash Tweet

I recommend this BBC radio documentary on identifying bones in Latin America.

We don't have Drybar here and I leave my hair curly 99.9% of the time but this story made me desperately want to try Drybar.

The Snowy Graveyards Where Soviet Subs and Planes Go to Die

Morning Coffee (3/27/16)

Happy Easter! I am writing this on Saturday because I am TAKING SUNDAY OFF. It's kind of shocking, an entire day off; I'm not sure how I'll handle it.

I meant to link to this a few days ago, but Radovan Karadzic was finally convicted of genocide.

The Sisterhood of the Easter Rising

"I’m not here to argue about Clinton versus Sanders. I genuinely like them both. I’m here to say that I’m sick of seeing her reviled for the same things people forgive easily when they’re done by men, and that the stakes are too high this election cycle to indulge that or leave it unexamined."

"Through this series of tiny gestures, Obama achieved what 50 years of American resistance to Cuba was not able to. He defused any lingering military tension. He showed the Cuban people that America has good intentions. And he managed to humiliate the Castros, utterly, without appearing, even in the slightest, aggressive. He did all that in a couple of hours. There's only one word for it: genius."

Wow: French journalist Florence Hartmann jailed by war crimes tribunal

Voters in Arizona had to wait in line for hours to cast ballots. Here’s why that matters.

Slate has started a Trump Apocalypse Watch, if you're into that kind of thing.

Here is an important read about Jian Ghomeshi.

On Race, Good Intentions, and the Benefit of the Doubt

I think this overstates the supposed current awesomeness of Manchester a bit, but it's an interesting read on the history of the city.

We should make espresso in chocolate Easter eggs a thing.

People In Western Art Who Can Only Be Lovingly Described As “Wan” And “Bitchy”

Morning Coffee (2/17/16)

ICYMI: I liked The Danish Girl.

This "simple" chart of the war in Syria shows it's actually mind-bogglingly complicated

This is a fascinating look at the interplay between censorship and self-censorship and reasonable business decisions in Russian publishing.

Scalia Was Almost Never The Most Conservative Justice On The Supreme Court

Why nutty conspiracy theories on Antonin Scalia's death are already surfacing

And of course Trump is encouraging this.

Ha: Rand Paul: It’s A ‘Conflict Of Interest’ For Obama To Nominate A Supreme Court Justice

Emily Bazelon is always worth reading on legal matters: How to Bring the Supreme Court Back Down to Earth

What’s Really Behind Why Women Earn Less Than Men?

The Onion but also completely true: Female Presidential Candidate Who Was United States Senator, Secretary Of State Told To Be More Inspiring

"'The beach is named for the stranding of a whale in the 1800s but a whale cannot possess a beach,' reads a Municipal Design Committee memo on the subject."