Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/31/13)

Happy New Year's Eve! I'll be around tomorrow so I'll probably post as usual, though it might be a bit later, if I manage to sleep in on my day off.

Carly Rae Jepsen is taking over as Cinderella in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway show and . . . I don't know, maybe she'll surprise us and be great, but I'm very glad I saw it with the wonderful Laura Osnes instead.

This story is completely fascinating: The Welfare Queen

Finding Gillooly: What Happened To Figure Skating's Infamous Villain?

How To Tell If You Are In A Noel Streatfeild Novel

"Take it. Take the bagel and run."

Love In The Time Of Hollering: The Age Of Enthusiasm

Ballerina and YA novelist Sophie Flack dishes on dancing Nutcracker for years.

Here's Sutton Foster, Anna Kendrick, and others singing together at the Kennedy Center Honors. Happy New Year!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/30/13)

Hi there! I hope everyone who celebrated had a great holiday. I just got back home late last night, so I'm still discombobulated. And most of these links were things I found before Christmas and never posted, so apologies if any now seem old. More normal tomorrow, I hope.

Fleming will premiere on BBC America on January 29th.

When "Life Hacking" Is Really White Privilege

NPR fans will REALLY want to watch this. I promise.

The Olympic torch relay is having some issues.

The Private Lives of the Cheerlebrities of Instagram

Ancient Chinese cat bones shake up domestication theory

Life on a British Cold War Submarine

New Details About the Joan Fontaine-Olivia de Havilland Feud Revealed

Friday, December 20, 2013

It's Friday. Let's have a book meme.

This book meme - which basically boils down to "name ten books that have stayed with you for years" - has been going around Facebook, but my friend Nicole posted it on her blog and tagged all her friends, and we've decided we're bringing memes back, because we miss them. SO. Here are my ten, in roughly chronological (of my life, not publication) order.

1) The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I loved books from when I was tiny, but this was the series that really turned me into a voracious reader when I broke my leg at age six and was stuck in bed for a while. And this is my favorite of the series.

2) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - I started reading LMM when I was about eight and haven't stopped. And this was my first ever online fandom, when I joined an LMM listserv in 1996. (I made friends there that I have to this day.)

3) An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle - The first novel I specifically remember making me think about abstract ideas, in addition to the direct plot/characters/etc. Later wrote my college thesis on this and some of her other books.

4) The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - Just mind-blowing to a relatively sheltered Catholic kid, and sparked a lot of my interest in Celtic mythology and Arthurian lore. (Weirdly enough for a book considered to be a feminist retelling, I read this because all my male friends were reading it, and they were shocked and horrified by me reading something with sex in it.)

5) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I'm pretty sure I read this when the 1995 TV version came out, and it was one of the first adult "classics" I read for fun (rather than school) and wholeheartedly loved.

6) Mystique by Amanda Quick - The first romance novel I read, plucked from my mom's bag of library books one snow day in high school.

7) The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir - One of the first adult history books I read. My friend Christine and I recently realized, after complaining about several of Weir's books in a row but still buying them all, that Weir just got us young enough that we're convinced we love all her stuff even though we have grave concerns about her methods and style.

8) True Believers by Jane Haddam - My senior year of college, I read this (then new) mystery and then went back and ILLed all the previous books in the series, and they kept me sane while I was writing my thesis and preparing to leave school.

9) Cooking for Mr. Latte by Amanda Hesser - I found this when I was working at a bookstore after college, and it got me more interested in cooking and food writing, and provided a sort of touchstone for how to Be An Adult when I was newly out on my own.

10) So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson - I found this around the same time, and it similarly provided a context for how a bookworm could be a mostly functional adult. It's also one of the best celebrations of reading I've ever read, and now I reread it whenever I'm in a reading slump.

I don't want to be annoying and tag anyone who doesn't want to do it, but if you WANT to, consider yourself tagged, and leave a link to your answer in the comments so I can read it! (Or if you don't have a blog but just feel like sharing in the comments, feel free.)

Morning Coffee (12/20/13)

Happy Friday! Next week I'll be traveling and celebrating with my family, so I'm going to take the week off from regular Morning Coffee posts, though I will pop in if I have a moment or something I feel the need to share.

If you missed it yesterday, I'm having a little contest in which you can guess how many Christmas cookies I'll wind up making this year.

Alert: J.K. ROWLING IS COLLABORATING ON A HARRY POTTER STAGE PLAY.

And speaking of Harry Potter, check out these images from a new illustrated edition.

Prince Charles and Camilla's holiday card is adorable.

In other adorable Windsor news, Prince William left his brother a voicemail pretending to be Chelsy Davy.

Hot Men in Warm Sweaters

I almost said "I'd get a dog if it did my laundry," but no, a dog is way more work than laundry. STILL. Neat.

Here's the first teaser for the new Salem drama. HI THERE, Seth Gabel's voice.

Happy birthday, crossword puzzles!

First World War Christmas Cards

The Best American Infographics 2013 sounds fun.

There's finally a Star Trek version of those family car decals.

Hee: Bo Obama Receives Visiting Dognitaries From Furuguay

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Christmas cookie guessing game!

So, late last night, on Twitter, I sort of accidentally started a contest. I've been tweeting running tallies of my Christmas cookie baking, and last night I said "Huh, no idea what the final total will be. Guesses?" And then I decided I should give a prize to whoever guessed closest. And then I decided I should put this post here so those who weren't on Twitter at midnight on a Wednesday night could have a chance too. SO.


To enter, just guess how many Christmas cookies I will bake this year, and put your guess in the comments or tweet me. Tonight I'm planning to make more dough but not actually bake anything, so you have until I give a tally update Friday night to enter. Some hints:
  • I have made 192 cookies so far.
  • I will make 8 kinds of cookies. I'll make two batches of some of these.
  • The first six dozen were for a cookie exchange.
  • With the rest, I'm doing cookie trays for three events, plus some family favorites to just have around the house Christmas week, plus maybe a few small cookie boxes for friends.
  • I will be done by Sunday night.
The prize: Whoever guesses closest can pick either a $10 online gift card (to Amazon, iTunes, or another service/site of your choice that's logistically reasonable for me) now OR a package of homemade cookies sent to you in January, because no way will I have time to bake MORE and get to the post office before Christmas.

Anyway, this was just a fun spontaneous little thing that I have now codified because I just can't help myself. SO. Guess away! Have fun! (And if you guessed on Twitter last night but want to change your guess based on the information provided here, be my guest.)

Morning Coffee (12/19/13)

Two more days of work! I am very ready for vacation.

Christmas in Washington is on tomorrow, and the most delightfully random assortment of people are involved. Hugh Jackman! The Backstreet Boys! The Obamas! Sheryl Crow! Anna Kendrick!

If Pippa Middleton is really engaged, this should be fun to watch.

The best and worst media errors and corrections in 2013

Someone else is writing a Dragon Tattoo sequel. My first reaction, of course, is to disapprove, but it's not like Larsson was known for his beautiful prose, so . . . we'll see.

Fun: OED birthday word generator

This analysis of Twitter popularity is pretty fascinating.

I actually like Love, Actually, or at least parts of it, but this takedown is hilarious.

This Dr. PetPlay app looks like SO MUCH FUN.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/18/13)

Ronnie Biggs, the "Great Train Robber," has died.

ALERT: Prince Harry grows beard; hangs out with Alexander Skarsgard.

As my friend Holly remarked, this is a lot of hot dudes on one charity calendar.

Pivot - a television station that I apparently actually do get - is airing Buffy and Veronica Mars reruns starting in January.

John Dickerson tears apart the false choice between recording moments and living them.

Why I Am Not Coming in to Work Today

If you haven't seen it yet, the Sesame Street Lord of the Rings parody is cute.

And this Lego Rivendell is just amazing.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/17/13)

Four more days of work until Christmas break! Not that I'm counting. Ha.

Speaking of: Christmas is in the air.

Read the "Stomach-Churning" Sexual Assault Accusations Against R. Kelly in Full

How about we don't use people's creative efforts to humiliate them?

Remember Michaele Salahi? She hopes so! (She and her Journey guitarist claim they're "not interested in any drama." I hate to break it to them, but that ship has sailed.)

I don't actually care much about Beyonce, but this thermal map of Twitter when her album hit is fascinating.

Danny Strong is writing the new Guys and Dolls movie. I remain guardedly optimistic.

This is, of course, wonderful: J.K. Rowling on charm bracelets for the Lumos auction.

Well, this is adorable: The Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Barnardo's (a children's charity) and helped decorate their Christmas tree.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/16/13)

Happy Monday! Christmas is somehow suddenly NEXT WEEK. How did that happen?

Peter O'Toole and Joan Fontaine have died. Time for viewings of The Lion in Winter and Rebecca, I think. At least one of them is seasonal.

Colin Donnell - a.k.a Tommy from Arrow - and Patti Murin recorded a thoroughly delightful cover of "All I Want for Christmas."

In case anyone other than me and my brother still cares, here's some information on season four of The Killing.

A Ten-Month-Old's Letter to Santa

Oops: Pupils' Christmas 'ruined' by vicar's Santa Claus origins story

This piece on How to Name a Baby has some fascinating naming statistics and would probably also be useful for writers naming characters.

Dallas fans, this holiday greeting from the Ewings is great.

The Onion: 30-Year-Old Has Earned $11 More Than He Would Have Without College Education

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Friday, December 6, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/6/13)

Happy Friday!

I usually wouldn't think I'd link to an obituary from THE ONION, but this is kind of great: Nelson Mandela Becomes First Politician To Be Missed

I can't believe I never knew about the Beatles' Christmas recordings.

My friend Nicole has some great advice for minimizing holiday stress.

Wow. Check out Christmas cats TV.

In 1930, people were very concerned about the dangerous crossword puzzle habit.

Hee: Do you 'ship absurd fictional couples? This music video is for you.

Whoa, they've digitally reconstructed the tombs planned for Henry Fitzroy and Thomas Howard.

Malinda Lo's Adaptation keeps showing up on Elementary.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/5/13)

Heads up, marshmallows: The Veronica Mars movie will be in theaters nationwide on March 14th.

Whoa: Newsweek is bringing back its print edition.

How Junk Science and Anti-Lesbian Prejudice Got Four Women Sent to Prison for More Than a Decade

Make sure you check out NPR's awesome 2013 Book Concierge.

And why they're taking a break from lists.

Time, on the other hand, has top ten lists for everything.

I had no idea some of these phrases were New England specific.

I very rarely say "I want that accessory Katy Perry has," but LOOK AT THIS PURSE.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Morning Coffee (12/4/13)

Well, this is shocking: The MBTA is trying out late-night weekend service next year.

The year's top baby names: Sophia and Jackson.

Some serious things: You should read Jamelle Bouie on that GOP Rosa Parks tweet and how racism is still a big problem.

And relatedly, my friend Hannah on Zwarte Piet.

Why the "Rape Girls" Are Speaking Out

And the DC Metro's ad aimed at women: "Can't we just talk about shoes?"

Linda Holmes has good things to say about Internet hoaxes.

Okay, something fun to reward you for getting through all that: bookish wedding cakes!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/27/13)

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I'm headed to Connecticut today to spend the rest of the week with my family, so regular posting will return on Monday. I hope those of you celebrating enjoy the holiday!

If you don't need to get anything done today, try GeoGuessr. (No, really. It's amazing and very addictive.)

Here's the trailer for NBC's live Sound of Music telecast. And it . . . looks pretty okay? I'm entirely saying this because they're so insistent that this is a production of the stage show, not a remake of the movie, but . . . yeah. I'm willing to give them a chance. (And there's a making-of special on NBC tonight, if you're curious.)

John Noble is back on Sleepy Hollow next week. Do you want to see pictures? Of course you do.

June Thomas on why you probably should be watching more international TV.

Intriguing: When These Complete Strangers Pose as Family Something Fascinating Happens

Some of these British attempts at labeling U.S. states are witty and hilarious, and I guarantee Americans would do worse at, say, labeling British counties.

The 50 States of Lego are both adorable and gently snarky.

How Food Network Created and Lost Foodies

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/26/13)

Happy Tuesday! It's snowing!

The Maltese Falcon figurine sold for over $4 million.

Major Crimes returned last night, and June Thomas has a great interview with star Mary McDonnell.

I don't watch much reality TV, but I am looking forward to The Great Christmas Light Fight.

Did you know that Ridley Scott made a short film about the Coca-Cola polar bears? I did not, but here you go.

This list of the supposed 25 most powerful female TV characters is less terrible than I expected! (Clearly my expectations are very high.)

Warning: You may not make it through this without choking up: 38 Pictures That Prove Cats Have Hearts of Gold

Some fun stuff here: Kim France's Holiday Gift Guide for Fug Nation

Awesome: Explore a museum's collection by color.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/21/13)

Here are the National Book Award winners.

Monty Python is reuniting for a live show!

The New York Public Library has acquired Tom Wolfe's papers.

Shonda Rhimes is writing a book.

Amazing: NHS chief called in to treat ill Cyberman on BBC set

I actually love reading about people's media diets.

I've never seen Going My Way OR The Bells of St. Mary's, but after reading this I really want to.

5 Wine Labels That Should Not Exist

Monday, November 18, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/18/13)

Almost Human premiered last night and I really like it, so if you missed it, you should watch the first episode on Hulu and then tune in for the second tonight on Fox at 8/7c. (After this it will just be on Mondays - it was a special Sunday premiere.)

Sad news: Doris Lessing has died.

Some of these covers are great. Especially Maroon 5 singing Taylor Swift.

A Wonk's Guide to the TV Galaxy

Classics That Prove Your Grandma Could Kick Bella Swan’s Ass

How to Cook Pretty Food

Fascinating history: Katie MacIntyre's exotic taste

Fun read on literary siblings: A Little Society

Friday, November 15, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/15/13)

Happy Friday!

If you're a Bones fan worried about the show's move to Friday (tonight!), check out what Marisa and Sarah have to say at Give Me My Remote.

I promise my friend Libby's post On BETRAYAL is not going where you think it is and is indeed suitable for Happy Friday.

If this is true, then I actually more or less agree with People about the Sexiest Man Alive for maybe the first time in recent memory. (I mean, maybe I wouldn't put him FIRST on the list, depending on my mood, but it is a Solid Choice.)

OMG, a zonkey!

Now I want to make Thanksgiving cocktails for our guests.

Hee! Literary Airlines

Burt's Bees Stages Classic Works of Literature in Six-Second Vines

These Biblical infographics are fascinating, and some are quite beautiful.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/14/13)

It's the most wonderful post of the year! My friend Beck has finished her annual review of Oprah's gift guide.

If you've ever yelled at an author (or TV writer, etc.) because a plot didn't turn out the way you wanted, you should read what Gayle Forman has to say.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is wonderful, as always, in his Richard Cohen takedown.

I've only read a few of these supposedly incredibly tough books, and I didn't find any of them particularly tough, so . . . I don't know. I do like the line "Don't worry, the Ulysses is implied," though.

I agree with these recipe pet peeves.

Amazing: The Rise and Fall of Fox Civilization in Disney Films

Apparently "hey" is taking the place of "hi."

How 17th Century Fraud Gave Rise To Bright Orange Cheese

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/11/13)

Monday already?

The USPS made a deal to deliver Amazon packages on Sundays to certain cities. As long as they have people who don't mind working Sundays, that sounds like a win-win. God knows the post office could use the business.

I love The Sound of Music, but this is hilarious anyway: A Complete Curmudgeon's Guide To 'The Sound Of Music'

Amazing headline: J.J. Abrams' Mystery Book 'S.' Enrages Librarians (But really. All those tiny pieces. Virtually impossible to circulate intact.)

If you'd like to get your Monday off to a bittersweet, teary start, Yarn Harlot is here for you: Maybe it was Allergies

I love soup season.

I also love a fancy cocktail as much as the next girl, but a pizza cocktail? No. Just no.

Does Christmas shopping start earlier every year? Actually no. (Warning: I cited this at a party the other night, because I thought the historical aspect was fascinating, and I was told I was simply wrong. So. People are very attached to inaccurate claims that make them feel superior. Also water is wet.)

Amazing: 'Superheroes' nab attacker in Musselburgh Tesco

Friday, November 8, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/8/13)

Happy Friday!

Finally! The SiriusXM holiday stations have been announced!

PBS is airing the Neil Patrick Harris version of Company tonight. I saw it a few years ago and highly recommend it. Here's a taste.

The thoroughly delightful Hollywood Game Night is getting a holiday special.

Aww. For his 65th birthday, the Prince of Wales is guest editing an issue of Country Life magazine. That's kind of adorable.

Whoa: Disney and Netflix are teaming up for a bunch of Marvel shows.

I love this poster for the Psych musical.

Some Swedish cinemas are launching a new feminist rating system based on the Bechdel test.

Natalie Portman, like so many of us, was obsessed with The Baby-sitter's Club.

The Onion, but also true: Giant Burrito To Solve All Of Area Man’s Problems For 6 Precious Minutes

Thursday, November 7, 2013

My Ten Essential Christmas Movies (UPDATE: Eleven!)

The old Love, Actually debate cropped up on my Twitter timeline this morning, which made me start a list of the movies I must watch each Christmas. There are plenty of others I like, or even love, but these are my top ten that make Christmas complete. (I think. I feel like I'm forgetting something. What am I forgetting?) The order is alphabetical; if it were by preference, White Christmas would be first, but after that I don't want to try to rank them. What are yours?

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas
  • Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
  • Goodfellas
  • The Holiday
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The original. Don't come near me with that new abomination.)
  • Little Women
  • Love, Actually
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol
  • The Nutcracker (Baryshnikov)
  • White Christmas

EDITED TO ADD: I can't believe I forgot You've Got Mail!

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.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/5/13)

Ooh, the Dating in LA and Other Urban Myths sizzle reel is out!

Grantland has a fun Q&A with Sleepy Hollow creator Phillip Iscove.

Dylan's Candy Bar is selling Candy Crush candy and I really want some.

Here's some well-deserved praise for Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, which you should really read.

WHOA: Game Of Thrones Meets Little Miss/Mr. Men Series

The Hairpin is imagining where Love, Actually characters are ten years later.

And that led me to this older piece of theirs about why many of the stories in that movie are actually pretty terrible. Which is completely true, even though we all love it.

Edgar Allan Poe Tried and Failed to Crack the Mysterious Murder Case of Mary Rogers

Monday, November 4, 2013

Morning Coffee (11/4/13)

Whoa: German police recover 1,500 modernist masterpieces 'looted by Nazis'

The Sound of Music live broadcast has cast the kids and Rolfe.

Huh! I didn't know Queen Victoria was into Halloween.

And here's the President giving out candy to adorable trick-or-treaters.

I bet you want to read about the Kitten Bowl.

My friend Faythe has a great new column about contemporary (realistic) YA novels.

Um. Mark Wahlberg is producing Julius Caeser movie The Roman, "an origin story in the vein of Batman Begins." So.

A great one from The Onion: College Unveils New Media Center Every Month

Friday, November 1, 2013

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.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/29/13)

Sesame Street did Homeland, and it is freaking adorable. Sheep Saul is my new favorite thing.

Oh right. A Highlander reboot is happening.

In case any Veronica Mars fans hadn't seen, there's some new movie footage that is continuing to pretend anyone wants Veronica with Piz.

For fans of Haven or heartwarming holiday movies: Hallmark has a Thanksgiving movie starring Emily Rose premiering this weekend.

20th Century Headlines Rewritten to Get More Clicks

This collection of cruise ship menus is fascinating.

I'm excited for a new Little Women adaptation, mostly for these reasons.

These early baseball photographs are nifty.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/25/13)

Happy Friday!

The palace has released four official portraits taken after Prince George's christening, and they are adorable.

Because I am apparently dedicated to keeping you informed about holiday TV programming: Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas is coming to PBS. It may or may not be less dirge-like than the rest of their stuff.

Ryan Seacrest has signed on to keep hosting Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. In the absence of Clark himself, I think this is good: like red carpet interviews, this is probably one of those cases in which we don't really think about how good Seacrest is at his job until someone else tries to do it.

A Murder, She Wrote reboot starring Octavia Spencer? Color me intrigued.

This is amazing: Texts from William Blake

I love the BBC.

Oh, here's the counterpart to the girl name link: Map: Six Decades of the Most Popular Names for Boys, State-by-State

Aww: The Time I Was Questioned by Police for Knitting in a Starbucks (I know that doesn't sound like a happy link, but it is.)

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/23/13)

This is probably the most amazing thing you will see today. Warning: It had me sobbing into my coffee.

CBS, always popular with the youngsters, is airing an I Love Lucy Christmas special.

Bones fans should absolutely read this great interview with the writer of the wedding episode.

Aww, the wedding video Kelly Clarkson shared is adorable.

This quiz everyone's been doing actually matched me to the state I'm from. Whoa.

Jessica Valenti's essay "Sunday Sauce, Saving Me" is beautiful and powerful.

Wow. This is an extreme reaction to messing up your wedding planning.

Sigh: Boy Scout Leaders Get Booted for Knocking Over Ancient Rock Formation (And Recording It, Obviously)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/15/13)

HA: How the Media Would Have Covered Columbus’s Discovery of the New World

Kelly Clarkson's Christmas album is coming out at the end of the month, and this snippet of her cover of "White Christmas" is amazing.

Speaking of, ABC Family has unveiled its 25 Days of Christmas programming lineup.

Seth Gabel (Lincoln from Fringe) is playing Cotton Mather in the new Salem Witch Trials show!?!?!? Cotton Mather?

The AV Club's article about Charlie Hunnam leaving Fifty Shades is pretty hilarious.

Laura Lippman on being Female in Public

Everything Jonathan Franzen Currently Hates

This is fun, but several selections made me say "No, it's NOT!" - The Most Famous Book Set in Every State

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/10/13)

Elsewhere: I wrote about new show The Tomorrow People at TheTelevixen.com.

Alice Munro has won the Nobel prize for literature!

Oh, Azerbaijan. You're supposed to at least pretend to let people vote before you release election results.

I saw Kathleen Kane speak a few months ago and she was very interesting; this profile is worth a read.

As is this profile of the editor of Cosmo.

This Pumpkin Swirl French Toast was amazing.

Why the Nielsen Twitter ratings might harm more than help TV fans

This piece on women in Italy is a little old now, but fascinating/appalling.

The Onion was in fine form yesterday:
Washington Redskins Change Their Name To The D.C. Redskins
Psychiatrists Deeply Concerned For 5% Of Americans Who Approve Of Congress

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/9/13)

Elsewhere: I recapped this week's episode of Castle at TheTelevixen.com.

Important background reading for the Janet Yellen nomination: A Study in Scarcity: Women at Central Banks

Did you want to see that CBS pilot starring Stephen Fry and Rupert Grint that didn't go to series? Here you go.

Norwegian public TV is airing a sheep-to-sweater event. Five hours straight. Of spinning and knitting. On national TV. Why don't I live in Norway?

Here is an adorable picture of the President writing a school excuse note for a five-year-old.

I love this sort of thing: Morning Coffee Orders from Around the World

Ooh: Bletchley Park wartime hut restored by donation

Watch Gene Kelly Channel "Combat Fatigue Irritability" in a WWII Navy Training Film

Whoa, it's a Cheez-It wedding cake.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/7/13)

Monday already?

Elsewhere: TV news roundup and my thoughts on new show Witches of East End.

GOP Congressman Makes Park Ranger Apologize for Shutdown

This CBC radio documentary A Word About the Deceased was really interesting and well-done.

How Writing Is Like Candy Crush

Here's your terrible bride of the day.

Richard III's lost chapel: found?

Remember that link I posted a little while ago about women working in the Harvard College Observatory in the 1800s? Dava Sobel is writing a book on it.

Medieval manuscripts: Knight v Snail

A Guide to British Library Book Stamps

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/3/13)

Elsewhere: I wrote about Ironside, which I liked, at TheTelevixen.com.

I don't really care if tourists can't see monuments. I care that the shutdown means millions of babies are at risk of going hungry.

Another reason to avoid Hobby Lobby: They don't stock merchandise for Jewish holidays, and apparently don't respond well when asked about it.

Rethinking the Weekend

Ooh, Ronan Farrow might be getting an MSNBC show.

Spencer Ackerman's Twitter eulogy for his mother was really amazing to watch unfold.

Daniel Radcliffe’s Next Trick Is to Make Harry Potter Disappear

A very good read: Are We Supposed to Root for Fitz and Olivia on Scandal?

Amazing: Your Endorsement On LinkedIn Means Nothing To Me

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Morning Coffee (10/1/13)

October already! Somehow!

Elsewhere: At TheTelevixen.com, I wrote about new comedy We Are Men and recapped last night's Castle.

In case you went to sleep early, yes, the government is shut down.

IKEA starts selling solar panels for homes

Here are some rather upsetting spoilers for the third Bridget Jones book.

Accidentally left out of the original translation: Pope Francis seeks a greater role for women.

The Muppets Take the Smithsonian (Well, if/when it isn't shut down.)

Yes: Hugs Are Falsely Intimate Power Plays. Stop Imposing Them on Everyone You Meet.

Some interesting history: Widow's Walk

These imaginary inn packages for readers are delightful.