Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/28/15)

I'm just catching up on the news from Baltimore over night, but as usual, Vox is a good place to start for running updates.

An important read: Report from the Field: On (Not) Reporting Sexual Violence

They're moving the pumpkin festival to Laconia, where there aren't any college kids or, you know, people.

A good explainer, if you're wondering what's going on with the Hugos: How conservatives took over sci-fi's most prestigious award

Bourbon mystery solved! There's a softball team involved. It's all quite intriguing.

World's oldest stone tools discovered in Kenya

I think Gary Hart has forgotten house endorsements work. "I'm obliged to, if nothing else, because he supported me." Well, I'm convinced!

The Onion: Baby Has Sinking Feeling He Left Home Without Oversize Multicolor Plastic Keys

"This is not Greece! Amazons do not wear top hats nor corsets into battle! That top hat is pretty great, though!"

Friday, April 24, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/24/15)

Happy Friday!

Check out this great project funding a camp for girls that combines story and STEM skills.

Have you seen the new GeekyCon music video "Get Your Geek On" yet? No? You should probably do that. (I love that I get to work with a company that comes up with stuff like this.)

Aww, this is awesome: Sign Of The Times: Straight High School Student Asks His Gay Best Friend To The Prom

This Robin Hood situation is out of control but I can't exactly say I MIND.

Neat idea for a fundraiser: Scale model of Chester Cathedral to be made in Lego

The Real Deal on Tartan, Kilts, and Outlander Costumes

Speaking of costumes: Dress worn by Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind sold for $137,000

This actually is hilarious: 25 Hilarious Tumblr Moments That Sum Up Classical Music

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/23/15)

TV has been readying Americans for a Hillary Clinton presidency for a decade

This is almost always my favorite genre of news story: Lost toy lion returned after Hughenden Manor 'adventure'

Ooh: Replica of Lafayette’s Frigate to Set Sail From France for a U.S. Visit

If it comes down to democracy vs. ice cream cathedrals . . . I mean, why don't WE have ice cream cathedrals???

This isn't really "surprising" to anyone who knows much about Madeleine L'Engle, but it's still interesting.

I didn't know about T.H. Tsien, who died this week, but his story is fascinating.

I'm learning that the ABA Journal is right up there with the Chronicle of Higher Ed in the "secretly hilarious" category: Squished-together words don't count as one, Federal Circuit says; appeal is tossed

The Reasons That Everything Happens For, In Order

Friday, April 17, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/17/15)

Happy Friday!

From the people who brought you the Kitten Bowl: The Paw Star Game, coming July 12th. Somehow the idea of kittens playing baseball is even sillier than kittens playing football. I can't wait.

I love this Alan Sepinwall piece on hope-watching vs. hate-watching.

The first all-girl quintuplets have been born in the United States, and one of them appears to be named after a John Green character.

The Morgan Library has a new director. I love the Morgan Library.

My new favorite thing: We Turned Eight Republican Presidential Candidates Into Sims and Dropped Them In The White House

Your Friday shirtless man: Poldark: Could Aidan Turner spark a surge in scything?

19 Emojis All Thirtysomethings Wish Existed

Hundreds Of Corgis Got Together For Corgi Beach Day And It Was Adorable

The Sequel To Beauty And The Beast Those Hot Blonde Triplets Deserve

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/16/15)

Here's a profile of a Danish politician that involves both knitting AND Borgen so obviously she is now my favorite.

This article about jury selection for the Colorado theater shooting trial is fascinating. (I know one of the victims - he lived, thank goodness - so you may be seeing more links about this trial.)

Elsewhere in terrible but interesting things: Milk teeth of Irish famine's youngest victims reveal secrets of malnutrition

These issues of dementia and consent are so complicated: Sex, Dementia and a Husband on Trial at Age 78

Okay, let's move on to less depressing things, like the 404 error page primary.

Rand Paul has some . . . interesting . . . things in his online store, and my friend Jack has a rundown.

In Silicon Valley, Auto Racing Becomes a Favorite Hobby for Tech Elites

How to Tell If You Are in a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/15/15)

(Political links will probably only increase from here on out to the election. You're welcome/I'm sorry. But it'll never be more than a few a day.)

Don't underestimate Marco Rubio

I joke that I can't pick a candidate until they all come to my office and/or buy me breakfast, but that's really not far from the truth in New Hampshire and Iowa, and that may be a problem for Clinton.

Also a potential problem: Scott Walker's dog allergy.

When the Onion is just truth: Nation Hopeful There Will Be Equally Random Chance Of Justice For Future Victims Of Police Abuse

This is one of those things that's simultaneously awesome that it exists and sad that it has reason to exist: Women-only 'pink rickshaw' hits the road in Lahore

Nifty: How to Build a Cocktail, Visualized

Can We Guess Your Age Based On Your Taste In Books? (They got pretty close for me!)

HENRY VIII: who let all these dang wolves in my hall

WOLF IN TUDOR HAT: aaroo

Monday, April 13, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/13/15)

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

In case you missed it, here's Clinton's announcement video with some interesting commentary by Todd VanDerWerff. Also, I just realized there's a shot of my city at 1:42, which is what you get when you live in New Hampshire, I guess.

Speaking of, here's a big profile of Robby Mook.

John Dickerson will be the new host of Face the Nation! Maybe I'll actually watch!

Thursday was not a good day for the state government.

Hijacking the Hugo Awards Won't Stifle Diversity in Science Fiction

Heh: How to Survive Henry VIII

Still no taco emoji. Sigh.

Women Praying Furiously in Western Art History

Friday, April 3, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/3/15)

My normal cheerful "Happy Friday!" seems a bit weird on Good Friday, but here are your happy Friday links:

EXCITING BREAKING NEWS (really, like ten minutes ago): Deanna Raybourn's awesome Lady Julia mysteries have been optioned for British TV. I LOVE THESE BOOKS. I AM BESIDE MYSELF. LET'S FANTASY CAST.

Awesome: JOURNEY Drummer To Donate $10,000 To Replace Instruments Lost In Oregon High School Fire

BuzzFeed interviewed Kermit the Frog and it was great. Thing I had never considered: the Kermit/Piggy ship name.

The X-Files Could Have Ended With a West Wing Crossover?!?!?!

The Audobon Society is taking on Jonathan Franzen and it's basically the best thing ever.

You can 3D print Paul McCartney!!!!! The best part is that this is OFFICIAL.

Perfect: Excerpts from the April 2015 Vogue, Presented Without Commentary

Maps pretty.

Songs From A Tom Waits Album Where No One Gets Drunk At A Diner

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/2/15)

Everyone survive yesterday? Yes, that Classic Alice thing was a joke and here I remember the last April Fools thing I participated in. Cats were involved.

The Goodreads dating app was ALSO a joke but I WISH it were real.

And the Post has a roundup of the various online and corporate pranks.

Sad news: Cynthia Lennon has died.

Yulin Kuang - who did the great I Ship It, webseries Kissing in the Rain, and more - is one of the directors of the new Twilight shorts. Congratulations!

Someone who grew up at the Algonquin wrote a book about it and that is absolutely a book I would read.

Hugh Jackman is doing Apostle Paul because . . . sure?

David Duchovny is releasing an album because of course he is.

The Two Medieval Monks are back! "you know more about goats than you give yourself credit for"

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Morning Coffee (4/1/15)

REMINDER: Trust no one today. That said, I sincerely promise all these links are real, so far as I have been able to determine.

The FBI says they've solved the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist and John Kerry is tangentially involved. !!!

I don't know if you've been following this Missouri political suicides story, but it's so sad.

Hmm: Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Xinjiang Article and Related Apology

Proof we are living in the future: Amazon's Dash button. And I appreciate the lengths The Atlantic went to to confirm that it's not a joke.

They've released the title and cover and date of the new Lisbeth Salander book and apparently I'm excited, because I bookmarked no fewer than three links about it. Here's the U.S. version and U.K. version.

Ooh, PBS has a Henry VIII special airing next week.

I just deeply enjoy this headline: Prince Charles and Camilla cheer on sheep at charity race

15 subway-style maps that explain everything but subways

A Conversation Between The Two People I Assume Design All Restaurant Bathrooms