Morning Coffee (10/31/13)

Happy Halloween!

A Very Public (Radio) Halloween

Text Messages from a Jack-O-Lantern

Ooh, promo for Fox's new Cosmos.

Why We Need to Stop Calling Jane Austen a Feminist

All I know of Danish TV is Borgen, so I am slightly appalled to discover they also have a hit show on which complete strangers have legal marriages arranged by the show.

Do you want to read about a 22-year-old Norwegian chess champion? Sure, why not?

A Nod to Ned Ludd

Whoa. Lots of cheese-related gifts.

Morning Coffee (10/30/13)

"Prisock said he closed the book before they had a chance to read through it completely." Of course he did. (Also, that book looks lovely! I want to read it!)

More upcoming PBS holiday music programming: Il Volo and Chris Mann.

Ronan Farrow: The Youngest Old Guy in the Room

This is a pretty compelling case for Surprise Thanksgiving.

Is the Jane Austen portrait on the banknote airbrushed?

The War of the Worlds panic we've all heard so much about? Not really a thing.

Now I want to read Heidi.

Some Excellent Mid-19th-Century Criminal Slang That's Ripe For Revival

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.

Morning Coffee (10/28/13)

Well, this is terrible: "You're actually not here to talk about the amazing work you do."

Pope Expels German ‘Luxury Bishop’ From Diocese

Update: ABC employee cleared in 'Scandal' Twitter investigation

This tracks pretty well with my own experience of Disney princesses.

Heh. The Onion: Man Still Trying To Find Right Work-Anxiety–Life-Anxiety Balance

Divers discover Second World War Allied warship

This is . . . not shocking, really: Warner Bros. sues 'Harry Potter'-themed store Whimsic Alley

Color me . . . skeptical.

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.)

Morning Coffee (10/24/13)

Prince George's christening was yesterday. Here's the delightful Guardian live blog.

And a rundown of the godparents and guests.

The official details of the service . . .

And, of course, pictures!

If this is true, it's... icky: Contentious ‘Scandal’ Fan Blogger Exposed as ABC Sales Director

Yes yes yes: Better Without The Bear: How The Cancellation Bear Damages Ratings Culture

The new promos and art for The Following are making me very eager for the show to come back.

Whoa: Meet The Man Who Ran A Marathon While Knitting A Scarf

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)

Morning Coffee (10/22/13)

Ooh, YALSA has announced the 2013 Teens' Top Ten. Yay Code Name Verity!

PBS has scheduled a Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir special for December 10th.

And you can stream Straight No Chaser's holiday album.

Margaret Talbot's profile of Elizabeth Smart is fascinating.

Death threats aren't funny, but the last sentence of this is HILARIOUS.

Oops: A new Vatican coin misspelled "Jesus."

Fun: Map: Six Decades of the Most Popular Names for Girls, State-by-State

Unicorn versus Rhinoceros

Morning Coffee (10/21/13)

There's a new Taylor Swift song at iTunes!

Kelly Clarkson is doing a Christmas TV special based on A Christmas Carol, because NBC is apparently programming directly from my dreams.

Not programming from my dreams: ABC, who is sullying its Muppets Christmas special by pairing them with Lady Gaga.

This Ripper Street series two trailer is pretty great.

The ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Debate And Why Being Objectified Is Different Than Being Admired

This Tastykakes ranking is surprisingly okay-ish, though it leaves out a few of my favorites.

A Shockingly Small Amount Of Money From Pink NFL Merchandise Sales Goes To Breast Cancer Research

Bring Back Home Ec!

Morning Coffee (10/18/13)

Happy Friday!

Hilarious: History... If the CW Shot It

Related: Megan Follows talked to Vulture about Reign but also, more interestingly, Anne of Green Gables.

Yay reading!

An American in Paris is headed to Broadway!

This story about a knife sharpener in Rome is fascinating.

How Homestar Runner Changed Web Series for the Better

I had no idea Blue Moon and Yuengling were so widely popular.

Can You Identify The Baseball Stadium From The Minimalist Poster?

Morning Coffee (10/17/13)

Ronan Farrow - my former classmate, actually - is indeed getting an MSNBC show.

Archaeologists want you to solve this 1,200-year-old Pictish puzzle

Fascinating: How children of the world united at a Soviet school

This piece about the Spanish royal family is both dishy and well-researched, which is basically what you want from your royalty articles.

The Russia Left Behind

Uganda Fights Stigma and Poverty to Take On Breast Cancer

Mead is making a comeback.

Hee: Grad Student Deconstructs Take-Out Menu

Morning Coffee (10/16/13)

Yay: Amy Poehler and Tina Fey have signed on to host the Golden Globes through 2015.

Important: What This Cruel War Was Over

The BBC has commissioned a whole bunch of WWI programming for the centenary.

Sondheim is working on a new version of Company.

Fascinating: Inside Fujitsu's cloud-powered farm of the future

Here's a great story of a knitting miracle.

Is Harvey Milk Really the First LGBT Person to Get a Stamp? (No.)

30 Super Adorable Behind The Scenes Photos from the 'Harry Potter' Series

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

Morning Coffee (10/14/13)

Monday again? Already?

Ugh. Not the time: Gun Groups Declare Newtown Massacre Anniversary "Guns Save Lives Day"

The Final Insult in the Bush-Cheney Marriage

Whoa: U.S. Accuses 2 Rabbis of Kidnapping Husbands for a Fee

Government to Employers During WWII: "You're Going to Hire Women. Here's How to Deal."

18th Century Jewish manuscript found in garage

This is fascinating: The Politics of Religious Conversions in Jharkhand

Shakespeare's fingerprints found on three Elizabethan plays

Painting 'reveals Walter Ralegh’s secret desire for Elizabeth I'

Morning Coffee (10/11/13)

Happy Friday!

YA book pumpkin patterns!

Ooh, the BBC History podcast's favourite books of 2013 are interesting.

Dirndls are making a comeback.

Why Finland loves saunas

Whoa: A Gorgeous 1929 Map of the U.S. Given to the First Transcontinental Air Travelers

Lessons from Rereading Little House on the Prairie - Yeah. Charles Ingalls is pretty crazy.

Islam, Trade and Politics across the Indian Ocean

Interesting: Genes Suggest European Women at Root of Ashkenazi Family Tree

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

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.

Morning Coffee (10/8/13)

Elsewhere: I recapped Friday's episode of Haven at TheTelevixen.com.

Peter Higgs and Francois Englert have won the Nobel prize in physics.

The BBC has the first big interview with Malala Yousafzai.

Ooh, this New York City ballet reality web series looks promising.

Mallory Ortberg is hilarious and so so wrong about digestive biscuits.

Your Tuesday probably needs some Prince Harry making faces at tiny children.

And hey, here's his dad reading Dylan Thomas.

This looks fascinating: The First World War in 100 Objects

Meet the Fantastically Bejeweled Skeletons of Catholicism’s Forgotten Martyrs

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

Morning Coffee (10/4/13)

Happy Friday!

Elsewhere: I wrote about new shows Welcome to the Family, The Originals, and The Millers at TheTelevixen.com.

Huh: Alexander McCall Smith has been commissioned to write a modern take on Emma.

Can the CW save televised sci-fi?

These books scarves are AMAZING.

Check out Julia Child's title brainstorming.

Lost portrait of 17th-century feminist to go on display for first time

Haunted castles!

Pistol, teapot, soap, and satin doublet: an East India Company merchant’s possessions

14 Cats From The 1800s Having A Way Worse Day Than You

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

Morning Coffee (10/2/13)

Elsewhere: I wrote about this week's episodes of Bones and Sleepy Hollow at Read the Screen.

Okay, this I'll watch: ABC is doing a Christmas decorating reality competition show.

Was Neville Chamberlain right?

Ooh! Iron Age fort and Bronze Age burial mounds uncovered in New Forest

American Girl fashion

Love this sort of thing: King's Cross then and now

15 Things You Need to Know About Whiskey

Fascinating: Mapping a Lost City

Art, Science, and Butterfly Metamorphosis: How a 17th-Century Woman Laid the Foundations of Modern Entomology

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.