(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance. So if it doesn't seem to take recent news or events into account... that's why.)
I don't mean to ruin your weekend, but Rick Perlstein on Trump is a must-read.
The Man Card: An American Tradition Of Presidents Using Their Gender To Get Ahead
Bernie Sanders Knows He Can’t Win the Nomination Now
Russian Enclave Seen as a Fault Line of East-West Tensions
The Daily News’ Shaun King Was Accused of Plagiarism. Here’s How He Got Vindication.
Pinterest Reinvents Itself to Prove It's Really Worth Billions
On Money, Anxiety, and Marriage
I partially just love this headline: Pluto's Dwarf Planet Friend Makemake Has a Cute Little Moon. Don't you want to watch a cartoon about their adorable adventures?
CASTLE RESTORATION DRAMA: Spanish Castle’s Restoration, Called ‘Disaster’ by Some, Wins Prize
Men Praying Bitchily In Western Art History
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/29/16)
(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance. So if it doesn't seem to take recent news or events into account... that's why.)
Happy Friday! As usual, we'll skip current events for some lighter links today. We're heavy on the Cambridges this week for some reason. Sorry. I don't make the rules. (I do make the rules; you're lucky it's not all royalty all the time around here.)
I mean, how could I not show you the princes' lightsaber battle?
Or the Obamas having a thoroughly adorable visit with the Cambridges (including George!!) and Harry?
Those pictures gave us our first real look at William and Kate's apartment. (Can we ID any of the books in their bookcase??)
Good Housekeeping tracked down those boots Kate has had FOREVER. They call the $675 price tag "whopping," which - a. that doesn't really seem like THAT much for fancy boots? And b. I first saw this article rerun on the Town and Country site and that line is what made me realize it was taken from GH, because Town and Country doesn't recommend anything other than, like, lip balm that costs as little as $675. (Seriously, they had $75 lip balm in the May issue.)
Moving away from royalty gradually (he was at Eton with Prince William, after all): This Tom Hiddleston profile is charming.
Ooh: Explore the Cosmos with This Bonkers Interactive Model
Perhaps your Friday needs 35 photos of Taylor Kitsch.
I have no need for a retro Star Trek playset but I LOVE IT.
Can you imagine finding out the planter in your back yard is actually an ancient Roman coffin?
PERFECT: Resentments I Have Formed Against Characters From “The Face On The Milk Carton” By Caroline B. Cooney
Happy Friday! As usual, we'll skip current events for some lighter links today. We're heavy on the Cambridges this week for some reason. Sorry. I don't make the rules. (I do make the rules; you're lucky it's not all royalty all the time around here.)
I mean, how could I not show you the princes' lightsaber battle?
Or the Obamas having a thoroughly adorable visit with the Cambridges (including George!!) and Harry?
Those pictures gave us our first real look at William and Kate's apartment. (Can we ID any of the books in their bookcase??)
Good Housekeeping tracked down those boots Kate has had FOREVER. They call the $675 price tag "whopping," which - a. that doesn't really seem like THAT much for fancy boots? And b. I first saw this article rerun on the Town and Country site and that line is what made me realize it was taken from GH, because Town and Country doesn't recommend anything other than, like, lip balm that costs as little as $675. (Seriously, they had $75 lip balm in the May issue.)
Moving away from royalty gradually (he was at Eton with Prince William, after all): This Tom Hiddleston profile is charming.
Ooh: Explore the Cosmos with This Bonkers Interactive Model
Perhaps your Friday needs 35 photos of Taylor Kitsch.
I have no need for a retro Star Trek playset but I LOVE IT.
Can you imagine finding out the planter in your back yard is actually an ancient Roman coffin?
PERFECT: Resentments I Have Formed Against Characters From “The Face On The Milk Carton” By Caroline B. Cooney
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/28/16)
(I'm traveling, so this post was written in advance. So if it doesn't seem to take recent news or events into account... that's why.)
This should be the biggest story in the country right now: former U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert admitted under oath to sexually abusing children when he was their coach.
The Mixed Signals Coming Out of Trump’s Campaign Are the Message
Files Suggest Honduran Police Leaders Ordered Killing of Antidrug Officials
Head of British Spying Agency Apologizes for Its Treatment of Gays
It's time for Hillary to stop talking about Bernie and start talking about Trump
Ugh: Last Year's Hugo Award Drama Is Not Going Away Any Time Soon
This piece about Rand Paul's return to the Senate is interesting but mostly made me wish he'd waited until 2020 (or runs again, I guess) so we can make a million eye doctor jokes.
This this this: Economic Fundamentals That Indie Authors Sometimes Misunderstand
"For those who have never had fortunes deposited into their personal bank accounts with no obligations attached, this may sound suspicious."
"Ma’am, the library is CLOSED. You do not get special library hours just because you go to college. This security guard is doing his JOB and his shift is probably ending and he wants to go home and you can’t even use your words to tell him 'I’m just wrapping up, thanks'?"
This should be the biggest story in the country right now: former U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert admitted under oath to sexually abusing children when he was their coach.
The Mixed Signals Coming Out of Trump’s Campaign Are the Message
Files Suggest Honduran Police Leaders Ordered Killing of Antidrug Officials
Head of British Spying Agency Apologizes for Its Treatment of Gays
It's time for Hillary to stop talking about Bernie and start talking about Trump
Ugh: Last Year's Hugo Award Drama Is Not Going Away Any Time Soon
This piece about Rand Paul's return to the Senate is interesting but mostly made me wish he'd waited until 2020 (or runs again, I guess) so we can make a million eye doctor jokes.
This this this: Economic Fundamentals That Indie Authors Sometimes Misunderstand
"For those who have never had fortunes deposited into their personal bank accounts with no obligations attached, this may sound suspicious."
"Ma’am, the library is CLOSED. You do not get special library hours just because you go to college. This security guard is doing his JOB and his shift is probably ending and he wants to go home and you can’t even use your words to tell him 'I’m just wrapping up, thanks'?"
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/27/16)
ICYMI: You should watch Rebellion.
Me elsewhere: At Read the Screen I've got the Penny Dreadful season premiere and your Tuesday Daily Read.
Here's what you need to know about yesterday's primaries.
I know most of us don't want to think about Trump at War, but that piece is a very interesting look at how actual military and intelligence professionals might deal with him as commander in chief.
The Guardian has a great, disturbing piece of reporting on the Hillsborough disaster and yesterday's verdict.
Not getting enough attention: Oklahoma's legislature is about to ban abortion by making it a felony for doctors
Oops: 2nd security firm raises concerns about Cruz and Kasich apps
Saudi Arabia Moves to Curb Its Feared Religious Police
Hah: Politico's co-founder wants a Silicon Valley third party. We have many questions. (No, seriously, this is INSANE.)
Lin-Manuel Miranda in Mary Poppins? Sure.
Perfect: Why Bernie Sanders Is Actually Winning
Tiny House Hunters is the best/worst: People In Tiny Houses Can’t Have Sex
Me elsewhere: At Read the Screen I've got the Penny Dreadful season premiere and your Tuesday Daily Read.
Here's what you need to know about yesterday's primaries.
I know most of us don't want to think about Trump at War, but that piece is a very interesting look at how actual military and intelligence professionals might deal with him as commander in chief.
The Guardian has a great, disturbing piece of reporting on the Hillsborough disaster and yesterday's verdict.
Not getting enough attention: Oklahoma's legislature is about to ban abortion by making it a felony for doctors
Oops: 2nd security firm raises concerns about Cruz and Kasich apps
Saudi Arabia Moves to Curb Its Feared Religious Police
Hah: Politico's co-founder wants a Silicon Valley third party. We have many questions. (No, seriously, this is INSANE.)
Lin-Manuel Miranda in Mary Poppins? Sure.
Perfect: Why Bernie Sanders Is Actually Winning
Tiny House Hunters is the best/worst: People In Tiny Houses Can’t Have Sex
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
TV Recommendation: Rebellion
A quick, somewhat belated note: RTE One drama Rebellion has been airing on Sundance TV this week in the U.S., and if you're interested in history it's definitely worth a look. I've only seen the first two of five hours so far, so I can't promise it resolves satisfactorily, but I'm riveted so far.
Rebellion is about a group of people from various social strata and walks of life who get caught up in the Easter Rising and outbreak of hostilities between the Irish republicans and the British in 1916. The main characters are (so far as I can tell) fictional, with historical figures like Patrick Pearse popping up regularly. The young female characters at the center of the show are particularly fascinating, and demonstrate a lot about how the rebellion intersected with challenges to traditional gender roles. I also like how firmly the show places the events in the context of World War I and the anxieties that came with it. And, of course, this has the usual strengths of a big-budget historical show, with gorgeous costumes, elaborate sets, and lots of family and romantic drama happening among the events of war.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Sundance has reruns on the schedule right now, but! My cable provider, at least, is putting the show on demand for anyone who has Sundance as part of their channel lineup, so check there.
Rebellion is about a group of people from various social strata and walks of life who get caught up in the Easter Rising and outbreak of hostilities between the Irish republicans and the British in 1916. The main characters are (so far as I can tell) fictional, with historical figures like Patrick Pearse popping up regularly. The young female characters at the center of the show are particularly fascinating, and demonstrate a lot about how the rebellion intersected with challenges to traditional gender roles. I also like how firmly the show places the events in the context of World War I and the anxieties that came with it. And, of course, this has the usual strengths of a big-budget historical show, with gorgeous costumes, elaborate sets, and lots of family and romantic drama happening among the events of war.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Sundance has reruns on the schedule right now, but! My cable provider, at least, is putting the show on demand for anyone who has Sundance as part of their channel lineup, so check there.
Morning Coffee (4/26/16)
ICYMI, I recommended two recent documentaries.
Me elsewhere: Monday's Daily Read.
‘He apparently had no fears’: The steep, unexpected downfall of Dennis Hastert (I can/can't believe how little everyone seems to care about this, honestly.)
"Syria is gradually becoming another more secretive, hybrid war of the sort that fits into Mr. Putin’s comfort zone, they said." It's good to know your strengths, I guess.
16-Year-Old Trans Boy Is Forcibly Removed From a Ted Cruz Rally
Why Americans Want a Military General in the White House (I was just talking about this with my brother, who's in the Army, and my position remains that Mattis just doesn't have enough name recognition to make any headway at this point. As to the general question, though, it strikes me that the fact that military officers have to pass history tests at least ensures a baseline understanding of the world, which would put them ahead of... several candidates this year.)
This investigation into Christian counseling residences Mercy Ministries is important and compelling.
Ooh, this is fascinating: 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, a Milestone of Foreign Reporting
Forget Too Much TV. It’s Too Big TV We Should Worry About
Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy is GREAT casting.
If you're wondering who's going to be in Twin Peaks, the answer is apparently everyone. (I should try to watch the original before this comes out, huh?)
Positions I Am Ready to Fill in Your Charming Beach Town
Me elsewhere: Monday's Daily Read.
‘He apparently had no fears’: The steep, unexpected downfall of Dennis Hastert (I can/can't believe how little everyone seems to care about this, honestly.)
"Syria is gradually becoming another more secretive, hybrid war of the sort that fits into Mr. Putin’s comfort zone, they said." It's good to know your strengths, I guess.
16-Year-Old Trans Boy Is Forcibly Removed From a Ted Cruz Rally
Why Americans Want a Military General in the White House (I was just talking about this with my brother, who's in the Army, and my position remains that Mattis just doesn't have enough name recognition to make any headway at this point. As to the general question, though, it strikes me that the fact that military officers have to pass history tests at least ensures a baseline understanding of the world, which would put them ahead of... several candidates this year.)
This investigation into Christian counseling residences Mercy Ministries is important and compelling.
Ooh, this is fascinating: 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, a Milestone of Foreign Reporting
Forget Too Much TV. It’s Too Big TV We Should Worry About
Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy is GREAT casting.
If you're wondering who's going to be in Twin Peaks, the answer is apparently everyone. (I should try to watch the original before this comes out, huh?)
Positions I Am Ready to Fill in Your Charming Beach Town
Monday, April 25, 2016
TV Recommendations: Shakespeare's Tomb & Vikings Unearthed
I don't pay as much attention to non-Sunday night PBS programming as I should - I love documentaries, so I don't know what my problem is - but recently two shows caught my eye and I'm very glad they did. They're both documentaries that combine traditional history and archaeology with new investigative methods made possible by SCIENCE!, and they're very well done.
Shakespeare's Tomb, hosted by the great Helen Castor, investigates, well, Shakespeare's tomb, and along with it the circumstances surrounding his death, his will, later rumors and myths about his skull, and more. They do some really incredible 3D scanning of a skull so that they can try to figure out whether it's Shakespeare's without disturbing the site where it was found, as well as tracing air pockets below the Shakespeare family's gravestones in the church floor to determine the configuration of their graves. You can watch it online here or check on demand or local listings - PBS varies a lot by local affiliate.
The second, Vikings Unearthed, was a BBC production aired as an episode of Nova, and it features historian Dan Snow, who you should be following on Twitter/Instagram, along with a bunch of other very interesting historians and archaeologists. They trace Viking expansion west, and specifically use satellite imaging to try to find undiscovered, buried Viking sites - including in North America. It's completely fascinating. Watch here or, again, check on demand or local listings for reruns.
Shakespeare's Tomb, hosted by the great Helen Castor, investigates, well, Shakespeare's tomb, and along with it the circumstances surrounding his death, his will, later rumors and myths about his skull, and more. They do some really incredible 3D scanning of a skull so that they can try to figure out whether it's Shakespeare's without disturbing the site where it was found, as well as tracing air pockets below the Shakespeare family's gravestones in the church floor to determine the configuration of their graves. You can watch it online here or check on demand or local listings - PBS varies a lot by local affiliate.
The second, Vikings Unearthed, was a BBC production aired as an episode of Nova, and it features historian Dan Snow, who you should be following on Twitter/Instagram, along with a bunch of other very interesting historians and archaeologists. They trace Viking expansion west, and specifically use satellite imaging to try to find undiscovered, buried Viking sites - including in North America. It's completely fascinating. Watch here or, again, check on demand or local listings for reruns.
Morning Coffee (4/25/16)
Ireland Seeks Peaceful Path to Marking 1916 Easter Rising
Nothing to see here, I'm sure: Russia’s New Human Rights Ombudsman Is Former Police General
Hmmmm: The U.S. government just withdrew its iPhone-unlocking case against Apple in New York
Heh: An Incomplete List of Topics J.K. Rowling and President Obama May Have Discussed
Ooh, fascinating: Triangles in the Sky Tell the Story of the Universe's Birth
This is what I'd expect from Bernie Ecclestone, but I'd hoped for better from Mario Andretti. For... some reason.
Meet the Association Upholding the Integrity of Instant Noodles
Researchers Discover Ancient Observations of a 1006 AD Supernova
Confession: I gave up keeping track of the current name of Lockhart Gardner etc. etc. years ago.
Amazing: Audubon Made Up At Least 28 Fake Species To Prank A Rival
Nothing to see here, I'm sure: Russia’s New Human Rights Ombudsman Is Former Police General
Hmmmm: The U.S. government just withdrew its iPhone-unlocking case against Apple in New York
Heh: An Incomplete List of Topics J.K. Rowling and President Obama May Have Discussed
Ooh, fascinating: Triangles in the Sky Tell the Story of the Universe's Birth
This is what I'd expect from Bernie Ecclestone, but I'd hoped for better from Mario Andretti. For... some reason.
Meet the Association Upholding the Integrity of Instant Noodles
Researchers Discover Ancient Observations of a 1006 AD Supernova
Confession: I gave up keeping track of the current name of Lockhart Gardner etc. etc. years ago.
Amazing: Audubon Made Up At Least 28 Fake Species To Prank A Rival
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/24/16)
Trump Has Much in Common With Crazy-Haired Racist With Populist Appeal, Wants to Keep Him on the $20
Oh. John Kasich says DC residents can't vote because they vote for Democrats
A good thing to keep in mind: Google's ad business continues to prop up its experimental ventures
This Report on the Number of Upcoming Films Directed By Women Is Depressing as Hell
FASCINATING: The Making of a Hollywood Princess
Ooh, Scientology drama: How Lisa Marie Presley became Scientology leader David Miscavige’s worst nightmare
"Those who would call the Mormon transhumanists a cult face a major hurdle, which is that none of them ever seem to agree on anything."
A Two Million Year Old Explosion Is Raining Debris On Our Planet
This is great: I am Alex St. John’s Daughter, and He is Wrong About Women in Tech
Yay Target!
Oh. John Kasich says DC residents can't vote because they vote for Democrats
A good thing to keep in mind: Google's ad business continues to prop up its experimental ventures
This Report on the Number of Upcoming Films Directed By Women Is Depressing as Hell
FASCINATING: The Making of a Hollywood Princess
Ooh, Scientology drama: How Lisa Marie Presley became Scientology leader David Miscavige’s worst nightmare
"Those who would call the Mormon transhumanists a cult face a major hurdle, which is that none of them ever seem to agree on anything."
A Two Million Year Old Explosion Is Raining Debris On Our Planet
This is great: I am Alex St. John’s Daughter, and He is Wrong About Women in Tech
Yay Target!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/23/16)
Surprise: New York Democrats Like the Democratic Party!
Everyone’s Reading Way Too Much Into Clinton’s Nonsexist VP Long List
What Is Sanders's Endgame?
Librarian of Congress: More than 140 Library, Non-Profits, and Others Send Letter to Congress Supporting Nomination of Dr. Carla Hayden
Awesome: Restaurant Promises to Rescue Female Diners on Bad Tinder Dates
"Women self-censor, edit, apologize for speaking. Men expound."
As someone endlessly fascinated by all sorts of planning and list-making strategies, I'm intrigued by Google Goals, and I love that their video explanation features a gay protagonist without making a huge point of it.
I am also intrigued by MightyTV - I'm downloading it as I type this - though less for the recommendations than for the way it searches across streaming services and finds things you and friends ALL want to watch.
I'm saving this to read when I'm caught up on The Americans but I hear it's really good and you should read it if you watch the show!
"Everything I’ve accomplished that I’m actually proud of was born of initial terror."
Everyone’s Reading Way Too Much Into Clinton’s Nonsexist VP Long List
What Is Sanders's Endgame?
Librarian of Congress: More than 140 Library, Non-Profits, and Others Send Letter to Congress Supporting Nomination of Dr. Carla Hayden
Awesome: Restaurant Promises to Rescue Female Diners on Bad Tinder Dates
"Women self-censor, edit, apologize for speaking. Men expound."
As someone endlessly fascinated by all sorts of planning and list-making strategies, I'm intrigued by Google Goals, and I love that their video explanation features a gay protagonist without making a huge point of it.
I am also intrigued by MightyTV - I'm downloading it as I type this - though less for the recommendations than for the way it searches across streaming services and finds things you and friends ALL want to watch.
I'm saving this to read when I'm caught up on The Americans but I hear it's really good and you should read it if you watch the show!
"Everything I’ve accomplished that I’m actually proud of was born of initial terror."
Friday, April 22, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/22/16)
Happy Friday! Time for some lighter links...
Me elsewhere: We have a trailer for The Girl on the Train and Game of Thrones was renewed, plus your Daily Read.
Whoa! Books by earliest women writers in English on display together for first time
Ooh: The only known footage of Louis Armstrong in a recording studio.
NASA Celebrates Hubble's 26th Birthday With Some Spectacular New Space Porn
The palace released pictures by Annie Leibovitz for the Queen's 90th birthday and they're GREAT. (It didn't strike me until I was typing this that she's the same age as my grandfather; we had a big party for his 90th in February.)
I'm very excited that Sally Wainwright is doing a Bronte sisters drama.
Shirley Temple stamps!
73 Questions with Taylor Swift is delightful; I love her house and I LOVE her delivery of "I am a very spontaneous person." I suspect she is roughly as spontaneous as I am, which is to say not at all.
Some of these sound really good: 17 Cocktails Every “Game Of Thrones” Lover Must Try
Disney Channel is marathoning all its original movies! (Let's be honest: I mostly just care about Rip Girls, which held up surprisingly well when I rewatched it a few years ago.)
I haven't had a chance to dig into Julian Fellowes's Belgravia, but I'm intrigued.
Me elsewhere: We have a trailer for The Girl on the Train and Game of Thrones was renewed, plus your Daily Read.
Whoa! Books by earliest women writers in English on display together for first time
Ooh: The only known footage of Louis Armstrong in a recording studio.
NASA Celebrates Hubble's 26th Birthday With Some Spectacular New Space Porn
The palace released pictures by Annie Leibovitz for the Queen's 90th birthday and they're GREAT. (It didn't strike me until I was typing this that she's the same age as my grandfather; we had a big party for his 90th in February.)
I'm very excited that Sally Wainwright is doing a Bronte sisters drama.
Shirley Temple stamps!
73 Questions with Taylor Swift is delightful; I love her house and I LOVE her delivery of "I am a very spontaneous person." I suspect she is roughly as spontaneous as I am, which is to say not at all.
Some of these sound really good: 17 Cocktails Every “Game Of Thrones” Lover Must Try
Disney Channel is marathoning all its original movies! (Let's be honest: I mostly just care about Rip Girls, which held up surprisingly well when I rewatched it a few years ago.)
I haven't had a chance to dig into Julian Fellowes's Belgravia, but I'm intrigued.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/21/16)
ICYMI: Yesterday I posted April's book review, of Sarah Rees Brennan's Tell the Wind and Fire.
Me elsewhere: I looked at the pilot of Containment and first episode of The Night Manager. And here's yesterday's Daily Read.
Hamilton is staying on the $10; Harriet Tubman is replacing Jackson on the $20. I think this is a good outcome, but I'm still amused at Treasury suddenly having to deal with Hamilton The Pop Culture Hero.
Yemen’s guerrilla war tests military ambitions of big-spending Saudis
Yay: ESPN fired Curt Schilling. And their official statement is great.
This is a terrifying chart for Republicans
Washington Post Reporter Doxxed For Writing Critical Article About Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders’ Superdelegate Plan Puts His Progressive Base In A Bind It'll be interesting to see if MoveOn really breaks with him over this.
Bernie Sanders Has Lost the Primary and It’s Making Him a Little Crazy
No political revolution in the United States can succeed without the South.
Yes yes yes: "Can’t participate? Sure they can. Registering as an independent is a choice. In many states, that choice comes with a price: You don’t get to vote in primaries. If you want to vote in a primary, join a party."
The real story behind that feminism tutoring ad is not so funny.
Me elsewhere: I looked at the pilot of Containment and first episode of The Night Manager. And here's yesterday's Daily Read.
Hamilton is staying on the $10; Harriet Tubman is replacing Jackson on the $20. I think this is a good outcome, but I'm still amused at Treasury suddenly having to deal with Hamilton The Pop Culture Hero.
Yemen’s guerrilla war tests military ambitions of big-spending Saudis
Yay: ESPN fired Curt Schilling. And their official statement is great.
This is a terrifying chart for Republicans
Washington Post Reporter Doxxed For Writing Critical Article About Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders’ Superdelegate Plan Puts His Progressive Base In A Bind It'll be interesting to see if MoveOn really breaks with him over this.
Bernie Sanders Has Lost the Primary and It’s Making Him a Little Crazy
No political revolution in the United States can succeed without the South.
Yes yes yes: "Can’t participate? Sure they can. Registering as an independent is a choice. In many states, that choice comes with a price: You don’t get to vote in primaries. If you want to vote in a primary, join a party."
The real story behind that feminism tutoring ad is not so funny.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Book Review: Tell the Wind and Fire
Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees BrennanClarion Books, 2016
Sarah Rees Brennan is one of my favorite authors, and I also love Dickens in general and A Tale of Two Cities in particular, so when I heard that she was doing a modern Tale of Two Cities with magic, I was thrilled. And Tell the Wind and Fire did not disappoint. It's a thoughtful page-turner, full of Rees Brennan's trademark humor and meditations on family and friendship and revolution and love and choice.
Tell the Wind and Fire is about a city divided between Light and Dark magic, and a girl caught in the middle when the people of the Dark start to fight back against the dominance of the Light and their terrible treatment at the hands of the powerful. "Like Mockingjay but good" is kind of a flip description - and I wouldn't call Mockingjay bad, exactly - but there's truth to it: Tell the Wind and Fire's Lucie is, like Katniss, made into the symbol of a revolution mostly by happenstance and others' actions, but Lucie comes across as much more thoughtful about her situation, and she is legitimately torn and ends up making her own decisions about her future, which makes the novel as a whole much more complex and compelling. And like many Rees Brennan heroines, Lucie is practical in a way I really enjoy - no unthinking "all that matters is love" here.
I like my magic systems to have clearly defined rules, to work in a way that makes it clear that the author knows exactly what's going on even if the reader doesn't have (or need) every detail, and this book certainly fulfills that. And even better, the magic is thoroughly integrated into a political system and a society and culture. Rees Brennan's world-building is great, and really helps this novel feel like its own unique thing even while cleverly using the Tale of Two Cities framework. The world of this novel feels so real that I found myself wanting to read a "nonfiction" history of it, and the political conflicts felt extremely relevant to our world today.
The central love triangle was actually one of the least compelling things for me here - which, not coincidentally, is how I feel about Tale of Two Cities as well. Of course, whether this is problematic depends on your own reading priorities. I didn't really care whether the love triangle grabbed me either way, but I did want to feel Lucie's feelings for boyfriend Ethan slightly more, especially since his doppelganger Carwyn had the "mysterious bad boy" advantage. That said, Ethan was way more interesting than he could have been, and I totally mean that as a compliment - his Dickensian analog Charles Darnay barely made any impression on me at all.
Speaking of Dickens: adaptations always bring up the question of whether the reader must be familiar with the source material to understand and enjoy the new work, and here I'd say absolutely not. Dickens fans will appreciate Rees Brennan's clever use of characters and themes, and there are certainly some fun references, but I'd wholeheartedly recommend Tell the Wind and Fire to any reader looking for complex, funny, heartbreaking fantasy with strong characters and thought-provoking themes. (But then you should go read A Tale of Two Cities too, because it's great, I promise.)
Morning Coffee (4/20/16)
Me elsewhere: Yesterday's Read the Screen Daily Read.
"Under the bright lights of New York, we have seen that it's not enough to diagnose problems," Clinton said. "You have to explain how you actually solve the problems."
On Becoming Anti-Bernie
Why BuzzFeed’s Exploding Watermelon Won’t Destroy Journalism
This is near-perfect: How Every NYC TV Character Would Vote in the New York State Primary
She's great: Viola Davis was not having any of Jared Leto’s shit on the set of Suicide Squad
Amazon adding monthly Prime and video-only options seems like a good business move; I'm one of those people who has had Prime so long I still think of it as mostly a shipping thing. (Once they sent me a PAPER LETTER saying "You know we have video for you to watch, right??")
Speaking of, some much-needed sanity: Chill. It's Not Books vs. Amazon. You Can Have Both!
Well now I absolutely want to read Nicholas and Alexandra.
I'm pretty excited for this new movie about Mozart.
Interesting: The highest-grossing movies made in every state, from ‘Avatar’ to ‘Avengers’ (Some of these are ONLY VERY SLIGHTLY in the state in question, though.)
"Under the bright lights of New York, we have seen that it's not enough to diagnose problems," Clinton said. "You have to explain how you actually solve the problems."
On Becoming Anti-Bernie
Why BuzzFeed’s Exploding Watermelon Won’t Destroy Journalism
This is near-perfect: How Every NYC TV Character Would Vote in the New York State Primary
She's great: Viola Davis was not having any of Jared Leto’s shit on the set of Suicide Squad
Amazon adding monthly Prime and video-only options seems like a good business move; I'm one of those people who has had Prime so long I still think of it as mostly a shipping thing. (Once they sent me a PAPER LETTER saying "You know we have video for you to watch, right??")
Speaking of, some much-needed sanity: Chill. It's Not Books vs. Amazon. You Can Have Both!
Well now I absolutely want to read Nicholas and Alexandra.
I'm pretty excited for this new movie about Mozart.
Interesting: The highest-grossing movies made in every state, from ‘Avatar’ to ‘Avengers’ (Some of these are ONLY VERY SLIGHTLY in the state in question, though.)
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/19/16)
Me elsewhere: Your Monday Read the Screen Daily Read.
Some good Pulitzer winners yesterday. Hamilton! Emily Nussbaum! Lots of important reporting!
And Wesley Lowery totally leaked the Post's win, which I'm sure doesn't surprise anyone.
This is insane and horrifying: Teenager Is Accused of Live-Streaming a Friend’s Rape on Periscope
Hillary Clinton went to Mikey's Ice Cream yesterday, and this is a very interesting read about the owner and the criminal justice system, and I am also mentioning it because my friends Maureen and Robin RAN INTO HER THERE and got a picture!
The true tragedy of Attawapiskat
Letting them die: parents refuse medical help for children in the name of Christ
This is wild: I Have No Idea What This Startup Does and Nobody Will Tell Me
Disability Representation and the Problem with “Inspiration Porn”
Why I Came Out As A Gay Children’s Book Author
Tons of fascinating tidbits in here: On the road with the Queen: What I learnt from 20 royal tours
Some good Pulitzer winners yesterday. Hamilton! Emily Nussbaum! Lots of important reporting!
And Wesley Lowery totally leaked the Post's win, which I'm sure doesn't surprise anyone.
This is insane and horrifying: Teenager Is Accused of Live-Streaming a Friend’s Rape on Periscope
Hillary Clinton went to Mikey's Ice Cream yesterday, and this is a very interesting read about the owner and the criminal justice system, and I am also mentioning it because my friends Maureen and Robin RAN INTO HER THERE and got a picture!
The true tragedy of Attawapiskat
Letting them die: parents refuse medical help for children in the name of Christ
This is wild: I Have No Idea What This Startup Does and Nobody Will Tell Me
Disability Representation and the Problem with “Inspiration Porn”
Why I Came Out As A Gay Children’s Book Author
Tons of fascinating tidbits in here: On the road with the Queen: What I learnt from 20 royal tours
Monday, April 18, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/18/16)
Me elsewhere: TV news for the week!
2 Years After Boko Haram Kidnapping, the Search Goes On for Nigerian Girls
United States v. Texas, the biggest immigration case in a century, explained
Huh: The Czech Republic is trying to change its name?!?! I'll admit I'm one of those people who still has to stop myself from saying "Czechoslovakia."
A Murder Taps Into Germany’s Conflicted Relations With Migrants
I tried to warn women about Jian Ghomeshi — and it nearly destroyed my life
Hahaha: Only Obama Gets Game Of Thrones Screeners, So I Filed An FOIA Request For Them
Oh good: AMC will NOT allow texting.
This is a lovely profile of Lizzie Skurnick, who has MY unending gratitude for getting Constance back into print.
Obviously I want to read about The Historical Reenactor Accuracy Wars.
So, You're Thinking About Seeing a Play
2 Years After Boko Haram Kidnapping, the Search Goes On for Nigerian Girls
United States v. Texas, the biggest immigration case in a century, explained
Huh: The Czech Republic is trying to change its name?!?! I'll admit I'm one of those people who still has to stop myself from saying "Czechoslovakia."
A Murder Taps Into Germany’s Conflicted Relations With Migrants
I tried to warn women about Jian Ghomeshi — and it nearly destroyed my life
Hahaha: Only Obama Gets Game Of Thrones Screeners, So I Filed An FOIA Request For Them
Oh good: AMC will NOT allow texting.
This is a lovely profile of Lizzie Skurnick, who has MY unending gratitude for getting Constance back into print.
Obviously I want to read about The Historical Reenactor Accuracy Wars.
So, You're Thinking About Seeing a Play
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/17/16)
Behind Fake Degrees From Pakistan, a Maze of Deceit and a Case in Peril
As a person who likes fancy restaurants and natural food but is also inherently suspicious and somewhat cynical, I LOVED this farm-to-table expose.
They found Nessie! (Well. Sort of. You know.)
This ABC child actor roundtable is THOROUGHLY delightful.
Oooooh: America's Test Kitchen is about to take its rigorous recipe system to the next level
“Yet I’ll Speak”: Othello’s Emilia, A Rebuke to Female Silence
An Heir to a Tribe’s Culture Ensures Its Language Is Not Forgotten
This piece about the celebrity club appearance economy is surprisingly fascinating, and includes some stuff about the talent/manager dynamic, which is a topic that always interests me.
Well these are gorgeous: Data Centers of the Future Could Be Towering Skyscrapers
Beverly Cleary turned 100 this month and this made me want to read her teen novels - I think I only read (and loved) Sister of the Bride.
As a person who likes fancy restaurants and natural food but is also inherently suspicious and somewhat cynical, I LOVED this farm-to-table expose.
They found Nessie! (Well. Sort of. You know.)
This ABC child actor roundtable is THOROUGHLY delightful.
Oooooh: America's Test Kitchen is about to take its rigorous recipe system to the next level
“Yet I’ll Speak”: Othello’s Emilia, A Rebuke to Female Silence
An Heir to a Tribe’s Culture Ensures Its Language Is Not Forgotten
This piece about the celebrity club appearance economy is surprisingly fascinating, and includes some stuff about the talent/manager dynamic, which is a topic that always interests me.
Well these are gorgeous: Data Centers of the Future Could Be Towering Skyscrapers
Beverly Cleary turned 100 this month and this made me want to read her teen novels - I think I only read (and loved) Sister of the Bride.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/16/16)
Me elsewhere: Your Friday afternoon Daily Read.
This story about an interview hoax involving the Ukrainian president is SO WACKY. God, I love Russia. (As far as... wackiness, not their actual political situation or anything.)
SPEAKING OF: Putin-themed cafe opens in Siberia
Also wacky: Sweden, though generally in more benign ways than Russia.
I assume you all already heard about the Ted Cruz soup story but JUST IN CASE. Because you do not want to miss this one.
The Guardian study's hidden lesson: trolls reinforce white male dominance in journalism (I'm not sure how "hidden" this is, really, but this piece makes important points.)
How “Nina” Became A Disaster Movie
TELEVISION WITHOUT PITY IS COMING BACK TO US. (I realize we should probably wait for more information before getting too excited.)
I would watch a movie about... all of this, really: Archbishop of Canterbury Says DNA Test Shows His Father Was Churchill’s Private Secretary
The Fug Girls have started recapping Outlander and obviously that is great news.
I'm sure I would have watched How I Met Your Dad but I'm not unhappy the decision was taken out of our hands.
This story about an interview hoax involving the Ukrainian president is SO WACKY. God, I love Russia. (As far as... wackiness, not their actual political situation or anything.)
SPEAKING OF: Putin-themed cafe opens in Siberia
Also wacky: Sweden, though generally in more benign ways than Russia.
I assume you all already heard about the Ted Cruz soup story but JUST IN CASE. Because you do not want to miss this one.
The Guardian study's hidden lesson: trolls reinforce white male dominance in journalism (I'm not sure how "hidden" this is, really, but this piece makes important points.)
How “Nina” Became A Disaster Movie
TELEVISION WITHOUT PITY IS COMING BACK TO US. (I realize we should probably wait for more information before getting too excited.)
I would watch a movie about... all of this, really: Archbishop of Canterbury Says DNA Test Shows His Father Was Churchill’s Private Secretary
The Fug Girls have started recapping Outlander and obviously that is great news.
I'm sure I would have watched How I Met Your Dad but I'm not unhappy the decision was taken out of our hands.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/15/16)
Happy Friday! As usual, we're going with lighter links to end the week.
Me elsewhere: I hated the new NBC show Game of Silence a surprising amount.
And if you want even MORE links from me every day for some reason, I've started a Daily Read section of Read the Screen, with adaptation news, interesting criticism, etc. each weekday afternoon. I guess I'll link it from here the next morning, at least for a while?
ICYMI, yesterday I thought way too much about Free Cone Day.
Every time a new Taylor Swift profile comes out I get worried because it's BOUND to do something to destroy the image I have of her in my head, but they NEVER DO and this one is great. (Note: Said image has nothing to do with her authenticity or anything; I don't care about that either way. I just want her to remain in complete and rigid control of her messaging forever.)
I am fundamentally opposed to every single stunt proposal in history except for this one.
My friend Robin Wasserman IS AN ANSWER IN A BUZZFEED QUIZ, so clearly she has no more to achieve in life. Also, you should preorder her book Girls on Fire immediately because it is great.
The kind of important news story that needs our attention: Cute Firefighters Rescue Kitten from Well
And some international cat news: We Met The New Foreign Office Cat And Asked Him Five Important Questions
These new Penguin fantasy and sci-fi classics are gorgeousssssss.
This new late night breakfast restaurant sounds like it's probably obnoxious but let's be real, I would go at least once because LATE NIGHT BREAKFAST.
I suspect your Friday needs Will and Kate feeding adorable baby elephants.
This is lovely: Behind the Scenes at the Met
LEGO KNAUSGAARD
Me elsewhere: I hated the new NBC show Game of Silence a surprising amount.
And if you want even MORE links from me every day for some reason, I've started a Daily Read section of Read the Screen, with adaptation news, interesting criticism, etc. each weekday afternoon. I guess I'll link it from here the next morning, at least for a while?
ICYMI, yesterday I thought way too much about Free Cone Day.
Every time a new Taylor Swift profile comes out I get worried because it's BOUND to do something to destroy the image I have of her in my head, but they NEVER DO and this one is great. (Note: Said image has nothing to do with her authenticity or anything; I don't care about that either way. I just want her to remain in complete and rigid control of her messaging forever.)
I am fundamentally opposed to every single stunt proposal in history except for this one.
My friend Robin Wasserman IS AN ANSWER IN A BUZZFEED QUIZ, so clearly she has no more to achieve in life. Also, you should preorder her book Girls on Fire immediately because it is great.
The kind of important news story that needs our attention: Cute Firefighters Rescue Kitten from Well
And some international cat news: We Met The New Foreign Office Cat And Asked Him Five Important Questions
These new Penguin fantasy and sci-fi classics are gorgeousssssss.
This new late night breakfast restaurant sounds like it's probably obnoxious but let's be real, I would go at least once because LATE NIGHT BREAKFAST.
I suspect your Friday needs Will and Kate feeding adorable baby elephants.
This is lovely: Behind the Scenes at the Met
LEGO KNAUSGAARD
Thursday, April 14, 2016
On the Economic Calculation of Free Cone Day
Ben & Jerry's annual Free Cone Day is basically a holy day here in northern New England (and some other places, I assume?), and I'll confess to thinking transgressive thoughts about whether it's really worth it. Wouldn't it be better in the long run to just go buy an ice cream cone some other day? So I was very interested to see Libby Nelson's economic case for waiting in line on Free Cone Day over on Vox, and while I appreciate her analysis of the value of leisure time and her point that free ice cream is worth more than paid-for ice cream, I feel like this issue is actually way more complicated than that. (Spoiler: I didn't end up going this year, but have many times in the past.)
So. For the ice cream lover who wants to really overthink Free Cone Day, here are some factors to consider:
How long is that line, really? I believe Nelson that the average wait time is around half an hour, but I'm pretty sure I've always waited longer. (Time of day may factor in here: I'm generally going after typical office hours, like a whole lot of people.)
What is the weather like? Maybe you live somewhere where it's 72 and sunny all the time. Here in New Hampshire, though, it's almost always cold and rainy on Free Cone Day. Even a short wait can be really unpleasant in a 40-degree downpour. (I once went to Free Cone Day at a store in a mall; this is a good way to avoid the weather issue, but standing in line for two hours in a mall wasn't a ton of fun either.)
Transportation and Parking: Perhaps you have a Ben & Jerry's in your neighborhood, in which case perhaps I'd like to move in with you. But if you're going out of your way to travel somewhere and/or pay for parking, that's worth considering. (Of course, these considerations would still exist if you went on a different day, but could be mitigated by going to Ben & Jerry's when you're already in the area for other reasons or by getting non-Ben & Jerry's ice cream closer to home. And parking is, obviously, easier to find on days without big free ice cream events.)
Flavor Selection: Many Ben & Jerry's stores offer a severely restricted list of flavors for Free Cone Day, either to keep things moving quickly or just because anything interesting is gone by noon. Don't go if you've got your heart set on a specific flavor.
Scheduling: Nelson is correct that this outing counts as leisure time and so does not exactly have the same value as an hour of work. But it's not leisure time that can happen any time - it's a specific day when you might or might not have pre-existing plans. And for many of us the line between work and leisure time is less than completely clear cut. This is ultimately what decided me this year: While I would have met friends to stand in line after I was done at my day job for the day, I had already planned a bunch of errands and writing-related work for that evening. It was when I found myself thinking "Well, if I move stuff around and stay up an hour later each night this week..." that I decided it was PROBABLY NOT WORTH IT.
Socializing, Intended: Are you waiting in that line alone, or are you going with friends? If this is a chance to hang out and catch up with people you want to see, the wait time calculation totally changes.
Socializing, Unintended: Depending on the size of your community and the ice cream inclinations of your professional and social networks, standing in line in a public place with no escape may mean running into a bunch of people who want to make small talk. Only you can decide whether this is something to embrace or to fear.
Stranger Danger: There are going to be strangers in that line, too. They may insist on talking to you. How do you feel about that? Even if they don't, you'll be in a situation with near-mandatory eavesdropping, which could be great or terrible. (One year I learned an astonishing amount about a sketchy new tattoo parlor in town.) And it seems worth noting that this year, specifically, a Ben & Jerry's event giving away free stuff sounds like catnip for Bernie Sanders supporters. BEWARE.
Number of People & Economic Situation: Nelson and I both approached this analysis from the point of view of one economically stable adult for whom the cost of even a fancy Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone is more or less functionally negligible. But say you've got a bunch of kids (or one kid with some friends you'd like to treat) and dropping $20 or more on ice cream cones is not something you can or want to do under normal conditions. In that case, Free Cone Day might make total sense. (As long as having your kids wait in a long line sounds like a thing that won't make you completely insane.) Or say you're currently unemployed and don't want to spend money on extras, but have some time to stand in line while you're waiting for potential employers to respond to your job applications. Also reasonable!
Where does all this leave us? If you've got a Ben & Jerry's nearby and the weather is nice, and you don't have pressing plans for the evening, and you're in a social mood and have some friends to hang out with (and no ice cream-loving enemies to avoid), sure, have fun! Otherwise, as Ben & Jerry themselves would say, "if it's not fun, why do it?"
So. For the ice cream lover who wants to really overthink Free Cone Day, here are some factors to consider:
How long is that line, really? I believe Nelson that the average wait time is around half an hour, but I'm pretty sure I've always waited longer. (Time of day may factor in here: I'm generally going after typical office hours, like a whole lot of people.)
What is the weather like? Maybe you live somewhere where it's 72 and sunny all the time. Here in New Hampshire, though, it's almost always cold and rainy on Free Cone Day. Even a short wait can be really unpleasant in a 40-degree downpour. (I once went to Free Cone Day at a store in a mall; this is a good way to avoid the weather issue, but standing in line for two hours in a mall wasn't a ton of fun either.)
Transportation and Parking: Perhaps you have a Ben & Jerry's in your neighborhood, in which case perhaps I'd like to move in with you. But if you're going out of your way to travel somewhere and/or pay for parking, that's worth considering. (Of course, these considerations would still exist if you went on a different day, but could be mitigated by going to Ben & Jerry's when you're already in the area for other reasons or by getting non-Ben & Jerry's ice cream closer to home. And parking is, obviously, easier to find on days without big free ice cream events.)
Flavor Selection: Many Ben & Jerry's stores offer a severely restricted list of flavors for Free Cone Day, either to keep things moving quickly or just because anything interesting is gone by noon. Don't go if you've got your heart set on a specific flavor.
Scheduling: Nelson is correct that this outing counts as leisure time and so does not exactly have the same value as an hour of work. But it's not leisure time that can happen any time - it's a specific day when you might or might not have pre-existing plans. And for many of us the line between work and leisure time is less than completely clear cut. This is ultimately what decided me this year: While I would have met friends to stand in line after I was done at my day job for the day, I had already planned a bunch of errands and writing-related work for that evening. It was when I found myself thinking "Well, if I move stuff around and stay up an hour later each night this week..." that I decided it was PROBABLY NOT WORTH IT.
Socializing, Intended: Are you waiting in that line alone, or are you going with friends? If this is a chance to hang out and catch up with people you want to see, the wait time calculation totally changes.
Socializing, Unintended: Depending on the size of your community and the ice cream inclinations of your professional and social networks, standing in line in a public place with no escape may mean running into a bunch of people who want to make small talk. Only you can decide whether this is something to embrace or to fear.
Stranger Danger: There are going to be strangers in that line, too. They may insist on talking to you. How do you feel about that? Even if they don't, you'll be in a situation with near-mandatory eavesdropping, which could be great or terrible. (One year I learned an astonishing amount about a sketchy new tattoo parlor in town.) And it seems worth noting that this year, specifically, a Ben & Jerry's event giving away free stuff sounds like catnip for Bernie Sanders supporters. BEWARE.
Number of People & Economic Situation: Nelson and I both approached this analysis from the point of view of one economically stable adult for whom the cost of even a fancy Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone is more or less functionally negligible. But say you've got a bunch of kids (or one kid with some friends you'd like to treat) and dropping $20 or more on ice cream cones is not something you can or want to do under normal conditions. In that case, Free Cone Day might make total sense. (As long as having your kids wait in a long line sounds like a thing that won't make you completely insane.) Or say you're currently unemployed and don't want to spend money on extras, but have some time to stand in line while you're waiting for potential employers to respond to your job applications. Also reasonable!
Where does all this leave us? If you've got a Ben & Jerry's nearby and the weather is nice, and you don't have pressing plans for the evening, and you're in a social mood and have some friends to hang out with (and no ice cream-loving enemies to avoid), sure, have fun! Otherwise, as Ben & Jerry themselves would say, "if it's not fun, why do it?"
Morning Coffee (4/14/16)
Me elsewhere: The Hunters pilot was okay I guess. And Bones fans, here are some clips from tonight's premiere.
There are a variety of important points this story about ISIS's finances, but I'd never thought about money being LITERALLY INCINERATED by bombs, so that was striking.
In case you need a refresher or to be brought up to date: Brazil's political crisis, explained in 500 words
I had almost forgotten about this, and it's very important: The Legacy of the Kobe Bryant Rape Case
This is a fascinating approach: Inside Saudi Arabia’s Re-education Prison for Jihadists
"'The other candidate on the Democratic side did not reach out to us,' Annette Nance-Holt, whose 16-year-old son, Blair Holt, was shot on a Chicago bus in 2007, said at a campaign event last month. She explained starkly that she was not swayed by Mr. Sanders’s promise of free college 'because my child is dead.'"
I feel like we just went through this with Rubio, and Kasich, but: PAUL RYAN IS NOT A MODERATE. He just yells less.
A Brief and Joyful Update on Fuckin' Craig Mazin, Ted Cruz's Wonderful College Roommate
NOPE: AMC Entertainment CEO Open to Allowing Texting in Some Theaters
Ooh, fascinating: New Evidence on When Bible Was Written: Ancient Shopping Lists
"In so many other movies, Bridget would have been less of a character than a cautionary tale."
There are a variety of important points this story about ISIS's finances, but I'd never thought about money being LITERALLY INCINERATED by bombs, so that was striking.
In case you need a refresher or to be brought up to date: Brazil's political crisis, explained in 500 words
I had almost forgotten about this, and it's very important: The Legacy of the Kobe Bryant Rape Case
This is a fascinating approach: Inside Saudi Arabia’s Re-education Prison for Jihadists
"'The other candidate on the Democratic side did not reach out to us,' Annette Nance-Holt, whose 16-year-old son, Blair Holt, was shot on a Chicago bus in 2007, said at a campaign event last month. She explained starkly that she was not swayed by Mr. Sanders’s promise of free college 'because my child is dead.'"
I feel like we just went through this with Rubio, and Kasich, but: PAUL RYAN IS NOT A MODERATE. He just yells less.
A Brief and Joyful Update on Fuckin' Craig Mazin, Ted Cruz's Wonderful College Roommate
NOPE: AMC Entertainment CEO Open to Allowing Texting in Some Theaters
Ooh, fascinating: New Evidence on When Bible Was Written: Ancient Shopping Lists
"In so many other movies, Bridget would have been less of a character than a cautionary tale."
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/13/16)
Me elsewhere: I liked War & Peace. I did not like The Detour.
This extremely well-done piece about documenting war crimes in Syria is a tough read in places but very important.
Shabab and East African Front Militants Compete for Notoriety
The Guardian analyzed their comments and guess which writers got the most abuse?
This headline honestly made me wonder if I'd forgotten how to read: John Kasich Endorses Andrew Cuomo for President
I'm slightly amazed that this kind of nonsense isn't playing a larger role in this election, honestly.
This should be fun: Trump Ally Roger Stone Writing Entire Book Alleging That The Clintons Secretly Murdered JFK Jr.
Why, in 2016, are women still (mostly) silent film stars?
We really need a universal emoji font.
Heh: National Weather Service Takes Off Caps Lock, Will Begin Forecasting Using Inside Voice
I have never seen nor really even thought about the show Naked and Afraid but of COURSE it's someone's job to do all that modesty blurring.
This extremely well-done piece about documenting war crimes in Syria is a tough read in places but very important.
Shabab and East African Front Militants Compete for Notoriety
The Guardian analyzed their comments and guess which writers got the most abuse?
This headline honestly made me wonder if I'd forgotten how to read: John Kasich Endorses Andrew Cuomo for President
I'm slightly amazed that this kind of nonsense isn't playing a larger role in this election, honestly.
This should be fun: Trump Ally Roger Stone Writing Entire Book Alleging That The Clintons Secretly Murdered JFK Jr.
Why, in 2016, are women still (mostly) silent film stars?
We really need a universal emoji font.
Heh: National Weather Service Takes Off Caps Lock, Will Begin Forecasting Using Inside Voice
I have never seen nor really even thought about the show Naked and Afraid but of COURSE it's someone's job to do all that modesty blurring.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/12/16)
Me elsewhere: A few thoughts on the Fantastic Beasts trailer and franchise expansion in general.
Here's the transcript of Clinton's meeting with the New York Daily News editorial board. The contrast with the Sanders version is... striking.
Related: How Much Does Bernie Sanders Know About Policy? (Not much!)
Awesome: Obama to designate a national monument in D.C. to honor women’s equality Tuesday
Eugh: Apple Patent Filing Points to a Keyboard With No Keys
This kind of analysis is so important: Women Write About Family, Men Write About War
How an internet mapping glitch turned a random Kansas farm into a digital hell
I'd assumed Twitter was overselling this crazy McDonald's story, but it really is quite something.
It had never really occurred to me that American Idol gambling was a thing but this is fascinating.
I would read a novel about this cheating triathlete and the rivals who exposed her.
Wait, is disliking the same thing/person NOT a valid basis for friendship?
Here's the transcript of Clinton's meeting with the New York Daily News editorial board. The contrast with the Sanders version is... striking.
Related: How Much Does Bernie Sanders Know About Policy? (Not much!)
Awesome: Obama to designate a national monument in D.C. to honor women’s equality Tuesday
Eugh: Apple Patent Filing Points to a Keyboard With No Keys
This kind of analysis is so important: Women Write About Family, Men Write About War
How an internet mapping glitch turned a random Kansas farm into a digital hell
I'd assumed Twitter was overselling this crazy McDonald's story, but it really is quite something.
It had never really occurred to me that American Idol gambling was a thing but this is fascinating.
I would read a novel about this cheating triathlete and the rivals who exposed her.
Wait, is disliking the same thing/person NOT a valid basis for friendship?
Monday, April 11, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/11/16)
Me elsewhere: TV news!
Ooh: Napoleon's last home recreated for Paris exhibition (I finished watching the new War and Peace miniseries yesterday - it's very good and on demand for a few more days if you haven't caught it - so I am extra interested in Napoleonic things right now.)
In a Rebel Camp in Colombia, Marx and Free Love Reign
Interesting issues here: Who Decides If You're Too Young To Marry?
This is very interesting; I hadn't thought about her influence on Hillary Clinton and other female politicians: How the Queen led the way in power-dressing for the world stage
I find this more valuable from a tech standpoint than an artistic standpoint, really: 'New Rembrandt' to be unveiled in Amsterdam
I have never read Constance Fenimore Woolson and now I want to.
Why It's OK If Your Passion Isn't Your Full-Time Thing Right Now
This Museum’s Prank Went Wrong And Now They’ve Employed A Cat
Did you know the emails from You've Got Mail are online??? I did not!
Someone pay June Thomas to travel the world and write about stationery, please.
Ooh: Napoleon's last home recreated for Paris exhibition (I finished watching the new War and Peace miniseries yesterday - it's very good and on demand for a few more days if you haven't caught it - so I am extra interested in Napoleonic things right now.)
In a Rebel Camp in Colombia, Marx and Free Love Reign
Interesting issues here: Who Decides If You're Too Young To Marry?
This is very interesting; I hadn't thought about her influence on Hillary Clinton and other female politicians: How the Queen led the way in power-dressing for the world stage
I find this more valuable from a tech standpoint than an artistic standpoint, really: 'New Rembrandt' to be unveiled in Amsterdam
I have never read Constance Fenimore Woolson and now I want to.
Why It's OK If Your Passion Isn't Your Full-Time Thing Right Now
This Museum’s Prank Went Wrong And Now They’ve Employed A Cat
Did you know the emails from You've Got Mail are online??? I did not!
Someone pay June Thomas to travel the world and write about stationery, please.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/10/16)
[Former Speaker of the House] Hastert Molested at Least Four Boys, Prosecutors Say
Good week to remember that that sort of thing isn't new: "It was not, in any sense of the word, consensual: Hemings was a child, and Jefferson literally owned her; she was not in any position to give or withhold consent. What Jefferson did to Hemings was rape."
Risk of Collapse at Jesus’ Tomb Unites Rival Christians
I'm planning a trip to L.A. later this year and this piece about the science and history of the Santa Ana winds has me hoping I get to experience them.
Love this: "I’m done with the book FOMO that I’ve been experiencing because, let’s be real, I’m never going to read every book (or hug every cat)."
SNOWFLAKE CONSULTANT is a great job title: Meet the Scientist Who Worked as a Snowflake Consultant on 'Frozen'
This is funny and also has some good advice! How to make people think you have your shit together
Oops: Rhode Island tourism video mistakenly features Reykjavik
Fascinating: Most Distinctive Obituary Euphemism for 'Died' in Each State
The truth about Hannibal’s route across the Alps
Good week to remember that that sort of thing isn't new: "It was not, in any sense of the word, consensual: Hemings was a child, and Jefferson literally owned her; she was not in any position to give or withhold consent. What Jefferson did to Hemings was rape."
Risk of Collapse at Jesus’ Tomb Unites Rival Christians
I'm planning a trip to L.A. later this year and this piece about the science and history of the Santa Ana winds has me hoping I get to experience them.
Love this: "I’m done with the book FOMO that I’ve been experiencing because, let’s be real, I’m never going to read every book (or hug every cat)."
SNOWFLAKE CONSULTANT is a great job title: Meet the Scientist Who Worked as a Snowflake Consultant on 'Frozen'
This is funny and also has some good advice! How to make people think you have your shit together
Oops: Rhode Island tourism video mistakenly features Reykjavik
Fascinating: Most Distinctive Obituary Euphemism for 'Died' in Each State
The truth about Hannibal’s route across the Alps
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/9/16)
Boko Haram Turns Female Captives Into Terrorists
Britain's Covert War in Yemen: A VICE News Investigation
Of course Putin says the Panama Papers are an American plot. I'd be sort of disappointed if he didn't.
"Mr. Sanders is starting to sound like his worst followers. Bernie is becoming a Bernie Bro."
"How was the version of the story in which Clinton was doing that job, and Sanders wasn’t, anything but a point against Sanders? Because a portrait of a woman trying too hard to do any kind of work, being driven by professional determination and a thirst for victory, is one that rarely flatters that woman."
So proud of my friend Katie, a finalist in this Orphan Black poster contest!
Whoa: Spanish royal family to employ EAGLES to take out drones flying over palace
I feel like there are a lot of claims to "America's first serial killer" - I read a story about a different one just the other day - but this story from Texas is deliciously Dickensian with Christmas Eve and lamplighters and everything. (Plus, you know, terrible murder.)
What I Learned From Kristi Yamaguchi
Too real: How To Really Make Friends As An Adult
Britain's Covert War in Yemen: A VICE News Investigation
Of course Putin says the Panama Papers are an American plot. I'd be sort of disappointed if he didn't.
"Mr. Sanders is starting to sound like his worst followers. Bernie is becoming a Bernie Bro."
"How was the version of the story in which Clinton was doing that job, and Sanders wasn’t, anything but a point against Sanders? Because a portrait of a woman trying too hard to do any kind of work, being driven by professional determination and a thirst for victory, is one that rarely flatters that woman."
So proud of my friend Katie, a finalist in this Orphan Black poster contest!
Whoa: Spanish royal family to employ EAGLES to take out drones flying over palace
I feel like there are a lot of claims to "America's first serial killer" - I read a story about a different one just the other day - but this story from Texas is deliciously Dickensian with Christmas Eve and lamplighters and everything. (Plus, you know, terrible murder.)
What I Learned From Kristi Yamaguchi
Too real: How To Really Make Friends As An Adult
Friday, April 8, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/8/16)
Happy Friday! As usual, your Friday links eschew politics and world events and grim things in general and focus on the lighter/happier side of things.
I love unidentified creatures in the Thames!
Let's all go buy a village.
I am skeptical of the whole animal cafe trend and also of the extent to which hedgehogs really want to be handled but I will admit this is cute.
HA: A five-year-old sent a letter to the police asking why they employed dogs but not cats and now they're supposedly considering police cats.
Centuries of hats!
Yes please: 35 of the best Breton tops
Ooh: Royal letters to go on display at Battle of Jutland centenary exhibition
I won't pretend I'm not going to be watching this four-part William & Kate documentary on Reelz.
Related: Which Member of the Royal Family Are You? (I am the Duchess of Cambridge. Very flattering, Tatler, thank you.)
Texts From Young Werther
I love unidentified creatures in the Thames!
Let's all go buy a village.
I am skeptical of the whole animal cafe trend and also of the extent to which hedgehogs really want to be handled but I will admit this is cute.
HA: A five-year-old sent a letter to the police asking why they employed dogs but not cats and now they're supposedly considering police cats.
Centuries of hats!
Yes please: 35 of the best Breton tops
Ooh: Royal letters to go on display at Battle of Jutland centenary exhibition
I won't pretend I'm not going to be watching this four-part William & Kate documentary on Reelz.
Related: Which Member of the Royal Family Are You? (I am the Duchess of Cambridge. Very flattering, Tatler, thank you.)
Texts From Young Werther
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/7/16)
This is great: Hillary Clinton Literally Laughed Out Loud When The Sanders Camp Said She Was Too Ambitious
Hillary Clinton Says She’s “Not Even Sure” Bernie Sanders Is Actually a Democrat BECAUSE HE ISN'T.
Oops: Premier of Iceland now says he's not actually quitting, never mind.
I can't with this: Tennessee Legislators Pick the Bible as the Official State Book. They Already Chose an Official State Sniper Rifle.
"Trump has not yet responded to The New Republic’s offer."
How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe’s Gaze
Oh this is exactly what we need: The D.C. Madam Is About to Make Her Cameo in the GOP Primary (It has to be about Cruz, right? I GUESS it could be Kasich.)
Hero: 9-Year-Old Crime Reporter Isn't Interested In Your Opinions About Her Journalism
Shocker: Female nudity almost three times as likely as male in Hollywood films
Women Slipping Out Of Embraces In Western Art History
Hillary Clinton Says She’s “Not Even Sure” Bernie Sanders Is Actually a Democrat BECAUSE HE ISN'T.
Oops: Premier of Iceland now says he's not actually quitting, never mind.
I can't with this: Tennessee Legislators Pick the Bible as the Official State Book. They Already Chose an Official State Sniper Rifle.
"Trump has not yet responded to The New Republic’s offer."
How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe’s Gaze
Oh this is exactly what we need: The D.C. Madam Is About to Make Her Cameo in the GOP Primary (It has to be about Cruz, right? I GUESS it could be Kasich.)
Hero: 9-Year-Old Crime Reporter Isn't Interested In Your Opinions About Her Journalism
Shocker: Female nudity almost three times as likely as male in Hollywood films
Women Slipping Out Of Embraces In Western Art History
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/6/16)
It begins: Iceland’s Prime Minister Steps Down Amid Panama Papers Scandal
9 things Bernie Sanders should’ve known about but didn’t in that Daily News interview
This is important: "Sanders has effectively written off trade with any country that is not already rich and prosperous—which is simply inhumane."
Interesting: Bernie Sanders Does Better Where Organized Labor Is Under Siege
Sanders supporter publishes “hit list” of superdelegates, includes woman’s home address But obviously everyone talking about harassment is just making stuff up, right?
Mikhail Lesin’s Strange Death in U.S. Follows a Fall From Russia’s Elite
'The People vs. O.J. Simpson' makes fact fiction and finds something profound in the process
There are really no easy answers in this story of an escort who killed her client in self-defense, but what's most striking is the way almost everyone in the story tries to deny her agency.
This is very, very good, even if (like me) you don't think you care much about Ben Affleck: The Unbearable Sadness Of Ben Affleck
Things I Have Mistaken for a Feeling Over the Years
9 things Bernie Sanders should’ve known about but didn’t in that Daily News interview
This is important: "Sanders has effectively written off trade with any country that is not already rich and prosperous—which is simply inhumane."
Interesting: Bernie Sanders Does Better Where Organized Labor Is Under Siege
Sanders supporter publishes “hit list” of superdelegates, includes woman’s home address But obviously everyone talking about harassment is just making stuff up, right?
Mikhail Lesin’s Strange Death in U.S. Follows a Fall From Russia’s Elite
'The People vs. O.J. Simpson' makes fact fiction and finds something profound in the process
There are really no easy answers in this story of an escort who killed her client in self-defense, but what's most striking is the way almost everyone in the story tries to deny her agency.
This is very, very good, even if (like me) you don't think you care much about Ben Affleck: The Unbearable Sadness Of Ben Affleck
Things I Have Mistaken for a Feeling Over the Years
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/5/16)
The 8 most important things to read to understand the Panama Papers document leak
Obviously I clicked on THIS Panama Papers story because it involved classical music: Sergei Roldugin, the cellist who holds the key to tracing Putin’s hidden fortune
Oh Iceland: Reykjavik Man Throws Yogurt at Parliament Building in Protest After Panama Papers
This piece on the new Contras vs. Ortega in Nicaragua is very interesting but also notable for a surprise House Hunters reference.
An important piece on Filipina domestic workers in the U.S.: The Cost of Caring
Milo Yiannopoulos: Breitbart’s star provocateur, Gamergater, and Trump champion, explained
Wow: Kim Philby, British double agent, reveals all in secret video
Some interesting points here: When fan engagement goes wrong. Personally I tend toward the "I never want fans to have a say in anything" camp.
Fascinating and sad and powerful: The Reckoning
WHY YOU ARE ANGRY: A TEXT GAME
Obviously I clicked on THIS Panama Papers story because it involved classical music: Sergei Roldugin, the cellist who holds the key to tracing Putin’s hidden fortune
Oh Iceland: Reykjavik Man Throws Yogurt at Parliament Building in Protest After Panama Papers
This piece on the new Contras vs. Ortega in Nicaragua is very interesting but also notable for a surprise House Hunters reference.
An important piece on Filipina domestic workers in the U.S.: The Cost of Caring
Milo Yiannopoulos: Breitbart’s star provocateur, Gamergater, and Trump champion, explained
Wow: Kim Philby, British double agent, reveals all in secret video
Some interesting points here: When fan engagement goes wrong. Personally I tend toward the "I never want fans to have a say in anything" camp.
Fascinating and sad and powerful: The Reckoning
WHY YOU ARE ANGRY: A TEXT GAME
Monday, April 4, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/4/16)
Me elsewhere: The week's TV news.
Panama Papers: A massive document leak reveals a global web of corruption and tax avoidance
Very excited about this: NBC Sets Live Production of Aaron Sorkin’s ‘A Few Good Men’ for 2017
Ooh: CT Scan Shows Pharoah Ramesses III Was Murdered by Multiple Assassins
What a world: John Green Producing British Soccer Movie
I don't think I ever read Gordan Korman, but this profile was lovely.
Hope for the Stricken: The Penzeys Spices Catalog
No one who has seen Buffy will be surprised by The Demonic Origins of Ventriloquism.
Speaking of Buffy: Autostraddle’s Ultimate Infographic Guide to Dead Lesbian Characters on TV
Ha: Paperback Paradise is the most twisted alternate universe used bookstore
Seriously: These Hot New Turmeric Beauty Treatments Fill Me With Dread
Another April Fools joke that is actually cute: A job ad for a Senior Manager of Cheese Consumption.
Panama Papers: A massive document leak reveals a global web of corruption and tax avoidance
Very excited about this: NBC Sets Live Production of Aaron Sorkin’s ‘A Few Good Men’ for 2017
Ooh: CT Scan Shows Pharoah Ramesses III Was Murdered by Multiple Assassins
What a world: John Green Producing British Soccer Movie
I don't think I ever read Gordan Korman, but this profile was lovely.
Hope for the Stricken: The Penzeys Spices Catalog
No one who has seen Buffy will be surprised by The Demonic Origins of Ventriloquism.
Speaking of Buffy: Autostraddle’s Ultimate Infographic Guide to Dead Lesbian Characters on TV
Ha: Paperback Paradise is the most twisted alternate universe used bookstore
Seriously: These Hot New Turmeric Beauty Treatments Fill Me With Dread
Another April Fools joke that is actually cute: A job ad for a Senior Manager of Cheese Consumption.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/3/16)
Richard Nixon experts on Donald Trump's rally violence: we've seen this before
Revealed: how Associated Press cooperated with the Nazis
Searching for Sundar Pichai
Ancient Volcanoes May Have Shifted the Moon’s Poles
Please put this in an episode of Midsomer Murders immediately: Children form human arrow to help police find burglary suspects
Star Trek brought heat to the Cold War
Fascinating: Can an Outsider Ever Truly Become Amish?
The Agony and the Ecstasy of the Ugly Cry
"Solitude demands that an individual body be the holding vessel for all of a day’s pain and uncertainties."
Ooh, check out Hilary Mantel on Charles Brandon.
I understand all the issues with the Disney history theme park but I would have LOVED it.
Perfect: Pretty Much All Songs From The 1970s I Think, From Someone Who Was Not There At The Time
Revealed: how Associated Press cooperated with the Nazis
Searching for Sundar Pichai
Ancient Volcanoes May Have Shifted the Moon’s Poles
Please put this in an episode of Midsomer Murders immediately: Children form human arrow to help police find burglary suspects
Star Trek brought heat to the Cold War
Fascinating: Can an Outsider Ever Truly Become Amish?
The Agony and the Ecstasy of the Ugly Cry
"Solitude demands that an individual body be the holding vessel for all of a day’s pain and uncertainties."
Ooh, check out Hilary Mantel on Charles Brandon.
I understand all the issues with the Disney history theme park but I would have LOVED it.
Perfect: Pretty Much All Songs From The 1970s I Think, From Someone Who Was Not There At The Time
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/2/16)
"First, the Sanders campaign needs to stop feeding the right-wing disinformation machine. Engaging in innuendo suggesting, without evidence, that Clinton is corrupt is, at this point, basically campaigning on behalf of the RNC. If Sanders really believes, as he says, that it’s all-important to keep the White House out of Republican hands, he should stop all that – and tell his staff to stop it too.
Second, it’s time for Sanders to engage in some citizenship. The presidency isn’t the only office on the line; down-ballot races for the Senate and even the House are going to be crucial. Clinton has been raising money for other races; Sanders hasn’t, and is still being evasive on whether he will ever do so. Not acceptable."
Because: It’s Really Hard To Get Bernie Sanders 988 More Delegates
Donald Trump’s fragile machismo would make him a terrible president
The Shocking Sexualization Of Female Politicians In Porn
This is great: Authors Pen Letter of Support to NC Youth
Warning: This is an April Fools joke BUT IT IS CUTE AND FUNNY AND HARMLESS, which is the only kind I'll tolerate.
Hmm: A Loaded Gun: The Real Emily Dickinson
Nicole Cliffe's piece made me want to read Faye Resnick's book.
It will be interesting if one of the effects of Serial is a radio drama renaissance.
Alyssa Rosenberg transcribed her Batman v Superman notes and it's hilarious.
The Cold War: A Pop-Culture Timeline
Things I Have Mistaken For A Personality Trait Or Love Over The Years, Both In Others And In Myself, Usually To My Own Detriment
Second, it’s time for Sanders to engage in some citizenship. The presidency isn’t the only office on the line; down-ballot races for the Senate and even the House are going to be crucial. Clinton has been raising money for other races; Sanders hasn’t, and is still being evasive on whether he will ever do so. Not acceptable."
Because: It’s Really Hard To Get Bernie Sanders 988 More Delegates
Donald Trump’s fragile machismo would make him a terrible president
The Shocking Sexualization Of Female Politicians In Porn
This is great: Authors Pen Letter of Support to NC Youth
Warning: This is an April Fools joke BUT IT IS CUTE AND FUNNY AND HARMLESS, which is the only kind I'll tolerate.
Hmm: A Loaded Gun: The Real Emily Dickinson
Nicole Cliffe's piece made me want to read Faye Resnick's book.
It will be interesting if one of the effects of Serial is a radio drama renaissance.
Alyssa Rosenberg transcribed her Batman v Superman notes and it's hilarious.
The Cold War: A Pop-Culture Timeline
Things I Have Mistaken For A Personality Trait Or Love Over The Years, Both In Others And In Myself, Usually To My Own Detriment
Friday, April 1, 2016
Morning Coffee (4/1/16)
Happy Friday! I am writing this on Wednesday; hopefully by the time you read it I will no longer be traveling but WILL be sleeping, because my flight is supposed to land at 12:37am Friday.
So: Friday happy links. None of these are April Fool's jokes so far as I am aware!
I am SO excited for Star Trek makeup.
!! Found: Two Secret Rooms in King Tut's Tomb
Unicorn fossils!
Ooh fun: The History of Cocktail Menu Design Let's go have cocktails.
Ten Knitting Patterns for Crafty Feminists
Perhaps your Friday could use this Leslie Knope compliment generator.
These stave churches are GORGEOUS.
St. George's Day in Bavaria has everything: Fancy horses! Sword dancing! Armor!
Hubble Photo Shows Galaxies Colliding in the Nightclub of Space
Fascinating: Wealth of Yorkshire: Historic probate records go online
The Strategic Penpals Who Play Chess by Mail
Perfect: Every Time The Narrator Very Nearly Has Tea In Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca
So: Friday happy links. None of these are April Fool's jokes so far as I am aware!
I am SO excited for Star Trek makeup.
!! Found: Two Secret Rooms in King Tut's Tomb
Unicorn fossils!
Ooh fun: The History of Cocktail Menu Design Let's go have cocktails.
Ten Knitting Patterns for Crafty Feminists
Perhaps your Friday could use this Leslie Knope compliment generator.
These stave churches are GORGEOUS.
St. George's Day in Bavaria has everything: Fancy horses! Sword dancing! Armor!
Hubble Photo Shows Galaxies Colliding in the Nightclub of Space
Fascinating: Wealth of Yorkshire: Historic probate records go online
The Strategic Penpals Who Play Chess by Mail
Perfect: Every Time The Narrator Very Nearly Has Tea In Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca
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