Friday Links (nobody’s perfect edition)

"I bring quadruple diversity to the Senate. I'm a woman. I'll be the first Asian woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate. I'm an immigrant. I'm a Buddhist. When I said this at a gathering, they said, ‘Yes, but are you gay?' I said, ‘Nobody's perfect."' —Senator Mazie Hiromo — “I bring quadruple diversity to the Senate. I’m a woman. I’ll be the first Asian woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate. I’m an immigrant. I’m a Buddhist. When I said this at a gathering, they said, ‘Yes, but are you gay?’ I said, ‘Nobody’s perfect.”‘
—Senator Mazie Hiromo

It’s the final Friday of July. Yesterday we got a teensy bit of drizzle in Seattle. If wasn’t enough to qualify as measurable rain, so we might still match or beat the record for consecutive days without measurable rain (we’re at day 40, only 11 more to go!). In one sense I want us to break the record, but in another I would really like a good rain. At least Thursday was a bit cooler than it has been lately.

Work isn’t quite as grueling this week, but I’m still feeling a bit overwhelmed, and trying to spend what time and energy I have outside work on writing, rather than reading the news. So, again, not a really long collection of links this time.

Anyway, here are the links I found interesting this week, sorted into categories.

Links of the Week

“Bipartisanship” Means “I Don’t Understand What Politics Is”. “Civility seems like a pressing matter when you already have everything else you require.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono Holds Back Tears During Impassioned Health Care Plea. She has Stage 4 cancer and flew back to D.C. after undergoing treatment to fight to save the Affordable Care Act – why isn’t this hero being recognized?

Midnight, Texas Is Magical Trash. But sometimes junk food is just what you need…

Doctor Who star John Barrowman undergoes emergency surgery after ‘collapsing in agony’. He had his appendix removed, and hours later was posting on Instagram.

Culture war news:

Alabama lawyers say a 12-year-old rape victim shouldn’t be allowed to have an abortion.

Gay-beating church accused of running horrific underground slave operation.

Trump’s Transgender Ban Is a Legal Land Mine.

This Week Regarding the Lying Liar:

The Pentagon Thought Trump Was Announcing a Military Strike On North Korea.

Trump says it’s too pricey to have transgender troops. Here’s the truth.

The military spends more than five times as much on Viagra as it would on transgender troop medical expenses.

Trump’s Mar-a-Lago trips cost more than trans soldiers’ health care.

News about the Fascist Regime:

Trump administration moves closer to undoing overtime pay rule.

A Veteran ICE Agent, Disillusioned with the Trump Era, Speaks Out.

In Court Brief, Trump Administration Says Anti-Gay Discrimination OK Under Federal Law.

This week in Politics:

Obamacare repeal fails again in the Senate in 49-51 vote.

The Democratic Party Has a New Slogan and Elites Think It’s Stupid. Could That Mean It Just Might Work?.

Former Republican Majority Leader Admits Obamacare Repeal Was a Long Con.

More than 7,000 Sisters Sign NETWORK Lobby ‘Nuns’ Letter’ Against ACA Repeal.

Growing GOP backlash to transgender troop ban underscores Trump’s political miscalculation.

Congress sends Russia sanctions to Trump’s desk, daring a veto.

This Week in Racists, White Nationalists, and other deplorables:

“It looks like you're trying to defend Trump policies. Would you like to turn on Caps Lock and disable spell check?” — “It looks like you’re trying to defend Trump policies. Would you like to turn on Caps Lock and disable spell check?”

Two Notorious ‘Alt-Right’ Figures May Play Key Roles in Russia Investigation.

Before Trump banned transgender people from serving in military, here’s who praised him as pro-LGBTQ.

Oregon National Socialist Movement leader wants white separatism, repeal of sanctuary status, also “We’re actively volunteering for ICE “We are white separatists, I believe people have a right to exist to a point, I just prefer to exist separately. I live by the 14 words: ‘We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,’” Dutton said. “That’s all it’s about.”

Farewells:

June Foray, Voice of ‘Bullwinkle Show’s’ Natasha and Rocky, Dies at 99.

Things I wrote:

Holding the reader’s attention—and keeping it.

Videos!

‘L-G-B-T’ – James Corden Sings for Transgender Troops:

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Stephen Colbert Rips Draft Dodger Trump for His Lies About Fighting for the LGBT Community:

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John Barrowman Singing “Copacabana” at San Diego Comic Con Dressed in Sparkly Tardis Dress:

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Eli Lieb – Shangri La:

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Font Folly

Ramblings from the desk of the Script Doctor