It’s Friday! It’s the second Friday in December, which means when you read this (if all goes according to plan) I should be driving down to the small town where my mom lives to drop off presents and do some update work on Mom’s computer.

It’s been a weird week, and for the first time since I switched from the old format, I had a bit of a struggle trimming this week’s list of links to just five.

Welcome to my Friday Five: Only the top five (IMHO) stories of the week and five videos (plus notable obituaries and a recap of my posts).

Stories of the Week:

Now That Al Franken Is Gone, Democrats Need to Hold Hearings on Trump.

Former cop found guilty of second-degree murder in shooting of unarmed black man.

The Desirability of Storytellers – Among Filipino hunter-gatherers, storytelling is valued more than any other skill, and the best storytellers have the most children.

Gun-worshipping, anti-abortion, anti-gay rights state senator (& father of four homeschooled daughters) found in motel room with 17-year-old boy that he hired for sex while wearing misogynist “Make me a Sandwich” t-shirt with “Wives, submit to your husbands” scripture reference on it.

A New Swimming Dinosaur Was Like Velociraptor, But With a Swan’s Neck.

In Memoriam:

Ex-presidential candidate, congressman John Anderson dies.

Mitch Margo, Singer on The Tokens’ Hit ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight,’ Dies at 70.

Things I wrote:

Some people are difficult to shop for, then there’s my mom.

Managing light.

Five years ago….

Videos!

Love, Simon | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX:

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Paddington 2 Official Trailer #3 (2018):

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Gregory Porter – The Christmas Song:

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Sia – Candy Cane Lane:

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Lindsey Stirling – Carol of the Bells:

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