And once again we find ourselves at a Friday. The first Friday in October. October is the tenth month of the year, though it’s name in Latin means the eighth, all because of two Caesars who wanted to immortalize themselves in the calendar.

This has not been a great week. I can’t tell if I’m having a relapse after the antibiotics were finished, or if I’ve caught another cold. Meanwhile, we have leapt into autumn. One day the overnight lay and daytime high were just slightly higher than average for this time of year. The next, both temps were 20 degrees below that, so that our averages are more like the end of October/beginning of November. If I weren’t muzzy headed from the illness, I’d find something poetic of symbolic to infer from it. But I’m just happy the work week is nearly over.

Which brings us to the Friday Five: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week related to queer people, top five sci fi/fantasy stories, top five science stories, the bottom five stories related to the future of the nation ,and five videos (plus notable deaths and my blog posts).

Queer stories of the Week:

Survey: More than two-thirds of Americans say they would be likely to dole out their dollars at businesses that take a public stand for LGBTQ equality.

Across U.S., several colleges open ‘clothing closets’ for trans students.

Court Says NC Law Does Not Bar Transgender People from Public Facilities.

Facebook blocked many gay-themed ads as part of its new advertising policy, angering LGBT groups.

Trump’s Latest Attack On Same-Sex Couples Is Exactly What His Base Wants.

Science Fiction and Fantasy stories:

Miles Vorkosigan and “Excellent Life Choices”: (Neuro)Divergence and Decision-Making in Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Negative Buzz Amplified by Russian Trolls, Study Finds. The full text of the study is available here.

Throngs of himself: Paul Linebarger wrote science fiction as Cordwainer Smith. His multiple selves did not stop there.

A 50-year Trekkie bestows Star Trek history upon the next generation: How fandom and fanfiction sparked the galaxy’s most controversial romance.

How a 1979 chain email about science fiction spawned the internet we know today.

Science stories:

Astronomers may have discovered the first moon ever found outside our Solar System.

Introducing ‘The Goblin’: A new, distant dwarf planet bolsters evidence for Planet X.

Brazil indigenous group bets on ‘golden fruit’.

Secret identity of 150-year-old body found in NYC revealed.

Scientists Discover Female Termites Who Don’t Need Males to Reproduce.

This Week in the Occupation/Resistance:

Connie Chung: Dear Christine Blasey Ford: I, too, was sexually assaulted — and it’s seared into my memory forever.

Four alleged members of hate group charged in 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville.

Willie Nelson’s October Surprise: “Vote ‘Em Out”.

I Was The US Treasurer. I Didn’t Tell The FBI Background Checkers About My Abuser.

Here’s What Allows Conspiracy Theories to Take Root on the Right.

In Memoriam:

Carlos Ezquerra the legendary co-creator of Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog and many more all-time classics has passed away.

Jefferson Airplane Co-Founder Marty Balin Dead at 76.

Otis Rush, Chicago Blues Guitarist, Dies at 84.

John M. Dwyer, Set Decorator for ‘Star Trek’ Series and Movies, Dies at 83.

Things I wrote:

It’s October again!

They still don’t get it….

Videos!

Brett Kavanaugh: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):

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Stephen Knows How To Block The Presidential Alert:

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Marvel’s Daredevil: Season 3 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix:

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FIRST LOOK: Doctor Who Episode 1 | The Woman Who Fell To Earth:

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Chilling Adventures of Sabrina | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix:

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