It’s Friday! It’s the first Friday in 2019. I have to type the date a lot at work (I’m working on planning documents and such right now) and I keep typing 2109 as the year. I’m apparently ready to skip to the next century!

Since my cough was getting worse, I went to see the doctor and next thing I know I was at the pharmacy picking up five prescriptions: antibiotic, steroid, prescription cough tablets for daytime, codeine cough syrup for nighttime, and a new kind of inhaler. Apparently the doctor was not happy with what he heard through the stethoscope when he asked to to take a deep breath and I had another coughing fit.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories about writing and reading, five stories about deplorable people, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and things I’ve written).

Stories of the Week:

Gifting Burdens.

New Horizons images bring Ultima Thule into sharper focus, revealing snowman-like structure.

Ike’s Mystery Man review: astonishing tale of a gay White House aide.

The nation’s first two Muslim congresswomen are sworn in, surrounded by the women they inspired.

Under Speaker Pelosi House Passes Spending Bills to Reopen Governmen.

This week in Writing and Reading:

The Christmas Specials that Never Were – in which the blogger describes Doctor Who Christmas Specials that could had been if they’d done them for the first several doctors.

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for December 28, 2018. I should start doing a special category of linking to one of Cora Buhlert’s awesome book/publishing/sf weekly round ups.

Edward Gorey and the Power of the Ineffable.

In the era of Trump and apocalyptic change, Hopepunk is a storytelling template for #resistance — and hanging onto your humanity at all costs.

Public Domain Day Is Finally Here!: Copyrighted Works Have Entered the Public Domain Today for the First Time in 21 Years.

Best LGBTQ+ Books of 2018: The Coil Staff Picks.

Awful, Deplorable People:

Sarah Sanders has ‘struggled’ to find a new job as the White House press office becomes ‘Night of the living dead’: report.

Gowdy: ‘I Will Not Be On The Ballot Ever Again’.

GOPer In NC Election Fraud Probe Asks Court To Declare Him The Winner.

Former Trump Tax Attorney Busted on Federal Extortion Charges.

Members of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Cult Arrested for Kidnapping NY Kids.

In Memoriam:

Hector Xtravaganza, ‘Grandfather’ of House of Xtravaganza, Dies at 60.

Absolutely Fabulous Star June Whitfield Has Died.

June Whitfield, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ and ‘Terry and June’ Actress, Dies at 93.

Daryl Dragon, “Captain” of music duo The Captain and Tennille, dies at 76.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 12/29/2018: Empty Seat in District 9, First Kisses, and Double Dads.

Sunday Funnies, part 32.

New Year’s Eve Links, or, News from the Dead of Winte.

My New Year’s Wish for You, 2019.

It’s the first day of your arbitrary time demarcation—embrace it.

Thoughts on a book recommendation list.

Hitchers, and Reapers, and Phantom Riders—more of why I love sf/f.

Videos!

Panic! At The Disco Performs “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” and “High Hopes” – The Voice 2018 Live Final:

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Behind The Track: No Matter What With Calum Scott | Sound Bites:

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Calum Scott – What I Miss Most (Official Video):

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Eli Lieb – Chemical Love:

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Sam Smith – Fire On Fire:

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