It’s finally Friday. The first Friday of February. While much of the country has been buried under super-frigid air, Seattle just had the warmest January on record. Though the forecast is that temps are going to drop significantly.

I essentially sleep through three days after coming down with the latest virus running around. Every day this week when I logged in at work there were multiple messages from co-workers who were out sick for the day. There was more than one conference call when it seemed as everyone had the sniffles. So, there are definitely colds going around.

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

Stories of the Week:

‘Not Going to Be Any Wall Money’: Nancy Pelosi Just Held an Epic Press Conference That Did Not Disappoint.

Makers of at-home DNA test kits seek to help customers cope with surprising, life-changing results .

The science behind the polar vortex.

The Right would rather men died than admit any flaws in masculinity.

The Real Wall Isn’t at the Border

Awful, Deplorable People:

Mitch McConnell Admits That Republicans Lose When More People Vote.

Why Rudy Giuliani’s Bar Registration Should Be Revoked.

Why Mitch McConnell Doesn’t Want To Make Election Day A Holiday.

Texas Officials Begin Walking Back Allegations About Noncitizen Voters.

Kim Davis Must Pay $222,000 in Couples’ Legal Fees Says Governor Citing ‘Conduct That Violates Civil Rights’

Crimes, Hateful and Worse:

5 dead in multi-parish shooting spree in Louisiana; suspect identified.

FBI Finds No Motive In Las Vegas Shooting, Closes Investigation .

Armed Man Disrupts Houston Library During Drag Queen Storytime.

Man arrested in Indianapolis bar shooting that wounded 5.

‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Beaten in Homophobic Attack By MAGA Supporters

In Memoriam:

Russell Baker, Pulitzer-Winning Times Columnist and Humorist, Dies at 93.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 1/26/2019: Trump’s losing streak continues.

Sunday Funnies Update: Mueller indicts a cartoon villain.

Get over it.

Lost Dreams and Wayward Worlds – or, more of why I love sf/f.

Videos!

Stephen Colbert – Other Things Written On John Bolton’s Notepad:

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How tax brackets actually work:

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Weekend Update: Pete Davidson & John Mulaney Review Clint Eastwood’s The Mule – SNL:

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The Donald Trump CELL BLOCK TANGO (Part One) – Randy Rainbow Song Parody:

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The Umbrella Academy | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix:

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