Friday Five (frauds and furor edition)

Why the furor over a black mermaid? https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/why-the-furor-over-black-mermaid/mfYM57vgMB05MkkzVTXbAK/

The weather has been interesting. Overnight lows that seem more in keeping with April or May. The daytime highs are at least above 70, but so much of every day is overcast, that it looks like it should be colder than it is.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top two stories of the week, five stories about sf/f and science, five stories about haters and their crimes, five stories about why someone should be impeached, and five videos (plus things I wrote and notable obituaries).

Stories of the Week:

Amazon says ‘Bye, Felicia’ to books pushing fraudulent ‘ex-gay therapy’.

When Being a Tall Girl was a Medical Condition: DES and the Tall Girls- Hormones Matter.

NRA Implosion Has Trump 2020 Team Panicking – Republicans worry that the NRA and two other groups that have long formed the core of their electoral infrastructure will be effectively on the sidelines.

Louisiana Braces for First Possible Hurricane Landfall of the Season.

Lawmakers Pass Bill Requiring Trump To Release Taxes To Appear On 2020 Ballot, Gov To Sign.

This Week in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Science:

Ancient life awakens amid thawing ice caps and permafrost .

Another Word: Being James Tiptree, Jr. by Kelly Robson .

Remembering Artur Brauner and Dr. Mabuse.

Scientists Use CRISPR and Antiviral Therapy to Eliminate HIV-1 DNA from Genomes of Mice.

Heinlein’s Juveniles vs. Andre Norton’s Young Adult Novels.

Haters and Hate Crimes:

NYPD Arrest Man Who Burned Rainbow Flags Outside Harlem Gay Bar.

Teen hate crime: Swatiskas, racist graffiti divide a Maryland high school .

Proud Boys Rally Rocked by Sex, Cocaine Allegations – Top speakers are fleeing and one-time allies are feuding as the gathering of MAGA faithful teeters.

Man accused of killing black teen in Arizona said he felt threatened by victim’s rap music, police say.

Hate crime on the rise in Seattle and Washington state, study finds.

This Week in Impeach the Mo-Fo Already:

Trump once hosted an exclusive party with Jeffrey Epstein at his Mar-a-Lago estate, a new report says. It was just the 2 of them and ’28 girls.’.

McConnell Blocking Plans to Prevent Russian Election Attack.

Inside Trump’s concentration camps: Attorney Hope Frye saw “cruel,” “inhumane,” “sadistic” treatment .

A Fifth Teen Beauty Queen Says Trump Visited Dressing Room.

Trump’s “Natural Law” Commission Members Are All Anti-LGBT, One Calls Legalizing Gay Sex “Dangerous”.

In Memoriam:

Eva Kor, Survivor of Twin Experiments at Auschwitz, Dies at 85 .

Rip Torn, star of ‘The Larry Sanders Show,’ dies at 88.

Denise Nickerson, Violet in ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,’ Dies at 62.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 7/6/2019: Miss Major, still leading the trans revolutio.

Strangely, bigots aren’t interested in protecting children from the actual predators….

Three cheers for the Red, White & Blue — or why I’m more patriotic than any MAGA-hat wearer you will ever meet….

Videos!

Another Life – Katee Sackhoff | Official Trailer | Netflix:

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Moose Stays Hydrated During Heatwave:

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Twin Temple – “Satan’s a Woman”:

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JUDY | Official Trailer | Roadside Attractions:

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MIKA – Ice Cream:

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