I’ve continue to be crazy busy at work. The weather service is predicting a bit of a cold snap for the weekend. And some members of Congress seem to have come to their senses, at last.
Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to the queer community, five stores about science, five stories about the Impeachable One and related deplorables, and five videos (plus things I wrote and notable obituaries).
Stories of the Week:
Saints and people who do not think like us (Fantasticon 2019).
Why Are So Many Democrats Considering Ending The Filibuster?
Jesus Wades Into Seattle Politics. “Jesus H. Christ, in full robes and a staff, strode up in flip flops and urged the city council to pass legislation establishing an oversight board for the Green New Deal, a resolution to implement greener policies in Seattle. He did so by reading a letter from his dad…”
U.S. Military Warns Troops About Violence at Joker Screenings. The actual warning comes from the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force which has monitored a lot of disturbing discussions on InCel and Neo-Nazi chat rooms. These following two stories are related: Joaquin Phoenix Stops Joker Interview Over Violence Questions and Batman shooting victim’s family ‘horrified’ by Joker film’s violence.
Long-lost Italian painting could fetch $6 million at French auction.
This Week in News for Queers and Allies:
Challenge to Maryland gay conversion therapy ban dismissed.
Billy Porter Is First Openly Gay Black Man To Win Emmy For Lead Actor In A Drama .
An origin story for the queer community.
Angelica Ross Leaves Twitter After Abuse by Trump, Sanders Supporters. Such fine people…
Mattel Introduces World’s First Gender-Neutral Doll.
This Week in Science:
Submerged for Decades, Spanish ‘Stonehenge’ Reemerges After Drought.
Face of long-lost human relative unveiled.
Most massive neutron star ever detected strains the limits of physics.
North America Has Lost More Than 1 in 4 Birds in Last 50 Years, New Study Says.
Charts showing gender analysis of SF&F award finalists.
This Week in the Impeachable One and Other Deplorable People:
Trump’s $28B Bailout Of US Farmers (With More To Come) Is Over Twice Obama’s 2009 Bailout Of Detroit .
Trump’s Ukraine gambit could be another campaign finance crime.
Whistleblower says many other national security officials can confirm details on Ukraine call.
Evangelical right-wing groups show themselves to be hypocrites about impeachment.
Trump’s Latest Threat Called Witness Intimidation.
In Memoriam:
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ actor Aron Eisenberg dies at age 50.
A life for space: Sigmund Jähn, Germany’s first cosmonaut, dies aged 82.
Things I wrote:
It’s good to be prime again—birthday thoughts from a homo devil.
Videos!
Stephen Colbert – Trump-Ukraine Call Log Clearly Demonstrates Quid Pro Quo Demand:
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Seth Meyers – Trump Releases Damning Ukraine Memo Amid Impeachment Inquiry: A Closer Look:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
1 Giant Monster Neodymium Magnet vs 1,000 Small Neodymium Magnets in Slow Motion:
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La Bufadora – Tom Goss (Starring Daniel Franzese) [Content Warning: Song is about domestic violence]:
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WIG by Todrick [NSFW lyrics]:
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Font Folly 