We have reached the first Friday in November.

It’s been a really tough four years, and this week has not been the spectacular knock out many were hoping for, but we’re nearly at the end of the beginning, I’m quite sure. Because everyone is suffering from outrage fatigue and anxiety exhaustion and existential debility, I think we need a break. So I have organized this week’s Friday Five to minimize the angst. Yes, politics is mentioned, but more headlines about the good things that you probably missed because all of the oxygen has been sucked up by the liar in chief.

So let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories that have nothing to do with either presidential campaign of the week, five stories related to the election but again only cool things, five stories of mostly uplifting interest to queer people and our allies, five stories about science and science fiction, five stories about the tops of the tickets, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

It’s (After) Nov. 4 and COVID-19 isn’t just still with us, it’s actually worse than ever.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of DeRay Mckesson in Cop Lawsuit.

Activist Destroys Kansas City Police Commissioners One By One At Community Meeting.

‘This is revolutionary’: new online bookshop unites indies to rival Amazon .

Stirring up a hornet nest – safely. Two more murder hornet queens captured in my state…

This Week in Non-outrageous Election News:

Oregon becomes first state to decriminalize hard drugs.

With Election Day sweep across four states, recreational pot sales will soon reach one-third of Americans.

Florida votes to raise state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

14 Victorious LGBTQ Candidates Who Made History in the 2020 Election.

America agrees: Nate Silver is the absolute worst & Steve Kornacki is the best.

This Week in Science Fact and Science Fiction:

The Milky Way makes little galaxies bloom, then snuffs them out.

Great Scott! This Custom BACK TO THE FUTURE Bass Guitar Rocks.

Not aliens: Mysterious burst of radio waves traced to a magnetar.

In A Pandemic World, We’re All Engaging In Speculative Fiction.

NASA’s new rocket would be the most powerful ever. But it’s the software that has some officials worried.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Meet the 2020 ‘Rainbow Wave’ of LGBTQ+ Election Victories.

Nevada voters turn same-sex marriage ban into legal protections for gay couples – Nevada voters approved the only LGBTQ rights ballot initiative in the country this year.

Awesome dad asks the internet for advice after seeing his teenage son kissing another guy in public.

The sheriff fired her because she’s a lesbian so she ran against him. She’ll be the new sheriff now.

Editorial: Wake-up call on LGBTQ rights.

This Week in the Fight For Democracy:

Biden breaks Obama record for most votes.

Why the Post Office’s Last-Minute Ballot Crisis Isn’t as Dire as It Seems.

Surprise, surprise: Gay Republicans really are self-loathing, study finds.

Jake Tapper Decries Trump’s Unhinged Speech As ‘Feast Of Falsehoods’ And ‘Pathetic’.

Stay Tuned: It’ll Take A Little Longer To Find Out Who Won The 2020 Election.

In Memoriam:

Sean Connery: James Bond actor dies aged 90.

Sean Connery, Who Embodied James Bond and More, Dies at 90 – To legions of fans who have watched a parade of actors play Agent 007, none played the part as magnetically or as indelibly as Mr. Connery.

Sean Connery and His Son Jason Smile Together in One of Late Actor’s Last Family Photos.

This is Sean Connery’s best James Bond movie.

How Sean Connery Turned a Regular Rolex Into “The Bond” – In Connery’s hands, the standard Submariner became an icon.

Alan Cumming reveals adorable dad/son vibes he shared with the late Sean Connery.

John Sessions, British Actor-Comedian Who Appeared On ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ And ‘Doctor Who’, Dies At Age 67.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 10/31/2020: Scarier than any Halloween costume.

I hope you’re having a spooktacular Halloween!

Sunday Update 11/1/2020 – Words and Images.

The Election Doesn’t End Until Every Vote Is Counted!

Cumulative realities, or the night before the world changes….

Get out there and vote!

When the real world becomes too stressful, write a better world.

Topical Videos!

Biden Urges Patience And Trump Claims Victory As Battleground States Count Their Ballots:

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Trump Cries Fraud and Calls Dibs on the Presidency | The Daily Social Distancing Show:

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Trump Is Losing the Election, So He’s Trying to Destroy Democracy: A Closer Look:

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LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special | Official Trailer | Disney+:

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Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious Graphic Novel Trailer:

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