We have reached the second Friday in November. Half of my brain says that surely that can’t be right because it is obciously many, many, many months past that date–while the other half of my brain keeps hoping that it is much earlier in the year.

I wish I had some words of wisdom, but most days I feel as if I am barely hanging on to any semblance of reality by by fingernails. The fragileness of it all ought to have been alleviated by Trump being trounced in the election, but the evil narcissist is still officially president for nearly 70 more days, so no, it hasn’t.

So let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I an breaking a few rules. But since the rules I am breaking don’t imperil the republic, I dont feel guilty about them. So, the week I bring you: the top five stories that have nothing to do with either presidential campaign of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about the pandemic, five stories about the possible future of our fragile republic, five stories about the evil forces trying to destroy our republic, five stories about the sore loser, five stories about haters and other deplorables, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Squid-like creature that looked like a giant paperclip lived 200 years.

The Problem with Honey Bees – They’re important for agriculture, but they’re not so good for the environment.

That ‘murder hornet’ nest scientists found and destroyed had nearly 200 queens. They say they got there ‘just in the nick of time’.

Newly discovered primate ‘already facing extinction’.

Two-million-year-old skull of human ‘cousin’ unearthed.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Will Move to States, With Trump Judges to Defend Them.

New ‘blueprint’ lights way for Biden to reverse Trump policies on LGBTQ rights.

Wentworth Miller Says He’s Done With ‘Prison Break’ And Playing Straight Men – The “Legends of Tomorrow” actor, who is gay, said he’s eager to focus on queer representation on-screen moving forward.

Biden-Harris Transition Team Includes Trans Veteran, LGBTQ+ Notables.

Gay man adopts five siblings because family is forever (even if it changes slightly) – A former foster kid, he knew how hard it could be in the system. After all, he was separated from his eight siblings when he entered the system himself.

This Week in the Pandemic:

Everything you need to know about the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. “Many vaccines which require cold storage need to be kept at around 4°C or lower but it has been suggested that the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70°C. This could pose problems for transport and storage of the vaccine.” That is a really big logistical nightmare that very few are talking about… How will a COVID vaccine be distributed once it’s approved by FDA?

Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing. Here’s what it will take to gain control – Experts continue to emphasize the importance of masks, social distancing and other public health measures.

U.S. sets another record with over 153,000 new coronavirus cases as states threaten lockdowns.

‘You Can See The Regret’: ICU Nurse On Patients Who Failed To Take COVID Precautions.

Pelosi, Schumer renew push for $3.4T coronavirus relief bill, teeing up battle with McConnell.

This Week in the Future of Democracy:

Big John Fetterman Can Save the Democratic Party — if the Democrats Let Him – Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor on why Democrats must embrace legal weed, what he thinks about fracking, and why Trump has a clear lane to running in 2024.

What ‘Centrists’ Don’t Understand About Liberalism – Equality is the root of Democratic politics and policies. “Centrist” republicans are just bog-standard republicans who are too dim to realize they are using dog-whistles when they use them.

‘We’re not some demonic cult’: Democrats fume over faulty messaging – Rank-and-file lawmakers are anxious, but major leadership changes are unlikely.

Sen. Angus King Says Republican Silence Is Putting National Defense In Danger.

Tlaib lashes out at centrist Dems over election debacle: ‘I can’t be silent’ – In a scathing memo, progressives say centrists are playing into Republicans “divide-and-conquer racism.”.

This Week in Failing to Prove Election Fraud:

Coalition of election officials, stakeholders says there is ‘no evidence’ votes were compromised.

USPS ‘Whistleblower’ Told Agents Project Veritas Penned His Ballot-Tampering Claim = Audio of Richard Hopkins’ interview with investigators shows him walking back his claim of ballot-tampering and admitting he wasn’t fully aware of what was in the affidavit.

In poll watcher affidavits, Trump campaign offers no evidence of fraud in Detroit ballot-counting.

Single Nevada case shows futility of Trump effort to reverse election result.

Former WA Republican Attorney General: ‘Irresponsible’ to try forcing electoral college to defy state voters.

This Week in Sore Losers:

Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC.

Team Biden sees Trump’s post-election fight as comedy of errors.

Trump Reportedly Screamed at Rupert Murdoch Over Fox News’ Arizona Call for Biden.

Four Seasons Total Landscaping Is a Perfect Trump Backdrop.

Trump’s temper tantrum shows why we must stop praising those who don’t accept defeat.

This Week in Haters and Other Deplorable People:

Michigan governor kidnap mastermind wanted to execute her on live TV and burn the state capitol: report.

Militia leader Stewart Rhodes says he has men stationed outside of D.C. ready to engage in violence on Trump’s order.

‘Embrace Your Bullsh!t’ – The Top Five Times the Religious Right practically swooned over Donald Trump.

Meet Dean Browning, the politician busted for likely posing as gay, Black, Trump-lover on Twitter.

Democratic Officials Lied About Role in Alex Morse Smear, Internal Report Finds – A Democratic attorney urged students to leak vague allegations against Morse to Politico, the students told an internal party investigator.

In Memoriam:

Legendary Trans Performer Bambi Lake Passes Away at Age 70.

Alex Trebek, Revered Host of ‘Jeopardy!’ for 36 Years, Dies at 80.

Remembering Alex Trebek, The Man With All The Answers.

‘Jeopardy!’ producer talks Alex Trebek’s ‘nice final day’ before his death – “He was coherent. He wasn’t in pain, and the fact that he had a nice final day, I think makes all of us in the ‘Jeopardy!’ family feel much better,” one of the show’s executive producers told TODAY.

Opinion: Alex Trebek left us a tremendous gift.

Tributes Pour Out for Alex Trebek After ‘Jeopardy’ Icon Loses Cancer Battle; Producers Reveal Final Show Date.

A Wake for Alex Trebek – Jeopardy! contestants, past and present, mourn the loss of their legendary host.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 11/7/2020: Biden-Harris for the win.

Sunday Update 11/8/2020: Sore loser.

“My name is Inigo Montoya. You tried to destroy my Republic. Prepare to lose the election!”.

So it ends in a scruffy parking lot between a dildo store and a crematorium.

Random Noun Syndrome, or, if a white-bearded queer can’t laugh at himself, who can?

Dragged kicking and screaming….

Topical Videos!

Republicans Are 0 For 10 In Lawsuits Seeking To Overturn Biden’s Election Win:

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Trump Lost the 2020 Election, So Republicans Are Attacking Democracy: A Closer Look:

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Trump Has Yet To Show Real Evidence Of Fraud, But Getting Him Out Of Office May Be A Bumpy Ride:

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McEnany’s answer stuns Cooper: That’s next level stuff “Soon, as many 282,000 Americans will have died”:

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“Weird Al” Yankovic – I Lost On Jeopardy (Official Video)
This video needs some context. Weird Al wrote this parody just a bit over a year before the first episode of the rebooted Jeopardy hosted by Alex Trebek was recored. The set shown in this music video is based on the way Jeopardy looked during its initial run during the ’60s and ’70s. Art Fleming, who was the host for it’s entire first run until 1979 appears in the video. Don Pardoe, who was the announcer on this and dozens of other NBC show during the 50s, 60s, and 70s has a vocal appearance. Those you not old enough to remember to old version of Jeopardy by recognize Pardo as the man who was the announcer for more than 25 seasons of Saturday Night Live. This Weird Al song is a parody of the pop song “(Our Love’s in) Jeopardy” recorded by the the Greg Kihn band and reached the Top Ten in 1983. Greg Kihn makes a cameo at the very end in an appearance that evokes the official music video of his band’s song. While technically this Weird Al song has nothing to do with the Trebek Era of Jeopardy I still think it is a tribute to the deep cultural impact the show has had on us all:

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