We have reached the third Friday in November, and I am well into my project for this year’s National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo
I know I said last week was rainy, but I spoke too soon. During the period from Saturday evening through Monday western Washington was inundated with about as much rainfall as we typically get in the entire month of November. Wow. In more personal news, on Thursday during what was supposed to be a routine checkup, my general practitioner told me that instead of waiting for my scheduled appointed a few weeks out for my COVID booster, that he could give me the shot that day. So, I got my booster! Woo!
Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: one story about vaccines, two stories about a lying jerk, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, and five stories about the pandemic (plus some notable obituaries and things I wrote).
This Week in I Couldn’t Have Put It Better Myself:
Dan Savage doesn’t hold back in his warning to straight guys flirting with gay guys
This Week in Ways You Can Help:
Stories of the Week:
Mrs. Betty Bowers explains why they think America is a theocracy
CDC: No trace of virus causing smallpox found in lab vials, despite labels
Science Discovers Another Avenue That Could Lead to an HIV Cure
Biden administration will invest billions to expand coronavirus vaccine manufacturing
‘Let’s get it done’: House moves to vote on Build Back Better Act after CBO score is released
Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:
A Landmark Year for U.S. Cities in Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
She-Ra creator Noelle Stevenson on life after Princesses of Power and telling TERFs to ‘get f**ked’
This Week in Haters, Deplorables, and Liars:
Nicolle Wallace Performs Live Autopsy On Pathetic Gasbag Chris Christie
This Week in the Pandemic:
More than a million Americans may have long-term loss of smell due to COVID-19, new research says
State officials from California to Maine are already giving out Covid boosters to all adults
Army to Begin Forcing Out Soldiers Who Refuse COVID Vaccine, Including Guardsmen
Things I Wrote:
Weekend Update: Dishonored Wounded Troops Given Second Chance
Confessions of a rain-worshiper, or, why isn’t it called non-standard time?
Font Folly 
Thank you for this post. I am the proud parent of a beautiful trans little girl. I think I will ask my fellow parents to attend the service in D.C. Living in a rural community the world has been heavy. The insanity happening surrounding Boards of Education and anti-transgender agendas is horrific. We had a doctor’s appointment for a rash and I was asked what “it” is? They were asking gender and still misgendered her in her medical record, I changed it and they changed it back again. Through it all our trans community continues to band together and push forward. Hopefully, with persistence, we can create change in systems, not just awareness.