
Welcome to the first Friday of 2022!
The snow finally melted in our neighborhood. I have not yet taken down the Christmas tree (ever since figuring out many years ago that having a cut tree in the house made my winter hay fever {in Seattle’s climate hay fever season is at least ten months out of every year} much much worse, I’ve always had artificial trees). I often leave it up until Twelfth Night/Three Kings Day/Epiphany… but that was earlier this week, so I definitely need to get put the decorations away this weekend.
Anyway, it’s time for the first Friday Five on the year, in which I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and out allies, and five stories about what we ought to do with the seditious traitors. Plus one very unwelcome death and a couple of things I wrote.
Stories of the Week:
Report: The exploding meteor over Pittsburgh produced blast equal to 30 tons of TNT
Is That a Burning Bush? Is This Mt. Sinai? Solstice Bolsters a Claim
Meteorologist says transportation officials ignored forecasts, leading to I-95 disaster
Opinion | Jimmy Carter: I Fear for Our Democracy
A Day that Will Live in Infamy
Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:
Out Democrat forced to pull bill that would ban genital surgery on minors that actually happens
Elvira lost thousands of “horny old men” fans after coming out
Judge rules trans inmate with severe dysphoria can’t be denied surgery in historic decision
Gay kiss-a-thon forced Six Flags to drop its homophobic anti-kissing policy
How a music video about a gay teen may have saved hundreds of lives
This Week in How Do We Handle Seditious Treason:
Stonekettle Station: Insurrection, One Year On
Jan. 6 Didn’t Set Off A Wave of Right-Wing Terrorism. Here’s What Happened Instead
One Year After 1/6, Media Still Refuse to Recognize Authoritarian Christianity
Why DOJ is avoiding domestic terrorism sentences for Jan. 6 defendants
Jan. 6 tracker: Analyzing Capitol riot guilty pleas and sentences
In Memoriam:
Betty White, ‘Golden Girls’ Star and TV Legend, Dies at 99