Welcome to the second Friday of August!

Many days this week the weather was cool in the morning and hot in the evening. We had one exciting afternoon with a surprise thunderstorm. And I’m focusing on the weather this week because I don’t want to talk about other things other than to repeat vehemently: fuck cancer.

It’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two bonus categories about legends and dreams, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about deplorables facing consequences, and some notable obituaries.

This Week in Legends:

Bill Russell’s No 6 jersey retired across NBA, in 1st for league – Bill Russell’s number 6 jersey is being retired across the National Basketball Association in the United States

This Week in the Dreams:

Netflix’s Sandman has achieved the impossible – Don’t give up on your dreams, kids!

Comics: 3 Reasons The Sandman is one of the best comic books ever

Stories of the Week:

Colbert Says FBI’s Trump Raid Is Like Christmas: ‘We All Got the Present We Wanted’ – Colbert also depicts librarians as Trump-hunting ninja on ”The Late Show“ “We still don’t why the raid happened, because we don’t yet know what was in the warrant. Think about that. We’re talking about the former president of the United States of America, the FBI raids his home, and all we can think is, ‘Hmmm, I wonder which of his crimes they’re investigating? ‘Cause he’s done so many, it’s hard.’”

‘There is no uprising’ for Trump after FBI search – MSNBC’S Lawrence O’Donnell explains why there was no uprising of the 5.6 million Florida Trump voters or the nation’s 74 million voters after Donald Trump’s home was searched by the FBI and why the media continues to distort the reaction of a tiny number of Trump’s followers

Yes, the Inflation Reduction Act Is a Big Effing Deal – While the bill that just survived the Senate is a whittled-down version of the Build Back Better Act, it still puts the Democratic party on a promising new path

Payrolls increased 528,000 in July, much better than expected in a sign of strength for jobs market

U.S. gasoline prices fall below $4 for first time since March

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Hero baker comes to the rescue after lesbian couple denied wedding cake by homophobe – A baker in New York has come to the rescue after a lesbian couple was denied a wedding cake by a homophobic vendor

Trans equality wins in federal court as state Medicaid ordered to pay for gender affirming care – West Virginia’s Medicaid program has denied gender-affirming care for trans people since 2013. On Tuesday, a judge put an end to the discriminatory policy

Montreal Pride parade was suddenly canceled. That didn’t stop hundreds from marching in the streets – Everyone from the mayor on down was angry that it was canceled hours before it was supposed to start. That’s when it turned into a protest march

Homophobic conservatives are trying to wreck public libraries, but people are fighting back

Being gay is not a disease, Vietnam tells its medical workers in bid to end anti-LGBTQ discrimination

This Week in the Deplorables Face Consequences:

Merrick Garland calls Trump’s bluff – After Trump allies demanded he reveal the warrant behind the search of Mar-a-Lago, the attorney general moved to do just that. And the former president agreed

Man Who Allegedly Attempted To Break Into Cincinnati FBI Building Dead After Standoff

Ex-Va. police officer gets more than 7 years for role in Jan. 6 riot – Sentence for former Rocky Mount officer Thomas Robertson matches highest punishment for a Capitol riot defendant so far

NYPD Fires Officer Over Working For “Known Felon” – Roger Stone NYPD cop pal Sal Greco fired by police commissioner, plans $25 million lawsuit

Report: FBI delivers subpoenas to several Pa. Republican lawmakers

In Memoriam:

Olivia Newton-John Dead: Hollywood Pays Tribute

Olivia Newton-John: Beloved Singer, Actress, & LGBTQ+ Icon Dies at 73

Olivia Newton-John Dead: Beloved Actress & Singer Dies at 73

Roger E. Mosley Dead: ‘Magnum, P.I.’ Actor Was 83

David McCullough, historian and film narrator, died at 89