We had record-breaking heat on Wednesday. The official National Weather Service temperature for Seattle was 90 degrees, which may not seem like too hot, until you find out that the previous record for June 12 was 78 degrees. That’s quite a jump!

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of interest to queer folks, the top two stories of the week, five fantasy and science stories, five stories about homophobes and hate, five stories about the impeachable one, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Americans’ perception of LGBT+ rights under federal law largely incorrect: poll. For instance, 45% Wrongly Believe LGBT Americans Already Have Federal Anti-Discrimination Protections.

Not All Queer People Feel Like They Were “Born This Way”.

In ‘Love Calls Back,’ LGBTQ People Find Acceptance Doesn’t Come Easy.

It will take more than apologies to ease the tension between LGBTQ people & the police.

Embassies worldwide are defying Trump & flying the Pride flag without permission.

Stories of the Week:

The FBI Lost Track Of 62 Foreign Cooperators In The US, According To An Inspector General Report.

Vancouver grocery store shames customers with embarrassing plastic bags.

U.S. firearms distributor files bankruptcy as gun sales fall under Trump. As on old friend used to say, “My heart bleeds purple peanut butter for them.”

Opinion: Why do rich people lie, cheat and steal more than those on low incomes?

YouTube continues screwing up its own policies on racist content & anti-gay harassment.

This Week in Fantasy and Science:

A very modern divine comedy.

Good Omens’ Production Designer Reveals a Hidden Message He Built Into the Set.

‘Lucifer’ Renewed for Fifth and Final Season at Netflix.

It doesn’t take the end of the world to kill you – Even if some of us survive climate change, it won’t be pretty.

Mass anomaly detected under the moon’s largest crater.

This Week in Homophobes and Hate:

Hate Crime Charge For Man Who Screamed Death Threats, Vandalized Home Over Rainbow Porch.

Chicago White Sox To Celebrate 40th Anniversary Of Homophobic And Racist “Disco Demolition”.

Franklin Graham Goes on Anti-Gay Rant, Says ‘Gay Pride Flag Is Offensive to Christians’.

Preachers are having a ‘Make America Straight Again’ event in Orlando & they’re praying for violence, but it isn’t call bad news: Florida Cops Refuse To Provide Security For “Death To Gays” Christian Conference Celebrating Pulse Massacre.

TENNESSEE: Sheriff’s Deputy On Leave After Sermon Calling For Police To Execute LGBT People For Jesus.

This Week in Impeach the Mo-Fo Already:

How Trump Snookered His Cultist Base On Mexico.

Trump’s Current Average: 12 Lies Every Single Day. I’m frankly surprised it’s this low…

Democrats need to get past impeachment jitters. It’s not 1998 and Trump is no Clinton. – If Democrats think Trump committed impeachable acts, launch the process and stop assuming it will be a political loser. That misreads history.

Impeach Trump and don’t worry (much) about President Mike Pence. We already have him.

Republicans lash Trump for being open to foreign oppo.

In Memoriam:

Dr. John, Legend of New Orleans, Dead At 77.

Sylvia Miles, flamboyant scene-stealer with two Oscar nominations, dies at 94.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 6/8/2019: Hate is an ugly look.

Sunday Funnies, part 35: Casey at the Bat.

Confessions of a packrat-haunted packrat.

Competing narratives, or, how can we tell the good guys from the bad guys?

Reminder: colors don’t have gender.

Videos!

Frozen 2 Official Trailer:

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Elton John & Taron Egerton – Your Song (Brighton & Hove 2019):

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Kevin McHale – James Dean (Official Video):

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Legion | Season 3: Official Trailer:

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Alfie Arcuri – Same:

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My week has been dominated by severe hay fever. The pollen count has only been moderately severe, but my sinuses decided that DefCon 5 wasn’t enough.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories of interest to the queer community, five stories about forces closing in on the alleged president, five stories about other deplorable people, and five videos (plus some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Epistemic spillovers: Learning others’ political views reduces the ability to assess and use their expertise in nonpolitical domains.

Good Omens is a Delightful Apocalypse We’d Be So Lucky to Live Through.

What your ability to engage with stories says about your real-life relationships.

What Happened to All of the Universe’s Antimatter?

The Politics of Going to the Bathroom.

Queer stories of the Week:

Actor Michael D. Cohen Has Something to Say: ‘I Transitioned’.

Children are never too young to know homophobic bullying is wrong.

The Maine Millennial: Speaking out against Franklin Graham’s anti-gay gospel.

Transgender Woman Attacked in Viral Video Last Month is Fatally Shot in Dallas.

Rainbow Railroad: The organization saving LGBT citizens from hostile governments.

This Week in Bad News for the Impeachable One:

Trump is considering deputizing the military as a civilian police force. Wow. More literal Nazi tactics…

Prosecutors examining tens of thousands of Trump inauguration documents.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg: Trump Pretended To Be Disabled To Dodge The Vietnam Draft, Emanates Racism.

‘I’m an Extremely Stable Genius’ Trump Insists in Bonkers News Conference While Attacking ‘Crazy Nancy’ Pelosi. If you have to keep telling people you’re stable…

GOP defies Trump and joins with Democrats on measure to block president from abandoning NATO.

Awful, Deplorable People:

County aide: Falwell cut him out of South Beach hostel deal – Documents detail how Jerry Falwell Jr. went into South Beach venture with ‘pool boy’.

Miami Candidate’s Campaign Workers May Have Tampered With Absentee Ballots.

Russian documents reveal desire to sow racial discord — and violence — in the U.S..

E.P.A. Plans to Get Thousands of Deaths Off the Books by Changing Its Math .

Leaked Proud Boys Chats Show Members Plotting Violence At Rallies – The extremist gang claims it’s just a pro-Trump “drinking club.” But chat logs leaked to HuffPost reveal they plan weaponry and tactics months ahead.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 5/19/2019: wrongs, rights, and a hero.

But what is it? Or, why we worry about sf/f, sub-genres, and fictional rules.

We have always been here, part 3.

Videos!

The View: Pete Buttigieg – SNL:

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Pose | Season 2: Pray Tell Teaser | FX:

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Taylor Swift & Brendon Urie – ME! (Live on The Voice / 2019):

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Adam Lambert & Dimitrius Graham Perform “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen – American Idol 2019 Finale:

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Vampire Weekend – This Life (Official Video):

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It’s Friday! it’s already the third Friday in May.

By Sunday we had returned to typical weather for May in Seattle: cooler with the occasional shower. I, for one, have really enjoyed this week!

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, notable obituaries, and five videos (plus some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Don Norman on how design fails older consumers.

Hullabaloo: What are the risks of *not* impeaching Trump?

NRA Chief’s Extravagant Spending Criticized By Former Staffers.

Georgia Christian Coalition Leader Surrenders To FBI On Charges Of Stealing $2 Million From Ex-Employer.

NEVADA: Dem Gov Signs Ban On “Gay Panic” Defense.

In Memoriam:

Doris Day, Legendary Actress, Dies at 97.

Doris Day Was America’s Sweetheart With Added Steel.

Hollywood Icon Doris Day Has Died at 97.

Tim Conway, Star of The Carol Burnett Show, Dies at 85

Tim Conway, uninhibited crack-up artist on ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ dies at 85.

Peggy Lipton, ‘Mod Squad’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ star, dies at 72.

Peggy Lipton, ‘Mod Squad’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ Star, Dies at 72.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update, 5/12/2019: Things that rock.

Oh, you dirty devil—or The preacher and the pool boy….

Don’t stick a fork in the reader, or, getting the ending right.

Videos!

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez grilled Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day on the high price of an HIV drug that the taxpayer paid to develop:

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Alabama’s Abortion Ban; Trump’s War on Congress: A Closer Look:

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Go Behind the Scenes of Netflix’s ‘Tales of the City’ Reboot in a New Revealing Featurette:

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Ezra Miller and His Queer Bandmates Cover The Pussycat Dolls’ ‘Don’t Cha’ for the Ogling, Lustful Heteros:

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Adam Lambert – New Eyes (Official Video):

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We’ve gone from weather than feels like spring to temperatures that would be more appropriate in summer. So we’ve been making meals that minimize how often we turn on the stove. Including grilling things outside.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories related to various political things, and five videos (plus some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

A Certain Looking White Woman .

“Are You Gay, Like Your Character?”.

Humanity Is About to Kill 1 Million Species in an Epic Murder-Suicide.

we carry each other.

Don’t call it a ‘hate crime.’ This is terrorism.

This Week in Political Developments:

Decade in the Red: Trump Tax Figures Show Over $1 Billion in Business Losses and ‘Art of the Deal’ ghostwriter says he’d be fine if book is recategorized as fiction following Times reporting on Trump’s business losses.

Pete Buttigieg: ‘I have no shortage of batting practice when it comes to dealing with bullies’.

Scott Walker’s Foxconn Deal Has Major Problems.

Pete Buttigieg Is Exposing Tensions In The LGBTQ Movement.

Asked if a Woman Can Win, 2020 Candidates Offer an Easy Answer: ‘I Have’ .

Things I wrote:

Confessions of a bad son, part 3: the myth of regret.

I hate the term “fan service,” or, don’t forget you’re writing to an audience.

Videos!

Trump Lost Over $1 Billion in 10 Years: A Closer Look:

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Lucifer | Season 4 Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix:

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Rachel Maddow Explains Why the White House is So Terrified by Don McGahn’s Testimony That They Just Ordered Him to Defy a House Subpoena:

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Taron Egerton Releases Updated Version of ‘Rocket Man’ Ahead of Elton Biopic Release:

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SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME – Official Trailer (Spoilers for Endgame!):

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It feels like spring here in Seattle. We’re having warm days (though still cold-ish nights) and almost no rain. Last year we set a record for the driest May ever, and we might just get a repeat.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about awful people, five stories about what should happen next to the alleged president, and five videos (plus notable deaths and some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

How Avengers: Endgame failed Black Widow.

Study Confirms Rich Men Should Shut Up.

Verizon is looking to sell Tumblr after squandering its potential – Pornhub has stated it is “extremely interested” in buying the property.

Floodwaters Pound the Midwest Again, Swamping Davenport, Iowa.

Facebook is trying to make the word “private” meaningless.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

A Woman Only Discovered She Was Intersex After Seeing A Viral Video About It.

An Entire Methodist Confirmation Class Rejects the Church Over Anti-Gay Policies.

BYU Valedictorian Comes Out as Gay in Graduation Speech: ‘I Am Not Broken’ .

An open letter to those awaiting a queer story with a happy ending.

Arizona Supreme Court rules judges can order treatment for trans kids if a parent doesn’t consent.

Awful, Deplorable People:

NY AG Opens Probe Into NRA’s Tax-Exempt Status.

‘Gloriously Irrelevant’: Franklin Graham’s ‘Fringe’ Views on Gays Are ‘Moral Manure’ to Even His Hometown Paper.

The gloriously growing irrelevance of Franklin Graham.

Pastor James Manning runs a school inside Atlah World Missionary Church. Former students say he psychologically abuses kids, teaches them to hate gay people, and convinces parents to abandon their children.

Facebook bans Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos and other far-right figures.

This Week in Impeach the Mo-Fo Already:

Bill Barr’s Performance Was Catastrophic.

California Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns.

Pelosi says AG Barr committed a crime by lying to Congress.

Former FBI agent explains why executive privilege can’t save Trump from congressional investigations.

LGBTQ advocates alarmed at Trump’s religious exemption for health care workers.

In Memoriam:

‘Boyz n the Hood’ Director John Singleton Dies at 51.

Mourning John Singleton, a Guardian of Black Cinema.

Peter Mayhew, Portrayed Chewbacca The Wookiee In ‘Star Wars’ Movies, Dies At 74.

Peter Mayhew Dead: Chewbacca Actor in ‘Star Wars’ Was 74 .

Gene Wolfe Turned Science Fiction Into High Art

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 4/28/19: Tragedy, horror, terror, and a call for hope.

Different isn’t always ignorance, or, more adventures in language.

Sometimes I just want to say, “Physcian, heal thyself” but they never get it.

Videos!

Seth Meyers hilariously mocks Florida Republican Matt Gaetz after his mic was muted at Congressional hearing:

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Not The White House Correspondents’ Dinner: The Roast of Donald Trump :

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Stephen Colbert Lampoons NRA with Violent Fantasy About Cat Busting Caps at Dana Loesch:

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Georgia – About Work The Dancefloor (Live) | Vevo DSCVR:

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Music Video from Good Omens – The Chattering Order of St. Beryl – Brand New Baby Smell:

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It’s Friday! The final Friday in April, and Avengers: Endgame is finally here!

Got back from my mmini-vacation and then worked super late the next three days. Oh, what a week!

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about what should happen next to the alleged president, and five videos (plus some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Why Won’t Twitter Treat White Supremacy Like ISIS? Because It Would Mean Banning Some Republican Politicians Too.

WA Lawmaker Behind Biblical War Plan Discussed Violent Tactics with Extremists.

The Fraudulence of ‘Pro-life, Christian’ Bullies.

Elizabeth Warren Wants College to Be Free — The Democratic presidential hopeful has proposed canceling outstanding loans and making public college tuition-free—and she has an idea for how to .

BREAKING DOWN EVERY MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE MOVIE’S DIALOGUE, BY THE NUMBERS.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

“Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria” Study Is Deeply Flawed, Says New Critique.

United Methodists edge toward breakup over LGBT policies — Under one scenario, many centrists and liberals would leave en masse to form a new denomination — a potentially complex endeavor..

Gay Men Photographed With Homocon Aaron Schock Offer Apology: We Just Met, Didn’t Know He’s Horrible.

The discovery of a small community in the Dominican Republic, where some males are born looking like girls and only grow penises at puberty, has led to the development of a blockbuster drug that has helped millions of people, writes Michael Mosley..

Franklin Graham Gets Holy Hell After Telling Pete Buttigieg To Repent For Being Gay.

This Week in Impeach to Mo-Fo Already:

IMPEACH THE MOTHER FUCKER ALREADY!

Mueller report unable to clear Trump of obstruction of justice — Special counsel says evidence obtained about the president threw up ‘difficult issues.

I’ve warned that impeachment talk is dangerous, but the time has come: Laurence Tribe — The consequential decision to impeach should not be made lightly. But Mueller’s damning report is an invitation that Congress shouldn’t refuse..

A Trump Transition Staffer Calls for Impeachment — The Mueller Report Was My Tipping Point.

‘This is risky’: Trump’s thirst for Mueller revenge could land him in trouble — Team Trump’s bellicose rhetoric could expose the president to fresh charges of witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 4/20/2019: 20th Anniversary of a Horrible Precursor.

May your chocolate bunnies never run out!.

Snap, crackle, pop isn’t just about cereal.

Videos!

Morning Joe goes nuclear on Franklin Graham’s attack on Pete Buttigieg:

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The Democratic Endgame:

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lovelytheband – maybe, i’m afraid (Official Video):

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Wils – Open Up Babe (Music Video):

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Taylor Swift – ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco):

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My husband and I are attending The 42nd Northwest Science Fiction Convention (NorWesCon). Other than a couple of years, I have been attending this convention or a portion of it since 1987—which means that yes, I definitely am an old fart! I had fun the first day, even though we arrived a bit later than we had intended to. It’s fun seeing friends, especially some that I haven’t seen since last year!

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I am not bringing you any stories about the contents of the heavily redacted Mueller report. There are a couple links below related to in, but I decided to put the five stories that I thought were most interesting about what information we do have in a separate post last night, and it is behind a cut-tag. So if you’re just browsing you don’t have to look at it. If, on the other hang, you are interested, click here.

For this week’s Friday Five I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, the top five science and sci fi stories of the week, five stories about deplorable people, five stories about things not going so well for the alleged president and five videos (plus notable obituaries and things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

As clock strikes midnight, Russell Wilson strikes deal to become highest-paid player in NFL history. I know, I only think this is a story of the week because I’m a big Seahawks fan. So sue me!

Poll: Church membership in US plummets over past 20 years.

The Boys in the Band to Be Adapted for Netflix With All-Star Broadway Cas.

Insurer Warns of Existential Threat on Climate Policy.

Florida Newspaper Wins Pulitzer For Parkland Coverage.

This Week in Science Fact and Fiction:

Katie Bouman and the Black Hole That Made Her Famous.

The first type of molecule to form in the universe has been seen in space.

Shazam and Sekiro: Gatekeepers Die Twice.

Newly Discovered Ancient Carnivore Was Bigger Than a Polar Bear and Is True Nightmare Fuel.

‘It drives writers mad’: why are {certain kinds of} authors still sniffy about sci-fi?

Crimes, Hateful and Worse:

LOUISIANA: Hate Crime Charges In Church Fires . To donate to the fund to rebuild the churches the white supremacist burned down, click here.

Sol Pais, woman “infatuated with Columbine,” found dead after apparent suicide near base of Mount Evans – Florida woman, 18, had been considered “armed and extremely dangerous” by FBI. “Schools are closed because a gun owner obsessed with school shootings is celebrating the anniversary of a school shooting by taking a school shooting road trip” is 100% undistilled America.

Courtier gets life for hate crime killing.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-christopher-hasson-terrorism-charges-stock-piling-guns-20190416-story.html.

We Need to Bury the Columbine Shooters – Unending focus on the pair who struck in 1999 keeps fueling copycat attackers, our investigation shows.

Challenges to the Deplorable In Chief:

House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler demands Mueller testify in Congress in the next month.

FOIA Judge May View Full Mueller Report And Release It To The Media.

How Buttigieg and Trump handle protesters.

Trump’s Been Running for Re-Election Since Day One. Raising $30 Million Is a Really Bad Sign for Him.

Trump Shouts At TV While Eating Burgers With Pence .

In Memoriam:

The Goodest Boy – Dogbomb’s victory lap against ALS.

Gene Wolfe (1931-2019).

Gene Wolfe by Neil Gaiman.

Actress Georgia Engel Dies At Age 70 .

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 4/13/2019: Evil comes in many forms….

Sunday Funnies, part 33.

The wheel of time keeps turning, but never enough to make fresh coffee while rushing to get ready for work.

Leader of church that was the result of someone making up their own version of christianity says other people can’t make up their own version of christianity.

You can help rebuild after three terrible arsons.

What does a self-loathing closet case anti-gay ex-Congressman do after somehow getting a sweetheart deal on his financial crimes prosecution?

That isn’t what exoneration looks like….

Videos!

Assange Arrested and Charged with Conspiracy | The Daily Show:

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Democrats Take on Corporate Profits and CEO Pay: A Closer Look:

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Stephen Colbert – Trump’s Bad Advice For The Notre Dame Cathedral:

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Mark Hamill Does a Perfect Impression of Harrison Ford:

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Ben Platt – Older [Official Video]:

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