Tag Archives: friday five

Friday Five (schemes and denial edition)

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Here we are at the fourth Friday in February! And tomorrow with be the fifth Saturday!

We had another mostly dry week. Some days very cold, some not quite as bad. Meanwhile, the world continues to fall apart. Sometimes I feel like Nero with his fiddle.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about deplorable people, five stories about the deplorable thug occupying the White House, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Earth has temporarily gained another moon.

Another Study Casts Doubt on Effectiveness of Trigger Warnings .

The Lost 110 Words of Our Constitution.

How the CIA used Crypto AG encryption devices to spy on countries for decades.

Coronavirus: The race to find the source in wildlife.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Lesbian Teacher Wins $100K in Bias Case, Donates Thousands to Charity.

What the AIDS Memorial Quilt Means in 2020.

Men Are Tweeting #BisexualMenExist. Here’s Why That Matters.

Pentagon-funded study shows troops mostly oppose Trump’s transgender military ban – Trump said that trans military members undermines troop readiness, but this study suggests that his ban is actually undermining it more.

Disney+ scraps LGBTQ show ‘Love, Victor’ because it isn’t “family-friendly”. But movies were millions of people are killed are still deemed family-friendly?

This Week in Deplorables:

FBI Busts Atomwaffen Domestic Terrorists Around The Country – The foursome—Cameron Brandon Shea, 24, of Redmond, Washington; Kaleb Cole, 24, a former Seattle-area resident now in Texas; Taylor Ashley Parker-Dipeppe, 20, of Spring Hill, Florida; and Johnny Roman Garza, 20, of Queen Creek, Arizona—were arrested this week for targeting journalists and others with threatening posters delivered to them warning that “You Have Been Visited By Your Local Nazis.”.

2 Indiana pizza shops fined for not reporting delivery drivers’ murders.

Christian Men Behind Biblical Oil Scheme May Be Conning People Again.

Bernie Sanders Staffer Mocked Elizabeth Warren’s Looks, Pete Buttigieg’s Sexuality on Private Twitter Account.

Pete Buttigieg Denounces the Politics That Made Him Possible.

This Week in the Deplorable Thug Occupying the White House:

WH Moves To Screen Scientists’ Statements On Coronavirus. Should we be surprised given how anti-science this administration is?

Trump’s CDC chief faces increasingly harsh scrutiny – Early missteps on coronavirus, lack of a consistent message make the nation’s disease-fighting agency a focus of criticism.

Trump puts man who enabled Indiana HIV outbreak in charge of coronavirus task force.

Report: US health workers responding to coronavirus quarantine lacked training, protective gear.

Trump’s coronavirus lies: He doesn’t care if his fans get sick.

In Memoriam:

Katherine Johnson, ‘hidden figure’ at NASA during 1960s space race, dies at 101.

Smithsonian Curators Remember Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician Highlighted in ‘Hidden Figures,’ Who Died at 101 – An African American woman who battled workplace discrimination, Johnson performed crucial calculations to send astronauts into space.

Barbara Remington, Illustrator of Tolkien Book Covers, Dies at 90.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 02/22/2020: Scout’s honor and the price of abuse.

“Stardust City Rag” Begins Quite Bloody and Ends With a Bang, or Picard Goes On a Caper.

Not All Like That, part 3, or, If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit, I Ain’t Talking About You.

Being a discerning reader, part 2: it’s okay to set your own boundaries.

Videos!

Hometown Hospitality With Senator Elizabeth Warren:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Would LGBTQ Voters Elect Mayor Pete? | The Daily Show:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

MORBIUS – Teaser Trailer:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Curious – Mike Taveira (Official Music Video):

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Ricky Martin abre Premio Lo Nuestro al interpretar por primera vez en TV el tema ‘Tiburones’ | PL:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Friday Five (lying billionaires edition)

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Here we are at the third Friday in February!

This week has been mostly dry and sunny here, which means it has also been very, very cold!

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about why we don’t need another arrogant billionaire running for president, five stories about the deplorable thug occupying the White House, five stories about other politics, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

The Woman Shaking Up the Diamond Industry Finds Yet Another Huge Gem.

Did dinosaur blood run hot or cold? Their eggshells may hold a clue.

Everything I’ve Learnt From Sleeping With Married Men as a Gay Man. “You gotta wonder though: How does he plan to hold on to a full-grown woman who is fully married to him, while also hoping to have a full-blown boyfriend by the side? How does it make sense?”

Bloomberg slammed as ‘arrogant,’ sexist, clueless in contentious Democratic debate debut.

Stop calling far-right terrorists ‘crazy’ – Growing exposure to racist rhetoric and radical ideology, not mental illness, is driving force behind extreme violence.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Justin Fashanu, Britain’s First and Only Out Gay Footballer, to Be Posthumously Inducted in Hall of Fame.

Virginia moves towards banning LGBTQ ‘conversion therapy’ in minors.

U.S. medical schools boost LGBTQ students, doctor training.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Makes History by Attending LGBT Rally at Capitol.

The Flash’s Rick Cosnett Comes Out as Gay in Sweet Video.

This Week in We Don’t Need to Replace One Arrogant Billionaire with Another:

Bloomberg’s plan to buy the presidency endangers democracy – Even if Bloomberg would be a good president, he’d be a terrible precedent.

Michael Bloomberg’s campaign implodes onstage in Nevada Democratic debate.

Women bound by Bloomberg NDAs want to tell their stories but fear coming forward: report.

Warren Goes After The ‘Billionaire Who Calls Women Fat Broads And Horse-faced Lesbians’ – Senator Warren defined Michael Bloomberg right out of the gate.

Bloomberg Company Data Disputes His Pay Equity Claim At Debate.

This Week in the Deplorable Thug Occupying the White House:

Trump’s Pardons Are Meant To Normalize White-Collar Crime.

Intel officials warned House lawmakers Russia is interfering to get Trump reelected.

Adam Schiff sends signal that a Roger Stone pardon would be another impeachable offense.

Jessica Tarlov Shut Down For Saying Trump Cheated on Wives.

White House Admits That Trump Trade Stance Did Depress Economy.

This Week in Other Politics:

‘Are You Mocking Me?’ Amy Klobuchar Isn’t Just Fighting For The Nomination—She’s Fighting For Her Career.

“There are not any Russian bots operating on here at the moment,” Josh Russell, a disinformation researcher, told The Daily Beast. “It’s basically impossible at this point for them to operate on here. Twitter’s site integrity team has made it real boring for me. I have checked and checked and checked hashtags related to the primaries, and it’s just been really boring so far.”. Bernie and his supporters need to stop hiding behind the Russian Bot lie.

Mulvaney says U.S. is ‘desperate’ for more legal immigrants.

Christian right leader: Straight people who have oral sex have adopted ‘homosexual sex practices’ .

Roger Stone sentenced to 3 years for lying, witness tampering as case roils DOJ.

In Memoriam:

Ja’Net DuBois remembered by Janet Jackson, Norman Lear and Viola Davis.

Novelist Charles Portis dies at 86.

R.I.P. Kellye Nakahara, M*A*S*H Actress Dies at 72 – The Hawaiian actress portrayed Nurse Kellye on 167 episodes of the hit TV series.

Larry Tesler, the Apple employee who invented cut, copy and paste, dies at 74.

Things I wrote:

“Absolute Candor” delivers sword fights and a space battle for Star Trek: Picard.

But how will the reader know that they are really evil? Or, maybe shortcuts have no place in your writing.

Time, time, time, see what’s become of us… or, Long Term Relationships from a Queer perspective.

Oppression Olympics, part 2: What’s so radical about being yourself?

Videos!

Elizabeth Warren attacks ‘arrogant billionaire’ Michael Bloomberg over treatment of women | NBC News:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Medicare for All: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Ellen Weighs In on Reclined Airplane Seat Debate:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

A Vengeful Trump Strikes Out At His Enemies, Fires Vindman & Sondland During “Friday Night Massacre:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Lizzo – Adore You (Harry Styles Cover) in the Live Lounge:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Friday Five (bizarre limits edition)

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And we’ve reached the second Friday in February (which is also Valentine’s Day), and tomorrow is the third Saturday.

The rain went away for a few days, now it seems to be back, and I’m quite happy with that. So long as we don’t get any more wind knocking over trees and leaving us without power for 16 hours.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories about science, five stories about politics, and five videos (plus some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

More high school students than ever are coming out, but their despair remains acute.

NBA star Dwyane Wade talks candidly about accepting and empowering his trans child.

An Underwater Art World That’s Helping to Save Our Oceans.

You Think We’re Self-Obsessed Now? The 19th Century Would Like A Word – the 150 Year Evolution of American Autobiographies.

‘They are my family’: Stolen bonsai trees mysteriously returned to Federal Way museum.

This Week in Science and Technology:

New Horizons spacecraft ‘alters theory of planet formation’.

Coronavirus’s genetic fingerprints are used to rapidly map its spread.

Scientists in Israel grow date plants from 2,000-year-old seeds .

‘Reaper of death:’ Fearsome new dinosaur species discovered in Alberta.

A Mystery Radio Signal From Deep Space Appears to Be Repeating a 16-Day Cycle, Scientists Say.

This Week in Politics:

Brazen Trump Shakes Down NY Governor In Broad Daylight.

Republicans think tampons need to be taxed to limit women from buying too many.

Bernie Sanders’s New Hampshire victory shows exactly how he could win the nomination.

The ‘swarm’: How a subset of Sanders supporters use hostile tactics to drown out critics.

Senate votes to limit Trump’s military authority against Iran.

Things I wrote:

Sunday Funnies, part 39.

“The End is the Beginning” takes Star Trek: Picard into space at last.

“Once you have their money… you never give it back,” or, Contradictory statements about acquisition and wealth in Star Trek.

Videos!

CNN Host Destroys Limbaugh’s Anti-Gay Attack on Buttigieg: ‘What’s More Manly, Volunteering for Military Service or Avoiding It?’:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Trump and Barr Corrupt the Justice Department as John Kelly Speaks Out: A Closer Look:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Maddow urges viewers to ignore the DOJ ‘official lie’ defending Trump and Barr: ‘The truth is evident’:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

The Thing About Harry – the Gay Rom-Com Jake Borelli Wish He Had Growing Up| Official Trailer | Freeform:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Jakk Fynn – Special (Official Music Video):

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Friday Five (spineless sheep edition)

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Cartoon shows Senator McConnell dressed as Little Bo Peep, while Chief Justice Roberts tallies the impeachment vote and declarsem'The baaas have it, trail adjourned."
Former GOP Congressman: ‘Every Senate Republican Was An Absolute Chickensh*t’.
And we’ve reached the first Friday in February.

I know I’ve mentioned the record-breaking rain three weeks in a row, now, but we have flooding and a state of emergency declared although the medical examiner has yet to release the official ruling, it appears to two teen-agers may have died due to the flooding earlier this week.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five of interest to queer people, five stories about science and technology, five stories about deplorable people, five stories about people who had it coming, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

California Governor Posthumously Pardons Gay Civil Rights Icon and MLK Confidant Bayard Rustin for 1953 Sex Conviction.

Brooklyn park to be renamed after trans activist Marsha P. Johnson.

Donald Trump Is Acquitted, But Not Exonerated – For the first time in history, the vote to remove Trump was bipartisan, while the vote to acquit was the usual GOP bloc.

Federal judge says Boston can reject raising of Christian flag at City Hall.

Violent domestic white supremacist extremists elevated to “national threat priority,” FBI director says.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

In case of 8-year-old transgender student, Pennsylvania school district to pay $100K and change bathroom policy.

Virginia advances LGBTQ rights as Republicans call for secession.

How about those LGBTQ Super Bowl commercials .

German Bishops Declare Homosexuality Is “Normal”.

Touching new Starbucks ad is about a trans teen changing his name.

This Week in Science and Technology:

Identity-Switching Neutrinos Could Reveal Why We Exist At All. But Can We Find Them?

An ‘Off-the-Shelf, Skeleton Project’: Experts Analyze the App That Broke Iowa.

In a rare sighting, astronomers observe burst of activity as a massive star forms.

An ancient skeleton from an underwater Mexican cave sheds light on early Americans.

Beaked Whales Use Coordinated Stealth Mode to Evade Killer Orcas.

This Week in Deplorables:

Hiding in Plain Sight: The White Nationalist Who Toiled Inside a Right-Wing Media Powerhouse.

Boris Johnson is about to find out just how weak the UK is after Brexit.

Franklin Graham Cries ‘Discrimination’ as UK Venues Ban Him Over His ‘Divisive’ Anti-LGBTQ Extremism.

‘Shocking Disrespect’ As Trump Acts Up During The National Anthem – While Melania stood at attention, her hand over her heart, Trump was seen ‘conducting’, waving his hands around in the air, and twirling.

Evangelical Leaders Busted In Human Trafficking Ring, Lavish Lifestyles, Forced Victims To Solicit Donations .

This Week in He Had It Coming:

Christopher Hasson Sentenced To More Than 13 Years In Domestic Terrorism Plot – The white nationalist Coast Guard lieutenant pleaded guilty to federal charges last year amid a plot to “murder innocent civilians” on a wide scale, the feds said.

Pastor sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for sexual abuse of child.

Air Force Colonel Set To Take Command Of Air Force One Base Jailed For Five Years On Child Pornography Charges.

Ex-Gay Torture Minister Charged With Child Molestation.

Rush Limbaugh Has Advanced Lung Cancer Now – Limbaugh has a history of praising the practice of smoking.

In Memoriam:

Kirk Douglas, Indomitable Icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Dies at 103 – The actor starred in such films as ‘Champion,’ ‘The Bad and the Beautiful,’ ‘Lust for Life,’ ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’ and ‘Spartacus,’ to name just a few.

Remembering Kirk Douglas, One of the Last Surviving Links to Old Hollywood.

Remembering Terry DeCarlo, LGBT Leader In Orlando.

The first openly gay federal judge passed away at 72 – Deborah Batts was a prosecutor and a law professor before Bill Clinton appointed her to the federal judiciary.

Things I wrote:

“Maps and Legends” takes Picard into the world of espionage, or, an original Trekkie is still loving the new series.

That has always been here, part two: or politics aren’t a new thing in sf/f — including Star Trek.

Late Tuesday Tidbit: For some, freedom’s just a code word for lawlessness.

Still haven’t posted my goals for the year and other trivial revelations.

Videos!

The Booksellers | Official Trailer:

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Colbert’s LIVE Monologue Following Trump’s 2020 State Of The Union Address:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Jeep® | “Groundhog Day” | Bill Murray | 02.02.2020:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

The State of Our Union is BAD | Full Frontal on TBS:

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“Cell Block Tango” – Broadway Backwards 2015:

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Friday Five (the real monsters edition)

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Shaggy observing, “Every mystery we solve brings me closer to the realization that the only monsters in this world are pathetic old men trying to steal as much money as then can.”
(Click to embiggen)
Wow! Five Fridays in January! And here we are.

The wet weather I mentioned last week has continued. Almost every day this month had rain in the Seattle area. Several of the official National Weather Service sites in our side of the state have already reported breaking of matching records for the month of January this year. It’s really been amazing.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five of interest to queer people, five stories about writing/reading/genre, five stories about science, five stories about deplorable people, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

WHO declares China coronavirus a global health emergency.

U.S. states sue to demand recognition of Equal Rights Amendment for women.

Tempe Police Arrest Man Suspected of ‘Penis Man’ Graffiti Taggings.

Chipotle fined $1.3M over thousands of child labor abuses – Chipotle has been hit with a $1.3 million fine over more than 13,000 child labor violations at its Massachusetts restaurants.

State legislatures are filled with anti-LGBTQ measures, thanks to a religious right playbook .

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Wells Fargo pulls Florida voucher donations over anti-gay school policies.

Kentucky republican explains motivation behind conversion therapy ban- Being Gay “Can’t Be Fixed And Shouldn’t Be Fixed”.

Bowen Yang Opens Up About His Experience In ‘Gay Conversion’ Therapy – The “Saturday Night Live” star said he initially tried to adhere to his family’s “cultural value around masculinity” as a teen.

Sam Pancake’s Plea to ‘Respect Gay Elders’ Is a Cry From the Heart.

Iowa Bill To Legalize Anti-Trans Discrimination Is Dead .

Writing and Reading and Genre:

Confessions of a Hate Reader, or Bad Writing Habits I Picked up from Bad Criticism.

Comic Legends: The Surprising Possible Inspiration for Superman’s S Logo.

On Identity, Performing Marginalisations and the Limitations of OwnVoices; or “Why I can’t just repeat my uncle’s favourite joke about eating dogs”.

The Archetype of the Haunted House, Winchester Mystery House and Crimson Peak.

Real-life superhero ‘Phoenix Jones’ in super trouble, facing drug charges.

This Week in Science:

In which I try on an A7-L replica spacesuit, courtesy of Adam Savage.

Voyager 2 just missed a spin in interstellar space. But it should be fine, NASA says.

This is the highest-resolution photo of the sun ever taken.

Artificial intelligence-created medicine to be used on humans for first time.

Meteorite chunk contains unexpected evidence of presolar grains.

This Week in Deplorables:

Veterans criticize Trump’s downplaying of US troops’ brain injuries – Several US veterans’ organizations call for president to apologize for remarks about injuries suffered by service members in Iraq.

Trump border wall between US and Mexico blows over in high winds.

Sanders campaign defends accepting Joe Rogan support amid LGBTQ backlash.

NYT: Why Can’t Bernie Rein In His Abusive Supporters? Uh, because the abuse isn’t a bug, it’s a feature?

Conservative writer George Will explains why Democrats did the right thing impeaching Trump — even if he stays in office.

In Memoriam:

Nicholas Parsons, host of Just a Minute, dies aged 96.

Graham Norton and Neil Gaiman lead tributes to late broadcaster Nicholas Parsons – The broadcaster died aged 96 after a short illness, his agent confirmed.

Things I wrote:

“Remembrance” paints picture of a future full of regrets to be righted.

Time to tell the Rabbit Story, or, what happened the day I was born.

Videos!

Trump Lawyer Alan Dershowitz Shocks at the Impeachment Trial | The Daily Show:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig Reveal Trump Didn’t Know What Pearl Harbor Was:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

According To Alan Dershowitz, Anything Trump Does Is Legal If It’s Done In Pursuit Of His Reelection:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

NSFW Comedy Routine – Guy Fucks His Bully’s Dad:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Noble Oak – Morning (Official Music Video):

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Friday Five (f-ing guilty edition)

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Charlie Brown and Snoopy sitting on a dock looking at the night sky. Charlie asks, “Why doesn't Trump just release the full transcript of the call and have the people who could prove his innocence testify on his behalf?” Snoopy answers, “Because he's fucking guilty.”
(Click to embiggen)
Is it really already the fourth Friday in January? I guess it must be.

We have been having an exceptionally wet week. Really, record-breaking amounts of rain. It’s kind of scary.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: one story that gets its own category, then the top five stories of the week, five of interest to queer people, and five stories about deplorable people, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and things I wrote).

This Week in Picard Day:

Star Trek: Picard Review: On Earth and in the Stars, an Old Captain Finds New Life.

Stories of the Week:

Wild elephant walks into Sri Lankan hotel and gently wanders around .

DDoS: Man who sold website defences pleads guilty to attacks.

You can visit a castle in Texas called ShangriLlama that’s full of adorable, friendly llamas.

FBI says ‘Bad Wig Bandit’ has robbed yet another N.C. bank.

This new dinosaur just called it: even feathered dinos were nothing like birds.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Indiana’s Discrimination Against LGBTQ Families Must Stop, Court Rules.

Utah bans conversion therapy on LGBTQ children as rule goes into effect.

Empowered VA Senate Passes Host Of LGBT Rights Bills.

New Jersey Becomes 9th State to Ban Gay, Trans ‘Panic’ as Defense of Homicide.

Parents Throw a ‘Gayceañera’ to Celebrate Son’s Coming Out.

This Week in Deplorables:

Napolitano: Impeachment Evidence Is Uncontradicted.

‘Crying Nazi’ involved in ‘Unite the Right’ rally arrested by the FBI – Christopher Cantwell became one of the most familiar faces of the rally after he was featured in a documentary that showed him chanting “Jews will not replace us.”.

Dozens of anti-LGBTQ state bills already proposed in 2020, advocates warn.

Church of England: Sex is for Married Straight Couples Only.

Bank calls police on black man trying to deposit checks from racial discrimination settlement.

In Memoriam:

From Judy Woodruff: Longtime PBS NewsHour Anchor and Co-Founder Jim Lehrer Has Passed Away at 85.

Jim Lehrer, journalist who co-founded PBS’ nightly newscast, dead at 85. “As an anchor of several iterations of the NewsHour, Jim reported the news with a clear sense of purpose and integrity, even as the world of media changed around him.”

‘Naughty boy’: Monty Python star Terry Jones dies at 77.

Terry Jones, Life of Brian director and Monty Python founder, dies aged 77 – Jones, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2015, was the main directing force in Python’s films, as well a prolific creator of TV documentaries and children’s books.

John Karlen, Actor in ‘Dark Shadows’ and ‘Cagney & Lacey,’ Dies at 86.

Dark Shadows veteran John Karlen dies at 86.

Things I wrote:

Being a discerning reader: Explaining why you’re taking a pass is a valid form of criticism.

It’s not the truth that confuses kids, or, reflections from a closeted queer childhood.

Videos!

These People Failed Martin Luther King Jr. Day | The Daily Show:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

YOU SAY VOTE with Jesse Williams:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Horror Musical Instrument – The Apprehension Engine:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

THAT DON! – A Randy Rainbow Song Parody:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Pet Shop Boys – Monkey business (Official video):

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Friday Five (political theatre edition)

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And were’ already at the third Friday in January

I’m breaking a long standing tradition with my Friday post of links. No videos this week. I’ve been sick but have a crazy deadline at work, so I haven’t been looking at as much news. I didn’t have a single new video bookmarked, and decided not to spend a lot of time looking for them.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories about interesting things happening in two genres of writing, and five stories about deplorable people (plus things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Researchers create new embryo of nearly extinct rhino species.

The estranged anarchist daughter of the Republican gerrymandering mastermind inherited and published all his files online.

Meet 2020 AV2, the first asteroid found that stays inside Venus’s orbit!.

Secrets of ‘1,000-year-old trees’ unlocked.

Donald Trump impeachment trial begins in US Senate — the same day the GAO said the president broke the law.

This Week in Genre Writing:

What We Talk About When We Talk About Gender: Lessons from a Recent Incident in Secular Storytelling.

An open letter to the author of “I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter.”.

Inside the Spectacular Implosion at the Romance Writers of America: Racism Fight Over Romance Writers of America, Explained.

The New Rude Masters of Fantasy & Science Fiction – and Romance.

The Big Idea: Kameron Hurley looks at what it takes to get a book right — and how her latest novel.

This Week in Deplorables:

Chris Wallace Busts Trump Trying To Game Fox News Coverage During Impeachment Vote.

Parnas and Ukraine aid bombshells jolt impeachment trial.

FBI Arrests Alleged Nazis Ahead Of Virginia Gun Rally.

Virginia teen charged in ‘swatting’ ring linked to neo-Nazis – The U.S. Justice Department has charged a former Virginia college student with calling in fake emergencies to prompt law enforcement responses, in coordination with a group the FBI labelled as sympathetic to neo-Nazi ideology.

Trump releases ‘religious freedom’ plans to remind evangelicals why they support a profane adulterer.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 1/11/2020: Bitter lies, obscured truths, and the failure of “fairness”.

Confessions of a self-reconstructed queer.

Confessions of a former self-loathing closet case.

Perfect is the enemy of the good, or, how trying to be noble actually advances the cause of evil.

Friday Five (not another war edition)

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“There are men running governments who shouldn't be allowed to play with matches.” — Will Rogers
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It’s Friday and I should be happy about that but drone strikes and missiles are kind of putting a damper on everything.

We’re getting really cold temps here, but fortunately not coinciding with a lot of moisture, so we aren’t quite ready for a snowmeggeddon, but there’s more cold air masses and storm systems on their way, so that may change.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories about science fiction, five stories about science, five stories about deplorable people, five stories about the impeached one, and five videos (plus things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

This Activist’s Insightful Tweet About Queer Identity is Taking Social Media by Storm.

After Stranger Lawsuit, State Provides Previously Sealed Records.

LGBTQ heroes don’t need to be perfect (or even perfectly respectable).

Arizona city under siege by graffiti artist who keeps writing “Penis Man” on everything.

The US spent trillions trying to remake the Middle East. Trump’s strike may have undone it all.

This Week in Science Fiction:

12 Excellent SFF Books You Might Have Missed in 2019.

Iconic prop house closes after 42 years in business.

And the Hugo Goes to … Introduction – John Varley.

Hugo Book Club Blog: The Movement of Goods In Science Fiction.

Asimov’s Empire, Asimov’s Wall – He was both the most famous science fiction writer in the world and perhaps the most prolific author in American history, but over the course of many decades, he groped or engaged in other forms of unwanted touching with countless women.

This Week in Science:

Binary star system set to go nova by 2100.

The female scientist who changed human fertility forever.

Gender Variance Around the World Over Time.

Scientists Figured Out the Indian Cobra’s Genome—at Last – With the genetic recipe for the snake’s lethal venom in hand, researchers will have an easier time producing an antidote.

San Francisco Bay could triple otter population, study says.

This Week in the Impeached One:

Pompeo: Trump doesn’t want to bomb Iran’s cultural sites. Trump: Yes I do. – Mike Pompeo’s Sunday TV appearances illustrated the Trump administration’s complete lack of credibility.

Trump Doesn’t Want Voters to Know How Much His Family’s Trips Cost Taxpayers.

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING? Trump Had a Secret Oval Office Meeting With the Saudi Vice Minister of Defense – and Didn’t Reveal It Until Forced To.

Trump administration proposes rule to punish disabled people.

Shifting explanations raises questions about trump admin Intel on Iran.

This Week in Deplorables:

Why Joe Lieberman Is Suddenly All Over Your Teevee. “Lieberman (and virtually every other Very Serious Person who’s cheerleading the Iran strike on your teevee) makes his paycheck shilling for the defense industry.”

Wife Of Child Predator Sues Mormon Church for Reporting His Crimes to Police.

ICE Detention Center Captain Was on a Neo-Nazi Website and Wanted to Start a White Nationalist Group .

Doug Collins Attacks Democrats So Stupidly They Raise Money Off Of Him.

Texas School District Threatens Parents for Supporting LGBTQ Students.

Things I wrote:

The third workday after Christmas vacation, or Three Kings Day and returning to mundania.

Videos!

Trump Lies About Iran Crisis, Blames Obama: A Closer Look:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

White House Officials “Shushed” Lawmakers Who Asked Questions During Iran Briefing:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

A Year’s worth of red-light runner car accidents at the same intersection (2019):

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Sex Education: Season 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

BIRDS OF PREY – Official Trailer 2:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Friday Five (appropriate responses edition)

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I’m not really ready for it to be the first Friday of 2020, and yet, here we are.

New Year’s Day was the last day of my Christmas vacation. Going back to the office on Thursday was not quite as much of a hassle as I thought it would be. Usually when it’s been a while since I went in it takes longer to find things and get out the door… but I was standing at the bus stop earlier than usual. It was very quiet at the office because it seems that about half my co-workers took all of this week as well as last week off, os I spent most of the day just going through my inbox.

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: then the top five stories of the week, five stories about science fiction, five stories about science, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and a some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Network Building Anti-Gay Churches Shuttered .

Opinion | Bret Stephens and the Perils of the Tapped-Out Column.

The decade in dumb: Looking back on the silliest of Apple commentary.

John Lewis Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer – Civil Rights Icon Needs No Epitaph.

Dispensaries Are Still Not Selling Cannabis to Children.

This Week in Science Fiction:

The New Rude Masters of Fantasy & Science Fiction – and Romance .

A Perfectly Cromulent Review of Books — Every Heart Among Bones Beneath Sugar in a Dream Come Tumbling Down.

[DECEMBER 31, 1964] LOST IN THE DESERT (JANUARY 1965 ANALOG).

The 2019 Darth Vader Parenthood Award for Outstandingly Horrible Fictional Parents.

Jason Sanford – The State of Genre Magazines.

This Week in Science:

Stick-toting puffins offer first evidence of tool use in seabirds.

10 of the wildest discoveries Washington scientists made in 2019.

Bad Astronomy | Happy New Year! … but what exactly is a ‘year’?

500-million-old fossilized brain has totally changed our minds.

How Kepler Invented Science Fiction and Defended His Mother in a Witchcraft Trial While Revolutionizing Our Understanding of the Universe.

In Memoriam:

Jerry Herman, the Broadway composer who wrote ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and ‘La Cage aux Folles,’ is dead at 88.

Commentary: Jerry Herman, composer of ‘Hello, Dolly,’ should also be remembered as an early HIV survivor.

Things I wrote:

Monday Update 12/30/2019: Racist loudmouths, racist enablers, and acts of terror.

My New Year’s Wish for You, 2020.

Videos!

Perry Mason – QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Perry Mason?:

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Harry Styles – Adore You (Official Video):

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Cub Sport – City of Angels (Official Video):

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Billy Porter – Love Yourself (Official Celeb Lip Sync Video):

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Pet Shop Boys – Monkey business (radio edit):

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Friday Five (end of a decade edition)

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And now we have reached the final Friday in 2019. It is also the final Friday in the decade of the twenty-teens.

Today is the eighth day of my Christmas vacation, and I’m finally starting to feel rested. After my husband and I went through our stockings from Santa and opened the presents under the tree, he asked me, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” so I picked up my phone and called up so news sites. “Trump is still President, so no, I didn’t. But everything I did get was awesome.”

Meanwhile, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: five stories about the return of one of the most beloved members of an NLF team, then the top five stories of the week, five stories about deplorable people, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and a some things I wrote).

This Week in Beast Mode:

(Those of you who were not Seahawks fans between 2010 and 2105 have no idea why this is a gigantic Christmas miracle… so just skip to the Stories of the Week if the phrase ‘Beast Mode’ doesn’t fill you with excitment…)

DONE — SEAHAWKS HAIL RETURN OF THE BEAST – In a whirlwind 24 hours, the Seahawks made emergency hires of Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin..

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch: Being back ‘a great feeling’.

Marshawn Lynch will give Seahawks a jolt — and maybe some production, too.

CHRISTMAS FILM THAT TELLS SEAHAWKS TALE – The hype around the return of Marshawn Lynch obscures the fact that the Seahawks’ most critical vulnerability is the wounded, reeling O-line.

What’s old is new again with Seahawks, and Marshawn Lynch will be the one initiating contact.

Stories of the Week:

Archaeologists may have found the remains of a trans man in a Byzantine chapel – The monastery of Mount Athos has forbidden women for 1000 years. Researchers are wondering why they just found “female” bones there.

Lesbian moms adopt 3 brothers to keep them from being split apart.

US spy planes fly over North Korea after ‘Christmas gift’ missile threat.

Public support for Trump conviction at all-time high, poll finds.

Hallmark movies are fascist propaganda. “…with their emphasis on returning home and the pleasures of the small, domestic life, also send a not-at-all subtle signal of disdain for cosmopolitanism and curiosity about the larger world, which is exactly the sort of attitude that helps breed the kind of defensive white nationalism that we see growing in strength in the Donald Trump era.”

This Week in Deplorables and People Fighting Them:

Televangelist Gets 1008 Years For Molesting Boys.

The FBI is asking questions about former Gov. Matt Bevin’s pardons.

Christian Post Editor Quits As Infighting Continues.

Trump Isn’t Playing Chess, He’s Playing Hungry-Hungry Hippos – CNN analyst Josh Rogan points out that the only way Trump benefits from an impeachment trial is if there’s chaos.

Former Hawaii Governor Calls On Tulsi Gabbard To Resign.

In Memoriam:

Legendary Gay Adult Film Director William Higgins Has Died at 77.

Things I wrote:

Everybody knows some turkey….

Carols and Kris Kringle—the fourth day of Christmas vacation.

Another Rainbow Christmas!

It’s Time for Mistletoe and Holly.

Getting Meta and Merry on Boxing Day.

Videos!

Oscar Isaac Says He Lobbied for ‘Finn-Poe’ Romance in ‘Star Wars’ But ‘Disney Overlords Were Not Ready to Do That’ :

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Rachel Maddow says if not for Impeachment, “slow-motion crash” of NRA would be top U.S. story:

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“Once Upon Impeachment,” A Late Show Animated Christmas Classic:

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Adam Lambert Turns Cher’s ‘Believe’ into a Soaring Power Ballad::

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Pet Shop Boys – Decide :

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