Welcome to the fourth Friday of June! Happy Pride Month!

I don’t feel like going into all of the reasons this has been a weird week and why I didn’t finish this post before falling asleep Thursday night. I’ll just say, I’m really glad that I scheduled today for a vacation day.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about the christianist-nazis who have taken over the supreme court, one story about the nazi sympathizers who don’t understand why the nazis turne on them, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about queer history and pride, five stories about homophobes/transphobes, and five stories about deplorable people, and one notable obituary.

This Week in We Knew It Was Coming:

Roe v Wade is dead. Ending marriage equality & bringing back sodomy laws are next – In an open invitation to right-wing lawyers looking for their next target, Clarence Thomas says it’s time to correct "the errors" that resulted in marriage equality and the end of sodomy laws

Jim Obergefell slams Supreme Court’s threat to overturn same-sex marriage rights after Roe – "If you want to see an error in judgment, Clarence Thomas, look in the mirror," said the lead plaintiff in the case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide

This Week in Shooting Themself in the Foot:

Gay Republicans whine that GOP doesn’t accept them even though they oppose LGBTQ rights too – They hate transgender civil rights just as much as the Party does. So why can’t they play in the sandbox too?

Stories of the Week:

Supreme Court gives states green light to ban abortion, overturning Roe – The bombshell 5-4 decision is set to upend races across the country as governors, attorneys general, and other state and local leaders gain new powers to determine when abortion will be permitted

Mary Trump just threw ice cold water on the “Mike Pence is a hero” storyline

A search for solutions as Omicron subvariants BA.4, BA.5 found to escape antibodies – New coronavirus subvariants escape antibodies from vaccination and prior Omicron infection, studies suggest

Is It Last Call for Lauren Boebert’s Gun Restaurant? – The Colorado GOP congresswoman ascended into the political spotlight partially because of her gun-themed restaurant. It may now be closing its doors soon

Giant Bacteria Visible to the Naked Eye Discovered in Mangrove Swamp

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

We’ve had a gay superhero all along thanks to Kevin Conroy

NY library reverses decision to ban LGBTQ children’s books after outcry – After the Governor weighed in and condemned the move, the board quickly held an emergency meeting to overturn their decision

Darren Hayes’ recent Pride post was too gay for Instagram

House Votes to Clarify That LGBTQ+ People, Women Can be President – Dated federal language included the words “wife” and “widow” that assumed a male U.S. president

House Votes to Clarify That LGBTQ+ People, Women Can be President – The Department of Education released the proposal as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of the landmark civil rights law.

Roe v Wade is dead. Ending marriage equality & bringing back sodomy laws are next – In an open invitation to right-wing lawyers looking for their next target, Clarence Thomas says it’s time to correct "the errors" that resulted in marriage equality and the end of sodomy laws

This Week in Pride and Queer History:

Yes, kink belongs at Pride. And I want my kids to see it

The perpetual discourse over LGBTQ Pride, explained – The fights over Pride are really about whether Pride is even political anymore

The First Pride Was a Riot: The Origins of Pride Month

The first pride was a riot – We should honor the trans women of color behind it

Inside the first Pride parade—a raucous protest for gay liberation

This Week in Homophobia, Transphobia, and Other Deplorables:

Trans kids and advocates blame culture war for debate over adolescent health care – Upcoming guidance from the leading professional association for transgender health care perpetuates problematic ideas about transgender youth, some advocates say

BUSTED! Far right caught spreading false story that a drag queen exposed self to children

Texas GOP adopts shockingly explicit anti-LGBTQ party platform – The state party calls homosexuality “an abnormal lifestyle choice" and accuses LGBTQ people of "grooming" children.

Why are white nationalist groups targeting LGBTQ groups? Do you really have to ask?

Right-wing media furious over Biden administration effort to protect LGBTQ students from discrimination

In Memoriam:

PBS NewsHour commentator Mark Shields dies at age 85

Welcome to the third Friday of June! Happy Pride Month!

My hay fever has not let up. Whether the weather was rainy, overcast, or sunny this week, the pollen count has remained high.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: one story of interest to my fellow nerd, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about queer history and pride, five stories about homophobes/transphobes, and five stories about deplorable people.

This Week in I Will Always Be a Nerd:

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Redefines Padmé Amidala’s Star Wars Legacy Through Leia

Stories of the Week:

Florida abortion ban violates Jews’ religious freedom, lawsuit says

The Jan. 6 select committee makes a criminal referral — its own way – For all the quibbling over whether they should ask DOJ to investigate Donald Trump, panel members effectively did so on Thursday

Triumph Over a Pushy Tesla

13,000-Year-Old Tusk Reveals Life of ‘Fred,’ a Mastodon Who Died in Battle

Strange tsunami-like quakes shake some of the stars in our galaxy, Gaia spacecraft reveals

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

How to get smarter & fight harder for LGBTQ rights

David Archuleta talks of struggle to replace feelings of shame with pride

Joe Biden issues executive order to fight conversion therapy & LGBTQ fostering discrimination

Mass. commission recommends LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, anti-bullying protections and training

Graduating students hand school president rainbow flags in protest of anti-LGBTQ staff policies – University students at a private Christian college are part of a sit-in outside of the interim president’s office that has lasted for three weeks This, by the way, is my alma mater…

This Week in Pride and Queer History:

This fabulous docuseries shows that queer history will not be denied

A League of Their Own Inspiration Maybelle Blair Comes Out at 95

How Pride organizers are responding to increased threats to LGBTQ events

This bank has supported Pride for three decades. Here’s how it happened – The multinational banking giant has been supporting LGBTQ rights since before some of you were born

Pride and the police: A complicated history for the LGBTQ community

This Week in Homophobia and Transphobia:

A New York teen and his family seek state help amid a national tipping point on LGBTQ rights

Diary of a Queer Kid – My experience as a child with an “odd” gender identity makes me very afraid for kids facing malicious transphobia in Texas.

High school students get threatened with machine gun while rallying for bullied trans classmate

Targeting of Pride events follow months of escalating anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from right-wing media

Candace Owens can’t even tell a good lie. Far right personality busted using fake photo of ‘drag queen’

This Week in Haters, Deplorables, and Seditious Traitors:

Police: 31 members of white nationalist group arrested near Coeur d’Alene pride event

Patriot Front Member’s Mother After His Arrest At Idaho Pride: “Pack Up Your Stuff And Get Out Of My House”

"Death To LGBTQs" Pastor Trounced In US House Bid

Anti-Vax Leader Gets 60 Days On Capitol Riot Charges

Another Proud Boy Pleads Guilty, Agrees To Cooperate – Johnson County Proud Boy is second in Kansas City group to plead guilty in Capitol riot

In Memoriam:

Mama Gloria Allen Dies at 76: Listen to Her Last Known Interview

Welcome to the second Friday of June! Happy Pride Month!

The rain has returned. Maybe my hay fever will let up.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about the investigation into treason, one story about lying liars, two stories about the failing court, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about queer history and pride, and five stories about haters and traitors. Plus an obituary.

This Week in Investigating Treasonous Insurrection:

Takeaways from the prime-time January 6 committee hearing – Committee shares visceral footage and haunting testimony

Jan 6 Committee Goes Public with New Evidence of Coordinated Effort to Attack Capitol, Overturn the Election

This Week in Lying Liars:

Babylon Bee editor Seth Dillon caught spreading false story about a child tipping a half naked drag queen

This Week in Imploding Justice:

After leak, Supreme Court seethes with resentment and fear behind the scenes

Egbert v. Boule: Sotomayor warns that Trump’s justices are attacking civil rights

Stories of the Week:

A charging moose injured two adults and their dog near Boulder

Inside the Underground Abortion Network That Saved Countless Women

‘Shrinkflation’ accelerates globally as manufacturers shrink package sizes

‘Extinct’ Giant Tortoise Was Just Chilling on an Island

First Known Dinosaur Belly Button Found in Fossil

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Queer as Folk reboot brings long overdue diversity to the iconic series

Dwyane Wade proves he’s the best dad ever as he fears for his transgender daughter’s safety – Dwyane Wade makes a statement against anti-LGBTQ bills sweeping the nation

Monkeypox Is Not a Gay Virus, the CDC Reminds Those Concerned

Edgar Gomez is proud to be a “High-Risk Homosexual”

Alison Bechdel eviscerates offensive “Fire Island” hot take. It passes the Bechdel Test now

This Week in Pride and Queer History:

Chloe Sherman’s photographs bring queer history to light just in time for Pride 2022

Grandson Shares Discovering His Grandfather’s Secret Gay Love Story

LGBTQ San Franciscans share their stories of coming out

Pride police bans stir debate in D.C., around country

Puerto Rico celebrates 32 years of Pride

This Week in Haters, Deplorables, and Seditious Traitors:

Five Proud Boys Charged With Seditious Conspiracy

Percentage of Americans who say Trump was responsible for Jan. 6 drops: poll

Anger Over Tampa Bay Rays ‘Homophobic’ Players Who Say Jesus Christ Doesn’t Want Them to ‘Encourage’ LGBTQ ‘Lifestyle’

“Wilhoit’s Law” about conservatives keeps getting credited to the wrong Frank Wilhoit

So who are "evangelicals"? And how did they become such massive hypocrites?

In Memoriam:

Margot Heuman, who spoke about life as gay Holocaust survivor, dies

Welcome to the first Friday of June! Welcome to Pride Month!

We had several days of summer like weather. Then heavy rain. Meanwhile work is being down on our building and its companion, so there is a lot of pounding and power tools and voices calling to each other each day while I’m trying to work.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about one of the myths that fuels our county’s gun problem, two stories about an evil idiot, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, and five stories about queer history and pride.

This Week in Things We Need To Unlearn:

Guns & America: The Good Guy With A Gun – Researchers at Harvard recently found that people defended themselves with their guns in less than one percent of violent crimes

This Week in Outrageously Evil Idiots:

‘An Assault On Reality, Science And The English Language’ – Chris Hayes loses it when trying to report on MTG’s peach tree dish hamburgers

‘Her Platform Is Hate’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticized for Claiming Heterosexuals Will Become Extinct

Stories of the Week:

‘A resounding victory’: Court rules Exxon must stand trial for lying to the public about climate change

How We Can Stop Racist, Anti-LGBTQ+ White Supremacist Rage

A Gay Oral Roberts University Graduate’s Painful Story

Did dinosaur blood run warm or cold? New study aims to settle the debate

What the Uvalde Police department is hiding: White power killed those kids

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Lynda Carter reassures fans that Wonder Woman is an LGBTQ icon

Elliot Page shares ‘biggest joy’ about transitioning in deeply personal essay

U.S. Soccer has banned anti-LGBTQ chants

Laverne Cox Is First Transgender Person To Have A Barbie Designed After Her

Same-Sex Marriage Is Supported by More Americans Than Ever Before

This Week in Pride and Queer History:

Unilever is skipping rainbow merchandise & Pride floats. They’d rather make an actual difference

LGBTQ history is repeating itself. That’s not necessarily a bad thing

Whose Gay History?

Biden Welcomes Pride Month Amid ‘Unconscionable’ State-Level Attacks

Pride In Pictures: Sixty Years Old and It’s My First Pride – He may be going to Pride later in life, but he’ll keep going to make up time!

Welcome to the fourth Friday of May!

My husband came down sick again this week with very similar symptoms to the illness we thought was food poisoning a week before… and now we think that the problem is that the peanut butter/cracker snack packs he often snacks on at work might be among the products in the every-widening salmonella recall that started with Jif Peanut Butter. I hope that’s what it is. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about a horrible thing we could prevent, two stories about outrageous failures to do their jobs, the top five stories of the week, five positive stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about that problem we refuse to solve, and five stories about seditious traitors. Plus some notable obituaries.

This Week in When Will We Stop This:

The 21 lives lost in Texas school shooting – Relatives and friends pay tribute to 19 children and two teachers killed in deadliest US school shooting in a decade

3 high-school graduations across the U.S. end with gunfire in less than 24 hours – At least one person was killed and seven others injured in three separate shootings after high school graduation ceremonies in Louisiana, Michigan and Tennessee

This Week in Outrageous Failures:

New Videos Show Police Did Absolutely Nothing to Stop the Uvalde Shooter

Buffalo mass shooting: Dispatcher who answered 911 call is set to be fired, an official said – A Buffalo supermarket worker dialed 911 during the massacre and was asked, ‘Why are you whispering?’ Now, the dispatcher is set to be fired, an official said

Stories of the Week:

I’m a middle-aged Black father. I want to ask White teen males this question

Jif peanut butter recall: Other companies’ products contaminated by a bad batch

‘Sharkcano’: NASA captures eruption of submarine volcano, home to 2 shark species

UN denounces ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ coverage of monkeypox

Opinion: Americans are facing a herculean but righteous task in fighting hate

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

A community’s Pride parade seemed unlikely to happen. Then teenagers stepped up

Black Gay Candidates Make History With Primary Wins in Texas

Coming out as gay gave high school swimmer courage to be outspoken about queer rights – Ethan Crawford was nervous about coming out as gay, but ‘all of the guys on my swim team were accepting and supportive, which was shocking.’

This Seattle-based softball team was created for trans and non-binary players – The Puget Sound Pronouns are built in the image of their founder, who makes plays on the diamond, and wants to do the same in the community

GOP governor would veto bill that forces schools to out LGBTQ students – The state’s attorney general has warned that the proposed legislation would run counter to the state’s nondiscrimination law

This Week in Problems That Happen in No Other Nation:

Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas: 19 Children and Two Adults Killed – This is a disgrace

How could mass shootings be prevented? Research shows certain policies may help

Men With Guns Are Holding Our Democracy Hostage

Beto O’Rourke Was Right – More people should tell their governors that they’re useless to their face

The Police Timeline of the Texas School Shooting Has a Lot of Holes

This Week in Haters, Deplorables, and Seditious Traitors:

Pro-Trump ‘electors’ in Wisconsin hit with first-of-its-kind lawsuit

Lauren Boebert’s American Dream – The Colorado congresswoman has built her reputation as a certain kind of working-class hero. Her employees tell a different story

Capitol rioter who sprayed police with fire extinguisher sentenced to three years – Matthew Ryan Miller from Maryland draped himself in a far right-affiliated flag and used a barricade as a ladder to scale walls

GOP Ideologues Keep Flopping In Their Efforts To Take Over School Boards

Trump Wanted Pence To Be Hanged While Jan 6 Insurrection Was Unfolding – Donald Trump was reportedly upset that Mike Pence was whisked to safety and seemed to be supportive of the insurrectionists literally hanging Mike Pence

In Memoriam:

Depeche Mode’s Andrew Fletcher dies aged 60

Ray Liotta Dies: ‘Goodfellas’ Star & ‘Field Of Dreams’ Actor Was 67

Yes Drummer and ‘Certified Rock Star’ Alan White Dead at 72 After Brief Illness

Lee Lawson, best known as Bea Reardon on Guiding Light, dies at 80

Kenneth Welsh Dead: ‘Twin Peaks,’ ‘Day After Tomorrow’ Actor Was 80

Rosemary Radford Ruether, a founding mother of feminist theology, dies at age 85

Colin Cantwell, designer of ‘Star Wars’ Death Star, dies aged 90

Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas (2022)

Welcome to the third Friday of May!

The weather continues to be unable to decide what season it is. On the other hand, lots more birds have been showing up at my bird feeders.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: one story about ignoring warnings, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about an attack on a fundamental right, five stories about seditious traitors, and five stories about racism and white terrorism. Plus some things I posted and notable obituaries.

This Week in Looking the Other Way:

Nothing to See Here, Move Along Turns out that before the Jan 6 Insurrection multiple social media companies reported to the FBI and 6 other federal agencies that people were planning someing, yet none acted on the intel. Go figure.

Stories of the Week:

Buffalo shooting victims | 10 dead, 3 hurt Say their names, but leave the shooter in obscurity.

Dolphins use healing properties of coral, study suggests

Scientists discover hidden forest inside massive sinkhole in China

Fundraiser for the Movement Voter Project | Will Tell Stories For Food

Your online behavior and location are shared with advertisers 747 times a day

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Drag queen crowned prom king at Indiana high school

Campaign Seeks to Support LGBTQ+ Rights in Red States

Florida High Schooler Zander Moricz On Fighting “Don’t Say Gay”

Federal Court rules against Tennessee’s anti-Trans restroom sign law

Dear Dave Rubin, the LGBTQ community doesn’t owe you a d@mn thing. You’re getting exactly what you deserv

This Week in Fall Out from The Supreme Court Leak:

Doctor smacks down GOP Congressman who tried to troll her by asking “What’s a woman” in a hearing

‘Next We Go After Obergefell’: Far-Right Activists Celebrate by Declaring ‘We Shall Have Our Theocracy Very Soon’

The Supreme Court’s Next Targets – The conservative majority is likely to overturn major precedents this term—not just Roe

Putting Choice on the Ballot – In some key states, voters can use initiatives and referendums to secure choice and boost Democrats in November

The Ironic, Unintended Consequence of SCOTUS’s Plan to Overturn Ro – It’s suddenly far easier to access abortion in many parts of the country

This Week in Seditious Treason and Related Crimes:

DOJ: Florida Man Gave Us Fake Pardon From Trump – North Redington Shores Man Indicted In Multiple Fraud Schemes

Was a Capitol tour given by Rep. Barry Loudermilk on Jan. 5 a dress rehearsal for the insurrection?

Jan. 6 committee evidence includes official White House photos from day of Capitol riot – Investigators have pictures from the official White House photographer, adding more detail to what Trump was doing that day

Madison Cawthorn Threatens Enemies With Rise of ‘Dark MAGA’

January 6 Insurrection: One Year Later, Families Are Still Divided – This is what it’s like to be the child of a January 6 insurrectionist

This Week in Domestic White Terrorism and Racism:

This is who we are: A nation founded on racism

In Wake of Buffalo Mass Shooting 203 House Republicans Vote Against Domestic Terrorism Bill That Had 3 GOP Co-Sponsors

White Nationalist Rioter Who Stormed Senate Chamber Pleads Guilty To Felony Charge, Faces 20 Years In Prison

The Buffalo Massacre Is Exactly Why We Need to Talk About Racism With White Students – Too many white people are receiving their schooling about race from racist media

Fox News suddenly goes quiet on ‘great replacement’ theory after Buffalo shooting – Suspect was allegedly motivated by the theory, but network has barely mentioned gunman’s reasoning, even after Tucker Carlson pushed the concept in more than 400 of his shows

In Memoriam:

Vangelis, who composed Academy Award-winning score for "Chariots of Fire," dies at 79

Urvashi Vaid, Legendary Activist for LGBTQ+ Civil Rights, Dies at 63

A Pioneer in Gay Men’s Health Care Passes Away

Things I Wrote:

The Buffalo Shooter is a White Supremacist Terrorist

Some Observations

Welcome to the first Friday of May!

Our weather isn’t quite ready to become fully spring here. Given how bad the weather is many other places I suppose I should be grateful.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about the destruction of fundamental rights, five stories that generally aren’t about awful things, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about what’s going on with the destruction of fundamental rights, and five stories sedition traitors. Plus some notable obituaries.

This Week in We Told You This Would Happen:

Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows – “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” Justice Alito writes in an initial majority draft circulated inside the court Every person who told me I was over-reacting when Trump won needs to offer us all abject apology. Not that I expect any of them to have that much integrity…

‘Betrayal’: Furious Chief Justice Confirms Leaked Draft Is Authentic – John Roberts said he’s directed the Marshal of the Court to hunt down the source of the Supreme Court leak

Stories of the Week:

Things Straight Men Were Told Not To Do Because It’s Gay

Honoring the 50th Anniversary of a Speech That Changed LGBTQ+ History

The ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Trailer Revealed My New Villain Crush

US provided intelligence that helped Ukraine target Russian warship

U.S. takes unprecedented steps to replenish Colorado River’s Lake Powell – Water levels at Lake Powell are so low as to endanger the production of hydroelectric power for seven Western states

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Lawmakers in 19 states want legal refuge for transgender youth

University of Maryland students march for LGBTQ rights on ‘Maryland Day’

Anti-LGBTQ laws inspire many LGBTQ people to seek public office

Justice Department challenges Alabama law criminalizing transgender health care for minors

Don’t Say Gay copycat bill shut down in Louisiana

This Week in The Supreme Court Leak:

In A Post-Roe America, Expect More Births In A Country Where Maternal Mortality Continues To Rise

How the leak might have happened Most important bit: "Start from the premise that there were actually (at least) two leakers, and three leaks. The first leak was to the Wall Street Journal editorial board last week… The second leak was to Politico… The third leak was also to Politico."

Legal Expert Reveals Two Reasons Why Conservatives Might Have Leaked Roe Draft — Not the Court’s ‘Outraged Liberals

Leaked decision to overturn abortion rights shows that marriage equality & sodomy laws are next

Roberts investigation could make the Supreme Court very uncomfortable

This Week in Seditious Treason and Related Crimes:

Sobbing Oath Keeper Pleads Guilty, Rats Out Leader

Third Oath Keeper Pleads Guilty: Seditious Conspiracy – Leader of North Carolina Chapter of Oath Keepers Pleads Guilty to Seditious Conspiracy and Obstruction of Congress

Federal judge rejects RNC lawsuit against Jan. 6 panel – RNC Can’t Hide Its Email List From Riot Panel

Jury Finds “Eye-Gouger” Ex-Cop Guilty On All Counts – Thomas Webster: Ex-NYPD officer guilty of assaulting police officer at US Capitol riot

Ex-Marine Gets 27 Months In Assault On Capitol Police

In Memoriam:

Neal Adams Dead: Batman Comics Artist Was 80

Bob Krueger, the last Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate, dies at 86

Welcome to the fourth Friday of April!

I was at NorWesCon last week and I wound up blowing off last week’s Friday Five. I hope this week’s offering makes up for that a bit. Also, between lots of bad hay fever days and lots of deadlines at work I haven’t gotten much of my own writing done. I have dropped the ball of Star Trek: Picard reviews and Moon Knight reviews in particular. That also figured into my decision not to push myself to do Friday Five last week. I was on vacation and part of the point of vacation is to rest and recharge.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two takes on Tucker Carson’s latest insanity, one story about a major scam, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about haters, five stories about voting suppression and similar crimes, and five stories about traitors. Plus something a notable obituary.

This Week in the Least Manly Fox Talking Head Is Obsessed with Manliness:

Macho Poser Tucker Carlson’s Journey from ‘Dancing With the Stars’ to ‘The End of Men’ The promo for this special looks like a soft core gay porno. There is no plausible hetero explanation for Tucker’s obsession with hard male bodies and testicles…

Opinion: Why Tucker Carlson wants men to aim lasers at their private parts

This Week in Grifters:

Health Care Sharing Ministry Sharity Leaves 10K Families with Millions in Unpaid Bills – The network went bankrupt in the face of ongoing legal challenges, and regulators don’t expect members will receive the $50 million-plus they’re owed

Stories of the Week:

Ukrainians Line Up For Hours To Buy Special ‘Russian Warship, Go F*ck Yourself!’ Stamp

Your Guide to Independent Alternatives for Books, Audiobooks, eBooks, and Beyond

Frank James: Why did it take NYPD so long to find the Brooklyn shooting suspect?

Missing set of rare Charles Darwin notebooks anonymously returned to Cambridge University Library

Omicron subvariant now almost 90 percent of US COVID cases: CDC

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Jen Psaki breaks down in tears answering question about GOP attacks on trans kids

For the LGBTQ community and other minorities, war is fought every day

Recreational marijuana access reduces demand for prescription drugs – prescriptions for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis and seizures significantly decline

Air Force Offers Help To Military Families Hurt By States’ New Anti-LGBTQ Laws

‘100 Years of Men in Love’: New film unearths old stories of gay romance

This Week in Haters and Abusers:

In Florida: Ukrainian family facing hate crime charges for alleged beating of gay man – Police say victim was in gay relationship for months with member of Ukrainian family

Comedian makes a fool out of Republican candidate who wants to make Bible a “basic textbook”

Republican vilifying high school over drag show was part of a high school drag show

School bans unicorn book because it “could be promoting a gay lifestyle”

Transgender Treatment Ban Challenged By Lawsuit In Alabama

This Week in Voter Suppression and Related Crimes:

Texas GOP activist, donor Steven Hotze indicted for voter scheme

Wisconsin Conservatives: Disabled Voters Don’t Exist

Former Staffer Slams Madison Cawthorn, Calls Him a ‘Habitual Liar’ – claimed his district office had ‘more liquor bottles than they do water bottles’

Stephen Colbert Reveals Trump’s Most ‘Embarrassing’ Low Point Yet

Brian Kolfage Of We Build The Wall Agrees To Plead Guilty To Fraud

This Week in Seditious Treason and Related Crimes:

‘Stop the Steal’ leader cooperating with DOJ’s investigation of Capitol riot

Alex Jones Reaches Out to Justice Dept. About Jan. 6 Interview – The effort by the Trump ally to get an immunity deal is the latest sign of progress in the investigation, which recently brought on a well-regarded prosecutor

FBI says Proud Boy tried to derail Jan. 6 investigating by menacing agent – Barry Bennett Ramey was arrested and accused of pepper-spraying officers at the Capitol, calling a FBI special agent later and reading out the agent’s home address

GOP Sen. Mike Lee Flees Reporter Demanding To Know Why He “Lied” About His Role In Election Overturn Plot – Mike Lee Makes Awkward Escape From Reporter Asking About His Texts on Overturning Trump’s Election Loss

FBI has names of hundreds more Jan. 6 rioters. DOJ needs more lawyers to prosecute them – Citizen sleuths armed with the internet say they’ve identified dozens of additional rioters who haven’t been arrested

In Memoriam:

Robert Morse, star of ‘Mad Men’ and Broadway, dies at 90

Welcome to the second Friday of April!

The pollen count went down last weekend, and I had two whole days where I woke up with NO sinus headache first thin in the morning. Then Monday arrived. The pollen count has been hovering close to the highs of the previous week, but not always as bad all week. So it’s not quite as bad as last week.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: one really good video editorial, one scary story about bribed Secret Service agents, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, and five stories about haters. Plus something a notable obituary.

This Week in Very Good Explainer of Why People Noticing that a Book is Racist is Not Cancel Culture:

SFF180 Editorial – The Implosion of Silver Shamrock Publishing

This Week in Bonkers:

2 men impersonated federal agents to get close to the Secret Service, FBI says Some details: they provided these Secret Service agents with very expensive gifts and allowed them to live rent free in luxury apartments valued at over $40,000 a year, and the agents are trying to claim they didn’t realize these were bribes. It’s a scary story.

Stories of the Week:

Protocluster has too many dead galaxies in it – What is killing all these galaxies?

Phil Lord, Chris Miller: Animation Is Not a Lower Art Form

Fox News’ viewers can change their attitudes with exposure to CNN

Covid: Record 4.9 million people have the virus in UK

West seeks to ramp up arms deliveries to Ukraine as war enters new phase – Allies are gearing up for long haul — but want to send heavy weaponry quickly

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Apple wields its lobbying might against anti-gay laws

Kentucky Gov. Vetoes Anti-Trans Sports Bill, But Override Possible

Businesses are speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws

Supportive mom Amber Briggle releases emotional PSA defending her trans son from bully politicians – "Trans kids don’t have a political agenda. They are just kids. They just want to be left alone," Amber Briggle says in the video

Transphobic gays shocked to learn that their conservative allies are anti-gay – And the internet replied, "We told you so."

This Week in Haters and Abusers:

Border Patrol’s use of Amazon’s Wickr messaging app draws scrutiny – A letter from the National Archives and Records Administration hints at growing unease with government officials’ use of some encrypted messaging apps

Ginni Thomas Is Not A Liar – She’s just deeply, deeply deluded

Leaked audio: They defended televangelist Perry Stone in public. In private, they said he was living a ‘predatory lifestyle’ and ‘false reality’

Trey Gowdy Demands Madison Cawthorn Name Names

Trump’s Truth Social Is Doing Even Worse Than You Thought

In Memoriam:

Bobby Rydell Dead: 1960s Pop Idol and Star of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ Was 79

Welcome to the first Friday of April!

My hay fever has been much worse this week than last week. I am having a very difficult time finding any energy to write or otherwise be productive once my work day has drained me.

Anyway, it’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about haters, five stories about traitors, and five stories about science. Plus something I posted.

This Week in Things That Should Be No-brainers:

House passes bill to cap the cost of insulin

This Week in Victims of the Murder Mob:

Exclusive: Widow of D.C. police officer Jeff Smith, who died by suicide, says battling rioters on Jan. 6 "changed him"

Stories of the Week:

Ariana DeBose becomes first out person of color to win an Oscar in historic moment

BFD ALERT! Judge Rules Trump Likely Committed Crimes

Russian Troops Are Now Turning on Each Other. ‘It’s a Sh*tshow,’ One Soldier Is Recorded Telling Another

Ginni Thomas Texts to Mark Meadows Indicate She Is Several Fries Short Of Happy Meal It’s not just seditious treason, it’s batshit bonkers seditious treason!

Jan. 6 DOJ probe expands to Trump “VIPs” — and maybe members of Congress: report – New subpoenas issued by the Justice Department could "reveal if members of Congress were in on the plot" I’ve seen lots of folk online dismissing this report because, "They’ll just ignore the subpoenas" You’re confusing the House of Representative’s Committee subpoenas with Department of Justice subpeonas. If someone ignores a Congressional committee subpeona, the Committee has to vote on whether to hold the person in contempt, and then the full House has to vote as well, at which point the Department of Justice has to decide whether to convene a grand jury… right? But this is the DOJ already convening a criminal proceeding. If you ignore the subpoena, U.S. Marshalls and/or the FBI take you to jail. So this is a very different situation.

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Lil Nas X’s “baby registry” initiative raises almost $500,000 for HIV/AIDS organisations

The New Head of GLSEN on How She’ll Protect Queer Kids

Utah Students Organize Queer Prom After State Passes Anti-Trans Bill

‘Disturbing’: Biden Education Secretary Warns Florida After DeSantis Signs Anti-LGBTQ Bill Targeting ‘Most Vulnerable’

Texas school superintendent slams Attorney General who demanded she cancel Pride Week

This Week in Haters and Abusers:

2-time Maine gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler arrested on child porn charges

Ben Shapiro Gonna Make His Own Razors, And His Own Disney, And, And, And … Other Stuff Too

DeSantis signs "Don’t Say Gay" bill into law The lie underlying this bill is the myth that people “become gay” by talking about it. The harm that this bill will cause to LGBTQ kids isn’t a myth — it is all too real.

Child sex abuse scandal in TX foster care system should undercut Abbott’s attack on trans kids and their families

Arizona, Oklahoma Governors Sign Anti-Trans Bills Into Law

This Week in Seditious Treason and Related Crimes:

Is It Good When A Judge Says A Lawyer And His Client The President Did Crimes? Asking For John Eastman

Feds Reached Deals with Brian Kolfage, Timothy Shea

Judge Cites Tucker Carlson as Validation of ‘Actual Malice’ in Defamation Suit Against Fox News

Trump’s 8-hour gap: Minute-by-minute during Jan. 6 riot – President Trump’s time during the Jan. 6 riot is reconstructed from texts, tweets, videos, calls and more

Jan. 6 Rioter Admits to Taunting Police With Confederate Flag on Stick

Things I Wrote:

Star Trek Picard Finds the “Watcher”