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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Lambert – New Eyes (Official Video):

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

It’s Friday! We’ve reached the second Friday in May.

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:

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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

It’s Friday! We’ve reached the first Friday in May.

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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:

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

The Democratic Endgame:

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

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

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

Wils – Open Up Babe (Music Video):

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

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

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

It’s Friday! The third Friday in April, already! And nearly Easter!

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:

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Hamill Does a Perfect Impression of Harrison Ford:

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

Ben Platt – Older [Official Video]:

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

It’s Friday! We are barreling through April already!

I was hoping the return of rain would give me a break from the hay fever, but no such luck!

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

Stories of the Week:

Joe Nguyen Is an AOC of the Washington Senate.

The backlash against Pete Buttigieg has exposed some sad facts about evangelical Christianity. um…. DUH!

IRS, Congress Struggle to Shed Light on Opportunity Zones’ Impact.

TRUMP PURGING ANYONE IN DHS WHO REFUSES TO BREAK LAW FOR HIM.

Bonnie Haim murder trial starts against husband Michael Haim after skull discovered in yard.

This Week in Science:

Evidence Found Of Previously Unknown Human Species.

The first picture of a black hole opens a new era of astrophysics.

Mystery surrounds humpback whale found dead in depths of Brazil’s Amazon jungle.

National Geographic: Giant purple squirrels do exist—and they have an odd behavior.

New species of ancient human unearthed in the Philippines.

Queer stories of the Week:

GOP Gov. Doug Ducey Signs Repeal Of “No Promo Homo” Ban On LGBT-Inclusive Sex Education.

San Jose city council votes to make their airport Chick-fil-A the ‘gayest’ in America.

Oklahoma City’s first openly gay city councilman takes office.

Dear Alabama: Sen. Doug Jones’ Gay Son Has a Message for His State.

Chelsea Manning misgendered by NBC reporter – PinkNews.

Awful, Deplorable People:

Devin Nunes said the quiet part out loud about his defamation lawsuit targeting journalists “I am absolutely sure that they do not want this to get to discovery so that we find out who their sources are.”.

Illinois Senate Approves Bill Mandating Release Of Five Years Of Taxes In Order To Appear On Presidential Ballot.

Conservative Columnist Bashes AG Bill Barr With 7 Brutal Reasons Why No One Should Trust Him.

Suspect in Louisiana black church fires is son of sheriff’s deputy, officials say.

Julian Assange Charged by U.S. With Conspiracy to Hack a Government Computer Background: Ecuador’s president says Assange breached terms of London embassy asylum | Reuters.

In Memoriam:

A Small Town in South Carolina Mourns the Prom Night Death of Trinity Harrison.

Mystery as missing Mouseketeer Dennis Day, 76, is found dead at home, EIGHT MONTHS after he vanished as it emerges his disappearance initially went unreported because the star’s husband has dementia. Correction to headline: disappearance WAS reported, but police didn’t take it seriously because of the husband’s health…

Background: Body found at home of missing original Disney Mouseketeer Dennis Day.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 4/7/2019: Sword-wielding hate crime suspect arrested.

Not to be cliched, but I don’t like Mondays….

Filling up the gaps, or, why An Archive Of Our Own deserves that Hugo nomination.

Julian Assange finally dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy.

Who is the actual monster? Or, more of why I love sf/f.

Videos!

Lucifer | Season 4 Teaser [HD] | Netflix:

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

Tales of the City | Teaser [HD] | Netflix:

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

Assange Arrest Puts WikiLeaks Tie To Donald Trump Camp Back In Spotlight | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC:

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

Seth Meyers Destroys the Dumbest GOP Congressman on the House Oversight Committee: A Closer Look:

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

Kevin McHale – Help Me Now (Lyric Video):

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

It’s Friday! It is the first Friday in April. It’s already April. APRIL! How did that happen?

Pollen counts have been high all week, and so my hay fever has been bad all week. We got a little drizzle Thursday evening, and supposed to get more Friday morning, so I hope that will clear out the air a bit and maybe bring some relief to my sinuses.

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

Stories of the Week:

‘Captain Marvel’ Box Office Hits $1 Billion .

Discovery of Aboriginal handprint art in Blue Mountains halts trains.

A Jury May Have Sentenced a Man to Death Because He’s Gay. Now, the Supreme Court Could Hear His Appeal.

High school robotics students build power wheelchair for 2-year-old.

Barbara Bush blamed Trump for heart attack, GOP exit in The Matriarch.

In Memoriam:

Science Fiction Author Vonda N. McIntyre, Official Obituary.

Vonda N. McIntyre (1948-2019).

Vonda N. McIntyre, 1948-2019: Final novel adds to Seattle science-fiction star’s legacy.

Vonda N McIntyre obituary – A leading writer of science fiction for half a century.

House Music Artist Kim English Dies.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 3/31/2019: Bullies need an audience.

Life is short and other musings about writing, reading, and variety in sf/f.

Believe nothing….

That’s not a plothole, or, Just because it isn’t like yours, that doesn’t mean it’s bad….

Videos!

5 Facts About Sexual Abuse You Need To Know (PSA MUSIC VIDEO):

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

THE DEAD DON’T DIE – Official Trailer [HD] – In Theaters June 14:

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

William Barr’s Rosy Report Spin Frustrates Mueller Investigators: NYT | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC:

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

CRUELLA DEVOS – Randy Rainbow Song Parody:

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

Ariana Grande and Victoria Monét – MONOPOLY (NSFW):

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

It’s Friday! We’re already up to the fifth Friday in March!

Most of the week has been so normal that it is a bit unsettling. The weather has settled down a bit after a week or so of much warmer than normal temperatures. On the other hand, we are well on our way for it to be one of the driest Marches on record. I wish we would stop breaking all these weather records, but with the climate going the way it is, I think we all know that isn’t going to happen.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories about technology, five stories about science, five stories about awful people, and five videos (plus things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

Otterly Wonderful News: Valkyrie gives birth to four river otter pups!

The Fake Sex Doctor Who Conned the Media Into Publicizing His Bizarre Research on Suicide, Butt-Fisting, and Bestiality.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma agrees to $270M settlement with Oklahoma.

Gun advocates request for temporary emergency stay from Supreme Court denied as bump stock ban looms and Federal bump stock ban goes into effect Tuesday.

Morgan Freeman Converted His 124-Acre Ranch Into A Giant Honeybee Sanctuary To Save The Bees.

This Week in Technology:

Microsoft leads the way in banning April Fools’ Day pranks.

Told U.S. security at risk, Chinese firm seeks to sell Grindr dating app .

Facebook Bans White Nationalism and White Separatism.

How Google Wiped a Neighborhood off the Map.

The Internet’s Phone Book Is Broken.

This Week in Science:

A mathematician found a solution to the much-studied problem 33 = x³ + y³ + z³.

Hemimastigophora is a novel supra-kingdom-level lineage of eukaryotes.

Huge fossil discovery made in China’s Hubei province.

X-ray chimneys in the Galactic Centre.

Kuiper Belt dust may be in our atmosphere (and NASA labs) right now.

Awful, Deplorable People:

Slur-Spewing White Men Open Fire on Biracial Children Walking to Buy Candy: Sheriff.

AG Barr is engaged in ‘the biggest con’ this prosecutor has seen ‘in a long time’ — here’s why.

Mueller Report Summary Shows William Barr May Have Fallen For Russian Covert Operation, Former CIA Agent Says.

Why is Devin Nunes suing over Twitter parody accounts?

It’s Bigger Than Mueller and Trump – Trumpism follows a historical pattern: Whenever black people make progress, white people respond forcefully..

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 8/23/2019: More pictures, more words.

Confessions of a bergamot addict.

Narrow horizons and frozen minds — or sf/f shouldn’t be an old boys’ club.

Videos!

Rachel Maddow hilariously ridicules Mike Pence’s lie about going to the moon — while cutting NASA budget:

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

Stephen Colbert mocks Utah’s Sen. Mike Lee’s senseless :

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

Trevor Noah tries to make sense of Jussie Smollett’s dropped charges:

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

Who Is Pete Buttigieg and Why Is He Killing It in the Polls?:

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

Steve Grand – Disciple (official) – TW, this song is about addiction and self-destructiveness and is more than a bit disturbing:

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

It’s Friday! We’re already up to the fourth Friday in March!

After the coldest February ever recorded here (and the record-breaking cold lingered for more than a week into March), we then had several days of record-breaking high temperatures! It was like early summer for a while there. At the moment, we’re back to typical temperatures for this time of year, and we may actually see some rain, which would be nice.

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

Stories of the Week:

Jimmy Carter gets new title: oldest living former president.

Flawed analysis, failed oversight: How Boeing, FAA certified the suspect 737 MAX flight control system.

Pete Buttigieg first openly gay presidential candidate to qualify for Democratic debates.

An Irish pub born in the Dark Ages.

Methodist Churches Across U.S. Are Publicly Rebelling Against Their Leadership’s Anti-LGBTQ Stance.

This Week in Science:

Massive U.S. Machines That Hunt For Ripples In Space-Time Just Got An Upgrade.

New Horizons: Ultima Thule ‘a time machine’ to early Solar System.

Asteroid mission exploring a ‘rubble pile’.

How Fish Evolved Antifreeze From Junk.

‘Bomb cyclone’ triggers flooding on Mississippi, Missouri rivers.

Crimes, Hateful and Worse:

It’s Time to Attack White Nationalism for the Terror Group It Is.

Democratic polling group, says Republicans who watch Fox News are so vastly differently from other voters it’s pointless for Democratic candidates to try and win them over.

Devin Nunes Has a Cow, and Free Speech Is Endangered.

Trump’s supporters have launched three serious terror attacks in the past five months.

New Zealand Shooting Realizes White Supremacy’s True Aim.

In Memoriam:

Barbara Hammer Maintained Her Curious Eye Until the End.

Cartoonist Tom K. Ryan, creator of Tumbleweeds comic strip has passed, age 92.

Rest In Peace Tom K. Ryan.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 3/16/2019: Liars, bigots, and fakes.

St. Patrick’s Day parades used to be political riots….

Celestial fruits on earthly ground, or a queer ex-evangelical looks at christianist thoughts on ‘chosen people’.

Use Your Words, or, let your characters talk to each other!

Videos!

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame – Official Trailer:

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

Stranger Things 3 | Official Trailer:

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

Toy Story 4 | Official Trailer:

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

Godzilla: King of the Monsters – Intimidation:

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

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – Nunes Is Suing Twitter For Being Mean:

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

It’s Friday! We’re already up to the third Friday in March!?

My husband informs me that he saw rain mixed with snow one morning this week (he leaves for work three hours before my alarm goes off on weekdays), but we’ve had daytime temperatures that have almost reached typical for this time of year. Enough of them that the pollen count has shot up high enough to trigger my first really awful hay fever day of the year. So I had to use some sick time this week. Given how much I was whining about the colder than usual temperatures, I guess I can’t complain.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: a few stories that each need a category all to themself, the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, five stories about science, top five stories of interest to my queer kindred, five stories about resisting the fascist regime, five stories about deplorable people, and five videos (plus notable obituaries).

Sad Story of the Week:

Fantasy’s Widow: The Fight Over The Legacy Of Dungeons & Dragons.

Local Sports Story of the Week:

And Now It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Some Former Seahawks.

Evil F-ers Who Make Me Question Humanity:

Massacre at the mosques – gunmen kill multiple people, Christchurch under siege.

Stories of the Week:

On web’s 30th birthday, its inventor says we need to stop its ‘downward plunge’.

Metalheads with kazoos drown out Westboro Baptist Church at Capitol.

The findings speak to a bigger problem in the development of automated systems: algorithmic bias.

US Surgeon General visits Washington as measles outbreak spreads.

The College Admissions Scandal Should Remind Grads Of Color We Were Always Good Enough.

Queer stories of the Week:

Nancy Pelosi and David Cicilline: The Equality Act Is Just the Beginning.

Why wasn’t anti-LGBTQ bias mentioned in the Congressional resolution denouncing bigotry?

Beefed-up hate crimes bill passes Utah House and appears headed for final approval after years of frustration and failure.

GERMANY: Compensation Payments Approved For Gay Men Persecuted Under Nazi Law After End Of WWII.

Massachusetts House Votes 147-8 to Ban Gay Conversion Therapy for Minors.

This Week in Setbacks for Fascists:

Senate Spectacularly Rebukes Trump’s ‘National Emergency’ as Republicans Join Democrats to Block Wall Funds.

The House Just Voted to Demand DOJ Publicly Release Mueller Report – No Democrat or Republican Voted Against It.

Court allows defamation suit against Trump to proceed.

CONNECTICUT: State Supreme Court Clears Way For Sandy Hook Parents To Sue Gun Maker And Sellers.

George Conway Calls Trump A “Pathological Liar” And Calls For “Serious Inquiry” Into His Mental Condition.

Awful, Deplorable People:

Jacob Wohl Faked Death Threats Against Himself – One came from a phony account the wingnut provocateur created and ran just before he was banned from Twitter.

Proud Boys Cite Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to Attack Antifa.

How the Far Right Perverts Ancient History—And Why It Matters.

Instead of New Press Chief, What If Trump Tries Fewer Crimes.

House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chair Elijah Cummings COMING For Election Brian Kemp Stole From Stacey Abrams.

In Memoriam:

Former Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh dies at 91.

Jan-Michael Vincent Dead: ‘Airwolf’ Star Dies at 73.

Stanley Donen Dead: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ Co-Director Was 94.

How Director Stanley Donen Made Stars Like Gene Kelly and Audrey Hepburn Shine Their Brightest.

RIP, Superstar Wrecking Crew Session Drummer Hal Blaine, Who Played on 150 Top 10 Songs.

Videos!

Is Tucker Carlson a White Supremacist? | Full Frontal on TBS:

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Robocalls: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):

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Fake Melania, Tim Apple & Trump’s Six Degrees of Corruption | The Daily Show:

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Meet Stephanie Flowers, VOICE OF A RIGHTEOUS WRATHFUL GOD:

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Gay Church Janitor Stuns ‘American Idol’ Judges with Original Song About Whether Heaven Has a Place for Him:

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