Friday Five (no punching bag edition)
It’s Friday! And it’s the second Friday in July.
I really wish I could blame Camp NaNoWriMo on how little blogging I’ve been doing, but it’s all down to the string of more than 10-hour days as we zero in on yet another ridiculous deadline at work. And now the heat is back, and I don’t deal well when the weather gets hot.
Anyway, here I present this week’s Friday Five: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, the top five videos, and a couple of notable obituaries (plus my blog posts).
Stories of the Week:
You don’t get to call me a sinner AND help yourself to my gay tax dollars.
Republicans Thought Peter Strozk Would Be a Punching Bag. He Just Knocked Them Out.
‘Ghost particle’ found in Antarctica provides astronomy breakthrough. And for more informationg: Why a 4-Billion-Year-Old Particle That Hit Antarctica Is Such a Big Deal.
Samsung phones are spontaneously texting users’ photos to random contacts without their permission.
How the Disposable Straw Explains Modern Capitalism , and related: Disposable Plastic Straws Suck. Try These Disability-Friendly Alternatives.
In Memoriam:
Hollywood film star known for Damn Yankees, The Burning Hills and his TV sitcom, The Tab Hunter Show.
Obituary – Tab Hunter, Hollywood golden boy forced to hide his sexuality.
Steve Ditko, Spider-Man Co-Creator and Legendary Comics Artist, Dies at 90.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 7/7/2018: White people who think the police are fugitive slave catchers.
Playing Piano on a Star’s Surface and Other Impossible Things — more of why I love sf/f.
Videos!
Gene Editing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):
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Steve Grand – “don’t let the light in” [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]:
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Cazwell – Cakes:
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Stephen Colbert: Red Hot Congressional Strzok Fest 2018:
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Youngr – Lost In Translation (Official Video):
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Friday Five (barnstorming space probe edition)
© Mike Luckovich
Most of my writing effort is going to Camp NaNoWriMo, so there will be fewer updates here than usual. I’m currently on a small vacation, as well.
Anyway, here I present this week’s Friday Five: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week of, top five stories about people disappointing us, the top five videos, and a notable obituary (plus what I posted this week).
Stories of the Week:
Dawn is now barnstorming Ceres and seeing wonders.
Pixar’s Bao Is More Than an Appetizer: It Is a Landmark in Asian Visibility.
Today’s Purple Hearts were first made for the invasion of Japan.
We Should Be Building Cities for People, Not Cars. The most interesting bit of this story is the fact that the makers of Sim City had to abandon their original plans to base the game on real cities, because so many parking lots made city look uninteresting!
People behaving badly:
12-year-old black kid gets cops called on him for cutting neighbors’ grass. But it isn’t all bad: Boy’s lawn business picks up after neighbors call police on him.
Powerful GOP Rep. Jim Jordan accused of turning blind eye to sexual abuse as Ohio State wrestling coach. 1,500 to 2,000 college-aged boys may have been sexually assaulted or raped by a doctor who GOP Rep Jordan allegedly protected. There’s more: Fourth Ohio State wrestler says Rep. Jim Jordan knew about sexual abuse when he was coach.
Keep the focus on Trump’s cruelty and incompetence.
Man suspected of killing 21 co-workers by poisoning their food.
An Addendum to An Addendum: Problematic writer was problematic.
In Memoriam:
Dick Leitsch, ‘Sip-In’ leader, is dead at age 83.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 6/30/2018: Hypocrisy, faux civility, and why we mustn’t stop fighting.
More likely to replace than upgrade — confessions of a penny-pinching gadget lover.
Hey, campers! Let’s get writing!
Oppressed Oppressors: Civility Isn’t What You Think
Videos!
Jon Stewart Is Ready To Negotiate With Donald Trump:
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G Flip – Killing My Time (Official Music Video):
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Keiynan Lonsdale – Preach (Official Music Video):
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Broadway United: We Are the World:
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Panic! At The Disco: Hey Look Ma, I Made It [OFFICIAL VIDEO]:
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Friday Five (TOOOOKE-lahoma edition)
The New York Posts sums up the situation correctly, again.
Last weekend did not quite go according to plan. My husband came down with a cold on Friday, and decided he shouldn’t be hanging out at the convention hotel infecting other people. So I attended Locus Awards Weekend alone. He had hoped to be well enough Sunday morning to join me for the parade, but then woke up feeling much worse. Despite him telling me to go join the festivities, I decided to head home and try to take care of him. I enjoyed the events of the con and came home with a pile of new books, and I saw a lot of people dressed up in their Pride gear.
Here I present this week’s Friday Five: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week of interest to queer people, top five general interest stories, and top five videos, and a couple of notable obituaries.
Queer stories of the Week:
Court Upholds Damages in Same-Sex Wedding Cake Case .
Jared Polis could become America’s first openly gay elected governor.
Sharon Brackett Becomes First Transgender Woman Elected To Public Office In Maryland.
99 Photos of Pride Beyond Borders In Seattle.
Education watchdog rebukes school that redacted history textbooks to remove gay Holocaust victims.
Other stories of the Week:
Dragons and wealth inequality.
Asteroid Arrival! Japanese Probe Reaches ‘Spinning-Top’ Space Rock Ryugu.
Breaking down the impact of Kennedy’s retirement.
Study Suggests White People are More Likely to Assault Black, Latino People Than the Other Way Around. As one friend who shared this online noted, “in other words, water is still wet”
In Memoriam:
Christopher Stasheff, author of Warlock In Spite of Himself, and Her Majesty’s Wizard, dead at 74.
Harlan Ellison, Provocative Sci-Fi Writer of ‘Star Trek,’ ‘A Boy and His Dog,’ Dies at 84.
Things I wrote:
Videos!
Rep. Maxine Waters Responds To President Donald Trump Attacks:
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Chris Hayes Explains Why It’s Important to Yell at Public Officials:
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CNN anchor fact-checks Trump supporter on family separations:
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Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Surprised Everyone, Even Herself:
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Troye Sivan – Bloom:
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Friday Five (Pride bash extravaganza edition)
Where are you on the Gay Spectrum? (click to embiggen)
My husband and I are, for the third year in a row, attending Locus Awards Weekend. And it just so happens that the con hotel is conveniently close to the part of the parade route and the Seattle Center where the big festival happens. So we’re going to have a fun few days of books and sci fi and fantasy and funny shirts and rainbows and lots of other fun.
Here I present this week’s Friday Five: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week of interest to queer people, five stories that made me go “What the f–k?”, top five general interest stories, and top five videos (plus a recap of my blog posts).
Queer stories of the Week:
Queer Love in Color – Photographs and Text by Jamal Jordan.
7 of the Best Queer Reads for Summer 2018.
Court rejects bid to ban transgender kids from school bathrooms.
Nafessa Williams on playing Black Lightning’s unapologetic, badass lesbian superhero.
This Week in WTF:
Feminists are blaming trans women for ‘forcibly transing’ crocodiles.
Atlantic cover story is a loud dog whistle for anti-transgender parents.
TEXAS GOP APPROVES 24 ANTI-LGBTQ PLATFORM PLANKS, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR ‘EX-GAY’ THERAPY.
The WTF of this is that we actually need to do this! Here’s How You Can Help Fight Family Separation at the Borde.
ABC Greenlights Roseanne Spinoff Without Roseanne Barr.
Other stories of the Week:
Mexican Nuns Work to Save Endangered Salamander.
Opinion: The State of the Star Wars fandom in 2018.
Gabriel Jesus: Call your mama.
Oregon dog that survived 2 gunshot wounds finds new home.
Things I wrote:
Confessions of a bad son, part 2.
Blasphemy is as blasphemy does — an adventure beyond the dictionary with the anti-gays.
Anger is better than fear — confessions of a militant fairy.
Pride means visibility and hope— confessions of a hopeful fairy.
Pride means love and survival—confessions of a joyful fairy.
Videos!
Rachel Maddow Broke Down in Tears at News of Where Babies are Being Sent at the U.S. Border:
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Stephen Colbert Trashes ‘Gay Nazi’ Candidate and Uber-Homophobe Scott Lively:
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St. Vincent – Fast Slow Disco (Music Video):
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Big Dipper – Lookin [Official]:
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Shirtless Violinist ft. Tom Goss – Perfect – Ed Sheeran – Cover:
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Friday Five (stunning upset edition)
It’s the third weekend of Pride Month.
It appears that the rains have come to an end, and now I have to brace myself for scorching weather.
Here I present this week’s Friday Five: the top five (IMHO) stories of the week of interest to queer people, top five general interest stories, and top five videos (plus a recap of my blog posts).
Queer stories of the Week:
Teacher Resigns Because He Can’t Handle School’s Transgender Name Policy.
Translation: he rage quite because they won’t let him bully trans students.
Why Some Gay Men Hate Pride Parades — And Ourselves.
Internalized homophobia can take a lifetime to unlearn.
The queer history of Wonder Woman and the Amazons.
Provo Bans LGBT Groups From July 4th Parade.
Other stories of the Week:
The Fight for the Right to Be Cremated by Water.
Hop Sing Laundromat Owner: No Fan of Bad Tippers, Cheesesteaks or (Ugh) “Mixologists”.
Between the Coats: A Sensitivity Read Changed my Life – an Essay by Sarah Gailey.
‘Shocking’ die-off of Africa’s oldest baobabs: study.
Trees that can easily live to by 3000 years old are not faring will under a changing climate.
Things I wrote:
To Conquer the Kingdoms of Sin — more confessions of a queer ex-evangelical.
A flag proclaims we are a people, a family, a tribe….
Videos!
Republican Senator Hatch Marks Pride Month with Call for Inclusion, Understanding:
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WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? – Official Trailer [HD] – In Select Theaters June 8:
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Stephen Colbert on Inspector General’s report:
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GOP’s Trump “Cult”; Trump Foundation Lawsuit; Comey Report: A Closer Look:
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David Bowie – Heroes (Official video):
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F/r/i/d/a/y/ Saturday Five (not losing is better than nothing edition)
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Anyway, here I am posting the Friday Five on Saturday. I’ve been sick at least Monday, though I didn’t recognize the signs until after waking up with the cover and fever Tuesday morning. I felt much better Thursday morning, thought I was getting over it, and went into the office after sleeping through two sick days. Then Thursday night I was very scattered and the Friday Five assembly (which usually takes about an hour) drug on and I started dozing off at the keyboard so I went to bed. I figured it would only take fifteen minutes or in the morning to finish it and post; since I was going to be working from home anyway, it would be a good thing to do for a break, right?
I got up when the alarm went off, feeling worse than the day before, got my meds, set up the work computer, was logging into the work network… and I fell asleep for two hours. My fever was back and my brain was just sluggish. I had unmovable end of the day deadlines that were already behind because of the two sick days, so I was scrambling the rest of the day.
So this week it’s a Saturday Five: This week you get the top five (IMHO) stories of the week of interest to queer people, top five stories about people who are less-than-wonderful, top five general interest stories, and top five videos (plus notable obituaries and a recap of my blog posts).
Queer stories of the Week:
Court upholds Phoenix law over same-sex wedding invitations.
The ruling that the anti-gay folks were crowing about as a victory wasn’t; it wasn’t a victory for our side, either, but it contained some good things.
Sexual Assault and Silence Among Men in the Military During Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: My boyfriend was sexually assaulted when we were in the navy. Then I made the mistake of speaking up.
Lee Pace Came Out Seven Times a Week on Stage. Then He Came Out for Real.
Sam Smith helped me accept my queer and Catholic identities.
Stories about horrible people:
The Deadly Incel Movement’s Absurd Pop Culture Roots.
Head of Illinois NRA affiliate accidentally admits gun restrictions stop mass shootings.
Authors Guild and RWA Prevail in Court Defending Authors in “Cocky” Trademark Dispute.
Good Riddance Joseph Backholm, Washington’s Ultimate Anti-Gay Dipshit.
Other stories of the Week:
‘Sherlock’ Star Benedict Cumberbatch Saves Cyclist From Muggers.
Out of 52,179 homicides in 50 cities over the past decade, 51 percent did not result in an arrest.
The Washington Post is mapping unsolved murders, and updating their interactive database as they get more information from more cities.
The Quiet Rage Of Mazie Hirono.
I have a new hero: Hawaii’s Mazie Hirono is the only U.S. Senator who asks every nominee if they have ever been accused of sexual misconduct and whether they have ever signed a non-disclosure agreement.
The case for massively expanding the US House of Representatives, in one chart.
How the media ignored Puerto Rico, in one chart.
In Memoriam:
Jerry Maren, Last Surviving Adult Munchkin From ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Dies at 98.
William Phipps, Voice of Prince Charming in ‘Cinderella’ and Sci-Fi Movie Star, Dies at 96.
Anthony Bourdain saw the humanity in all of us.
Things I wrote:
Ode to the MacGuffin, or, moving the plot and subplots along.
Too much coffee, you say? Here, have some nice black tea….
That’s Dr. Freak to you — more adventures in dictionaries.
Videos!
Consumer Identity = Cultivated Identity (VERY IMPORTANT DOCS №11):
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Eli Lieb covers Celine Dion’s Ashes (from Deadpool 2):
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How We Met by Anthony Bowens [Official Audio]:
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MNEK – Colour (Lyric Video) ft. Hailee Steinfeld:
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Troye Sivan – Bloom:
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Friday Five (Queer Pride begins baby edition)
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If you don’t celebrate Pride (or at least understand why we do), then I have no idea why you are reading my blog. But, it’s that time of year! Today I need to put out my rainbow flags to kick off a month a queer pride and remembrance.
It’s Friday! That means it’s time to present my Friday Five: This week you get the top five (IMHO) stories of the week of interest to queer people, top five stories about people who are less-than-wonderful, top five general interest stories, and top five videos (plus notable obituaries and a recap of my blog posts).
Queer stories of the Week:
“God Says Homosexuality is in” (click to embiggen)
Catholic diocese banned gay valedictorian’s speech so he took matters into his own hands.
Transgender student wins battle to hear chosen name said at graduation.
The Phantom Defeating Homophobes with a Pride Flag Is the Greatest Thing Ever.
Stories about horrible people:
Lots of thins are harder to spell than ‘lies.’
White House Blasts Samantha Bee Over Ivanka Slur, Demands TBS Cancel Show.
What Happened to Jill Stein’s Recount Millions? All indications are the bulk has gone to Jill herself, and various luxuries of the staff, not to litigating. Surprised?
Cold-blooded attacker repeatedly stabs gay couple who were holding hands.
Other stories of the Week:
Ad-Hominems & the Post-premodern Right.
This researcher programmed bots to fight racism on Twitter. It worked.
Debunking the 6 biggest myths about ‘technology addiction’.
The FBI wants you to do this one thing to your home router, now.
“Bankrupt” Catholic Archdiocese Agrees To $210 Million Settlement With 450 Sexual Abuse Victims.
In Memoriam:
Gardner Dozois, pioneering, genre-defining science fiction editor who helped launch my career.
Gardner Dozois, 70, acclaimed science-fiction editor.
Alan Bean, moon-walking astronaut and artist, dies aged 8.
The Forgotten True Story of Alan Bean’s Unlikely Journey to the Moon.
Navy vet and fourth man on the moon Alan Bean just died at 86.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 5/26/2018: Bad takes, small steps, and more to some stories.
Formerly known as Decoration Day, or Memorial for Grandma.
Videos!
Samantha Bee calls Ivanka Trump a ‘feckless c***’:
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Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Clip:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5f-uu1h8_w.)
Super Drags | Teaser [HD] | Netflix:
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Kesha – Hymn (Official Video):
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Jake Shears – Creep City (Official Video):
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Friday Five (NFL hypocrisy edition)
New York Daily News: NFL owners shame the national flag with new kneeling policy. (click to embiggen
The number of times this week that I and my boss commiserated about how crazy work has been for months and months now is just crazy. I’m looking forward to having this three-day weekend so much.
It’s Friday! That means it’s time to present my Friday Five: This week you get the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, plus the top five stories of interest to queer people, and top five videos (plus notable obituaries and a recap of my blog posts).
Stories of the Week:
Former NFL player lays waste to the league’s hypocrisy on the American flag with one perfect photo.
The Definition of Insanity: Maybe it’s time to try a different approach to mass shootings.
The FBI’s mountain of uncrackable crimephones was nearly entirely imaginary.
There’s a Reason Conservative Christians Are So Bad At Fact-Checking the News.
News for Queers and our allies:
GLAAD just published its annual report on LGBTQ representation in movies, and… yikes.
Stop telling us about LGBT characters in blockbusters – show us instead.
Transgender kids’ brains resemble their gender identity, not their biological sex.
Updated: North Bend High School principal removed in ACLU settlement. I wrote about this earlier in the week. Alas, a friend who lives nearby reports that local news sources say this deplorable Principal has been reassigned to another job in the district, not actually fired.
More Americans Than Ever Support Same-Sex Marriage.
In Memoriam:
A Guide to the Many, Many Books of Philip Roth.
Bill Gold Dies: ‘Casablanca’, ‘The Exorcist’, ‘J. Edgar’ Poster Designer Was 97.
The Best of Bill Gold’s Movie Posters.
Things I wrote:
Wants to be rockstar, doesn’t want to make music, or How did he even get that gig?
Don’t boo! Register to vote, confirm that you’re registered, show up, and vote!
Videos!
Ryan Amador – Loverboy (Official Video):
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Black and White – Adam Mac (Official Video):
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Stephen Colbert: Nice Try Deep State, Trump Has You Figured Out:
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Stephen King Got Blocked On Twitter By Trump:
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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): Mike Pence:
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Friday Five (f– a silver lining edition)
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We had a couple days of much warmer than usual weather, then things went back to cooler… mostly. Unfortunately, the snowpack in the mountains is melting faster than usual because of this odd days. So some parts of the state are experiencing flooding, and it’s no longer certain we’re going to have plenty of water through the summer. Yeesh!
It’s Friday! That means it’s time to present my Friday Five: This week you get the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, plus the top five stories of interest to queer people, and top five videos (plus notable obituaries and a recap of my blog posts).
Stories of the Week:
Months After a Brutal Day in Charlottesville, a Tender Wedding.
How Do They Create The Sounds In Sex Scenes?
Now we know why Donald Trump “won” all four surprise swing states by the same one percent.
Boulder, Colorado, unanimously votes to ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines.
Bitcoin’s energy use got studied, and you libertarian nerds look even worse than usual. In addition to being a scam, Bitcoin is actually a significant threat…
News for Queers and our allies:
Queer Teens Are Winning Prom, and These Pics Are Proof.
‘Patient Zero’: Correcting the Record on a Media-Made Gay Villain.
Too Many People Still Oppose Marriage Equality. That Could Spell Doom.
No, I Will Not Stop Talking About Queer Pride.
In Memoriam:
Margot Kidder, ‘Superman’ Actress, Dies at 69.
Why MARGOT KIDDER Was the Best LOIS LANE Ever.
How Lois Lane became her own superhero.
Tom Wolfe, novelist and pioneer of New Journalism, dies at 88.
Tom Wolfe, Author of ‘The Right Stuff,’ Dies at 88.
Tom Wolfe’s ‘right stuff’ matters more than ever.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 5/12/2018: At least some good news.
Believability isn’t just about fiction, or Let me tell you about my Evil Grandmother.
Videos!
Panic! At The Disco: (Fuck A) Silver Lining (Audio):
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Sannie – Boys on Girls:
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Sam Smith – Pray (Official Video) ft. Logic:
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Years & Years – If You’re Over Me (Official video):
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Michael Medrano – Heal (feat. Steve Grand):
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Friday Five (financial consequences edition)
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Most of the plants on the veranda are blooming and growing. I repotted one lavender that got drowned during the monsoon like weather we had in April and still waiting for it to recover. Knock wood. In its former pot I planted a rosemary plant last weekend which in a single week has gone from about three inches tall to ber eight, so that’s good! Alas, while I still love my flowers, my sinuses continue to hate all the pollen, so there’s been a lot of hay fever stuff going on all week.
It’s Friday! That means it’s time to present my Friday Five: This week you get the top five (IMHO) stories of the week, plus the top five stories of interest to geeky people, and top five videos (plus notable obituaries and a recap of my blog posts).
Stories of the Week:
Photos: Star Wars characters get Indigenized by Comox First Nation artist.
Boeing to lose $20B as Trump withdraws from Iran pact.
Professor Explores Dark Side of the Anti-Trafficking Movement.
Gay 17-Year-Old Leaves Behind A Heartbreaking Suicide Note. And is family asked the the note be shared with the public.
Geekery and Science!:
Why Pluto is a planet and many moons are, too.
Corals Are in Serious Trouble. This Lab Could Help Save Them.
Reader Request Week 2018 #6: The Fall(?!?!?) of Heinlein.
There’s six types of straight people who have same-sex experiences, expert says.
In Memoriam:
[R.I.P.] Creature Performer Noble Craig Was an Unsung Horror Icon.
Things I wrote:
One year of being an ex-Seattleite.
Cocky romance author testing my ability to suspend disbelief.
Good, bad; I’m the guy with the gun — more of why I love sf/f.
Videos!
Jim Parsons: It’s Never ‘Too Late’ For Gay Representation On Film:
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Shelby Earl – Strong Swimmer [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]:
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Sam Smith – Pray (Official Video) ft. Logic:
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An Unforgettable Performance by Panic! At the Disco:
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Ryan O’Shaughnessy performs ‘Together’ | Eurovision Song Contest | RTÉ2:
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