Friday Five (let’s begin the rebuild edition)
In keeping with last week’s announcement in this space that I’d decided to join those who were considering everything up until the moment the new President was sworn in as part of 2020, welcome to the first true Friday of 2021!
I took Wednesday off from work and spent a good chunk of the day watching the Inaugural. I admit half of the reason I did so was because I didn’t trust the nazis, traitors, and fascists not to cause some kind of trouble. I have to admit, I was a little surprised when, while Lady Gaga was singing the national anthem, that I started crying extra hard at the line, “that our flag was still there.” I mean, the flags that she pointed to at the moment were U.S. flag, but in the same space she was singing, exactly 14 days earlier, the Murder Mob had literally pulled down U.S. flags and raised Trump flags in their place. Full disclosure: I’m the kind of bleeding heart liberal who cries whenever I hear or sing the Star Spangled Banner under any circumstances. And I’m also the kind of bleeding hear liberal who was a boy scout as a child and I get incredibly, incandescently angry at people who disrespect the flag and don’t even know the flag code. As Stephen Colbert noted later that day, usually the Star Spangled Banner isn’t a cliffhanger, right? Anyway, as I have said elsewhere, defeating the grifter at the ballot box last November wasn’t enough; winning the two Georgia senate seats wasn’t enough; getting Biden and Harris safely inaugurated wasn’t enough. There is still a lot of work to do, and we have to stay engaged and be ready to hold our Representatives, Senators, and President accountable if they falter or fail to advance the causes of justice and equality. But I have to admit, for a day and a half it has been an incredible relief that some things have become boring, again.
Time will tell. Until then, we have the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five fun stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about the pandemic, five stories about the seditious traitors, five stories about deplorable people, and five videas (plus things I wrote and some notable obituaries).
Fun Stories of the Week:
Surprising discoveries in new 10 billion pixel photo of Vermeer’s famous ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’ .
At Bakka-Phoenix, the beloved sci-fi and fantasy bookstore, you can let your geek flag fly.
Dinosaur fossils could belong to the world’s largest ever creature.
Surreal ‘dome fountain’ of lava bubbles up in Hawaii .
This Week in News for Queers and Allies:
Joe Biden signs sweeping executive order fighting anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
Joe Biden’s defense pick wants to allow trans people to serve in the military again.
LGBTQ+ Americans Express a Weary Hope With Biden-Harris Inauguration.
Biden signs EO implementing Supreme Court ruling for LGBTQ rights.
The Unofficial Ranking of Top Queer Villains: a Guest Post by Be Dazzled Author Ryan La Sala.
This Week in the Pandemic:
‘Come with me if you want to live’: Schwarzenegger gets vaccinated.
Two more US service members killed by COVID-19.
U.S. adds almost 4,400 more COVID-19 deaths, 182,000 new cases.
This Week in Seditious Traitors:
Trumpists, Here Are Your Terms of Surrender. Also, Fuck You. I feel the need to point out that the author of this piece was a Republican operative who has a whole lot of his own awful to answer for, but I think we have to–until they prove otherwise–accept it when people claim they have seen the error of their ways. And his list is really good.
Evidence collected by federal investigators details Capitol rioters attacking police.
This Week in Deplorable People:
Democrats poised to rebuff McConnell’s filibuster demands .
Trump’s Last-Day Pardon List Shows A Soft Spot For Those Accused Of Public Corruption.
Judge Refuses To Reinstate Parler After Amazon Shut It Down.
Senate Democrats file ethics complaint against Hawley, Cruz over Capitol attack.
In Memoriam:
Comic book artist’s sudden death: ‘We had no idea he had Covid’.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 1/17/2021: Who woulda thought?
On the day we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, a challenge.
This is supposed to be the boring time….
How do you measure four years of lies?
America, America, let’s give our best….
Videos!
Stop Saying “This Isn’t Who We Are”: Week In Review | The Amber Ruffin Show This is last week’s show, but I think it’s important to watch:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Biden’s First Day of Clearing Trump’s Extremely Low Bar | The Daily Social Distancing Show:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Duran Duran – “Five Years” (David Bowie Cover) [OFFICIAL AUDIO]:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Olivia Rodrigo – drivers license (Official Video):
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club (Official Video):
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (pack your bags edition)
Lucy telling it like it is.
So, a bit over a week since a murder mob incited by the president and some of his political allies attacked the U.S. Capitol building, we’ve seen a second impeachment, thousands of national guard troops in the capital city, and a number of internet services have finally started enforcing their terms of service on rightwing people for threatening more violence. That last bit makes me hopeful that this timeline may be taking a turn toward the less awful than it could be. Or maybe I’m reaching delusional levels of hope.
Time will tell. Until then, we have the Friday Five. This week I bring you: one local story that has taken a major source of happy distraction from my day, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about deplorable people, five stories about the deplorable thug still occupying the White House, and five videas (plus things I wrote and some notable obituaries).
This Week In News Local to Me:
Sick and dead finches reported in Kitsap County and across Washington state.
Stories of the Week:
Betty White reveals how she plans to spend her 99th birthday in quarantine.
This Week in News for Queers and Allies:
The 22 Funniest Queer Jokes From LGBTQ Comedians.
North Carolina Town Adopts LGBTQ-Inclusive Law After State Ban Lifts.
This Week in Deplorable People:
Justice Department launches webpage tracking individuals charged in Capitol riot.
This Week in the Deplorable Thug Occupying the White House:
Desperate QAnon Believers Think Trump Spoke to Them in Morse Code.
How Science Explains Trump’s Grip on White Males.
Trump Issues Lie-Filled Video Statement After He is Impeached for Second Time.
In Memoriam:
Chuck Yeager, pilot who broke the sound barrier, dies at 97.
Chuck Yeager was a Hollywood idea of a brave test pilot – today they must be skilled engineers too.
Chuck Yeager Was a Hero to Speed Demons Everywhere.
Public Ceremony Scheduled In West Virginia For The Late Chuck Yeager.
100-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Theodore Lumpkin Jr. Dies of COVID-19.
Pioneering Texas Trans Pol Addison Perry-Franks Dead at 39.
RIP Muppet Designer Caroly Wilcox.
Siegfried Fischbacher of Siegfried & Roy Dead at 81.
SF gay activist Ken Jones dies at 70.
Things I wrote:
Age of Misinformation, or, how sf/f warned us of the current apocalypse.
You cannot reason with terrorists and cultists.
Videos!
It’s a Little Too Late For Republicans To Denounce Trump Pt. 1:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here. And hey, you can watch part 2 here)
FBI: The MAGA Maniacs Who Tried To Overthrow The Government Are Going To Pay:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
After Second Impeachment, Trump Begins Moving Out of White House: A Closer Look:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
James Comey: If You Went Up Those Stairs, You Committed A Crime. You Are Going To Be Found:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Doritos – The best gift (Mexico, English subtitles, 2020):
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (flipping Georgia blue edition)
Javanka packing up? ‘College Hunks Hauling Junk’ parks outside Ivanka and Jared’s luxury DC to pick up clothes donations just 24 hours after MAGA riot at US Capitol and two weeks before Biden’s inauguration. Click image to embiggen, click link in caption to see story)
That is a rhetorical question in two senses. I realize that a lot of people have their heads stuck in the sand (or elsewhere) who are shocked at the development. I had expected violence, I just hadn’t thought that the Capitol Police wasn’t prepared for it. In more uplifting news, in both of the Georgia senate run-off elections (one a special election to fill the unexpired term of another senator, and the other just to fill a normally up-for-re-election seat) the Democratic Party nominee in both races won. And this is significant for a whole lot of reasons. Reverend Warnock is the first African-American ever to serve as a senator from Georgia. He is only, after all these decades, only the eleventh African-American of any party and from any state to serve in the Senate. He is the first African-American Democrat to serve as a Senator from a Southern state. He also ran as an unaplogetic progressive Democrat in what has long been seen as a Red State. Similarly, Jon Ossoff is a young Jewish man who was elected to the other seat. At 33 years old he will be the youngest member of the Senate (which just seems weird). He also ran as an outright progressive. I really hope that the upper echelons of the Democratic Party take this to heart, and stop throwing their support in Red States to so-called moderates, who policy-wise are indistinguishable from Republicans in a bizarre belief that those kind of candidates can somehow fool Republican voters into crossing over. I firmly believe that if the progressive, black Democratic challenger to Mitch McConnell had been on the general election ballot instead of the bland, white, Air Force veteran milquetoast moderate, the McConnell would have either lost or come really close to it.
But let’s get on to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: one special video that is all upbeat and full of good news and I hope makes you laugh as much as I did, the top five stories of the week, five news stories that have a local connection for me, five stories about seditious traitors, five stories about deplorables people, five stories about the deplorable thug still occupying the White House, and five videas (plus things I wrote and one notable obituary).
This Week In News We Need Right Now!:
Killer Mike Knew Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock Would Win the Georgia Runoff – This is the first thing in several days that made me laugh in a way that had nothing to do with gallows humor; and his joy and enthusiasm brought happy tears to my eyes:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Stories of the Week:
The Full(est Possible) Story of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping Press Event Daring Fireball’s John Gruber nominates this excerpt as the best paragraph of 2020:
Whether it’s war and peace or public relations and gardening, sorting out the truth is a complicated endeavor when it relates to Donald Trump. Everyone involved in anything, no matter the size, no matter how stupid, seems to lie as a first resort, or to know very little, or to lie about knowing very little, or to know just enough to send blame in another direction, and the person in that direction seems to lie also, or to know very little, or to lie about knowing very little, but perhaps they have a theory that sends blame someplace else, and over there, too, you will find more liars, more know-nothings, and before long, a whole month will have passed, and you still haven’t filed your story about how the president’s attorney wound up undermining democracy in a parking lot off I-95 on a strip of cracked pavement in a run-down part of a city that ordinarily would command no consideration from the national political class or the very online public or the equally online mainstream media, which, when forced to look, found lots of reason to laugh.
The Moon Is Rusting, and Researchers Want to Know Why.
21 Excellent Fantasy Books Coming Out This Winter.
COVID-19 and HIV Are Not the Same. But They’re Similar in Many Ways That Matter.
This Week in News Local to Me:
Seal found wandering on highway in Southwestern Washington.
Sea otter reintroduction to more of the Pacific Coast gets a nudge from Congress.
In Netflix’s ‘Cobra Kai,’ Seattle restaurateur Yuji Okumoto reprises a role — and a life — he thought he’d left behind. Kona Kitchen, owned by Yuji, is one of the favorite local eateries.
Bean Dad Deletes Twitter Account After Old Anti-Semitic, Homophobic Tweets Resurface. I know this played out on Twitter, but so-called Bean Dad is a local Seattle writer and musician…
This Week in Seditious Traitors:
Pro-Trump Forces Stormed the Capitol Protesting 2020 Election Results – At least one person has died.
Company Fires Employee Who Stormed Capitol With Badge On.
Please compare the police response to Black Lives Matter and a white mob storming the Capitol.
Trump Calls For “Healing And Reconciliation,” Lies About National Guard, Says Capitol Rioters “Will Pay”. In one of many videos that didn’t make this week’s cut, Stephen Colbert characterized the Traitor-in-Chief’s comments as “phrased as if someone’s lawyer has explained to them that in thirteen days they might face charges of sedition, incitement, and possible accessory to murder…”
What happened at the Capitol ‘was domestic terrorism,’ lawmakers and experts say.
This Week in Deplorable People:
California Woman Charged Over Voicemails to Catholic School: ‘I’m Going to Fucking Kill Your Kids’.
Proud Boys leader arrested for attack on Black church that led to violent clashes in DC.
Judge floats sanctions for attorneys who sought to block Congress from counting electoral votes.
Project Lincoln finds the lane it should stay in: cutting off corporate money to seditionists.
This Week in the Deplorable Thug Occupying the White House:
Trump Is Said to Have Discussed Pardoning Himself, Again.
Trump Loses Social Media Megaphone as Facebook, Twitch Act.
In Memoriam:
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 1/2/2021: More of the same BS.
Coffee vs reality – and silly habits.
Wednesday Update: 1/5/2021: Treason, Tallies, and Run-offs.
Don’t become silent… don’t let the traitors get away with it.
Videos!
Hey, Republicans Who Supported This President: Are We Great Again Yet? – LIVE MONOLOGUE:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Seth Meyers Calls For Trump’s Removal After Violent Insurrection at Capitol:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Jimmy Addresses the Violence at the U.S. Capitol:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Dan Rather Explains How President Trump Incited a Coup:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Tensions at the White House ‘are as high as they’ve ever been’:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (good f—ing riddance edition)
“We stayed until 12 0’clock—not to ring the New Year in, but to hiss the old one out.” —Altoona Tribune, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1939
Calendars are social constructs, and neither viruses nor hate groups are constrained by them. So we have no guarantee that 2021 will an improvement. But there is power in human perception, so maybe we can begin to make things better. If we can be hope.
But let’s get on to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: one special story that we need now, the top five stories of the week, five stories about people who definitely weren’t on Santa’s Nice List, and five videas (plus things I wrote and many notable obituaries).
This Week In News We Need Right Now!:
Sweet moment dog saves her 14-year-old blind pit bull sister from drowning after she fell into swimming pool. (the youtube video is also linked in the videos section)
Stories of the Week:
A Q&A about the new coronavirus variant with the Fred Hutch scientist who’s been tracking its spread.
2020, The Year Death Became a Major Political Party in America.
This Week in People Who Definitely Got Coal In Their Stockings:
Even If It’s ‘Bonkers,’ Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories.
Trump pardon of Blackwater Iraq contractors violates international law – UN.
Aurora pharmacist arrested for intentionally spoiling coronavirus vaccine.
Culp campaign sues 9 county auditors, claiming ‘unlawful’ election process.
In Memoriam:
Dawn Wells, ‘Gilligan’s Island’s’ Mary Ann, Dies of COVID at 82.
Dawn Wells, Mary Ann on ‘Gilligan’s Island,’ dies of Covid-19 complications at 82.
William Link Dies: Co-Creator Of ‘Columbo’, ‘Murder She Wrote’, Was 87.
Marcus D’Amico, ‘Tales of the City’ Actor, Dies at 55.
Fashion Icon Pierre Cardin Dies At Age 98.
Principal Joe Clark, who inspired film ‘Lean on me,’ dies.
Leslie West (1945–2020), ‘Mississippi Queen’ guitarist.
Rebecca Luker, Tony-Nominated ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Music Man’ Star, Dies at 59.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 12/26/2020: The end of the year is supposed to be a dead news time, but….
Monday Update 12/28/2020: Motivations.
The Eighth Day of Christmas Vacation: Time, Place, and Transitions.
Another stable orbit around our star… and my New Year’s wish for you.
Videos!
Heroic Dog Saves Blind 14 Year Old Pooch From Drowning In Pool:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
COVID-19 vs. Spanish Flu – If You Don’t Know, Now You Know | The Daily Social Distancing Show:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Stephen Colbert Hosts “2020: The Year That Took Years, What A Clusterfond Look Back”:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Absurdity No Obstacle To Republican Effort To Save Trump From Democracy | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
The Piano Guys – What Makes You Beautiful (Live on SoundStage – OFFICIAL):
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (stay ho-ho-home edition)
We have reached the fourth and final Friday in December. This is also the final Friday in 2020, and year that I think everyone agrees needs to be over.
It also happens to be Christmas Day. In a normal year that would mean that likely most people wouldn’t be reading things online until later in the day, after much of the festivities are over. But most people should be staying home, opening presents over zoom or facetime or something.
Because it is Christmas Day, I had mixed feeling about what kind of stories I ought to include. In doesn’t help that every day there are worse and worse headlines about the crybaby-in-chief and his latest temper tantrum. But in the end, the news is what it is. So, this Friday Five I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories about science, five stories about people who definitely aren’t on Santa’s Nice List, five stories about the pandemic, and five videas (plus things I wrote and a notable obituary).
Stories of the Week:
Crying on the Clock Is the Best WFH Perk.
SolarWinds Adviser Warned of Lax Security Years Before Hack.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Fetterman relentlessly trolls Dan Patrick seeking $1M voter fraud bounty.
Arizona GOP May Face Sanctions for Filing Lawsuit Contradicted by Audit, Judge Suggests.
Secret Service Has No Plan if Trump Refuses to Go, Sources Say. A more accurate headline would be, “Secret Service Will Not Say Whether They Hava a Plan if Trump Refuses to Go”
This Week in Science:
Aliens at Proxima Centauri? A New Radio Signal Raises the Question.
‘Beautiful’ dinosaur tail found preserved in amber.
Ancient wolf cub found ‘perfectly preserved’ in Canadian permafrost. We even know what it ate.
The year 2020 in space discoveries.
This Week in People Who Definitely Got Coal In Their Stockings:
Another Blow for QAnon as Voat (aka Alt-Right Reddit Knock-off) Announces a Christmas Shutdown.
Christians Invaded Native American Sacred Space to Pray Away “Dark Energy”.
This Week in the Pandemic:
Every US coronavirus death is preventable, health expert says.
U.S. to require all air passengers arriving from U.K. to test negative for COVID-19.
COVID-19: South African variant may be worse than UK variant.
Black doctor dies of COVID-19 weeks after turning to social media to chronicle racist treatment.
In Memoriam:
James E. Gunn, Science Fiction Author and Scholar, Dies at 97.
Things I wrote:
Playing catchup, virtual party, and counting down to Christmas.
A proper Christmas… however you define it.
Unintentional physics lessons, anniversary, and more.
We need a Rainbow Christmas—especially in quarantine.
Videos!
“Twas The Coup Before Christmas” A Late Show Animated Holiday Classic:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Top Republican HUMILIATES Sidney Powell ON FOX NEWS:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
ARE YOU A DOUBLE DIPPER?:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Steve Grand – I’ll be home for Christmas (Official Music Video):
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Tom Goss – Christmas 2020 – not all pandemic-themed holiday songs have to be melancholy (not that there’s anything wrong with that):
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (biggest loser ever edition)
Click to embiggen (Do it! Read the small print on the bumper sticker!)
This Saturday is our virtual Christmas party, where I need to read said ghost story. There are more than a few errands I need to get to this weekend, as well. And I need to try not to sleep most of the day away, if I can manage it.
But let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories about crooks & liars, five stories about the petty crime boss occupying the whitehouse, and five videas (plus notable obituaries).
Stories of the Week:
NYC Doubles Last Winter’s Snow Total In One Day.
Atlantic City Is Offering Bidders The Chance To Blow Up A Former Trump Casino.
US Presidential Electors Confirm Joe Biden’s Victory.
This Week in Crooks, Liars and Other Deplorable People:
Laconia state rep urged to resign after sharing anti-Semitic p.
‘Proud Boys’ burn Black Lives Matter signs at churches in Washington.
This Week in the Deplorable Thug Occupying the White House:
Trump fights for a job that he’s not doing as coronavirus rages.
Trump Advisor: Trump Is ‘Throwing A F**king Temper Tantrum’ Over Leaving.
Manhattan DA Steps Up Probe Of Trump Organization.
What the GOP Really Means by ‘Voter Fraud’ – If You Didn’t Vote for Trump, Your Vote Is Fraudulent.
In Memoriam:
Tribute to Jeremy Bulloch, The Original Boba Fett.
Ann Reinking, Tony Winner and Star of Broadway’s ‘Chicago,’ Dies at 71.
Videos!
Presidential Concessions – If You Don’t Know, Now You Know | The Daily Social Distancing Show:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Hey! Republicans Who Refuse to Accept the Election Results:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Mitch McConnell Inspires Spicy Talk From Team Biden And A Pathetic Tweet From The President:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Rock the Runoff: Broadway for Georgia performs “Georgia On My Mind”:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
RUDOLPH THE LEAKY LAWYER – A Randy Rainbow Song Parody:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (enduring American asshole edition)
We have reached the second Friday in December. Which means I ought to be further along and/or happier with t draft scenes I have for my annual Christmas Ghost Story but, alas, it does not.
Work continues to be insanely busy. A conversation I had with one of my medical specialists left me suspecting that my February sickness was more serious than it seemed, but also that it wasn’t useful on either a personal nor a species/scientific community basis at this point to test me for antibodies. Speaking with my specialist left me no less convinced that I need to take the vaccine as soon as it is available to me, but also less than optimistic about a rather large portion of the population. Let’s just say that even though I was already really f–ing angry at Fox News for turning my mother and at least two of my Aunts into sociopaths, I’m not feeling any more optimistic about the future of the general population.
But let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: three stories that have nothing to do with any of the anxiety-inducing things happening in the world, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and allies, five stories about crooks & liars, five stories about the pandemic, five stories about the petty crime boss occupying the whitehouse, and five videas (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).
This Week In News We Need Right Now!:
The Voice: Gwen Stefani BREAKS DOWN in Tears Over Carter Rubin’s Rainbow Connection Performance>. Scroll down to the video section to watch and hear the incredible performance.
Dog Was Lost in the Woods for 10 Days With a Winter Storm on the Way – But a Drone Saved the Day>.
Stories of the Week:
Pepperidge Farm parent company warns cookies in short supply this holiday season>.
Those Viral Hospital iPads Are a ‘Lifeline’ for Covid Patients>.
Asteroid capsule located in Australian desert>.
Conspiracy Theorists Complain 5G ‘Blockers’ Slow Their WiFi>. Who would have thought that a device which claims to block 90% of radio signals would impede the WiFi signal [/sarcams]?
This Week in News for Queers and Allies:
Lithuanian Anti-LGBTQ Lawmaker Caught with ‘Naked’ Man During Online Parliamentary Session>.
Pelosi holds firm to support for transgender kids under hostile questioning>.
Trump’s new religious exemptions for employers an invitation to discriminate, critics say>.
Frustration builds as Biden’s Cabinet includes no LGBTQ picks>.
This Week in Crooks, Liars and Other Deplorable People:
Man who claimed to have bomb at headquarters of Spokane Democrats in police custody>.
FTC and states sue Facebook for illegally stifling competition>.
He Pretended to Be Trump’s Family. Then Trump Fell for It>.
US Marshalls apprehend fugitive gay basher in Texas>.
Giuliani Witness Melissa Carone Sent Harassing Sex Tapes To Fiancé’s Ex-Wife >.
This Week in the Pandemic:
Vaccine Advisory Committee Endorses Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine, Paves Way For FDA Authorization>.
This Week in the Deplorable Thug Occupying the White House:
Trump asks Supreme Court to invalidate millions of votes in battleground states >.
In Memoriam:
David Lander, Squiggy in ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ Dies at 73>.
Laverne & Shirley’s David Lander Remembered by Michael McKean: ‘This Is a Loss Shared by All of Us’>.
Former Sen. Paul Sarbanes of Maryland dies>.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 12/5/2020: Clearing out the tabs…>.
The magic slab of glass that contains all my friends… or not>.
Videos!
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – Supreme Court Refuses To Invalidate Pennsylvania’s Mail-In Votes In Major Rebuke Of The President:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here>.)
New Orleans Orgy Organizers Regret Lax Enforcement Of Social Distancing Rules:
z
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here>.)
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 4 | Official Trailer | Netflix:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here>.)
Pandemic-era gay loneliness summed up in one video – How Do You Feel?:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here>.)
15-year-old Carter Rubin Sings “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie – The Voice Live Top 9 Performances:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here>.)
Friday Five (lonely elephant edition)
We have reached the first Friday in December. Which seems both weird and miraculous, time having become a fog for so many of us. I suspect that I am not the only one who frequently checks the calendar to count how many days we have to endure before January 20th arrives.
It has been cold and dry this week. Because there has been nearly zero cloud cover all week, the temperature drops every day drastically come night fall. Which, this time of year, happens before 4:30. I don’t know if it’s related to the weather, but all week long two of the four squirrels that regularly come to the squirrel feeder on my deck and dig around in my flower pots, have be really angry at each other. The keep getting into fights, anyway.
But let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: two stories that have nothing to do with any of the anxiety-inducing things happening in the world, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and allies, five stories about space science, five stories about the pandemic, five stories about crooks & liars, and five videas (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).
This Week In News We Need Right Now!:
Cher singing to “The World’s Loneliest Elephant” is all the sweetness you need today.
Stories of the Week:
Fewer than half of Americans know that alcohol is a carcinogen. Big Booze wants to keep it that way.
This Week in News for Queers and Allies:
LGBTQ Organizations Urge Media to Stop ‘Deadnaming’ Transgender Stars After Elliot Page Comes Out.
This Week in the Space Science:
China’s Chang’e-5 Moon mission probe touches down.
A very ancient globular cluster orbits the Andromeda Galaxy.
Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope, already damaged, collapses.
Asteroid 2020 SO images reveal mystery object is likely a piece of NASA rocket.
This Week in Crooks, Liars and Other Deplorable People:
Former U.S. Attorney Asks Georgia to Investigate Lindsey Graham for Potential Election Crimes.
This Week in the Pandemic:
WA nurse has lingering effects from COVID months later, returning to work.
102-year-old woman beats COVID-19 twice.
Coronavirus Was Already Spreading in America by Last Christmas, Study Finds.
Hawaii police arrest couple who boarded flight despite testing positive for coronavirus.
In Memoriam:
Legendary Science Fiction Author Ben Bova Has Passed at the Age of 88.
David Prowse, Actor Behind Darth Vader, Dies At 85.
Gay wrestling star Pat Patterson dead at 79.
Things I wrote:
Words and numbers and other things that matter.
Videos!
Sykes Calls This Time ‘The Most Dangerous 60 Days Of The Trump Presidency’ | Deadline | MSNBC:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
New Orleans Orgy Organizers Regret Lax Enforcement Of Social Distancing Rules:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
John Mulaney on Secret Service Investigation, SNL Joke Backlash & Writing for Seth Meyers:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
President Obama’s Mother-In-Law Helped Keep The First Family Down To Earth:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Bells, Bows, Gifts, Trees:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (puppy rescued from alligator edition)
We have reached the final Friday in November. This didn’t post in the early morning as usual because I cooked Thanksgiving dinner, and when my husband and I both ate too much, and I took two naps, and I tried to get some serious word count completed for my NaNoWriMo. And then I slept in really late today to make up for getting up early to start cooking.
There are so, so many news stories I bookmarked in a week that in normal years is a slow news week. And I’m just so tired of being outraged that I’m not sharing most of them today. The grifter-in-chief is doing the equivalent of breaking all the windows of the house and setting fire to the house he’s being evicted from and it’s just so painful to contemplate what a sore loser can do. If you’re as tired as I am of this, scroll past all the stories and watch the video entitled “The Kind of Story We Need Right Now: Alligator Puppy Rescue.”
So let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories about crooks, and liars, and other deplorables, five topical videos, and five fun videas (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).
Stories of the Week:
Daring Fireball: Facebook Still Ruled by Sociopaths, News at 11.
There has been one successful coup in the United States. It foreshadowed the rise of Donald Trump.
This Week in Crooks, Liars and Other Deplorable People:
Splitting 5 to 4, Supreme Court Backs Religious Challenge to Cuomo’s Virus Shutdown Order – In earlier rulings related to coronavirus restrictions in California and Nevada, the court had taken the opposite approach. But its membership has changed since then. Five deplorable justices on the SCOTUS now…
Jacob Wohl’s Lawyers Want Judge to Sanction Civil Rights Group.
“Lock the motherfucker up” – This is an actual headline from Detroit Metro Times. The headline isn’t the problem. The real problem is that for more than four years the vast majority of new sites haven’t been willing to be this blunt.
Trump fears Giuliani, other lawyers in Biden vote challenge are ‘fools that are making him look bad’. He’s finally noticing???
In Memoriam:
Things I wrote:
Monday Update 11/23/2020: Taking their marbles and going home.
Democracy is under threat from the White House? Must be Tuesday….
This Thanksgiving, don’t participate in the possible murder of grandma.
So we’re supposed to give thanks, right?
Topical Videos!
‘Losing’: Why Trump Lost Every 2020 Election Plot – The Lessons For The U.S.:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
How QAnon Is Taking Over The GOP | The Daily Social Distancing Show:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Trump Rambles on Speakerphone During Fake GOP Voter Fraud Hearing: A Closer Look:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
The Kind of Story We Need Right Now: Alligator Puppy Rescue:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Stephen Colbert’s Monologue Does As The Monolith Wishes:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Trailers and Music Videos!
Dashing in December Official Trailer | Premieres 12/13 on Paramount Network:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
The Christmas Setup Trailer:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Orville Peck – Fancy (Live at the Rodeo) : What a great gothic cover of my second favorite Bobby Gentry song!
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Gay dance duo show what it’s like to come out to your dad in “incredible” performance::
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Sohla’s Best Thanksgiving Leftover Upgrades | NYT Cooking:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Friday Five (daily double edition)
New York Times front page…
I wish I had some words of wisdom, but most days I feel as if I am barely hanging on to any semblance of reality by by fingernails. The fragileness of it all ought to have been alleviated by Trump being trounced in the election, but the evil narcissist is still officially president for nearly 70 more days, so no, it hasn’t.
So let’s get to the Friday Five. This week I an breaking a few rules. But since the rules I am breaking don’t imperil the republic, I dont feel guilty about them. So, the week I bring you: the top five stories that have nothing to do with either presidential campaign of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about the pandemic, five stories about the possible future of our fragile republic, five stories about the evil forces trying to destroy our republic, five stories about the sore loser, five stories about haters and other deplorables, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).
Stories of the Week:
Squid-like creature that looked like a giant paperclip lived 200 years.
Newly discovered primate ‘already facing extinction’.
Two-million-year-old skull of human ‘cousin’ unearthed.
This Week in News for Queers and Allies:
Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Will Move to States, With Trump Judges to Defend Them.
New ‘blueprint’ lights way for Biden to reverse Trump policies on LGBTQ rights.
Biden-Harris Transition Team Includes Trans Veteran, LGBTQ+ Notables.
This Week in the Pandemic:
Everything you need to know about the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. “Many vaccines which require cold storage need to be kept at around 4°C or lower but it has been suggested that the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70°C. This could pose problems for transport and storage of the vaccine.” That is a really big logistical nightmare that very few are talking about… How will a COVID vaccine be distributed once it’s approved by FDA?
U.S. sets another record with over 153,000 new coronavirus cases as states threaten lockdowns.
‘You Can See The Regret’: ICU Nurse On Patients Who Failed To Take COVID Precautions.
Pelosi, Schumer renew push for $3.4T coronavirus relief bill, teeing up battle with McConnell.
This Week in the Future of Democracy:
What ‘Centrists’ Don’t Understand About Liberalism – Equality is the root of Democratic politics and policies. “Centrist” republicans are just bog-standard republicans who are too dim to realize they are using dog-whistles when they use them.
Sen. Angus King Says Republican Silence Is Putting National Defense In Danger.
This Week in Failing to Prove Election Fraud:
Coalition of election officials, stakeholders says there is ‘no evidence’ votes were compromised.
In poll watcher affidavits, Trump campaign offers no evidence of fraud in Detroit ballot-counting.
Single Nevada case shows futility of Trump effort to reverse election result.
This Week in Sore Losers:
Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC.
Team Biden sees Trump’s post-election fight as comedy of errors.
Trump Reportedly Screamed at Rupert Murdoch Over Fox News’ Arizona Call for Biden.
Four Seasons Total Landscaping Is a Perfect Trump Backdrop.
Trump’s temper tantrum shows why we must stop praising those who don’t accept defeat.
This Week in Haters and Other Deplorable People:
Meet Dean Browning, the politician busted for likely posing as gay, Black, Trump-lover on Twitter.
In Memoriam:
Legendary Trans Performer Bambi Lake Passes Away at Age 70.
Alex Trebek, Revered Host of ‘Jeopardy!’ for 36 Years, Dies at 80.
Remembering Alex Trebek, The Man With All The Answers.
Opinion: Alex Trebek left us a tremendous gift.
Things I wrote:
Weekend Update 11/7/2020: Biden-Harris for the win.
Sunday Update 11/8/2020: Sore loser.
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You tried to destroy my Republic. Prepare to lose the election!”.
So it ends in a scruffy parking lot between a dildo store and a crematorium.
Random Noun Syndrome, or, if a white-bearded queer can’t laugh at himself, who can?
Dragged kicking and screaming….
Topical Videos!
Republicans Are 0 For 10 In Lawsuits Seeking To Overturn Biden’s Election Win:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Trump Lost the 2020 Election, So Republicans Are Attacking Democracy: A Closer Look:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
Trump Has Yet To Show Real Evidence Of Fraud, But Getting Him Out Of Office May Be A Bumpy Ride:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
McEnany’s answer stuns Cooper: That’s next level stuff “Soon, as many 282,000 Americans will have died”:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
“Weird Al” Yankovic – I Lost On Jeopardy (Official Video)
This video needs some context. Weird Al wrote this parody just a bit over a year before the first episode of the rebooted Jeopardy hosted by Alex Trebek was recored. The set shown in this music video is based on the way Jeopardy looked during its initial run during the ’60s and ’70s. Art Fleming, who was the host for it’s entire first run until 1979 appears in the video. Don Pardoe, who was the announcer on this and dozens of other NBC show during the 50s, 60s, and 70s has a vocal appearance. Those you not old enough to remember to old version of Jeopardy by recognize Pardo as the man who was the announcer for more than 25 seasons of Saturday Night Live. This Weird Al song is a parody of the pop song “(Our Love’s in) Jeopardy” recorded by the the Greg Kihn band and reached the Top Ten in 1983. Greg Kihn makes a cameo at the very end in an appearance that evokes the official music video of his band’s song. While technically this Weird Al song has nothing to do with the Trebek Era of Jeopardy I still think it is a tribute to the deep cultural impact the show has had on us all:
(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)
