Welcome to the third Friday of 2022!

It was again a weird week for reasons that just are too weird to go into.

Anyway, it’s time for another Friday Five in which I bring you: one story about something a lot of us were already thinking, another about the majesty of the cosmos, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and out allies, five stories about traitors and similar criminals, five stories about haters, and five stories about the pandemic. Plus some notable obituaries.

This Week in Things a Lot of Us Were Thinking:

Howard Stern: Hospitals Should REFUSE to Treat Unvaccinated

This Week in the Universe is Awesome:

A Star-Producing, Cosmic Bubble Shrouds Our Solar System

Stories of the Week:

Opinion | An anti-Black backlash — with no end in sight

California salmon returning to old spawning grounds

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to shield records from Jan. 6 committee

Here’s why some LGBTQ students in Utah say their health education is inadequate

Felony charges are 1st in a fatal crash involving Autopilot

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

64 things Joe Biden has done for the LGBTQ community during his first year in office

Jim Obergefell, who gave name to landmark Supreme Court case, to run for Ohio House

Andrew Blaser makes U.S. Olympic history as the first out gay man in this super fast ice sport

The writer behind the new bisexual Superman has turned death threats into donations for LGBTQ youth

Gilead says counterfeit HIV drugs ended up with patients

This Week in Seditious Treason and Other Major Crimes:

Jan. 6 Suspect James Grant Sent Back to Jail After DWI Arrest

Proud Boy "Tiny" Toese Goes to Jail

Trump Family Gets Late Night Love Note From New York Attorney General

Oath Keepers stockpiled 30 days of supplies, rifles ahead of Jan. 6

Five things to know about the New York AG’s pursuit of Trump

This Week in Homophobes and Other Haters:

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: ‘Gays recruit children’ – The intricate networking behind a simple but ugly lie

These groups are pushing an anti-LGBTQ agenda disguised as health care

YouTube Deletes Ex-Gay Torture Rant As Hate Speech

After DirecTV dropped the channel, OAN host asked viewers to dig up dirt on AT&T’s board chairman

MSNBC guest skewers Kyrsten Sinema as type of white person “Martin Luther King Jr. warned us about”

This Week in the Pandemic:

Vaccination protects against Covid-19 hospitalization significantly more than prior infection, according to CDC study

‘Back Alley’ Advice Is Making The Pandemic Worse

"They used us as an experiment": Arkansas inmates who were given ivermectin to treat COVID file federal lawsuit against jail

Supreme Court rejects bid to block mask mandate on airplanes

A record 9 million Americans are out sick as COVID rates surge

In Memoriam:

Raymond Washburn, who rescued 5 people during Oklahoma City bombing, dies

Yvette Mimieux Dead: Actress Who Starred In ‘The Time Machine’ Was 80

Welcome to the second Friday of 2022!

It has been a very exhausting week–for reasons that are way too complicated to go into at this juncture.

Anyway, it’s time for another Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about so-called adults acting like spoiled toddlers, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and out allies, five stories about sex traffickers and similar criminals, and five stories about deplorables and traitors. Plus some notable obituaries.

This Week in Angry Toddlers:

Trump Rage-Quits NPR Interview After He’s Grilled on Election-Fraud Lies

Capitol rioter storms out of hearing after judge orders him back behind bars: ‘I’m done with this’

Stories of the Week:

Takeaways from the landmark sedition indictment against the Oath Keepers and why DOJ acted now

Supreme Court blocks Biden Covid vaccine mandate for businesses, allows health-care worker rule

UCLA-led team may have found way to kill HIV-infected cells

Stiffed Bartender Fingers Key West Landmark Arsonists – Bartender’s tip leads to arrest in Key West buoy burning

Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick wins Florida congressional seat, padding House Democrats’ slim majority

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Anti-trans legislation negatively impacted mental health of LGBTQ+ youth

As high court signals Roe v. Wade reversal, states eye same-sex marriage protections

Murder of gay, math genius finally solved after man admits guilt 34 years later

Early access to gender-affirming hormones linked to better mental health, study finds – Trans people who had access to hormones in their early teens had less than half the odds of past-year suicidal thoughts than those who didn’t.

Biden administration to officially recognize trans & non-binary veterans’ genders – Patients can also indicate a preferred name to be used on their medical records

This Week in Sex Traffickers and Abusers:

Jeffrey Epstein-Related Cases to Watch After Ghislaine Guilty Verdict

How Jeffrey Epstein’s Estate Shielded Ghislaine Maxwell From Lawsuits

Prince Andrew to face civil sex assault case after US ruling

Matt Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend testifies to grand jury in sex trafficking probe

Anti-LGBT Ex-Michigan House Speaker Accused Of Molestation – Chatfield under criminal investigation for allegedly molesting a teenager

This Week in Haters, Deplorables, and Seditious Traitors:

Armed Michigan woman who ‘wanted to talk’ to Capitol Police about Jan. 6 riot arrested in D.C. It was the stockpile of illegal weapons she had in her car that was the problem… and why do you bring a pile of loaded guns to a talk?

Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes, Ten Oath Keepers Arrested On Seditious Conspiracy Charges

Leader of Neo-Nazi Group Sentenced for Plot to Target Journalists and Advocates

He wants to burn books about LGBTQ topics. He just got elected school board president

Neo-Nazi group leader sentenced to 7 years in prison

In Memoriam:

To Sidney, With Love

Sidney Poitier, Oscar-Winning Icon, Dies at 94

When Sidney Poitier risked his life for civil rights

Ronettes Singer Ronnie Spector Dead at 78

Ronnie Spector made hit songs that were built to last

Bob Saget was both wholesome and transgressive

Bob Saget, beloved TV dad of ‘Full House,’ dead at 65

Welcome to the first Friday of 2022!

The snow finally melted in our neighborhood. I have not yet taken down the Christmas tree (ever since figuring out many years ago that having a cut tree in the house made my winter hay fever {in Seattle’s climate hay fever season is at least ten months out of every year} much much worse, I’ve always had artificial trees). I often leave it up until Twelfth Night/Three Kings Day/Epiphany… but that was earlier this week, so I definitely need to get put the decorations away this weekend.

Anyway, it’s time for the first Friday Five on the year, in which I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and out allies, and five stories about what we ought to do with the seditious traitors. Plus one very unwelcome death and a couple of things I wrote.

Stories of the Week:

Report: The exploding meteor over Pittsburgh produced blast equal to 30 tons of TNT

Is That a Burning Bush? Is This Mt. Sinai? Solstice Bolsters a Claim

Meteorologist says transportation officials ignored forecasts, leading to I-95 disaster

Opinion | Jimmy Carter: I Fear for Our Democracy

A Day that Will Live in Infamy

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Out Democrat forced to pull bill that would ban genital surgery on minors that actually happens

Elvira lost thousands of “horny old men” fans after coming out

Judge rules trans inmate with severe dysphoria can’t be denied surgery in historic decision

Gay kiss-a-thon forced Six Flags to drop its homophobic anti-kissing policy

How a music video about a gay teen may have saved hundreds of lives

This Week in How Do We Handle Seditious Treason:

Stonekettle Station: Insurrection, One Year On

Jan. 6 Didn’t Set Off A Wave of Right-Wing Terrorism. Here’s What Happened Instead

One Year After 1/6, Media Still Refuse to Recognize Authoritarian Christianity

Why DOJ is avoiding domestic terrorism sentences for Jan. 6 defendants

Jan. 6 tracker: Analyzing Capitol riot guilty pleas and sentences

In Memoriam:

Betty White, ‘Golden Girls’ Star and TV Legend, Dies at 99

Longtime LGBTQ+ Ally Betty White has died at 99 – The beloved actress who was set to celebrate her 100th birthday on January 17, 2022 died overnight in Los Angeles

Betty White Understood Gay Men, and We Loved Her for It – I never felt ‘handsome,’ but when I met Betty, she made me feel like I was

Betty White defied racist demands with her 1954 variety show – Betty White Once Helped Launch the Career of a Black Tap Dancer by Hiring Him for Her Variety Show

Things I Wrote:

Good-bye Betty

My New Year’s Wish for You for 2022

We have reached the final Friday in December–which also happens to be the final Friday of 2021, and just happens to be New Year’s Eve.

We have been snowed in. Our particular neighborhood is bounded on all sides by hills that become difficult to drive on if we get ice and snow. Various government agencies were pleading with people all week not to drive if they could avoid it. Buses are on emergency routes. (Just Google "Seattle bus slides down snowy hill" and you’ll be taken to some truly terrifying videos and stories from past storms). My husband took the bus in to work two days, which involved him walking further to catch a bus because of the emergency route avoiding steep hills. After his scare ride home the second work day of the week, when more snow came down, he decided to take the day off.

Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about fictional parents, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about discrimination, five stories about treason and deplorables, and five stories about the crime and punishment. Plus some notable deaths and a couple of things I wrote.

This Week in Fictional Parents:

The 2021 Darth Vader Parenthood Award for Outstandingly Horrible Fictional Parents

The 2021 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award

Stories of the Week:

A 6th Grader Saves the Lives of Two People on the Same Day – Davyon Johnson, 11, has been honored for his Dec. 9 interventions but says he doesn’t understand the attention he’s drawn. It was “the right thing to do,” he said

Betty White’s Words of Wisdom at 100: ‘Avoid Anything Green’

Webb Space Telescope Got a Lucky Boost From Its Christmas Launch – The mission may have enough fuel to last over a decade, thanks to an ultra-precise launch

A pandemic-scarred year ends in darkness — but with hope on the horizon

21 most popular LGBTQ news stories of 2021 – This year’s most clicked on queer stories include a transgender Miss USA contestant, gay emperors, a nonbinary Olympian, lesbian bars and more

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Two California teachers were secretly recorded speaking about LGBTQ student outreach. Now they’re fighting for their jobs

Gay-Straight Alliance Wins Equal Rights After Judge’s Injunction

Gay Man’s Entire Family Helps Him Stand Up To Mom And Invite BF For Christmas

New Jersey Legislators Vote to Protect Marriage Equality

Colton Haynes shares photo he spent years trying to get wiped from internet

This Week in Discrimination:

Sodomy laws are still being used to persecute queer people

Pennridge School District removes LGBTQ books from libraries

Mom heartbroken by daughter’s suicide blames transphobic Republicans & health insurers

Oklahoma bill gives parents the right to have a book removed from a school library

Anti-Semitic Man Attacked Neighbor While Yelling Homophobic Slurs

This Week in Seditious Traitors and Other Deplorables:

‘Slow-motion insurrection’: How GOP seizes election power

A Lie Totally Devoid of Reality’: Venezuelan Businessman Sues Fox News, Lou Dobbs, Sidney Powell Over ‘Egregious and Sinister’ Claims Linked to 2020 Election

Rep. Liz Cheney hits back at Trump as Jan. 6 committee pushes Supreme Court to order release of White House records

Ex-Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg agrees to pay Seminole County nearly $2M in restitution

Jim Jordan ‘Committed a Felony’ With Text Message to Mark Meadows: Former Federal Prosecutor

This Week in Crime and Punishment:

Ghislaine Maxwell convicted in Epstein sex abuse case

Capitol rioters hit with severe sentences and sharp reprimands from judges – Some of the longest sentences have gone to rioters charged with ‘assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon’ I disagree with the headline. Four Puerto Rican nationalists who assaulted the capitol in the 1950s got sentences of 50 to 75 years for their crime. None of the convicted rioters — including those who assaulted capitol police — have been sentenced to more than 6 years.

Convicted of sex crimes, Jack Strain may have to pay costs of his prosecution, jailing – DA’s office also seeking restitution for former sheriff’s victims

A man convicted of killing four people in what authorities say was one of the most gruesome crimes in North Dakota history has been sentenced to multiple life prison terms without the possibility of parole

Non-Prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein Jail Guards Made Official

In Memoriam:

Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s ‘moral compass’ – Tutu, who died on Sunday at the age of 90, was considered ‘a thorn in the side of the apartheid government’

LGBTQ+ Rights Ally Archbishop Desmond Tutu Dies at 90

Harry Reid Didn’t Care What You Thought of Him

Harry Reid, former Senate majority leader and Democratic kingmaker, dies at 82

Gay Olympic Diving Star Ian Matos Is Dead at 32

John Madden, football legend, dies at 85

The final, beautiful goodbye of NFL legend John Madden

Things I Wrote:

We need a Rainbow Christmas more than ever!

On the seventh day of Christmas vacation…

We have reached the fourth Friday in December. This year also known as Christmas Eve. Or as Kermit once described it in song, the day before the night before Christmas.

I finally seem to be over whatever I was sick with, for what it’s worth. Thursday was my first day of a 12-day Christmas vacation, which means–of course–that things were crazy at work on Wednesday and I worked a few hours later than I would like.

Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: one story about simple joy, two stories about the season, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about deplorables, five stories about the pandemic, and five stories about the Hugo Awards. Plus some notable deaths and a couple of things I wrote.

This Week in Joy:

JOY: Watch This Third-Grade Teacher Make A Hail Mary Shot

This Week in Tis the Season:

Recommended listening: Louis Armstrong’s ‘The Night Before Christmas’

Lowland residents to get Christmas weekend snow, with dangerous cold to follow

Stories of the Week:

Hanukkah isn’t Jewish Christmas. Here’s the story of the holiday

One Year In, Joe Biden Has Confirmed More Lifetime Judges Than Decades Of Presidents

A New Record for Gorey Art at Auction

A dinosaur embryo has been found inside a fossilized egg. Here’s what that means

Astronomers discover largest group of ‘rogue planets’ yet

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Students sued their school for the right to form a Gay-Straight Alliance. They just won

Utah billionaire leaves Mormon church, donates $600,000 to LGBTQ group

Author of ‘Gender Queer,’ one of most-banned books in U.S., addresses controversy

It’s official: Washington Blade gets designated seat in WH briefing room – LGBTQ newspaper secures seat in WH briefing room for first time

Jennifer Coolidge reading the “The Night Before Christmas” is the present you need this year – She is making the Yuletide G-A-Y

This Week in Haters, Deplorable People, and Their Victims:

Thousands of Isreali LGBTQ people sent terrifying texts after dating site hack exposes personal info

Convicted Gay Trump Ally Brandon Straka Cooperating With Authorities

Trump Can Go To Hell. Why Not Jail?

Morning Joe: Mitch McConnell’s latest remarks about Jan. 6 probe shows GOP senators are done with Trump

Michael Flynn’s Request Thrown Out Of Court In ONE Day – The ink barely had time to dry on Flynn’s request for a temporary restraining order to prevent the January 6th Committee from accessing his phone records or demand testimony from him

This Week in the Pandemic:

I Got COVID Three Times – Don’t worry, you (probably) won’t become me. But yes, you can get COVID twice, and even more

Covid-19 was third leading cause of death in 2020, driving record rise in death rate and nearly two-year drop in life expectancy

With omicron, you need a mask that means business

Vaccines, pills and data offer some Christmas cheer in face of Omicron advance

Omicron Is Our Past Pandemic Mistakes on Fast-Forward

This Week in Hugo Awards:

Cora Buhlert: Some Thoughts on the 2021 Hugo Award Winners and the Ceremony in general

Camestros Felapton: Hugo 2021 first reactions

Doris V. Sutherland: 2021 Hugo Awards Celebrate Imagination, Wonder, and an Arms Manufacturer

Nicholas Whyte: 2021 Hugos in detail

Doug Merrill: Hugo 2021 and Me

In Memoriam:

Joan Didion, famed American essayist and novelist, has died

Thomas Kinsella, one of Ireland’s finest poets, has died, aged 93

Things I Wrote:

Murderbot Wins Two Hugos! And other reactions to this year’s results

A ’54 Convertible Too, Light Blue

We have reached the third Friday in December.

My week has been dominated by sniffles, coughing, a scratchy throat, and an on-again off-again low grade fever. At the advice of my doctor I got a COVID test this week. Still awaiting the result. My husband came down with the first symptoms about 3 days after I did. Keep your fingers crossed.

Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about seditious traitors, and five stories about the pandemic. Plus notable obituaries.

Stories of the Week:

PolitiFact | The 2021 Lie of the Year: Lies about the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and its significance

Lessons from a year of reporting on climate solutions in the PNW

Oh, So Now The Mainstream Media Gets That Fox News Is Garbage?

Kentucky Workers’ Jobs Threatened If They Evacuated For Tornado – "Corporations will literally let you die to make a buck." Stay in the factory during a tornado or get fired? It’s time to unionize EVERYWHERE

Senator Warren Pushes SCOTUS Expansion: Four More Justices – It’s time to UNPACK the Court

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Carl Nassib designed rainbow cleats to support the LGBTQ community

Hormone therapy linked to lower suicide risk for trans youths, study finds

US LGBTQ+ population hits 20 million

11 ways LGBTQ rights improved around the world in 2021 – Though 2021 presented many challenges for the LGBTQ community, it was also a year of hope and progress

Jury Awards $4M to Trans Boy After School Denies Him Restroom Access

This Week in Seditious Traitors:

Mark Meadows should face charges for stonewalling Congress

Lauren Boebert’s Recent Joke: Contextualized for the Racist-Adjacent and Empathy Deficient

Dem Congressman Doesn’t Sugarcoat It: Jim Jordan Is A Traitor – No mincing of words by Ruben Gallego, a former Marine who is on the House Armed Services Committee

Delaware judge denies Fox’s motion to dismiss Dominion lawsuit

DOJ must move ‘full speed ahead’ with Jan. 6 criminal probe of Trump and his allies: Laurence Tribe

This Week in the Pandemic:

Google employees to lose pay if don’t comply with vaccination policy

Pfizer confirms COVID pill’s results, potency versus omicron

The NFL and NBA lead new Covid outbreaks in sports, spurring fines, restrictions, and delays

5 omicron variant symptoms you shouldn’t ignore

Fauci says omicron will soon become dominant Covid variant in U.S., urges people to get vaccines and boosters

In Memoriam:

Feminist author and poet bell hooks, known for ‘Aint I A Woman’ and ‘All About Love’, dies at 69

Remembering our sister-friend bell hooks – Heartbreaking doesn’t aptly depict the enormity of her passing

‘The world is a lesser place today without her.’ Acclaimed author bell hooks dies at 69

Michael Nesmith, Monkees Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 78

Michael Nesmith was more than a Monkee

Michael Nesmith, Monkee and pop innovator, has died

My Friend, My First LGBTQ Ally, Anne Rice, Has Died

We have reached the second Friday in December. Which is one day after my wedding anniversary, and I’m still a bit amazed that my husband still puts up with me.

It’s getting colder. Earlier this week, because I let the bird feeder get lower than usual, there was a lot of drama outside my window. Little birds can be vicious to each other. The hummingbird feeder was not so low, but the colder temperatures (and a lot fewer flowering plants blooming in the area) means that several are visiting the feeder many times a day. For some reason there is that spot about a foot away from the feeder one the fairy lights I have strung up out there where several of the hummingbirds want to sit in between feeding… but they don’t want to share. And their fights are even more vicious than the altercations between the sparrows, junkos, and chickadees at the other feeder.

Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: one story about a hidden treasure, two stories about making bad people pay for their wrongs, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about deplorable people, and five stories about the pandemic. Plus notable obituaries and something I wrote.

This Week in Hidden Treasures:

Hidden sketch revealed beneath Rembrandt’s The Night Watch – Restoration uncovers Dutch master’s original vision for 1642 painting for the first time

This Week in Make Them Pay:

Mass Shooting Victim Sues MI School District For $100M – Michigan school shooting ‘entirely preventable,’ $100-million suit says

Family of Georgia Trans Inmate Wins $2.2M Wrongful-Death Settlement

Stories of the Week:

Canada Bans the Dangerous Practice of LGBTQ+ ‘Conversion Therapy’ – unanimous votes in both Houses…

Supreme Court Justice shoots down lawyer’s wild claim about LGBTQ rights – The lawyer said the right won’t use attacks on abortion to take away LGBTQ rights. Sonia Sotomayor called bullshit

Two recent murder trials show the danger of white fragility – Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted while Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan Jr. were found guilty, but the trials are merely opposite sides of the same coin

14 GOP senators help advance McConnell debt limit deal

Seventh-grader dies by suicide after being told he’d go to hell for being gay

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Federal Court To South Carolina: Fulton Doesn’t Do What You Think It Does – South Carolina thought the Supreme Court gave them an avenue to practice anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Guess what?

Priest backs trans community after diocese tells LGBT+ people ‘repent if you want baptism’

Wonder Woman Is Getting the Queer Romance She Deserves in New DC Comic

Minnesota Town Rallies Around Outed Trans Child

Pro wrestler kisses his boyfriend in front of homophobic protestors to “stand up against hate” – His fans loved it

This Week in Haters, Deplorable People, and Their Victims:

Antigay activist Josh Duggar can now add “convicted child sex predator” to his esteemed resumé

Court rejects Trump’s efforts to keep records from 1/6 panel

The far right isn’t attacking books. They’re attacking children – The right is weaponizing Q-Anon ideology and sexual assault to ban LGBTQ books, putting kids in danger

Torrance police traded racist, homophobic texts. It could jeopardize hundreds of cases – While no officers face criminal charges in direct relation to the text messages, the racist exchanges have led to the dismissal of at least 85 criminal cases involving the officers implicated in the scandal

Martin Shkreli ‘Pharma Bro’ Firm Reaches $40M Settlement in Gouging Case – The settlement doesn’t stop litigation against Martin Shkreli, who was dubbed the “Pharma Bro" and allegedly masterminded the scheme as Vyera’s first CEO

This Week in the Pandemic:

Covid-19 patients at this hospital are dying ‘at a rate we’ve never seen die before’ — and it’s taking a toll on health care workers

Illinois State Rep. Introduces Bill Requiring Unvaccinated Residents to Pay For Their Own COVID Care

16- and 17-year-olds are now eligible for a Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine booster

Maria Van Kerkhove interview: What we know about omicron so far – Exclusive: The World Health Organization’s technical lead on covid-19 says we will know how effective our vaccines are against omicron by Christmas

Fauci pushed back on Sen. Ron Johnson’s claims that he ‘overhyped’ the AIDS crisis and COVID-19

In Memoriam:

Bronski Beat founder Steve Bronski dies at 61

Bronski Beat co-founder ‘who changed lives’ dies

Steve Bronski, co-founder of pioneering gay band Bronski Beat, dies aged 61

Bob Dole dies at 98; anti-LGBTQ record is part of his legacy

Things I Wrote:

Nine Years Ago Today

We have reached the first Friday in December. Wait. What? December? How the heck did that happen?

My husband and I have been having odd symptoms that hint at a cold — no serious respiratory symptoms. It’s been weird and annoying.

Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: two stories about bad-ass women in the news, one story of the WTF is wrong with people type, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about seditious treason, five stories about hate, and five stories about the pandemic. Plus notable obituaries and somethings I’ve written.

This Week in Badass Women:

Sotomayor Nails Forced-Birth Lawyer To The Wall

Stacey Abrams announces she’s running for governor in Georgia

This Week in WTF:

Another school shooting happened while you weren’t looking – At this point, slaughtering children in school doesn’t even merit top billing on the evening news broadcasts

Stories of the Week:

Congress averts shutdown after vaccine mandate fight

Local Democrats Only Flip 40-ish Seats In Georgia Elections, Probably Excellent News For John McCain

Menorah Lighting Is Back At The White House This Year – Last year, the so-called president held a partisan food reception, but no menorah

This dinosaur had a weapon shaped like an Aztec war club on its tail – A new ankylosaur species found in Chile may be an early version of the armored creatures

The deputy who shot Casey Goodson Jr. 5 times in the back is charged with murder

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

This guy 3D-printed a mirror array to make sunlight propose marriage for him

How a Seattle man became a lifeline for persecuted LGBTQ people in other countries

Biden’s World AIDS Day proclamation mentions LGBTQ people in break from Trump – Donald Trump and Mike Pence refused to acknowledge the impact HIV has had on LGBTQ people. Joe Biden changed that

Library Association Battles Attempts To Ban LGBT Books – There were 155 efforts to censor books in US schools and libraries, group says

Leslie Jordan and Cheyenne Jackson release holiday duet of ‘Little Drummer Boy’

This Week in Seditious Traitors:

Very, very, very bad news for Donald Trump

Judge Sends Signal To Capitol Rioters Who Blame Trump – "No one was swept away to the Capitol, no one was carried,” U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told a defendant’s lawyer

Two Georgia election workers sue far-right website over false fraud allegations

FBI Arrests Capitol Rioter With The Help Of The ‘F**k You’ Tattoo On His Middle Finger – Justin Jersey, known as "Fingerman," was one of the earliest suspects sought by online sleuths investigating the Trump supporter who attacked cops

Sidney Powell And ‘Kraken’ Lawyers Must Pay More Than $175,000 To Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer And Others

This Week in Hate, Discrimination, and Bad People:

Google Sued for Anti-Trans, Antigay Discrimination by Former Employees

North Carolina Lt Gov Threatens Dem Lawmaker After Speech In Support Of LGBTQ Rights – "He has no power or authority over me," Sen. Mayfield says of exchange with lieutenant gov

Liberty University professor charged in sexual battery, abduction of student

Canada’s “QAnon Queen” Arrested After Death Threats – Self-declared ‘Queen of Canada’ detained by RCMP after alleged threats to health-care workers

‘I was given training to de-gay my voice’: what it’s really like to work in TV if you’re LGBTQ+

This Week in the Pandemic:

Stricter testing requirements for travelers coming to the US will take effect Monday

Parts of King County seeing big demand for COVID booster, appointments hard to come by

New York officials confirm 5 cases of omicron Covid variant in NYC metro area

Omicron vs. Delta: More mutations don’t necessarily make a meaner Covid-19 virus

NFL suspends Antonio Brown, two others for submitting fake vaccination cards

In Memoriam:

Stephen Sondheim, Titan of the American Musical, Is Dead at 91 – He was the theater’s most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century and the driving force behind some of Broadway’s most beloved and celebrated shows

Legendary gay composer & Broadway genius Stephen Sondheim passes at 91 – From "West Side Story" to "Sweeney Todd" and everything in between, the public searches hopelessly for words that encapsulate the incomparable creative

Some Insufficient Words About Stephen Sondheim

Eddie Mekka, Carmine on ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ dead at 69

Dave Draper, iconic American bodybuilder, dies at 79

Lee Elder, the first Black golfer to play at the Masters, dies at 87

Things I Wrote:

Transgender Day of Remembrance

It’s nearly time for the jangle java jingle!

Mid-week News Update: Lack of moral compass edition

Some pre-Thanksgiving Dinner humor

It’s time for Turkeys!

Thanksgiving Greeting

Time to be Thankful

To absent friends… 2021

NASA is pulling a "Deep Impact": New spacecraft will test asteroid deflection methods – The DART satellite will test how easy it is to change the course of potentially dangerous asteroids

All 3 Defendants Were Just Found Guilty of Murdering Ahmaud Arbery – The case helped galvanize racial justice protests around the world

‘Tis the season: First lady Jill Biden receives official White House Christmas tree

Apple Sues Israeli Spyware Maker, Seeking to Block Its Access to iPhones – Apple accused NSO Group, the Israeli surveillance company, of “flagrant” violations of its software, as well as federal and state laws

Christian Billionaires Are Funding a Push to Kill the Equality Act

We have reached the third Friday in November, and I am well into my project for this year’s National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo

I know I said last week was rainy, but I spoke too soon. During the period from Saturday evening through Monday western Washington was inundated with about as much rainfall as we typically get in the entire month of November. Wow. In more personal news, on Thursday during what was supposed to be a routine checkup, my general practitioner told me that instead of waiting for my scheduled appointed a few weeks out for my COVID booster, that he could give me the shot that day. So, I got my booster! Woo!

Anyway, it’s time for this week’s Friday Five in which I bring you: one story about vaccines, two stories about a lying jerk, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, and five stories about the pandemic (plus some notable obituaries and things I wrote).

This Week in I Couldn’t Have Put It Better Myself:

Dan Savage doesn’t hold back in his warning to straight guys flirting with gay guys

ART AND CLIMATE

This Week in Ways You Can Help:

Here’s where you can honor trans lives on the Transgender Day of Remembrance this Saturday – For those looking for a space to honor the lives that have been lost, we’ve compiled some events taking place around the country

Stories of the Week:

Mrs. Betty Bowers explains why they think America is a theocracy

CDC: No trace of virus causing smallpox found in lab vials, despite labels

Science Discovers Another Avenue That Could Lead to an HIV Cure

Biden administration will invest billions to expand coronavirus vaccine manufacturing

‘Let’s get it done’: House moves to vote on Build Back Better Act after CBO score is released

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

A Landmark Year for U.S. Cities in Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality

Trucks are driving around in Texas with huge signs that declare “Trans lives are precious” – "We need to go beyond awareness. Most people are ‘aware’ that trans people exist. We must take action and continue to fight for our trans family."

High school students clap back at school board protestors claiming book “teaches kids how to be gay” – One student pointed out the irony in all the "Free Speech" Trump supporters draped in American flags and calling for government censorship and book burning

GOP politicians tried to shut down a smalltown LGBTQ support group. It backfired spectacularly – The LGBTQ community is a "hate group" because they "make people upset," according to the elected officials

She-Ra creator Noelle Stevenson on life after Princesses of Power and telling TERFs to ‘get f**ked’

This Week in Haters, Deplorables, and Liars:

He Raped Four Girls. He’s White, And His Parents Are Wealthy – So you will not be that surprised by how this turned out

Nicolle Wallace Performs Live Autopsy On Pathetic Gasbag Chris Christie

Trump Fanatic Who Electroshocked D.C. Cop On Jan. 6 Tries To Get His Confession Tossed – The Trump supporter, who electroshocked Officer Mike Fanone at the Capitol on Jan. 6, is trying to argue that he wasn’t properly advised of his rights

‘QAnon Shaman’ is sentenced to over 3 years in prison for role in Capitol riot – Jacob Chansley had pleaded guilty in September to a single count of felony obstruction of an official proceeding

Unmasking Moms for Liberty

This Week in the Pandemic:

Fauci Warns Of Uptick In Hospitalizations Among Fully Vaccinated, Touts Boosters – Hospital Stays Rising Among People Who Didn’t Get Boosters

More than a million Americans may have long-term loss of smell due to COVID-19, new research says

State officials from California to Maine are already giving out Covid boosters to all adults

Pediatricians warn of virus’ impact on kids, urge parents to vaccinate them; weekly new infections again surpass 600,000: COVID-19 updates

Army to Begin Forcing Out Soldiers Who Refuse COVID Vaccine, Including Guardsmen

Things I Wrote:

Weekend Update: Dishonored Wounded Troops Given Second Chance

Confessions of a Reluctant Tent Pole, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Make the Perfect Martini

Confessions of a Child Abuse Survivor, or, why forgiving and forgetting isn’t an option for some of us

Confessions of a rain-worshiper, or, why isn’t it called non-standard time?