[BLOG] Some Thursday links

• Bad Astronomer Phil Plait notes that our first confirmed extrasolar visitor has been named, I/U2017 U1.


• Centauri Dreams examines the dynamics allowing Enceladus to keep its subsurface water ocean.


• Crooked Timber reacts to the alarming rift opening up between Saudi Arabia and its Shi'ite neighbours, including Lebanon and Iran.


• D-Brief notes that the New Horizons team planners are seeking a new name for their next target, (486958) 2014 MU69.


• Dangerous Minds takes a look at some of the greeting cards designed for American Greetings by Robert Crumb.


• Hornet Stories notes the rise of explicitly homophobic and transphobic ideologues in Paraguay, and its implications for wider South America.


• Lawyers, Guns and Money notes growing Democratic strength in Washington State.


• The Map Room Blog shares a New York Times map of the Virginia election for governor.


• The NYR Daily looks how the brutally quick shutdown of DNAInfo and the Gothamist network reflects the generally parlous state of journalism (among other things).


• Roads and Kingdoms takes a look at the humble momo, a breakfast food in (among other places) Bhutan.


• Starts With A Bang's Ethan Siegel explains why quark fusion can never be a potent energy source.


• Understanding Society celebrates its tenth anniversary.


• Window on Eurasia notes the disinterest of most Russians in personally costly revolutionary actions.

[NEWS] Four queer links: homophobia and adoption, Tori Amos, naturism, whisper networks

• Global News reports on a Edmonton couple surprised their anti-gay views disqualify them for adoption. Did they think they might not get a non-straight child?


• Hornet Stories reports on how Tori Amos got her start playing piano in gay bars.


• Mike Miksche reports for NewNowNext from a gay naturists' resort. The place sounds quite wholesome.


• Jesse Dorris at The New Yorker makes the point that gay/bi/queer men, too, need a whisper network to warn of threats. Being out is hard, but necessary for this.

[URBAN NOTE] Five Toronto notes: transit fares, Scarborough subway, Bloor bikes, alt-right, Junction

• blogTO notes that some would like a single fare for transit in Toronto.


• News of the internal Metrolinx report concluding a one-stop Scarborough subway extension would not be viable should not be controversial. But then, that's Toronto transit. The Toronto Star reports.


• Chris Selley hopes that the approval of permanent bike lanes along Bloor means that the cyclist/driver war will come to an end, over at the National Post.


• Torontoist reports on the identities of some of the white supremacists putting up alt-right posters around Toronto, with photos.


• Toronto Life notes that someone in the Junction has put up an unfinished basement apartment for $500 a month. (The tenant would be expected to finish the job.)

[NEWS] Four queer links: homophobia and adoption, Tori Amos, naturism, whisper networks

• Global News reports on a Edmonton couple surprised their anti-gay views disqualify them for adoption. Did they think they might not get a non-straight child?


• Hornet Stories reports on how Tori Amos got her start playing piano in gay bars.


• Mike Miksche reports for NewNowNext from a gay naturists' resort. The place sounds quite wholesome.


• Jesse Dorris at The New Yorker makes the point that gay/bi/queer men, too, need a whisper network to warn of threats. Being out is hard, but necessary for this.