David Sedaris to Release Audiobook on Vinyl LP

David Sedaris goes retro for his newest audiobook:

"Albums are enjoying something of a renaissance, posting $57 million in sales in 2008, more than double the previous year and the best for the format since 1990, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The format is so rare for audiobooks, however, that the Audiobook Publishers Association has never even tracked its sales. But Maja Thomas, senior vice president for digital and audio publishing at the Hachette Book Group, said she was drawn to the idea precisely because it was quirky. Mr. Sedaris’s 'audience is very attuned to irony and is going to find this funny,' Ms. Thomas said. The 31-minute album, which will be released on Jan. 5 and cost $24.98, will include only two of the five essays on the CD version of the audiobook, but will feature a code enabling purchasers to digitally download the entire program."

Watch: More From the Informed Palin Fanbase

New Left Media rounds up another group of Palin morons at a book-signing in Columbus, Ohio.

My favorite quote: "I'm an American. We don't have czars in America."

Frank Rich made some excellent points in his column on Palin over the weekend:

"The fact-checking siege of 'Going Rogue' — by the media, Democrats and aggrieved McCain campaign operatives alike — is another fruitless sideshow. Palin’s political appeal has never had anything to do with facts — or coherent policy positions. The more she is attacked for not being in possession of pointy-headed erudition, the more powerful she becomes as an avatar of the anti-elite cause."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Unhappy Sarah Palin Book Tour Mob Boos Her Out of Town

Several hundred Palin fans in Noblesville, Indiana crowd who had waited up to nine hours on a rainy night with books and wristbands to see Sarah Palin were denied face time with no explanation. And they weren't happy. The mob gathered around her bus, booing her as it pulled away on Thursday.

Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP...

Palin released a statement on her Facebook page: "I've been told that yesterday there were supporters in Noblesville who stood in long lines for hours in the cold and rain, and the book signing event ended without a chance to say hello to everyone who showed up. I am so sorry. We are working on a solution for those who were left behind. I apologize."

Dedicated Palin Nuts Camp Out Overnight to See Her

The nuts were out in full force in western Michigan at a Palin book signing. In fact, they camped out overnight for it.

Says the supporter above:

"She's a very real person. She's a very fresh breath of air in our political system that's gone very stale over the last many years. She's not afraid to tell it like it is. Considering the three that we had running last time along with Sarah Palin, she was by far the most qualified to hold that office today. More qualified than John McCain, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama. All they've ever done was hold a seat in the senate for a debate committee."

Also, Michelangelo Signorile notes a report on Politico about the signing: "Aside from his showing that it truly is a campaign rally rather than a book signing, there are a couple of interesting observations re: the fans. One man notes that Palin is for 'putting the homos back in the closet,' and, sure enough, minutes later a security guard tells another man who is wearing a 'Homos for Palin' t-shirt that he's got to 'zip it up' or leave."

The Palin book has also been blamed for the shooting of Rachel Maddow (watch clip #2 - apologies for the misposted clip earlier - and I didn't mean to scare anybody!)

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Voguing, Alex Pettyfer, Bearforce1, James Jones, Liverpool

NY Senator Savino on marriage equality vote: "I'm hopeful it's Tuesday."

Alex Pettyfer strikes a profile in Vman.

Beaver watersports on The Early Show.

Anti-gay Liverpool attack inspires fast-tracking of hate crimes laws in UK: "A new law imposing two years imprisonment for those who incite violence on the grounds of sexual orientation will come into force by mid-December, several months ahead of schedule. And local police forces nationwide will be encouraged to follow Merseyside in setting up ‘frontline’ action teams to combat such crimes."

Kathy Griffin to play lesbian activist on Law & Order: SVU.

Philippines election committee (COMELEC) rejects gay party on grounds of immorality: "In a ruling dated November 11, the Comelec said that although the party presented proper documents and evidence for their accreditation, their petition is 'dismissable on moral grounds.' Page 5 of the ruling states that Ang Ladlad's definition of the LGBT sector as a marginalized sector who are disadvantaged because of their sexual orientation "makes it crystal clear that the petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs."

FOX News goes after gay YouTube newsclipper (who we use constantly here at Towleroad, and provides a great service) with takedown notices but leaves right-wing sites alone.

Mug shot of the week.

Dolce & Gabbana purchase NYC condo: "A source dishes that over the weekend the fashion duo bought a two-floor brand-new apartment on 10th Ave. in Chelsea — in a building where one-floor units start at a whopping $5 million. They celebrated with model Adam Senn (who is starring in the new D&G ads along with Madonna) at Il Bastardo in Chelsea on Tuesday night."

Warhol Brillo box goes for $842,500 at Philips de Pury auction.

Daniel Radcliffe denies smoking weed.

Dutch bear band Bearforce1 breaks up.

India creates third gender for voters: "Indian election authorities have granted what they called an independent identity to gays and transsexuals -- a third gender -- on the country's voter lists. Members of these groups were referred to as male or female on the voter rolls in the past. Now they will have the choice to pick "O" -- for others -- when indicating their gender on voter forms, the Indian election commission said in a statement Thursday."

Tonight: The Ugly Betty episode that AfterElton says you must not miss.

New York is Burning: Voguing ball returns to NYC's Irving Plaza. "This Saturday, the House of Xtravaganza will host their first ball in over five years. I live for balls, and I’ve always lived for the Xtravaganzas; this ball will consist of 26 different competitions."

Author James Jones was forced to remove expletives and homosexual scenes from the 1951 novel From Here to Eternity: "One character, Maggio makes extra bucks by hanging out with older, rich gay men who live in Honolulu, who pay good money for his company. The original manuscript goes into great detail about what kind of sexual favors soldiers like Maggio are willing to provide. The soldiers act as if it’s simply their company that these older men are paying for, but there’s an underlying, secret understanding that many of them will provide sex. Maggio sees nothing wrong with this at all, since it is a means to an end – a way to make quick money so he can go back and hang out with the whores."

Giving Good Face

 

Celebs and unknowns got ready for their close-ups in these shots from a forthcoming book by photographer John Russo called About Face. Russo used type 55 Polaroid film and used natural light.