Good News for Whales

They're now apparently being protected by Batman:

"The mean-looking Ady Gil is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's newest weapon in their ongoing battle against Japanese whalers. The trimaran - previously known as Earthrace - recently set the world powerboat record for circumnavigation. Described as a ‘wave piercer’ which can submarine up to 23 feet underwater, the craft completed the round-the-world trip using 100 per cent renewable biodiesel fuel, with a net zero carbon footprint. The 24,000 nautical mile journey took just 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, smashing the previous record by over two weeks. Now the newly-renamed vessel has been unveiled as the Sea Shepherd's new weapon in the organisation's sixth campaign against whaling, Operation Waltzing Mathilda, which will launch from Australia early next month."

The First Rule of Book Club is You Don't Talk About Book Club?

Some interesting images for the Ksubi "Book Club" eyewear collection.

News: Otter, Angels in America, Maine, L Word, Gravy Wrestling

Angels in America to get New York revival.

Diane Sawyer to replace Charles Gibson as ABC World News Tonight anchor.

30-year-old Joel Hicks wins UK Gravy Wrestling championship. Video.

Real Housewife of Atlanta bares her titties for the gays.

UK farmer unleashes pigs to deter gay men from cruising in his woods.

Gay Pride group settles lawsuit with city of Birmingham, Alabama: "The group filed the federal lawsuit in 2008 over Mayor Larry Langford's attempt to withhold a parade permit from the group and his banning city workers from installing parade banners on city property. David Gespass, an attorney for Central Alabama Pride, said the city will craft a nondiscrimination policy when it comes to hanging banners and will pay the group's costs and legal fees. The city will pay $40,350 for legal fees and the lawsuit filing fee."

Family Research Council's Tony Perkins headed to Maine to fight marriage equality.

Meet the guy who's casting Maine's anti-gay marriage equality ad.

Cate Blanchett struck with radio, injured during performance of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Peter Facinelli and co-star Haaz Sleiman pucker up for Nurse Jackie.

The L Word to go real life: "Show will follow six lesbians in Los Angeles as they go about their lives -- a lesbian answer to Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise. Project is dependent on casting, the net said; if all goes as planned, "The Real L Word" would debut sometime next year."

25 lesbian tattoos.

Dolphin slaughter suspended in Japan: "Today is September 1st, the first day of the dolphin slaughter season in Japan. But when I arrived today by bus from Kansai Airport with media representatives from all over the world, the notorious Cove from the movie was empty. There were no dolphin killers in sight. So today is a good day for dolphins!

Gay resort opens in Tampa.

Albino otter spotted in Scotland!

WATCH: Whitney Houston performs in Central Park.

Hungarian police give go-ahead for Gay Pride parade on Saturday.

The 5 Gayest Beaches in Southern California.

Washington State Senator Ed Murray won't enter Seattle mayor's race: "Murray had been considering a write-in campaign after T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan and Sierra Club activist Mike McGinn advanced to the November general election in last month's primary. In a statement released Tuesday, Murray says he needs to focus on the upcoming campaign to get voters to approve Referendum 71, which has qualified for the November ballot."

Watch the Gayest Racing Video Game Ever

UPDATE: Apologies - I had the wrong clip in there for a bit.

I think it's time to develop this for the Wii. You may have heard about the Japanese obsession with adult film star Billy Herrington.

He's become something of a cult pop culture and anime figure in that country: "Herrington has also become an internet meme among the Japanese community after a clip from one of his videos 'Workout' was posted on Nico Nico Douga, a Japanese video sharing website. Over 3000 parody videos of him have been made, many of which utilizes deliberate mishearings of his lines in the porn flick. He is affectionately called 'Big Brother' among the Nico Nico Douga community, and most of his videos are deliberately tagged with 'Forest Fairy', 'Philosophy' or both."

Here's the latest clip (in the form of a video game trailer)  to turn up on YouTube, with this plot synopsis:

"Deep in the forest lived Billy and his charming companions. They peacefully honed their bodies and listened to music there. But a wave of development came upon the forests. One who would turn all to road. Kagamine Rin had come. Billy must stop the construction before all is turned to road."

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via buzzfeed)

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #527

BILL O'REILLY: Jon Stewart has gone off the rails.

THE COVE: A new documentary about dolphin killing in Japan.

FRANK BRUNI: The former NYT restaurant critic discusses his aliases.

BRUNI II: Salon's Kerry Lauerman interviews Bruni about his anonymity and weight loss.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Hiroshima: 64 Years Ago

The Big Picture has posted a sobering gallery of photos marking this dark anniversary.