News: Senators Do the Darnedest Things, The Jackson 3 & A New Zealand Travesty

In honor of Bruno's opening today, check out this love him/hate him piece from the New York Daily News. "Show me someone who's really offended by [the character] Bruno and I'll show you a highly self-righteous person," says psychiatrist Mark Goulston.

President Obama met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. (Pictured: Obama being greeted by Bishop James Harvey.) Despite their differences (to put it mildly) on abortion and stem cell research (and don't forget the gays), Obama thanked the Pope for receiving him and said, "It's a great honor."

Senator Roland Burris, controversially appointed by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich to fill a vacancy in the Illinois Senate created by the election of President Barack Obama, will reportedly not seek a full term in 2010.

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has admitted that his parents (they're alive???) paid his mistress's family nearly $100,000 "out of concern." Concern for their son's career and reputation? The money was allegedly not taken from campaign funds.

Senator John Kerry has announced his support for Massachusetts A.G. Martha Coakley's federal lawsuit challenging DOMA.

Convicted American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Iee were supposed to be sent to a prison labor camp in North Korea, but rumor has it they're at a guest house while officials seek talks with the U.S.

Gay Panic on Holiday: In New Zealand, 32-year-old Hungarian tourist Ferdinand Ambach beat 69-year-old Ronald Brown to death with a banjo and then rammed the instrument down his throat. He's just been found guilty...of manslaughter.

The ladies who Tweet.

Naked!—an exhibition of art that exposes "sundry flesh"—opened last night and runs through September 19 at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York. "Naked is not nude nor 'naturalist'—it is altogether more intriguing, predicating perhaps a state of desire, whether narcissistic or voyeuristic, that sense of being naked as an active, self-conscious state of heightened awareness if not arousal." The show features contributions from Jack Pierson (work pictured), Andy Warhol, David LaChapelle, Charles Hovland and many others. (Site is art, not porn, but is still probably NSFW.)

The Amateur Gourmet's singing, dancing tribute to...cooking fish.

In males, sexuality can be determined by birth order. The more older brothers he has, the more likely he is to be gay. Wait, I think I saw this movie—wasn't it pre-condom?

Michael Jackson's dermatologist may or may not be the father of his children, but he doesn't want them turning into "the next version of the Jackson 3."

Singapore will keep homosexuality illegal. But don't worry—they won't prosecute you for it.

According to Levi Johnston, Sarah Palin resigned for one reason only—greed. Palin's spokesman Meghan Stapleton fires back: "It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while honing his acting skills." Oh, snap. But if Levi's working on a piece of fiction, Sarah's Barbara Cartland.

Was Ernest Hemingway a failed KGB spy?

GOP Senator Ensign Admits Extramarital Affair

Nevada GOP Senator John Ensign, who has been a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, supported a constitutional amendment banning it, and called on President Clinton to resign over the Lewinsky affair
(“I came to that conclusion recently, and frankly it’s because of what he put his whole Cabinet through and what he has put the country through. He has no credibility left.”), acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a former campaign staffer yesterday. Her husband had formerly worked in Ensign's Senate office.

Ensign also called for Larry Craig's resignation after the Minneapolis men's room incident.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...