News: Ann Coulter, Indonesia, Piano, Marc Jacobs, Pat Buchanan

Piano found in perfect working condition deep in woods of Cape Cod: "The Baldwin piano, which had a matching bench, was set up as if someone was about to sit down and play, reported WCVB-TV in Boston. Despite efforts by police to locate its owner, or at least explain how it came to be in a conservation area, police Monday said no one has contacted them...The piano is so heavy that it took more than a half-dozen men to load it onto a truck."

Ann Coulter's mouth wired shut. Image from a conservative women fur calendar.

SICK: Indonesian province moves forward with microchip implant proposal for people with HIV/AIDS. "Since the plan was initially proposed, the government has narrowed its scope, saying the chips would only be implanted in those who are 'sexually aggressive,' but it has not said how it would determine who fits that group. It also was not clear how many people it might include."

Britney Spears rolls the Stone back.

Amy Winehouse back in the hospital.

Brazil's DOM magazine halting publication.

Westboro Baptist Church flee after being met by hundreds of student counter-protestors in Omaha: "Students threw hamburgers and bottles of lemonade and milk at several members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., students said after the protest. A video of the protest was” recorded by 16-year-old student Mason Hartwell that” showed one counterprotester on the ground, seated with his hands behind his back and flanked by two law enforcement officers."

For the Gaybies: Marc Jacobs-designed Bugaboo stroller. "What would you pay for this hot new limited edition stroller? What if we told you there are only 15 available? How about if you knew it was designed by Marc Jacobs? If $1500 was the number you came up with, you know your luxury sedans."

Hillsborough County, Florida swears in first openly gay commissioner: "Democrat Kevin Beckner took the oath of office before a standing-room-only crowd that spilled into the first floor at County Center. Like the two other commissioners sworn in, Beckner thanked his parents and supporters. He singled out a 96-year-old activist who collected 400 signatures to get his name on the ballot and another woman who campaigned for him while battling cancer. As he joined a commission that three years ago voted to ban gay pride displays on county property, he also recognized his partner of 10 years."

A-Rod to help stuff Madonna's turkey.

Some 16-year-olds have all the luck.

New iPhone app helps you calculate whether or not you might be in danger of getting a DUI or endangering someone should you get behind the wheel after a holiday party. If so, it will call a taxi for you. Of course if you're that gone, will you have the foresight to use it?

World's largest cruise ship hits the water.

New documentary explores gay rights: "The rebirth of the gay rights movement and the battle over legalizing same-sex marriage will be the focus of the new indie documentary 'A Non-Issue?' The doc will follow Dr. John Corvino, a philosopher, lecturer and author of 'The Gay Moralist,' as he crisscrosses the nation engaging and debating those most against gay marriage."

"Ex-gay" groups receiving government subsidies in The Netherlands.

A look back at Pat Buchanan in 1977.

SX interviews Matthew Mitcham: "In a world where everyone seems to be on the make, Matthew Mitcham is a refreshing change. Unlike some other athletes that come to mind, he’s not milking his Beijing experience like a frenzied bovine. He’s not selling his story to the highest bidder, for instance, but is instead speaking to the gay press, and a community that has strongly supported him. He’s not hitting the party circuit, but has slipped back comfortably into his training at the Sydney Aquatic Centre, practising the sport he loves, spending his spare time (what little there is) doing ordinary things like catching up with friends and family, and hanging out with his partner."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Burundi, Ted Haggard, New York, Blood, Savannah, Chris Brown

Regulator: New York insurers must recognize same-sex couples married out-of-state.

East African Republic of Burundi criminalizes homosexuality.

Real life butt bandit arrested in Nebraska.

Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard wants the spotlight back: "While his exact plans remain unclear, Haggard is unmistakably making himself a public figure again, nine months after his former church said he walked away from an oversight process meant to restore him." And he wants money.

Beyoncé brings her "Single Ladies" to the American Music Awards. No Shane Mercado cameo though.

Eric Bana is Nero.

Spire to be placed atop Trump tower in Chicago.

Daniel Radcliffe talks about his man parts and the 'David and Goliath' effect.

Stunning and sad screenshot of messages left by observers of the kid who killed himself over his webcam last week.

NASA: First test of 'interplanetary internet' successful: "...human intervention is still required to schedule communications sessions for orbiters and landers...A new method would automate and streamline this process by sending data through an interplanetary 'internet'. Just as data is sent from one point to another on the internet via a linked network of hubs, or nodes, spacecraft scattered throughout the solar system could be used as nodes to transmit data through space."

Bill to eliminate discrimination against gays in taxes, social security and health approved by Australia's senate: "The bill will go to the House of Representatives for final approval this week, along with another bill to allow a person to benefit from their same-sex partner's superannuation. This bill passed the Senate last sitting week. The bills come on top of changes already enacted to grant gay people access to the federal family law courts on property and spouse maintenance matters after a relationship breakdown."

Sarah Lawrence College upholds ban on bloodmobile over FDA's anti-gay policies.

Savannah Morning News profiles local couple of 34 years, John Naylor and David Grice, who were married under the wire in California.

A Q&A with Sam Trammell of the just-finished (for this season anyway) True Blood.

The Boston Globe

Chris Brown wants to duet with Madonna.

Kathy Griffin to return to D-List for fifth season: "It’s going to be more celebrity oriented. [It's] the way that American Idol sort of started as a singing contest and then every week you expect to see the mentors. I have some really good guest stars coming on the D-List this year.”

SURVEY: 80% of South Africa's populace homophobic. "The study, conducted by Ben Roberts and Vasu Reddy, found that between 2003 and 2007 more than 80% of the population consistently felt that sex between two men or two women was always wrong. It also found that gays and lesbians were characterised as 'un-African' and that intolerance towards homosexuality was prevalent."

Sphere: Related Content

Nebraska Wrestlers Kicked off Team for Posing Nude on Gay Site

Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan, two nationally-ranked wrestlers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have been dismissed from their team after a UN gossip site revealed the two had posed nude in solo shoots and videos for the fratmen.tv website.

Said coach Mark Manning: "The history of behavior of these men, including the current matter, does not reflect the standard of excellence we aspire to on and off the mat. We have outstanding student-athletes in our program and we will move forward in a positive manner toward our goals. I want to personally apologize for any embarrassment that may have been caused for our athletic department, the university and our fans."

According to fratmen.tv owner John Marsh, the two had both indicated to them that they were hoping to continue with their college wrestling careers. At this point they'd have to apply to the NCAA at a different school to do so.

Said Marsh: "If Nebraska is going to be pigheaded and kick him off unreasonably, there has to be another wrestling program that's going to want him." Of the money they earned on fratmen.tv, Marsh said: "It's not money that they would be making working as a waiter. They get well-compensated. It's better than beer money...I'm in my mid 40s, and my generation has a stigma about porn. The kids, the generation of the student-athletes, don't have that stigma. They really don't care. They've come from a Paris Hilton, Tommy Lee-Pamela Anderson sex tape generation, Myspace pages. The shame and stigma aren't there for them. They're mostly worried about what their parents are going to think, because their parents think it's horrifying."

Huskers dismiss 2 wrestlers accused of posing nude [ap]

You may have missed...
Nationally Ranked Nebraska Wrestlers Pinned on Gay Porn Site [tr]

Sphere: Related Content

Nationally Ranked Nebraska Wrestlers Pinned on Gay Porn Site

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln gossip blog exposed one of the school's national champion wrestlers, Paul Donahoe, and his teammate, Kenny Jordan, as part-time gay porn models, after anonymous tips were sent to the site indicated that the athletes had posed in solo photoshoots for the fratmen.tv adult gay male site.

According to the Scarlet Project, "Donahoe, 22, is a senior from Davison, Michigan and has been a stand-out on the Husker wrestling team. Donahoe was arrested in April, 2008 after becoming “argumentative” and refused to break up a party being held at his residence on Claremont Street in Lincoln. Lincoln Police took Donahoe into custody and charged him with maintaining a disorderly house. His blood alcohol level tested at .122. The legal limit to drive in Nebraska is .08. Kenny Jordan is a junior from Frankfurt, Illinois. Jordan is a two-time state wrestling champion in the state of Illinois and also a national junior college 133-pound wrestling champion."

UNL wrestling coach Mark Manning released the following statement: "We are aware of the matter and it is being reviewed internally. We will have no further comment until all of the facts of the situation are known." He told the Star Journal: “We’re investigating the situation now, and until we find out further information we’re not going to make a statement into regards to Paul and Kenny being in our program."

The athletes in (censored) action, AFTER THE JUMP (probably NSFW)...

[[PHOTOS REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF FRATMEN.TV]]

Fleshbot has some more revealing photos (absolutely NSFW).
And more from Queerclick (NSFW).

And here's Donahoe defeating Sam Hazewinkel at the NCAA Finals in 2007.

Sphere: Related Content

'Scuffle' Breaks Out in Nebraska Over 'Day of Silence'

Several adults holding posters who showed up at a park near a school in Lincoln, Nebraska to protest today's 'Day of Silence' were met by some kids from the school, one of whom "ran through the middle of one of the posters," the Journal Star reports:

"The incident took place during the school’s Day of Silence, an annual event that took place in high schools across Lincoln Friday, said Gene Thompson, associate principal at Lincoln East...Thompson said three or four adults carried anti-gay posters in a public park near the school. He said more than a dozen students then began protesting the adults. The school sent administration and security staff to ensure nothing happened. The school didn’t suspend anyone, as the incident took place off school property, Thompson said."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Gaysted, McFly, Grace Kelly, Molly Ivins, Al Franken

Columnist Molly Ivins has died of cancer at 62: Tribute: "But there was more to Molly Ivins than insightful political commentary packaged in an aw-shucks Southern charm. In the coming days, much will be made of Molly's contributions to the liberal cause, how important she was as an authentic female voice on opinion pages across the country, her passionate and eloquent defense of the poorest and the weakest among us against the corruption of the most powerful, and the joy she took in celebrating the uniqueness of American culture -- and all of this is true. But more than that, Molly Ivins was a woman who loved and cared deeply for the world around her. And her warm and generous spirit was apparent in all her words and deeds."

Princess Stephanie of Monaco says her late mother Grace Kelly would have approved of pop star Mika's chart-topping song referencing her: "He is very talented and handsome and I'm sure my mother would have liked the song very much." Said Mika of the icon: "The song is all about identity and what people expect of me and how I'm perceived. I think Grace Kelly was a rebel and I liked that about her, rather than actresses like Audrey Hepburn or Sophia Loren." (more on Mika...)

Aussie Olympian Ian Thorpe and Lachlan Murdoch team up to fight AIDS in Papua New Guinea: "Thorpe says the disease threatens to wipe out up to 30 per cent of PNG's future workforce. 'We've listened to what the local interests are, to what's required here,' he said. 'It's wonderful to be able to see Australian businesses and PNG businesses coming together.' The business coalition launch raised close to $1 million in pledges."

African LGBT leaders angry that British activist Peter Tatchell and his group Outrage! are getting into their business.

Brit boyband McFly takes it off in the new Attitude.

Gaysted: "Heterosexual people getting so wasted, they slip into seemingly gay acts. The loose definition: It is when you are soooo drunk (wasted) and dudes start dancing with you and you just sort of go along with it and then they start putting their arms around you and you just kind of keep rolling with it because you're drunk and you sort of think the dude is being your dancefloor bro, but then when you sober up you realize that the situash is sort of weird. when this happens, you tell your friends, 'dude, i got so gaysted last night.'"

Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley gets ready to offer fashion commentary on Oscar's red carpet.

High school wrestler from Valentine, Nebraska who spread Herpes to 24 guys on 10 different teams at a wrestling meet in late December not likely to have a valentine this year. (via deadspin)

Al Franken to run for U.S. Senate from Minnesota: "In a statement, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said he was confident Minnesotans 'will reject Franken's divisive, scorched-earth attacks.' The state Democratic Party declined to comment. Should he win the Democratic primary in Minnesota, Franken would take on Republican Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record), a first-term senator who is among the Democrats' top targets. Coleman declined to comment Wednesday."

Sphere: Related Content

News: Christina Aguilera, Apple iPhone, Gay Wages

STUDY: "[UK] Gay men face considerably lower wages than their heterosexual colleagues and are less likely to be in work, despite the introduction of a law to prevent discrimination against sexual orientation in the workplace more than two and a half years ago."

Mel Gibson in DUI embarrassment. Apologizes for anti-Semitic tirade.

NYT perpetuates Christina Aguilera/Britney Spears rivalry in a new profile on Xtina: "As Ms. Spears, a proud hillbilly and soon to be mother of two, attempts to clean up her image and quash speculation that her marriage to a backup dancer turned rapper is on the rocks, it’s her former rival, Ms. Aguilera, who has found the road to respectability. And the once-dirty singer is convinced that it is she who will have the last laugh."

Lambda Legal and ACLU ask Nebraska court to reconsider ruling reinstating Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage: "The federal appeals court panel ... just ignored the U.S. Supreme Court, which has ruled that states can't pass laws just to discriminate against gay people. We are hopeful that the court will recognize this decision simply can't be squared with constitutional guarantees of equality."

Apple may introduce its iPhone in August, according to recent rumors: "A reader is reporting to us that a coworker's tech-unsavvy friend, who is regularly hired by Apple to do marketing photo shoots, was recently brought on to take some shots of 'the sleekest, sexiest damn phone he's ever seen.'"

Following the outing of a gay linguist, Fort Bragg soldiers say "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a trivial issue.

Suburban Chicago gay bar Nutbush City Limits celebrates its 30th anniversary: "There are obviously still people in the suburbs who are very closeted and leading double lives, but much less than before. It's not so unusual for a male couple to live openly in a small city or a suburb, whereas 10 years ago that was unusual and 20 years ago, if it happened, it was very hidden."

Nick Lachey reportedly roughs up 18-year-old who attempts to take photos of him with a cameraphone. Spokesman: "This harassment with camera phones - it's just out of control."

Sphere: Related Content

Setback in Nebraska: Judge reinstates ban on same-sex marriage.
Ruling: "[The amendment] and other laws limiting the state-recognized institution of marriage to heterosexual couples are rationally related to legitimate state interests and therefore do not violate the Constitution of the United States." The far-reaching Nebraska ban became law in 2000 but was overturned last year.

Sphere: Related Content