News: Howard Dean, iPhone, Lance Armstrong, Reggae, Ryan Gosling

Russian gay activists to picket Iranian Embassy in Moscow. Nikolai Alexeyev: "We need to continuously remind the state authorities that the death penalty must be abolished."

Line forms a week early for 3G iPhone...

Ryan Gosling makes an excellent case for the white T-shirt.

Larry Craig's bathroom stall to return to spotlight: "Thousands of members of the international media will have to walk past it when they land at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul at the end of the summer. Many will feel obligated to stop and file a story. For the party that bills itself as stronger on family values than the Democrats, it likely will prove an unwelcome distraction."

UK Study: employees who are "out" at work perform better.

Half Blood Prince: First look at new Harry Potter film.

Lance Armstrong gets a beard.

Signorile on Arthur Finkelstein, the gay Republican behind Jesse Helms: "Conservative, then-closeted, Republican political operative Arthur Finkelstein helped engineer Helms' racist campaign against African-American Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in 1990, as Helms was vilifying gay sexuality, blocking AIDS funding, stalling prevention and attacking queer artists. (See the ad below that was aired at the height of the campaign and which resulted in Gantt going from a a lead in the polls to defeat on Election Day). Had Jesse Helms not had the handiwork of Finkelstein, who worked for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and various right-wing senators, he might have lost that race. Instead, we had another decade of his antigay grip on the Republican Party, as he blocked HIV prevention measures and thousands more died."

SALON: Transgender man delivered a baby, but failed to deliver respect.

Nicole Kidman gives birth to a Sunday on a Monday.

Obama campaign plane makes emergency stop due to mechanical problems.

"No Homo" the latest catchphrase to sweep NFL locker rooms: "LenDale White says to Vince Young: 'Vince, you’ve got great nips. No homo.' Did you catch the subtle twist there? LenDale has said something that on any other day might be considered gay, but, and this is key, he’s inoculated his heterosexuality by appending, no homo at the end. No homo also works at the front of the phrase but then it’s much less enjoyable because the other party has been keyed into the homosexuality of the statement that’s to follow. Hence, 'No homo. Vince you’ve got great nips.' No dice there."

Reggae music label plans "Straight Pride Parade" in Brooklyn to protest ban of gay murder music artist Stapler.

Howard Dean holds holiday fundraiser in Provincetown: "From a small podium Dean spoke of the enormous progress that has been made in terms of civil rights — for instance, the number of states that have had referendums on gay marriage — despite eight years under 'one of most oppressive presidents' the country has ever known and a Supreme Court he characterized as 'a disgrace. It’s interesting,' he said. 'Sometimes you have to just sit back and look. The grassroots have changed dramatically.'"

NBC to buy The Weather Channel for $3.5 billion. Hurricane Bertha forms in the Atlantic...

Matt Damon checks into the Green Zone.

Michael Ausiello: Hit TV show planning big gay twist.

Getting away with it: Kylie Minogue breaks royal protocol as she is bestowed with the Order of the British Empire...

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News: Mitt Romney, Tivo, Judy Garland, Clay Aiken, Pete Doherty

As California gears up for a gay wedding boom, nine gay rights groups issue statement urging those who get married in California not to rush back to their states and sue: "In an unusual six-page memorandum, written for same-sex couples, groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to Lambda Legal warned that lawsuits would invite 'bad' court rulings that could take years to overturn." Two California countries have announced they'll halt all weddings, saying they lack resources.

Crucified by the media: rocker Pete Doherty undergoes plaster cast for marble statue of himself as Jesus Christ.

Obama meets with Christian leaders...

Jonathan Capehart warns of an Obama-Nunn ticket: "When Bill Clinton sought to keep his 1992 campaign promise to end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, he met strong resistance in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. Nunn, one of the most adamant opponents, led a series of hearings that were stacked against ending the prohibition. Critics noted that Nunn held more hearings about and spent more time on gays in the military than he had on the defense budget or even the Navy's Tailhook sexual harassment scandal ... an Obama-Nunn ticket does not sit well with some prominent gay Democratic fundraisers."

Clay Aiken is not just having a son, but he has another baby in the freezer.

John Aravosis at AmericaBlog got some intense shots of the storm that passed through the east coast yesterday.

Judy Garland to sing on stage again: "Cutting-edge technology unavailable just a few years ago has enabled NY-based production company Running Subway to present Judy's larger-than-life passion and personal story to 21st century audiences in what can only be described as the greatest Judy Garland concert ever."

Fishnets: Experts conclude that the Oscar de la Hoya drag photos were indeed doctored.

Dolores Neuman, photographer whose camerawork was central to Rob Epstein's 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, dies in Washington D.C. of kidney cancer.

Justin Timberlake on Love Guru wardrobe: "This may be TMI but I was constantly digging out those wedgies!"

Canadian gay couple Theo Wouters and Roger Thibault settles $400,000 defamation lawsuit brought by neighbors out of court.

Chace Crawford reads a few juicy scripts in London.

Mitt Romney purchases $12 million home in La Jolla, California.

Democrats don't touch 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': "Since taking control of Congress in January 2007, Democrats have not convened hearings on the matter or taken up legislation that would let gays serve openly, although most party members favor repealing the prohibition. Instead, Democrats have focused their efforts on bringing troops home from Iraq and other issues that have broad appeal among voters, such as lowering gas prices."

Tivo pulls web page which acknowledged their relationship with Focus on the Family.

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Rob Marciano's Fashion Forecast: Hot and Dressed

Vman posted a spread on CNN weather hunk Rob Marciano in various states of dress, along with a short interview. Here are a couple of the queries:

How did you get into meteorology?

"I've been a lifelong weather geek. I would drive my parents crazy. I knew exactly when every weather guy was on every channel, and I would switch back and forth trying to get them all. I learned early on that meteorology isn't an exact science—telling your teacher you didn't do your homework because the weatherman said it was going to snow doesn't really work."

You had a moment of notoriety after you questioned certain claims in An Inconvenient Truth on air. Was that a surprise to you?

"I knew as soon as I said it that there was going to be a backlash. In the end, it created a buzz of viewer interest, and we did an hour-long special on the myths about global warming. I think Al Gore's message is a great message. I just want the facts to be accurate, and fact is that global warming did not cause Katrina."

More shots AFTER THE JUMP...

Where's the underwear and swimwear? We can only hope that Vman has got some for the print edition.

More at Vman....

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Did Bravo Exec Out Sam Champion or Just Champion's Manners?

A post at Gawker alleges that Bravo exec Andy Cohen outed ABC weatherman Sam Champion in a blog post about his weekend in the Hamptons.

Cohen wrote: "The lunch went until cocktail time and on my way home I stopped by a store opening in East Hampton. Kelly Ripa and Marc Consuelos were the 'hosts' of the party, but the store is owned by Sam Champion's boyfriend. Neither of the Champions seemed to be around for the first 90 minutes of their own party, and so the topic of conversation inside the party became: If you are the host of a party (and not the 'host') and your name is not 'Madonna', is it appropriate to make an 'entrance' or be there from the start? People seemed to be split on the etiquette."

Back in 2005, an article in the Advocate described Champion as openly gay, and though Gawker describes Champion as keeping his sexuality "hushed" somehow I doubt the revelation would spawn even a cloudburst of controversy.

related
A Very Gay New Year's Eve Preview [tr]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #287

CINDY MCCAIN: Because she's "not the candidate" she refuses to release her income tax returns...ever.

TWISTER: Recent footage from a tornado that whipped through Leighton, Alabama.

DOGGIE HERO: Woof!

IF I WAS A TERRORIST: A new video from James Pence.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Sun Halo Captured in Key West

Folks in Key West were treated to a rare atmospheric phenomenon yesterday afternoon when a strong halo appeared to encircle the sun. It was caught on camera by Timothy Cox at the Naval Air Station there. The effect is caused by ice crystals in cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere.

Similar events involving light pillars can happen at sunrise or sunset.

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White Knuckles: Airbus Landing Attempt During Storm Emma

Check out this clip of Lufthansa flight LH44 from Munich attempting to land on Saturday in Hamburg during extreme crosswinds from Storm Emma. The Airbus A320 eventually landed on another attempt at a different runway, but can you imagine being on that thing?

Clip after the JUMP...

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News: O.J. Simpson, Humberto, Macalester, Amy Winehouse

New Jersey school district split over film depicting same-sex parents: "Emily describes her interracial family — her father is of European descent and her mother’s background is Asian — this way: 'It doesn’t mean you have to be a rat to marry a rat. You can be a rat and marry a mouse.' But at another point in a state-approved educational video shown to third graders here, Daniel introduces his parents: 'These are my two dads.' Another child says, 'It’s really cool have to two gay dads, because they brought us into a home, and they adopted us, and they love us.' That was enough to entangle this wealthy suburb of 45,000, about 15 miles east of Philadelphia, in a heated debate among parents and educators."

Hurricane Humberto's record blow-up: "Humberto didn't exist until late Wednesday afternoon, and wasn't even a tropical storm until almost midday, strengthening from a tropical depression with 35-mph winds to a hurricane with 85-mph winds in just 18 hours, senior hurricane specialist James Franklin said at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. 'To put this development in perspective, no tropical cyclone in the historical record has ever reached this intensity at a faster rate near landfall. It would be nice to know, someday, why this happened,' Franklin said."

Big Brokeback Mountain screening at the Castro Theater this Sunday — props and costumes from the film on display.

OJ Simpson questioned in Las Vegas casino theft.

Almost married in Iowa: "Inside the Polk County Administration Building, we traversed a hallway, followed by TV crews and cameras. We signed and notarized our application, and headed to the courthouse to waive the three-day waiting period, which required a judge’s signature. Our plan was to be married in Iowa City by dusk. When we met the judge, Pam and I introduced ourselves, and explained our request. His response was devastating: 'I apologize, but the judge just issued an immediate stay, pending appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. I am so sorry.'"

Kylie Minogue readies "2 Hearts" for release.

HIV variant offers fresh vaccine hope.

Oregon bigots struggle to get 55,179 valid signatures necessary to suspend gay rights laws from going into effect on January 1: "Let's just say that we're not there yet."

Tallest building in China rises above Shanghai.

Lesbian mom battles Amazon over Tuition and Textbooks Sweepstakes.

Amy Winehouse's childhood album. Today is her 24th birthday.

Neil Patrick Harris talks to Ellen about no longer having to hide his boyfriend David Burtka at the Emmys.

Student car at Macalester College vandalized in hate crime: "A Macalester student's car was 'vandalized with homophobic graffiti and damaged' last Saturday night or Sunday morning, according to a Bulletin Flash sent Tuesday to the Macalester community. The car was parked North of campus, near the corner of Summit Ave. and Fry St. There is no evidence Macalester students were involved in the crime. The Executive Board of Macalester College Student Government (MCSG) called for 'a student response' in a statement sent to students on Wednesday. 'We support every student who is a part of this community, and this will not go overlooked,' the MCSG statement said. 'We are a small community and this will undoubtedly send ripples to every corner of campus.'" Macalester was recently named the most gay-friendly college in the country by The Princeton Review.

Gay rights activists in Taipei demonstrate outside Nicaraguan embassy over country's sodomy laws.

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News: Australian Bums, Gabrielle, Gordon Ramsey, Arctic Melt

   Activist Australians going for world-record moon attempt — at President Bush: "Bush is coming to Sydney. Thousands of police, total CBD lockdown, draconian new laws to stifle all protest. Just so nothing disturbs Howard’s moment of glory. APEC’s agenda is more free-market madness, more nuclear power, more warmongers deciding how best to fuck the world over. Is this the future we want? Let’s tell Bush what we really think about his visit. Only 4000 cheeks are needed to make the biggest moon in history – a world record Australia can really be proud of. There will also be an official ‘21 bum salute’ for the 21 countries in APEC."

   Michael Woulfe, costume designer in Hollywood's "golden age" including Judy Garland's gown for A Star is Born, has died at 89.

   Tropical storm swirls off east coast, could become Gabrielle in coming days and threaten seaboard cities including New York. Models.

   MELT: Ice-free arctic could be here in 23 years. "The Arctic ice cap has collapsed at an unprecedented rate this summer and levels of sea ice in the region now stand at a record low, scientists said last night. Experts said they were "stunned" by the loss of ice, with an area almost twice as big as Britain disappearing in the last week alone. So much ice has melted this summer that the north-west passage across the top of Canada is fully navigable, and observers say the north-east passage along Russia's Arctic coast could open later this month. If the increased rate of melting continues, the summertime Arctic could be totally free of ice by 2030."

   Chef Gordon Ramsay demonstrates how to grill his own testicles: "The other day I was standing too close to the hob when I was cooking. I was wearing cotton trousers and underneath I was going commando. Then suddenly I felt this searing heat - my b***s were burning. I burnt my right b*****k and I'm in absolute agony. You wouldn't believe how much this hurts."

   Puncture: Vampires in SoHo?

   Art on the playa: Burning Man's twisted trucks.

   Britney Spears and Criss Angel pull it together for the VMAs.

   Restrictive 2257 regulations set to go into effect against adult entertainment sites that could kill social networking sites like Manhunt, etc. You have until September 10 to object.

   Ohio GOP congressman Paul Gillmor found dead in his apartment, of natural causes.

   ** The source of this item, Digital Media Wire, has issued a correction.  (below) PlanetOut planning 1 for 10 reverse stock split: "Companies typically carry out such transactions to reduce the number of overall shares, and in turn increase the share price. San Francisco-based PlanetOut has seen its share price drop from around $4.50 a year ago to hover closer to $1.50 in recent months. The troubled company was rescued from bankruptcy in July by an investor group ledthat included by Bill Gates, and is undergoing a restructuring that has recently seen the departure of CEO Karen Magee and CFO Daniel Miller, as well as Bob Allen Bob Cohen, chief of its top magazine titles. PlanetOut expects to enact the reverse split on or near Oct. 1." 

CORRECTION: *PlanetOut CEO Karen Magee has not stepped down, CFO Daniel Miller leaves at the end of the month, and Bob Cohen is the magazine chief who left as his magazine contract was not renewed.  Further, Bill Gates' Cascade Investments was one of six investors in the company's funding, but did not lead it. We apologize for the errors and will continue to hone the sources we tap for your news.

   One more word on Larry Craig from the Huff Post's Edward Ugel, though Cindy Adams may have said it more concisely.

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News: Hurricane Dean, Keith Olbermann, Survivor, Faye Dunaway

Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota named most gay-friendly school.

Hurricane Dean makes landfall on Mexican coast as Category 5 monster storm: "The U.S. National Hurricane Center said it was the first Category 5 storm to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Dean was still packing sustained winds of 165 miles per hour (268 kph), with gust of up to 200 mph when it came ashore, but was expected to weaken as it passed over the Yucatan Peninsula."

Cast of Survivor: China includes 22-year-old gay Mormon Todd Herzog who says he is prepared to "gather wood and sh*t."

Faye Dunaway orders poultry by the pound at Koo Koo Roo: "She ordered chicken and broccoli to go, and then she sat at a table with her food container. She pulled a tiny scale out of her purse and . . . proceeded to pull the chicken meat off the bones and weigh it. She piled the bones and skin on a napkin. She carefully weighed the chicken meat and broccoli, and the broccoli was a little short, so she went to the counter and asked for more."

Despite "huge" LGBT population, teens in the Bronx live on the down low or face harassment: "LGBT youth say that Bronx schools are particularly tough environments. 'I'm considered, like, a dyke in my school,' said 15-year old Angel S., who has knife scars on her right knee from a fight. A boy 'pushed me down a flight of stairs because I liked his girlfriend.'"

Officials knew Minneapolis bridge was in danger of collapse: "Internal MnDOT documents reviewed by the Star Tribune reveal that last year bridge officials talked openly about the possibility of the bridge collapsing -- and worried that it might have to be condemned. The documents provide the first look inside MnDOT's decision-making process as engineers weighed benefits and risks, wrestling with options to prevent what they believed was a remote but real possibility of the eight-lane freeway bridge failing."

Arjan interviews Danish dance duo Junior Senior.

Testing the water: Countdown with Keith Olbermann to get tryout on NBC prior to this Sunday's Eagles/Steelers game.

It's Corny Collins time!

Gary Steinsmith, gay activist in South Florida, dies at 50.

Amy Winehouse leaves rehab again.

Chilean gay activists cry foul over sodomy conviction: "On Aug. 10, a panel of judges in Antofagasta, Region II, found a 47-year-old laborer guilty of sodomizing a 17-year-old male. Because the accused had no previous criminal record, the court sentenced him to 41 days in jail – far less than the 541-day jail term prosecutors had recommended. The case began when police discovered the two having sex in a pickup truck. Although the young man in question – just 12 days shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the incident – testified that the sex was consensual, prosecutors nevertheless pursued the case, arguing that the accused 'corrupted the child’s sexual morality.' The ruling – the first sodomy conviction to be issued in Region II since the country’s criminal law procedures were overhauled in 2001 – was not well received by the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Freedom (MOVILH), Chile’s leading gay rights organization...Chile’s Criminal Code is biased against homosexuals, MOVILH claims. One problem is a major discrepancy regarding the legal age of sexual consent: 14, for heterosexuals, 18 for homosexuals. MOVILH describes the difference as 'arbitrary, unjust and hypocritical.'"

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Hurricane Dean Cuts Swath Through Caribbean

Hurrican Dean scraped the southern coast of Jamaica overnight before moving into open water and strengthening as it rapidly approached Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Landfall is expected there Monday night.

Above: Vast, beautiful, and deadly Dean seen from the International Space Station.

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Aging Infrastructure: Small Storm Cripples New York Subway

So, New York City's transit system has pretty much been brought to its knees by a small storm that went through for about a couple hours this morning, bringing with it torrential downpours that have flooded the subways. Above, a screen grab of the storm just after it went through.

God help us all if we get hit by a hurricane.

After the jump, check out the number of trains that are down:

More:
Bad Weather Destroys New York City [gawker]
Further Adventures in Decrepit Infrastructure: MTA-in-the-Rain Edition [new york magazine]

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News: Hillary Death Threat, Spock, Hurricanes, Portishead

Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative, non-profit legal defense group specializing in religious freedom and parental rights, challenges Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels for ordering city departments to recognize employees in gay marriages sanctioned elsewhere. Matthew McReynolds: "It's our position that this goes way beyond employee benefits. He was just using this as an opportunity to undercut the (state) Defense of Marriage Act."

Manhunt underway for Norman Imeson in Canada. Imeson is wanted in connection with the murder of Carlos Rivera, 26, who was a bartender at Taps, a gay strip club in Windsor. Police warn, do not pick up hitchhikers: "People should just be extra cautious. We believe (Imeson) does not have a mode of transportation . . . In rural areas, people leave their doors open, their cars open, so they should be careful."

REPORT: Genre editor Chris Ciompi is out, to be replaced by Men's Fitness editor Neal Boulton. Also, Genre possibly bankrupt. This all sounds so familiar.

Secret Service looking into death threats against Hillary Clinton posted on Bill O'Reilly's website: "If Hillary wins...my guns are loaded."

Believe: Cher Meets Portishead.

Elton John regrets keeping mum on gay issues when he was younger: "I have to speak my mind because as a gay man now I have a responsibility to. I sat back too long. I mean when (AIDS charity) Act Up were going in and trying to change the face of AIDS awareness in America because nobody else was doing it, I sat back and did nothing. I don't know why I didn't do anything. I just look back and question myself."

TomKat gets down at Beckham bash.

Ptown: Historic 12-ton belfry that has been sitting on the ground since 2002 to return to the top of the Provincetown Library at 5 am tomorrow. "Library Director Debra DeJonker-Berry expects a huge crowd of well-wishers to be present on Commercial Street and on the nearby beaches to watch this historic event. The 29-foot tall belfry has sat on the front of the Library property since 2002 when it was hoisted to the ground for restoration and so that structural repairs to the building could be completed."

Tolerance rally in Georgia canceled after rumors fly that it is planned as a gay parade.

His cuteness Paul Rudd pays a visit to TRL.

Hungarian Secretary of State for Human Resources Gabor Szetey speaks out on coming out: "I think my coming out took so long partly because I was 22 in 1990. Until I turned 22, I thought I was an alien. I really opened up in New York where Gay Pride meant that several hundreds of thousands of people marched: it was a carnival, a huge party where families joined with their kids to have fun and educate their kids about tolerance. I will be the happiest if I don't have to speak about this issue any more. If I have to, I will."

Vulcanized: Zachary Quinto (Heroes' Sylar) to play Spock in new JJ Abrams Star Trek film.

Hurricane outlook cut for 2007: "The season will bring 14 named storms, of which six will become hurricanes and three will become major hurricanes, WSI said in its revised outlook. WSI had previously expected 15 named storms of which eight would become hurricanes and four would become major hurricanes. 'Because the ocean temperatures have not yet rebounded from the significant drop in late spring, we have decided to reduce our forecast numbers slightly' said Todd Crawford, a WSI seasonal forecaster."

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News: James Holsinger, Andy Baldwin, NYC Hurricane, Sopranos

Seattle man beaten by group after being taunted with a gay slur: "On Sunday, the couple was together about 2:40 a.m. in the 700 block of East Pike Street when they heard someone utter a slur toward gay men, according to a police report. The victim, a man in his 20s, turned and approached the man who made the comment. That man, who was with a group, punched the victim and threw him to the ground, at which point four to six others joined in the attack, according to a police report. The victim suffered a cut behind his left ear. Firefighters treated him at the scene, a police report said. The group ran to a nearby car and sped away."

Some gay fans call for a boycott of Hairspray because of John Travolta, Scientology, and the cult's position on gays.

Gay marriage bill likely to pass State Assembly in New York. Senate a tougher nut.

New Fest: The New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival award winners announced

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell endorses Bush's anti-gay Surgeon General nominee James Holsinger: "Dr. Holsinger is a proven leader who has dedicated his career to improving health education and services in Kentucky and across the nation. He is an excellent choice for Surgeon General and I look forward to his quick confirmation."

Jake Gyllenhaal spends some time with his fans.

More on Armistead Maupin's new tome Michael Tolliver Lives: "Instead of randy hippies who smoke joints, as they did when the series began in 1976, the aging lefties of 'Michael Tolliver Lives' pop joint and arthritis pills. Instead of plotting nightly sexual conquests, as they did as 20-something singles, many profess shock at the level of promiscuousness practiced by today's youth."

Anti-gay Republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo's campaign webmaster Tyler Whitney is outed. Said Tancredo's senior advisor Bay Buchanan: "A person's sexual preference is a personal matter and has nothing to do with the campaign."

Sopranos creator David Chase on the show's uneventful finale: "I have no interest in explaining, defending, reinterpreting, or adding to what is there. No one was trying to be audacious, honest to God. We did what we thought we had to do. No one was trying to blow people's minds, or thinking, 'Wow, this'll (tick) them off.' People get the impression that you're trying to (mess) with them and it's not true. You're trying to entertain them."

Bachelor Andy Baldwin takes to the surf in Hawaii.

U.S. States renamed for countries with similar GDPs. (via kottke)

NYC due for major hurricane, experts say: "The last hurricane to hit New York was the so-called Long Island Express in 1938. It killed 50 people on the Island, more than 700 along the Eastern seaboard. In the years since, hurricanes with names like Bob, Floyd, and Gloria, have also made an impact, but we've been spared a direct hit. Experts say a major hurricane could pack 130 mph winds, and a 30-foot storm surge. There would be flooding in all five boroughs, the subways and much of lower Manhattan could be under water. Damage estimates would top $100 billion."

Ted Allen talks desert island cuisine: "First of all, I'm not eating Carson [Kressley]. He'd be all stringy. Carson is a little too lean. Tom Colicchio is a delicious-looking man, but I think I'd have to go with Rupert. Many of us in the community would find him the most delicious. If we're on a desert island, I'd dig a pit. Something spicy or sort of Caribbean would be good for Rupert Everett."

Kevin Spacey attended the Tony Awards after-party at the Hotel on Rivington's penthouse with his dog Minnie.

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News: Scooter Libby, Loch Ness, William Jefferson, Kathy Griffin

Scooter Libby gets 30 months in prison in C.I.A. leak case. Will Bush pardon him?

Tropical Cyclone Gonu is expected to be the strongest storm ever recorded in the Arabian Peninsula: "The storm is currently packing winds of 160MPH with gusts to 195 mph. That is stronger than Katrina which devastated the US gulf coast 2 years ago. U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf are taking precautions to avoid Gonu. The government in neighboring Saudi Arabia said the country and oil markets would not be seriously affected by the storm. But some oil analysts said the storm could have a damaging effect on the oil market."

Grandson of Italian artist Mario Sironi (1885-1961) withdraws gift to city of Milan because Mayor Letizia Moratti has objected to a gay and lesbian film festival being held there. Sironi: "Italy is taking steps backward while other parts of Europe are advancing. Italy is antiquated with its moralism. I'm not stubborn. If she goes back on her decision, I don't see why I can't change my mind."

Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was indicted yesterday for solicitation, racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud, conspiracy, and violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Lane Hudson on why he needs to go.

It's on: Million-pound bounty offered for evidence of existence of Loch Ness Monster.

Democratic candidates target the "Religious Left": "Sen. Clinton said her faith had pulled her through the fallout surrounding her husband's infidelity while he was president; Sen. Obama evoked Biblical passages to care for the needy; former Sen. Edwards talked about his passion to help the poor. All targeted the so-called "Religious Left" -- faith-based organizations that believe society and the state have moral obligations to assist the poor and protect the environment. 'This is the cause of my life,' Edwards said on the issue of fighting poverty. He also said that he prayed every day, he sinned every day, and was personally opposed to gay marriage -- but would not allow his individual convictions on the topic to guide public policy."

Congrats to our friend Kevin Sessums, who has just been nominated for a Quill Award for the audiobook reading of his novel Mississippi Sissy. If you were lucky enough to hear him read on his recent tour, you know why. Read my interview with him here.

Bush lectures Putin about "derailing" Democracy. He should know a thing or two about that.

Paris heads to prison, a wrap-up.

Flushed Away: 850,000 cell phones are lost to toilets in the UK each year. "Second to the death by watery grave, 810,000 handsets end up amongst the peanuts and broken hearts at a local pub, 315,000 stay behind for an extra long cab ride, 225,000 keep riding public transportation after their owners leave and 116,000 ended up in some dirty laundry." Can you hear me now?

The 50 top-earning American athletes.

Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D List returns tonight: "The previews for this season show both her parents drinking and laughing, but while they usually offer nothing but fun, their presence will carry some weight. That’s because Kathy’s dad John died earlier this year, and Kathy tells McClatchy-Tribune News Service that '[h]e passed away during production. The day after his memorial I had two shows in Las Vegas, and the reality crew came with me. It’s a grueler. That’s the thing with a reality show, whatever happens in your life, there’s the camera.' Even more tragically, she says her 'mom’s heart isn’t in it. Together they were like a comedy team.'"

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #129

BILL CLINTON: Goes to bat for Hillary.

BBC REPORTER vs SCIENTOLOGISTS: BBC reporter John Sweeney and his recent altercation while shooting the documentary "Scientology and Me".

JOHN EDWARDS and MEMORIAL DAY: John Edwards has launched a new site, Supportthetroopsendthewar.com which suggests 10 things you can do over Memorial Day to do just that.

WRATH: The 700 Club's Accu-Wrath Weather Forecast.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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News: Val Kilmer, Subtropical Storm, Paris Hilton, Touch iPod

Vote on proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts has been postponed until at least June 14th: "Before it can reach the 2008 ballot, the proposed amendment needs the backing of 25 percent -- or at least 50 lawmakers -- in two successive sittings of the Legislature. It won approval in the previous Legislature in January. Those opposed and in support of gay marriage agree that based on past votes and the stated positions of incoming lawmakers, about 57 support the amendment. There are 200 lawmakers in the House and Senate."

Subtropical storm Andrea, the first named storm of the season even though the season doesn't officially start until June 1, is dissipating off the Atlantic coast.

Tim Russert describes meeting of Republican congressmen with Bush, Gates, Rice, Rove, and Snow: "[O]ne said 'My district is prepared for defeat. We need candor, we need honesty, Mr. President.' The president responded, 'I don’t want to pass this off to another president. I don’t want to pass this off, particularly, to a Democratic president,' underscoring he understood how serious the situation was."

Idle Idol gossip: Former American Idol contestant Jim Verraros claims Mario (I'm not gay) Vazquez was recently seen "wasted" at a gay bar in Syracuse, New York.

Val Kilmer has turned into a daddy bear.

NYC gay millionaire Steven Green, jailed for being one of the city's worst landlords and sentenced in February to 33 months for tax evasion and real estate fraud, was recently hit by a car.

Apple patent filing shows multi-sided iPod with touch screen interface.

The world's self-proclaimed first supermodel Janice Dickinson on gays, George W. Bush, and her ongoing sex appeal: "He’s out of control. I’m going to go out and start breaking things because I’m so angry. The most important thing I’ve done with my kids is that I’ve raised them in an environment that is gay-friendly, so they’re not homophobic. It’s important to pass the torch on. But I embarrass them. If I wear a slutty dress my son cringes. Basically, all of his friends want to fuck me. 53 and 19-year-old men want to fuck me!"

Paris Hilton drives again, proving arrogance has no speed limit.

David Beckham, like George and Laura Bush, wants to help fight malaria.

Helsinki, Finland is hosting this year's Eurovision Song Contest, the gayest pop show on the planet: "If you took the talent portion from the Miss America pageant and crossed it with American Idol, the end result would look a lot like Eurovision (or ESC, as fans like to call it). It's all about being big, bombastic and noticeable."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #126

GAGE WESTON: Colt Model and Iraq war veteran appears on Bravo's Work Out.

TORNADO: Storm chaser video shot last Friday in Ellis County, Oklahoma.

SEAN PENN: On Bill Maher. Tenet, Bush, Rice, and Cheney should be in F-ing jail.

STREET SENSE: Comes from 19th in an amazing rail move to win the 133rd Kentucky Derby.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Small Craft Warnings

Our off-season correspondent on Fire Island sent us this image taken during yesterday's powerful Nor'easter, which dumped more than 8 inches of rain in New York City. Long Island fared a bit better but it appears the beach on Fire island has been left a bit ragged. For those interested, a view looking the other direction follows after the jump...
(thanks karen!)

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Fair Skies and a Chance of Patchy Stubble

Our friend and fellow lightning watcher Jeff Ragovin at Jeff's Weather Blog now has a hunky avatar double to provide daily forecasts for those of you in the New York area. The rest of you may want to just go check out what this avid fisherman has reeled in with his big rod.

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