Condoleezza Rice denied audience with Pope Benedict over U.S. foreign policy: “The US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice indicated to the Vatican that she urgently needed to meet Benedict XVI. She was on her way back into the viper's nest of the Middle East and it would have been no bad thing to meet her counterparts with the credentials of a papal audience. Ms Rice had hoped that the audience could be fixed for early August at Castelgandolfo, the papal summer residence, when Benedict XVI returned from Lorenzago in the Dolomites, but she was told the Pope was on holiday. She insisted but to no avail. Vatican diplomats were adamant and ‘Benedict XVI is on holiday' continued to be the official reply.”
Hot java: One Venti Beckhammato, please…
Lesbian activist Robin Tyler calls on Arnold Schwarzenegger's lesbian chief-of-staff Susan Kennedy to resign: “I am not only extremely disappointed in the Governor's lack of courage, but am especially disappointed in Susan Kennedy, his chief of staff, whose “same gender wedding” I attended in Hawaii several years ago. Since I attended Susan's wedding, why is she so against attending mine? Both Arnold and Susan know that it is unconstitutional for the majority to deny a minority equal protection under the law.”
Chris Crocker inks reality “docu-soap” deal: “It's going to pretty much be the ‘Chris Crocker experience. We consider him a rebel character that people will find interesting. He's going to be a TV star.”
Kathy Griffin engaged to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak?
Pop star Mika threatened with lawsuit over name, by Belgian reggae artist Mika: “I was called Mika before him and have registered the name. Even though his real name is Mica, I think he should change it.”
The Washington Post takes a look at gay D.C. sports bar Nellie's: “What sounds like a gay slur isn't: Nellie's pays homage to Schantz's great- and great-great-grandmothers, both named Nellie, one of whom is captured in sepia-toned photographs on the wall. True to its theme, the sports bar sticks to showing games on its TV monitors and displaying tennis rackets, oars and trophies as decorations; the bathroom sinks once wet the hands of spectators at Washington's old Griffith Stadium.”
Sydney police accused of ignoring gay bashing: “The officer told me how stressful the court process would be and said, ‘Do you realise that nine out of 10 gay men don't report incidents because they are afraid?' I said I wanted to press charges anyway, and they said, ‘The men are only going to get off free.'”
