New Left Media rounds up another group of Palin morons at a book-signing in Columbus, Ohio.

My favorite quote: "I'm an American. We don't have czars in America."

Frank Rich made some excellent points in his column on Palin over the weekend:

"The fact-checking siege of 'Going Rogue' — by the media, Democrats and aggrieved McCain campaign operatives alike — is another fruitless sideshow. Palin’s political appeal has never had anything to do with facts — or coherent policy positions. The more she is attacked for not being in possession of pointy-headed erudition, the more powerful she becomes as an avatar of the anti-elite cause."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

At yesterday's Bears - Eagles game, wide receiver Devin Hester's backside was 'beared' during a tackle by Philadelphia cornerback Dimitri Patterson. The full moon was shortly thereafter clipped, slowed down, and distributed to thousands on Twitter and YouTube. The Eagles won 24-20.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Lady Gaga's fiery performance last night at the AMAs. Theatrics are back in a big way. No glass went unbroken.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Adam Lambert set out to shock at the American Music Awards last night with a performance that was more "Let's Give 'Em Something to Talk About" than "For Your Entertainment", keeping the cameramen on their toes while bouncing between dancers and band members to perform a mock fellatio on the former, and a spit-swapping exercise on the latter. Lambert's pitchy voice certainly played second fiddle to the stunts.

Lambert told CNN the man-on-man kiss happened "in the moment".

Watch the performance and CNN interview, AFTER THE JUMP...

Thousands attended a vigil last night at Pier 46 on the edge of New York's West Village. Similar vigils took place in cities around the country in response to the murder of Puerto Rican gay teen Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado. Last weekend the decapitated, dismembered, and partially charred body of gay teen Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was found by the side of a road in Puerto Rico. The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the "type of lifestyle" he was leading. Juan Martinez Matos has been charged with first-degree murder for Mercado's death.

In NYC, Christine Quinn, Council member-elect Danny Dromm, GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, and fashion designer Malan Breton spoke to the crowd.

Watch a news report and video from New York City, and a wrap-up of San Francisco's event, from Sean Chapin, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously...
Nationwide Vigils Planned as Officials Mull Application of Federal Hate Crimes Law [tr]
Puerto Rican Teen's Killer Says Murder was 'Gay Panic', Self Defense [tr]
Suspect Arrested in Horrific Murder of Puerto Rican Gay Teen [tr]
Gay Puerto Rican Teen Decapitated, Dismembered, and Burned [tr]

Christine Quinn, Council member-elect Danny Dromm, GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, fashion designer Malan Breton:

The San Francisco vigil, video by Sean Chapin:

In an interview with Fuse, Lady Gaga strikes out at homophobia in the music industry.

Says Gaga: "I feel even just in the music industry that there's very public misogynistic and homophobic behavior. When I hear one of the most famous rappers in the world say something homophobic on the radio, I want people to yell at him. I don't have to say who because they know who they are. It's not just hip-hop, it's everywhere. It's wrong. I'm not trying to create and generate more hatred in the world...I just want to generate awareness. It's always wrong to hate but it's never wrong to love."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Writes the Chronicle:

"In the general election the Chronicle endorsed both Parker and former city attorney and public agency lawyer Gene Locke, her opponent in the run-off. As we noted then, they each “offer deep roots in the city and a dazzling range of life experiences and public service.” And our endorsement of Parker should not be taken as a diminution of the skills and qualifications of Locke, whose back story as a civil rights activist, steelworker and successful major law firm attorney offers a compelling narrative. Houstonians are lucky to face such a difficult choice. But Parker's background and experience offer a better fit for the mayor's office at this point in time...In both her public and personal life, Parker has maintained high ethical standards and decorum in her years as an elected official. No scandals have occurred on her watch. As mayor she will present the city's best face to the world, one of tolerance, diversity and compassion for all our citizens. The Chronicle urges voters to allow Parker to take her high standards and solid record of accomplishment to the city's highest office."

The run-off election takes place December 12. Annise Parker's campaign site is HERE.

“When my son told me he was gay, I told him, ‘Now, I love you more.’ I want to tell the world that hatred is not born with human beings, it is a seed that is planted by adults and is fostered creating a climate of intolerance and violence. We must change our ways and understand that anyone …could have been my son. And I want everybody to know that Jorge Steven was a very much loved son.”

— Miriam Mercado, mother of gay 19-year-old Puerto Rican Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, who was brutally murdered last week for being gay.

Vigils today in New York and around the country.

"A planned November hearing by the US Senate Armed Services Committee to consider ending a ban on gays serving openly in the US military will be postponed, a spokeswoman indicated Friday. 'We do not have a date' for the hearing, said the aide, Tara Andringa. Committee staff have been working on Afghanistan issues ahead of President Barack Obama's decision on whether to send more troops, and more recently on the aftermath of the shock rampage at the sprawling Fort Hood military base. The panel's chairman, Democratic Senator Carl Levin, had said in late October that it would hold a hearing in November and that he hoped to 'to find a way to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' as the policy is widely known."

Lez Get Real talked to Levin's office: 

"'Yes, we don’t know when that is going to happen,' said an aide from Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin’s office. In October Levin had said that his committee would begin holding hearing in November and that he hoped to “to find a way to repeal the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” policy. But, Levin said in an interview on C-SPAN’s Newsmakers program, scheduled to air Sunday, the hearings on any possible repeal of 'DADT' will likely happen next year...According to the staffer, Levin also stressed in his Newsmakers interview, that the delay necessitated by current events should not be interpreted 'as any effort to avoid the hearing' on the subject however. While giving no timetable for the hearings, Levin did say that the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act could be one of the vehicles to carry repeal legislation. Both the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are also backing the strategy of using next years defense authorization bill to change the policy on LGBT’s serving in the military according to Capitol Hill insiders."

Several hundred Palin fans in Noblesville, Indiana crowd who had waited up to nine hours on a rainy night with books and wristbands to see Sarah Palin were denied face time with no explanation. And they weren't happy. The mob gathered around her bus, booing her as it pulled away on Thursday.

Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP...

Palin released a statement on her Facebook page: "I've been told that yesterday there were supporters in Noblesville who stood in long lines for hours in the cold and rain, and the book signing event ended without a chance to say hello to everyone who showed up. I am so sorry. We are working on a solution for those who were left behind. I apologize."

MSNBC talks to some disappointed bookholders:

In case you missed it, here's Oprah's tearful announcement that she has decided to end her show after its 25th season in 2011.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

The first set of 20 Levi Johnston Playgirl shots has come out. If you do a little searching around the web you can find them. Of course you can always pay. Here's a little tease (nsfw).

UPDATE: More meat.

NATHANIEL ROGERS
Nathaniel would live inside the movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience.

YOUR FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
Given Towleroad’s generous coverage of all things Twilight (all things equalling shirtless wolf boys and wild haired Pattisons) I had hoped to share a few thoughts on NEW MOON for today’s movie column. No can do. I wasn’t invited. Curiously I had been invited to the press screenings of Twilight. Perhaps I’ve been too openly disdainful of sparkle-in-the-sunshine vampires or creator Stephenie Meyers’ retrograde sexual politics (I had quite enough of that in my own Mormon years, thank you). So, it’s not for me. If it’s for you, no judgments, enjoy with the millions of screaming girls and moms.

For the second flick I predict: better special effects, more flesh to make up for the pro-abstinence agenda and better acting. The latter is nothing like a risky prediction since the only way is up. Plus, Dakota Fanning and Michael Sheen have joined the cast.
 
BROKEN EMBRACES, the latest film from the amazing Pedro Almodóvar and his current muse Pénelope Cruz is also opening. This is their fourth collaboration. May they make many more together.

The plot is a spiralling labyrinth of violent accidents, flashbacks, long-held secrets and films within films. The characters are typically Almodóvarian: a disabled filmmaker, a minor actress, a rejected gay son, an older abusive lover, a woman with too many secrets. Pedro Shows exquisitely but he can't stop Telling this time. But even if it's "minor" Almodóvar, his worst are better than some director's best. Few can touch him for memorable images and actress worship. And speaking of.... Penélope Cruz is still at the top of her game. This last run of performances (Volver, Elegy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Nine and Broken Embraces) is just one triumph after another. How long can she maintain la perfección, anyway? 

MORE on Tony & Takeshi, Angelina Jolie, and A Single Man, AFTER THE JUMP...

Also New in Theaters: Nicolas Cage sees iguanas in Werner Herzog's outre Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans and Sandra Bullock sees Oscar buzz (or hopes too), adopting a grown black football player son in The Blind Side and Gael García Bernal and Michelle Williams see each other in Mammoth, the first English language feature from acclaimed Swede Lukas Moodyson (Show Me Love, Lilya 4Ever)

Finally, a whole army of Asian stars do epic battle in John Woo's Red Cliff. The war sequences are well choreographed and enjoyably showy but the real special effect is all the closeups of two of the most beautiful men on the planet, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro (pictured right with their director). They got so close towards the finale I half expected them to make out. Personal space guys, look into it. Or better yet, don't.

BONUS SCENES

Mangelina! You've probably heard that next summer's action hopeful Salt was originally written for a man. Will we see any tell tale signs of gender reassignment in the movie? Is it too much too hope that Jolie's previous omnisexuality will return and she'll lip locks with a woman again. We miss you, Gia!

You've probably heard that Harvey Weinstein, who used to be nicknamed "Harvey Scissorhands" for chopping up Miramax movies back in the day, is now hacking away at gay content over at the Weinstein Co. Not so much within the movies, mind you but the marketing. And we're not just talking about  A Single (No Longer Gay) Man.

With Precious adding hundreds of screens this weekend, many more people will get to see it. I highly suggest reading fourfour's astute take in response to the small but forceful backlash against the movie as "emotional pornography". But read it after you've seen the movie.

The Oscars have narrowed down this year's Best Documentary list. Fifteen films have been named as finalists a third of which will live on to become Oscar nominees. As per usual many of the bigger doc hits of the year were ignored (including Capitalism: A Love Story and The September Issue) but some high profile entries survived including the Chorus Line documentary Every Little Step (reviewed here at Towleroad) and Valentino: The Last Emperor.

The ten stupidest homemade Twilight items. They forgot those underwear with Edward's face on them. I figured we had to come full circle to wrap up.

Prop 8 defenders still haven't handed over documents even after third order from judge?

Oprah show finished in 2011.

The abs and poetry of hot NJ Guidos.

NJ Democrats search for spine on marriage equality as state senator says economy takes precedence.

Judge orders OPM to offer health benefits to lesbian employee and family: "It was the second order from a Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge in two days rebuking the Office of Personnel Management for denying insurance coverage to the same-sex spouses of court-supervised employees. The agency, whose director was appointed by President Obama, intervened in both cases in February and invoked the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that bars federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples."

Rallies: Activists rallied in front of NYC's Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Office yesterday in response to the horrific murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado. They also rallied in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are more vigils and rallies happening this weekend.

Uganda: Rallies in response to Uganda's proposal to make "aggravated homosexuality" punishable by death took place in New York and D.C. yesterday.

Coelacanth: Baby specimens of living fossil photographed for first time.

Boy George to join Celebrity Big Brother in UK.

Senator Arlen Specter likes Barney Frank's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" suggestion: “I think the better strategy would be the one that Frank suggested. If you have it as a stand-alone bill, it’s going to be filibustered for sure. But if you attach it as an amendment — that’s what was successful with the hate-crimes amendment — I think that’d be best.”

NOM spent $112,736.75 on losing NY candidate Doug Hoffman.

New Yorkers looking for something to do this weekend might want to try Anti-Twink.

90210's Trevor Donovan shows off.

Meet the Season 2 cast of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Wrap-artist Jeanne-Claude dies of complications from brain aneurysm at 74: "Recognizable by her orange-dyed hair, Jeanne-Claude was a fixture of the international art scene and was a highly visible New York personality. Along with Christo, she created 'The Gates,' a 2005 public art project consisting of 7,503 orange rectangular structures draped with fabric and erected throughout Central Park."

Window Media publications South Florida Blade and 411 Magazine will continue to publish, under new owners.

"Ex-gays" setting up shop in Palm Beach this weekend.

Yikes: "A medium-sized popcorn and medium soda at the nation's largest movie chain pack the nutritional equivalent of three Quarter Pounders topped with 12 pats of butter, according to a report released today by the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest."

Playgirl writer: Levi Johnston saved us. "Playgirl pulled out all the stops to make this shoot a media circus -- overexerting itself financially to compensate Levi and bring on board new and old staff members to see the project through (including wunderkind party promoter Nardicio and myself, Playgirl's editor-in-chief from 2006 to 2008); and marketing the hell out of all things Levi (an ironic Levi Johnston line of Playgirl condoms due out in the spring, a Levi Johnston poster complete with signature). The 36-year-old magazine miraculously rose from the ashes of the Phoenix to become in recent months a relevant brand name once again."