Page 1 Consider (01/05)

'Bachelor' Party: I still don't think I can bear to watch this horrible television show, but feel free to keep sending me photos of Jake Pavelka, star of "The Bachelor," one of the best-looking guys I've seen all decade. (RealityTVMag)

HERstory in the Making: Barack "I do nothing for the LGBT community" Obama has appointed defense industry veteran -- and transwoman -- Amanda Simpson of Tuscon to the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security as a senior technical adviser. No confirmation as to whether this is the first transgendered presidential appointee, but it certainly seems to be the most prominent. (Huffington Post) Meanwhile, the deceptively named hate group Family Research Council was busy blasting Iowa Gov. Chet Culver for signing a proclamation declaring Nov. 20, 2009, as “Transgender Day of Remembrance.” Sure, it's already come and gone and the world didn't come to an end. But why pass up a chance to spew hatred toward people whose lives are already difficult enough?

The (Unfortunate) Situation: The outlook for marriage equality in New Jersey grows dimmer by the day as the bill has been bogged down in both houses of the Legislature, and fatty Christopher Christie, who becomes governor Jan. 19, opposes it. (NYT)

No Sweet, All Sour: People really do take their Chicken McNuggets seriously. (Tabloid Prodigy)

Spin Doctor: My music pal Bruce Derfler's Top 10 albums of 2009 has just been released. While he isn't quite as lost in the '80s as yours truly, the inclusion of discs by Cheap Trick, Morrissey and Pet Shop Boys (and the near-inclusion of Bananarama's "Viva") more than offset the fact that I'd never even HEARD of half the other artists. (EDGEBoston)

Big Apple, Indeed: After falling behind Los Angeles and Orlando for nearly 20 years, New York was America's most popular tourist destination last year for the first time since 1990. (NYP)

Radio Ga Ga: Rosie O'Donnell has gone for failing to mention her longtime relationship had been over for years to openly discussing -- and gushing about -- her new love, whom she met on the Internet! (OMG)

Celebrity Man Seed: Yes, Vincent Gallo is as gross as you think he is. (OMG!)

Apple Bite? Google will introduce the world to the Nexus One today, a thin, touch-screen handset built to the Internet giant’s specifications and made by the Taiwanese company HTC. But can it really compete with Apple's iPhone? (NYT)

Hate, Delayed: Iowa conservatives concede no there's no chance their hate can get a bay on gay marriage this year. Here's hoping they get a life -- or at least a hobby -- before the 2012 elections. (Iowa Independent)

Shuv's Back: After a stunning return to the stage at the Hoxton Underbelly in November, Shakespears Sister, the musical outfit fronted by Siobhan Fahey, just announced U.K. tour dates in support of their new LP, "Songs From the Red Room." Check out the tour dates HERE. (I'd truly KILL to go to one of these, please contact me if you do!)

Houston, We Haven't a Problem: Anise Parker was sworn in as mayor of Houston yesterday. Although she did not focus her remarks on the historic nature of her upcoming term, she did acknowledge the milestone of her victory for the gay community. "My election made news around the world," she said. "Houstonians weren't very surprised that a gay woman was elected. We have a tradition of electing mayors not for who they are but for what they believe we can do as a city." She also called her new role, "simply one step to a tomorrow of greater justice." (The Capitolist)

RIP: Casey Johnson, the troubled Johnson & Johnson heiress who was a favorite of Page Six, has been found dead in Los Angeles. She was 30 and leaves behind a young daughter. Johnson was rumored to be estranged from her prominent family (Dad Woody Johnson owns the New York Jets) after repeated interventions failed to help her drug addiction. Things had gotten so bad in recent months that she was engaged to Tila Tequila. Here's hoping she finds the peace in death that eluded her in life. (TMZ)