Page 1 Consider (01/28)

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Today's Times looks at the "unusual, if happy, predicament" gay voters find themselves in this time around with not one but three Democratic candidates front-runners who have "staked out similar positions on issues that resonate with gay men and lesbians." The article makes its point, but I tend to agree with the unnamed "many gay leaders" buried at the end who are disappointed that none of the candidates have the balls to fully embrace gay rights. I mean really -- we're supposed to be excited that in 2008 we have presidential wannabes who are willing to make the same promises to us that Bill Clinton made 16 years ago? I'd hardly call that progress. (And why is a Times reporter hanging out at the Monster?!!) (NYT)

The Gray Lady Slept Here: Anyone else wonder what will become of the landmark New York Times headquarters building on West 43rd Street? Here's the story. (NYSun)

Missed the Target: What's up with "trendy" discount retailer Target? When a blogger wrote to complain about a new advertising campaign that depicted a woman splayed across a big target pattern -- the store's emblem -- with the bull’s-eye at her crotch Target offered this e-mail, um, "response": Target offered an e-mail response: "Unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with nontraditional media outlets." (Meow.) To which I say, "Don't piss off the bloggers, Target. It will be the biggest mistake of your life." (NYT)

White Flag: The way appears to be over. Judith Regan, the publisher fired in the wake of her efforts to release O.J. Simpson's hypothetical "confession," has settled her $100 million lawsuit with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. No word on who gets custody of Bernard Kerik. (AP)

Something to Gawk At: I bet Choire Sicha and those crazy kids over at Gawker wouldn't have resigned over their "per hit" pay schedule if they realized posting the Tom Cruise Scientology video would have garnered them a cool $17,000 in extra pay. Gawker's owner/founder Nick Denton, who replaced Sicha with himself as editor, told The Times, "Unfortunately, I don’t get page-view bonuses." (NYT)

Return to 'Oz': The son of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) is peddling a new board game called "Don't Drop the Soap," a prison-themed game he created as part of a class project at the Rhode Island School of Design. Like they do anything but drop it there. (AP)

Money Where His Mouth Is: Unlike the real conservative pundits who yammer on and on about what it means to be a good American, Stephen Colbert's silly Wrist Strong campaign actually raised $171,525 for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a nonprofit that supports the families of injured war veterans. (E!Online)

No Country for Old People: While most people would shun a book if it were titled "How Not to Look Jewish" or "How Not to Look Gay," because to cater to discrimination is to capitulate to it. But the success of "How Not to Look Old" indicates that popular culture is willing to buy into ageism as an acceptable form of prejudice, even against oneself. (NYT)

Don't Sit So Close to Me: After going on the reunion tour for the Police all last year I was shocked to see Sting and Andy Summers sitting near each other during the final of the Australian Open. Have they finally grown up? (TimesOnline)

Dead Kennedys? The New York Times endorsed John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton, but the Kennedys are saying Barak Obama is tne next JFK. Bill is pissed ...(NYT)

Long Journey Home: After being prepared at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan, Heath Ledger's body was taken to a mortuary in Los Angeles where family members and friends paid their respects. Ledger's body was reportedly at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary on Saturday, where it was taken en route to his native Australia. (NYDN)

Kathy Griffin's 'A' Moment

Be sure to pick up the Hollywood Issue of the Advocate, featuring Kathy Griffin's famed cover shoot (I guess she passed the "test."). While she teeters on tranny in a few of them (or is more drag queen?) , the photos and the better-quality hair dating a billionaire has gotten her have the funny lady looking better than she has in years. The article is disappointing, though. I see what Corey Scholibo was going for ("I assumed we would meet and become instant best friends"), but when things didn't pan out the way he thought they would he ends up rehashing previously reported stories about Kathy instead of trying to get anything new out of her. (Why didn't he ask about the Bora Bora vacation she's hosting or the "Pink Flight" on Air New Zealand on which she will serve as a guest "flight attendant" -- both of which were obviously booked to make for fun storylines on "My Life on the D-List"?)

Besides the Kathy stuff, there are great articles about K.D. Lang's new album, Gus Van Sant's upcoming Harvey Milk biopic, a behind-the-scenes look at LOGO's "Big Gay Sketch Comedy Show" and a look at 10 films you didn't know were gay. Probably the best issue I've seen of the Advocate in years, despite the so-gross-I-can-barely-touch-it crepe paper it's being printed on these days.

SAG Couples Glam-Off

Which home would you rather wreck?

Rebecca "I might run you over after the show" Gayheart and Eric Dane vs. Angelina "What am I hiding under this muumuu" Jolie and Brad Pitt

Music Box: k.d. lang

The new Advocate has a great interview with (212) fave K.D. Lang, who is making the rounds to promote her new disc, "Watershed," her first collection of original material since 2000's "Invincible Summer."

In the article ("Where Have You Been, K.D.?") she discusses how her sexuality ended up overshadowing her music for many years (I'm the first to admit I worshiped her first three albums and then lost interest around the time the "Even the Cowgirls Get the Blues" soundtrack came out). But what a collection of music those first three albums is, was and will always be. Check out this homemade tribute set (above) to the classic "Miss Chatelaine," from her 1992 crossover hit, "Ingenue," and you'll see (remember) what I'm talking about. And if that's not enough for you, relive the magic of her duet of "Crying" with Roy Orbison from 1987's Jon Cryer vehicle(!), "Hiding Out."

Now Entering Overrated 'Country'

How come no one told me "No Country for Old Men" was nothing but a remake of "Friday the 13th," only not as scary? Now I'm reading that Joel and Ethan Coen are considered the favorites for the Academy Award for directing after being chosen best directors by the Directors Guild of America on Saturday night in Los Angeles, and the movie picked up more awards at last night's Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Really? Is this the best we can do?) Sure, I like looking at Josh Brolin running for his life in a pair of Levi's as much as the next gay. But shouldn't you care about at least one of the characters -- and what about that "ending"??? In the words of my great mother, Molly: I don't get it.

The Belgrade Bomber

I have my eye on the cute kid brother on the right (but not till he's 18, of course)

Novak Djokovic followed through on his big upset of Roger Federer by taking home the Australian Open crow on Sunday, beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four tight sets. Cute bod aside, there's a lot not to like about Djokovic (his incessant gamesmanship and cockiness for starters). But I have to say his victory speech revealed a side of him that surprised me. Generous with compliments to his opponent and self-aware of his own shortcomings, it did endear him to me in ways that I did not expect. Growing up with your country under siege could not have been easy for the Djokovics, so perhaps I should cut them some slack.