This is actually a giant optical illusion painting by German artist Edgar Mueller, who paints what appears to be a 3D image directly onto a street surface. Drivers and pedestrians swerve to avoid “falling in.” More examples of Mueller’s work at the link, including a video of how it’s done.

You’ve got to be eight (heh) kinds of crazy to go on national television to fight with your own mother.

I thought President Obama’s speech last night was fantastic. Almost as good is Rachel Maddow’s take on Bobby Jindal’s response and the rudderless GOP. I think Jindal was trying to channel a genial used car salesman or something. Fail.

Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner made national news a couple of years ago when he announced that he was transitioning into a woman. As Christine Daniels, she was feted by transgender rights groups and was profiled in Sports Illustrated. But in a rare, but not unknown move known as “transgender regret”, Christine has decided to become Mike once again. …

Following up on proposed California bill to legalize marijuana, Nate Silver notes that public opinion is now almost evenly divided on the issue. We all know that Michael Phelps was on something. But perhaps he was also onto something. Three recent polls show that Americans are more sympathetic to the idea of legalizing marijuana than ever before. The first poll, …

With the support of city officials, a Washington DC group is submitting a bid to host the 2014 Gay Games. “We’re going to submit a great bid,” said Brent Minor, co-chair of the Bid Committee for the Metropolitan Washington Gaymes, the organization coordinating the city’s effort to host the 2014 games. “We are not taking anything for granted.” Vince Micone, …

Via Facebook, an anti Sen. Chris Buttars party has sprung up in Utah. By recently claiming the “the gays” as the “”biggest threat to America”, the Senator ignored climate change, economic disparity, racial inequity and xenophobia, and the other big challenges faced by America, Utah, and our cities and towns. All Utahns are invited to come the Capitol on Saturday, …

The asshats are coming out of the woodwork every day lately. During the Colorado state senate debate on extending health benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees, Sen. Scott Renfroe (R) compared gays to murderers and quoted Bible verses calling for homosexuals to be put to death. Via ProgressNow Colorado: On the floor of the State Senate, right-wing Senator …

Saint Etienne’s first single, a cover of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart, topped the Billboard dance chart for two weeks in late February 1992. The song was Young’s first Top 40 hit as a solo artist, reaching #33 in 1970. The vocals on Saint Etienne’s version are by Moira Lambert of Faith Over Reason, current lead singer …

Chesley Sullenberger became a hero for the second time today when he testified before Congress and strongly criticized airlines for putting profits ahead of safety. Sullenberger, a 58-year-old who joined a US Airways predecessor in 1980, told the House aviation subcommittee that his pay has been cut 40 percent in recent years and his pension has been terminated and replaced …

Yes, there is such a thing. Via my pal Ned: Dearest Nerds & Friends of Nerds, 25 gay nerd fellas. 25 gay nerd lasses. Since our first ever speed dating (hetero-style) went so well, as promised, we’re expanding. I’m happy to announce our first gay Nerd Nite speed dating event on THURSDAY March 12, followed by the regular Nerd Nite …

Judging by buzz around the blogosphere, LOGO seems to have its first bona fide hit in RuPaul’s Drag Race. This clip, which is also an elimination spoiler, shows Ongina’s tearful revelation of her two years living with HIV, something her family did not previously know about.

Ted Baehr, founder of the Christian movie site MovieGuide, is very unhappy with the results of this year’s Oscars. From his guest post on Peter LaBarbera’s site titled “Hollywood Denounces God And Applauds Pedophila.” “The Academy Awards showed its support for sexual perversions last night at its annual Oscar ceremony. And, the Academy wrongly painted the Entertainment Industry as a …

The NAACP has issued a statement calling for the overturn of Proposition 8. “The NAACP’s mission is to help create a society where all Americans have equal protection and opportunity under the law,” wrote NAACP CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous (pictured) in a letter to legislative leaders. “Our mission statement calls for the ‘quality of rights of all persons.’ Prop. 8 …

After weathering a storm of criticism for saying that the Republican Party should reach out to gay voters, RNC chairman Michael Steele said yesterday that the GOP would not budge on LGBT rights, calling even the consideration of civil unions “crazy.” From a radio interview with Mike Gallagher: GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort …

After a week of protests and demonstrations, New York Post owner Rupert Murdoch has issued an apology for last week’s racist Obama=monkey cartoon. As the Chairman of the New York Post, I am ultimately responsible for what is printed in its pages. The buck stops with me. Last week, we made a mistake. We ran a cartoon that offended many …

Yesterday a bill granting health benefits for the domestic partners of state employees was approved by the Colorado state Senate, although the bill must voted on one more time before it can move to the state House. The measure (Senate Bill 88) would add domestic partners to the list of dependents eligible for coverage. Same-sex partners who have been in …

Pioneering gay activist Cleve Jones appeared on the Rachel Maddow show last night to talk about Milk’s Oscar wins. Jones calls on Congress and President Obama to enact federal LGBT rights laws.