Russian president Vladimir Putin: “It is already clear that a new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world. It is not our fault, because we did not start it.” Putin is alarmed by U.S. plans to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a new missile defense shield. Putin: “In effect, we are forced to retaliate, to …

Microsoft is ceasing sales of Windows XP and that’s got some PC wonks in a dither. Goodbye, Windows XP. Microsoft, which released its latest operating system, Vista, last year, plans to stop selling Windows XP in stores and through its PC partners on June 30. It’s a typical move in the high-tech industry, as older models make way for new …

Crap. There was another big high-rise fire a couple of blocks from my apartment yesterday. Dozens of injuries. What is it about the Upper East Side and disaster? Remember the plane that crashed into a high-rise three blocks from me? And the brownstone that exploded? (That one was made into an episode of Law & Order.) Then there was the …

Not as laugh-out-loud funny as Part 1, but some cute bits.

NAACP head Julian Bond gave a rousing plenary speech yesterday at the 20th Annual Creating Change conference in Detroit. Creating Change is a yearly meeting of more than 2000 LGBT activists and is presented by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.

WingNutDaily is claiming that 10% of California’s public school students may be leaving for private and home schooling due to the state’s anti-bullying bill, SB777. Only months after a new state law effectively banned “mom” and “dad” from California schools [JMG: It doesn’t.], a total of 600,000 students could follow because of what has been described as the “repudiation” of …

After Mitt Romney pulled out of the race yesterday, the evangelical leader of Focus On The Family, James Dobson, gave his long-sought endorsement to Mike Huckabee. Dobson is the largest evangelical endorsee of Huckabee, most of whom have shied away from the candidate due to his admonitions that evangelicals should be more involved in poverty and environmental causes. “The remaining …

Barack Obama told members of the press yesterday that Hillary Clinton should release the Clinton’s tax returns so the public can see where she got the $5M she just gave to her campaign. Obama: “I’ll just say that I’ve released my tax returns. That’s been a policy I’ve maintained consistently. I think the American people deserve to know where you …

The new musical Passing Strange begins previews tonight at the Belasco Theatre. The show made its New York premiere at The Public Theater last summer and opens with its original cast. – Cutting the nude scene from The Little Dog Laughed nearly cost Chicago’s gay About Face Theatre their production of the show, but playwright Douglas Carter Beane relented with …

Dr. Rowan Williams, head of communion for England’s Anglican Church, says that it is “unavoidable” that Islamic Sharia law will be adopted in parts of the country and that a “reasonable accommodation” must be made over the issue. “It seems unavoidable and, as a matter of fact, certain conditions of Sharia are already recognised in our society and under our …

The Grill, First Avenue, 1pm Wild-Eyed Man: Your dog is looking at me. Make him stop. Woman With Corgi: I can’t help it if he looks at you. WEM (Shouting at dog): You don’t know me! You don’t know SHIT!

HRC head Joe Solmonese appeared on The Colbert Report last night and played “straight” man to Steve Colbert’s usual convolutedly hilarious logic. Here’s Part 1 of Solmonese’s bit. Part 2 will air tonight.

ABC News is reporting that Mitt Romney is dropping out of the presidential race. His announcement will come shortly at the CPAC conference in Washington, DC. With the increasing chumminess between McCain and Huckabee, it appears that the Republican side may be settled.

Via TwinCities.com: The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that a mother who didn’t like the way her baby’s circumcision looked cannot sue a Fridley hospital for medical malpractice. Dawn Nelson sued Unity Hospital and Dr. Steven Berestka, claiming the doctor removed “the most erogenous tissue” after the boy was born on Jan. 21, 2000—without consulting either parent. Nelson and …

“On every list, I was always on my way out. Gay men understand that I understand what it’s like to be an outsider. To singers, I wasn’t a singer. To actors, I wasn’t an actor. I know what it’s like to fight for your place. Besides, gay men are very choosy, and they have great taste.” – Cher, telling USA …

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is running out money. Yesterday it was revealed that she has just “loaned” her campaign $5M and that senior staff members have “volunteered” to go without a salary this month. Clinton: “I loaned the campaign $5 million from my money. That’s where I got the money. I loaned it because I believe very strongly in this campaign. …

OMG! Where you at? A/S/L? LOL!!1!!!

“I assure you that having engaged in a contest against them for the last year that they’ve pulled out all the stops. And you know I think what is absolutely true is whoever the Democratic nominee is the Republicans will go after them. The notion that somehow Senator Clinton is going to be immune from attack or there’s not a …

The California Supreme Court announced today that they will hear arguments over the state’s ban on gay marriage on March 4th in San Francisco. The three-hour hearing will consider a 2004 lawsuit filed on behalf of Equality California, the Our Family Coalition, and 15 same-sex couples denied marriage under the ballot measure approved by voters in 2000. Oral arguments will …