<> The release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will be pushed back until Summer 2009.

<> Jared Polis wins the Democratic primary in Colorado's 2nd district for the U.S. House beating out former state senator Joan Fitz-Gerald while running as an openly gay man. The heavily democratic district almost certainly means he'll be going to Washington this fall.

<> Michael Phelps continues to rack up gold medals - currently has 6 gold medals from the 2008 Olympics. Consumes 11,000 calories per day. Gets a nap in the afternoon?

<> Isaac Hayes - voice of South Park's Chef - dies at age 65. Bernie Mac dies at age 50 of pneumonia complications.

<> Edwards the cheater? Relentless media keeps spinning the story over and over and over. Alan Colmes snaps during Edwards panel.

<> Manhunt.net Co-Founder Jonathan Crutchley contributes $2300 to the McCain campaign. After days of intense membership cancellations Crutchley was asked to step down as Chairman of the Board.

<> Hillary Clinton will be nominated and have her name announced during the role call at the Democratic Convention in Denver. Marc Ambinder reports that Obama/Clinton tensions are fabricated - mostly by the Republican National Committee.

AND THE LATEST CAMPAIGN ADS OF THE WEEK:

Those that fear for a divided Democratic Party come November should be put at ease after Hillary Clinton's phenomenal speech today to her supporters. What was a very hard fought race that broke limits for women and Blacks shall be remembered as the beginning of a different America.

Hillary's speech was amazing. She ended her campaign very classy and on a very high note. The speech is long but worth every moment. Well done, Hillary!

Onward to November where we will beat McCain and get our country back on track.

Hillary surprised critics with a victory tonight in New Hampshire. It seemed like Obama was on a fast track all the way to victory but apparently he missed the train. Though the race was very close - Hillary with 39% and Obama with 36% - it is clear now that this is anyone's race.

I've actually found this election very difficult for me to decide on my candidate. I much prefer Obama but I can't shake a feeling of really wanting to like Hillary. That was especially the case today after seeing how viciously she was attacked for showing some signs of being human to ABC yesterday.

This is one of those times where I find myself really wanting to like Hillary. Consider her predicament: always be tough and get the rap for being a phony stone cold bitch or show some real human emotions and be considered weak, stressed, or a "typical" emotional woman.

Check out her "emotional" ABC clip and another of a sexist Hillary heckler.

While I can't make a final decision on the leading Democratic candidates I do know that for the first time I'm actually paying attention to what everyone is saying. Though I'm leaning towards Barack, I'm still trying hard to really like Hillary.

Where do you stand? Let us know how you feel about Elections 2008.

PLANETOUT GOING BELLY-UP?
PlanetOut Inc. has recently announced they will close their international offices in London and Buenos Aires. "While we plan to continue serving our global audience, we made this decision to streamline our business operations and reduce expenses," said Karen Magee, chief executive officer, PlanetOut Inc. PlanetOut was saved from bankruptcy by the Microsoft Mogul, Bill Gates, when his company, Cascade Investment LLC, invested $26.2 million in the struggling company. PlanetOut also owns The Advocate, Out, and Gay.com - among others.

MILWAUKEE BLACK GAY PRIDE
The organizers of Milwaukee's Black Gay Pride recently announced that Jennifer Holiday will be their national entertainer. The festival is put on by Charles "D" Productions and will run from August 12-19, 2007.

MINNEAPOLIS TO GET LGBT CENTER?
OutFront Minnesota is currently in discussions with Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman about the possibility of developing a LGBT community center on property known as the "meter farm" at 15th and Nicollet Avenue South. OutFront Minnesota is the state-wide LGBT equality organization but does not have a "community center" location in Minnesota.

"WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY": GAY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
On August 9th the U.S. Presidential candidates will face-off in the first-ever Gay Presidential Debate. The debate will take place in Los Angeles and is being organized by LOGO and the Human Rights Campaign. The debate originally excluded Sen. Mike Gravel because he hadn't raised enough money but now Sen. Gravel will be included - among Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson - and the debate will be expanded to 90 minutes.

QUEER JOB HARASSMENT: A new CareerBuilder.com poll found that 28 percent of LGBT workers have suffered harassment at their place of employment. Nearly half of those respondents described their harassment as severe. The poll which was conducted by Harris Interactive also studied workplace issues for African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Females, LGBT workers and people in the workforce over the age of 50.

PLAYMATE PARIS?: Is Paris Hilton going to be the next Playboy playmate? "Well, that's a standing offer. I think the problem quite frankly is mama. Mama doesn't want her to pose." Hugh Hefner is hopeful that once the drunk driving Paris finishes her jail time she'll consider his offer to rip off her clothes. This time for some cash....

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: ISAIAH WASHINGTON + ??
Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is getting some help from an unlikely ally. You'll recall that Washington landed himself in a heap of trouble last year when he referred to co-star T.R. Knight as a "faggot." Washington went to rehab, did a queer public service announcment for GLSEN and recently found out he wouldn't be returning to the cast of Grey's Anatomy.

His ally? Prominent queer activist Jasmyne Cannick who has previously worked with Washington. Cannick is petitioning for the actor to be reinstated to Grey's Anatomy, and is countering the charges of homophobia on Washington's behalf by firing claims of racism at ABC.

CUBA TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX COUPLES
"The political will exists to eliminate all forms of discrimination in our laws," said Mariela Castro during a presentation of the proposed reform. Castro is the director of the governmental National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX).

Cuba could become the first Caribbean island nation to recognise the civil and inheritance rights of gay and lesbian couples, if a proposed reform of the Family Code is approved.

JAKE STARRING IN BROADWAY THIS FALL?
Jake Gyllenhaal has been offered a part in a new Broadway play this fall called "Farragut North." Last week, Jake went in for a private reading and the show's producer, Jeffrey Richards, has acknowledged the outstanding offer to Jake.

If he accepts Jake will play an idealistic communications director for an unorthodox U.S. presidential candidate. The story is rumored to be modeled after the Howard Dean campaign for U.S. President in 2004.

HILLARY SETS HERSELF APART FROM BILL
Hillary Clinton's campaign recently clarified Hillary's positions on several important LGBT issues. It's thought that she is hoping to set herself apart from her husband who gave us gays "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).

“Senator Clinton believes that each state should make its own decisions regarding marriage or civil unions, but once a state legalizes such relationships, these relationships should receive full federal recognition and benefits,” Ethan Geto, senior national adviser to Senator Clinton on LGBT Issues, explained in an e-mail to The Advocate.