Grapevine: The Green Lantern comes out of the closet

DC Comics announces identity of gay superhero

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...

Cold Comfort

With all the concern over shrinking ice caps news about this summer's polar ice may surprise you.
Energy Wire reports Shell is delaying the start of its offshore drilling because of the heaviest arctic ice in more than a decade.

National Weather Service officials say a high-pressure zone, low winter temperatures and certain ocean currents have combined to bring unusually large amounts of ice to Alaska's Northern Coast as well as areas farther south.

Regret the Error

President Obama has written a letter to Poland's president expressing regret for a gaffe that offended many Poles earlier this week.

President Obama used the expression "Polish death camp" while honoring a Polish World War II resistance hero, rather than saying "Nazi death camps" to distinguish Nazi Germany operated the camp on Polish soil during its occupation.

The gaffe caused a storm in the Polish media. Poland's president called today's letter a -– quote -- "very necessary gesture."

The Ring Has Chosen...

If you picked the Green Lantern in your office pool as the superhero who would be outed as gay by DC Comics collect your winnings.

In the next issue, readers will discover before he was the original emerald hero, Alan Scott had a boyfriend.

The writer says he wants Scott's humor and bravery to be as much or more a part of him as his sexuality.

Krispy Kremed

And finally, New York City's proposed large soda ban to curb obesity is getting a fair amount of ribbing since it came one day before Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support of National Donut Day.

The mayor dismissed any mixed signals saying moderation is the key. Critics wonder why the ban is needed since refills of 16-ounce sugary beverages would still be allowed while any larger cup would not.