For tonight's MDNA gig in St. Petersburg, Madonna is offering pink wristbands to show support for the LGBT community there. This in spite of a report that violence has been threatened. She's a tough and loyal supporter of free expression and gay rights. I hope she and especially her less protected fans in the audience will be safe. Wish I could be there in pink, too. I would bring the Elton John pinata.

Speaking of which, I missed out on blogging about Elton's egregiously nasty, misogynistic and ageist comments against Madonna, who he—WE GET IT, ELTON—hates to death. But I think the best response is simply: Read your own goddamned book title, Elton. Love actually doesn't cure AIDS, but it sure helps a lot of things in this world.

And speaking of Mother Russia, here's Mother in Russia at her gym (ugh!) opening, looking amazing.

Signing Like a Virgin for a fan—it's 1985 all over again in Russia

Looks like she's going the Jane Fonda route, at least from a distance:

And finally, thanks to Vlad for these vids of Madonna in Russia at her Hard Candy opening: