There’s no shortage of video of oil on the surface of the water because of the BP Gulf of Mexico leak. But the company has, until now, resisted media pressure to release video of the source of the leak. Now the company has provided 30 seconds of video, and it’s no wonder the oil slick on the surface is expanding so rapidly.

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I’m still watching because I still think it’s good TV. But American Idol is definitely having an off year. In my Mediaite column, I point to a shortage of surprises from the contestants and a shortage of nastiness from Simon Cowell.

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New York wants you, LeBron James. And they’ll do just about anything to get you. In a bid to convince the Cavaliers star to sign with the Knicks, the New York Daily News is asking readers to help show James how how good life could be here in the Big Apple.” How? By Photoshopping a picture of him onto favorite New York scenes.

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Playboy is unsatisfied with the acronym it’s become synonymous with: NSFW. Irked that the websites of rival magazines Maxim and Esquire reign supreme in the at-work clicks category, the adult magazine is unveiling a new site called the Smoking Jacket. According to the brief description offered up, it’s a “safe-for-work website that brings you everything you love about Playboy, men’s entertainment and the Internet - minus the stuff that’ll get you into hot water at the office!” I guess they’re betting on the fact that some people actually do just read the articles.

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Dow plunges amid debt crisis	27
British election results unclear	16
Attempts to contain oil spill	16
Neanderthal DNA shows human link	11

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I was in Queens last night for a quick appearance in Dito Montiel’s “Son of No One.” The cop movie has been shooting in and around the Queensbridge Houses. The writer and director watches NY1 a lot and cast me for the news reporter scene he’d written.

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It’s hard to make a minivan look sexy. Or hip. And it has nothing to do with its dimensions. It’s more about the whole cupcake-making soccer mom, grocery-getting dad connotations that ruin its street cred. Until now, that is. Toyota, which must’ve figured its reputation can’t do anything but improve, has just produced a hilarious video hoping to boost the image of its van. Officially, it’s called the Sienna, but those in the know call it by its real name: The Swagger Wagon.

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Oil spill	21
New York bombing attempt	19
Riots in Athens	11

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A quick list of stories that caught our attention but didn?t make it on to the Story Stack.

DENVER POST: The pros and cons of consuming raw milk

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Woman on trial for hitting and killing a motorcyclist while painting her nails in the car

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Moms share their most embarrassing stories

LA TIMES: Brewers compete to create the strongest beer

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