McCain Chooses Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin As Running Mate

Republican presidential candidate John McCain indeed augment another historic nature for this year's United States election by announcing that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be his running mate. Palin was the second woman to appear on a major presidential ticket according to some reports.

Palin, 44, defeated a number of better-known candidates for the nod, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Homeland Security secratary Tom Ridge (also the former governor of Pennsylvania), and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Running on a ticket promising heavy reform, Palin won election to the governor's mansion in Alaska in 2006 after she unexpectedly beat then-Gov. Frank Murkowski in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

The only other woman to feature on a major-party presidential ticket was Geraldine Ferraro, who was Democrat Walter Mondale's running mate in 1984.

Palin was expected to appear with McCain at a rally in Ohio on Friday afternoon.

The Democratic ticket is also groundbreaking this year, with Barack Obama being the first African-American major-party candidate for president. Obama selected Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate on Aug. 23.

Forbes Most Powerful Women In The World List

Forbes’ yearly ranking of the most powerful women came out today. Very cool that they profile successful ladies, but it’s a shame that more women wouldn’t make it on a list of the 100 most powerful people.

Oh well…we’ll get there. Actually, “we” won’t, but some of these women might.

Here’s more, from Forbes:

* Our annual ranking of the most powerful women in the world measures “power” as a composite of public profile–calculated using press mentions–and financial heft. The economic component of the ranking considers job title and past career accomplishments, as well as the amount of money the woman controls.

Top Ten

* Angela Merkel
* Sheila C. Bair
* Indra K. Nooyi
* Angela Braly
* Cynthia Carroll
* Irene B. Rosenfeld
* Condoleezza Rice
* Ho Ching
* Anne Lauvergeon
* Anne Mulcahy

Simon Met The New Idol Judge

American Idol has a new resident judge and she already met with the first 3 judges the Idol had last seasons. Kara DioGuardi may have met America’s most famous judges a few days ago but her colleagues say she is already part of the family.

“It’s already a big happy family,” Abdul said Tuesday at the American Idol season 8 auditions held in New York. “We are so happy to have her.”

In fact, DioGuardi has already had quality bonding time with all three judges, says Simon Cowell. “We had a picnic last night. I wore jammies and the girls wore negligees and we kind of broke the ice,” Cowell joked. “We had cake until two in the morning.”

Joking aside, DioGuardi says the judges have welcomed her with open arms–yes, even Simon. “You were nice to me,” DioGuardi said to Cowell on the red carpet about their initial meeting. “You were actually OK.”

However, DioGuardi admits it was initially intimidating to join the judges’ panel, especially due to Cowell’s notorious reputation for being Idol’s resident meanie. “I was a little bit,” DioGuardi confessed, “but I’m going to hold my own.”

Only the future will tell if adding a fourth judge will help boost the show’s sagging ratings, but Abdul likes the change in the group dynamic. “We can try to gang up against the guys,” said Abdul. “I know Kara well and she speaks her mind.”

Fresh Victoria's Secret Angel - Doutzen Kroes

Dutch model Doutzen Kroes is the new Angel in town. Victoria’s Secret has revealed to that this stunning fashion model is the newest Victoria’s Secret Angel, joining the likes of Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima, as well as past angels like Gisele Bundchen and Tyra Banks. Born in Oostermeer in the Netherlands, 23-year-old Kroes scored a modeling contract after she sent her photo to an agency hoping to earn enough cash to buy more fashion magazines. Soon the 5′10″ stunner was filling their pages, gracing ads for everyone from Calvin Klein to Dolce & Gabbana. Her first official Victoria’s Secret campaign, Supermodel Obsessions, launches today in N.Y.C. So how would you rate Victoria's newest angel?

Former Uncle Of Teri Hatcher Died On Prison

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher had helped put in prison his uncle who had commit various sexual offenses in 2006. This former uncle of her has died of colon cancer at 70, six years after being sentenced to 14 years behind bars for molesting two young girls, one of whom committed suicide, reports the San Jose Mercury News.

Teri Hatcher chose to be quiet on this issue.

In 2006, the Desperate Housewives star went public with the revelation that Richard Hayes Stone – the then-husband of her mother's sister – molested her in the late 1960s and early '70s, when she was no more than 7.

Hatcher said that she kept the abuse a secret from everyone, including her parents. She last saw Stone when she was 8 or 9 years old.

"That's a victim thing; you ask yourself, 'Am I just crazy? Did I make all this up?' Somehow it might be easier to accept that you're crazy and made it all up than to admit that it happened, and how awful it was," Hatcher, now 43, told Vanity Fair in 2006.

Like others, Hatcher had read newspaper accounts in 2002 about northern California teen Sarah Van Cleemput, who before shooting herself left behind a note saying, "You're probably thinking a normal teenager doesn't do this; well, ask Dick!"

Prosecutors linked "Dick" in the note to Stone, a former engineer at National Semiconductor and a close friend of Sarah Van Cleemput's family.

Ellen DeGeneres - Portia de Rossi Official Wedding Photos

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi officially tied the knot last August 16, 2008. Saturday evening was full of love, laughter, and a few tears for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who exchanged personal wedding vows in front of their closest family and friends at their home in L.A.

In an exclusive interview and photos, DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35, share the most romantic moments of the night with PEOPLE magazine.

"What can I say? I'm the luckiest girl in the world," says DeGeneres. "She's officially off the market. No one else gets her. And now she'll cook and clean for me."

Amid candles and flowers by Mark's Garden, both brides, wearing designs by Zac Posen, sat on floor pillows along with author Wayne Dyer, who officiated the ceremony.

After exchanging Neil Lane rings, the couple and their guests sat down for an all-vegan menu prepared by their personal chef David Silberkleit while Sweet Lady Jane created a vegan red velvet cake for the celebration.

"The love we felt from the people surrounding us, and the love we have for each other, made this the most beautiful and emotional day," says de Rossi. "And one that we'll never forget."

Paul Newman Ended Cancer Treatment

Oscar winner, Paul Newman's illness is shrouded with mystery.Just today, reports had been scattered that the actor has chosen to be released on a hospital after a prolonged treatment sessions against cancer. Rumor says that Paul Newman has only weeks left to live and his illness is not yet identified. I certainly hope that this rumors aren't true and if it is then my heart goes to the family of one of the greatest actor of all time.

The star of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting" was being treated at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. He left there in a wheel chair after deciding he did not want to die in the hospital.

Newman is said to be putting his affairs in order and even gave away his prized Ferrari to a close friend. A move that apparently angered his children who are having a hard time coming to grips with the eminent death of their father.

The type of cancer Newman is suffering with has not been announced but there have been reports that he did have surgery on his lungs during the treatment.

Aside from acting, Newman also is part owner of a racing team and has his own salad dressing brand.

Jonas Brothers' Album On The Rise

Its a big week for the Jonas Brothers, as their newly released third album entitled "A Little Bit Longer" dominates the sales chart. Fans of the trio came out in droves on Tuesday, the day the band's third album, A Little Bit Longer, was released. Sales for that day alone were estimated at 201,000, according to Billboard. At this rate, the group, made up of brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick, will have their first No. 1 album next week.

"We are just really living the dream right now," Kevin Jonas told the Associated Press, "and for us, having this album finally hit stores and having [the fans] sing the songs, knowing that they can actually hear them and have it in their possession is the most amazing thing for us. We're so excited."

Projections show Longer will hit around 700,000 in its first week, including digital downloads. That marks the third biggest opening of the year, behind Lil Wayne and Coldplay.

The brothers' last album, Jonas Brothers, is also inching its way back into the top 10. If those sales hold up, it will be the first time in a decade since a group has had two top 10 albums at the same time. The last act to do so was N Sync in 1999.

The tween sensations spent the week in New York, playing Madison Square Garden, appearing on TRL and dishing about what they look for in girlfriends.

Up next for the brothers is a new show on Disney Channel, J.O.N.A.S.

Michael Phelps On Fire - 3 Olympic Gold Medals To Date

Its been 5 days since the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics but American swimmer Michael Phelps is on fire winning 3 gold swimming medals to date. Yesterday he won easily the competition on the 200-meter freestyle category.

He touched the wall in just 1:42.96 – a new world record – shaving almost a second off his old mark, set in Melbourne, Australia in 2007.

The silver medal went to Park Tae-hwan of South Korea, while Phelps's teammate, Peter Vanderkaay, claimed bronze.

The win gave Phelps, 23, his ninth career gold medal, tying legendary American athletes Carl Lewis (track and field) and Mark Spitz (swimming).

He remains on track to fulfill his Olympic dream – winning eight gold medals in Beijing. (He would break Spitz's record of seven swimming golds, set in 1972.)

His next goal, The 200-meter butterfly and 800-meter free relay.

The Dark Knight Continues To Reign The Box Office

Its been one month since The Dark Knight opens in the silver screen but it still continues to break record after record of box office hits. For now The Dark Knight remained No. 1 at the cinemas for the fourth straight weekend, grossing $26 million and bringing its total take to $441.5 million – and making it the third top-grossing film of all time, surpassing the previous third-ranked Shrek 2, reports Variety.

Sometime this week, the movie, starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, is expected to overtake the No. 2 record box-office holder, Star Wars. (Still ranked No. 1 is Titanic, with $601 million.)

Pineapple Express was the weekend's second best-performing movie, with $22.4 million. It was followed in the Top 5 by The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor; $16.1 million; The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, $10.8 million; and Step Brothers, $8.9 million.

No. 6 was Mamma Mia!, with $8.1 million – enough to put it over the $100-million mark.

The Police - End Of Journey

The Police Journey has ended. Thursday night's Madison Square Garden performance was the final show of the The Police' reunion tour – and, appropriately enough, New York's finest were onstage too. Wearing a NYPD hat and badge, Sting rocked out on his battered bass guitar while members of the New York City Police Department Band played backup for the trio.

Celeb guests arriving at MSG included Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler, Rosanna Arquette and her daughter. After the show, Debbie Harry, Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfi hung out backstage.

The concert – which doubled as a fundraiser for Public Television Rocks! benefiting local stations Thirteen/WNET and WLIW21 – also featured a guest appearance by The B-52s.

Along with the benefit proceeds, eBay is auctioning off instruments belonging to Sting and his bandmates, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, to help out the two stations.

But don't fret if you want more of the Police: Sting revealed on his Web site that the band filmed Spectacle: Elvis Costello with The Police at Harlem's historic Apollo Theatre.

The trio teamed up with fellow Englishman Costello to do a Jimi Hendrix song, as well as the pop singer's "Watching The Detectives" and the Police's "Walking on The Moon."

The concert is slated to air later this year.

Morgan Freeman In Serious Condition After Accident

According to reports, Morgan Freeman is in serious condition after being involved in a car accident in Mississippi late Sunday night. Along with him is another passenger whose name has not been released.

The 71-year-old Oscar winner, who currently costars in the blockbuster The Dark Knight, was driving in Tallahatchie County when the accident happened at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Mississippi Highway Patrol public affairs officer Sgt. Ben Williams tells PEOPLE.

Memphis station WMC-TV reports that, according to Williams, Freeman's 1997 Nissan Maxima was heading eastbound on Mississippi Highway 32 when the car went off the edge of the road and overturned several times before coming to a stop.

Once emergency crews – using the jaws of life – removed Freeman and the passenger, both were airlifted from the accident scene to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, where a spokesperson says Freeman is currently in serious condition.

"All I can say is one word: His condition is 'serious,' " says Kathy Stringer, the hospital rep. She had no information on the other passenger.

Calls to Freeman's rep were not immediately returned.