Saturday, March 18, 2006

Brangelina Rumors Heat Up

Laglio, Italy, is abuzz with rumors that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will wed in the town this weekend.

The gossip includes George Clooney , a friend of Brangelina, with speculation that he will lend his villa on Lake Como to the couple for their nuptials. Monica Mantero , the wife of Laglio Mayor Giuseppe Mantero , told the Associated Press that her husband could marry the couple on a moment's notice.

"There's a lot of movement at the villa, a lot of people there. We were expecting Clooney today, but he didn't show up," she said. The 44-year-old actor is filming a movie in New York, according to his fed-up publicist, Stan Rosenfield .

"This is so out of control," he told us yesterday. "I have no knowledge of any wedding there -- tomorrow, a week from tomorrow or on the 25th anniversary of the cancellation of 'Happy Days.' " Pitt's publicist, Cindy Guagenti said, "That's just a rumor that's going around. It's not true."

Pitt and Jolie, who is pregnant, have been residing in Paris for the past few months.

At the Afghan Embassy on Thursday night, first lady Laura Bush finally got a chance to rub elbows with the man whose book she's been touting for months. (Like he would pull a Jessica Simpson on her.)

"I am especially thrilled to finally meet the author of 'The Kite Runner,' Mr. Khaled Hosseini ," Bush cooed during an event to benefit the Afghan Children's Initiative. Among those in the crowd of about 50 politicos and society types were Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem al-Sabah and his wife, Rima .

"President Bush and I both really, really enjoyed your book," she said, "and we recommend it." Hosseini's novel tells of a privileged Afghan boy -- who flees the country with his father in the tumult of Soviet occupation -- and the less fortunate friend he left behind. The first lady has raved to the press about the book -- praise that may have helped keep it on the New York Times' bestseller list since September. Mrs. Bush couldn't resist mentioning that she had just recommended the book over tea at the White House earlier that day. Look out, Oprah !

When the remarks were wrapped, the first lady was whisked off the stage while Rumsfeld was ushered into the next room. But, Pace, looking dapper in a casual suit with his trademark buzz cut, remained and chatted with guests.

We zeroed in on the general -- "Pete," as he kindly told us to call him -- until a White House handler grabbed us by the arm and dragged us away. Nice meeting you, Pete (for about 15 seconds, anyway).

Neverland Ranch, no more? Michael Jackson has closed his house on the ranch and laid off several employees, the singer's spokeswoman said yesterday. "It is public knowledge that Mr. Jackson currently resides in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain," Raymone K. Bain said in a statement. "He therefore decided to close his house and reduce his workforce. This is a common practice when a residence is vacant for an extended period of time." California labor officials announced Thursday that Jackson agreed to pay his employees $306,000 in back wages. He also must pay $100,000 in penalties, which will enable the pop star to avoid a lawsuit, according to the Associated Press. Bain said the ranch has not been shut for good.

Ed Patru , deputy director of communications for the National Republican Congressional Committee, received a nice shout-out yesterday from porn star Mary Carey in the organization's "Blog Across the Nation" e-mail.

"He's really cute, so I am really excited," Carey gushed about sitting next to Patru at a fundraising gala Thursday night. "At least when I am at the dinner I am not with some, like, stuffy old woman, I'm with the nice, cute NRCC guy."

-- Korin Miller