Are the Brangelina twins boys or girls? Will they be delivered naturally or by Caesarean?
In Nice, France, Angelina Jolie's obstetrician, Michel Sussmann, declined to answer several burning questions about the highly anticipated birth to Hollywood's hottest couple, but he did make one thing clear during a five-minute news conference yesterday: “She is a patient like any other. And she's very simple. I have a lot of respect for her.”
Apparently unaware that the stars are unmarried, the doctor said: “Mrs. Angelina Jolie and her husband, Mr. Brad Pitt, told me to tell you that she is doing absolutely fine.”
He said her hospitalization “was scheduled for a long time.”
“This is not an emergency situation,” he added. “Her hospitalization at this stage in her pregnancy is totally normal for a patient who had a Caesarean (section) during her first pregnancy.”
Her stay at the seaside hospital here could be a relatively long one. The doctor said she would remain in the hospital until the babies are delivered and that could be “in the weeks to come.”
IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE A DOG
Animal welfare groups must be panting: Leona Helmsley reportedly directed that her fortune – up to $8 billion – be used for the care and welfare of dogs.
The New York Times reported yesterday that the bequest was included in a so-called mission statement for the estate of the real estate magnate, who died in August.
It's not certain that all the money will go to dogs, however. The mission statement wasn't formally incorporated into Helmsley's will or trust documents.
Two people who saw the statement said the document also says the estate trustees may use their discretion in distributing the money.
They could, for instance, decide to spend the money for animal rescue groups, veterinary schools or research on canine diseases.
The hotel queen's will named her own dog, Trouble, as a beneficiary. But the Maltese isn't quite as well-heeled as she used to be. In April, a Manhattan judge reduced the trust fund for the 9-year-old pooch from $12 million to $2 million.
RAPE CHARGE DROPPED
A rape charge against Rikki Rockett has been dropped after authorities determined that the Poison drummer was not in Mississippi at the time of the alleged crime.
Authorities say they are now looking for a man with a history of passing himself off as a rock musician to pick up women.
Rockett was accused of raping a woman at a central Mississippi casino in September 2007 and arrested in March. The Neshoba County district attorney's office confirmed Tuesday that the charges were dropped.
Rockett said he was in California when the rape was alleged.
“I was with my fiancee watching her try on wedding dresses,” Rockett said in a phone interview with The Associated Press from Salt Lake City, where Poison is preparing to launch a 49-date tour. “We've got eyewitnesses to that.”
Police arrested Rockett, whose real name is Richard Ream, at Los Angeles International Airport upon his return from a concert in New Zealand in March. The 46-year-old said he had never been arrested before and feared that his reputation would be ruined.
“That is one word you don't want associated with your name,” Rockett said. “Rape is right up there with murder and child molestation.”
Authorities are now looking for John Minskoff, who authorities say has a history of impersonating a rock musician to pick up women.
