The United States Post Office is about to raise the price of stamps…again. Beginning May 11, you can expect a 2 cents hike on first-class stamps, bringing the cost to 44  cents.

“The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “Even with the increases, the Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest postage prices in the world.”

Due to ever-rising costs and declining mail volume, The Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year. Unless the economy turns around, it’s headed toward much larger losses in 2009. The post office has been cutting costs by reducing work hours> They have also requested that Congress ease requirements for advance funds for retiree benefits and allow mail to be delivered five days a week instead of six.

You can still purchase the Forever Stamp at the current rate of 42 cents. Those stamps will be valid, well, forever.

It seems D-lister Kathy Griffin made herself a new best friend, at least for the day. She was spotted sporting a bikini (looking good for 48) alongside socialite/heiress Paris Hilton. The pair also spent an afternoon shopping at celeb-central, Kitson on Robertson Blvd.  in Beverly Hills.

So if a D-lister befriends an A-lister, do they meet in the middle and form the B-minus list?

As much as I wish this union of completely mismatched lives was sincere, it appears that they were just filming an episode for Kathy’s show, “My Life ON the D-List”.

Ginormica as in huge star! Reese Witherspoon slipped into an iridescent silver and green minidress with grey peep-toe heels for the Los Angeles premiere of  “Monsters vs. Aliens”. The premiere also doubled as the star’s 33rd birthday party.

“Monsters vs. Aliens”, in theaters on Friday, stars Witherspoon as Ginormica, an animated “monster” who joins a motley crew of other cartoon characters to save the earth from an alien invasion.

Other star voices in the DreamWorks family movie like Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Amy Poehler, Kiefer Sutherland, Paul Rudd, Will Arnett, and Rainn Wilson, all burst into song onstageto wish Reese a happy birthday. DreamWorks boss, Jeffrey Katzenberg presented Reese with a gigantic movie-themed birthday cake just before the film took center stage.

Well, not really. But the two do go hand-in-hand in the case of LeAnn Rimes and her made-for-tv movie, Northern Lights.

After last week’s tabloid blitz over the apparent affair between LeAnn and Northern Lights co-star Eddie Cibrian, the movie became the most watched so far this year for Lifetime network. 4.5 million viewers tuned in to the premiere to see the on-screen affair.

The allegations began as rumors and then Us Weekly released security camera footage, claiming to show the pair kissing during an intimate date in California earlier this month. Both LeAnn and her supposed lover have adimently denied the claims and she did so on national television with Regis and Kelly.

Rimes brushed off the allegations of infidelity, saying “Everything’s great! There are rumors all the time. I let it roll of my back most of the time. It does get to be too much every once in a while but you know things pass, life happens.”

Kudos to LeAnn for attempting to save her marriage on LIVE television, but how does she explain the photos? and the romantic video? When comparing hot and hunky Eddie Cibrian to Rimes’ back-up dancing hubby it really is a no-brainer! But even if LeAnn didn’t, the Lifetime network scores!

Well, maybe not “quits” but the clothing line of Hills diva Lauren Conrad has definitely gone on hiatus.

Page Six reported that the Lauren Conrad Collection will not be producing anymore garments until further noticed. Showrooms have received notices that Spring and Summer deliveries have been canceled. All this only eight months after Celebrity Shopping haven,  Kitson in West Hollywood, dumps the line due to lacking sales.

Conrad’s reps are citing our recent economic status as the main reason she’s putting her frocks on hold. Right. The main reason her line ha’s gone belly-up is that sensible people won’t pay $200 to look like a train wreck.

“With everything going on in the economy and in her life, she wants to rework her line and offerings. She will make announcements soon,” her rep stated.

She does, however, insist on getting back to fashion in the future. Gee, I am teeming over with anticipation.

“Lauren is going to revamp her line and design with more high-end fabrics . . . things she couldn’t do the first time around,” the source says.

“I have a hematoma,” he (Steve-O) said. “In laymen’s terms it means I grew a third butt cheek… A sprained vessel… I have a pinched nerve and my back is [sprained].”

Okay, Steve-O can do all sorts of stupid, dangerous stunts for years on Jackass without injury. Give him one week of ballroom dancing and he’s out with internal bleeding? Come on, how is that possible?

The Dancing With The Stars hopeful is awaiting approval from his doctor to continue on the show. Steve-O had been nursing a pinched nerve in his back for days and then during rehearsals last week he landed hard on his microphone pack after a spill.

“This morning he [had] a doctors appointment… If the doctor says, ‘It’s okay to dance,’ then we are in the studio.” His partner Lacey Schwimmer said.

Steve-O joins a long list of injured dancers. This season has seen a record number of injuries and this is only week two! After Tuesday’s results show, the dancing pair learned that they will be sashaying through to the next round. If the Jackass is able, that is.

Amidst the war in Iraq, the failing housing market and the rising unemployment rate, our commander-in-chief found some time to fill in his bracket for the NCAA tournament, on national television. We knew he was a b-ball fan, but it seems our new prez is an absolute fanatic, rattling off stats of individual players and the details of the latest injury reports.

In an interview with ESPN’s Andy Katz, Obama revealed his picks, moving through the bracket methodically and with plenty of explanations. Contrary to many brackets around the country, Obama went with Arizonia over Utah.

Katz asked, “Did it have anything to do with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)?” (whom he defeated in last year’s presidential election.)

“It has nothing to do with McCain,” Obama said. “I think Arizona is a great state. I love playing golf there. But they just squeaked in.”

March Madness is underway and only time will tell how the prez’s picks pan out. He has chosen the UNC Tarheels to take the whole thing.

“Now, for the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you all last year — you let me down. This year, don’t embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I’m counting on you.”

No pressure, heels.

We’re hoping the gossip isn’t true…but the rumormill is reporting that due to Jon’s infidelity, the reality stars are looking at divorce. The website, popcrunch.com, is reporting that the couple’s nine year marriage is on the rocks.

The rumors stem from a report that the father of eight has been partying with college girls. He was seen at a martini bar in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on February 6. He then left the bar to join a house party, where he showed up with two young ladies. Apparently, he got drunk, flirted with girls and was overheard saying, “We might be getting a divorce.”

Another eyewitness account places Jon at Memories Bar and Grill, saying, “He was dirty dancing with several of them, making out, kissing them on their necks and mouths. I thought it was rather surprising for a father with his wife and so many kids at home to be acting like this. He was all over one girl, a long-haired blonde who’s nearly 6 feet tall. He left with several of the girls, including her.”

In an attempt to combat the divorce rumors, Jon Gosselin released this statement:

“It is certainly hurtful for people to spread rumors and lies about us. It certainly makes me reluctant to live my life like the average person would. This has made it very clear that the simplest innocent gesture -— such as taking a picture with a fan, can be taken out of context. As you can see on the show, I am not perfect, but I am a part of a loving family and couple.”

Divorce or not, no married father of eight should be living it up with college girls at a freaking frat house! His simple, innocent gesture (as he refers to it) is not how average people live. The slimebag is getting some support though; sympathic fans blame Kate and her constant verbal beat-downs for the couple’s demise.

Guy Ritchie has wasted no time healing his wounded heart from the sting of Madonna. He was seen just yesterday in London with the gorgeous, 44-year-old Elle McPhearson. The pair met for dinner and were snapped by paps leaving separately.

Ritchie’s estranged wife has moved on too. The pop icon began dating Jesus Luz, a supermodel nearly 28 years younger, back in the fall. Madonna and her boy-toy have been spotted together all over the place, proving that Madonna still has it.

Nineteen-year-old Levi Johnston didn’t exactly beg during Good Morning America’s in-car interview this morning, but he was obviously saddened by his recent departure from Bristol Palin and his three-month old son. The couple, along with Sarah Palin, caught constant attention from the media during the Presidential election of 2008.

The chosen running mate of presidential-hopeful John McCain announced, only days after her acceptance to the ticket, that her teenage daughter was pregnant. Throughout the campaign, Levi and a very pregnant Bristol paraded about and even got engaged! But only two and a half months after the birth of their son, Tripp, the couple has split. Johnston told GMA he still planned to marry Palin “some day.” Click here, Levi pleads, for the GMA interview.

The Associated Press confirmed the break-up just last week and quoted Johnston as saying that he and the Alaskan governor’s daughter mutually decided “a while ago” to end their relationship.