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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sounds like some juicy material

Christopher Ciccone (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

A new book by Madonna’s brother says she really loves her husband, director Guy Ritchie – but not as much as she loves herself.

“I hope that it is Kabbalah’s lesson that she is not the center of the universe,” Christopher Ciccone writes in “Life With My Sister Madonna,” due in stores Tuesday.

The book arrives at a time when Madonna has been linked to the breakup of New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez’s marriage. Some reports claim she introduced him to Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

Ciccone believes she and Ritchie love each other and are “passionately committed” to staying married, with the help of Kabbalah, despite rumors that they are splitting up.

He worked often with his older sister, designing and directing her “Girlie Show” tour in 1993 and serving as artistic director of her 1991 documentary, “Madonna: Truth or Dare.” But he says they are no longer close.

Ciccone’s memoir includes everything from gossip about Madonna’s sex life (she lost her virginity to a “guy named Russell”) to anecdotes about such ex-lovers as Sean Penn and Warren Beatty.

Borat? Now, that’s clueless

Guy Ritchie’s relationship with Robert Downey Jr. apparently is working out just fine.

The “Iron Man” star has signed on to play the title role in the Ritchie-directed “Sherlock Holmes,” set to begin shooting in October.

That should put it ahead of a rival “Sherlock Holmes” comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen as the detective and Will Ferrell as his partner, Dr. Watson.

Back on the bubble

Genie Francis is checking back into “General Hospital.”

The 46-year-old actress will again reprise her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera beginning Aug. 26.

Her character’s 1981 fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watched by 30 million viewers and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine.

Laura, whom Francis started playing in 1976, was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007.

Martial arts museums

On the chop-socky front, Jackie Chan’s Web site says construction has begun on a museum for the action movie star in Shanghai.

And a developer who owns Bruce Lee’s old home in Hong Kong is lobbying to turn the property into a museum.

Cast your ballads

A new album by France’s first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, hit stores there Friday.

The model-turned-singer has been an image-booster for President Nicolas Sarkozy, whom she married in February, so the album’s success – or failure – could be critical for him.

The birthday bunch

Pianist Van Cliburn is 74. Actor-comedian Bill Cosby is 71. Singer Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac) is 65. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 60. Actress Cheryl Ladd is 57. Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 52. Actress Mel Harris (“thirtysomething”) is 52. Actress Anna Friel (“Pushing Daisies”) is 32. Actor Topher Grace is 30. Actress Michelle Rodriguez is 30. Actor Erik Per Sullivan (“Malcolm in the Middle”) is 17.