Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama announced Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate for the 2008 election on Saturday. Now I don't know much about Biden, so I have been doing a little research and so far there seems to be several pros and cons to this decision. To be fair, however, I think anyone Obama chose as his #2 would have been subject to extreme scrutiny by Democrats and Republicans alike and I don't think there was any "perfect" person to fill this position. Let's be honest, Hillary couldn't have run alongside him without trying to be in charge, John Edwards is obviously too busy banging some chick that looks like an upside down broom and fathering illegitimate children, and Optimus Prime couldn't get out of his contract for Transformers 2. Slim pickings!

An interesting choice and certainly a decision that I trust Obama made wisely, Biden certainly has his work cut out for him if he is to help the democratic party rack up more votes for November. I still need to learn a lot more about this Biden character. What do y'all think? - Chess

Are you looking for the most impressive first date ever? If she or he likes wonderful, affecting site-specific theatre, take them to see the Neo-Futurist's Fake Lake, site-specific to the Welles Park Swimming Pool. Chlorinated comedy and tragedy abound, expertly penned by Sharon Greene, a five-year Neo vet who took a sabbatical to write the play.

Based on Greene's experiences at Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir that grew out of the damming of the Colorado River. Every year, the lake evaporates more water than the city of Los Angeles consumes. With this bearing in mind, the play explores Greene's ambiguous feelings about a beautiful, terrible place. After the show, I was awestruck. Support a great company in its 20th year. Check out the Fake Lake. --Drake

Fake Lake runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at the Welles Park Swimming Pool, 2333 W Sunnyside in Lincoln Square.

Justin and Britney will be doing a duet together on her upcoming album. Awwww. I can't help it, I like Britney and want her to have a comeback! Her last album was her best yet and I hope this one is in the same vein. - Chess

Look at that angelic face! This lil guy, named Yoda, lives in Downers Grove and has become a celebrity thanks to photos posted on Flickr. His owners are reportedly fielding calls from FOX News. 'Nuff said. – Kim

 

Everyone's favorite bottle blonde, Gwen Stefani, just gave birth to her second little boo berry this afternoon. I'm guessing it's a girl since the name she and hubby Gavin decided on was Zuma, but the gender has yet to be confirmed. Congrats to the beautiful couple.

Really I just wanted an excuse to post a hot picture of a hot lady. - Chess

That's right folks, Mr. Blaine is going to perform yet another dumbass masochistic activity magical feat. He will be hanging upside down suspended on a highwire six stories up above Central Park. The whole sad affair will be televised and people can "interact" with him as he proves once again that "magic" nowadays is apparently just a test of endurance in really excruciatingly pointless situations. Houdini is rolling over in his grave I'm sure.

Now for my trick. I will vow to stare at a computer screen for 12 hours a day for a whole year. Already done. Booyah Blaine. - Chess

Dudes: Bored of dating people you have anything in common with? Need a way to spend your cash but already have nice watches on both wrists?

Trixies: Do you hit the clubs tired from a long day of making an honest wage? Sick of paying rent for a bedroom in Lincoln Park you rarely sleep in?

Finally! A solution! This Thursday Date & Dash is hosting an “Older Men / Younger Women” party at Xippo. It’s a speed-dating evening that’s going to cost the guys $40 to get in (but what’s that to you, baller?), and will cost the gals $1 (just steal it from Karen’s laundry fund jar). Here’s the rules:

• Guys have to be 35 to 50.
• Girls have to be 21 to 30.
• Anyone between 30 to 35 is not wealthy and/or young enough.
• Dress is "business casual," as it’s better if we all acknowledge this is a mutually beneficial financial transaction.

Cougars and cougar-hunters? Don’t feel left out; your party’s next month at Déjà vu. – Brian Howe Battle

Just posting some completely gratuitous gossip and popular celeb news for the hell of it in a section I call Trashtastic!

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The gorgeous Miss Dita Von Teese is launching her own line of lingerie for Wonderbra. Judging by the pics, this line of undies and bras is looking very nice. Sadly, not all us girls have the hourglass shape to fill out such pieces. Sigh. Tear. Sob. Still, these photos are really making me reconsider my sexuality.



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In the world of break-ups, Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer have called it quits. Both camps, in the mature fashion we've all come to expect from celebs, are claiming that they dumped the other, and things are getting heated! Apparently Mayer, who seems to love the media attention he gets from his romantic exploits, didn't want to "waste" Jenny's time and so he kicked her to the curb. Aniston's rep, however, claims it was Mayer's immaturity and wandering eye that caused Jenny to dump his ass. Who knows and who cares? In the immortal words of Strongbad, "IT'S OVER!".



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In sad and serious news, Christina Applegate had a double mastectomy to rid her of the breast cancer she was diagnosed with earlier this summer. Get well! I <3 Kelly Bundy 4Eva.



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Congrats to Olympian superstar Michael Phelps for getting people to watch the Olympics again and winning those record breaking EIGHT gold medals. BLING BLING, y'all!

And Michael, no more DUIs, k? Also, this new SI cover kinda makes you look like you are wearing a Samantha Jones halter top. Eeek.



Over and out. - Chess

Attention geekettes! Here is a bikini guaranteed to get a random nerd to ask if he can do the ol' "up up down down left right left right b a" code on you. Warning to geeks: this is not, I repeat, NOT a functioning controller. Furthermore, the retractable dual analog sticks are inconveniently located. Also, the model does not seem to be included, since shipping would probably cost a fortune. (Props to Gizmodo, Kotaku, and Complex for triple-teaming the story) -Rannell