Birthday lurve goes out today to the AMAZING Madonna … musical pop icon of our time … as she turns an incredible 50 years old today. Now, I don’t usually make a habit of announcing the ages of ladies who are older than me on the blog but I have to make an exception in this case … Madonna is a Queen, y’all … and she’s now half a century old:

Sure, Madonna may have scandalized the Vatican and shocked nearly every parent in America at some point during her long and provocative career full of shrewd image transformations. But as the Material Girl hits the half-century mark this weekend, she may be stepping into a role that even she, with all her marketing savvy, might not have dreamed up: poster child for the 50-and-fabulous set. Who cares about those recent tabloid headlines linking her to the Yankees’ A-Rod, or that tell-all book by her brother? Many women of a certain age look at Madonna and see a wonderfully fit, stylish, vigorous woman who’s made a fortune based on smarts, talent and ambition — no “Blond Ambition” puns, please — and just keeps on going. Her latest world tour, “Sticky & Sweet,” kicks off in Wales a week after her Aug. 16 birthday. Talk about your New 50 … Madonna’s milestone should inspire men as well as women, says David Zinczenko, editor in chief of Men’s Health magazine. “I was in high school when she hit it big,” says Zinczenko, who’s in his late 30s. “Now that her first young fans are in their 30s, we look at Madonna as sort of a harbinger of the future for us. And the future looks pretty good.”

Oh yeah, Maddy is showing no signs that she plans to slow down by any means … which is a good thing for all of us. Here is a pic of Madonna and her hubby Guy Ritchie steppin’ on on the town together last night for a little pre-birthday churchin’ at The Kabbalah Centre in London … the key is that they were together:

It’s pretty remarkable to be talking about Madonna, the Like a Virgin Material Girl from the 80′s, being 50 years old but here we are. Again, we all know that Madonna still has many years of fierceness ahead … I can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will be like.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

And so … another San Diego Comic Con has come to pass … and as usual, I was out of the country and unable to attend — but there are a lot of fun pictures to check out that will kinda sorta make it feel like I’m part of the experience but, you know, without having to actually endure all the ridiculous costumery in person ;) Here are a few pics of some of the more zealous Comic Con attendees this year:

And here are a few pics of some of the principal stars of the NBC hit Heroes who attended the Con this year to promote the upcoming third season of the show:

Honestly, there are just too many things that were presented at this year’s Con that I can’t possibly post them all … but Entertainment Weekly was in the hiz taking photos of some of my fave sci-fi/comic booky things at this year’s convention to give a nice overview. After the jump, check out a few EW photos of some of my fave things that I would’ve checked out had I attended this year’s Comic Con …

Madonna and her family spent part of their weekend enjoying a movie together (sans David Banda) seeming to show the world that everything is hunky-dory in their collective lives and nothing and no one is going to stand in their way of family bliss. If it weren’t for those horrible CROCs shoes that little Rocco insists on wearing (why, Madonna … why would you let such a travesty continue to occur?), I’d say that these pics are damn near perfect:

There was no word on what film the happy family were heading out to see (my guess is Journey to the Center of the Earth) but I’m sure a lovely time was had by all. The family already spends much of their time worshiping together or enjoying amusement park rides together … and now they’re off seeing movies together … next up, we should be seeing pics of the happy family picking posies as they skip hand in hand thru fields of lush green grass and colorful flowers. Nope … no family trubs here.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Madonna‘s marriage managed to survive another week of rumor and conjecture as reports of the dissolution of New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez‘s marriage to his wife Cynthia swirled in the tabloids … not to mention the drama that her brother Christopher Ciccone is trying to kick up with his new book. Making very sure to stay as far away from A-Rod‘s messy break-up with his wife (and totally mum on her brother’s book), Madonna and her family continued to put forth a united front together. Here are pics of Maddy and her entire family as they made their way out of their weekly Sabbath visit to the Kabbalah Centre last night:

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie put up a united front as they clasped hands during a family visit to the Kabbalah Centre in New York. They did a good job of playing the happy couple in a week which has seen the pop veteran rocked by divorce rumours and allegations she is behind the marriage break-up of baseball player Alex Rodriguez. The 49-year-old has also had to endure hurtful allegations from brother Christopher Ciccone who claims in his tell-all book that she loves her career and herself more than her husband. In one of many barbed comments in the book Life With My Sister, which is due for release on Tuesday, Ciccone wrote: “I hope that it is Kabbalah’s lesson that she is not the centre of the universe.” But yesterday Madonna showed she had bounced back from a miserable week and the smile on her face suggested she found some spiritual peace at the Kabbalah Centre, which preaches about the mysterious Jewish movement followed by the star. Dressed in a casual black tracksuit and sunglasses, the pop star emerged with Ritchie having arrived late at the venue. Also in attendance were children Lourdes, Rocco and adopted baby David Banda … Madonna has refuted reports she is behind the £50million marriage break-up of Rodriguez, the world’s most expensive baseball player, and his wife Cynthia. Her denial follows reports that Rodriguez, 32 – in the first season of a £139million, 10-year contract with the New York Yankees – made a series of visits to Madonna’s New York flat, and that he converted to Kabbalah. Cynthia, 34, has filed for divorce earlier this week. In a statement Madonna said she has “nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study”.

Folks, Madonna is made of sterner stuff than all of this drama that is whipping up around her. Some maintain that she and Guy are merely holding their marriage together until after she completes her Sticky & Sweet World Tour but I maintain that they are just dealing with the same old shizz that they’ve been dealing with for years now. She’s keeping her family together, that says a helluva lot about the woman, I think.

[Photo credit: Splash News, Source]

Here are a couple supercute pics of Guy Ritchie taking his youngest son David Banda out for a little playdate in Central Park this weekend. The Ciconne-Ritchies (all kids included) spent a significant portion of their Independence Day weekend enjoying services at the Kabbalah Centre in NYC but Guy and David managed to sneak away for a little playtime yesterday afternoon:

I understand that Rocco Ritchie also tagged along on the trip to Central Park (he was wearing the New York Yankees t-shirt that he’s been living in for the past 2 weeks) but I really

Last weekend, we saw photos of Madonna making her way to services at the Kabbalah Centre in NYC with her kids but without her husband Guy Ritchie (who was reportedly attending Kabbalah services in London on his own at the same time) and this weekend we get to see pics of the happy (?) couple attending services together again:

I dunno why Maddy looks like she just got dragged out of the bathtub but I can understand her desire to recenter herself with her husband at her place of worship after the tumultuous week they endured together. All the rampant rumors about their marriage must’ve been a strain on the both of them and it’s encouraging to see them soldier thru it all and remain steadfast together. I admit, I don’t know much about the teachings of Kabbalah (tho, I am reading up on them) but I hope that Madonna and Guy are able to find the strength they need to endure and survive as a couple. I really like them together, I want to see them succeed :)

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

Just as I suspected they would, Madonna and hubby Guy Ritchie made an effort to step out, very publicly, in a show of unity in order to send the message that they are still happily together and there is no trubs at all in their marriage (on the very same day that Madge‘s publicist had to issue a statement saying just exactly that). Because of the rampant rumors going around speculating that the couple are headed (once again) for splitsville, Maddy and Guy went out for dinner together last night, hand in hand, at a place called ‘Cesca in NYC. Here are a few pics:

Diners at New York City’s ‘Cesca, an Italian eatery on the Upper West Side, got a surprise Tuesday night when Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie walked in, holding hands. They looked “like a normal couple that just wanted to have a nice dinner out,” says an onlooker. “They looked very unassuming. Not like they were looking for attention.” Seasoned New Yorkers are quite accustomed to spotting celebrities at the restaurant (and Madonna does have an apartment in the neighborhood). Still, seeing the queen of pop and her director husband together in public is a rare occurrence – and a meaningful one. “Everyone was whispering and saying, ‘Wow, that was Madonna. She is supposed to be separating from her husband. I can’t believe she is here,’” the observer adds. But Madonna and Ritchie didn’t flinch. The couple, who’ve been plagued by breakup rumors, continued with their cozy, hour-long dinner before leaving – also hand-in-hand.

Interestingly, or perhaps nosomuch, the couple made a point to enter/exit Madonna‘s NYC apartment building thru the front door last night, opting out of using the more sequestered side door. Not since Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made such a show of unification last week has there been such a well-choreographed display — Guy even carried Maddy‘s Louis Vuitton bag with his free hand that wasn’t holding her hand. Clearly the couple were intent on putting on a show for the media … by this I mean, that even tho everything is fine with their relationship, they have to show the world that everything is fine in their relationship in order to try and quiet the rumors. This ain’t Madonna‘s first time at the rodeo … she knows what’s up and she knows what she’s doing. I’m just glad that things appear to be fine and dandy for the couple — as I said before, I really like them together and I’d like to see them stay attached.

[Photo credit: Splash News, X17; Source]

After flying across the Atlantic Ocean to be with his wife and kids (and having his wife’s publicist clarify that no divorce is being planned), Guy Ritchie spent part of his first day in NYC in the company of his thick and beefy personal trainer … and possibly his wife’s laundry. Since Madonna is hard at work at rehearsals for her upcoming Sticky & Sweet World Tour, it makes sense that Guy would have to find other ways to occupy his time now that he’s in NYC. Additionally, Maddy‘s sons — Rocco and David Banda — spent part of their day at the Central Park Zoo with the nannies … here are a few pics:

Man, you gotta love that Rocco is all decked out in New York Yankees gear, especially considering that ridic A-Rod rumor that’s going around :) I understand that Lourdes, Madonna‘s only begotten daughter, spent her day in the care of her father Carlos Leon. It looks and sounds like all the Leon/Ciconne-Ritchies are enjoying the best that NYC has to offer. Clearly, there ain’t no family discord at work here.

At last, Guy Ritchie has made his way across the pond and made his way to his wife Madonna‘s doorstep. After weeks of break-up/divorce rumors of varying degree, it appears that either A.) Madonna has ordered her husband to fly to her side in order to help down play those rumors (whether they be true or not), B.) Guy decided it would be best to be seen with his family in order to try and help cool the divorce rumors (or to prove a commitment to his marriage) or C.) Husband and wife are spending time together as a break in their work schedules allow, having absolutely nothing at all do with extraneous discussion about the state of their wedded bliss. While I wish that C were the answer, the rumor mill is pushing things towards answers A or B (ie. if the rumors are to believed, it’s unclear which of the two parties is more interested in keeping things together or, at the very least, wants to keep up appearances that the couple are still happily together). As with all divorce speculation, there really isn’t a way to accurately determine what is going on — especially when new rumors are springing up each day, like US Weekly‘s assertion that Madge has been “hanging out” with Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees — that is, until an official statement either way is released from the couple … a practice that the Ciconne-Ritchies are well versed in. Here are a couple pics of Guy‘s arrival at JFK aiport from London and his arrival at Madonna‘s NYC apartment building:

Guy Ritchie arrived in New York from London Monday evening amid reports of trouble in his marriage to Madonna, who is in the Big Apple rehearsing for an upcoming tour. Around 6:30 p.m. the director, who was accompanied by two bodyguards, entered the Upper West Side building where he and Madonna own an apartment. Rumors that their seven-year marriage is in trouble have been circulating for some time. Adding fuel to the talk, Ritchie, 39, and Madonna, 49, spent the weekend apart – she with their three children in New York, and him in London. Neither of them wore wedding bands. Madonna’s spokesperson, Liz Rosenberg, said, “Madonna has rarely worn a wedding band over these last six years, so there’s no secret message about that.”

And now, the A-Rod rumor: Us Weekly reports in its new issue, on newsstands tomorrow, that Madonna’s seven-year marriage to Guy Ritchie has stalled out – and the singer has been hosting late-night visits from New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez at her Central Park West apartment in New York City. A ringless and grim-faced Ritchie, 39, arrived in New York City from London yesterday after several weeks apart from his family. A source tells Us that the $28-million-a-year Rodriguez, 32, has made numerous solo nighttime visits to Madonna, 49, at her spacious home and would sneak out “as late as midnight.” Says the source, “All the doormen are talking.” Rodriguez attended Madonna’s April 30 NYC concert; the singer sat in his seats at a Yankees game on June 22 (it was the first time she ever was photographed at a Yankees game). Her son Rocco, 7, also sported Yankees gear on June 25 while playing in Central Park … Madonna has been in NYC since the venerable Times of London confirmed that she consulted the same high-profile divorce attorney who worked with Paul McCartney and Prince Charles. Meanwhile, Us confirms Ritchie has also sought legal advice from Forsters law firm in London.

To be honest, I’m surprised this rumor about Madonna creepin’ around with A-Rod didn’t spring up sooner … it usually doesn’t take this long for break-up rumors to start introducing third parties into the mix. At least it’s a positive sign that Guy and Madonna are now in the same country … same city, even! No matter what is going on between them (if anything at all) I think it is a step in the right direction that they have been reunited. It prolly won’t be long until we see pics of the two of them together in public, maybe at a romantic dinner, maybe with the kids at play. It’s funny how even if things are totally fine in a relationship between celebs they have to still go about making sure that it still appears that things are totally fine.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source, Source]

Amid rumors that his marriage to Madonna is about to come to a final end (yet again), Guy Ritchie was spotted making his way to London’s Heathrow airport supposedly bound for NYC where his wife Maddy (who is furiously working on rehearsals for her upcoming Sticky & Sweet Tour) and his their children have been staying for the past week or so. The Sun is reporting that Guy is winging his way to the States in order to make a last ditch effort to save his marriage … tho, it’s entirely plausible that these rumors are totally unfounded and he is merely making his way to NY to visit with his family (if he’s even headed to NY at all). Here are a few pics of Guy in London, supposedly making his way to the US:

GUY RITCHIE is flying to New York this weekend in a last-ditch bid to save his marriage to MADONNA. The couple hope to get their relationship back on track for the sake of their children. A source close to them said: “It is make or break time for Guy and Madonna. She is completely focused on rehearsals for her tour in America and can’t come back to London. They want to make the marriage work, but they are at a stalemate. Divorce is something they have thought about.” The Sun first revealed in March that the seven-year marriage was in trouble. The couple have not been photographed together since June 2 and had looked strained and ill-at-ease in each other’s company. Over the last six months both film director Guy, 39, and 49-year-old Madonna have consulted lawyers in case of a permanent split. The singer — referred to as Em by her close pals — has taken informal advice from top divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who handled SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY’s divorce from HEATHER MILLS. The source added: “Em went to Fiona so that if they do split up, it will be easier to handle all the publicity if everything is in place legally. But at the moment they are both trying to rescue the situation. Em has shown a willingness to patch things up. But because almost all rehearsals for the tour are in New York rather than in London Guy thinks she’s not sacrificing much. He has now decided to fly out there this weekend to try to sort things out.” If the couple cannot patch up their differences, the split will NOT be a court circus like that of Macca and Mucca. The Ritchies are determined to remain civil. And, despite some reports, friends say they DO have a watertight pre-nuptial deal that will make any split more amicable. The key issue is Madonna’s desire to live in New York with her children Lourdes, 11, Rocco, seven, and adopted David, two. She has spent a fortune renovating her Manhattan apartment, installing a gym and a giant rehearsal room … Madonna’s world tour will not end until next year, while Guy is working on commercials and two movies.

Thus far, there hasn’t been any real substantive proof that the couple are breaking up … it’s more of the same — “the couple never look happy together”, “Guy doesn’t want more kids”, “Madonna wants to move to NY” — these are the same reports that have plagued their entire 7-year marriage. I really like Madonna and Guy together as a couple. I think they compliment each other very well and they have a really beautiful family. No matter what is going on in their personal lives, I hope they are able to successfully contend with the rumors and come out on top as a happy couple.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]