Hello everybody, as we're about to light up and blow out 234 candles on America's birthday cake this Fourth of July weekend!

First up...with the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings making news here, there was already one heavily ignored political story that happened last week on the other side of the hemisphere, as Kevin Rudd was forced out and Julia Gillard stepping in to history as Australia's first female Prime Minister.

So it's time to play...What Do We Know about Julia Gillard? Well, she's 48 years old, unmarried without children, and until the change in power she served as Deputy Prime Minister (equivalent to Vice President of the United States) under Rudd. And by watching her first Question Time as prime minister, Gillard looks to be a cross between Julianne Moore and Gillian Anderson.

But...will she hold on to that job for long? Gillard may be calling for an election to be held between this fall and spring 2011, and she might join Kim Campbell as not only their countries' first female prime ministers, but the short-lived as well. Most of you don't remember Campbell, who served as Canadian Prime Minister for 132 days in 1993, which is longer than Chevy Chase's disastrous late night talk show that year (or the one and only XFL season in 2001).

Australia is not a soccer-crazed country, but the big-name countries have been dropping like flies in the World Cup lately as we near the homestretch. First, the United States; then, England, Mexico, Ghana (who eliminated the U.S.), Portugal (yes, no more of the Taylor Lautner of soccer, Cristiano Ronaldo); and now, powerhouse Brazil is back home thanks to the Netherlands. By the way, defending champions Italy were gone last week.

It's clear to us that the country to watch for now is Germany, and I have a strong hunch they may still take this.

Larry King announced this week that after 25 years, it'll be the end for his CNN show this fall. But he made himself clear that he's not done entirely. Larry will still be at the cable network doing occasional specials and documentaries, proving why he's the King.

But who will take the reins of saying "(insert city), HELLO!" One name that pops in my mind is Pat O'Brien, who will be penning his memoirs set to be published next fall. I know he hasn't done any television work in a couple of years, and I'm sure taking Larry's suspenders (okay, so he wears a belt) would be a great chapter to add in his book.

And last but not least...other than the World Cup and Wimbledon, the biggest sports story back here Stateside is going on at this moment: where will LeBron James land next?

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is officially a free agent and available for the taking...but by who??? Like "The Bachelor(ette)", NBA team owners from the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, to even the always lowly Los Angeles Clippers are lining up, though there have been reports that the Miami Heat executives have been making their move at him.

It won't be long till one of them asks the question, "LeBron, will you accept this jersey?", only that he'll say yes. So long, stay strong, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!