READY FOR THE REWARDS

Credit: Jesse Lenz/Daily Beast

Ahead Of Facebook’s IPO, Giddy Spending Blitz In Silicon Valley

By Elizabeth C.

THANKS IN PART TO FACEBOOK’S IMMINENT IPO, IT’S GIDDY TIMES IN THE SILICON VALLEY.

The newly rich and impending rich are on a spending spree, according to the Los Angeles Times. Facebook’s IPO hits Nasdaq’s market on Friday, heralding “a new era of prosperity in a region famous for minting fortunes,” writes Jessica Guynn. Consequently, company employees are spending in advance of their new wealth as a result of the company’s $100 billion valuation.

Houses are selling for hundreds of thousands above their asking prices, upscale restaurant lines are long and luxury cars are zooming off of dealers’ lots. Markets — and egos — are inflated.

PREPARE FOR SPECTACLE

Credit: Michel Rosenthal

Travolta Accuser “John Doe No. 1” Hires Gloria Allred

By Elizabeth C.

JOHN TRAVOLTA ACCUSER JOHN DOE NO. 1 JUST UPPED THE ANTE: GLORIA ALLRED HAS TAKEN HIS CASE.

The un-identified masseur withdrew his original lawsuit against the actor after he changed the date of the alleged sexual assault against him.

POW WOW

Beautiful Smithereens: Photographer Alan Sailer Takes Aim & Hits Bullseye

By Elizabeth C.

DESTRUCTION CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL THING. Just ask high-speed saboteur Alan Sailer who torpedoes food and thrift finds for fun.

The California engineer has won acclaim for his photographs of time-delayed mutilation. He works out of his garage using a homemade camera with the shutterspeed set to a one-second delay. Once he’s got his subjects in place, he blows them up with a pellet rife rifle, firecracker or a handmade armament made with PVC pipe and sprinkler valve. Then he captures the resulting mayhem with his lens. The results are dazzling images of items being blown to smithereens. Above is “There’s Always Room For Jello.” Sailer writes on his Flickr page. “The room is a lot messier as a result. At least I was smart enough to buy sugar free Jello.”

All words following photos are from Sailer’s Flickr notes.

AND THEY LIVED…

Real Housewives Of Orange County: Fairytales Turn Into Nightmares

By Trisha B.

WHERE WERE WE? OH, RIGHT:

BRIANA’S MARRIED (!!!), LEAVING HER MOTHER ROYALLY PISSED. Alexis wasted money on a hosting coach, Gretchen confessed she doesn’t want to get married, Tamra downsized her boobs, and while Vicki’s love tank is full, everyone else thinks her boyfriend Brooks is full of shit.

SINCE YOU ASKED

In Exchange For Press, Tom Cruise Takes Playboy‘s Questions

By Elizabeth C.

THE QUID PRO QUO BETWEEN CELEBRITY AND MEDIA REACHES ITS APEX WITH THE SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW just before a major release. So today, in a Q&A with Playboy, Tom Cruise pays due in advance of his highly-anticipated Rock Of Ages in which he plays an 80s rock legend named Stacee Jaxx.

Cruise, a master of self-control, knows that publicity’s price is small truths sold as revelations. So once again, but with more feeling, we hear about the “two things” he “loves most” — his wife Katie and movies, as well as his hunger for competence, his devotion to family and what it was like growing up with an absent father.

DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I SAY

Hova’s A Hypocrite

By Elizabeth C.

HOVA’S A HYPOCRITE.

Hey, I’m not judging, just pointing out the obvious. If you’re human it’s bound to happen sooner or later. But then again, too few think of Jay Z as human, including himself.

The hip hop lord tells CNN that he backs President Barack Obama’s support of marriage for gay couples, and he sounds resolute in his support.

NOTHING PURE IN THIS WORLD

Bride In Wedding Dress Found Dead In Tub

By Elizabeth C.

ABRIDE IN HER WEDDING DRESS WAS FOUND STABBED TO DEATH IN HER BATHTUB. Estrella Carrera, 25, was discovered Sunday two days after she tied the knot with a 30-year-old unidentified Chicago man.

HARDENED CRIMINAL?

‘Anonymous’ Suspect Enjoys Life Of The Mind While Imprisoned

By Elizabeth C.

AT FIRST GLANCE, THE HEADLINE READS LIKE AN ONION article:

“Chicago man in Anonymous hacking case biding time in jail by reading”

‘ONE DAY AT A TIME’

Velvet-Voiced Vagabond Ted Williams Celebrates One Year Clean

By Elizabeth C.

HE STOLE HEARTS AND IMAGINATIONS with his smooth baritone and his impeccable manners. We first met Ted Williams when a Columbus Dispatch reporter videotaped him doing a voiceover for a handout on an Ohio street corner.

BREAKING POINT

Real Housewives Of New Jersey: The Trouble With Angels

By Karen Malmquist

CAROLINE AND ALBERT AND KATHY AND RICH ARE ON THEIR WAY TO SOME MYSTERIOUS PLACE. Inside their respective cars, the topic du jour is Teresa, specifically how to cut her from their lives.