Sunglasses...cool, casual, colorful! Out of the shade, into spotlight!

Ah, the lazy days of summer are upon us!

When I zipped into my favorite Starbucks outlet in West Hollywood, I couldn't help but notice the festive eye-catching shades on the snoz of one of the kids who plies the eclectic cafe treats there.

The quirky fun specs were somewhat reminiscent of a pair of poindexters, but the rims screamed out in a pop-inspired fire-engine red!

Very cool!

You know, since I became a transplant to sunny California, it has always surprised me how many people in the BIG ORANGE trounce around town - wearing sandals in open jeeps with T's off or with their top-of-the-line Benz convertible rag-tops down - without donning a pair of sunglasses for protection under the sizzlin' mid-day solar rays.

Vanity be thy name?

Yes, I expect a handful of Hollywood hopefuls are anxious to show off their pretty mugs in tantalizing Tinsel town where an all-elusive break into the biz is just a glance away.

But, for longevity's sake (unless you want to play character actors for the rest of your life) it's always wise to cover up when splashing into the zesty beach days of summer each year.

After all, treks in the scorching sun without shades get 'ya squinting - and over time - etch out some nasty crow's feet up-close and personal to your luminous baby blues.

Notwithstanding, scrutinizing objects in the bright sun without protection may eventually cause irreversible damage to the retina of the eye.

So, it's important to not only sport shades, but ensure the pair you snap up have maximum Ultra Violet (UV) protection!

But, forget rims in "granny styles". After all, wrap-a-round coverage is best.

Of course, there are many brands to choose from!

Ray-Bans, as always, are Top Gun!

And, in 90210 (Beverly Hills, dahlink!) designer shades with ubiquitous logos upfront and screeching "money" are always in vogue.

But, if you're on a budget or continually misplacing your fave pair (like moi!), occasionally - and for a song with a stroke of luck - you'll be able to snatch up a real snazzy pair at the 99 cent store.

But, scan for the UV protection sticker, please!

Another benefit of protection?

In a matter of weeks you'll also notice the texture and tone of the skin around the eyes noticeably improved.

It saves face! Just ask my pals, below.

Tom Cruise...Scientology sh** hits fan; top gun threatens lawsuits over video!

Well, the old **it hit the fan for Tom Cruise this week.



Yesterday morning, a news outlet featured a videotape of the megastar, engaging in secret ceremonies behind closed doors at Scientology headquarters.



If the disgruntled former member of the cult, who released it, intended to "embarrass" Mr. Cruise, they accomplished that feat hands down!



In one shot, Tom enters an "S" meeting, stops to salute a fuzzy blow-up photo of the creator of the organization - Ron L. Hubbard - then proceeds onstage to acknowledge one of the upper echelon of the odd-ball group that raises eyebrows daily.



I surmise the curious elbow-lift infers that all Scientology enthusiasts are "foot soldiers" in the war against, what? Ignorance? Prejudice against the Church's "personality tests"? Overzealous critics harping about the fact that Scientology is not a religion?



Heh, in the inner recesses of my mind, I do seem to recall that Mr. Hubbard was a former Science Fiction writer. Isn't Scientology just a surreal fantasy, conjured up by a very active, demented imagination?



Worse yet, Tom was caught in the flesh, talking Scientologese!



Yup, he babbled with gushing enthusiasm about SP, and KSG, and all manner of things, hidden in a secret code. SP? "Suppress the people", is what it stands for, according to insiders.



And KSG? "Keep Scientology Going" apparently.



Well, if you have a deranged mind, to.



Do you suppose they have a secret handshake too?



I must say, I was a bit envious of that Gold Medallion swinging lavishly around Tom's squeaky-clean neck a few months ago...an award, you say, for his worthwhile contributions to the sect - um - Church?



To be fair to the star, and in a bold-faced effort to gain a different perspective on 'em, I inputted the word Scientology into the online dictionary at Webster's web site. The word isn't even listed, let alone mentioned in a possible list of suspects.



As I was preparing this post, a 20/20 promo for a segment on the "cruiser", sprang across the screen...so, I was inclined to tune in.



Clips catching Tom demonizing psychiatry were downright scary - especially in view of the fact - he alleges that scientologists have the “the authority".



On what?



If this revelation (no connection to the scriptures) wasn't enough to hurl Cruise fanatics over the brink, they hit bullion when Andrew Morton - who released an unauthorized biography this week on the diminutive actor - was on hand to toss in his two cents worth.



"Tom thinks they are super beings," he actually opined with a straight face.



Ironically, the interviewer, added,



"After observing Mr. Cruise the past few months, it appears to me that he needs some psychiatric therapy."



Ouch!



If asked, maybe Dr. Phil will step in and lend a hand.



On a morning show, the reporter noted that word from Cruise's camp is that any individuals posting the video on their web site, will face litigation.



Why don't you just zap 'em with your super powers, Tom?



Andrew Morton's timely tome apparently focuses on the childhood years, as well. The insightful writer uncovered gems like...the fact that Tom collected model airplanes (Top Gun, right?) and played the "sun" in a 5th grade pageant.



As to the quirky, early stint on stage, a former teacher noted that,



"Even 30 years later, it still gives me goose bumps (thinking about it)."



When it was also revealed that Tom Cruise once impersonated Woody Woodpecker, a Bay Area Reporter quipped,



"We'd bet his Woody is memorable."



My money says Cruise suffers from a Napoleon (small man's) complex.









Tom, psychiatrists usually prefer a horizontal position on the couch...

Tom Cruise...vanity be thy name?

Did I pull a boner?


If you were paying attention to the full-page ads for the feature film "LIONS for LAMBS" in recent weeks, you undoubtedly noticed some curious goings-on!

Shortly after the film - which had a tepid opening performance - was released, snippets of reviews touting Cruise's acting ability nudged their way to the top of the advertisements in all their radiance. (!)

Of course, many were under the impression, that "LIONS for LAMBS" was a Robert Redford film; after all, the SUNDANCE kid starred and directed, right?

Wrong!

Actually, "LIONS" was the first project Cruise and his producer-partner, Paula Wagner, undertook since Tom got the boot from Paramount.

If you recall, Sumner Redstone (Head of Paramount) did not renew Cruise's contract with the studio biggie because he felt that the star's outside activities - an involvement with the controversial Church of Scientology, for instance - were hurting box office receipts.

Notwithstanding, it's evident at this juncture, that the spotlight was placed on Cruise's acting - by virtue of his own hand!

Think about it...

As Executive Producer on "Lions for Lambs" - Tom was "top dog" - who managed and controlled publicity for the feature.

One has to wonder, then - was it vanity?

A big ego, perhaps.

Or, just plain old insecurity, that prompted Cruise to put his own reviews upfront and center in advertisements in all the major dailies, above everyone else in the cast?

You see, Tom made a classic mistake in the business, which would be wise to pay heed to.

True, for a number of years - the No. 1 Box Office actor - basked in good press, kind thoughts, and was showered with all good intentions.

In addition, one of the sexiest men alive, was the subject of image-boosting articles, a proliferation of flattering photos, and a lot of ego-stroking; uh-huh, from all quarters of the business.

Why?

In the early days of his fledgling career, Tom was smart enough to recognize the importance of an excellent publicist - so - the astute star proceeded to hire a handful of the most capable, powerful, PR agents in all of Hollywood.

With the stellar team at the helm, all was well in Tinseltown, for decades to come.

But, out-of-the-blue one day - without warning - the agitated actor (for some inexplicable reason) fired his loyal Public Relations folks - yeah, he sent 'em packing!

Oh my, it appears he opened Pandora's box, because all manner of strange occurrences befell him.

Suddenly, Tom was fighting with Brook Shields about psychiatry on National Television, jumping on couches, and tooling around town on a - what?

A motorcycle!

The subliminal message was "crystal clear"...the aging Lothario was pining for the heady days when he was once a TOP GUN.

Mid-life crisis?

Bottom line, Cruise was spilling out negative print as fast as the presses could run it...

And, before you could say - "Mission Impossible" - Cruise's image was not only in tatters, but his whole career was in a free fall, to the bottom of showbiz infamy.

Up until the exit of his handlers, there hadn't been any risky business to speak of; in fact, Tom had been blessed with good fortune.

Yes, he was in the enviable position to dictate the questions fielded at exclusive interview sessions, pick and choose the snippets of chit-chat to incorporate into news features, and - most importantly - was able to appease the beast inside...an obvious control-freak, lurking beneath the sunny, outgoing surface.

But all that evaporated into thin air when he ventured into the unknown, after sending his Public Relations officers, packing.

From the sidelines, naysayers titter, that the once affable star is a hair's breath away from the dreaded B-list.

But, with $$$ in the bank, for the moment he's secure - financially - at least.

Tom, you once had us at "hello", what happened?



I did not have sex with that man!



A forced kiss?