Much, much birthday lurve goes out to the amazing Tori Amos who is celebrating her 45th birthday today. Many of y’all know how much I <3 this woman and her music and I know a great many of you share this love for her:

Even in her most … colorful and adventurous state (like this fairly ostentatious outfit that Tori wore to the 2008 San Diego Comic Con earlier this summer) … Tori Amos is truly an amazing woman, musician, artist, mother — the list goes on and on. I’ve been a very rabid Tori fan since the early 90’s and am thrilled to know that she is happy to continue making music on her own terms. Earlier this year, Tori announced that she was leaving Epic Records to begin distributing and selling her future albums all on her own (perhaps much in the same way that Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails are) which is a very exciting thing for all Tori Amos fans. And so, today, on her 45th birthday, I want to send out a big shout-out and all my love to our dear Tori. Happy Birthday, T!!!

Can you guess which newly married member of Young Hollywood was spotted driving around the streets of SoCal this week in a dirty ride that was showin’ no lurve to the gossip site TMZ?

It’s prolly not the young celeb you might be thinking … it’s actually a guy. After the jump, find out who it is …

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While many folks (including me) are buzzing about the debut of the much-talked about Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off for The CW (especially all the Shannen Doherty shizz) which is set to premiere on 09.02, it should be noted that the Gossip Girl gang are still hard at work doing their own thang as they continue to film scenes for their second season all around NYC. Here are a few pics of Gossip boys Chace Crawford, Penn Badgley and Ed Westwick on the GG set at Columbia University earlier this week:

After the lads did their thing at Columbia, they hightailed it down to Brooklyn, NY to film scenes on the campus of Brooklyn Collage. After the jump, check out a couple pics of Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick enjoying a little tête-à-tête together on a grassy knoll on set …

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So … we now know that Gwen Stefani finally gave birth to her second child yesterday here in SoCal, that she birthed another son and decided to name him Zuma Nesta Rock … and now, the speculation as to the “why” begins, at least, until either Gwen or hubby Gavin Rossdale decide to enlighten us. At first, I assumed that Zuma meant that she gave birth to a baby girl. Pink reader Sajel sent me a link that confirms Zuma is, traditionally, considered a female name … but what about the rest of the newborn baby’s name … what gives?

What’s in a name? For Gwen Stefani’s newborn, Zuma Nesta Rock – plenty. Take the unique first name: Computer game aficionados may remember Zuma, a popular 2004 video game from PopCap Games. Zuma required players to remove balls rolling around the computer screen by firing a colored ball at them before they filled up the screen. A more likely name inspiration? Malibu’s famous Zuma Beach, a favorite destination for parents Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale and big brother Kingston. The beach, famous for its surfable waves, was the inspiration for Neil Young’s album Zuma, making the locale a bona-fide musical landmark. And then there’s Nesta, Zuma’s middle name. Gwen and Gavin, avid Bob Marley fans, probably took a cue from the late singer’s middle name, which was also Nesta. Marley’s home base of Kingston, Jamaica, was an inspiration for big brother Kingston Rossdale’s name, so it seems Marley themes are popular in the Stefani-Rossdale household. Zuma’s second middle name, Rock, might be a nod to Rock Steady, the third studio album from Stefani’s band No Doubt. Rock Steady was primarily recorded in Jamaica and featured a reggae-heavy sound, rounding out the Bob Marley love for the musical clan.

Lord. Well, as far as baby names go, Zuma Nesta Rock’s isn’t the strangest … I think that distinction still belongs to actor Jason Lee’s son Pilot Inspektor Riesgraf. It’s not even the most absurd baby name that I’ve heard of lately … I would have to say that Matthew McConaughey’s older brother Rooster McConaughey (who has wacky name of his own, but doesn’t really count since it’s a nickname) naming his son Miller Lyte wins that contest. Even still, I can’t help but think that little Zima … sorry, Zuma is gonna have a lifetime of razzing coming his way. I just hope the kid learns how to defend himself early on … something tells me that his fair older brother, Kingston James McGregor, might not be that great of a protector. So … what do y’all think about this baby name?

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Here are a few pics of John Mayer out for a seemingly sad dinner with one of his brothers lookin’ like he is two seconds away from bursting into tears. John and his bro stepped out for dinner at Nobu in NYC, just two days after his most recent ex-girlfriend Jennifer Aniston dined there (you may recall that she was lookin’ as happy as can be, beaming from ear to ear, that night):

Johnny really does look a bit sad … I honestly believe that his break-up with Jen wasn’t something that he wanted to to, it was something that he had to do. You may recall that John gave an impromptu interview on the streets of NYC this past weekend and he explained that his relationship with Jen had to end because, essentially, their schedules wouldn’t allow them to be together properly. Jen, since the break-up, looks as if she’s handling things well … John, well, that’s a different story. Who knows … maybe, if scheduling allows, Mayerston can reunite and get things back on track at some point in the future (after all, McGosling seem to be back on the reconciliation track after a year or two of dunzoness). Until then, tho, I hope John Mayer cheers up a bit … seeing him look all weepy is a total bummer.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Either Melanie Chisholm (aka Mel C, aka Sporty Spice) was feelin’ left out as being the only Spice Girl to not give birth or mebbe she is trying to pull a Ricky Martin but in any case, she has announced that she has gotten herself knocked up and will be having a baby of her own:

Singer Melanie Chisholm says she is expecting a baby which will make her the last of the former Spice Girls to become a mother. The 34-year-old Mel C announced the news Friday on her Web site. The father is Thomas Starr, her partner for six years. Among the other Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham has three sons, Melanie “Mel B” Brown has two daughters, Geri Halliwell has one daughter and Emma Bunton has a son.

Here is the full text of Mel C’s announcement from her official website:

A message from Melanie
22 Aug 08

Hi Everyone
Some Happy News!
Well, I can now announce that Tom adn I are expecting a baby and we are very happy.
As I’m sure you’ll understand we needed time to wait for results and tell our families. Thank you all for your kindness, good wishes and support (even if it was based on speculation!).
You all know how much I value my privacy so I’m sure I can rely on you to respect that, particularly at this time.
I will be taking it easy but am also excited to start writing for the fifth album. I’ll need some time off to be a mum but, before you know it, we’ll be back.
Also, check back on the site over the next week or so … Uncles Paul, Greg, Nick, Scott, Vinnie (and me) are planning a UK gig somewhere ‘up north’ for a great cause (rocking out is not easy at the moment so it’ll be a full band acoustic gig).
Love
Melanie xx

Uhhhh, I had no idea that she had a partner, let alone that they have been together for 6 years. That’s pretty cool. I think it’s safe to say that many folks have had their opinions on Mel C’s love life, me included, so this is a bit surprising but happy news. At last, all of the Spice Girls will now be Spice Moms. Much congrats and love to Ms. Sporty Spice!

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Yesterday morning I posted some information provided by the New York Post that claimed that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake would be teaming up to record a duet for her new album, due in a few shorts months. Today, it pains me to update the sitch with a newer report from Access Hollywood that claims that no duet is “scheduled” to take place between Brit and JT, according to his rep:

Britney and Justin – together again? Unfortunately for fans of the former pop couple, it’s not to be, as Access Hollywood has learned that the pair will not be recording a duet for Brit’s upcoming album, contrary to reports. Justin “is not scheduled to be in the recording studio with Britney,” a rep for the “SexyBack” singer told Access. The pop stars haven’t sung together publicly since they shared a stage with Aerosmith, Nelly and Mary J. Blige at the 2001 Superbowl, during Justin’s N*Sync days.

Even tho this news is a major bummer, there is still a chance that a duet could still be feasible. You will note that JT’s rep was careful to say that Justin “is not scheduled” to record a duet with her … but that could change at any second. Now, that doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen but it may mean that this careful denial could be a way to keep the option open should JT decide to do the duet. Personally, I would love to see them do a duet together (a proper duet … JT wrote a song for Brit on her Britney album, What It’s Like To Be Me, and only provided beatbox vocalizations behind her vocals, it wasn’t a real duet) and I believe that it’s possible that they may duet together. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, all hope is not lost … not by a long shot.

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