There's a downtick in Second Amendment paranoia over gun-control legislation that never came to pass, and retailers are jittery about lower gun sales. Says one executive: "[W]e underestimated the decline."
$100 Bills Only Cause Trouble
High-quality counterfeits of American $100 and $50 are keeping North Korea's economy afloat, The End of Money author David Wolman reports in Time. Estimates on Pyongyang's black market counterfeiting profits range from $15 to $25 million "to several hundred million dollars' worth" every year.
The Situation Is a Walking ATM
Jersey Shore quote machine The Situation has reportedly signed up for ABC's Dancing with the Stars. With that gig, he'll probably make even more than the shocking $5 million he'll pull in this year. Where does the cash come from?
Lindsay Lohan Poised to Make Millions by Going to Jail
Lindsay Lohan is reportedly angling for $1 million for her first post-jail interview, and going to prison could end up boosting sales of her clothing line, too. "Financially, it's the best thing that could have ever happened to Lindsay."
Natalee Holloway's Suspected Killer Shopping $1 Million Interview?
Joran van der Sloot is reportedly seeking $1 million for his first TV tell-all.
Nikki Finke Demands Payment for TV Show About Her Insanity
Vainglorious blogger Nikki Finke is demanding HBO make her a paid "consultant" for the TV show that mimics her life. This isn't the same as selling the rights to her life—because the show is not about her, remember?
Abu Dhabi Has an ATM that Dispenses Pure Gold
Luxury still exists, in a vending machine in Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace hotel. GOLD To Go is a German invention that monitors the price of gold and dispenses bars and customizable coins. This is its international debut. Sparkly! [AP, Awl]
As Long As It Doesn't Affect My Bonuses, Whatever
People are already predicting the results of the McSteamy Lawsuit. I'm taking bets.
Swine Flu Is So Not Over: Jewish Summer Camps, Cruise Ships, Church Groups.
You probably think Swine Flu isn't still the stylish pandemic to be a part of. Guess what? Swine Flu still thinks it is! In fact, it's the hot new disease of the summer. So 2009.
After Madoff, Kyra and Kevin Are Burned But Not Broke
Hey, kiddo. Stop your crying. We know you were worried that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick lost everything to Bernie Madoff, because it sounded really bad. But now Kyra's spoken publicly about it, and they're gonna be just fine.
Like Christmas Morning, But Not
Amateur-mafioso-cum-Daily-Beast "writer" Burt Ross got his Madoff Check from the government and blogged about it.
Courtney Love Would Like To Talk High Finance
Crazy old Courtney Love continues to regale the internet with her drunken ramblings. This time the rock and/or roller rants at length, on a CitySearch page no less, about how New York accounting firm Altman, Greenfield, & Selvaggi has bilked her out of some money. "my forensic pyschiatrist looked at herbooks and…
