Today's a special day for American Airlines frequent fliers! Customers aboard two AA flights from New York to LA will get to test out the airline's new in-flight Internet WiFi, which will be officially introduced (at $12.95 a pop) in a few weeks. Thought the drunk guy next to you was annoying? Now the other guy on the other side will be chatting away on Skype and showing off his favorite clips on YouTube. [NY Sun]
The silly feud between MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and the Post's Page Six continues. Today the paper reported that Olbermann threw a hissy fit because he didn't get first class transportation to Washington for Tim Russert's funeral last week and then blew a gasket because there was no ketchup at the reception at the Kennedy Center. Nevermind that the Olbermann didn't have lunch at the Kennedy Center and there isn't even a first-class option on the train, the move delivered the predictable result: yet another Page Six staffer—Corynne Steindler—ended up on Olby's "Worst Person in the World" segment last night. As was the case last week, the Post called Olbermann for comment before the paper went to press and before Keith went on the air. Perhaps the next trick should be to call him for comment on some typically insane item before airtime and then not run the item the next day? He might start to look paranoid!
It's been a bad couple of weeks for Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano's 1OAK. First Diddy's Maybach was (supposedly) smashed outside. Then, rather suspiciously, precisely the same thing (supposedly) happened to Paolo Zampolli's Rolls a week later. Yesterday, there were rumors of a drug raid, which turned out to be false. Today brings news of a gay bashing. Lesson to be learned: Stay away from the club if you're not straight, you own a cheesy car worth more than $500,000, or if you have any sense whatsoever.
King of Bling Jacob Arabov was sentenced to 30 months in prison today for lying to the feds as part of an investigation into a drug ring. The sentencing came at the end of a seven-year investigation into a Detroit-based coke distribution operation called Black Mafia Family. Arabo, who was initally arrested more than two years ago, was accused of laundering hundreds of millions in cash for the ring. But the King of Bling copped a plea and the money laundering charges were dropped. For the crime of lying to investigators, though, Arabo will spend a total 2 1/2 years in jail, plus pay more than $2 million in fines and forfeitures. And while that keep his greasy paws away from diamonds and gold for a good while, it could have been worse: The sentence was seven months shorter than what prosecutors recommended. Luckily for Jacob, though, the judge thought his "extensive charity work" warranted a reduced sentence. You haven't heard about the free bling dispersal program in city schools?
Don't expect to see Steve Rattner and Jim Cramer chatting about the state of the economy over steak tartare at the Four Seasons. In the current issue of Portfolio, the heavyweight financier, Democratic fundraiser, and former Times reporter aims the barrel of his gun straight at the buffoonish former journalist-turned-hedge fund manager-turned-hyperactive TV host. When the magazine asked Rattner who you can trust for investment advice, Cramer wasn't exactly on his short list.
Would you like to be paid millions for less than an hour's work? No talent necessary! All you have to do is be born into a family of congenital self-glorifiers. Mark Ronson, whose childhood soirees chez Michael Jackson clearly haven't affected his ability to whore himself out to the highest bidder, now makes easier money than a supermodel in an ad campaign: He was paid $2 million to turn up to an English heiress's 21st birthday party for 45 minutes and sing some songs. [The Mirror]
Dorrit Moussaieff is Iceland's First Lady. Her husband is the country's president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. (She's also a jewelry designer and Jewish; who knew there were Jews in Iceland?) Anyway, not long ago Moussaieff tried to come up with a birthday president for one of her good friends. The problem: Her pal, Steve Schwarzman, the billionaire chairman of Blackstone Group, already had everything! What do you buy a man who snacks on $400 crabs the way normal people munch on popcorn at the movies?
Ron Perelman and Pat Duff have returned to familiar territory: They're back in court and at each other's throats. Parties to what may be the nastiest divorce in New York history—they racked up an estimated $15 million in legal expenses between the two of them in the mid-'90s and the case took nearly two years to resolve—the duo returned to Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday to bicker over their daughter, Caleigh. It seems Caleigh, who is 13, wants to stay with her dad and end her weekend visits with mom; her court-appointed attorney also sought an order of protection against Duff, claiming Duff subjected her daughter to "abuse," although he didn't specify what sort. (A strict diet perhaps?)
Of all the dignity-compromising things that Wall Streeters have to do over the course of their careers, it's safe to say no one has stooped lower than Mr. Joshua Persky, who stood outside the Charles Schwab building at 50th and Park yesterday wearing a sign that read "Experienced MIT Grad for Hire. (917) 650-8700." How reminicent of the Depression! (Minus the cell number, that is.) A former consultant at the boutique investment bank Houlihan Lokey and a father of five, Persky has been out of work for the past six months. "Instead of sitting at home, writing e-mails and networking, I decided to come out and hit the streets and try to compete a little."
Socialite Fabiola Beracasa turns 33 today, a fact she'd undoubtedly rather not be reminded of. (Just do your best to age gracefully, Fab; your mom, Veronica, should not be your role model.) Also celebrating: Petra Nemcova turns 29, the number she'll probably be sticking to for many years to come. Former Governor George Pataki is 63. Newspaper editor and author Pete Hamill is 73. Beyonce's little sister, Solange, turns 22. Actress Sherry Stringfield is 41. And avant-garde dessert maestro Will Goldfarb will be 33 today.
Looks like Anne Hathaway had an idea that this week wouldn't be a good one for Raffaello Follieri. A week after she dropped she shady Italian boyfriend of four years, he was arrested today on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. The scheme? As you may recall, he's accused of deceiving investors—people like billionaire supermarket Ron Burkle—that he'd been hired by the Catholic Church to sell off real estate; instead, he used the cash to eat "for expensive clothes and restaurant meals, dog-walking services and other personal expenditures." The full criminal complaint below.
Will rippling athlete-turned-fully-fledged (albeit still ostensibly hetero) fashion fag Sean Avery ever play hockey again? He's starting a fashion company, done an internship at Vogue, spending this week guest-editing Men's Vogue, all the while admirably unashamed of the joy he derives from, say, pulling together an outfit with the perfect leopard print Alexander McQueen vest. What will next week bring? Glad you asked: He's heading over to Paris for the couture shows, of which he's particularly looking forward to Chanel, obviously. Now, to those who are amused by Avery's unorthodox interests, he has something to say:
Sad news for fans of politicos who spend their time lavishing pork on their districts, gambling on horses, and getting caught up in federal investigations. Joe Bruno, the State Senate majority leader and New York's top Republican, will retire after his current term is up this fall. Best known in recent years as one of Eliot Spitzer's chief adversaries and the man who inspired Troopergate, Bruno spent a total of 32 years in the Senate. Now 79, the former boxing champ's decision to step down was attributed to the pressure to keep the Republican majority in Albany this November, the death of his wife earlier this year, and the strain of an ongoing investigation into alleged conflicts of interest.
1) Rory and Elie Tahari hosted a bash at their beachfront house for God's Love We Deliver: 400 guests including Simon Doonan (above center) and Jonathan Adler, Martha Stewart, Arnold Scaasi, Kelly Klein, Debbie Bancroft, Richard Mishaan, Tory Burch, Kyle MacLachlan (above left) and Desiree Gruber (above right), Olivia Chantecaille, Dennis Basso, Melissa Berkelhammer, Gigi Mortimer, Karen Pearl, and Tiffany Dubin raised $1.3 million by bidding on auction prizes including lunch with Blaine Trump and Joan Rivers at Le Cirque. [Hamptons.com/Dan's Hamptons]
