Get this: Even though it's dirt cheap, the Magnavox MB500MG9 (built by Funai) is a damn good Blu-ray player. In fact, Consumer Reports gave it an overall score of 87 in its latest (December 08) "Best Electronics" issue, a mere one point below the top-rated Sylvania NB500SL9 Blu-ray player (probably the same player, also built by Funai). It beats the sixth-place Sony BDP-350 (which scored an 84), a superb Blu-ray player that's performed flawlessly in our extensive testing here.

Ms. Yamamoto is a hime gyaru, or princess girl, a growing new tribe of Japanese women who aim to look like sugarcoated, 21st-century versions of old-style European royalty. They idolize Marie Antoinette and Paris Hilton, for her baby-doll looks and princess lifestyle. They speak in soft, chirpy voices and flock to specialized boutiques with names like Jesus Diamante, which looks like a bedroom in a European chateau. There, some hime girls spend more than $1,000 for an outfit including a satin dress, parasol and rhinestone-studded handbag.

Jesus Diamante started the princess boom. Toyotaka Miyamae, 52, who had run an import shop specializing in evening gowns, set up the company in Osaka seven years ago to design feminine dresses tailored to Japanese women, whom he found to be shorter and to have smaller chests than Western women. Inspired by his favorite actress, Brigitte Bardot, he created dresses in quality fabrics that mimicked the feminine and elegant style of her youth. "What I wanted to do wasn't that unique," says Mr. Miyamae, who named the company after a Japanese musical. "I just made them to fit Japanese bodies."

Mr. Miyamae's knee-length dresses are studded with fake pearls and flowers and have names like Antoine (short for Marie Antoinette). They became popular among women who were looking for a cleaned-up look after the popularity of ripped jeans and layered casual clothing in the late 1990s. The chain's sales have grown 20% a year, to $13.4 million in the year ended March 2008, even though it has just four stores, including one in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku neighborhood. It has spurred a slew of rivals with names like Liz Lisa and La Pafait.

As Macy's scrambled for a substitute act, the mystery over how Bailon's blue photos surfaced took a twist. Bailon's friend, Jonathan Jaxson, said he and the 25-year-old singerconcocted the story that the racy photos were swiped from her laptopand posted without permission.

"Adrienne wanted me to plant the story about the laptop," Jaxson, a Hollywood publicist, told the DailyNews, explaining Bailon's desire to be seen as more adult and sexy. "[She]wanted to distance herself from the Cheetah Girls. She decided, 'Let's spice it up' and say possible nude photos were stolen from her laptop."

Jaxson said the publicity stunt was hatched after Bailon's laptop was indeed stolen at JFK Airport more than a week ago. "I've done this before with several stars and we've had great success, but this is the first time it's ever bitten me in the rear or a client," Jaxson said.

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On Tuesday, the network filed suit in Manhattan federal court against NBC Universal and Bravo Media, claiming Lifetime holds the copyrights to the high-rated reality TV show through its deal this year with the show's producer, the Weinstein Co.

The lawsuit comes after NBCU and Bravo, which aired the first five cycles of the show, filed suit in New York state court against TWC for breach of contract, claiming the producer failed to honor the network's right of first refusal for the sale or transfer of "Runway's" rights.

Lifetime also lists TWC as a "nominal defendant" because of the producer's agreement with the network. In court papers, Lifetime asserts its deal with TWC was contingent on having "Runway" "free and clear of any third-party obligations" and that the production company represented that the program was available to air on Lifetime beginning in November. An injunction issued through the state court action by NBCU is in place, stopping the show from airing on either cable network.

Lifetime states it paid a $20 million advance to TWC for "Runway" and has expended resources and money to launch the next cycle of the show, including committing to advertisers and viewers. The show, it claims, is ready to air in December, with all but two episodes filmed for the sixth cycle. Lifetime asked the court to enjoin NBCU from promoting, marketing and airing any new episodes and seeks a judgment finding it has priority over any conflicting rights to the show and any future episodes.