Blog Posts by Piper Weiss, Shine Staff

(Getty Images)[Shine's daily spotlight of the most jaw-dropping photo from today's news.]

Ever wonder what happened to Bachelors of season past? I do. Lorenzo Borghese, rather Prince Lorenzo Borghese of Italy by way of New Jersey by way of Bachelor Season 9, was spotted alive and well yesterday. Since his search for love ended, he's written a historical romance novel, and continues to sell high-end doggy products. Now based in New York City, he also enjoys attending events like Monday's launch of a new line of Hello Kitty-themed lingerie. With that in mind, we're going to assume he's still looking for love.

Read More »from So This Happened: Former 'Bachelor' Found!

In "Drive," Ryan Gosling plays a murderous stuntmen that ovulating women want to procreate with. (Sony Pictures)[Every Wednesday, Shine tackles one of life's little mysteries. Got a burning question you want answered? Tweet us @yahooshine #burningquestions or leave it in the comments below.]

It's a simple question, and one neither sex has been able to answer. When given the choice between a perfectly decent dude and a guy who will twist our ventricles into a vice, we tend to go for option B. Even if we've already "learned from our mistakes" we're still suckers for the sadist next door. ("50 Shades of Gray" isn't a bestseller because of the writing.)

Finally, some answers! According to a new report published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, it's all ovulation's fault. "Under the hormonal influence of ovulation, women delude themselves into thinking that the sexy bad boys will become devoted partners and better dads," writes Kristina Durante, a researcher on University of Texas study.

If men think with their man-parts, women think with their cycles. That's when we all make bad

Read More »from Burning Question: Why Do Women Date Jerks?

Credit: Mario Sorrenti/W Magazine [Shine's daily spotlight of the most jaw-dropping photo from today's news.]

Do you feel as weird as I do looking at this photo? How about this one? Tom Cruise, 49-year-old dad, Scientology evangelist and, apparently, method actor, introduced his new alter ego, Stacee Jaxx, in a spread for W magazine. Jaxx is Cruise's guitar hero character in "Rock of Ages," the big screen adaptation of the hit metal musical in theaters later this year. Realistic fake tattoos! Pointy tongue! Nail Polish! It's hard to believe that's our little Tom. Why, it seems like only a few years ago he was wearing braces. Oh wait, he was.

Read More »from So This Happened: Tom Cruise Got Inked

[Shine's daily spotlight of a jaw-dropping photo from today's news.]

Fashion photographer Tyler Shields posted a series of images on his website featuring former OC star Mischa Barton dallying with a well-dressed panda. Here is one of those pictures. That's all.

Read More »from So This Happened...Mischa Barton Danced with a Panda

Forget "50 Shades of Grey," Nicole Polozzi has been captivating the country with the humiliating side of sex for a few years now. Only instead of spanking, it's vomit, and instead of handcuffs it's flatulence.

At heart, Snooki is a fetishist. A real-down-and-dirty-advanced-placement-hardcore fetishist. When she first vomited during a hot tub make-out session in the early days of "Jersey Shore" we assumed it was something she regretted, until we got to know her. Now we know she's titillated by the sloppier moments of intimacy largely blotted out of romantic films, literature, and our personal memories. She loves a puke-infused smush, she relishes in a drunken fall that leaves her magpie exposed to strangers, and she gets off on sharing all the gag-worthy exploits with the public at large.

It's a give and take. We obviously like hearing about it. Her second novel, seriously called "Gorilla Beach," out May 15, is stamped with all the gross-out sex nuggets we've come to expect from our

Read More »from Weird Sex in Snooki's New Book

It's been called the mother of all pregnancy books. "What to Expect When You're Expecting," by Heidi Murkoff, the best-selling month-by-month guide to becoming a mom, is considered mandatory reading for pregnant women. It's on the nightstand of 93 percent of American women with a baby on the way.

It's also the only pregnancy book that's been turned into big screen movie in theaters this Friday. Starring Jennifer Lopez (who read the book during her pregnancy), Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks and a kitchen sink full of TV stars, the super-sized baby movie takes its name and inspiration from the tome every pregnant woman is assigned to read, for better or worse.

Forget that it was written in 1984 by an advertising executive, and forget that it's been criticized for making pregnancy seem more panic-inducing than many moms feel it needs to be. (Slate's Alison Benedikt calls it the "mean girl" of pregnancy books).

Before author Heidi Murkoff entered the pregnancy arena, the pickings were

Read More »from What's Your Favorite Pregnancy Advice Book?

(Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images for Asia Fashion Exchange)[Shine's daily spotlight of the most jaw-dropping photo from today's news.]

In Singapore on Monday, designer Vincent Wong sent a model down the runway with something on her face. (No, up a little. Yeah, it's still there.)
Wong's collection was part of Asia Fashion Exchange, a week long talent search for the brightest untapped designers in the region. This facial fascinator, inspired by a moth attack, could be the future of bridal couture if Wong, of Malaysia, makes it big. Think about how much we'd all save on make-up.
Read More »from So This Happened...Bridal Veil Eats Face

Ketchup. We love it. But do we really know it?

An estimated 97 percent of American households have a bottle in their fridges right now. Most people like Heinz' original recipe, which consists of tomatoes, vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder and some other "natural flavorings" the company isn't required to list. Heinz recently re-introduced its limited edition ketchup with balsamic vinegar in time for burger season for all you fancy types. But before Heinz, ketchup, or even catsup, there was katchop. The Chinese condiment, from which the burger topping originated, was nothing more than shellfish brine.

Taste test: the best ketchup isn't the one you think

A mixture of sea creatures, soaked for days in pickling vinegar and spices, was the basis for the french fry dip we know and love. When British explorers caught wind of it in Singapore in the 1700s, they brought it back to their own Western European kitchens. The result was the first

Read More »from Ketchup's Unsavory Secret History