BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
✳ According to a report by the UK’s Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), sales in independent record shops are up by 44% compared to the same period last year. The stats also reveal the difference in purchasing habits compared to the rest of the recorded music market. Independent shops only account for 3.2% of all album sales, but they’re responsible for more than half of vinyl purchases, with approximately 1-in-7 album purchases from an independent record shop being on vinyl.
– Telegraph.co.uk
✳ 26-year-old sorta star Amanda Bynes has once again hit the headlines this week as she was detained by police in Thousand Oaks, California and held for a ‘5150’ psychiatric evaluation after allegedly starting a fire on the driveway of a stranger’s home. She was later spotted in a liquor store with her dog, both of them reeking of gasoline. So what’s a ‘5150’? It’s a section of the California Welfare Code that is used to involuntarily hold people whom authorities suspect may be a danger to themselves or others. She could technically be held up to 2 weeks.
– Postmedia News
✳ Kirstie Alley is set for another reunion on her new TV comedy. The actress will team with her former “Cheers” castmates Rhea Perlman and George Wendt on “Kirstie”, and now Alley’s “Look Who’s Talking” co-star, John Travolta, has signed on for a guest appearance. Alley will play a Broadway star who reconnects with the son she gave up for adoption. Kristin Chenoweth and former “Seinfeld” stars Jason Alexander and Michael Richards will also guest on the series, which debuts in December.
– WENN.com
✳ And even the Jersey shore might have had enough of ‘Snooki’. Some residents of Pelican Island NJ say they do not want the former “Jersey Shore” star there to film the latest season of her MTV spinoff, “Snooki & JWoww”. The unhappy locals have hired a lawyer to argue that if the show converts a house into a production studio, it would contravene a local zoning ordinance in the residential neighborhood. The 3rd season of “Snooki & JWoww” with Jennifer Farley, another former “JS” cast member, is set to debut in October.
– Reuters.com

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night” (CBS) – Tonight joining McGraw in this 2-hour special are Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Ne-Yo, and Taylor Swift.
• “Chelsea Lately” (E!) – Tonight Snoop Lion (“Reincarnated”). Rerun.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Today Blind Pilot (“We Are the Tide”). Rerun.
• “Good Morning America” (ABC) – This morning Selena Gomez (“Stars Dance”).
• “The iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party” (CW) – Saturday highlights of a 2-day event at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel. Performances by Afrojack, Ke$ha, Icona Pop, Pitbull. Rerun.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Empire Of the Sun (“Ice On the Dune”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight Tift Merritt (“Traveling Alone”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Imagine Dragons (“Night Visions”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Tonight Joseph Arthur (“Ballad of Boogie Christ”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (ABC/CTV) – Today Selena Gomez again.
• Mixtape Festival (Hershey PA) – This annual 2-day VH1 event returns to Hersheypark Stadium. On the bill tonight: Gavin DeGraw, OneRepublic, The Script, and Train. Tomorrow: Boyz II Men, Jonas Bros, New Kids On the Block, and the reunited TLC.
NET: http://mixtapefestival.com
• Newport Folk Festival (Newport RI) – This year’s lineup for the legendary 3-day event (since 1959) at Fort Adams State Park includes the Avett Bros, Beck, Feist, The Lumineers and more.
NET: http://www.newportfolkfest.net
• Open East Festival (London UK) – Saturday-Sunday this celebration of the arts at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park includes an ‘Art Car Boot Fair’ (discounted artwork sold from car trunks); visual artist Jeremy Deller’s work “Sacrilege” (actual-size bouncy castle replica of Stonehenge); and the massive wooden puppet from the stage production “War Horse”.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/lc2dqfn
• Splendour In the Grass (Byron Bay NSW Australia) – More than 80 acts play during the annual music festival’s 3 days, including Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, The National, Of Monsters & Men, and Passion Pit.
NET: http://splendourinthegrass.com
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – Tonight 1950s-60s pop singer Paul Anka.
• “Today Show” (NBC) – This morning Train (“California 37”) performs.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Kacey Musgraves performs her new single “Blowin’ Smoke”; Katy Perry (“Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection”).
• “Unforgettable” (CBS) – Sunday in the 2nd season debut, Aussie actress Poppy Montgomery returns as ‘Carrie Wells’, a detective who remembers everything … literally.
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Today Dierks Bentley (“Riser”, coming later this year).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Florida Georgia Line – Their mega-hit “Cruise” is now tied for most weeks spent at #1 on the ‘Billboard Country Songs’ chart as it’s holding down the top spot for the 21st straight week. That record goes back to a handful of tunes in the 1940s and ‘50s.
• Jay Z – “Magna Carta Holy Grail” remains atop Nielsen SoundScan’s all-genre album sales chart for a 2nd week in-a-row, the 1st hip-hop album to do so since Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter IV” in September 2011.
• Jimi Hendrix – Fans who visit the website of the “Toronto International Film Festival” can see a picture of OutKast’s Andre 3000 all decked out as the legendary guitarist. He plays Hendrix in the bio-film “All Is By My Side”, which will make its world premiere at the festival in September.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/l2n2loj
• Miley Cyrus – The 20-year-old “We Can’t Stop” singer is calling out Justin Bieber for being ‘stupid’. She’s reportedly suggested her 19-year-old friend take a break from his career amid all the controversy surrounding his recent behavior. (Expert advice?)
• Nine Inch Nails – Tonight their schedule of reunion appearances gets underway as Trent Reznor & Co perform at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival ‘13 at the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata. NIN will also play the Rock ‘n Heim Festival in Germany in August.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “The To Do List” ( R-Rated Romantic Comedy ): “Parks & Recreation” actress Aubrey Plaza (‘April Ludgate’) stars as a high school grad who makes a list of things to accomplish before going off to college, one item being to become more sexually experienced. Directed by Maggie Carey (“Funny or Die Presents …”), who also wrote the screenplay.
NET: http://www.todolistmovie.com
• “The Wolverine” ( PG-13 Action Adventure ): Hugh Jackman returns in his 6th portrayal of ‘Logan/Wolverine’, for the 1st time in a movie without “X-Men” in the title. This time around he’s summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance. Ken Harada co-stars as the no-so-bad guy ‘Silver Samurai’. Based on  Frank Miller’s fan-choice comic book.
NET: http://www.thewolverinemovie.com
• Opening in limited release: “Blue Jasmine” (Drama); “Breaking the Girls” (Crime Thriller); “Drug War” (Crime Thriller); “The Time Being” (Mystery); and “Tiny Times 1.0” (Romantic Drama).

CELLPHONE ETIQUETTE:
Most users think they have good mobile manners, even while they drive those around them crazy. A few tips for what is and isn’t acceptable when texting or talking …
• Don’t yell! The average person talks 3 times louder on a cellphone than they do in face-to-face conversation.
• Respect those who are with you. When engaged with others in person, avoid texting or taking calls. Let voicemail do its job.
• Keep arguments under wraps. Nobody wants to be exposed to a one-sided screaming match.
• Be a good dining companion. Never put your cellphone on the table in a restaurant; silence and store your phone before being seated.
• Respect people’s personal space. When you must use your phone in public, try to keep at least 10 feet (3 meters) between you and others.
• Filter your language. Rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t walk around in a public place with a particular word or comment printed on your T-shirt, don’t use it in a phone conversation.
– Reuters.com

SKITTER RIDDER:
The new ‘Kite Patch’, developed through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a wearable patch that can make you ‘invisible’ to mosquitoes for 48 hours. It does so by interfering with the bugs’ ability to detect carbon monoxide in your breath, the primary way they find you. It’s intended to help prevent malaria in Third World countries but will also become available for mass-market use. The nontoxic ingredients are safe for use by young children and pregnant women … the very populations most affected by malaria in many countries. No word yet on when the patch will be available and how much it will cost. (If you were being devoured by a cloud of skeeters in a rain-soaked tent in the woods you’d pay 500 bucks, wouldn’t you?)
– RelaxNews.com

TECH SOUNDS YOU’LL NEVER HEAR AGAIN:
✗ Telephone Slam – People once slammed down the receiver on the telephone cradle to express displeasure with the caller. Odd, huh?
✗ The Modem – Ah, the bleep-bleep-bleep-boop-hiss of a 56k modem. Imitate it for anyone under age 20 … and they’ll think you’ve totally lost it.
✗ Skipping CD – Anti-skip technology didn’t really work that well, especially on portable CD players. They were notorious for sk-sk-sk-sk-skipping when moved, bumped … or breathed on.
✗ Tape Hiss – That haze of not-quite-complete silence between tunes on on old-school cassette tapes. The original white noise?
✗ Advancing Film – The mechanical film advance on SLR cameras actually required pressing your right thumb on a lever 2 or 3 times, creating a ratchet sound … exhausting!
✗ The Typewriter – The thwack-thwack-thwack that defined a generation of writers is gone for good … unless you frequent hipster cafés.
✗ The Payphone – There was the click-slide-jangle of your change landing in the phone’s holding area, then the 2600hz dial tone that caused echoes in the crevices of your brain.
(Dig out some SFX to bring this bit to life!)
– Condensed from Wired.com

FOR THE RECORD:
The ‘Smallest Library in Canada’ is attempting to be verified as the ‘Smallest Library in the World’. The tiny public reading room in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island is run by one John A MacDonald and measures just 3.5-by-3.5-meters (11.5 feet-square). It contains an impressive 1,800 books. MacDonald has learned Guinness World Records currently has no such category, but is hoping it will create one.
– CBC.ca

DID YOU KNOW?
There are more than 1,000 species of banana in the world, yet the global banana trade is based on only one … the Cavendish Banana.
– “The Atlantic”

BS CHRONOMETER 07.26.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1943 [70] (Sir) Mick Jagger, Dartford UK, wrinkle rocker (Rolling Stones-“Honky Tonk Women”, “Satisfaction”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1989)

1945 [68] Helen Mirren (Ilyena Lydia Mironoff), London UK, movie actress (‘James Bond’ films, Oscar-“The Queen”)/TV actress (Emmy-“Elizabeth I”, “Prime Suspect”)

1949 [64] Roger Taylor, Dersingham UK, classic rock drummer (Queen-“Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Will Rock You”)

1959 [54] Kevin Spacey (Fowler), South Orange NJ, movie actor (Oscars-“American Beauty”, “The Usual Suspects”)/Artistic Director of London’s Old Vic Theatre since 2003

1964 [49] Sandra Bullock, Arlington VA, movie actress (“The Proposal”, 2010 Oscar-“The Blind Side”)  UP NEXT: Co-stars with George Clooney in the thriller “Gravity”, opening October 4th.

1973 [40] Kate Beckinsale, London UK, movie actress (“Click”, “The Aviator”)

1974 [39] Dan Konopka, Chicago IL, rock drummer (OK Go-“Here It Goes Again”, “Get Over It”)

SATURDAY –
Movie actress/comedian Maya Rudolph (“Bridesmaids”) is 41; Rock drummer Abe Cunningham (Deftones) is 40; MLB player Alex (A-Rod) Rodriguez (NY Yankees) is 38; Movie/TV actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“The Tudors”) is 36; Country singer Cheyenne Kimball (Gloriana) is 23.

SUNDAY –
Cartoonist Jim Davis (“Garfield”) is 68; TV anchor Scott Pelley (“CBS Evening News”) is 56; Alt-rock singer Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach) is 37; Rapper Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em (“Crank That [Soulja Boy]”) is 23.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Gilroy Garlic Festival”, the 35th annual salute to the ‘stink rose’ through Sunday in Gilroy CA. Events include ‘The Great Garlic Cook-Off’ and the ‘Miss Gilroy Garlic Pageant’.
NET: http://gilroygarlicfestival.com
• “Great Texas Mosquito Festival”, the 33rd annual through Saturday in Clute TX, home of the world’s largest mosquito, ‘Willie Man Chew’, the ‘Mr & Mrs Mosquito Legs Contest’, and a ‘Mosquito-Calling Contest’.
NET: http://www.mosquitofestival.com
• “Lumberjack World Championships” through Saturday in Hayward WI, where lumberjacks and lumberjills from around-the-world, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA, compete in events such as ‘Logrolling’, ‘Single Buck’, ‘Speed Climb’, and ‘Underhand Chop’.
NET: http://www.lumberjackworldchampionships.com
• “System Administrator Appreciation Day”, a day to honor that special person in the office who maintains the computer network. (And also monitors your email and web surfing.)
• “Talk In an Elevator Day”. After all, why is it we normally don’t? This is a day to try it out and see what happens.

SATURDAY –
• “Dance Day”, the 4th annual on the last Saturday of July to encourage both young and old to move. Created by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer and judge on TV competition “So You Think You Can Dance” (FOX).
• “Day Of the Cowboy”, the 9th annual initiative to preserve pioneer and Western heritage.
NET: http://www.nationaldayofthecowboy.com
• “Korean War Veterans Armistice Day”, commemorating the 1953 negotiated cease-fire that ended the Korean War. During the 3 years of struggle, over 600,000 Allied lives were lost.
• “Milk Chocolate Day”, an excuse for chocoholics everywhere to cow down!
• “Take Your Houseplants For a Walk Day”, to help them get to know their real environment.
• “Walk on Stilts Day”, celebrating the feat most often seen in parades and at the circus. Stilt-walking is an ancient art that only requires a pair of stout sticks … and lots of practice.

SUNDAY –
• “Baseball Hall of Fame Induction” in Cooperstown NY. 2013 inductees are former NY Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, 3rd baseman/catcher Deacon White, and umpire Hank O’Day (tough to find stars who aren’t drug-tainted). The ‘Frick Award’ goes to late Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Tom Cheek.
NET: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org
• “World Hepatitis Day”, to create awareness that 1-in-12 people worldwide is living with either chronic hepatitis B or C, far higher than the prevalence of HIV or any cancer.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/n7x59x4

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [16] “The Terminator” co-workers, actress Linda Hamilton & director James Cameron are married (leads to $50-million divorce settlement in 1999)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2006 [07] Paul McCartney’s 1st-ever guitar is sold at an Abbey Road Studios auction for £330,000 (about a half-million dollars)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2005 [08] Mumbai, India receives 99.5 cm of rain (39.17 inches) within 24 hours, bringing the city to a complete halt for over 2 days

COMING UP . . .
[Mon] “Breaking Pointe” debuts (CW)
[Mon] Lasagna Day
[Tues] Cheesecake Day
[Tues] Father-In-Law Day
[Wed] “The Smurfs 2” opens in movie theaters
This Week Is … Animal Agriculture Week
This Month Is … Family Golf Month

BULL’S BITS

WHAT YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR SAYS ABOUT YOU:
In honor of Ice Cream Month, the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation gives us the inside scoop on what favorite ice cream flavors indicate about an individual’s personality …
• Chocolate: You’re likely to be dramatic, lively, charming, flirtatious, seductive, and gullible.
• Chocolate Chip: You’re most likely to be generous, competent, and a real go-getter.
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: You’re ambitious, competitive, and a visionary.
• Mint Chocolate Chip: You’re argumentative, frugal, and often cautious.
• Pralines ‘n Cream: Loving and supportive; prefer to avoid the spotlight.
• Rainbow Sherbet: Analytic, decisive, and sometimes a bit pessimistic.
• Rocky Road: You’re more likely to be aggressive, engaging, and a good listener.
• Strawberry: An introvert who is tolerant and devoted.
• Vanilla: You tend to be an idealist who is impulsive and easily swayed.
– Adapted from NYDailyNews.com

BS WEB GOODIE:
Slate.com’s ‘Carlos Danger Name Generator’ is inspired by NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner’s sexting name (isn’t his real name more apropos?). Create your own here …
NET: http://tinyurl.com/m6apxgy

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ If you could only have 3 possessions, what would they be?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
The fact that no one understands you doesn’t mean you’re an artist.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: People who lie on a regular basis use THIS more than people who tell the truth.
Answer: Mouthwash.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.