BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The Sandra Bullock stalking case has gotten even creepier. CNN is reporting that the man charged with breaking into her Los Angeles home early last Sunday was actually inside … for more than an hour. The Oscar-winning actress had been asleep but hid in a locked room until police arrived. Her young son was not in the home at the time. The 39-year-old suspect was arrested and has since pleaded not guilty to burglary and stalking charges. If convicted, he faces 7 years-plus in prison. (The movie “Panic Room” comes to mind.)
– USAToday.com
★ British singer Sarah Brightman is scheduled to begin training this year for a 2015 flight to the International Space Station where she hopes to become the first professional musician to sing from space. The famed soprano who starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom Of the Opera” will reportedly pay about $52 million for a 10-day stay aboard the orbital outpost. (At $5 mill a day, she better have worldwide broadcast deals lined up!)
– Reuters.com
★ Can you act like you’re a drunken fat guy in a cocaine stupor? An open casting call for “Rob Ford the Musical: The Birth Of a Ford Nation” is being held on Monday. While infamous Toronto mayor Rob Ford has been the star of his own ongoing political drama/comedy/tragedy, a musical comedy about him has yet to cast someone to play the lead role. The production is set to open September 16th at Toronto’s Factory Theatre. It promises to be an ‘unabashed, take-no-prisoners comedy’. (He should play himself … he won’t be busy doing anything else.)
– QMI

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Tonight 11-year-old Lil P-Nut (“You Might Be the One”). Rerun.
• “CMA Crossroads” (CMT) – Tonight Katy Perry & Kacey Musgraves appear in the 50th episode of the song-swap specials, in a performance taped in Los Angeles.
• Download Festival (Leicestershire, England) – The 3-day annual music fest at Donington Park raceway is headlined by Aerosmith, Avenged Sevenfold, and Linkin Park playing their 2000 album “Hybrid Theory” in full.
NET: http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk
• “Fox & Friends” (FOX News Channel) – This morning Cassadee Pope (“Frame by Frame”) performs live in NYC as part of the 6th annual All-American Summer Concert Series.
• “Game of Thrones” (HBO) – Sunday’s Season 4 finalé promises to pull one of the largest-ever audiences for a cable channel.
• “Good Morning America” (ABC) – This morning the 2014 Summer Concert Series continues with a live performance by Paramore (“Paramore”).
• Isle of Wight Festival (Channel Islands UK) – Kings of Leon (“Mechanical Bull”) headline the annual 3-day rock fest. Also on the bill: Biffy Clyro, Calvin Harris, Red Hot Chili Peppers.
NET: http://www.isleofwightfestival.com
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Mo (“No Mythologies to Follow”) Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight Hell Or Highwater (“Begin Again”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Tonight Ben Harper (“Childhood Home”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Tonight Elvis Costello (“Wise Up Ghost”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Today Josh Groban (“All That Echoes”).
• “MuchMusic Video Awards” (MuchMusic/CTV) – Sunday Kendall & Kylie Jenner host Canada’s 25th annual music video awards in Toronto. Drake and Hedley lead nominations with 6 apiece, followed by hip hop artist SonReal with 5, Arcade Fire and The Weeknd with 4 each. Performers include Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, and Lorde.
NET: http://mmva.muchmusic.com
• “Sing Your Face Off” (ABC) – Saturday contestants undergo transformations to perform as James Brown, Little Richard, MC Hammer, Madonna, and Whitney Houston.
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Today Motown veteran Mary Wilson (The Supremes).
• “Today Show” (NBC) – This morning Train (“Bulletproof Picasso”, out September 16th).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Body Count (“Murder 4 Hire”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ariana Grande – Her hit single “Problem” f/Iggy Azalea has now been officially certified Platinum by the RIAA, and is already well on its way to doubling that number.
• Iggy Azalea – “Fancy” is the top-selling download for the 3rd week and has set a new record for single-week streams on Spotify, also for the 3rd consecutive week. The track has now sold a total of 1.9 million copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
• Kelly Rowland – She’s announced via Instagram that she is pregnant with her first child. The former Destiny’s Child singer was married last month.
• Lady Gaga – She and her manager Bobby Campbell have inked a deal to join Live Nation’s Artist Nation division. She’s had a long-standing relationship with the company, dating back to her 2009 “Fame Ball” tour.
• Maxwell – Saturday in  Milwaukee WI the seldom seen artist embarks on his “Summer Soulstice Tour”, with 35-plus dates scheduled through August 17th in Albuquerque NM. It’s his first major tour since 2010.
• Miranda Lambert – The platinum-blonde has scored her first #1 on the “Billboard” all-genre album chart with her 5th album. “Platinum” has had the largest sales week for a female country artist since Taylor Swift’s “Red” in 2012.
• U2 – Bono and The Edge are collaborating with director John Carney (“Once”) on the soundtrack for a new film called “Sing Street”, set in Dublin, Ireland in the 1980s. It’s anticipated that they’ll develop some original songs for the project.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “How to Train Your Dragon 2” ( PG Animated Adventure ): In this 2nd installment of a planned trilogy, ‘Hiccup’ & ‘Toothless’ discover an ice cave that’s home to hundreds of new wild dragons. Voice cast includes America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, and Kristen Wiig. Also screening in 3-D at IMAX theaters.
NET: https://www.howtotrainyourdragon.com
• “22 Jump Street” ( R-Rated Crime Comedy ): After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers ‘Schmidt’ & ‘Jenko’ (Jonah Hill & Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. Co-stars Ice Cube, Nick Offerman. Sequel to the unexpected 2012 hit “21 Jump Street”.
NET: http://www.22jumpstreetmovie.com/site/
• Opening in limited release: “Hellion” (Thriller); “The Rover” (Crime Drama); and “The Signal” (Sci-Fi Thriller).

CHEAP PHONES:
Mozilla, the non-profit organization behind the Firefox web browser, has announced it will begin selling low-cost smartphones in India within the next few months. The handsets, to be manufactured by 2 Indian companies to run on the Firefox OS mobile operating system, will retail for just $25. The announcement comes as mobile manufacturers increasingly attempt to break into emerging markets, where smartphones are less widespread. The firm already sells low-cost Firefox-powered phones in Europe and Latin America. The plan is to upgrade buyers from feature phones to smartphones by making them more affordable for the mass market. (How about doing this here?)
– “Wall Street Journal”

THINGS WE SHOULD ALL SAY OUT LOUD MORE OFTEN:
Forget the taboo, let’s talk it out! Things we should vocalize instead of just thinking …
✓ Admitting you’re the one responsible for the stink in the room.
✓ Defending yourself when you’re sure you’re right.
✓ Apologizing for something you know was your fault.
✓ Saying ‘no’ when you just can’t handle it anymore.
✓ Explaining to someone why they upset you.
✓ Confessing that it was you who clogged it.
✓ Congratulating someone on a job well done.
✓ Telling someone how happy you are to have them in your life.
✓ Telling someone you love them first.
✓ Genuinely thanking your dad for all he’s done for you.
– Condensed from BuzzFeed.com

BS AMAZING ANIMAL FACTS:
• Koalas hug trees to keep cool.
– Magazine Monitor
• Suckers on octopus arms attach to everything except octopus skin.
– “The Guardian”
• South American rhea birds are theoretically capable of disemboweling a person with a single swipe of their claw.
– “Daily Telegraph”

BS CHRONOMETER 06.13.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1953 [61] Tim Allen (Dick), Denver CO, TV actor (‘Mike Baxter’ on “Last Man Standing” since 2011, “Home Improvement” 1991-99)/movie actor (“Toy Story” films, “Santa Clause” movies)

1970 [44] Rivers Cuomo, Yogaville CT, alt-rock singer-guitarist (Weezer-“Pork & Beans”, “Beverly Hills”)

1981 [33] Chris Evans, Sudbury MA, movie actor (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, “The Avengers”)

1986 [28] Kat Dennings, Philadelphia PA, TV actress (‘Max Black’ on “2 Broke Girls” since 2011)

1986 [28] Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen, Sherman Oaks CA, twins who co-run a billion-dollar consumer-goods company/sometime actresses (“Full House” 1987-95)

SATURDAY –
Billionaire TV personality Donald Trump (“Celebrity Apprentice”) is 68; TV actor Kevin McHale (“Glee”) is 26; TV actress Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 25; Pop singer Jesy Nelson (Little Mix) is 23.

SUNDAY –
Movie actress Helen Hunt (“As Good As It Gets”) is 51; TV actress Courteney Cox (“Cougar Town”) is 50; Country guitarist Michael Britt (Lonestar) is 48; Movie actor Ice Cube (“22 Jump Street”) is 45; TV actor Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”) is 41; Alt-rock singer Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol) is 38; Pop-rock guitarist Billy Martin (Good Charlotte) is 33.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival”, the 11th annual in Avon OH, home to the manufacturer of Duck Brand Duct Tape. Included in the festivities is a ‘Duct Tape Fashion Show’.
NET: http://www.avonducktapefestival.com
• “Blame Someone Else Day”, celebrated on the first occurrence of a Friday the 13th each year.
• “Friday the 13th”, considered by many to be a day of bad luck. There is always at least one per year, never more than 3. Fear of Friday the 13th is known as paraskavedekatriaphobia.
• “Kitchen Klutzes Day”, celebrating not-so-accomplished cooks by encouraging them to prepare a recipe that contains no more than 4 ingredients, not including water, salt & pepper.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/6ttlxts
• “Strawberry Moon”, the Full Moon of June, named for the relatively short strawberry season.
• “Work@Home Father’s Day”, held the Friday before “Father’s Day” to honor fathers ‘who work from home as a means of providing balance between work and family interaction.

SATURDAY –
• “Missing Mutts Awareness Day”, created to raise awareness of missing family pets and to help raise funds to enable families to advertise and bring their pets home.
NET: http://www.missingmuttsawareness.com
• “Pig Callers Day”, a great excuse for an on-air competition. Hog-calling contests have long been common at country fairs and festivals.
• “Trooping the Colour” (aka “Queen’s Birthday Parade”), the annual official celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday in London on a Saturday in June. (Far better weather than her actual birthday in April.)
• “World Blood Donor Day”, the 9th annual dedicated to thanking and celebrating voluntary blood donors around-the-globe. It occurs on the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, creator of the A-B-O blood grouping system, for which he won the Nobel Prize in 1930.
• “World Juggling Day”. You can create the sound of juggling with your co-host by slapping your knees quickly and throwing in lots of grunts and interjections like ‘Hey!’.
NET: http://www.juggle.org/wjd
• “World Gin Day”, the excuse for the annual “Ginstock” celebration in London. Hic.
NET: http://worldginday.com
• “Worldwide Knit in Public Day”, observed since 2005 on the 2nd Saturday of June and said to be the largest knitting event in the world. (And who’s to argue with that?)

SUNDAY –
• “Father’s Day”, first proclaimed by the mayor of Spokane WA 104 years ago (June 19, 1910) at the request of one Louise Smart Dodd. It’s now celebrated in about 20 countries, including Canada, the UK, and the US on the 3rd Sunday of June. “Father’s Day” in Australia & NZ will be celebrated September 7th this year. (A great tradition or just another forced obligation?)
• “Global Wind Day”, a worldwide event that occurs annually on June 15th. It’s a day for promoting wind, its power, and the possibilities it holds to change our world.
NET: http://www.globalwindday.org
• “Nature Photography Day”, saluting a favorite hobby of camera buffs.
• “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day”, the 8th annual when we’re encouraged to show the world we care about ending elder abuse and neglect by wearing something purple for the day.
NET: http://www.inpea.net/weaad.html

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [09] After a sensational 16-week trial in Los Angeles, Michael Jackson is found innocent of child molestation charges

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2006 [08] Heather Mills, ex-model and estranged wife of Paul McCartney, announces her intention to divorce the billionaire musician, which eventually costs him a reported $50 million (money well spent, right Paul?)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1884 [130] Inventor LaMarcus Thompson unveils the 1st roller coaster, the ‘Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway’, at Coney Island NY (the 6 mph ride cost 5 cents)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1992 [22] World’s ‘Smallest Recorded Baby’ is born, measuring 6 inches and weighing 11 oz

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] Fudge Day
[Mon] Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day
[Tues] Eat Your Vegetables Day
[Tues] World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought
[Wed] International Sushi Day
This Week Is … Men’s Health Week
This Month Is … Great Outdoors Month

BULL’S BITS

13 WEIRD BS SUPERSTITIONS:
It’s Friday the 13th, a good excuse to check out some common superstitions and their origins …
• Opening an Umbrella Indoors – Likely goes back to Victorian times when the clumsy opening mechanism of metal spoked umbrellas would be a legitimate indoor hazard.
• Walking Under a Ladder – A ladder resting against a wall forms a triangle and the Ancient Egyptians regarded triangles as sacred (ie: the pyramids) so walking through one was not cool.
• Breaking a Mirror Brings 7 Years’ Bad Luck – This goes back to Ancient Greece, where ‘catoptromancy’ was the act of looking into a mirror to predict the future.
• Knocking on Wood – No one knows for sure why this supposedly brings good luck. One possibility is that it originated in the habit of touching a wooden crucifix while taking an oath.
• Hanging a Horseshoe On your Door – During the Middle Ages people thought witches feared horses and would shy away from any sign of them, so they nailed horseshoes on their homes.
• A Black Cat Crossing Your Path – Seems to have begun with King Charles I, who lamented after the death of his cat that his good luck was gone.
• Number 13 – Originates in Norse mythology when 12 gods were having a dinner and Loki, the god of strife & evil, crashed the party and caused death and other havoc.
• Throwing Coins In a Fountain – This started with the ancient Romans. Some theorize it may have been an act of appeasing the water gods. Still done at Rome’s Trevi Fountain.
• Wishing Upon a Star – In the 1st century, Greco-Egyptian writer Ptolemy theorized that shooting stars resulted from gods peering down on Earth.
• Holding Your Breath While Passing a Cemetery – In some Native American cultures breathing near the dead was considered risky because you might inhale somebody’s soul.
• Seeing the Bride Before the Wedding – It was worried that if the bride saw the groom before the ceremony she might get cold feet, and that would truly be bad luck.
• Good Luck Wishbones – The ancient Etruscans used chickens in their divination rituals. Even after the chicken died one could still benefit from the oracle’s magic by holding the wishbone.
• Lucky Rabbit’s Foot – During the 7th century BC the rabbit was a magical talisman. Carrying its left hind foot was considered a way to benefit from “rabbit’s luck”. (Except for the rabbit.)
– Adapted from List25.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What condiment should never, ever go on a sandwich?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I got caught taking a pee in the swimming pool yesterday. The lifeguard shouted at me so loud, I nearly fell in.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Most women have 4 of THESE; most men have just 2.
Answer: Pillows.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.