November 30, 2012

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Friday, November 30, 2012        Edition: #4880

December Planning Calendar in Today’s Issue!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
26-year-old famous felon Lindsay Lohan has struck again, arrested on a 3rd-degree misdemeanor assault charge outside a NYC club at 4 am yesterday for allegedly punching another woman in the face – multiple times (it’s unconfirmed the woman had suggested her recent film portrayal of ‘Liz’ was ‘Dick’) . . . Actor-director Ben Affleck has been named ‘Entertainer Of the Year’ in the new issue of “Entertainment Weekly” (by default?) . . . Just 7 months after giving birth to daughter Maxwell, “Us Weekly” reports Jessica Simpson has another bun in the oven (this is how she now makes a living – gaining baby fat, then getting paid by Weight Watchers to lose it) . . . Selena Gomez is said to be getting relationship advice from Katy Perry (kind of like getting sobriety tips from Charlie Sheen) . . . “NY Post” says 50-year-old Demi Moore has been quietly dating dapper 26-year-old (!?!?) art dealer Vito Schnabel, the pair first hooking up at model Naomi Campbell’s over-the-top birthday party for her billionaire boyfriend earlier this month in Jodhpur, India (we peons live a dull life) . . . Actor Brad Pitt has told his kids that he ‘might’ be Santa (maybe he’s just trying to justify that really bad beard he’s been sporting?) . . . After recently splitting with girlfriend Karolyn Pho, 26-year-old actor Shia LaBeouf is said to be seeing 19-year-old Mia Goth, who has the title role in their now-shooting film “Nymphomaniac” (they spend all day at work in bed – what do they do after?) . . . And KStew’s love life was 2012’s ‘Top Trending Topic’, according to web search engine Ask.com, which says the state of Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson’s relationship following their brief split was the most-asked-about issue online this year (we live in desperate times).

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Big Ticket Festival (Jacksonville FL) – Sunday’s 3rd annual event features performances from Bush, fun., Grouplove, Joy Formidable, Rise Against, Silversun Pickups and more.
• Billboard Women in Music Event (NYC) – Tonight Katy Perry is honored as ‘Woman Of the Year’ at the 7th annual event that celebrates the most powerful and talented women in the music biz.
• “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (NBC) – Tonight a rerun of Wednesday’s 80th lighting of NYC’s giant Christmas tree. Performances by Cee-Lo Green, Il Volo, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, Trace Adkins, and Victoria Justice.
• European Film Awards (Valletta, Malta) – Saturday at the 25th EFAs, “Amour”, “Barbara”, “Cesare Deve Morire”, “The Intouchables”, “Jagten”, and “Shame” are nominated for Europe’s top movie. Helen Mirren is presented a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Flo Rida (“Wild Ones”). Rerun.
• Kennedy Center Honors (Washington DC) – Sunday the 35th annual awards for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts are presented to classic rockers Led Zeppelin,
bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, TV personality David Letterman, and ballerina Natalia Makarova. The taped gala airs December 26th on CBS-TV.
NET: http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight Brandi Carlilie (“Bear Creek”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight The Wallflowers (“Fallen”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Tonight Lianne La Havas (“Is Your Love Big Enough?”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Today Rod Stewart (“Merry Christmas, Baby”).
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Host Daniel Craig (“Skyfall”); musical guest Muse (“The 2nd Law”). Rerun.
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – Tonight Aimee Mann (“Charmer”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Il Volo (“We Are Love”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Adele – Her album “21” has earned a prestigious Diamond Award from the RIAA for selling over 10 million copies in the USA. It did so in its 92nd week of release. She’s the only British female artist to accomplish that feat.
• Beastie Boys – Sunday at LA club Largo, Adam ‘Ad-Rock’ Horovitz headlines a rare solo show, one of his few public appearances since the death of bandmate Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch earlier this year.
• Dave Matthews Band – Tonight at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford NJ they launch an East Coast tour in support of their latest album, “Away From the World”. Tonight’s opening show is a benefit concert, with $1 million pledged to regional recovery efforts from Super Storm Sandy.
• 50 Cent – His track “My Life” f/Eminem & Adam Levine is #1 on the iTunes singles chart, hot off a live performance on NBC-TV’s “The Voice” this past Monday night.
• The Killers – Tonight they kick off the North American leg of their “Battle Born” tour in Orem UT. Opening act is Tegan & Sara. They’ll also be a part of the “Big Day Out” festival in Australia in January.
• Lady Gaga – Saturday several of her stage costumes are put under the hammer by Beverly Hills-based Julien’s Auctions. Among the lots in the “2012 Icons & Idols: Hollywood Auction”, her ‘Ecstasy’ dress (featuring a speck of her actual blood), expected to sell for up to $12,000.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/cydhe8s
• Rihanna – Her 7th album, “Unapologetic”, debuted at the top of yesterday’s new album sales chart according to Nielsen SoundScan. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s her 1st-ever #1 album.
• Rolling Stones – Last night’s 50th anniversary concert at London’s O2 Arena featured guest appearances by Eric Clapton and Florence + The Machine’s Florence Welch.
• Shania Twain – Saturday she returns to the stage with the opening night of her new show “Shania: Still the One”, a 2-year residency at the Caesars Palace Colosseum in Las Vegas. She’ll perform 60 dates per year.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/brtzg4k
• Taylor Swift – She’s guest-hosting radio’s syndicated “American Top 40” this weekend. In addition to counting down the top tunes, she’ll discuss her new album and upcoming tour.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “Killing Them Softly” ( R-Rated Crime Thriller ): Set in New Orleans, the story follows hapless thugs who raid a high-stakes poker game. Afterward, a cool-handed hitman (Brad Pitt) is obliged to clean up the mess for the mob. The cast includes Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, and James Gandolfini.
NET: http://killingthemsoftlymovie.com
• Opening in limited release: “Addicted to Fame” (Documentary); “Back to 1942” (Drama); “California Solo” (Drama); “The Collection” (Horror); “Dragon” (Action); “Hecho en México” (Documentary); and “Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning” (Action).

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “MIB 3” ( PG-13 Action Comedy ) – In the latest (final?) instalment in the “Men in Black” franchise, ‘Agent J’ (Will Smith) is forced to travel back in time to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind. Co-stars Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson, Nicole Scherzinger. Made almost $625 million in box office, most of it overseas.
• “Sparkle” ( PG-13 Drama ): In this remake of the 1976 musical set in the 1960s, the late Whitney Houston plays the mother of 3 daughters in a successful Motown singing group who are dealing with the fallout from fame and drugs. This was Houston’s first acting role in more than 15 years. Also stars former “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks.

COMMERCIAL DRONE:
The passenger aircraft of the future could one day be flown by remote, using pilots sitting in a control room hundreds of miles away. Tests on a new breed of civilian aircraft which use the same pilotless technology currently found in military drones begin next month in the UK. The consortium behind the project hopes it will dramatically slash the costs of air travel and make new airborne services possible. (“Good morning, this is your pilot speaking. And if you look out the left side windows of the aircraft, I have no idea what you’re seeing …”)
– “Daily Mail”

TYPE CASTING:
Whether you’re a fluent touch-typist or a hunter-and-pecker, the way you type says more about you than you might think. Scientists at Virginia’s Christopher Newport University have developed new software called ‘Uriel’ which learns an individual’s typing style by measuring the interval between keystrokes. It’s a surprisingly accurate way to identify someone. In trials, the software never once cleared the wrong person to access a computer based on their typing style. It did, however, refuse to authenticate legitimate users 17% of the time. (Oops! Back to the drawing board!)
– NewScientist.com

2013 WORLD GOURMET CAPITAL:
Tokyo has retained its tasty title as Michelin restaurant guide’s gourmet capital for the 6th consecutive year. It also remains the city with the most restaurants bearing 3 stars (the guide’s top honor), although the number has slipped from 16 to 14. A total of 242 Tokyo restaurants have been awarded stars, ranging from fine-dining to eateries serving more humble treats such as broiled eel and deep fried meat & vegetables on skewers. All but 2 of the top-rated restaurants serve Japanese cuisine. One specializes in ‘fugu’, the puffer fish that can be lethal if improperly prepared. (People are simply dying to eat there.)
– Condensed from Reuters.com

SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT:
According to 2 new studies, when you plant your tush in the cushy goodness of your favorite sofa or chair the air forced out of the foam cushions is released with a poof of dust that can contain unhealthy ingredients. That’s because cushion foam is made with flame retardant chemicals that can include Tris (banned from kids’ clothing in the ‘70s due to concerns it might be a carcinogen), pentaBDE (a known toxin in animals), and others that are completely untested for safety. Blood samples confirm that these chemicals are making their way into our bodies. Meanwhile, the option to purchase flame-retardant-free furniture has become virtually non-existent. (Planning on hitting the sofa after a big meal? Wear a face-mask!)
– ScientificAmerican.com

DID YOU KNOW?
Australians call them ‘Winnie Blues’. But their favorite cigarettes will lose their familiar blue & white carton under Australia’s tough new plain-packaging law which takes effect tomorrow, December 1st.
– Economist.com

BS CHRONOMETER 11.30.12


TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1937 [75] Ridley Scott, South Shields UK, movie producer-director (“Prometheus”, “Gladiator”)

1952 [60] Mandy Patinkin, Chicago IL, TV actor (‘Saul Berenson’ on “Homeland” since 2011, “Criminal Minds” 2005-07)/movie actor (“The Princess Bride”)/Broadway actor (“Sunday In the Park with George”)

1957 [55] Colin Mochrie, Kilmarnock, Scotland [raised Vancouver BC], improv comedian (“Trust Us With Your Life” 2012, “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” 2001-03, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” 1998-2004)

1965 [47] Ben Stiller, NYC, movie actor (“Night At the Museum” films, “Meet the Parents” films)/movie producer-director (“Tropic Thunder”, “Blades of Glory”)

1982 [30] Elisha Cuthbert, Calgary AB [grew up Longueuil QC], TV actress (‘Alex Kerkovich’ on “Happy Endings” since 2011, “24” 2001-10)/movie actress (“The Girl Next Door”, “Old School”)

1985 [27] Kaley Cuoco, Camarillo CA, TV actress (‘Penny’ on “The Big Bang Theory” since 2007, “8 Simple Rules” 2002-05)

SATURDAY –
Movie director Woody Allen [“Midnight in Paris”) is 77; Movie actress-pop singer Bette Midler (“Wind Beneath My Wings”) is 67; Comedian Sarah Silverman is 42; TV actor David Hornsby (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) is 37; Rock guitarist Brad Delson (Linkin Park) is 35; Pop singer Mat Kearney (“Nothing Left to Lose”) is 34; Pop/soul singer-songwriter Janelle Monae (“Cold War”) is 27.

SUNDAY –
Classic rock bassist Rick Savage (Def Leppard) is 52; Rock bassist Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) is 44; TV actress Lucy Liu (“Elementary”) is 44; TV actress Suzy Nakamura (“Go On”) is 44; Pop singer Nelly Furtado (“Say It Right”) is 34; Rock bassist-vocalist Chris Wolstenholme (Muse) is 34; TV personality-pop singer Britney Spears (“The X Factor”) is 31; NFL QB Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) is 29.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “International Computer Security Day”, to remind us to protect our computers, programs, and data at home and work. Remember to always practise safe surfin’!
• “Meth Awareness Day”, a day of education and awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine. (Is ‘Walter White’ the poster boy?)
• “St Andrew’s Day”, honoring the patron saint of Scotland who hurled his last haggis in 60 AD. It’s the wannabe independent country’s national day. Be sure to dust off your sporran!
• “Stay Home Because You’re Well Day”, a day to call in ‘well’ instead of having to fake sickness in order to get a day off. (Yeah right, try this stunt and you can soon stay home every day.)

SATURDAY –
• “Advent Calendar Day”, the day many kids begin opening one compartment on their seasonal calendar each day through December 24th. Hey, is that chocolate in there?
• “Bifocals At the Monitor Day”, a day of lamentation for all those forced to tip their heads back open-mouthed in order to use a computer, thanks to their need for bifocal lenses. Gradually, more and more of the Boomer generation is suffering ‘presbyopia’ (Greek word for ‘aging eye’).
• “World AIDS Day”, the 24th annual day of AIDS awareness and education, first declared by the UN’s World Health Organization in 1988. The official symbol of “World AIDS Day” is the red ribbon. In some communities, the occasion is observed as “Day Without Art”.
NET: http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/World-AIDS-Day

SUNDAY –
• “International Day For the Abolition of Slavery”, a United Nations observance begun in 1949.
• “Mutt Day”, saluting all dogs that are cross-breeds, no-breeds, and all-breeds.
• “Special Education Day”, initiated in 1975 to promote access to education for all children, including those with disabilities.
NET: http://specialeducationday.com
• “United Arab Emirates National Day”, celebrating the 41st anniversary of independence of the federation of 7 Persian Gulf states from Britain (1971).

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [08] After amassing $2,520,700 on TV quiz show “Jeopardy!”, contestant Ken Jennings is finally knocked off by real estate agent Nancy Zerg on a question about taxes (during his record 75-game run, he gives correct responses to over 2,700 clues)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1982 [30] Michael Jackson’s first solo album in 3 years, “Thriller”, is released and goes on to become one of the best-selling albums in history

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1984 [28] Japan’s #3 automaker, Toyo Kogyo, changes its name to ‘Mazda’ (somewhat catchier)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1985 [27] ‘World’s Largest Beer Mug’, a 6-foot tankard that holds 615 gallons, is unveiled by the Selangor Pewter Company of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

BS MONTHLY PLANNING CALENDAR . . .
[Dec 3] International Day of Disabled Persons
[Dec 4] “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” (CBS) / Cookie Day / Dice Day
[Dec 5] “Grammy Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night” (CBS) / AFL-CIO Day / Bathtub Party Day / International Ninja Day / International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social Development
[Dec 6] Miners Day / Pawnbrokers Day / St Nicholas Day
[Dec 7] “Playing for Keeps” opens in movie theaters / Faux Fur Friday / Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day / International Civil Aviation Day
[Dec 8] Rolling Stones play Barclays Center in Brooklyn NY / Day Of the Horse / International Shareware Day / Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day
[Dec 9] Hanukkah begins (Jewish) / International Anti-Corruption Day / Worldwide Candle Lighting Day / World Choral Day
[Dec 10] “American Country Awards” (FOX) / Dewey Decimal System Day / Human Rights Day / Nobel Prize Day
[Dec 11] “Viva Forever” opens (London) / International Mountain Day / UNICEF Birthday
[Dec 12] “12.12.12 Benefit Concert” (NYC) / Gingerbread House Day / Poinsettia Day
[Dec 13] Rolling Stones play Newark NJ
[Dec 14] “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” opens in movie theaters / Monkey Day / Salesperson Day
[Dec 15] Cat Herders Day
[Dec 16] “VH1 Divas Special” (VH1) / Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
[Dec 17] Free Shipping Day / Wright Brothers Day
[Dec 18] Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day / International Migrants Day
[Dec 19] “The Guilt Trip”; “Monsters Inc 3-D” open in movie theaters / “WWE Tribute To the Troops” (USA Network)
[Dec 20] International Human Solidarity Day / Re-Gifting Day
[Dec 21] End Of the World (Mayan Calendar) / “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3-D”; “Jack Reacher”; “This Is 40” open in movie theaters / Crossword Puzzle Day / Humbug Day / Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day / Underdog Day / World Peace Day / Winter Solstice / Yule
[Dec 22] Haiku Poetry Day
[Dec 24] Christmas Eve
[Dec 25] “Django Unchained”; “Les Misérables”; “Parental Guidance” open in movie theaters / Christmas
[Dec 26] Boxing Day / Candy Cane Day / Thank-you Note Day / Whiners Day
[Dec 28] “Quartet”; “Therese” open in movie theaters / Full ‘Cold’ Moon
[Dec 29] Tick Tock Day
[Dec 30] Bacon Day / Falling Needles Family Fest Day
[Dec 31] New Year’s Eve / Make Up Your Mind Day / No Interruptions Day / Universal Hour of Peace Day

BULL’S BITS


BS FOOD IDIOMS EXPLAINED:
✓ “Bring Home the Bacon” – In the 12th century, an English church promised a side of bacon to any married man who could swear he had not quarreled with his wife for a year and a day.
✓ “Chopped Liver” – Chopped chicken liver in many cooking schools is a side dish, one that is easily upstaged by the main course, thus explaining the question: “What am I, chopped liver?”
✓ “Easy as Pie” – Making pie ain’t exactly easy, so what’s up with this? Apparently, the expression was originally: “Easy as eating a piece of pie.”
✓ “Happy As a Clam” – Has its origins in the way clams are harvested at low tide. The phrase was originally ‘happy as a clam in high water’, since clams are out of danger at high tide.
✓ “Piping Hot” – Around since late medieval times, this expression refers to the steam that shot out of a spouted tea kettle. At the time, ‘piping’ was synonymous with ‘boiling’.
– Excerpted from “Village Voice”

BS RANDOM JOKE:
This year I’m buying all my Christmas presents early. That way I’ll have a chance to wear them before wrapping them.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Kids in North America spend close to a half-billion dollars on THIS per year.
Answer: Chewing gum.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Evil always triumphs over good … usually because good is stupid.

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