BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Discovery Channel has canceled a planned live jump from Mt Everest due to a recent avalanche that claimed the lives of 13 people on Friday. The televised event, “Everest Jump Live”, featuring climber-adventurer Joby Ogwyn was scheduled to air on May 11th. Ogwyn was to be wired up with several cameras during the stunt. The cancellation is also likely to affect 5 nights of Everest-themed programming scheduled to air before the event. On Sunday, Nepal’s authorities halted climbing on the world’s highest peak while search teams continued to dig through snow and ice searching for 3 more missing Sherpa guides.
– AP
★ Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has told a standing-room-only crowd gathered for a reading of his latest film script, “The Hateful Eight”, that it was the one and only time they would see it with the current ending, in which all of the movie’s major characters die. The staged reading was performed by actors Bruce Dern, Samuel L Jackson, Tim Roth and others. The script, which was previously leaked online, is being rewritten. Tarantino says he’s now working on a 2nd draft, divided into 5 parts, or ‘chapters’. The new version will include a completely new ending.
– HollywoodReporter.com
★ And finally actor James Franco has done something praiseworthy and non-controversial. He and Chris O’Dowd are starring in the Broadway revival of John Steinbeck’s classic “Of Mice and Men” and are winning rave reviews from theater critics. The stage adaptation of the 1937 novel, co-starring former “Gossip Girl” actress Leighton Meester, opened at NYC’s Longacre Theatre last week and has since garnered stellar write-ups, described by critics with laudatory terms such as ‘gripping’, ‘flawless’, and ‘breathtaking’.
– WENN.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Joe Satriani (“Unstoppable Momentum”).
• “Chelsea Lately” (E!) – Wiz Khalifa (“ONIFC”).
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Neko Case (“The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You”). Rerun.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Phillip Phillips (“World From the Side Of the Moon”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Beck (“Morning Phase”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – The Growlers (“Hung at Heart”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Kelis (“Food”); Soul music icon Sam Moore (Sam & Dave); Letterman’s future replacement, Stephen Colbert, visits.
• “Pride Over Pity” – Today Kailyn Lowry, of MTV’s “Teen Mom 2”-fame, publishes her new memoir.
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Rita Ora (“Ora”).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV2) – Shakira performs; 2 contestants are eliminated.
• “Wendy Williams” (syndicated) – RZA ( Wu-Tang Clan).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Alanis Morissette – Her 1995 hit “You Oughta Know” was reportedly written about actor Dave Coulier from “Full House” (1987-95).
• Alicia Keys / Kendrick Lamar – “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” soundtrack is out today, featuring their duet on the lead track, “It’s On Again”. There are also tracks from Liz, Pharrell Williams, and The Neighbourhood. The movie opens May 2nd.
• The Beatles – The song “Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds” is not about an LSD trip as has often been stated. It’s about a painting John Lennon’s son created for him.
• Justin Bieber – Almost 275,000 Americans have signed the ‘Deport Justin Bieber And Revoke His Green Card’ online petition that kicked off in January. The White House has finally responded … briefly. Quote: “Sorry to disappoint, but we won’t be commenting on this one.”
• Marcella – The latest mono-named recording artist, á la Beyoncé, Madonna, and Rihanna, is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from Texas. Born Marcella Furchan, she’s just released her debut single, “Shaky Knees”.
• Miley Cyrus – Her “Bangerz” tour has less of a bang to it now, at least until August. The entire trek has officially been postponed due to ‘a severe allergic reaction to medication’. Think we’re getting the straight goods on this?
• Peter Gabriel – His 1986 hit “In Your Eyes” was about his then-girlfriend, actress Rosanna Arquette (“Pulp Fiction”).
• The Whigs – Today the Athens GA rockers release their 5th album, “Modern Creation”. The band is currently promoting the project on a tour that runs through June 21st in Nashville TN.
• Zac Brown Band – When they kick off their “Great American Road Trip” tour in May, they’ll introduce their new 8th member, Matt Mangano on bass. He’s replacing John Driskell Hopkins, who’s switching to different instruments in the band.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO RELEASES:
There are no major films out today on DVD, Netflix, Google Play and/or other video providers, just these releases: “Barefoot” (Drama); “Bettie Page Reveals All” (Documentary); “Legend Of the Psychotic Forest Ranger” (Horror Comedy); “Mr Magoo: The Theatrical Collection 1949-59” (Animation); “Newhart: The Complete 3rd Season” (Classic TV); “Nikita: The Complete 4th Season” (TV); “NOVA: Killer Typhoon” (Documentary); and “To Chris Marker, An Unsent Letter” (Documentary).

WHAT IS ‘CLEAN EATING’?
It’s a term that’s suddenly everywhere. But what exactly is it? A few basic principles …
• It’s not about cleanliness but about choosing the best and healthiest options in each of the food groups.
• It means avoiding junk food and processed foods in favor of foods that will keep you healthy and help make you slim.
• It can also mean looking more closely at where your food comes from, buying organic produce to avoid pesticide residue and avoiding meat that comes from large factory farms.
• A good rule of thumb: Foods that have more than 5 items on their ingredients list are probably not ‘clean’.
• Clean eating isn’t necessarily about weight-loss, though that can be one of its effects.
• Buying fresh, whole foods at the grocery store or at a farmer’s market is a good place to start.
– NYDailyNews.com

MUSIC ACTS WHO ARE HARDEST TO UNDERSTAND:
According to a new poll of 2,000 adults conducted by Blinkbox Music …
1. Ozzy Osbourne (28%)
2. Lady Gaga (22%)
3. Shaggy (22%)
4. Sean Paul (14%)
5. Jay Z (14%)
6. Rihanna (14%)
7. Miley Cyrus (13%)
8. Jimi Hendrix (10%)
9. Prince (9%)
10. Bob Dylan (8%)
– “Daily Telegraph”

SKIP THE WATCH, GO FOR THE CUFF:
The maker of the new Rufus Cuff ‘wrist communicator’ claims the gizmo is ‘a category beyond the smartwatch’ because it offers users a connected experience similar to one they would get on a smartphone. Esthetically, it may resemble recently released gadgets such as Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, but the device – which will include a 3-inch screen, and run on Android – aims to offer more functionality. The longterm goal for the gizmo is to eventually have it replace the smartphone. It’s currently seeking crowdfunding via Indiegogo. If it can raise enough money, Rufus Labs expects to begin production in September. (More geekwear … are you in?)
NET: http://tinyurl.com/oypvr6a
– Mashable.com

BARBIE MAY BE FEELING HER AGE:
‘Barbie’-maker Mattel Ins has reported plummeting sales of the iconic dolls. First-quarter sales of the buxom, blond 55-year-old doll line slumped 14%, but the bad news for Mattel doesn’t stop there. The company’s worldwide sales fell 5%, leading to a net loss of $11 million. One problem, analysts, say, is that ‘Barbie’ is now competing with a lot of other girl brands that didn’t exist previously. Plus cutting-edge technology has become as much a part of the toy-marketing world as it has in other sectors. (What changes would ‘Barbie’ have to undergo before your kid got interested in her?)
– ABC News

HOBBIES HELP WORK:
Researchers from San Francisco State University have found that having a creative outlet away from work may help with problem-solving at the office. The researchers have discovered that employees who participate in a creative activity, no matter what it is, exhibit improved problem-solving skills. These people are also more likely to lend a helping hand to co-workers. It seems creative hobbies do more than just help you recharge. Bottom line: Employers should encourage but not force their employees to engage in outside activities. (Maybe it’s time to take up painting something other than ceilings?)
– NPR.org

BRIGHT NAILS:
Building on the immense popularity of manicure art, Japanese toy company Takara Tomy Arts has developed a micro-thin LED sticker that sticks onto fingernails. The ‘Lumi Deco Nail’ stick-ons light up whenever the user makes a call on an Android-powered smartphone. The gizmos’ tiny LEDs interact with smartphones via tiny embedded antennae. They also flash whenever the wearer uses an electronic money card such as a train pass. A set of 16 of the nail stickers costs 1,200 yen, about $12. The product is being marketed mainly to young people. (Like maybe 6-year-olds?)
– RelaxNews.com

DID YOU KNOW?
✓ Bright light makes you feel emotions more intensely.
– AARP.org
✓ Soon you’ll be able to scan your foot with a tablet or smartphone and order a custom shoe insert for about $100.
– Wired.com
✓ People are more likely to catch yawns from people of their own ethnicity.
– “New Yorker”
✓ We remember people we met as babies, even if we don’t remember being babies.
– “Smithsonian Magazine”
✓ Couples who sleep less than an inch apart are more likely to be content with their relationships.
– Independent.co.uk

BS CHRONOMETER 04.22.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1937 [77] Jack Nicholson, Neptune City NJ, movie actor (“The Bucket List”)/3-time Oscar winner (“As Good As It Gets”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Terms of Endearment”)

1959 [55] Ryan Stiles, Seattle WA, improv comedian/TV personality (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” since 2013 on CW, 1998-2007 on ABC, 1988-98 on UK’s Channel 4)

1967 [47] Sherri Shepherd, Chicago IL, TV personality (“The View” since 2005)

1974 [40] Shavo Odadjian, Yerevan, Armenia, alt-rock bassist (System Of A Down-“Hypnotize”, “Aerials”)

1979 [35] Daniel Johns, Newcastle, Australia, rock singer-guitarist (Silverchair-“Straight Lines”, “The Greatest View”)

1986 [28] Amber Heard, Austin TX, movie actress (“Machete Kills”, “The Rum Diary”)/actor Johnny Depp’s fiancée

1986 [28] Marshawn (‘The Beast’) Lynch, Oakland CA, NFL running back (2014 Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Earth Day”, begun in 1970 and now the largest environmental event worldwide. Last year, people in more than 190 countries participated in events that addressed environmental issues.
NET: http://www.earthday.org

• “Girl Guide/Scout Leader Appreciation Day”, observed since 1982 to honor the many adult volunteers who help keep the program running. Thanks, ‘Brown Owl’!

• “Jelly Bean Day”. Originally they only came in a few colors but nowadays you can get them in lip-smacking flavors like Toasted Marshmallow, Café Latte, Margarita, A&W Root Beer, Bubble Gum, Strawberry Cheesecake, Buttered Popcorn, and Pina Colada.
NET: https://jellybelly.com

• “Teach Children to Save Day”, another way of planning for your retirement besides contributing to that constantly quivering mutual fund.

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1990 [24] Rocker Sammy Hagar opens the ‘Cabo Wabo Cantina’ club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (still going strong!)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1998 [16] ‘Animal Kingdom’ opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1994 [20] World’s ‘Largest Lollipop’ weighs in at 3,011 lbs (Olstrup, Denmark)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Golden Gods Awards (LA CA)
[Wed] Movie Theater Day
[Wed] Talk Like Shakespeare Day
[Wed] Administrative Professionals Day
[Thurs] Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day (USA)
This Week Is … Crime Victims’ Week
This Month Is … Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

BULL’S BITS

ACTUAL RÉSUMÉ TITLES POSTED ON AN EMPLOYMENT WEBSITE:
• “As God Is My Witness, You’ll Never Need Another ASP Programmer Again!”
• “Human Capital Wasting Away”
• “Java Junkie Seeks Hard Work, Long Hours”
• “Nice Guy, Looking to Make Some Decent Money!”
• “This Copywriter Can Improve Your Text Life”
• “You Got It, I Want It, Everyone Wins!”
• “Challenge this Liberal Arts Grad!”
• “Your Firm’s Next Records Clerk Of the Year!”
• “You Don’t Want More Ordinary, You’re Looking for Extraordinary”
• “Yes, I AM Related to Einstein …”
– Thanks to Tony Cross

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s your secret way to cure hiccups? Most home remedies work by overwhelming the vagus nerve – which causes hiccups when it becomes irritated – with another sensation. Some old faves listed by “Mental Floss” magazine …
– Place a teaspoonful of sugar on the back of your tongue.
– Stick your fingers in your ears.
– Gargle with water long enough to interrupt the hiccup cycle.
– Eat a big spoonful of peanut butter or powdered chocolate mix.
– Hold the top of a door frame and then lean forward.
– A long, passionate kiss also supposedly does the trick.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Guys don’t have much trouble doing THIS, but it can take a woman 6-to-9 tries.
Answer: On average, women try on 6 or more outfits before finding one to buy.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Don’t sweat the things you CAN fix; and don’t sweat the things you CAN’T fix.