Thursday, June 17, 2004        Edition: #2803
Sheet Rocks!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Actress Sharon Stone is suing the would-be producers of the scrapped sequel to “Basic Instinct” (ironically scrapped due to her difficult demands), claiming she’s owed over $100 million ($14-million in salary plus a big cut of profits – which never materialized) . . . Actress Sandra Bullock is nursing boyfriend Jesse James (host of Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage”) back to health after he shattered an ankle & broke 4 ribs in a high-speed crash while racing at Irwindale Speedway in California . . . According to Court TV, Michael Jackson settled the 1993 molestation allegations against him by agreeing to set up a trust fund of $15,331,250 for the boy and paying $1.5 million to each of the boy’s parents (the formerly secret document may become part of the current criminal case against him) . . . And Bob Dylan will be awarded an honorary ‘Doctor of Music’ degree by the UK’s St Andrews University, which he’ll accept while in Scotland to play 2 concerts in JULY.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Madonna – Inspired by her devotion to Kabbalah to take a new name, she says she now wants to be known as ‘Esther’.
• Alanis Morissette – She met fiancé Ryan Reynolds 2 years ago through e-mail. She & the  Vancouver actor (“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder”) are engaged but no wedding date’s been set.
• Britney Spears – Could the cancellation of the rest of her “Onyx Hotel Tour” due to ‘recovery from knee surgery’ just be an excuse? She was desperate to end the tour months ago.
• Britney Spears – She & boyfriend Kevin Federline are reportedly moving in together to a new property she’s purchased in the mega-rich enclave of Governor’s Island NH.
• Duran Duran – They’re recording a new album for the first time in over 20 years, which is expected to be released in THIS FALL.
• Justin Timberlake – He’s beefed up security while on tour in Australia to prevent both the press and fans from taking pictures of him and girlfriend Cameron Diaz.
• Josh Gracin – THIS WEEK the former “American Idol” contestant is in NYC promoting the release of his self-titled debut country album. He’s due to complete his US Marine duty in SEPTEMBER, then move to Nashville.

ON THE MOVIE SET:
THIS WEEKEND in Torrance CA there’s a casting call for football players to back up Adam Sandler & Chris Rock in the upcoming remake of the 1974 Burt Reynolds comedy “The Longest Yard” . . . Looks like the release date for “The Brothers Grimm” will be moved until NEXT YEAR, fueling buzz that the Matt Damon-Heath Ledger flick is troubled . . . Hollywood & Washington are abuzz about Meryl Streep’s portrayal of a diabolical US Senator in the remake of “The Manchurian Candidate” (opening JULY 30th) because, from hairdo to wardrobe to mannerisms, she looks an awful lot like Hillary Clinton (worried about offending her, studio honchos have asked director Jonathan Demme to edit out some of the more obvious mannerisms) . . . Ray Charles died before the release of his biopic, “Ray”, starring Jamie Foxx in the title role and now scheduled to open OCTOBER 29th (TOMORROW at a memorial for him in Los Angeles, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson & BB King are set to perform) . . . Picture this – for his upcoming role of a hit man in “Collateral” (opening AUGUST 6th), Tom Cruise will have grey hair.

SEXIEST BRITISH ACTOR:
1. Orlando Bloom
2. Sean Bean
3. Hugh Grant
4. Ewan McGregor
5. Jude Law
– Newly-released Sky Movies online poll.

HOMING PIGEONS USE ROAD MAPS:
After a 10-year study utilizing GPS devices, researchers at England’s Oxford University have concluded that homing pigeons do NOT get their bearings from the Sun, as previously thought, but rather – just follow roads and highways to get home. Tests revealed that most pigeons, instead of relying on their own inner compasses, followed highways and made turns at junctions – often adding miles to their journeys! (Especially the males, who wouldn’t ask for directions.)
– “Wired News”

FROM THE BS POLL VAULT:
• 88% of execs say it’s OK for a potential employee to send a thank-you note via e-mail after a job interview.
• 36% of female workers have called their bosses an idiot … out loud … to their face.
• 33% of jilted women don’t ever want to be told the reason they were dumped.
• 29% of employees would have their boss checked out by a shrink if they could.
• 16% of men shave their private parts.
• 10% of items scanned at supermarket checkouts are identified and/or priced incorrectly.

FIRST PHONE VIRUS DISCOVERED:
The first-ever computer virus that can infect mobile phones has been discovered in France. Security software maker Kaspersky Labs says the ‘Cabir’ virus appears to have been developed by an international group that creates viruses to show that no technology is reliable or safe. The comparatively harmless bug writes the inscription ‘Caribe’ on a cell phone’s screen and is able to send a copy of itself whenever the phone used. Anti-virus experts have been warning for some time that mobile phone viruses are set to become a problem. (Cool – maybe all the cell phones will get sick and die!)
– Agence France-Presse

GAS PRICES WORLDWIDE:
Oil market observers say gasoline prices may be ‘turning the corner’ and should continue declining THIS SUMMER. Check out what motorists elsewhere have been paying recently (priced in US dollars per US gallon) …
UK $5.64
Hong Kong $5.62
Germany $5.29
Switzerland $4.56
Japan $3.84
Australia $2.63
Canada $2.34
USA $1.98
China $1.54
Russia $1.45
Venezuela $0.14
– CNN Money

FOR THE RECORD:
• British tycoon Richard Branson (Virgin Music, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, etc) has broken the record for crossing the English Channel in an amphibious vessel, completing the 22-mile trek in 1 hour, 40 minutes, 6 seconds, well below the previous record of 6 hours held by a pair of Frenchmen.
• 38-year-old Vermont native Larry Olmsted has set an as-yet unofficial new record for ‘Longest Casino Poker Session’, playing at a Foxwoods Resort Casino table in Mashantucket CT for a total of 72 hours, taking only occasional bathroom breaks.

BS AMAZING FACT:
A team of 100 Chinese environmentalists plans to climb Mt Everest to – clean up trash. It’s estimated that over 600 tons of garbage have been left behind since the world’s tallest peak was opened up for mountaineering in 1921. Everest is now visited by more than 20,000 people annually.
– “Social Studies”

THE BULL SHEET 06.17.2K4

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1946 [58] Barry Manilow (Pincus), Brooklyn NY, schlocky oldies singer (“Copacabana”, Grammy Award-“I Write the Songs”)  FACTOID: He’s announced he’ll return to the concert circuit with his 22-city “One Night Live! – One Last Time!” tour beginning SEPTEMBER 30th.

1963 [41] Greg Kinnear, Logansport IN, movie actor (“Stuck on You”, Oscar nomination-“As Good As It Gets”)

1966 [38] Jason Patric (Miller), Queens NY, movie actor (“The Alamo” [spent 5 hours in jail for alleged public intoxication & resisting arrest after the premiere in Austin TX], “Speed 2″)  FACTOID: He turned down the role of ‘Jesus’ in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”.

1980 [24] Venus Williams, Lynwood CA, pro tennis player (currently ranked #8) with fastest recorded serve in WTA history (127 mph)/sister of tennis player Serena Williams

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
[Southampton NY] “US Open Golf Championship” begins

TODAY is “International Violin Day”, celebrating composer Igor Stravinsky’s birth anniversary in 1882. (A good day to pluck your G-string.)

TODAY is “Eat Your Vegetables Day”, an observance likely begun by somebody’s mommy somewhere. What’s the absolute worse-tasting veggie – Broccoli? Brussels sprouts? Cabbage? Parsnips?

TONIGHT the finalists in the “US Air Guitar Championships” face-off in Los Angeles as America’s top 5 aces of fantasy guitar-playing compete to represent at the annual “World Air Guitar Championships” in Oulu, Finland in AUGUST. Contestants get just 60 seconds to impress judges with their technical ability, stage presence and ‘airness’ – personal style.
NET: http://www.airguitarusa.com/home.html

Whoa! It’s a ‘ho fest’! SATURDAY is the 30th annual “Madam Lou Bunch Day” in Central City CO, commemorating the ‘sporting house girls’ of olden days. Highlights include a parade of madams, house girls and ‘dandy Dans’, choreographed dancing, and ‘The Original Bed Race’ – hmm, so how’s that one work?
PHONER: 303.582.5808 (Janice Ward)/303.582.5578 (Harrah’s Gilded Garter Theater)

THIS WEEKEND in the Northwest Territories, Canada’s land of the Midnight Sun, the Summer Solstice will be celebrated variously as “Midnight Madness” in Inuvik, “Raven Mad Daze” in Yellowknife and “Longest Day Celebrations” in Fort Simpson. All will feature music, dance, food and sports – in 24-hour daylight! So like, how do you ever get to sleep there, eh?
PHONER: 877.881.4642 (NWT Tourism)/867.873.4262 (Northern Frontier Regional Visitor Centre)

10 YEARS AGO . . .
1994 OJ Simpson flees in infamous slow-moving ‘white Bronco chase’ as an estimated 95 million watch live on TV. Here’s a clip of OJ’s recent Court-TV interview in which he lamely attempts to explain what happened …
NET: http://www.courttv.com/video/

1994 1st ‘World Cup’ of soccer in the USA opens in Chicago IL (eventually won by Brazil)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1946 [58] 1st ‘mobile telephone service’ (St Louis MO)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1871 [133] 7 foot-5.5 inch Anne Swan of Nova Scotia weds 7 foot-2.5 inch Martin Buren of Kentucky to become ‘World’s Tallest Couple’ (she calls him ‘short stuff’)

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Work@Home Father’s Day
[Sat] World Sauntering Day
[Sun] Father’s Day
[Sun] Summer begins
[Sun] MuchMusic Video Awards
[Mon] Canadian Aboriginal Day    
[Wed]  Canada’s Walk of Fame Tribute Celebration & Gala (Toronto)
This Week Is . . . Universal Father’s Week
This Month Is . . . Rebuild Your Life Month

BULL’S BITS . . .
HOT FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS:
• Automatic ID & Credit Card Manager
• Swiss Army Hunter Red Knife
• Fishing Gear
• Set Of Golf Clubs
• Bridle Leather Dress Wallet
• Wine
• Personal Grooming Kit
• Facial Care Kit
• Sports Event Tickets
• Watch
– AskMen.com
(PHONE BIT: Ask a listener what they’re getting Dad. Then, without revealing the secret, get Pops on the line and ask what he’d REALLY like. Then go back to the family and help make the wish come true.)

USA’S SWEATIEST CITIES:
According to an annual study of weather conditions for the makers of Old Spice Deodorant, here are America’s hottest spots for 2004 …
1. El Paso TX
2. Greenville SC
3. Phoenix AZ
4. Corpus Christi TX
5. New Orleans LA

BS PHONE STARTERS:
• TOMORROW is “National Splurge Day”, when we’re encouraged to go out and do something indulgent. If money was no object, what would that be?
• To ‘put some English on it’ means to give it a spin. To ‘make it Irish’ means to add alcohol to it. So what would ‘put some Canadian on it’ mean?

MUSICAL TRUTH OR URBAN LEGEND?
• Bobby McFerrin, singer of the novelty hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, killed himself. [MYTH]
• Van Halen’s standard performance contract contained a provision calling for them to be provided with a bowl of M&Ms, but with all the brown candies removed. [TRUE]
• Coloring the rims of CDs with a green marker improves their sound quality. [MYTH]
• Blood from the band members of KISS was mixed with the red ink used to print the first KISS comic book. [TRUE]
• 311’s name masks sinister ties to white supremacy because ‘K’ is the 11th letter of the alphabet and therefore 3 times ‘K’ equals ‘KKK’. [MYTH]
• David Bowie’s wife once caught him in bed with Mick Jagger. [MYTH]
• Michael Jackson’s phone number can be found in the UPC code on his “Thriller” album. [MYTH]
• Mariah Carey possesses a 7-octave vocal range. [MYTH]
• The mother of Michael Nesmith from ‘60s band The Monkees invented ‘Liquid Paper’ correction fluid. [TRUE]
•  The song “Happy Birthday” is still protected by copyright. [TRUE]
– Urban Legends Reference Pages

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Which quality do most women say they appreciate most about their man?
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Faithfulness.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Some people will believe anything … if you whisper it.