Friday, June 9, 2000 Edition: #1826
BS SUMMER BARBECUING TIPS:
• A ‘BBQ spit’ does NOT refer to saliva.
• Singed eyelashes normally grow back in about 3 weeks.
• Cleaning the grill with your wife’s hairbrush is unsanitary.
• Always double-check you’re not barbecuing the dog’s chew toy.
• Shave hands and arms to prevent flame-ups.
• If it moos when you put a fork in it, slap it back on.
• Friends don’t let friends BBQ drunk! (a message from MABB, mothers against burnt burgers).
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Today a CTV movie about the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy begins filming near Peggy’s Cove NS, where the plane plunged into the sea, killing all 229 aboard . . . Tonight Ricky Martin kicks off his summer tour in Fort Lauderdale FL . . . Word is chart-topping rapper Eminem will to star in a movie based on his life (if he’s out of the slammer in time) . . . Tantrum-plagued model Naomi Campbell is being charged with throwing former employee Vanessa Frisbee up against a wall for leaking word of a secret affair with “Shakespeare in Love” star Joseph Fiennes (apparently in Britain, tossing a Frisbee is illegal) . . . George Clooney tells “Vogue” magazine the relationship with his pet pot-bellied pig is “the longest-lasting I’ve ever had, but we don’t have sex anymore”.
TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
Nicolas Cage & Angelina Jolie star in the action/thriller “Gone in 60 Seconds”, the story of a thief and his crew who must pull off one last heist to steal 100 cars to save his debt-ridden little brother’s life.
NEW BS GIZMOS:
• Toronto-based Toxin-Alert is developing a ‘smart plastic wrap’ that detects contaminated food. When it senses bacteria in the food it’s protecting, a warning label shows up on the wrap reading, “Don’t Eat Me”. (So far, it’s undetermined if the same material can be used in condoms.)
• A Japanese funeral company is offering a new service — preserving DNA samples scraped from the mouth of the deceased in a traditional Buddhist burial tablet, leaving open the possibility that the dearly departed could be cloned to live again someday. (Or at the very least, descendants will get a close-up whiff of uncle Akihito’s garlic breath.)
HOME ON THE RANGE:
“Pioneer Quest: A Year in the Real West”, a sort-of Canadian version of “Survivor”, got underway this week as two couples attempt to live on an isolated prairie farmstead in Manitoba with no modern conveniences for an entire year. Their quest to survive as pioneers did 130 years ago will be filmed for the History Channel. If they make it, each couple gets $68,000. The location of the farmstead is being kept secret to ‘prevent gawkers’. (As Kitchener-area residents are well aware, Mennonite-watching can attract large and unruly mobs.)
IS ‘AIR CANADA CLOTHING’ NEXT?
Canadian clothier Roots is launching a business airline, ‘RootsAir’, which will feature the famous beaver logo on the outside of its planes and on every seat inside. (And pilots will wear their caps backwards.)
THE BULL SHEET 06.09.00
TODAY’S CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS . . .
1961 [39] Michael J Fox, Edmonton AB, ex-TV actor (Mike Flaherty-Spin City) who quit the hit sitcom and launched the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
1963 [37] Johnny Depp, Owensboro KY, film actor (Sleepy Hollow, Donnie Brasco) who regularly cuts his own arms to mark important events in his life/River Phoenix died outside his LA club the Viper Room
1981 [19] Natalie Portman, Jerusalem ISR, film actress (Queen Amidala-Star Wars: Episode I & II, Where the Heart Is)
SATURDAY’S BIRTHDAYS . . .
1921 [79] Prince Philip (Mountbatten), Corfu GRE, Duke of Edinburgh/Mr Queen Elizabeth II
1933 [67] F Lee Bailey, Waltham MA, famous attorney (‘Dream Team’) who recently claimed former client OJ Simpson had trouble with a lie detector test prior to his trial
1942 [58] Preston Manning, Edmonton AB, Reform party leader/future Canadian Alliance leader?
1965 [35] Elizabeth Hurley, Basingstoke ENG, movie actress (Austin Powers I & II, EDtv)/model (Estee Lauder)/either just dumped Hugh Grant or will marry him, depending on what you read
SUNDAY’S BIRTHDAYS . . .
1978 [22] Joshua Jackson, Vancouver BC, TV actor (Pacey Witter-Dawson’s Creek)/movie actor (Cruel Intentions, Scream 2)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
[Calgary] “Millennium Robot Games” begin at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
[Montreal] “Fringe Festival” begins
This is “Take a Kid Fishing Weekend”, highlighted by ‘Take Junior to the ER With a Hook in His Eye Sunday’.)
ON THIS DAY IN THE ’90S . . .
1993 [07] Last Canadian team to win Stanley Cup (Montréal Canadiens beat LA Kings 4 games to 1 for their 24th championship)
1998 [02] Washington/Detroit Stanley Cup final begins (Red Wings win)
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1822 [178] 1st patent for ‘false teeth’ (next day, 1st kid is scolded for drinking that glass of water on grandpa’s nightstand)
1923 [77] 1st ‘armored car’ (Brinks)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Sun] Children’s Sunday
[Sun] Banff Television Festival begins
National Hug Holiday Week
National Dairy Month
BULL’S BITS . . .
Q: Which sport gives you 24 square feet to shoot at?
A: Hockey. (Unless you play for Dallas.)
THE LAST WORD:
Rumor has it demoted Atlanta Brave John Rocker will next be re-assigned to a ‘Triple-K’ team.
