Tuesday, November 6, 2007        Edition: #3649
Touch Your Screen – This BS Is Still Warm!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
“High School Musical 3” is all systems go with stars Vanessa Hudgens & Ashley Tisdale signed on for the 2nd sequel (Hudgens was the first of the original cast re-signed, despite – or maybe because of – those racy photos that appeared online) . . . Hair-trigger model Naomi Campbell says she’s learned her lesson and vows to never to throw a cellphone at someone again (a meat cleaver is so much more effective) . . . Sometime TV host Star Jones Reynolds (ex-“The View”) is being accused of ripping off ‘Full & Fabulous’, an organization dedicated to helping plus-size women, by not showing up to speak at a function for which she was paid $16,000 plus first-class airfare (seems now that’s she’s skinny, she’s not quite so fabulous) . . . Pregnant Nicole Richie claims she’s quit smoking because the healthy birth of her child is her #1 priority, even though she’s recently been photographed with a cigarette in hand (apparently like Bill Clinton, she doesn’t inhale) . . . Jerry Seinfeld says he’s given up on a “Seinfeld” reunion episode he was working on with former castmates Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, and Julia Louise Dreyfus because they took to long to pull the project together (after years of endless reruns, do we care?) . . . Teen sensation Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) says she’s getting serious about working out after having to deal with online rumors that she’s pregnant – at age 14 (yeah, it’s never too early to instill those negative doubts about body image) . . . And after living in a 28-foot Airstream trailer in Malibu CA (and then buying 2 more), “We Are Marshall” movie star Matthew McConaughey has finally decided to upgrade to a real home – a 3,500 sq-ft, $10-million hovel on more than an acre of land (you know what they say – you can take the trash out of the trailer but …).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Andrea Bocelli – The Italian operatic tenor is on “The View” (ABC/CTV).
• Backstreet Boys – They continue their TV tour on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC).
• Britney Spears – A 29-year-old sometime guitarist claims she asked him & 10 other strangers at LA nightclub Hyde back to her mansion for a night of partying during which she allowed one guy to do a line of cocaine off her chest. But somehow she still passed a court-ordered drug test the next day.
• Celine Dion – She’s being slammed in the UK press for lip-syncing her way through a taping of a tribute show set to air this Christmas. While guest performers sang live for the show, “An Audience With Celine Dion”, the star attraction decided to fake it. The studio audience was unimpressed.
• Common – The “I Want You” rapper is on “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS).
• Keith Urban – This afternoon he guests on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CityTV).
• Paul McCartney – He’s held ‘crisis talks’ with estranged wife Heather Mills at his English home in an attempt to put an end to the drama surrounding their divorce. Observers think her recent public outbursts are an attempt to force an out-of-court divorce settlement ASAP. As recently as OCTOBER, Mills was promising to never reveal details of the divorce.
• Spice Girls – Reports say Geri Halliwell has been getting secret singing lessons with one of the UK’s top vocal coaches in preparation fo the group’s reunion tour.

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Barenaked Ladies – Their first-ever live DVD, “Talk To The Hand: Live In Michigan”, is released, alongside their new live CD by the same name.
• “BMI Country Awards” – At the 55th annual ceremony in Nashville, Willie Nelson will be named the newest ‘BMI Icon’ and awards will be handed out for ‘Songwriter of the Year’, ‘Publisher of the Year’, and ‘Most Performed Country Song of the Year’.
• Garth Brooks – His new greatest hits package entitled “The Ultimate Hits” is released, featuring  4 new songs and a DVD full of videos. A special ‘Pink Edition’ will benefit breast cancer research & treatment.
• Merle Haggard – The 3-CD collection “Legends of American Music: Merle Haggard” is released, a compilation of his 45-year career containing 60 of his best tunes.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” ( Comedy ): Adam Sandler & Kevin James star as Philadelphia firefighters who pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits. They face a series of challenges maintaining the ruse, the toughest being Sandler’s feelings for the lawyer representing them (Jessica Biel). Co-stars Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, and former *NSYNC singer Lance Bass.
• “Ratatouille” [‘rat-a-TOO-ee‘] ( Animated Family ): A Parisian rat with a sophisticated palate (voiced by Patton Oswalt) makes his home in an upscale restaurant that is ruled by an eccentric, world-famous chef. With the aid of a lowly garbage boy, he uses his talents to reach new, unimagined culinary heights. Other voices by Brad Garrett, Brian Dennehy, Janeane Garofalo, Peter O’Toole, and John Ratzenberger.
• “Sicko” ( Documentary ): Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore aims his camera at the diseased American health care industry for his latest documentary. Employees from pharmaceutical companies and insurers supplied memos, first-hand accounts, data, etc used in the making of the film.
• Also released TODAY: “Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who”; “The Best of The Colbert Report”; “Full House: The Complete Series Collection”; “Gilligan’s Island: The Complete Series Collection”; “James Bond Ultimate Collector’s Set“; “The King of Queens: The Complete Series”; “Project Runway: The Complete 3rd Season”; “Seinfeld: The Complete Series Box Set”; and “The X-Files: The Ultimate Collection”.

AM I McDREAMING?
It seems that it is actually possible to wake up during surgery but remain completely paralyzed and unable to communicate with medical staff. The condition is known as ‘Anethesia Awareness’ and happens between 20,000 and 40,000 times a year, so your odds are about 1-in-750 that it’ll happen to you if you have surgery. One patient remembers hearing the surgeon telling the resident to cut deeper and pull harder. (Or maybe “Grey’s Anatomy” was just on in the background.)
– CBS News

CLOSING THE DEAL
At a recent ‘Get Motivated’ seminar in Los Angeles, sales expert Tom Hopkins gave lessons on coaxing reluctant customers to part with their cash. Apparently you should avoid the scary term ‘down payment’ and use ‘initial investment’ instead. And don’t ask customers to ‘sign a contract’, just get them to … ‘okay some paperwork’. (You know, lie.)
– “LA Times”

TOUCH TATS:
An art student in Berlin, Germany has created the world’s first ‘Braille Tattoo’, a piece of surgical steel, titanium, or medical plastic which can be implanted under your skin and then read via touch. Inventor Klara Jirkova envisions the innovative tats could be placed in the piece of skin between the thumb and first finger so that when the hand is shaken, the person’s name is readable. (Huh? Presumably the owner would be sightless not speechless.)
– “Wired”

FROM THE BS POLL VAULT:
A snapshot of who we are and what we do …
• 96% of us spread the peanut butter on before the jelly when making a PB&J sandwich.
• 70% of us have purchased a new pair of jeans in the past year.
• 62% of Canadian homes are lived in by the owner.
• 51% of Americans admit they’ve done the “Macarena” at least once in their lifetime.
• 39% of women have at one time or another worn their guy’s underwear.
• 30% of us are irked by drivers yakking on their cellphones.
• 11% of consumers claim they’ve already completed their Christmas shopping. (Oh, you mean for this year?)

WORLD’S WORST PRODUCTS?
According to the advocacy group Consumers International, the single worst consumer product currently on the market is ‘Rozerem’, a sleeping pill marketed for children. The drug’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, was awarded the honor after airing TV ads featuring groggy children going to school alongside the suggestion that the med could help them with their sleeplessness. The group also wags its finger at Coca-Cola for using regular tap water for its ‘Dasani’ brand of bottled water, and Mattel for selling over 19 million products which have had to be recalled in the past year. (They’re encouraged to ‘get the lead out’.)
– AFP

DID YOU KNOW?
One of the contestants in a 100-day diet & exercise challenge in Britain is … a cat with a 25-inch (64-cm) waist. The sponsoring People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals says the increase in pet obesity is of great concern.
– Ananova News Service

AND WE QUOTE:
• “At this moment Jennifer Lopez is requesting something very special because she is waiting for the baby. It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger.”
– Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, confirming what J-Lo & hubby Mark Anthony have so far refused to … she’s preggers!
• “No one can destroy the dream I have held, and each girl continues to hold, at the school.”
– Oprah Winfrey at a press conference YESTERDAY, holding out hope that her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa can overcome recent abuse allegations. A dorm matron who’s been charged with indecent assault & soliciting has been released on bail.

BS CHRONOMETER 11.06.07

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1946 [61] Sally Field (Mahoney), Pasadena CA, TV actress (“Brothers & Sisters”)/movie actress (2 Oscars-“Norma Rae”, “Places in the Heart”)

1948 [59] Glen Frey, Detroit MI, classic rock musician (“The Heat is On”, The Eagles-“How Long”, “Hotel California”)

1955 [52] Maria Shriver, Chicago IL, Mrs Arnold Schwarzenegger since 1986/former TV journalist (“Dateline NBC” 1994-2004)

1970 [37] Ethan Hawke, Austin TX, movie actor (“Fast Food Nation”, “Training Day”)/formerly wed to actress Uma Thurman (1998-2004)

1972 [35] Rebbeca Romijn (pronounced ‘Romaine’ like the lettuce), Berkeley CA, movie actress (“X-Men”)/TV actress (‘Alexis Meade’ on “Ugly Betty”)/model (“Vogue”)/formerly wed to actor John Stamos (1998-2005)

1972 [35] Thandie Newton, London UK, movie actress (“Norbit”, “Crash”)/TV actress (“ER” 2003-05)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Halfway Point of Autumn”, marking the point when the [local losers] are officially out of the [NHL/NBA] playoffs.

• “International Orangutan Awareness Week”, the 12th annual declared by the Nature Conservancy. It predicts orangutans will be extinct within 10-to-20 years if the average of a 1,000 kills per year continues. One reason the species is endangered: females can only give birth every 8 years.
NET: http://www.nature.org/

• “Saxophone Day”, commemorating the 1814 birth of Belgium’s Adolphe Sax, inventor of the musical instrument named for him. Sax became wealthy inventing numerous musical instruments, but died in poverty in Paris in 1894. Awww!

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1947 [60] 1st edition of “Meet The Press” (NBC), now the oldest program on TV

2001 [06] Keifer Sutherland’s hit series “24” debuts (FOX)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1991 [16] Novelty hit “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred is released

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1867 [140] 1st ‘Parliament of Canada’ opens (the next day, Québec starts whining)

1925 [82] ‘Royal Canadian Legion’ established (because war vets need a place with cheap booze)
NET: http://legion.ca/ (info on annual poppy program)

1889 [118] Eiffel Tower opens in Paris (built for an exposition, there’s popular support to tear it down afterward and it almost happens)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1993 [14] ‘Largest ‘PB & J Sandwich’ is made in Peanut PA (40-feet-long with 150 lbs of peanut butter & 50 lbs of grape jelly)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] 41st CMA Awards (Nashville)
[Wed] World Community Day
[Wed] Take Our Kids to Work Day
[Thurs] Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day
[Thurs] International Tongue Twister Day
[Thurs] 8th Latin Grammy Awards (Las Vegas)
[Fri] US Marine Corp Birthday
[Fri] Gingerbread House Day
[Fri] Diwali (Hindu)
[Fri] Guinness World Record Day
This Week is … Canadian Career Week Dear Santa Letter Week
This Month Is … Military Family Appreciation Month

BULL’S BITS

WHAT YOUR FAVORITE SWEAR WORD REVEALS ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY:
According to Dr Karl Greeves’ book, “Who Am I? Everyman’s Guide to Personality”, the word you most often use when cussing tells a lot of about who you are. For example …
• ‘Bull’/’Beans’/’Shucks’ – People who can’t bring themselves to curse and use softer words are often practical jokers. Extremely creative, they make fine employees and wonderful bosses. They’re family-oriented and can often go overboard with things. Of all the personality types, they are the most misunderstood.
• ‘Damn’ – These folks are very conservative and often prudish. They are open and loving and more religious than most. Calm and collected on the outside, they are a cauldron of thought and emotion on the inside. They can be quite volatile if provoked. Open-minded and artistic, they make fine painters and poets. They are the truest, bluest of friends.
• The ‘F-Word’ – People who use the F-word and its conjugations as a verb tend to be hostile and unreliable. They view life as a joke. Even though they like the company of others, they are loners at heart. They are hard workers and are extremely productive when motivated by personal gain. They can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks if something is in it for them. Or … they could be just a bunch of guys drinking together.
• ‘Hell’ – These people are fiercely independent and tend to use others to further their own ends. Passionate and sexy, they make fantastic lovers. They adore money and material things. They make good mates and are somewhat family oriented, although they don’t express affection as well as other cussing types.
• The ‘S-Word’ (an acronym for ‘So Happy It’s Tuesday’) – People who use this word the most don’t put on airs, they are down to earth, honest in their relationships and business dealings and know how to get things done. They tend to be perfectionists and are often excessively  self-critical. They make good friends and are loyal to a fault. They are better followers than leaders, have a can-do attitude, and make great employees.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What do you absolutely never, ever leave home without?

BS WORD OF THE DAY:
Today’s word of the day is ‘feisty’. Nowadays, it means ‘quarrelsome’ or ‘spirited’. But the original meaning in Middle English was – ‘farting dog’. So … feeling feisty this morning?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
You know you’re getting old when you enjoy remembering things more than doing them.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: If a woman has tasks to do she is far more likely to do THIS than a man.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Say the list out loud.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Life is only understood backward, but must be lived forward.